Latest news with #WestBengal-based
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
When art critic becomes collector
Suneet Chopra was a kind man. The late art critic and senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was always accessible and warm, and at any art opening, he would give young, upcoming artists the same attention as a Jatin Das or Jogen Chowdhury. One of the many reasons Chopra wrote about art was to bridge the gap between art and the common man. Now, after his demise in 2023, his sister Nina Rao and niece Niraja Rao are continuing his philosophy of building connections. Chopra, whose innings as an art critic lasted for almost five decades, was an art collector, too. Nina and Niraja have donated his collection of 200 paintings, sculptures, writings, and other personal memorabilia to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) — an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that acts as a resource centre for Indian art forms. 'Suneet had asked me to donate the collection to the government so that anyone could come and see it. He wanted his collection to be studied by future scholars,' says Nina, a former journalist and reader at the Delhi University. His only request: 'Just don't break my collection.' An eclectic assemblage IGNCA exhibited 100 works recently, in a show titled Suneet Chopra: The Critic & His Art. It featured a cross-section of artists, styles and forms — from upcoming to established, abstracts to figuratives, traditional to modern and contemporary. 'He bought the works of Subodh Gupta and Neeraj Goswami at the beginning of their careers, so you can see the evolution of their style by looking at these pieces,' says Nina, who is two years his senior and initiated Chopra into the world of art criticism. 'He bought an artwork if he saw value in it, if it resonated with him, and not because of a name. One month before he passed away, he bought a work by West Bengal-based senior artist Samir Aich. It's an abstract piece that hints at the collapse of Indian society and system.' The curation also featured women artists such as Shobha Broota, Arpana Caur and others. Caur's work Goddess Penelope, with its three eyes, takes inspiration from Greek mythology; artist and writer K.G. Subramanyan's work depicts two barking dogs; and a painting by Ramkinkar Baij, considered India's first modern sculptor, depicts Radha and Krishna. The oldest paintings in the collection are by unknown English painters, which Chopra had bought while studying in England in the 60s. 'M.F. Husain used to do wedding invitations, and he had gifted him [Chopra] one of those. The collection has that as well,' says Nina. 'Suneet lived a frugal life, and saved his money to buy these works. I had not seen all of them, and while working with IGNCA, I was pleasantly surprised.' Suneet Chopra's collection can be viewed at the IGNCA, New Delhi, by appointment. The Bengaluru-based journalist writes on art, culture, health and social welfare.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Hans India
WB bloggers in friend list of ‘spy' Jyoti under agencies lens
New Delhi: West Bengal's travel bloggers -- whose names surfaced in the friend list of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber arrested on espionage charges -- were now under the scanner of the intelligence agency. Sources said West Bengal-based travel bloggers, who were spotted accompanying Malhotra in different parts of the country in pictures and videos on her social media accounts, were under scrutiny. What has kept the sleuths quite worried is that during her visit to Kolkata and the outskirts in February this year, before going to Pakistan in March, Malhotra made video shoots not just at some popular food joints in the city and outskirts, but also at some busy junctions which remain heavily-crowded almost round the clock. Some of these busy junctions were Howrah and Sealdah Stations in Kolkata, the iconic Kali Temple at Dakshineswar in North 24 Parganas, and the roads adjacent to the Indian Army bases and West Bengal Police Academy at Barrackpore, also in North 24 Parganas. At Barrackpore, she also did a video shoot at a popular Biriyani joint there. The sources added that intelligence sleuths have collected this information from Malhotra's social media accounts and a couple of travel bloggers in West Bengal, whom she met during her Kolkata visit in February this year. Also under scanner is another travel blogger from West Bengal, whose marriage function at Liluah in Howrah district was attended by Malhotra in February. Now, the sources added, the investigating officials are wondering whether the videos and pictures available on her social media accounts are the entire lot she had in her collection, or there is more such stuff that she might have handed over to the Pakistan spy agencies. Malhotra visited Kolkata in February this year. After going back from the city, she visited Pakistan in March. There, too, she made YouTube blogs at various popular places, as was evident in her social media accounts.
