Page 411 - Human Interest

Odisha announces Rs 1 L cash prize for Nat'l Bravery Awards

The Odisha govenrment today announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each for the National Bravery Award winners from the state. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made the announcement while felicitating Mamata Dalai and Pankaj Mohanta -- the two winners of the award this year. Both winners were given Rs 1 lakh cash prize. The two children from Odisha had received the National Bravery Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 24. While felicitating them at the state secretariat here, Patnaik said the prize will also be given to those receiving the bravery award in the future. Mamata, a six-year-old girl and a native of Bankuala village under Dangamal Gram Panchyat in Kendrapara district, was chosen for the award for saving her sister from a giant crocodile on April 6, 2017. Similarly, 13-year-old Pankaj from Keonjhar district had saved three women from drowning in the Baitarani River. Patnaik also felicitated the members of Odisha womens cricket team who recently ..

Independent MLA resigns from Meghalaya Assembly

Independent MLA David A Nongrum today resigned from the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, officials said here. "David A Nongrum has submitted his resignation letter today. I have forwarded the same to the Speaker for information and necessary action," Assembly Commissioner and Secretary Andrew Simons told PTI. David, the son of former Speaker Charles Pyngrope, has been named in a list released by the Congress last week to contest from Mawryngkneng constituency.

Over 12-hour practice leads to ITBP bagging best marching contingent award

Over 12-hours practice for two months and special yoga and meditation sessions led the ITBP to win the best marching contingent award for the sixth time -- highest in the last two decades achieved by any paramilitary or auxiliary force -- on Republic Day.

Public indifference to the fore as man falls from 3rd floor

In an incident of public apathy, a man lay unconscious on a busy street here for several minutes after he fell down from the third floor of a lodge before a woman advocate persuaded some persons to rush him to hospital. The incident occurred at the busy Padma Junction here at 6.30 pm on Saturday. The 46-year-old man, who was injured seriously in the fall, was taken to the general hospital here after the woman, Ranjini, noticed his plight and pleaded for help from passers-by to save his life. CCTV footage telecast by various television channels today showed the man falling from the third floor where he had been reportedly staying for quite some time. He is seen lying on the road without any assistance from passers-by and the woman is seen requesting them to take him to hospital. "The man was severely injured. He was bleeding but still breathing. So I did not think twice. I along with my daughter pleaded for help from people to take him to hospital at the earliest," she ..

Chhattisgarh's first Governor passes away

The first governor of Chhattisgarh and former governor of Tripura, Dinesh Nandan Sahay, passed away on Monday morning in Bihar's Madhepura.Late Dinesh Nandan Sahay was the Governor of Chhattisgarh from 2000 to 2003.He was born on February 2, 1936, in Madhepura.Dinesh Nandan Sahay joined Indian Police Service in 1960 after serving as a lecturer in the H.D. College of Arrah.In 2003, he became the Governor of Tripura.

Calicut University confers D.Litt on Mohanlal, P.T.Usha

Kerala Governor and Calicut University Chancellor P. Sathasivam on Monday conferred the D. Litt on Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and veteran athlete P.T. Usha, "the Payyoli Express".

Postage stamp released in honour of footballer T Ao

Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi has released a postage stamp on former India football captain Dr Talimeren Ao on his birth centenary year. Ao had captained the Indian team in 1948 London Olympics and played for Mohun Bagan for several years in the 1940s. "Ao was the man behind promoting and popularising football in India and more particularly in Assam. Besides being a footballer, Ao was a doctor by profession who worked as an assistant civil surgeon," Mukhi said after releasing the stamp yesterday night. Born on 28 January, 1918 in the then Naga Hills region of Assam, Ao used to play in centre half position. He also praised the Sports Authorities of India for organising the birth centenary programme of the footballer who died in 1998.

Toni Braxton gained almost 8 kg for movie role

Singer-turned-actress Toni Braxton has revealed she gained 7.7 kg for her role in "Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story".

Amitabh Bachchan distributes hearing aids at charity function

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan distributed hearing aid kits among some hearing impaired persons at a charity function he attended on Sunday evening.

Punjab Regiment, ITBP best marching contingents at R-Day Parade

Maharashtra won the award for best state tableau at this year's Republic Day Parade here while the Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army bagged the award for the best marching contingent among the three services and ITBP among the paramilitary and auxiliary forces.

There was mystery around Zadran, so went for him: Zinta

Sixteen-year old Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Zadran has some "mystery element" about him which prompted the King XI Punjab to bid a whopping Rs 4 crore for him, said co-owner Preity Zinta. "It was a joint effort of the coaching and scouting staff. His (Mujeeb) name was always there and he has been an interesting talent and a bit of a mystery, so we went for him," Zinta told reporters after the auction. Asked the reason for giving hot chase for Jaydev Unadkat who was sold for Rs 11.5 crore, Rajasthan Royals CEO Ranjit Barthakur said just to fill the gap of a death bowler and also he was the second highest wicket taker last IPL season. "If you look at his performance last year, he was the highest wicket-taker and in a very short career, he has hauled 100 wickets. We were lacking in death bowling and wanted to fill that gap. We did not go after him for any emotional reason, but to fill the gap," he said.

