- Saturday, March 25, 2023
Top Indian opposition figure Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday (25) his disqualification from parliament was retribution for his demanding a probe into prime minister Narendra Modi's relationship with industrialist Gautam Adani. Gandhi was stripped of his parliamentary seat on Friday (24), a day after a defamation conviction in Modi's home…
Aircraft manufacturing majors, Airbus and Boeing, are under increasing pressure to establish plane assembly plants in India. India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has said that it is time for the companies to meet the rising demand for aircraft by assembling them within the country. According to Scindia, the conditions…
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as an MP after being convicted in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail. The law The Representation of the People Act, 1951, the law that governs elections in India, mandates disqualification of any lawmaker who is "convicted of…
TOP opposition figure Rahul Gandhi was expelled from India's Parliament on Friday (24), a day after his defamation conviction for a remark seen as an insult against prime minister Narendra Modi. Modi's government has been widely accused of using the law to target and silence critics, and the case in…
India’s Surat court which on Thursday (23) sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case noted that the seriousness of his crime increased because a speech delivered by a member of parliament has a "very wide impact on the public." Convicting Gandhi under…
Michael Bracewell will miss New Zealand's one-day international series against Sri Lanka, the country's cricket board (NZC) said on Saturday (18), after he was signed by Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bangalore to replace Will Jacks. All-rounder Rachin Ravindra will take Bracewell's spot in the New Zealand squad…
The cast and creators of Prime Video’s family comedy series, Happy Family: Conditions Apply were in the "maja maa” mode as they visited the city of Ahmedabad. Within a few days of its release, the episodic series has been receiving rave reviews and love from viewers for its highly relatable…
MOTHERS make a major impact on their children, and it is no different for Eastern Eye columnists Mita Mistry, Priya Mulji and Neelam Mistry-Thaker. In a special Mother’s Day tribute, the three writers shared how they were inspired by their own mother. Mita Mistry I am so grateful to my…
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Gujaratis will focus on issues of importance to the community in UK, a statement said. The public launch of the APPG will take place on 25 April 2023 inside the houses of parliament, coinciding with Gujarat Day, the statement added. The inaugural meeting…
India will monitor their players' workloads in the run-up to the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, with some of them set to play key roles with their respective teams in the Indian Premier League, captain Rohit Sharma said. Sharma, whose team won a 2-1 home series against the…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese pledged greater defence ties on Friday (10) after a diplomatic tour where the leaders bonded over their countries' shared love of cricket. The countries, with Japan and the United States, make up the Quad alliance that is seen as…
AUSTRALIAN prime minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday (8) paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and played Holi in Gujarat’s capital on the first day of his trip to India. Albanese, who is on a four-day trip to India, was welcomed at the…
Due to the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal, Hilsa fish virtually disappeared from the dining tables of Prayagraj and other Uttar Pradesh cities. But now, there is a possibility that fish connoisseurs could enjoy fresh Hilsa once again. About 30,000 rare Hilsa fish, collected from the lower portion of the…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham and pathbreaking lawyer Ayesha Vardag were among the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (7). Sunak took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award for smashing through the ultimate glass ceiling by…
RISHI SUNAK paid tribute to his family as his elevation to become Britain’s first Asian prime minister kept him on top of the 2023 GG2 Power List for the second consecutive year and was also recognised with a coveted award in London on Tuesday (7). Sunak tops the ranking of…
THE inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) kicks off on Saturday (4) with a match between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants, in what could be a watershed moment for women's cricket. Even though the Women's T20 Challenge ran as a three-team sideshow to the men's Indian Premier League from…
There is no doubt Shraddha Kapoor is one of the most popular Bollywood stars who has several successful films to her credit. She currently awaits the release of her next Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. The rage for the film is constantly spreading all around with its cast Ranbir Kapoor and…
Women's Premier League team Delhi Capitals on Thursday (2) announced that Australia captain Meg Lanning will lead the side in the tournament. The 30-year-old has led her country to four Twenty20 World Cup titles, the latest in South Africa last month, and a one-day crown. The WPL, a T20 competition,…
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is unstoppable and how! Last year the filmmaker delivered one of the most successful films of Indian cinema in the form of The Kashmir Files and won acclaim from the audience to critics. The filmmaker and the cast of the film have won back-to-back awards ever since…
THE Gujarat Police have arrested two agents for human trafficking, two months after an Indian national died while scaling the border wall in an attempt to enter the US illegally from Mexico. A case has been registered against seven persons, one from Ahmedabad and others from Gandhinagar, and two of…
THE BBC is not driven by an “agenda” but by purpose and will not be put off reporting impartially and without fear or favour, the UK-headquartered media organisation’s chief has said days after the income tax department survey operation at its New Delhi and Mumbai offices. In an email to…
BRITAIN has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after a survey by Indian tax authorities on the media corporation's New Delhi and Mumbai offices last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons…
A BIG streaming site success this month has been Class, the Hindi adaptation of the hit Spanish drama Elite. The eight-episode Netflix series about working-class students enrolled at an elite school with wealthy classmates has received a positive response from critics and audiences alike. Exciting newcomer Chintan Rachchh has been…
IN another serious attack on the Gujarati community living in Africa, a young man has been shot dead in Johannesburg, South Africa, by a local black man who allegedly tried to rob him. The incident happened on Monday (20). The deceased was identified as Juber Patel, a native of Jambusar…
BROKEN corroded wires, improper welding and changes to the walking surface of a 145-year-old hanging bridge in India contributed to its collapse last year that killed 135 people, an investigation has found. The colonial-era suspension bridge in the town of Morbi in the western state of Gujarat was packed with…
The Income Tax department's 'survey' at the BBC office here continued for the third straight day on Thursday (16) as officials gathered financial data from select staffers and made copies of electronic and paper data of the news organisation. The operation that began at the BBC offices in Delhi and…
India is looking into the BBC's tax structure, the British news organisation said in an internal memo on Wednesday (15), as officials searched its premises in New Delhi and Mumbai for a second day, weeks after India banned a BBC documentary as propaganda. A senior Indian government official said the…
The UK is “closely monitoring” the situation following the Income Tax surveys at the BBC offices in India, British government sources said. The Income Tax department conducted survey operations at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday with the officials describing the action as part of an investigation…
Global media watchdogs and human rights bodies on Tuesday criticised the Indian government's income tax survey operations at the BBC's offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, saying the action "smacks of intimidation" and was a "blatant affront" to freedom of expression. The Income Tax officials described the action as part…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has "nothing to hide or be afraid of" on the controversy over the Adani group, the home minister said on Tuesday, responding to opposition allegations of favouring the conglomerate attacked by a U.S. short seller. Led by billionaire Gautam Adani, the business house's seven…
Indian tax officers searched the BBC's bureaus in New Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday, the British broadcaster said, weeks after the government came down hard against a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The documentary focused on the Hindu nationalist politician's leadership…
India is expressing pride over its legacy with tremendous self-confidence and asserting that it will strengthen its ancient traditions while ushering in modernity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. He also underlined that the country's policies and efforts have no discrimination and are aimed at serving the poor, the…
