Latest news with #Raj
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
CG Waqf Board caps ‘Nikah' fee at 1,100 with directive
Raipur: The State Waqf Board has issued a directive capping the fee Imams and Maulanas can charge for conducting nikah (marriage) ceremonies at Rs 1,100. This order, issued by Dr Salim Raj, chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, applies to all Waqf institutions, including mosques, madrasas, and dargahs. T he decision followed complaints received by Dr Raj, including one instance where an imam reportedly refused to solemnise a nikah and left after being denied a payment of Rs 5,100. Taking such grievances seriously, Dr Raj issued the order to ensure Imams and Maulanas do not charge more than Rs 1,100 as a 'nazrana' (offering or gift) for officiating nikahs. The state has over 800 Imams and Maulanas who perform nikahs. The board warned that any violation of this order or receipt of complaints for non-compliance will result in action. Dr Raj said that the primary objective of this directive is to provide relief to economically disadvantaged and poor sections of society. He added that this move aligns with PM Modi's vision of ensuring the rights of the poor are protected.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Know Your City: Bangalore International Centre, an engaging community space in a fast-growing metropolis
As the city expands and the 'old Bengaluru' that long-time residents were nostalgic about slowly fades, the conversation around the city's public spaces has emerged. Often, these are centuries-old lakes and monuments, and parks dating back to the era of the Raj. But just as worthy of conversation are those public spaces that bring visitors together to share culture, music, or art. One of the foremost such spaces in the city today is the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), located in Domlur, just off Indiranagar's 1st Main Road. Scroll through the list of events being held here, and you might see a prominent local musician performing, an interview with an internationally known author, or an exhibit of the works of a legendary cartoonist. The venue has seen events from cricketer Javagal Srinath discussing the physics of a cricket ball, to conversations with RBI governors. Recently, it even hosted writer-translator duo Deepa Bhasti and Banu Mushtaq, barely weeks before Mushtaq's short story collection The Heart Lamp won the International Booker. While the BIC has operated out of its own premises since 2019, when it originally started up in 2005, events were hosted on the premises of the southern regional centre of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Bengaluru. According to V Ravichandar, who became a member of BIC's board in 2010, the India International Centre in New Delhi served as an inspiration. He said, 'November 20, 2005, was when Abdul Kalam came to inaugurate the centre (BIC)…we continued using the TERI premises until 2019 as the building project took nine years.' He recalled, 'We used to average about five events a month – now it is closer to 40. Now that we have our own centre we have been able to ramp up to about 480 programmes per year.' Ravichandar noted that a committee of around 15 members is responsible for coordinating the events at the centre. There are three main sources for these events – walk-in inquiries where people approach the centre regarding a programme; programmes with partners such as the Science Gallery Bengaluru; and in-house efforts to conduct programmes. An example of in-house efforts is the upcoming June 7 event for World Environment Day, which will feature exhibitions on topics as diverse as coffee and cartoons, alongside children's workshops and film screenings with discussions. On how the centre keeps the process funded, Ravichandar said, 'We have about 1,100 members paying about Rs 7,500 per year as an annual subscription, who are doing it because they believe Bengaluru needs a place like BIC. It is not a club, which is more exclusive, but an inclusive space that is free to attend. Another source is the rental of the space for events with objectives similar to BIC, such conversation, art and culture.' Prominent persons had also pitched in to cover two-thirds of the costs for the building and land in Domlur, including Nandan and Rohini Nilekani, the Azim Premji Foundation and Mohandas Pai, to name but a few, with members covering up the rest of the cost. Ravichandar recalled a competition in around 2011 where 84 architects from around the world applied to design the BIC and Bijoy Ramachandran of Hundredhands was selected through a jury. 'We always joke that we wanted two acres by the lake but got half an acre by the drain. The location was a challenge. The question was how do you build a public space in a residential area? The scale cannot be different. How do you build a space that looks spacious in not that much space? Bijoy has achieved this very well,' Ravichandran said. Sharing the thought behind the building with The Indian Express, architect Bijoy Ramachandran described it as an unusual project for an architect. 'Something that is open for everybody to use….a lot of what we did is examine what it means to make a public building, what kind of space is truly public, what about its space, materiality, its connection to the outside and what makes it feel like a communal space?….we realised that the holding was smaller than what we did in the competition. We had to completely reform the building in the new site boundary. The real challenge was to have this kind of public building which feels generous and open in a very tight site,' Ramachandran said. Those interested in attending events at the BIC may consult their website at Events are largely free, with a few rare exceptions, though some have RSVP requirements to manage effective seating.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fitness coach shares 1 simple change to help you become leaner, stronger and healthier: ‘Secret lies in your plate'
