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Mahana dials investors in run-up to ground breaking ceremony
With a fortnight to go for the ground breaking ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of 64 projects worth Rs 55,000 crore on July 29, the industrial development department is abuzz with activity these days.
With a fortnight to go for the ground breaking ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of 64 projects worth Rs 55,000 crore on July 29, the industrial development department is abuzz with activity these days.
Industrial development minister Satish Mahana is busy contacting on phone those investors who had signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the state government during the UP Investors Summit in Lucknow in February.
Mahana says: “I have a list of the owners and officers of the 64 companies with their telephone number who have signed MoUs with the state government.”
He directs his staff to ring up an official of ACC, which has submitted a proposal to set up a cement plant in Amethi district.
When the officer comes on the line, Mahana asks him if the allotment of land has been completed.
He tells the ACC official that the state government officers have been directed to expedite land allotment. “If there is any hiccup, feel free to contact me,” he adds.
Next, he calls Gautam Kanodia of the Kanodia Group to know if a no objection certificate has been issued by the administration. When the reply is affirmative, he invites Kanodia to attend the ground breaking ceremony.
“I will talk to all the investors in the run-up to the ground breaking ceremony,” he says and adds chief minister Yogi Adityanath will also talk to the investors to get their feedback about the facilities provided by the state government to launch projects.
“It’s a prestigious project for the state government. We have named it ‘Rising UP Powering New India’,” Mahana says.
His staff tells him the owner of Intex, which has submitted a proposal to set up a project in Noida, is on the line.
Mahana asks him if he is facing problems in setting up the unit. The company owner tells him production work will start after three months as construction work is in progress now.
“I have talked to the owner of Telengana Electric Works and WTC who are investing in the IT and electric sector. DCM has signed an MoU for setting up sugar industry, Dharampal Prempal Company has signed MoU for investment in horticulture sector,” he says.
The amount of investment that the BJP government has been able to draw in two years is more than what the previous governments could do in 15 years, he claims.
Later, Mahana reviewed preparation for the ground breaking ceremony in a meeting with officers.
He told officers to contact businessmen and give clearances to projects, the foundation of which will be laid during the PM’s visit.
Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani, Infosys non-executive chairman Nandan Nilekani, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrashekharan and CII chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal are likely to attend the programme. Around 1500 businessmen, entrepreneurs and officers were invited to attend the programme, Mahana said.
Union commerce and industries minister, Suresh Prabhu, defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman and electronic and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will also attend the ground breaking ceremony.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Rajesh Kumar Singh,Hindustan Times,Lucknow / July 16th, 2018
Tryst with art and faith from Varanasi
Bhubaneswar:
An ongoing art exhibition at Subhadra gallery here attempting to connect art and spirituality is attracting a number of art enthusiasts.
Titled, The Pilgrim, the exhibition features artworks by 20 artists from Varanasi.
Around 80 paintings are on display. A number of artworks from the artists of the state have also been put up.
P. Pranam Singh, professor of painting at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, said: “Such exhibitions definitely attract more crowds as well as provides an opportunity to the artists to interact with art lovers.”
Artist Sunil Viswakarma from Banaras stressed on the visual importance of ancient Indian culture through his paintings.
Many of the paintings focus on nature and its connection with spirituality. Through deep colours, the paintings bring to life the full blooms flanked by majestic trees and vines.
The contemporary paintings by Sanjay Singh from Varanasi caught the eyes of many that have depicted modern life through brushstrokes
Snehalata’s painting on a socio-eco theme was highly appreciated both by art critics and guests present.
Former chief administrative officer of the Puri Jagannath temple and art connoisseur Pradip Kumar Jena, who inaugurated the festival, said: “The beautiful amalgamation of diverse paintings has really given the show a larger audience.”