Smriti Mandhana stole the thunder in India’s inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auctions in Mumbai on Monday (13). Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pipped Mumbai Indians in a bidding war to buy the India vice-captain for Rs 34 million (£339,759). India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came much cheaper for Mumbai Indians at…
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking to impose a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in India in wake of a controversial documentary regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots, terming it "entirely misconceived" and "absolutely meritless". A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s enormous popularity remains intact despite the biggest political attack on him in years as rivals accuse his government of giving undue favours to the Adani Group, approval ratings showed on Friday. Opposition parties stalled parliament for three days since last week and staged street protests…
EVERY three minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia – around 210,000 a year – and 25,000 people with dementia are from ethnic minorities. Dementia is on the rise everywhere, but it’s going to hit ethnic minorities the hardest – with an expected 700 per cent increase in…
Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (7) spoke to his British counterpart James Cleverly focusing on various aspects of bilateral ties and India's G-20 presidency. The phone conversation came ahead of the British foreign secretary's likely visit to India to attend a meeting of the G-20 foreign ministers…
Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Monday announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund of 50 million dollars for women to fight climate change in association with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) founded by late activist Ela Bhatt. The fund will empower women and communities to fight climate…
An Indian businessman kidnapped in South Africa has been released after the payment of a ransom, media reports said.Keyur Malli landed in Johannesburg on January 20 to strike a deal related to metals but he was kidnapped by a “Pakistani gang,” from outside the airport. Malli's family in Rajkot in…
The market rout suffered by Indian tycoon Gautam Adani is the latest corporate scandal to plague one of the world's largest economies despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to root out corruption.Properly investigating the claims of fraud that triggered the sell-off in Adani's companies will be a key test for…
ACCLAIMED musician Nitin Sawhney won the top award at Eastern Eye’s annual Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs), which recognise the achievements of Britain’s south Asian community in the arts, creative and media industries. Sawhney, whose latest album, Immigrants, examines the complexities of identities in modern Britain, was presented The…
Financial contagion fears spread in India on Friday as the Adani Group's crisis worsened, with ratings agency Moody's warning the conglomerate may struggle to raise capital and S&P cutting the outlook on two of its businesses. Chaotic scenes in both houses of India's parliament led to their adjournment on Friday…
The Biden administration is in talks with Indian officials over a possible White House visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year, according to a U.S. official aware of the discussions and another person briefed on the matter. U.S. President Joe Biden is eager to deepen ties with the…
While an explosive report by Hindenburg Research about India's Adani Group has triggered fear that it could lead to serious economic turmoil for the south Asian nation's economy, it has been reported that a number of billionaires world over are exposed to the conglomerate's sensational crash. Bloomberg reported that some…
Both houses of India's parliament were adjourned on Friday amid chaotic scenes as some lawmakers demanded an inquiry following the meltdown of shares in billionaire Gautam Adani's group companies, which some fear could spark wider financial turmoil. Shares in Adani companies recovered after sharp falls earlier in the day, but…
Beleaguered Indian tycoon Gautam Adani denied Friday that his rise to become Asia's richest man -- a title he has lost in a phenomenal stock rout -- was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as shares in his conglomerate slumped again. His listed units' combined market capitalisation has collapsed by…
BRITAIN’S Asian community is mourning the loss of a respected community and spiritual leader, Pujya Rambapa, following his passing on Tuesday (31), aged 102. Rambapa, as he was fondly known, dedicated his life to the spread of Hinduism, spirituality as well as charitable and philanthropic activities in the UK and…
WHEN Black was released on February 4, 2005, it broke all the Bollywood rules and still became a blockbuster success. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed drama about a deaf and blind woman, and her relationship with an elderly teacher, who later develops Alzheimer's disease won critical acclaim and multiple awards.…
Rajya Sabha MP, the upper house of Indian parliament, and senior Supreme Court advocate Mahesh Jethmalani on Thursday lashed out at "BBC apologists" for seeking proof of the Chinese tech giant Huawei's payments to the British Broadcasting Corporation, and alleged that the UK-based broadcaster has 18 other Chinese clients. https://twitter.com/JethmalaniM/status/1620974901128761344?s=20&t=V56PfN6BxJtgGvPYWH1dFA…
Opposition lawmakers shouted slogans against the Adani Group in India's parliament on Thursday after a report by a U.S. short seller that accused the conglomerate of improper use of tax havens and stock manipulation, while also raising concerns over high debt levels. The protest by opposition parties came a day…
Magic of India, a social enterprise in London which brings Indian culture and language alive in fun-filled and engaging ways, including school workshops and festive events, will organise the Holi Colour Dance Festival at the Swiss Cottage Open Space on March 12 on the occasion of Holi or the festival…
Gujarat Giants has appointed legendary Indian batter and former captain Mithali Raj as the mentor and advisor for the side ahead of the inaugural edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL), which will take place in March-April 2023. Over the years, Mithali's trailblazing achievements and contributions to Indian cricket have…
Team India all-rounder Axar Patel tied the nuptial knot with his best friend and long-time girlfriend Meha Patel in a private ceremony in Vadodara, Gujarat, on January 26. Axar, who took a leave from his national team commitments for family reasons, married his fiancé a year after he got engaged…
Russia has accused the BBC of "waging an information war" on different fronts - not only against Moscow, but also against other global centres of power pursuing an independent policy, days after the British broadcaster released a controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova…
Hundreds representing different Indian diaspora organisations gathered outside the BBC headquarters in central London on Sunday to protest against what they branded as “fake news” behind the broadcaster’s controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The “Chalo BBC” protests were coordinated across BBC studios in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (28) reprimanded foreign newspapers for reserving adjectives like "Hindu nationalist" for the Indian government. "If you read foreign newspapers, they use words like Hindu Nationalist Government. In America or Europe, they won't say Christian Nationalist... these adjectives are reserved for us. They don't…
India's Gautam Adani, the school drop-out turned billionaire who rose to become Asia's richest man, faces possibly the biggest challenge of his career after a U.S. short-seller cast doubts on his business practices, hammering shares in his companies and his reputation. Adani, whose home state is Gujarat in western India,…
Police in India on Friday (27) charged 10 people with homicide in connection with the collapse of a colonial-era footbridge last year that killed at least 135 people, a top official told Reuters. The 145-year-old suspension bridge in the town of Morbi was packed with sightseers when it collapsed on…
Shares of India's Adani Enterprises sank nearly 20 per cent on Friday (27) as a scathing report by a US short seller triggered a rout in the conglomerate's listed firms, casting doubts on how investors will respond to the company's record $2.45 billion secondary sale. Seven listed companies of the…
Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom, the US State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in…
Indian students said they would show again a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government has dismissed as propaganda after a Tuesday campus screening was disrupted by a power cut and intimidation by rivals. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) plans to show the documentary, "India: The…
The House of Lords member Dolar Amarshi Popat on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Director General of BBC Broadcasting House Tim Davie asking him to stop the screening of the second part of the documentary series to avoid exasperating the already tense situation between British Hindus and Muslims in…
The Gujarat unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday withdrew its protest against Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Pathaan”, a day before its release, expressing satisfaction over the removal of “objectionable” contents from the film. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has revised the “obscene song” and “lewd words”…
A top Indian university has warned its students' union of strict disciplinary action if it goes ahead with a planned screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, saying it might disturb the peace and harmony of the campus. Modi's government has dismissed the documentary, which…
