Latest news with #ZakirHussain
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
The four-day India-Pakistan crisis and why civilian safety can't remain an afterthought
At the crack of dawn on May 10, Zakir Hussain had just one prayer on his lips -- that he be able to rescue his young children from the intense Pakistani shelling targeting his village of KheriKeran. Located in the Bantalab area, approximately fourteen kilometres from the Kanachak sector of the India-Pakistan international border, KheriKeran falls in one of the transitional zones where the international border begins to give way to the Line of Control. Zakir's home was among those hit as over thirty shells rained down on the village, which lies deep in the interiors. The 45-year-old sadly would go on to become one of at least twenty-one civilians killed in the cross-border shelling, with most casualties reported south of the Pir Panjal range. The escalation followed the launch of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military campaign initiated by India in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of twenty-six civilians. The intensity of the shelling was not confined to forward posts. In the interior region of Surankote in Poonch district, around 25 kilometres from the LoC, Pakistani shelling reached unprecedented levels. Residential buildings sustained significant damage and civilian injuries rose. Among the wounded was a young girl with a fractured rib caused by shrapnel. Even more heart-wrenching was the story emerging from Kulani village in Poonch near the Line of Control, largely ignored by national media. There, a young couple mourned the loss of their 12-year-old twins, Zoya and Zain, who were killed in the shelling on May 10. These accounts reflected the unseen and underreported dimensions of the current crisis. While strategic analysts and political commentators focus on military maneuvers, international posturing and diplomatic fallout, the human toll has been dangerously overlooked. In the wider discourse on the India-Pakistan military confrontation, these ground-level tragedies deserve far more attention. A clinical, dispassionate bottom-up assessment of the four-day crisis is essential, not merely to understand the operational dynamics or strategic calculus, but to reflect on the lived experiences of border residents. Their stories must be central to any credible evaluation of the conflict, lest policy be shaped by distortion, political expediency, or selective empathy. Poonch bore the brunt again First, the toll of at least fifteen civilian deaths in Poonch during the recent India-Pakistan military escalation raises urgent and uncomfortable questions. No other region experienced casualties on this scale. Poonch town, a historical settlement nestled along the Line of Control (LoC), has once again borne the brunt of cross-border hostilities. Historically, Poonch was a princely state (or jagir) under the suzerainty of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Though subordinate to the Dogra rulers, it enjoyed a notable degree of internal autonomy. Its strategic location rendered it geopolitically significant. In 1947, with the first India-Pakistan war, the state of Poonch was bisected by the newly-drawn ceasefire line, which would later become the LoC. Since then, the town has remained one of the most vulnerable civilian centers in any India-Pakistan military flare-up, both for its geography and its tragic geopolitical inheritance. Anyone familiar with Jammu and Kashmir's topography and the cycles of crisis knows that Poonch is among the worst exposed. Sitting in a low-lying bowl, surrounded by Pakistan-held heights, the town is perilously positioned. Having observed intermittent border tensions for over four-decades, I was nevertheless struck by the sheer absence of civil preparedness this time. If retaliation, such as Operation Sindoor, was on the table, why weren't defensive precautions in place? Why were no functioning civilian bunkers available? Why was civil defence not preemptively activated? Locals are asking these very questions, and rightly so. A crisis of this magnitude demands more than military precision. It demands comprehensive protection for civilian populations who are routinely caught in the crossfire. The failure to implement even the most basic protective measures reflects a chronic governance gap: an inability to map known vulnerabilities and build resilience along the LoC.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Third Conversations with ST discusses the role and relevance of media with young professionals
