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India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Tripura: CM Manik Saha declares 2 awards in honour of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee
Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 7 (ANI): On the occasion of birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday declared two awards in honour of Mookerjee and announced that the Agartala Town Hall will be renamed after him and a statue will be erected, said a statement from the CMO. 'We have decided that, on the initiative of the Education Department, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Award will be given to those who have made special contributions in the workplace on Teachers' Day. On his birth anniversary next year, the Information and Cultural Affairs Department plans to present the Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Excellence Award to those who have made special contributions in social, political, national service, and administrative work. I am glad to announce that the Agartala Town Hall will be renamed in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and his marble statue will be erected,' said CM Saha. Today, the Chief Minister made a significant announcement while observing the birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Muktadhara Auditorium in Agartala, organised by the ICA Department. Saha said that everyone celebrates this day every year at both the government and various other levels. 'Today, we are celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. His thoughts, principles, and ideals are still relevant today. Therefore, we must learn about Mookerjee's philosophy of life. In the future, we must understand more about the work he has done for the people. After Narendra Modi took office as the Prime Minister in 2014, a change has been observed in the social system of India. He is presenting the philosophy of life of the great people of the country before us,' he said. He further added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now voicing what Syama Prasad Mookerjee had already emphasised, especially regarding social reforms. 'After the country became independent, there was no foundation for our economy, no clear outline of social structure. The country was running with a mixed idea. And development cannot move forward in that way. Our Prime Minister talks about Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas. Many great people have been born in our country. That is why we celebrate their birthdays, memorial days, or anniversaries of their passing. The country and the state are moving forward by following the idea of building a state through social change, as envisioned by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee for Akhand Bharat. He has shown us the direction to move forward,' he said. The Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards achieving self-reliance in the direction indicated by Syama Prasad Mookerjee. 'The Prime Minister is working to strengthen the economic base of the country. He is carrying out various social reforms. He has abolished the practice of triple talaq for women in Muslim society. The state government is also working in accordance with the central government's instructions. Since 2014, changes have been taking place in the country under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the principles and ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee,' said Saha. The Chief Minister also stated that the present government has prioritised extending the benefits of government schemes to the most vulnerable individuals in society. For this, good governance activities have been implemented in every household across the state. Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, MLA Mina Rani Sarkar, Vice Chairman of the State-level Cultural Advisory Committee Subrata Chakraborty, Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department PK Chakraborty, Director of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department Bimbisar Bhattacharya, and other public representatives and eminent persons were present as distinguished guests at the event. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Branded as ‘obscene' 60 years ago, Shyama stages a comeback
MUMBAI: In the summer of 2018, Pankaj Bhosale, 44, a young researcher fascinated by classic Marathi suspense literature, stumbled upon Shyama (1964), a novel considered a racy romance for its time. Once buried under court cases and censorship debates, the novel had faded from public memory for more than 60 years. Now it is poised for a revival. Written by Mumbai-based author Chandrakant Kakodkar, Shyama revolves around Nishikant Kadam, a poet and teacher drawn to Shyama Shinde, a progressive art teacher at the same school. Nishikant encourages Shyama to overcome the conservative resistance she faces and she evolves into a successful singer on All India Radio. Their journey is layered with emotional complexity, misunderstandings, and the tension between love and ambition. Beyond its romantic core, Shyama captures the social mindset of its time—especially in its portrayal of a strong, modern woman navigating a traditional world. Shyama was originally published as a story in 1963, in Rambha, a magazine traditionally brought out during Diwali. The story caught the attention of a Pune reader, who disturbed by its content filed a complaint against Kakodkar, alleging obscenity. He also wanted Rambha to be declared as a magazine with 'adult content'. What followed was a six-year legal battle, which started in a Pune court in December in 1963. A few months later, Kakodkar published Shyama as a novel, even though the case was being heard. On August 25, 1969, the Supreme Court finally ruled in Kakodkar's favour, upholding his right to creative freedom. The verdict didn't just clear his name; it brought relief to several other authors whose works had been dragged into similar legal disputes. 'Many people told me to just pay the ₹25 fine imposed by the (Bombay) High Court and walk away,' wrote Kakodkar, in the preface to Shyama's second edition in 1971. 'But that was not acceptable to me. I had to defend what I believed in.' Kakodkar's literary journey started very early. He translated several stories of Bengali writer Sarat Chandra Chatterjee while he was still in school. Driven by an unstoppable creative force, he went on to write more than 300 novels in his lifetime. Kakodkar's influence also stretched into the world of cinema. His novel Neelambari was adapted into the Bollywood hit film Do Raaste (1969), starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. Kakodkar received a Filmfare award for Best Story, becoming one of the few Marathi authors to be honoured in mainstream Hindi cinema. Likewise, the movie Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978), directed by Raj Khosla and Sudesh Issar, was an adaptation of Kakodkar's Marathi novel Ashi Tujhi Preet. It too was a super-hit at the box office. Kakodkar died in 1988, leaving a rich creative legacy that lingered for a while before it slipped into obscurity. However, in 2018, driven by a curiosity for forgotten voices in Marathi literature, Bhosale began hunting for a copy of Shyama. His search took him from Mumbai's dusty second-hand bookstores to junkyards in Thane and Badlapur, from roadside stalls in Pune to libraries in Kolhapur and Nashik. A resident of Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, Bhosale also scoured old Marathi libraries in Goa, Kakodkar's home state. 