The US is not familiar with the BBC documentary, but it is familiar with the shared “democratic values” that connect Washington and New Delhi, a US State Department spokesperson has said. The two-part BBC series, titled "India: The Modi Question" claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat…
India has blocked the airing of a BBC documentary which questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying that even sharing of any clips via social media is barred.Directions to block the clips from being shared have been issued using emergency powers available to the government…
In a strong rebuttal to the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 300 eminent Indians including retired judges, retired bureaucrats, and retired armed forces veterans signed a statement slamming the British national broadcaster for showing "unrelenting prejudice" toward India and its leader. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired…
Lord Rami Ranger, a prominent member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, has lodged a protest with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am appalled by the documentary produced by the BBC implicating the Hon. Prime Minister of…
British-Indian parliamentarian Lord Karan Bilimoria on January 19 referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "one of the most powerful persons on the planet", while underscoring the importance of the UK's ties with the fastest-growing major economy in the world. "To conclude, as a boy, Narendra Modi sold tea at…
The BBC on Friday (20) defended its controversial series on prime minister Narendra Modi as a “rigorously researched” documentary that sought to highlight important issues, a day after the Indian government condemned the programme as a “propaganda piece” lacking objectivity. “The documentary was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial…
Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the British Parliament, Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the BBC documentary series, saying he "doesn't agree with the characterization" of his Indian counterpart. Sunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised in the Parliament by Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain. "The UK…
Two agents were arrested for facilitating illegal immigration almost a year after four members of a family from Gujarat froze to death near the Canada-US border while trying to cross into the US, police said on Sunday. Ahmedabad crime branch officials arrested the agents from Kalol in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad,…
A nine-year-old daughter of a wealthy diamond merchant embraced monkhood in Gujarat on Wednesday, renouncing material comforts. Devanshi, the eldest of the two daughters of Dhanesh and Ami Sanghvi, took ‘diksha’ in the presence of Jain monk Acharya Vijay Kirtiyashsuri and hundreds of other people at a venue in Vesu…
Sharadkumar Balmukund Parikh, former president of the erstwhile National Congress of Gujarat Organisations UK (NCGO); committee member and trustee of Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK; and trustee of the Geeta Foundation, passed away on Friday (13) after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 74 and is survived by wife…
A video went viral on Tuesday (17) apparently showing staff members of the UK prime minister's office celebrating the traditional south Indian festival of Pongal. However, fact-checkers later debunked the video and clarified that the clip was not from Rishi Sunak's office but from Waterloo in Canada where the Tamil…
His Holiness (HH) Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, was on Sunday (15) given a grand devotional tribute in the closing ceremony of his centenary celebrations in India in the divine presence of HH Mahant Swami Maharaj, his spiritual successor. In the month-long festival, more…
Lakhman Arjan Vara, the father of Conservative parliamentarian Shailesh Vara, passed away in London on Tuesday (10). He was 98. He was born in Ranavav in Porbandar district of the western Indian state of Gujarat on September 7, 1924. The day of the funeral was yet to be known. The…
Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt has fought many battles in his personal life, one of them being in 2020 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The actor recently opened up about his cancer journey and said that his first reaction to the devastating news was – “I don't…
Makers of the upcoming action thriller film 'Pathaan' starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham unveiled the trailer on Tuesday. King Khan thanked actor Ram Charan for his shoutout to the movie in his trademark style. The 'RRR' star who is in Los Angeles for the Golden Globe…
Indian blockbusters RRR, The Kashmir Files, Kantara, and Gangubai Kathiawadi have made it to the Oscars 2023 reminder list. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) released a remainder list of 301 feature films eligible for the Oscars 2023. Previously, Pan Nalin's Gujarati film Chhello Show was announced as…
Ahead of the much anticipated 95th Academy Awards, global icon actor Priyanka Chopra attended a screening of Chhello Show (The Last Show), India’s Oscar entry, in Los Angeles. The film, directed by Pan Nalin, is on the shortlist for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars this year. The Quantico…
British King Charles III on Sunday (8) gave a special message to the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) community as it celebrates the birth centenary of His Holiness (HH) Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2916). In his message which was tweeted by UK in India, the King said, "As you commemorate…
British MP Barry Gardiner has said that though it is important to set climate targets, more emphasis should be given to create polices to attain these goals. Gardiner also admitted that the current funding by the UK to other countries to enable them to achieve climate targets is 'critically insufficient',…
The two had taken the internet by storm with their grand Hindu marriage held in New Jersey, US, in 2019. And now, the couple -- Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju, are set to welcome their first baby in May. The partners also had a paternity shoot and its photographs were…
British opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer on Friday (6) lauded former BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) guru and president Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016) whose birth centenary celebrations are currently underway in India saying the spiritual leader had built more than 1,200 temples and the effort has been recognised across…
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday pitched his state as a safe investment destination and also interacted with prominent Bollywood personalities during his visit to Mumbai, where Maharashtra's Opposition parties targeted him over his roadshow. Adityanath assured industrialists of a strong law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh,…
Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Pathaan” slid further into trouble with posters of the film being vandalised in an Ahmedabad mall and members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal saying they would not allow its screening in Gujarat unless their problems over its song “Besharam Rang” are resolved. Several videos circulating on…
LAST year may have been a bad one for Bollywood, but that didn’t stop it from being an interesting 12 months for films with a strong south Asian connection. There were marvellous movies made across different languages and genres, which delighted audiences on multiple platforms, from streaming sites to cinemas…
Actor Pratik Gandhi says he is looking forward to playing Mahatma Gandhi and Jyotirao Phule in separate projects and believes these important historical figures will allow him to go through a “tricky transformation journey”. “Phule”, written and directed by Ananth Mahadevan, features Pratik Gandhi in the role of the social…
Anupam Kher is officially a part of filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's next directorial The Vaccine War and has commenced shooting for the film, the veteran actor announced on Monday. The film marks the fourth collaboration between Agnihotri and Kher after movies such as "Buddha in a Traffic Jam", "The Tashkent Files" and…
US President Joe Biden has sent his deepest condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the loss of his mother Hiraben who passed away in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. Her mortal remains were consigned…
A Cambridge professor who is a leading global figure in the economics of the natural environment, Professor Sir Partha Sarathi Dasgupta; COP-26 president Alok Sharma and drinks company Diageo’s CEO Ivan Menezes are among prominent Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published late last Friday…
Several world leaders on Friday condoled the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben who passed away in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. Her mortal remains were consigned to flames by PM Modi and…
The Office for National Statistics recently published figures which showed for the first time that fewer than half of people in England and Wales describe themselves as Christian. The usual extremists used this as a way to try to divide our communities however the New Year Honours have highlighted again…
In fond tributes to his mother Hiraben following her death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday he always felt in her the presence of a trinity combining an ascetic's journey, a selfless doer and a life committed to values. Modi's mother Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad…