The group discussions were facilitated by 11 members of ST's editorial team, including ST editor Jaime Ho (front row, left) and ST associate editor Zakir Hussain (second row, right). ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Third Conversations with ST discusses the role and relevance of media with young professionals SINGAPORE – The third session of The Straits Times' engagement series took place on the evening of May 27, bringing together 40 young professionals to share their perspectives on ST's role as a national news publication. The event, which ran for two hours, was part of the ST180 celebrations, marking the publication's 180th anniversary in 2025. Unlike earlier sessions, which were held as panel discussions, the latest event held at PPP Coffee @ New Bahru adopted a more intimate format, with participants divided into six smaller groups for deeper conversations. The group discussions were facilitated by 11 members of ST's editorial team, including ST editor Jaime Ho, ST associate editor Zakir Hussain and Mr Jeremy Au Yong, ST's associate editor (newsroom strategy). Topics explored ranged from how the newsroom selects stories for coverage and how ST can remain relevant to younger audiences, to the need for society to retain common spaces amid polarising viewpoints. Several participants said the session gave them a glimpse into newsroom decision-making, particularly in handling sensitive issues such as suicide coverage. This event was the first session that was open to the public. The previous sessions in the year-long series called Conversations with The Straits Times were invite-only events, the first in January involving individuals from non-profit organisations and the second in March involving junior college students. These sessions aim to facilitate candid discussions between ST and its audiences, by offering readers a chance to interact with the ST editorial team in person. To remain relevant to younger audiences, several participants suggested that ST should make greater use of its Telegram channel to push news updates, noting that many of their peers are active on the platform. Ms Edith Cheow Rui Xuan, 23, a final-year student at an institute of higher learning, said that the ST mobile app could provide incentives to encourage regular engagement. 'The ST app could provide reward perks for daily check-ins. Given the general inclination towards rewarding individuals for their time and effort, offering micro-rewards, gamified reading challenges or subscription tiers with exclusive benefits could encourage engagement,' she said. Some participants also suggested that ST develop an applet that could present or recommend relevant stories from its own website, whenever users visit other news sites such as The New York Times. Some also said they noticed a shift in ST's content over the years, including a growing emphasis on podcasts and short-form content. An example raised were the short video clips produced during the 2025 General Election, where journalists explained election-related news in a catchy and accessible format. ST senior columnist Lin Suling (centre) with participants at the third edition of Conversations with The Straits Times on May 27. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Discussions also explored the continued importance of journalistic objectivity in an increasingly polarised world. Participants reflected on how moderate voices often go unheard, while those with more extreme views sometimes dominate discourse. Acknowledging these concerns, Mr Ho emphasised ST's commitment to balanced and objective reporting, despite it potentially becoming more challenging with polarising views in society. Participants in some groups also expressed interest in seeing more coverage on topics such as alternative education pathways and mental health. ST recently launched a youth-focused series titled More than Grades, which spotlights students beyond their academic achievements. This follows a separate series – No health without mental health – that began in October 2024 to explore the topic of mental health in the local context. Ms Linda Lee, 37, a human-experience leadership coach and speaker, said: 'Younger audiences today aren't just passive consumers – they're looking for something that feels real, relevant, and worth their time. ST can really lean into that by covering more stories of the human experience.' For more information about ST180, visit
Mint
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
10 years of Serendipity: The arts festival hosts a mini edition in Birmingham
At the Bradshaw Hall—Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, you can see black-and-white photographs of Ustad Zakir Hussain lining the exhibition space. These hail from Dayanita Singh's Zakir Hussain Maquette and form a tribute to the late maestro, who passed away last year. This show also looks at the artist's early engagement with the form of the book and the ways in which she extended it to a handmade maquette 1986 onwards. The exhibition features exquisite candid images of Hussain alongside enlarged pages of handwritten interviews. The Zakir Hussain Maquette is part of a micro edition being organised by the Serendipity Arts Festival in the city of Birmingham, UK, till 26 May. This showcase kickstarts the 10-year anniversary celebration of the interdisciplinary festival, which will unfold across ten cities globally in the course of the year. At Birmingham, music seems to form the core of the micro edition with exhibitions, talks, performances and film screenings offering a nuanced understanding of different forms and styles such as the fado, Jazz from both India and Americas, folk music, ghazals and Hindi film music. Especially interesting is a showcase of Portuguese-Goan music by Zubin Balaporia and Nadia Rebelo, and Thumri in the Chamber, a reimagined presentation of the classical Indian vocal form. 