'Eventually, I found one copy of the second edition at Shinde Book Stall at Fort in Mumbai. That changed everything,' says Bhosale, an author himself and a collector of classic and rare Marathi literature. Encouraged by this find, Bhosale began researching Kakodkar's life and the cultural impact of the Shyama case. He met professors, fellow writers, and people who had known Kakodkar. Surprisingly, many had no idea about the novel or the court battle behind it. Bhosale also spoke with Kakodkar's son, Shwetank, now in his 80s. 'I watched my father write with dedication for years. But, to be honest, I don't have a copy of Shyama, such an important work in its time. Now, thanks to the efforts of the younger generation, this novel is coming back to life.' In 2023, Bhosale approached Pradeep Champanerkar of Pune-based Rohan Prakashan, hoping to reprint Shyama. 'Reprinting the novel is about reconnecting with an era. I believe even today's young readers will find something meaningful in it,' says Champanerkar. He reached out to Shwetank Kakodkar and secured the rights to publishing the book. The proofs are ready and the third edition will be published in mid-June, he adds. On the tendency to ban certain kinds of literature, Marathi author and critic Vinay Hardikar says, 'There has always been a push and pull between what is considered acceptable in our culture and what people actually enjoy reading. Shyama got caught in the middle and paid the price.' Hardikar adds, 'What is even more disheartening is that even after Kakodkar won the case, there wasn't much celebration. It came and went quietly.' Hopefully, that's about to change.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu's women in blue make a beeline for greener pastures: Lured by higher pay, professional growth, and better work conditions, the best nurses are leaving
Shyama R, a nurse at a corporate hospital in Chennai, is busy preparing her documents for a job in the UK. It's a decision many of her colleagues are also considering, she says. "We stay in a hostel, get food, but after sending money home, there's barely anything left for ourselves," says Shyama, who adds that her salary of 15,000 a month isn't enough to provide financial stability. "My senior colleague, who's been working here for years, isn't making enough to live comfortably either," she their counterparts in countries such as the UK can earn between 2 lakh and 4 lakh a month, those in Tamil Nadu are often stuck earning just 15,000 to 25,000. Those in rural areas are paid as little as 7,000 to 10,000 a month. For a skilled nurse with 10 years of experience, the average salary in Indian cities is 40, by huge pay incentives, aggressive recruitment drives, and immigration fast-tracks, many skilled nurses are leaving Tamil Nadu. Between January and April, more than 500 nurses from across the state collected good standing or foreign verification certificates from the state nursing council, so they could travel abroad for exodus is posing a challenge to healthcare resources in the state, says Tamil Nadu Nursing Council Registrar S Ani Grace Kalaimathi. In 2020, the council gave 1,432 certificates – 601 foreign verification and 831 good standing certificates – to nurses who were seeking jobs abroad. The next year, when there was a nursing shortage during the Covid-19 pandemic, the council gave more than 4,000 certificates. The trend continued until 2023, when the council issued more than 5,000 such financial incentives, nurses are drawn by the promise of greater professional autonomy and more regulated, supportive working environments. Shyama and two of her friends have been getting information from their college seniors employed in the UK and other European countries. "The rules are stringent, but the scope of practice is broader. Hospitals allow nurses to make independent decisions and manage patient care within established protocols. People working there are trained better and are far more confident. They don't just write doctor's notes, administer IV, change beds, and diapers for patients," says Shyama's friend Thendralarasi E, who is also set to go to the UK. "Our seniors assist some of the most renowned surgeons in the best hospitals in the world."Another attraction to most young nurses is the clear pathways developed nations offer to permanent residency and the ability to migrate with families, providing long-term security. "With the shortage of more than 30,000 nurses, countries such as the UK have relaxed testing norms for nurses since the Covid-19 pandemic," says N J Gowrishankar of Hxplain, a company that offers continuing education for in earlier times, when nurses had several levels of testing to be eligible for employment, the UK now accepts nurses as assistants once they pass the basic test. "All they need for this is a refresher course in clinicals and training in soft skills. When they join hospitals there, they are trained on the job. After a few months, they clear competency tests, mostly practicals, for various nursing positions," he the nursing council, too, officials have noted an increase in the trend of nurses going to the UK and other European countries. Earlier, the popular choice was the Middle East. Now, however, the council has recorded an increase in the number of nurses applying for jobs in Europe. Nurses say it is because it gives them the opportunity for professional development, exposure to international healthcare protocols, and advanced practice techniques, coupled with the global recognition for competence and academicians say it is important for specialised training, professional nursing bodies have been pushing for more govt nursing colleges in the state, which will offer quality education at an affordable price. As per World Health Organization standards, Tamil Nadu is short of at least 65,000 nurses to achieve three nurses per 1,000 population. The state, which has 1.74 lakh nurses, has two nurses per 1,000 population. Colleges in districts such as Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Thirupattur, and Ariyalur, where no nursing colleges exist, can help bridge the rural-urban gap. "Our nurses need training in soft skills, better salaries, and a more professional environment," says Ani Grace Kalaimathi. "The aim must be to retain the best ones for our people."(Email your feedback with name and address to
