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New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
'Went to make a difference, but had to sit like a performing monkey,' says Miss World contestant on quitting race
HYDERABAD: As excitement and anticipation swept across Telangana for the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant, controversy unexpectedly cast a shadow over the event. The turmoil began when Miss England 2024, Milla Magee, who had exited the competition citing personal reasons on May 16, made explosive allegations in an interview with British tabloid The Sun. The 24-year-old initially claimed her withdrawal from the 72nd Miss World pageant was due to personal circumstances. However, in her recent interview, Magee offered a starkly different explanation, stating, 'I went there to make a difference, but we had to sit like performing monkeys.' She went on to allege that contestants were instructed to wear heavy makeup and evening gowns from morning until night—even during breakfast—and were paraded at events to impress wealthy individuals. She shockingly claimed the experience made her feel 'like a prostitute being farmed out for entertainment.' The comments sparked immediate backlash from both the pageant organisers and the Telangana state government. Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of Telangana's Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture Department, responded by saying, 'We will be conducting a meeting regarding this on May 25. This is just an exaggerated situation.'
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Curtains up for 72nd Miss World pageant today
HYDERABAD: With just hours to go before the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant starts, the excitement in the air is contagious. Hyderabad will serve as the primary venue for the international event scheduled from May 7 to May 31 which marks a major entry for both India and the city on the global stage. Speaking to the press, Jayesh Ranjan, who holds Full Additional Charge (FAC) as Special Chief Secretary of Telangana's Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture Department, said, 'The idea is to promote Telangana tourism and place the state on the global map.' In keeping with its theme of Beauty with Purpose, this year's Miss World will also spotlight breast cancer awareness among women. The finale will feature the presentation of the Humanitarian Award to actor Sonu Sood. Public participation Contestants from various countries have been arriving in Hyderabad. Each event has been planned to allow public participation, with options for attendees to choose which sessions they wish to witness live. These events include: Opening Ceremony Sports Tourism segment Heritage Walk at Charminar Cultural Event at Shilparamam The Finale on May 31 Tickets for these events can be booked online via
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UP govt to denotify 11 historic buildings, repurpose them for heritage tourism
The Uttar Pradesh government will soon set in motion the process of denotifying 11 historic buildings protected by the state Archaeology Department and then refurbish and repurpose them as heritage tourism sites, officials said. These structures, mostly centuries-old forts and palaces, will be conserved, developed, promoted and managed under public-private partnership (PPP) mode and given on lease for 30 years, with a provision of extending the holding rights up to 90 years. The buildings, including Balabehat Fort, Lalitpur, Rangarh Fort, Banda, Wazirganj Ki Baradari, Gonda, Alambagh Bhawan, Lucknow, Kothi Gulistan-e-Eram, Lucknow, Darshan Vilas, Lucknow, Tikait Rai Baradari, Kanpur, Mastani Mahal, Mahoba, Senapati Mahal, Kulpahad (Mahoba), Tehrauli Fort, Jhansi, Bhuragarh Fort, Banda, and Sitaram Mahal (Kotwan Qila), Mathura, have been identified on the basis of their potential to be used for tourism as heritage hotels, public museums or MICE (meetings, exhibitions, conferences etc) properties. The government has already floated tenders for the purpose, said officials, adding that the initiative is being taken under the provisions of the State Tourism Policy, 2022. While efforts have been made to conserve some of these properties in the past decade with expenditure running into crores, some of them are still in a dilapidated condition. State Tourism Department officials said these properties would be put to 'adaptive reuse' as heritage hotels, museums or as meeting and exhibition sites while preserving and conserving their architecture. 'The heritage buildings are declared protected monuments to save their heritage. But it has been noticed that such properties often start eroding with bats, termites and rats occupying them despite efforts to conserve them. This tender is a result of a three-year-long study, which was done to identify the right properties for the survey. We also studied various models in other states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and even abroad and decided on the reuse model, which helps in increasing the life of such properties with regular maintenance etc,' Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary, state Tourism and Culture Department, told The Indian Express. To ensure preservation alongside their commercial use, a committee comprising historians, experts and government officials has been formed to clear these projects after ensuring whether they meet the conservation guidelines of both the Central and state governments. 