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and leaders cutting across the political spectrum on Friday condoled the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben, recalling her simple and compassionate life that was an inspiration for all. Hiraben, Hiraba to many, passed away at an Ahmedabad hospital on Friday…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben is "recovering", a hospital in Ahmedabad where she is admitted said on Thursday. Hiraben (99), also called Hiraba, was admitted to the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre on Wednesday morning due to some health issues. PM Modi reached Ahmedabad from Delhi…
Prominent British entrepreneur and Genisys Group founder Sir Ashok Rabheru died on Friday. He was aged 70. The former trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is survived by his wife Harshida and children Nikita, Rishi and Shayan. Sir Rabheru was born in the eastern Tanzanian city of Morogoro on…
England all-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player bought by the money-spinning Indian Premier League on Friday when Punjab Kings paid £1.85 million to bring him back to his debut team. The left-arm quick and attacking middle-order batsman was among a selection of the world's top cricketers going under…
India's official entry to the upcoming Oscars, Chhello Show, has made it to the 95th Academy Awards shortlist. Directed by Pan Nalin, Chhello Show is called Last Film Show in English. It is a Gujarati-language coming-of-age story of a young boy's love affair with cinema in a village of Saurashtra.…
AN ACTION-PACKED year for Asian music in the UK had everything from new talent, stunning songs and awesome albums to unforgettable live performances from big-name international stars. The musical melting pot of genres, languages and diverse artists illustrated everything that is great about Britain, and why the past 12 months…
'RRR' filmmakers are rejoicing as they progress further in the race to the Oscars. The infectiously catchy song 'Naatu Naatu' from the blockbuster Telugu film has been shortlisted for the 2023 Oscar Awards in the 'Best Original Song' category. Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh took to Twitter to make the announcement.…
The centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness (HH) Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016) was observed at a special commemorative event in the UK parliament on Monday (19). The occasion saw the presence of a number of dignitaries, including the virtual presence of prime minister Rishi Sunak. At the centennial celebration, special…
Many events were held during the first week of centennial celebration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The grand centennial celebration was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj on December 14. The celebration will continue through January 15, 2023, and each…
While the world is going gaga over filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s film RRR (2022), veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah recently said that it is a ‘regressive film’. "Films like RRR are so popular today. But it’s a regressive film. It looks backwards while we should look forward. We just feel whatever…
The BJP on Friday slammed Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto for his objectionable comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the foreign affairs minister of the neighbouring country represents a “morally, intellectually and financially bankrupt” nation which has no credibility due to its support to terrorism. Union minister Anurag Thakur said Bhutto’s…
A GROUND-BREAKING year saw glass ceilings being shattered, greater heights reached, horizons expanded, and new paths created globally. There was also fresh creative work, international crossovers and exciting new artists announcing their arrival. Top south Asian talent from diverse fields were at the forefront of the moves being made and…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (14) hailed BAPS leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a reformer who devoted his life to selfless service of others and recalled his long association with the late saint, who he said, treated him like a son. Recalling his conversation with Pramukh Swami Maharaj when…
An Indian PhD student at the University of Cambridge has solved a 2,500-year-old Sanskrit grammatical problem which, ever since the fifth century BC, has baffled academics. Rishi Rajpopat, 27, successfully cracked a law created by ancient Sanskrit language master Panini, who lived in India 2,500 years ago. In order to…
Thirty-four years after Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden first-class century on debut, his son Arjun celebrated the same achievement in the Ranji Trophy on Wednesday. Playing for Goa against Rajasthan, Arjun struck 120 runs off 207 balls, smashing 16 fours and two sixes on day two of…
BRITISH ASIAN performer Parle Patel said he is “ecstatic” after making his panto debut in Cinderella at the Beck Theatre. Patel, 32, who has played the lead role of Mrs. Kapoor in Mrs Kapoor's Daughter's Wedding in 25 sell-out shows throughout the UK, said portraying Prince Charming’s sidekick Dandini was…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday headed for a record victory in Gujarat as the counting of votes entered the last leg, giving the ruling party a lead in 100 seats and a win in another 57 seats in the 182-member state assembly. The Congress party was…
The five year-long centennial celebrations around the globe will culminate in the final, month-long, grand celebrations in Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat between December 15, 2022, and January 15, 2023. The festivity, which is expected to attract several thousands of followers of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan…
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi has come out with a strong reaction to the remarks made by Shahi Imam of Ahmedabad's Jama Masjid, Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui where he objected to giving election tickets to Muslim women and added that this is "weakening" Islam, stoking a fresh controversy. Sharply…
Directed by SS Rajamouli, RRR entered theatres on March 25, 2022. The film starred Ram Charan and Jr. NTR in lead roles while Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt were seen portraying important cameos in it. Mounted on a great scale, the epic period action drama received a thunderous…
MEMORY, belonging, culture, faith and identity are issues all individuals grapple with in life as they navigate through its various vicissitudes. These issues are not fixed but changeable and, depending on the context in which we live, we develop new affinities, new sensibilities, and new ways of relating to others.…
The Hera Pheri actor Paresh Rawal recently came under fire for a statement he made during an election rally in Gujarat. During his speech addressing the crowd, he said "Gas cylinders are expensive, but their price will come down. People will get employment too. But what will happen if Rohingya…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat began voting on Thursday with his party expected to win a seventh straight term, but any unexpected slip could herald a tighter contest in national polls due by 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not lost in the western industrial…
Indian home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (30) visited the BAPS Yogiji Maharaj Hospital in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat to receive the blessings of Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj. Shah, who arrived around 5.10 pm local time, was garlanded and welcomed by Swami Maharaj in the presence…
His hands outstretched, Maganbhai Solanki holds up his moustache and says proudly that it measures almost five feet tip to tip – the carefully tended feature the Independent candidate’s calling card and also a campaign point. The 57-year-old contestant from Himatnagar seat in Sabarkantha district in India's north-western state of…
A day after Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid termed his film a "propaganda", "The Kashmir Files" director Vivek Agnihotri in a cryptic social media post said truth is the most dangerous thing as it can make people lie. Agnihotri's reaction comes after veteran actor Anupam Kher, who starred in "The Kashmir…
India's Ministry of External Affairs, on Friday, regarding the Indian baby in foster care in Germany, said that the government has been intervening and engaging with the German authorities on the matter for over a year, since September 2021. “The Government of India has been intervening and engaging with the…
AN industrialist whose business encompasses textiles, fertilizers and PET resin, a hotelier who advocates for London and an accomplished healthcare entrepreneur were among top winners at the Asian Business Awards in London last night (23). Indorama’s Sri Prakash Lohia; Tony Matharu; and LycaHealth’s Prema Subaskaran were recognised for their high…
Harbhajan Singh feels someone like Ashish Nehra must be part of India's T20 coaching setup as he knows the shortest format perhaps better than current head coach Rahul Dravid. Nehra retired from the game in 2017 and earlier this year coached Gujarat Titans to the title on their IPL debut.…
SINGING STAR FOLLOWS FAMOUS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS His father being one half of the iconic Jatin-Lalit composing duo, who once ruled Bollywood with hit tracks like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Mohabbatein, hasn’t stopped Raahul Jatin from making his own musical mark. The rising star is fast…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have made their debut on the Asian Rich List 2022, which profiles the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain. Sunak and his wife – whose father NR Narayana Murthy co-founded Indian IT major, Infosys – are ranked 17th in the list, with…
