Page 103 - Human Interest

Kumaraswamy bats for Bharat Ratna for Siddaganga seer

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday asked followers of Shivakumara Swamiji to play a major role for getting the Bharat Ratna conferred on the late Seer. This is seen as a bid to woo the politically and numerically strong Lingayat community in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. "We honestly want to honour your sentiments. I am convinced that you will intensify your respect for Parama Poojya Swamiji and you will enable us to felicitate Swamiji with the Bharat Ratna..," Kumaraswamy said. The 111-year-old seer, who was addressed as the "Walking God", died on January 21. "Today, there have been some flaws in giving the Bharat Ratna awards but if you empower us with an opportunity, we will honour your wish by giving the award to the Swamiji," Kumaraswamy asserted. The chief minister was addressing a huge gathering at Siddaganga Mutt at Tumakuru during the 11th day ritual to mark the passing away of the seer. Known for his philanthropy, the Swamiji turned his

Over 9 crore toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat: Kovind

Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, over nine crore toilets have been constructed, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday, underlining that coverage of rural sanitation that was less than 40 per cent in 2014 has increased to 98 per cent. Addressing the joint session of Parliament, he said lack of toilets forced crores of Indians, especially "our daughters and daughters-in-law", to lead an undignified and an unhealthy life. According to an assessment, because of the toilets built, numerous poor persons have been spared of various kind of diseases and more than 3 lakh lives have been saved, Kovind said. "Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, more than 9 crore toilets have been constructed. "It is the outcome of this mass movement that coverage of rural sanitation that was less than 40 percent in 2014, has increased to 98 percent," the President said in his address. He added, "In the year of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we must remember that we have resolved in his memory to ..

Former IIMC director Hiten Bhaya passes away

Former Planning Commission member and ex-director of IIMC Hiten Bhaya passed away at his residence in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj on Thursday, a family member said. Bhaya was 98. He passed away at his residence in the early hours of Thursday, Bhaya's son-in-law Ranjit Nair said. Bhaya was a member of the Planning Commission in the Rajiv Gandhi government and had also served as director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and chairman of Hindustan Steel. An alumnus of Patna University, he is survived by his two daughters and a son. His wife had passed way in 2009.

Malaysia's 16th King takes oath in Kuala Lumpur

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmed Shah took oath as the 16th King of Malaysia at the National Palace here on Thursday for a term of five years, after his predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V stepped down suddenly on January 6 after two years in office.The new King or 'Yang di-Pertuan Agong' hails from Pahang and is tasked with overseeing key appointments as the head of the state and commander of the armed forces, reports Al Jazeera.He was also accorded a 21-gun salute at Parliament building ahead of Thursday's coronation.Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, which has nine royal families. The families take turns to elect the King through a vote in the Council of Rulers as part of a rotational system agreed on in 1957.The 15th King held the post for two years from December 13, 2016 to January 6, 2019, before stepping down. He still remains the monarch of the northeastern state of Kelantan in Malaysia.

Malaysia enthrones new king after historic abdication

Malaysia on Thursday installed a new king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, after the last monarch abdicated in a historic first following his reported marriage to a Russian ex-beauty queen. In a ceremony steeped in pomp and centuries of tradition, the sports-loving sultan, dressed in aqua blue formal wear, took the oath of office at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was televised nationally and attended by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and hundreds of guests decked out in Islamic finery. Before being sworn in at the palace, the 59-year-old, who is also the ceremonial ruler of central Pahang state, was given a welcome at the national parliament and inspected a guard of honour. His predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, stepped aside this month following just two years on the throne after he went on medical leave. Reports then surfaced he had married a former Miss Moscow. No official reason was given for his abdication, but it was the first time a king had stepped aside ...

Padma Shri a recognition of merit, not identity: Narthaki Nataraj

Narthaki Nataraj, the first transgender to be awarded the Padma Shri, opined that she was chosen for the civilian decoration not because of her gender or identity but solely on the basis of merit and her talent as a Bharatanatyam artist."I was chosen not because of my transgender identity but on basis of merit as a Bharatanatyam artist. I have given more than 30 years of my life in the service of Bharatanatyam," she told ANI.Nataraj, a professional Bharatnatyam artist specialising in Thanjavur-based Nayaki Bhava tradition of dance, said that though she is in her fifties, she still feels like a 16-year-old. "On Facebook, I have mentioned myself as "Nityakalyani" because I feel like a beautiful angel from the core of my heart, I feel like a beautiful transgender woman, a beautiful dancer. Though I have a lot of wounds, I hide them," said Nataraj.Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced the name of 112 recipients of the Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the ...

Delhi shelter home owner held for confining, extorting money from couples

A Delhi based NGO that provided shelter and protection to young couples facing threats of honour killing was found to be illegally confining couples and extorting money from them, according to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

Modi stops speech when lensman faints

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday halted while speaking at a function held here after seeing a cameraman of a news channel faint. He quickly gestured officials to take care of the man.