'Even additions like amenities will be made without tampering with the original characteristics and architecture of the buildings,' he said. The three-storey Kothi Guilstan- e-Eram in Lucknow's Qaiserbagh area, built by Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider and completed by his son and successor Nawab Nassiruddin Haider, is considered an example of both Awadhi and European architecture. It has a basement and three floors above the ground. While the basement has six halls and two rooms, the ground floor consists of seven halls, nine small rooms, one corridor and a staircase. The first floor has seven large halls and a staircase, the second floor consists of two large halls, two rooms and terraces. The Kothi Darshan Vilas in Lucknow, also known as Chaurukhi Kothi, is a four-storey building also with a basement. The two-storey Alambagh Bhawan with a total of 24 rooms is located just 200 metres apart from Alambagh Phatak in Alambagh area of the city. As per records, the two buildings were constructed by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah between 1847 and 1856 for his wife Alam Aara. The Alambagh Phatak, also a two-storey structure made of 70-cm thick Lakhauri brick wall cast in lime surkhi mortar, consists of six rooms on each floor. The Alambagh Phatak is also referred to as Phansi Darwaza by some historians as Indian revolutionaries were hanged at the gate during the colonial era. The Tikait Rai Baradari in Kanpur is a 200-year-old building which officials say was last renovated in the 1950s. The Kanpur Development Authority had recently initiated efforts to renovate the property with support of the Archaeology Department. The ground floor of the two-storey structure has two large halls and two small rooms with a staircase leading to the first floor. The first floor has two rooms, a terrace and two staircases. The Sitaram Mahal in Kotwan, located about 50 km from the Mathura city, is believed to have been built during the reign of Raja Sitaram. The palace consists of three buildings i.e. palace of the king, of the queen and the royal court, say officials. The structure requires extensive restoration, including complete maintenance and reconstruction work, since it is in a dilapidated condition, they added.
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Indian Express
Miss World Pageant 2025: Host Telangana says ‘Zaroor Aana'
Telangana is all set to host the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant from May 7 to 31. India's youngest state promises the event to be nothing like the previous editions. The state tourism department, the co-host of the event, is also rebranding itself as a gateway to southern India. Its new tagline, 'Telangana, Zaroor Aana', is conceived as an all-encompassing and welcoming statement. In the backdrop of the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, even as a cloud of security concerns emerges, Smita Sabharwal, Principal Secretary, Youth Affairs, Tourism and Culture Department, Telangana Government, tells The Indian Express that this event is going to be a statement of capability. She is confident that the state has something to offer to all kinds of tourists. Here are the edited excerpts from a free-wheeling interview. Q. What is the overall vision for hosting the event? What specific outcomes are you hoping to achieve for the state? Smita Sabharwal: The overall vision is to put Telangana's destinations and hidden gems on a global platform. We will have participants from 140-odd countries and their delegations. We want to use this opportunity to showcase some of our most beautiful destinations because Hyderabad, as a city, is understood and talked about, but rural Telangana needs to be exposed better. Q. How does hosting this international event align with Telangana's broader tourism and cultural promotion strategies? Sabharwal: We will be using the attention as a branding and promotion exercise for Telangana tourism. We will be amplifying our handlooms, destinations, cuisine, and, in general, the hospitality of the people so that any traveller next time feels intrigued to pick up their bags and travel to Telangana. We also want to position Telangana as a gateway to the South. The fact that it is a melting pot, the fact that it is not extreme in its cultural differences, so everyone feels welcome in Hyderabad and Telangana. We say 'Telangana, Zaroor Aana'. This is a beautiful mix of Urdu, Hindi, and Telugu, which makes the Dakhni language very vibrant. We have put this tagline, which is universally very welcoming. Q. What are the key narratives about Telangana that you aim to showcase to the global audience through this event? Sabharwal: We also want to appeal to the global tourists. We talk about Ramappa temple, a Unesco World Heritage site, Buddhavanam Buddhist circuit, and Pochampally handloom centre. We want international designers to pick up the motifs and hope Louis Vuitton and Gucci will notice these designs that are age-old and