'It invites audiences to experience thumri not only as a musical form, but as a cultural prism—one through which diverse artistic, historical, and social dimensions are refracted and revealed, offering a fresh and immersive perspective on one of Hindustani music's most cherished traditions,' states the curatorial note. This is being reflected through discussions and artistic interventions across the festival. There is also a pop-up library on the history of Indian instruments curated by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Hussain's genius is being celebrated not just through Singh's photographs but through film and interactions as well. According to Smriti Rajgarhia, director, Serendipity Arts Foundation and Festival, Remembering Zakir Hussain is a two-part tribute to the maestro. It includes a special screening of the film, The Speaking Hand, followed by a conversation between director Sumantra Ghosal and Dharmesh Rajput of Birmingham City University, which is the partner for the mini edition. The film traces the rise from the bylanes of Mumbai to global fame. The tribute also includes participatory workshops like the Art of Taal, presenting a confluence of drum and tabla, and Scoring to Picture that delves into the art of composing music for a film. Pop-up exhibitions around the history of Indian music instruments One wonders about the choice of Birmingham to start the milestone celebrations for the festival. According to Rajgarhia, the city represented a confluence of vibrant communities, a dynamic public culture, and a thriving creative ecosystem. 'Birmingham is bustling with annual festivals of jazz, comedy, poetry, film, and literature. It is also home to a notable artistic legacy — from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Royal Shakespeare Company and iconic cultural venues like the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Symphony Hall, to the region's great galleries like the Barber Institute, the Ikon Gallery, and the New Art Gallery Walsall,' she elaborates. Further, the city has come into the pop culture spotlight with shows like Peaky Blinders. This ever-evolving creative landscape made it conducive to host the first mini edition of Serendipity Arts Festival there. She feels that Birmingham, with its large South Asian diasporic community, provides a blueprint for experimentation with the idea of taking the arts across borders. For years now, the annual Serendipity Arts Festival, held across Panjim, has been rooted in the architecture and culture of the city. With every city having its own cultural fabric, how does the team plan to replicate that element going forward this year? 'Now that we kickstart with SAF's Mini Edition in Birmingham, we hope that the community here will respond to a living tapestry of art, music, and cultural narratives that bridge the East to the West,' says Rajgarhia. 'As in Goa, where we activate public spaces with our Festival, in Birmingham too we have iconic venues like the Symphony Hall and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to encourage the public's engagement with art.'
India.com
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Flight Trailer: Zakir Hussain, Mohit Chadda and Pawan Malhotra lead India's first AI-driven aerial actioner, set to release on...
Flight Trailer: Zakir Hussain, Mohit Chadda and Pawan Malhotra lead India's first AI-driven aerial actioner, set to release on... Buckle up for a high-octane cinematic experience as Flight , India's first aerial action thriller, returns to theatres—reborn through the power of artificial intelligence. Enhanced with cutting-edge AI-powered VFX, Flight delivers an immersive, hyper-realistic spectacle made for the big screen. Starring Mohit Chadda, Pawan Malhotra, and Zakir Hussain, Flight originally broke new ground in Indian cinema with its intense aerial sequences, suspenseful storytelling, and high production value. Now, reimagined with AI, every frame is crisper, more dynamic, and more lifelike—offering a fresh, futuristic visual experience. 'With this re-release, we've taken Flight to new heights – literally and visually' said Mohit Chadda. He added, 'Telling impactful stories has always been the aim, and now with the power of AI, we'll able to tell them in ways never imagined before. This version of Flight isn't just enhanced—it's transformed' Behind this innovation is Crazy Boyz Entertainment, the production house that first brought Flight to audiences, and its visual effects division, Crazy VFX. By integrating AI into the post-production workflow, Crazy VFX has drastically enhanced visual realism while significantly reducing turnaround time—marking a new era for Indian cinema. Mohit Chadda, who not only stars in the film but also founded Crazy Boyz Entertainment, brings a unique duality to the project. With a techie background Mohit seamlessly merges storytelling with technology. Over the years, he's built a diverse acting career spanning Bollywood, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, along with several successful TV appearances, and now stands at the intersection of art and innovation. The film's re-release is presented in collaboration with ATPL, led by renowned media entrepreneur Akkshay Rathie, who has partnered with Crazy Boyz Entertainment to bring this next-gen theatrical experience to audiences across India. 