Artists such as Sunil Kuswah, Pankaj Verma, Asha Prakash, Sarda Singh, Nidhi Tripathi, Vishka, Shradha Chaturvedi, Rahul Singh, Ajay Upasani, Satyendra Baoni, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Baldev Maharatha, Raghunath Sahoo, Binodini Behera, Jaya Jena, Tuhina Joshi, Sanjay Ketan, Arun Pallur, Suresh Dhal and Manas Ranjan Jena were present on the occasion.
Gallery founder Rabi Rath said: “Cultivating the arts as a spiritual practice is a path to freeing our imagination and developing valuable skills for vital living in the world. The exhibition was an attempt of that.”
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,Calcutta,India / Home> Odisha / by Anwesha Ambaly / June 19th, 2018
NSD’s new chapter in Varanasi will revive Sanskrit plays
Playwright Actor Director Ram ji Bali Ramji Bali has been appointed as the first director of the new branch.
In its six decades of history, the National School of Drama (NSD) has expanded itself outside its celebrated Delhi precincts with opening up of an extension centre in Varanasi recently. The renowned institute has roped in one of its eminent alumni, Rangamy Ramji Bali, to become the first director of the new branch.
As of now, the new centre will run a one-year certificate course and only deal with Sanskrit plays translated into Hindi. Like its parent branch, the centre will take in 26 students from all over India. The admission for the first batch is in process at the moment. The last date for submitting the forms is 20 July and the final interviews will be held between 25 and 27 July in Varanasi itself. The classes are scheduled to start from the first week of August.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Bali said that there is no better place to start the institute outside Delhi than in the land of Shiva, the originator of “Natya Shastra” or the science of dances.
Better known as Kashi, the place is considered as the land of Hindu mythology that connects Sanskrit scriptures to the rest of the country, he explained, adding that the new centre’s main objective will be to introduce this Natya Shastra written in these scriptures to the world.
“The NSD teaches everything to its students, from Western to Indian classical and contemporary. But there has always been a concern that our youths are not attached to their own culture in this modern era. Hence, NSD-Varanasi will help break this stereotype, as we will include everything—from dance to music to acting. This will be taught from an Indian classical point of view, which will be amalgamated with mythology and Natya Shastra,” said Bali.
Bali further added that the style of performance will be inspired by “Natya Shastra and mythology”, but the presentation will be in Hindi with a “touch of Sanskrit in it”.
Pointing out that there is a false impression that the youth is “rigid” when it comes to Sanskrit, he said, “It is a misconception. I have met a lot of students who have displayed their interest in Natya Shastra. This is why one of our main objectives will be to break this stereotype.”
The institute has plans to hire teachers on contractual basis, giving preference to scholars with Sanskrit background.
“People who have studied or are experts in Sanskrit will be hired for the job. This will give new opportunities to people with Sanskrit degrees,” Bali added.
The new centre aims at making its students realise the importance of Sanskrit scriptures that have mostly surfaced in Varanasi itself. “We will try to make our students understand the importance of Natya Shastra and then slowly teach the basics of Sanskrit in the span of one year,” he said.
The new NSD Director, who always wanted to encourage Natya Shastra, said he “personally wants every student, who walks out of NSD, to know something about Sanskrit”.
To provide students with an exposure to a wide array of knowledge on Indian culture, the students will be taken on a month-long trip to different corners of the country.
Explaining the involvement of NSD-Delhi, Bali said, “The plays will be staged independently by the Varanasi centre only. Though the centre will be guided by the Delhi branch, everything else will be done independently there.”
The new NSD branch will be opened at the Nagari Natak Mandali’s campus in School Kabir Chaura in the holy city. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in Varanasi. We don’t have our own campus yet, but are working on it,” said Bali.
A resident of Faridabad, Bali has penned seven plays and has directed approximately 75 plays so far. He is an alumnus of 2001 batch of the NSD, Delhi. He will be seen in the upcoming projects of noted director Tigmanshu Dhulia—“Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3” and “Yaara”.
source: http://www.sundaymagazineive.in / Sunday Guardian Live / Home> News / by Nibedita Saha & Nikita Jain / July 08th, 2018