Hans India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Prepare database of street hawkers: BJD
Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD on Wednesday urged the police to prepare a database of street hawkers and regulate them in the wake of the incident of rape of a girl involving a West Bengal-based hawker. The regional party, in a memorandum to Puri SP Vinit Agrawal, appreciated the swift police action for arresting the accused in the Pipili rape incident. There should be meticulous and transparent investigation into this case, ensuring that all evidence is collected and analysed with utmost diligence and that the perpetrator is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the memorandum said. A street hawker, a resident of neighbouring West Bengal, on May 11 allegedly raped a girl in Pipili town. 'We call for the implementation of a strict regulatory framework for all street hawkers operating within Puri district, with a particular focus on those originating from outside Odisha,' the BJD said in the memorandum. 'This framework should include mandatory registration and verification procedures,' the party said. The police should create a comprehensive database containing the identities, addresses and relevant information of all street hawkers, it said. The BJD said that this database will facilitate effective monitoring and serve as a deterrent against potential criminal activity in the area. It also suggested enhancing police presence and proactive patrolling, particularly in vulnerable areas, including residential neighbourhoods and public spaces frequented by children. The Biju Janata Dal also advocated encouragement and implementation of community policing initiatives to foster trust and collaboration between law enforcement and locals, enhancing overall safety and security. The incident of rape that took place on Sunday evening in Pipili municipal area sparked outrage among locals. The victim's family filed a complaint at Pipili police station on Monday, following which the accused was arrested.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Why ‘One Day One Genome' mission is important for demystifying genomic data, making it accessible to public
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has over the past five months released detailed graphical summaries, infographics, and other details of over 100 bacterial genomes as part of the 'One Day One Genome' initiative launched to harness the microbial potential of India. The initiative was announced in New Delhi on November 9, 2024, on the first foundation day of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), an autonomous body under the (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology. It aims to make genomic data more accessible to researchers, students and the general public. Speaking To The Indian Express, DBT Secretary Rajesh Gokhale said, 'Let us celebrate our invisible biodiversity and build through genomic science a healthier, self-reliant future — one genome at a time.' 'We want to demystify complex microbial genomic data, making it more understandable and accessible to a wider audience,' another DBT official said, adding that the aim is also to create interest and excitement among young minds, especially school-going children, about the enormous potential of microbial genomics. BRIC-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), a West Bengal-based institute under the DBT, is coordinating the 'One Day One Genome' mission and sharing a collection of bacterial genomes from 13 BRIC institutions, along with two autonomous institutions: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) New Delhi and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) Faridabad. The BRIC-NIBMG team analyses these genomes and is showcasing a fully annotated bacterial genome, complete with a detailed graphical summary, infographics, and genome assembly/annotation details, on its website daily, making it freely available to researchers, student community and the general public. This release is complemented by social media posts designed to capture the imagination of the general public and students, educating them about the potential of bacterial genomic resources. For several years, Indian scientists have gathered genomic data of various Indian strains of microorganisms. The mission now aims to highlight the unique bacterial species found in India and emphasise their critical roles in the environment, agriculture, and human health. For instance, it could be about how the unique environment at Lonar Lake in Maharashtra's Buldhana district supports a diverse microbial community. Formed by a meteorite impact, Lonar Lake is one of the rare soda lakes. Its extreme conditions—high salinity, elevated pH, and limited nutrients—make survival difficult for most life forms. According to scientists at the National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, an autonomous institute under the DBT, the genome of microbe Methylophaga lonarensis found here has shown a high degree of specialisation that includes the production of ectoine, a valuable molecule with promising applications in skincare. Similarly, at the Institute of Life Sciences, Odisha, another autonomous institution of the DBT, scientists isolated and characterised a novel probiotic bacterial strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ILSF15 , from the gut samples of tribes of Odisha. Genomic studies discovered genes linked to probiotic features, survival traits, and, importantly, how it can resist acid/bile and lower cholesterol in vitro, officials said. Whether it is exploring unique bacteria from places like Lonar Lake, herbs from the Northeast or even sources like snake droppings and cow udders, studying genomes of these diverse organisms can support important sustainable research.
News18
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Invincible': Diamond Harbour Clinch I-League 2 Title Unbeaten With Draw Against Bengaluru United
Published By : IANS DHFC earned the title of the Invincibles with a 0-0 draw against Bengaluru United at the Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium on Saturday. Having already secured the I-League 2 2024-25 season title, Diamond Harbour etched their name in history as they ended the season unbeaten, earning the title of Invincibles. DHFC earned the title of the Invincibles with a 0-0 draw against Bengaluru United at the Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium on Saturday. The West Bengal team have won 11 and drawn five of their 16 games this season and will now hope to replicate their performance in the I-League from the 2025-26 season, having clinched promotion. However, despite the historic feat, the club will have to hold off on the celebrations. DHFC have postponed their victory march that was scheduled for Sunday. The celebratory procession was to mark the club's historic I-League 2 title win and their promotion to the I-League. However, in light of the tragic terrorist attack that claimed at least 26 lives and left several injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, DHFC's Chief Patron, Abhishek Banerjee, announced the event's indefinite postponement as a mark of respect for the victims. DHFC etched its name in history books and sealed the championship with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Chanmari FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl. A late 85th-minute goal by Rabi Mandi, courtesy of a beautiful swirling delivery from the left wing, sealed the title for the West Bengal-based outfit. Diamond Harbour FC won the I-League 3 title earlier to qualify for I-League 2 and will be hoping to make the jump up to India's first division, the Indian Super League, in the coming seasons. First Published: April 26, 2025, 23:05 IST