In a world flooded with complicated diets, intense workout plans, and endless wellness advice, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to get fit. Most of us think that transforming our bodies requires drastic changes, expensive programs, or hours at the gym. But what if the secret to getting leaner, stronger, and healthier is much simpler than we think? Fitness coach Raj Ganpath shared in his June 2 Instagram post one simple habit that can help you become leaner, stronger and healthier. (Also read: Fitness coach shares simple drink moms over 50 should have every morning for better health ) "What if I told you there is one simple change that will help you become leaner, stronger, and healthier all at once? Would you do it? But I should warn you, it's simple, yes, but not easy. It does require some patience and discipline. Are you ready?" says Raj in his post. A post shared by Raj Ganpath (@ He explains, "Now think about what you eat, think about your plate. What does it have? It has some vegetables, some starch, some protein, some fat, and some sugar. Let it all be there, but make this one tiny change: increase the amount of protein and vegetables and decrease the amount of sugar, starches, and fats." Explaining the reason behind this, he says, 'Sugars, starches, and fats are high in calories and low in nutrients, so they don't really nourish you. Protein and vegetables, on the other hand, are high in nutrients and low in calories, so they do nourish you. Also, they are extremely satiating, you feel fuller sooner, and as a result, you tend to not overeat. If you can maintain your activity and exercise levels, this will create a calorie deficit in your body, and that will force your body to lose weight. But where will this weight come from, fat? Muscle? Water? Where?' 'Now, because you are eating a lot of protein, the chances of this weight coming from muscle are very low. So, you will end up losing a good amount of fat. But not just that, because you are not consuming too many starches and sugars, your body does not have a reason to retain too much water. So, you will lose water, you will be less bloated, and as a result of this, you will become leaner,' says Raj. He adds, 'And if you can continue doing your exercise and strength work, you will become stronger. And because you are eating a lot of vegetables, a lot of protein, which means a lot of nutrients and not too many calories, you will become healthier.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Prakash Raj's ‘Sindoor' Quip At PM Modi Sparks BJP Outrage: ‘More Dangerous Than ISI…'
Last Updated: Likening Raj's rhetoric to that of an enemy agent, BJP said that it's more shameful when a good character actor, who preaches things on screen, acts like a villain in real life. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit out at actor Prakash Raj over his controversial remarks linking Operation Sindoor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Likening Raj's rhetoric to that of an enemy agent, BJP said that it's more shameful when a good character actor, who preaches so many things on screen, acts like a villain in real life. What Prakash Raj Said? In a follow-up post, he questioned, 'But why will women take #Sindoor from this old man?", a comment many saw as a personal dig at PM Modi's age and marital status. BJP Reacts BJP leader NV Subhash condemned Prakash Raj's remarks as 'deeply shameful" and 'disrespectful" to Indian women. He urged the actor to take back his comments saying that such remarks doesn't go well with his stature. 'This kind of statement doesn't go very well with the versatile actor, or his stature, always talking about Modi, belittling the Indian Army, democratic values of society, I expect him to withdraw his words, because this is a direct attack on women. It is more shameful that a good, character actor, when he preaches so many things on celluloid, but when he comes to real life, he is like a villain," he said as quoted by news agency PTI. Subhash further likened the actor to an ISI agent or a traitor over his 'Sindoor' comment. 'I think he is more dangerous than an ISI agent, or a traitor who always wants to make hole in democratic values. He has his mother, sister, he should not make such statements against women… He should immediately withdraw his words," he added. Operation Sindoor India launched 'precision strikes" under Operation Sindoor on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes killed over 100 terrorists including 10 family members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and four close aides. Targets included Jaish's Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, Sarjal camp in Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and the Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad. Lashkar's strongholds — Markaz Taiba in Murdike, Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala, and Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad — were also hit. Hizbul Mujahideen's facilities at Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were among those targeted.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Indian-origin CEO who bought his first apartment at age 12 is Singapore's youngest billionaire
Kishin RK was born with the proverbial silver spoon. The sole heir to Indian-origin real estate tycoon Raj Kumar Hiranandani, he is Singapore's youngest billionaire with $1.6 billion to his name. But the 42-year-old founder and CEO of RB Capital Group has not relied on his family name alone - he has drawn on his immense privilege to carve his own path to success. According to a report in SCMP, when he was 18, Kishin sold an apartment given to him by his parents. He then used the funds from this sale to start RB Capital Group. Kishin is one of just six Singaporeans on Forbes' 2025 billionaire list who are under the age of 50. He is the only one to have inherited his wealth, according to a VN Express report. Kishin is the son of Raj Kumar Hiranandani, a prominent real estate mogul and co-founder of Royal Holdings. Together, they are among Singapore's leading landlords, managing a property empire worth billions. A powerful father-and-son team in Singapore's real estate scene, Raj runs Royal Holdings, while Kishin started his own company, RB Capital, in 2006. In 2011, Raj and his brother Asok split their property business, and since then, Raj has been focused on building his own empire, reported Forbes. Born Kishin Hiranandani in 1983, Kishin RK was introduced to the world of real estate early on. In an 2021 interview with Tatler, he revealed that he bought his first apartment when he was just 12 years old. He was guided, of course, by his father. But the exercise of purchasing an apartment gave Kishin valuable insights into the world of real estate. Around the same time, he began accompanying his father to important business meetings. 'I realised that my interest was actually real estate. There was no need to do anything else,' he told Tatler Asia. 'I was really getting to understand the ins and outs of not just the family business, but the larger landscape of real estate and how it worked as an industry. And I wanted to go deeper.' Unlike his family business of acquiring properties, RB Capital also focuses on real estate development.