Following the invitation to controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik by Qatar to FIFA World Cup, India ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Savio Rodrigues on Tuesday appealed to the government, Indian Football Associations and Indians travelling to the host nation to boycott the sporting event. Zakir Naik, who is an…
Indian fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, who faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India, is set to give religious lectures at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, according to social media posts. "Preacher Sheikh Zakir Naik is present in Qatar during the World Cup and will give…
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given the same level of protection from prosecution in the US that was recently accorded to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a US State Department spokesperson said in a briefing on Friday. "This is not the first time that the United States has…
Artworks and traditional items representing the rich heritage of India's states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s choice of presents to world leaders during the G-20 summit in Bali. Officials said Modi presented US President Joe Biden with Kangra miniature paintings, which portray ‘Shringar Rasa’, and…
The comparison of Yash bringing glory to the nation with MS Dhoni's lifting the World Cup for the nation is winning love from the netizens. There are very rare moments that leave a strong imprint of their existence in history and are remembered for the ages. One such glorious moment…
Ties between the United Kingdom and India will remain on a “phenomenal upward trajectory” under Indian-origin UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that country’s former premier Boris Johnson said on Saturday. The two countries need each other now more than ever as “we live in dangerous and turbulent times”, he said.…
The government must embrace immigrants who take risks setting up businesses, create jobs, and contribute billions of pounds to Britain’s economy. That is the call from MPs and business leaders who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They have told this newspaper that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, should be ashamed…
African origin Siddi tribe, who came to India 850 years ago, performed at the Tribal Dance Festival in Raipur and asserted that their heart is Indian while their culture is African. Siddi folk artist leader Abdul told ANI, "Culture could be African but our heart is Indian. We are now…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
A manager of the Oreva group, one of the nine persons arrested in connection with collapse of a suspension bridge in Gujarat’s Morbi town, sought relief from a local court claiming the tragedy which has claimed 135 lives was an “act of God”, the prosecution said on Wednesday (2). Chief…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (1) said a "detailed and extensive" inquiry to identify all aspects relating to the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy is the need of the hour, as he chaired a high-level meeting in Gujarat to review the situation. He asserted that key learnings from the inquiry…
The death toll from an Indian foot bridge collapse rose to 135 on Tuesday (1), while the army, navy and national disaster response teams kept up search operations for a third day. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR 135 people have died and one person is missing at present. 152…
As many as 135 people have been killed in the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and 170 others rescued, Gujarat minister Rajendra Trivedi said on Tuesday. The rescue operation is still on in the Machchhu river by the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, officials said.…
What is a suspension bridge? How does it transfer the load to the ground? Those were questions on the minds of many on Monday, a day after a century-old suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi over the Machchhu river collapsed, leaving at least 134 people dead. Just before the bridge collapsed,…
Twelve family members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Rajkot Mohanbhai Kundariya died in the suspension bridge collapse incident in Gujarat’s Morbi on Sunday. The personal assistant of the BJP MP told ANI that 12 members of the family of Kundaria’s sister died in the Morbi bridge collapse incident.…
According to the latest estimates, at least 134 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people, into the Machchhu River. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Kevadia said…
Over 60 people have lost their lives so far after a cable bridge collapsed on the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi on Sunday, state Minister Brijesh Merja said. Hundreds of people fell into a river when a cable bridge in Gujarat's Morbi collapsed with several critically injured, officials said. Ambulances…
Gareth Thomas MP has called for investment in teaching South Asian languages in the UK to strengthen the country's ties with the Indian subcontinent. The Labour-Cooperative Party parliamentarian for the Greater London constituency of Harrow West said south Asian languages should receive the same state financial support as given to…
SANJANA MODHA ON GOOD FOOD AND HER CROWDFUNDED BOOK Social media has become a special space to share great recipes, cooking ideas and healthy eating advice. A popular online British expert providing top tips to prepare sumptuous meals is Sanjana Modha. She has gone from writing an unknown food blog…
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, on Wednesday, attended the 14th international Kudo tournament organised by the actor himself in Gujarat. Taking to Instagram, Akshay shared a video from the event which he captioned, "Thank you for celebrating your Diwali with us here at the Akshay Kumar 14th International Kudo Tournament. Coming…
Art on the Underground presents ‘Endurance’, a new large-scale public commission at Brixton Underground Station by Indian-born artist Shanti Panchal, launching November 10 and will be on view for a year. The work at Brixton will be Panchal’s first public artwork since his 1993 tiled mural for the London Borough…
A number of South Asian languages, including Gujarati, have seen a steady decline in their appeal in the UK as students entering the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) levels in languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Persian, Punjabi, and Urdu have gone down drastically between 2015 and 2021. A press…
65TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ABOUT THE MAKING OF AN ICONIC MOVIE AND ITS AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS When Mother India released on October 25, 1957, it had the kind of impact that no other Bollywood film ever made before. The beautifully made classic about a woman fighting against the odds to raise her…
Superstar dixit discusses her new film and love for powerful roles Movie queen Madhuri Dixit has mesmerised audiences with her roles in all-time classics likes Tezaab (1988), Saajan (1991), Beta (1992), Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), and Devdas (2002). One of the greatest all-round talents in the history of Hindi…
The onset of autumn signifies the beginning of the magnificent festival of lights, Diwali. With this year’s celebrations falling on the 24th of October, Asda joins in the festivity of the triumph of light over darkness, with a beam of low prices and amazing offers for all your Diwali needs…
Magic moments from Amitabh Bachchan’s amazing movie career Being the greatest Bollywood star of all time has given Amitabh Bachchan many landmark moments throughout his distinguished career. Although he has had many achievements apart from acting including national honours, helping to eradicate polio in India, hosting a popular TV quiz…
RRR, which hit screens in March 2022, is yet not done. The SS Rajamouli magnum-opus, starring Ram Charan and Jr. NTR, was not selected as India’s official entry to Oscars 2023. However, the film has finally made it to the Oscar race and how. After being rejected as India’s official…
An independent charity has announced a reward of £20,000 for information that could lead to the conviction of anyone for the murder of a 41-year-old man. Raju Modhwadia, also Kara Muru, was stabbed to death in Stoneygate, Leicester, in December last year. But the charges of murder and conspiracy to…
Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, who can be currently seen in Vikram Vedha alongside Saif Ali Khan, celebrated the Navratri Maha Saptami with well-known singer Falguni Pathak at a Garba night event in Mumbai. The Kaho Na Pyaar Hai actor arrived at the event along with the writer-directors of Vikram Vedha,…
Conservative Peer Lord Dolar Popat has written to British home secretary Suella Braverman seeking immediate action to ease tension in Leicester. In his letter, Lord Popat, the first Gujarati to represent the Tories in House of Lords, has urged the minister to "restore the ability of people in the country…
In what appears to be a bizarre travel advisory, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, which share a border with Pakistan due to the "presence of landmines" and "unpredictable security situation." "Avoid all travel to areas within 10…
THE news was more than shocking. It was only on August 18 that I took an interview of Lord Mohamed Sheikh, Britain’s first Conservative Muslim peer and a successful businessman, as he was picked as one of the '50 Great Ugandan Asians' on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of…