Woman's leg gets stuck in train toilet, rescued

: In a bizarre incident, a woman's leg got stuck deep in the toilet hole of an express train and she was rescued after the western commode was detached and cut open. The woman, who was not a passenger, endured agony for about half an hour till her leg was freed. The departure of the Hyderabad bound Charminar Express was delayed for about 20 minutes on Tuesday evening due to the incident. A railway official said the woman, who appeared to be mentally challenged, got into the coach at the Chennai Central Railway station after loitering around for some time. When she tried to use the toilet, her left leg somehow got stuck deep in the hole. "We are not sure how her leg got stuck in it. She was brought out along with the toilet and was freed after the toilet was cut and dismantled," the official told PTI, adding that she was also immediately provided medical care. When the woman could not get her leg out, she raised an alarm, attracting the attention of passengers, who alerted

'Love Commandos' NGO owner arrested for confining, extorting money from couples

The owner of the popular 'Love Commandos' NGO, who gained popularity after appearing in actor Aamir Khan's television show Satyamev Jayate, has been arrested for allegedly confining, intimidating and extorting money from couples, police said Wednesday. The NGO helps in uniting couples whose parents are opposed to their relationship. It had first come under the spotlight when its chief Sanjay Sachdev, featured on the TV show as part of an honour killing series, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said. Sachdev was arrested Tuesday night after a woman approached the DCW and levelled allegations of extortion, confinement and intimidation against him. The DCW subsequently approached the Paharganj police station, following which a case was registered. Sachdev has been sent to 14-day judicial custody, police said. The DCW said Sachdev often used to get drunk at night and misbehave with women staying at the NGO's shelter home. He would also force men residing there to drink liquor with ...

Foreign courts can't decide divorce pleas for Hindu marriage registered in India: Bombay HC

Divorce proceedings in a marriage solemnised as as per the Hindu rites and registered in India cannot be initiated in foreign courts, the Bombay High Court has ruled. Justice R D Dhanuka Tuesday allowed a petition filed by a woman seeking a stay on the divorce proceedings initiated by her estranged husband, an Indian who is a domicile of the UK, before a family court at Manchester in the UK. The couple got married in December 2012 in Mumbai as per the Hindu rites and registered the marriage in January 2013 before the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. Soon after their marriage, the man returned to the UK and the woman joined him there in July 2013. She claimed in her petition that since then she was harassed by him and was also asked to leave his home and go back to India. The woman returned to India in November 2013 and since then till June 2014, the woman and her family members tried to reconcile issues between the couple. In June 2014, the woman received a legal notice informing

Technician faints at airport, PM asks officials to attend to him

In a goodwill gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked officials to provide necessary help to a technician, who fell unconscious during his address at the Surat airport on Wednesday. The unidentified technician, who was deployed near a large LED screen, suddenly fainted when Modi was delivering his speech. Mediapersons rushed towards the man and offered him water. Seeing this, the prime minister took a break from his speech and asked his security personnel to provide necessary help to the technician. An ambulance was immediately called and the man, who was deployed to supervise the functioning of the LED screens installed for the event, was taken to the civil hospital here. Modi was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the extension of the new terminal building at the airport here.

Body shaming started from media: Bani J

TV personality Bani J is against body shaming and says it started from the media.

When PM Modi suddenly stopped his speech in Surat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while delivering a speech here, suddenly stopped as one of the cameramen fainted.Prime Minister Modi had just inaugurated the new terminal building of Surat airport, when during his speech he was seen gesturing towards his officers and SPG personnel after he observed from the stage that a cameraman had fainted.The PM told the officers to urgently arrange for an ambulance for the cameraman.The cameraman, Kishan Ramolia had developed dizziness and fainted. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in a 108 Ambulance.

Fernandes to be cremated Thursday, ashes to be buried in Christian cemetery

Former Defence Minister George Fernandes will be cremated on Thursday and the ashes will be buried in a Christian cemetery on Friday.

My writings are obliquely biographical: Andre Aciman

American author Andre Aciman, whose celebrated novel "Call Me By Your Name" (CMBYN) adapted onscreen by Luca Guadagnino won big at the Academy Award last year, says he hates stultifying facts and his writings are "obliquely biographical".

Col Ranveer Jamwal meets JK Guv; highlights need for sports policy

Ace mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal Wednesday called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik here and highlighted the need for a sports policy at state level. The Army officer, who hails from Samba district, talked about the promotion of adventure sports in the state and the importance of framing a sports policy, a spokesman of Raj Bhavan said. Col Jamwal was recognised as the best mountaineer in India by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation in the year 2017. The Governor complimented the officer for his recent achievements, including climbing the highest mountains of all the seven continents and six mountain peaks above 6,000 metres in just 10 days, the spokesman said. Col Jamwal is also among the few mountaineers in the world to have scaled Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, on three occasions.

Kids' show inspired by Mahatma Gandhi in works

"Bapu", a show inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, is being made for children.

Sahitya Akademi announces four eminent writers as fellows

The Sahitya Akademi on Tuesday recommended four distinguished Indian writers as its fellows: Jayant Mahapatra, Padma Sachdev, Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari and Nagen Saikia.

Last rites for Fernandes to be decided after son's arrival

A decision on the day and time for conducting the last rites for George Fenandes, the former Defence Minister who died here on Tuesday, will be taken soon, his wife Leila Kabir said.