'What Crazy VFX has achieved with Flight is nothing short of revolutionary' said Akkshay Rathie, Director, Ashirwad Theatres Pvt. Ltd . 'They are reimagining the boundaries of filmmaking through AI—bringing a level of visual sophistication that is not only immersive but also game-changing for the industry. We're thrilled to bring this enhanced experience to the big screen' Whether you're watching it for the first time or reliving the adrenaline, Flight is not just a film anymore—it's India's first AI-enhanced action spectacle. And it's meant to be seen where it belongs: on the big screen. Flight (AI-Enhanced Version) is being released in theatres nationwide on May 30, 2025,
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Serendipity Arts Festival turns 10
Photo artist Dayanita Singh often credits tabla maestro Zakir Hussain as her mentor. She was still a student at the National Institute of Design when she first encountered him. Travelling with him and his peers through the '80s led to her first book, a graduation project, in 1986. Over the years, she photographed him innumerable times, as he became an intrinsic part of her life and art. Now months after he passed away in December 2024, Singh is paying him a tribute in Birmingham. 'Zakir Hussain Maquette' is one of the several highlights of the Serendipity Arts Festival Mini Edition that is on in Birmingham till May 26. The outreach is part of the multidisciplinary festival's tenth anniversary celebrations. Expanding its global outreach, over the next few months, it will travel to 10 cities, including Dubai. Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation, states, 'As we mark the 10th milestone edition of Serendipity Arts Festival, we see this not just as a moment to celebrate, but as an opportunity to evolve. This edition is a way of looking back at a decade of building one of South Asia's largest multidisciplinary arts festivals while taking it forward in the world, to new regions and audiences… While selecting international locations, we were identifying cities where vibrant communities, dynamic public culture, and thriving creative ecosystems intersect.' Birmingham and Dubai, Rajgarhia notes, became 'natural choices'. 'Birmingham has a rich artistic legacy with iconic cultural venues and a significant history in the performing arts. Added to this is a large South Asian diaspora… Later this year, we plan to travel with a slice of the Festival to Dubai. In the last few years, the burgeoning arts scene in the UAE has attracted art collectors, patrons, local visitors, international tourists and galleries, making it a meaningful choice for us to have a presence there.' Being held at Birmingham City University, the festival also involves its students, who are participating in the workshops and engaging with curators and artists. At the heart of the Mini Edition's programme is 'Thumri in the Chamber', exploring the layered beauty of the semi-classical Hindustani vocal form that embodies poetic storytelling, improvisation and emotional depth. The musical line-up also includes Portuguese-Goan music by Zubin Balaporia and Nadia Rebelo, and ghazals and Bollywood classics by Priyanka Barve and Sarang Kulkarni. A documentary directed by Sumantra Ghosal on Zakir Hussain's musical journey will be screened along with a curated selection of films on Indian music by Dharmesh Rajput. Also on display will be 'Eternal Echoes', archival images of Indian musical instruments from the collection of Sunil Kant Munjal, curated by Helen Acharya, 'highlighting the craftsmanship and cultural legacy of Indian music'. Rajgarhia states, 'The curation for Birmingham was very context-driven. In Goa, we have the luxury of time and scale with 10 days, 20-plus venues and over 150 projects; we're able to build a truly immersive experience that spills into the city. In contrast, the Mini Edition in Birmingham is a more focussed, four-day format, and so the approach had to be precise and layered. We curated projects that reflect the values of SAF — interdisciplinary, experimentation, and accessibility, but also ones that could resonate deeply with local and diasporic audiences.' While Goa will continue to be the flagship edition, the tenth anniversary year will also see select programming in Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai. 'We like to explore how the differences in each city, its character, diverse people, artistic collaborations, and eclectic socio-cultural influences shape our festival. Rather than simply touring with the same set of events, each city will have different programmes, some of which have been showcased in the past. They're curated in the context of the location. Some core projects may travel from one city to another, especially those that can adapt across formats. But each edition will also include region-specific collaborations and programming. The goal is not uniformity, but cultural resonance,' adds Rajgarhia.