Gujarati coming-of-age drama "Chhello Show" is India's official entry for the 95th Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Tuesday. Titled "Last Film Show" in English, the movie, directed by Pan Nalin, will release in theatres countrywide on October 14. "'Chhello Show' is India's official entry for…
Today marks the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, which takes place at Westminster Abbey (London, UK). This day is also the first day of a seven-day religious festival (Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Suvarna Mahotsav), which sees thousands of followers of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan from around the world…
Gynaecologist Dr Anahita Pandole has undergone pelvic reconstruction surgery at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday (15), media reports said. According to the reports, the condition of her husband Darius is stable. The couple sustained severe injuries in a car crash earlier this month that killed former Tata Sons chairman…
Attorney and former president Donald Trump’s top aide Kashyap Kash Patel has accused the Indian American community of running him down with “hateful messages”. Patel who became the chief of staff to the acting secretary of defence in the final stages of the Trump administration told IANS that he felt…
A DEEP loss is felt in the world as the divine soul Parvatiben Solanki has left her physical body. As Kasturba was a freedom fighter beside Mahatma Gandhiji, so too our Parvati Ba was a fighter beside Ramnikbhai Solanki, a fighter to spread the gifts of our culture, sanskaras and…
Shri Rameshbhai Oza ‘Bhaishri’: It was Ramnikbhai who ensured that Garavi Gujarat reaches a huge number of Gujaratis settled in Europe and the US, and contributed immenselyin making the Gujarati pride’s flag fly high. Parvatiben stood right next to him as his strength and provided a rocksolid shakti (support) to…
LABOUR MPs Seema Malhotra, Preet Kaur Gill and Gareth Thomas also remembered Mrs Solanki with fondness and respect. Malhotra, who represents Feltham and Heston, said, “Mrs Parvatiben Ramniklal Solanki was an inspiration, a matriarch of a most incredible family who has helped lead bringing the voice and integration of the…
HOW do you begin to write about someone so deeply loved and to whom you owe your very existence? It is impossible to sum up in words what my mother meant to us as a family, but the extraordinary story of her life needs to be told, however inadequate mere…
POLITICIANS, faith and community leaders paid tribute to Parvatiben Solanki, the cofounder of the Asian Media Gr oup (AMG), publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat. Mrs Solanki passed away in London last Thursday (8). She was 86. Along with her husband, the late Ramniklal Solanki CBE, Mrs Solanki played…
Urvashi Roe discusses her new cookbook and gives top tips Brand new cookbook Biting Biting – Snacking Gujarati-style celebrates an old family tradition of being able to quickly whip up food for impending visitors or last-minute unannounced guests. Working mother Urvashi Roe has come up with a sumptuous book loaded…
Fans of TV serials like The Gone Game, Ishq Mein Marjawan 2, Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega, and Mere Sai will be familiar with the work of Jay Zaveri. The talented actor is currently playing a key role in Sony Entertainment television series Appnapan – Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan, which…
First is always special. Cambridgeshire-born Indian-origin actor Himesh Patel who made it to the shortlist of nominees for the Emmy Awards for the first time ever was all smiles before heading to the ceremony on Tuesday. For his Emmys look, Patel sported a patterned suit jacket with a black shirt…
Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American to hold the daily State Department press briefing, earning plaudits from senior White House officials for his "utmost professionalism" and "amazing debut". With State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on vacation,…
Former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry, who died in a car accident, was cremated in Mumbai on Tuesday. The last rites were performed in an electric crematorium at Worli in central Mumbai. Mistry, 54, who headed the salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Sons from 2012-16 before an unceremonious exit, and his friend…
Dr Karan Juttla, author of a report which has claimed that South Asian people living with dementia in the UK and their families are being failed by a culturally inclusive support after their diagnoses, has been appointed as the new ambassador of Alzheimer's Society. Her appointment came on the occasion…
Marvellous British music collective Kaykay & Co regularly deliver memorable live performances and a key element is magnificent singer Anj Chauhan. The versatile music group will headline the Always & Forever charity concert at Harrow Arts Centre on September 10, which pays tribute to legendary Bollywood singers Mohammed Rafi and…
Indian industrialist Gautam Adani became the world's third-richest person on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Tuesday, the first time an Asian has ranked in the top three. The self-made billionaire has seen his net worth more than double to $137.4 billion in the last year, rising 20 spots on the…
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has his fans spread all across the globe, who never get tired of admiring their icon. His fans can go to any length to show their love and admiration for him. The fans that the internet is talking about today are Internet Security Engineer Gopi Sheth…
The spiritual leader of those dedicated to the worship of Lord Shree Hanuman visited Leicester this week His Holiness 1008 Acharya Shri Rakeshprasadji Maharaj from South Gujarat, India, visited the city as part of a week-long festival to celebrate Krishna’s birthday. The Celebrations took place at the Shree Hanuman Temple…
VIJAY DEVERAKONDA DISCUSSES HIS DEBUT HINDI MOVIE LIGER Rapidly rising film star Vijay Deverakonda has been unstoppable since 2017 Telugu film Arjun Reddy became a blockbuster success. He turned down the chance to headline its super successful Hindi remake Kabir Singh (2019) and put together an impressive list of blockbuster…
LABOUR’S deputy leader Angela Rayner has defended the party’s decision to raise concerns over alleged human rights breaches in Indian Kashmir, saying, “we stand up for human rights and we will never shirk from that responsibility”. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Rayner said Labour would be respectful in…
AUTHOR VASUNDRA TAILOR DISCUSSES HER NEW NOVEL SHAPED BY A PROUD GUJARATI HERITAGE She may have moved to Zimbabwe when she was a few weeks old in 1954 and migrated to the UK in 1977 after qualifying as a pharmacist to escape conflict there, but India-born Vasundra Tailor always remained…
By A fortunate coincidence, India marks its 75th anniversary as a free country at the same time as the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. Aurobindo (1872-1950) was a poet, revolutionary, philosopher, mystic, and yogi par excellence. He was not interested in huge statues, grandiose projects, or big institutions in…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years as the country marked 75 years of independence on Monday (15), with the leaders of Britain, the US and France sending congratulatory messages. In his traditional address to the nation from Delhi’s historic Red…
British Indian chef Manjula Patel, 85, one of its oldest chefs and restaurateurs in the UK, opened her restaurant in Brighton when she was 80 with the help of her sons. Manju’s – Indian Restaurant, a Gujarati restaurant in north Laines, Brighton, has been delighting locals and tourists since 2017.…
The spiritual leader of a religion whose followers are dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Shree Hanuman is making a special visit to Leicester next week. His Holiness 1008 Acharya Shri Rakeshprasadji Maharaj from South Gujarat, India, is visiting the city as part of a week-long festival to celebrate Krishna’s…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led India's 75th Independence Day celebrations in the UK on Monday with a throwback image from Sabarmati Ashram during his visit to Gujarat earlier this year. Congratulations to the people of India on 75 years of independence, he said. "During my recent visit to Gujarat and…
Automotive giant Tata Motors said its subsidiary will acquire Ford India's Gujarat-based manufacturing facility for Rs 7.25 billion (£75 million). Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd (TPEML) and Ford India Pvt Ltd (FIPL) have signed a unit transfer Agreement (UTA) for the acquisition of the plant in Sanand. Tata Motors will…
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he is open to assuming the captaincy on a full-time basis after leading the side to a comprehensive victory in the final match of their Twenty20 series against West Indies. India, who rested regular skipper Rohit Sharma, cruised to an 88-run win on the back…
Fifty years ago, dictator Idi Amin announced his intention to expel Uganda's thriving community of British South Asians. They were given 90 days to leave, or be rounded up in concentration camps. More than 27,000 ethnic Indian and Pakistani holders of UK passports made their way to Britain, which reluctantly…
Acclaimed actress Kajol is widely regarded as one of the finest leading ladies in Hindi cinema history. She has delivered unforgettable performances in iconic classics and helped Bollywood go global with successful blockbusters. The notoriously picky actress has done this, despite turning down multiple record-breaking movies. The popular star turns…
A 66-year-old woman living in Mumbai has been declared stateless in India, UK and Uganda. Ila Popat has been living in India for 55 years and has driving licence, voter identity card and Aadhar card. Last month, Popat approached Bombay High Court to issue a passport so that she can…