Two youths drown in Nethravati river

A young man died while another was feared drowned in a river near here, police said today. The two youths, part of a nine-member group on a picnic, were swimming in the Nethravati River at Thumbay in nearby Bantwal when they got caught in currents and washed away. The body of one of the persons had been retrieved, police said adding expert swimmers and locals along with police were looking for the missing person.

Meghan Markle plans 'affectionate' wedding speech for Prince

Meghan Markle is considering a break from royal tradition by making an "affectionate" speech for Britain's Prince Harry at their wedding in May, according to a news report today. The 36-year-old American actress is expected to deliver the speech at the reception, which will follow the wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, due to be attended by around 800 guests on May 19. 'The Sunday Times' said the speech by Markle, who is likely to be made a Duchess by Queen Elizabeth II on her wedding day, will include her gratitude to the royal family. The actress' father, 73-year-old Thomas Markle, is a former Hollywood lighting director known to be deeply private. While he is expected to walk his daughter down the aisle, he is less likely to speak at the reception in keeping with the tradition for the father of the bride. "The feeling is if Meghans father doesnt speak for her, she wants to have the chance to thank her husband and everyone who has supported them. .

R-Day Parade: Maharashtra wins best tableau award

The tableau from Maharashtra depicting the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath here won the first prize, followed by Assam's tableau on traditional masks of the Satras. The tableau of Chhattisgarh, which depicted Ramgarh's ancient amphitheatre in addition to artistes performing dance based on Kalidasa's 'Meghadootam', was awarded the third prize. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the awards to the winning teams at an event here today. Among the three military services, the contingent from the Army's Punjab Regiment was awarded the best marching contingent trophy, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police team won the best marching contingent prize among the para-military and other auxiliary forces. In the category of tableaux representing Union ministries and departments, the best tableau award went to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The tableau depicted 'Khelo India', the national programme for ...

UAE's shopping mall displays world's largest gold ring

Shopping mall Sahara Centre in Sharjah, one of the seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said on Sunday that it is displaying the world's largest gold ring, Najmat Taiba (Arabic for 'Star of Taiba').

Padma award selection process transformed, common people being

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his government had transformed the process for selecting Padma award winners and common people were now being honoured because the emphasis was no longer on the name of a nominee, but on the work done. In the year's first 'Mann ki Baat' address, Modi said the awards are being bestowed on people "who do not live in big cities and are not visible in newspapers and TV". "Making the (nomination) process online has led to transparency. The selection process for these awards has undergone a transformation," he said. People were being honoured without a recommendation, he stressed in his monthly radio programme. "If you look at these winners, you will feel proud that such kind of people live in society and will also naturally feel proud that they are getting this recognition without any 'sifarish' (recommendation)," he said. "Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is ...

Maharashtra bags best tableaux award

The award for best tableaux was awarded to Maharashta on Sunday.Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the awards.Maharashta, displayed the coronation of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj.The second and third positions were backed by Assam and Chhattisgarh respectively.The award for Best marching Contingent among the three services went to Punjab Regiment Contingent.The Best Marching Contingent award among Para-Military forces and other auxiliary marching contingents went to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Marching Contingent.The Best Tableaux for Central Ministries/Departments award was won by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (for Khelo-India).The Best School Children item was won by South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpu, Maharashtra for Madhya Pradesh Baredi Dance.Delhi's Oxford Foundation School won the prize for Shikshit Bharat, Shashak Bharat dance.Showcasing India's cultural diversity and various schemes of the government, tableaux of fourteen states and nine ...

R-Day: Maha tableau wins 1st prize; CM congratulates team

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has congratulated the team behind the state's tableau which won the first prize at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The certificate issued by the Ministry of Defence says that the tableau on the coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, presented by Maharashtra at the Republic Day parade this year, has been awarded the first prize. Various states and Union Territories had put up their tableaux during the parade on January 26 in the national capital. Fadnavis in a tweet said, "It was a great news and proud moment." "Congratulations to the entire team who worked hard and achieved this," he said in the tweet. The tableau was created by well known art director Nitin Desai and his team. The coronation ceremony was enacted on the tableau by 10 artists. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, also congratulated the team behind the prize-winning tableau.

Mann ki Baat: Padma award selection process transformed, says Narendra Modi

In the year's first Mann Ki Baat programme PM Modi said, "now anyone can recommend anyone" for the Padmashree Award

Age is just a number: Shruti Haasan

Shruti Haasan turned 32 on Sunday, and she is not fretting over her age. The actress finds the number concept "silly".