timeless. The Miss World Organisation is really stumped because they have never handled anything like this before. This is the 72nd edition, and they are also excited because they feel that we are giving a whole new twist to their theme and a whole new look to what they have done. So, it will not be a typical closed event where people are walking the ramp and nothing like that. This is more of a celebration of the culture, beauty, and art of Telangana. Q. What kind of long-term impact do you envision hosting this event will have on Telangana's economy and global image? Sabharwal: It is too premature to spell out long-term outcomes, but I would say that in a journey of 1,000 steps, you have to take the first few steps, and in my opinion, these are very, very definitive steps. You have to talk about your state, create curiosity, put out those images which are appealing – why should you want to pick up your bag and come to Ramappa temple? What is the story behind it? And if you are a history buff, you might be interested in Chalukyan architecture. So, we are putting out a lot of content that will create a long-term narrative about Telangana. The state is also viewed as the land of the spiritual. People who are spiritual would like to visit our temples. There is something for everyone, including adventure seekers and wildlife tourists. I am sure every traveller has something to explore in Telangana. Q. Tell us a little about the key challenges in terms of planning and logistics since participants from over 140 countries are expected? Sabharwal: It is a huge logistical exercise, I must be honest and cannot undermine the hard work and effort that everyone is putting in. We have a lot of assistance from not only the tourism department, which is already working overtime. We have good support from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), police, and all other departments. It is a month-long program. It has 24-plus events, and many visits to rural destinations. We are all on our toes and working very hard. Our interest is to ensure the comfort and the safety of all the participants. Q. In the backdrop of the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, are there security concerns with participants arriving in the state from all over the world? Sabharwal: That is definitely on top of our list. Several meetings have already been conducted. Numerous detailed plans are already in place, they will be fine-tuned. Some of these threat perceptions could be there for contestants of certain countries, if at all. We will evaluate the threat perceptions and provide adequate safety and security throughout the event. Q. What opportunities will be available for local professionals to gain experience through their involvement? Sabharwal: We are trying to involve local designers, local event management people, and a lot of local companies also through sponsorships. This is an opportunity for all to have a little participation in the whole event. We are also inviting a lot of students who are doing well in our residential and sports schools to witness the event and take it as a global exposure and inspiration. It is an event that will have the participation of all local stakeholders. Q. How do you plan to leverage the experience and infrastructure gained from hosting this event for future international events? Sabharwal: We hope this is only an entry point event. We hope that the FIFA World Cup and the next Olympics, and any big international event will be attracted to come to Hyderabad. So, this is a statement that we will put out, that we have the capability and the logistics to be able to handle any scale of global event. This is a kind of opening statement and opening act. Through this one-month display of excellent logistics and other things, we will be able to put out the message clearly. Q. What unique activities are planned to showcase the culture, heritage, and traditions of Telangana to the international audience? Sabharwal: The opening ceremony will be a grand spectacle of all our traditional dances from the Perani to the Lambadi, Guthikoya, and Gussadi. We have 10 to 15 colourful different art forms. They will all be a part of the opening ceremony. The point is that the continental groups will move along with our cultural groups. It is going to be a grand spectacle of everything that culturally belongs to Telangana. Apart from that, every destination will have some performances from our local artists. It is a very real, very cultural experience for the participants and for the local audience. Q. How do you respond to criticism over spending crores on a beauty pageant when the government says its coffers are empty? Sabharwal: Let's look at it in a very realistic way. Spending Rs 25 crore to Rs 27 crore on an event which is lasting you 30 days and also doing a lot in terms of branding and promotion for the state tourism, I think it is a very reasonable expenditure. Also, the Rs 27 crore budget is the absolute outer limit. The effort is to minimise the expenditure, and the idea is to put out our best for the audience in the given budget. We are in talks with a lot of sponsors to help us, and will be using their corporate financial support and reducing the budget from the government's side.