PATIENTS with long-lasting symptoms from COVID will have access to more convenient tests and checks closer to home, under new NHS measures announced on Thursday (28). Specialist clinics, dedicated to long Covid, will now be able to send people for tests at local one stop shops and mobile clinics, rather…
The Mumbai Police has launched an investigation after star couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal purportedly received death threats on social media. A complaint has been filed against an unidentified person at Santacruz Police Station, said Mumbai Police. Katrina and Vicky, who tied the knot in Rajasthan on December 9,…
Set to land on Netflix on July 22, The Gray Man is one of the most-talked-about films in recent times. The American action thriller has created a lot of buzz around the world. Indians are especially looking forward to the premiere of the film as it stars their beloved actor…
FILMMAKER AND ACTRESS DISCUSSES HER FEARLESS CINEMA JOURNEY She might have made a name for herself as one of the finest actresses of her generation, but Nandita Das is now more focused on filmmaking. She has just directed her third movie, which revolves around a delivery rider and stars popular…
British singer discusses her new single and rise of regional music A decade-long career has seen Geeta Jhala make a name for herself with songs in diverse languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, and English. In recent years, the versatile singer has also reconnected with her roots with commercial Gujarati songs like…
The BJP on Saturday alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was the "driving force" behind the "conspiracy" to implicate then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots case in the state. In a press conference, party spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that the late Ahmed Patel, who was Gandhi's…
Four-nation grouping 'I2U2' has established a positive agenda and its framework is a good model for practical cooperation in the face of increasing global uncertainties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at the first virtual summit of the coalition With US President Joe Biden, Israeli PM Yair Lapid and…
INDIAN cricketer Virat Kohli met his former U-15 teammate Dwaraka Ravi Teja in London. Teja shared the picture of their meeting on Twitter. Indian cricket team is in UK for the ongoing India vs England ODI series. Teja played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League…
Priti Patel, widely expected to become another Indian-origin candidate in the race for the post of Conservative Party leader and the next British prime minister, on Tuesday ruled out a bid, saying she was "grateful" for the encouragement but her focus remains on her current job as Home Secretary. "I…
Police have busted a gang conducting a fake T20 cricket tournament here in Gujarat to take bets from Russian bookies by live-streaming the matches and arrested four of its members, an official said on Monday. To create an impression of an Indian Premier League (IPL)-like major tournament, key accused Shoeb…
Shailesh Vara, the UK’s new secretary of state for Northern Ireland, has vowed to work “tirelessly” to restore the Stormont institutions.The Uganda-born Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire succeeds Brandon Lewis who quit the Boris Johnson government in a mass resignation of ministers.His appointment comes at a time when the…
Success and failure have stopped influencing star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has learnt to live a "neutral life" with a lot of clarity. Battling an injury-ravaged body, it was not easy for Pandya to return to the game. His career was in jeopardy but he made a grand comeback by…
Ranveer Singh, known for his charismatic and energetic persona and peculiar fashion sense, is considered among the most versatile actors of his generation. As he rings in his 37th birthday today, here is a look at the actor's breakthrough performances. 1. Band Baaja Baaraat The actor made his big Bollywood…
HEALTH authorities need to overcome misconceptions about British Asian communities in order to change an “outdated” dementia care service, according to the researcher whose review found that the system had been “designed for white British patients”. Dr Karan Jutlla’s research highlighted that the system was “totally inadequate” to support dementia…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's determination that he would not allow cross-border terrorism to be normalised has helped in shaping India's Pakistan policy since 2014. Speaking at an event at Delhi University, S Jaishankar noted that Prime Minister Modi is perceived abroad…
The supremely talented Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the finest live performers in the world and returns to the UK for two hotly anticipated shows this month. She will deliver dynamite concerts with a full live band at Morningside Arena in Leicester on July 9 and Eventim Apollo in London…
WRITER and director-producer Pan Nalin has become the first Gujarati filmmaker to join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy, the organisation which presents The Academy Awards, popularly called the ‘Oscars’, has extended invitation to 397 artistes and others to join it in 2022. “The Academy of…
There was no delay on part of the Gujarat government in requisitioning the Army to deal with post-Godhra 2002 Gujarat riots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said and noted that former Punjab DGP KPS Gill had termed the state government's action as "prompt and neutral". He also attacked Congress over…
NDA's Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu was seen sweeping the floor at Shiv temple in Rairangpur, Odisha before offering prayers on Wednesday (22) morning. After NDA announced Murmu as their Presidential candidate, the Centre provided a round-the-clock Z+ category security cover for her. If elected, the 64-year-old leader from Odisha will…
ON the 100th birthday of his mother Heeraben Modi, prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (18) penned an emotional blog and recollected some special moments from his childhood that he spent with his mother. He recalled several sacrifices made by his mother as he grew up and mentioned various qualities…
THE country's first-ever girl Panchayat, "Balika Panchayat", which was started in several villages of Gujarat's Kutch district, aims to promote the social and political development of the girls and ensure the active participation of girls in politics. This is a unique initiative of the Women and Child Development Welfare department…
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) in Gujarat on Thursday withdrew its announcement about naming a road in the state capital for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother, Hiraba Modi Hiraba, who lives with the prime minister's younger brother Pankaj Modi at Raysan village on the outskirts of Gandhinagar, is set to…
BY her own admission, home secretary Priti Patel's hard line on immigration would have stopped her own parents coming to Britain but it has made her a darling of the right. However, she is now in danger of alienating her conservative base after her plan to deter illegal crossings of…
Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker's 2001 blockbuster film Lagaan: Once Upon A Time, which completed its 21 years of its release today, might be getting the Broadway treatment soon. Lagaan, set in 1893 during the late Victorian period of India's colonial British Raj, follows the story of Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), a villager…
THE Russia-Ukraine war has adversely affected the livelihood of thousands of workers in the diamond industry in Gujarat, especially in rural parts of Saurashtra region where many units import small-size diamonds from Russia for processing and polishing, according to industry representatives. The state's diamond industry employs nearly 1.5 million workers,…
An 18-month-old baby was rescued alive from a borewell in western India’s Gujarat. The incident took place in Dudapur village under Dhrangadhra Taluka Police Station limits of Surendranagar District on June 7. Visuals show army men using a thick rope to pull out the baby. After several pulls, the baby…
INDIA's biggest dairy group Amul has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity. Amul made its appeal in a letter, dated…
Kshama Bindu, who lives in Vadodara, Gujarat, married herself on June 8, in India’s first sologamy wedding. The 24-year-old took to social media and shared pictures from her wedding and other ceremonies, where she is seen in the company of her family and friends. Her posts garnered thousands of likes…
HOW WOMEN ARE CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING A BLEND OF BOTH STYLES HAVE you ever mixed and matched western styles with traditional eastern pieces? If you follow any big influencers on social media, you will have seen it has become a huge trend to restyle items across your wardrobe for different occasions.…
The IPL 2022 season came close, with Gujarat Titans winning their first title. The performances of several Indian players in the IPL have amazed all. Similarly, the performances of overseas players have also been impressive. On the field, they performed and left their mark as well. Watching these crickets playing…
There is a long list of celebrities who time and again keep showing their generosity by helping their fans in one way or the other. Now, Bollywood star Varun Dhawan has promised to help one of his female fans who is allegedly facing domestic abuse. A Twitter user wrote a…
Central agencies are "seriously" looking into the threat letter sent by terror outfit Al-Qaeda regarding suicide attacks in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to "fight for the honour of the Prophet", said top agency sources.Alerts have been issued across Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat through law enforcement agencies…
The ambitious bullet train project will be completed on time, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told ANI while reviewing work on the project at the Surat-Navsari section today. He said, "The work of the bullet train is going very well. About 60 km of pillar work has been completed. Simultaneous work…
DANCE is being used to break stigmas and help disabled people to become more active at a studio in London. Dr Rashmi Becker founded Dance Dosti, with Metro Blind Sport and Vision Foundation, during the Covid-19 pandemic, after seeing the disproportionate impact that Covid had on both the south-Asian community…
ASSERTING that an era of cultural revival began in India in 2014, when prime minister Narendra Modi led the BJP to power, home minister Amit Shah has said this journey will take the country to heights of glory it enjoyed earlier. In a brief speech after watching Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Samrat…
A 24-year-old girl in Gujarat is all set to marry herself on June 11 in India's first sologamy, according to reports. Vadodara-native Kshama Bindu is preparing for her wedding next week as a commitment towards oneself and “an act of self-acceptance”. Bindu, a recruiter with a Pune-based company, said that…
LIVE PERFORMANCE KATTAM KATTI When: Friday June 3 Where: Theatre Royal, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR What: The Pagrav Dance Company presents a contemporary Kathak production that taps into the competitive chaos, creativity, and colour of Uttarayan, the world-famous international kite festival of Gujarat. www.theatreroyal.com AIMA BAIG, SAJJAD ALI AND…
Author Sir Salman Rushdie and cricketer Moeen Ali are among a number of British Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on Wednesday (1). With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 13.3 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, this list showcases…
Former Congress leader Hardik Patel will join the BJP on June 2 in the presence of Gujarat party president C R Paatil, a state party spokesperson said on Tuesday. After Patidar quota agitation leader Patel recently resigned from the Congress, there were speculations that he may join the ruling BJP.…
AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the 15th edition of the Twenty20 tournament, which was expanded to 10 teams this year. Kohli's jinx Former India captain Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore's wait for their first IPL title dragged on after they went down to Rajasthan in…
The Department of Posts has for the first time delivered mail using a drone as part of a pilot project in Gujarat's Kutch district, covering a distance of 46 km in 25 minutes, officials said on Sunday (29).The mail was sent by drone from Habay village in Bhuj taluka to…
After leading Gujarat Titans to the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their first season, winning the Twenty20 World Cup with India is next on Hardik Pandya's bucket list. Pandya led by example in Sunday's final against 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals as Gujarat triumphed by seven wickets in front of…
Indian automaker Tata Motors Ltd has signed an agreement to potentially buy a Ford Motor manufacturing facility in the western state of Gujarat as it looks to ramp up its production of electric vehicles. The owner of Jaguar Land Rover already dominates India’s fledgling electric car market, which the government…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat has become the "gateway of drugs" to the country under his watch, the Congress alleged Friday, questioning the "silence" of the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah and demanding answers from agencies tasked to control narcotics smuggling.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters…
THE British Asian landscape designer Manoj Malde has spoken of “creating connections” as part of his new role as an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) with a remit for “inclusivity” that was announced at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday (23). That was the day the Queen, who…
SKIPPER Hardik Pandya silenced critics after helping newcomers Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals to reach the IPL final. Pandya hadn’t been in great form ahead of IPL and his fitness was also a major concern. Some even questioned the decision to appoint him as captain despite his lack of leadership…
Speaking at Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022 in central London last Tuesday (18), he confirmed that the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and technology can be harnessed to improve outcomes for dementia patients across the UK. Javid said he wanted the initiative, which would be published…
Leona Swiderski, 33, who arrived in Mumbai in February 2003 was due to marry her fiancee Pragnesh Desai but she was found dead off a highway near the city the next day.Police believe Desai plotted her murder to claim her insurance money of $1 million (£800,000) and hired three contract…
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana will be hosting a wide range of various art-cultural programmes, specially curated events, performances, workshops, and exhibitions to celebrate the milestone throughout the year from May 2022 to April 2023. The Bhavan’s art guru teachers and artists will perform Indian dances, songs, and other arts. The main…
Auctioneer and valuer Andrew Stowe, who sold a pair of Gandhi’s spectacles for a record £260,000 in 2020, told Eastern Eye that interest among collectors for the Mahatma’s memorabilia, especially in America, remained high. He said: “Gandhi is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. He’s right…
INDIA'S huge diamond-polishing industry has furloughed around 250,000 of its roughly two million workers because of sanctions on Russia hitting supplies, a trade union said Thursday (19).The South Asian nation cuts and polishes 90 per cent of the world's diamonds, with Russian diamond miners such as Alrosa traditionally accounting for…
SUDHA CHANDRAN was just a teenager when she found success with her debut 1984 film Mayuri. That magical first step kick-started a magnificent acting journey filled with memorable performances in multiple languages. Although she has added gravitas to a huge number of movies since the 1980s, the versatile actress has…
HUNDREDS of thousands of tonnes of wheat were stranded at a major port in India on Tuesday (17) after New Delhi's surprise ban on exports over inflation and food security worries. India, the world's second-largest grower of wheat, last week ordered that traders could not enter into new export deals…
Once Upon a Time in Calcutta received two awards - best director for Aditya Vikram Sengupta and best actress for Sreelekha Mitra - at the 2022 edition of the New York Indian Film Festival, which also honoured Faraz Ali's Shoebox with the best film trophy. The seven-day film gala, which…
WHILE it was disappointing to see the Conservative party lose flagship councils in London and across the country, there was one particular council that bucked the trend and shone a ray of light for the Tories. Harrow – the hometown for both of us – was the only council across…
Racist, divisive politics which pit Hindus against Muslims and Indians against Pakistanis must stop, say MPs and the mayor of London. The issue is something Eastern Eye has reported several times. But it has reared its head once again after last week’s local elections (5 May). Sources have told this…
AFGHANISTAN's Rashid Khan claimed four wickets as Gujarat Titans became the first team to qualify for the IPL play-offs with a 62-run thrashing of Lucknow Super Giants. Indian opener Shubman Gill made 63 off 49 deliveries to steer Gujarat to 144 for four on Tuesday (10) after electing to bat…
FAST BOWLER Avesh Khan helped Lucknow Super Giants hammer Kolkata Knight Riders by 75 runs on Saturday (7) to go top of the IPL table as teams jostle to secure a play-off spot. Lucknow bundled out Kolkata, who were chasing 177 for victory, for 101 to replace fellow newcomers Gujarat…
Royal Challengers Bangalore ended a three-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League as Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel inspired them to a 13-run win over Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. Bangalore scored 173-8 after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai won the toss and chose to field first. CSK slipped away…
Gujarat Titans suffered only their second IPL defeat on Tuesday as Kagiso Rabada took four wickets for the second match running before Shikhar Dhawan's half-century led Punjab Kings to a dominant win. Liam Livingstone smashed three sixes to complete an eight-wicket victory with four overs to spare, moving Punjab up…
Superstar cricketer Virat Kohli struck form with his first half-century of this Indian Premier League season on Saturday, but failed to inspire Royal Challengers Bangalore who slipped to their third straight loss. After a string of low scores including two golden ducks, Kohli hit 58 off 53 balls to guide…
US basketball star Chris Paul and American football players Larry Fitzgerald and Kelvin Beachum have invested in Indian Premier League cricket side the Rajasthan Royals, the franchise said Sunday. The world's most valuable cricket tournament has expanded to 10 teams this year with new franchises Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson landed in Gujarat last Thursday (21) as he began his two-day India visit. He said he felt like Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, as hundreds of people lined the streets and dozens of billboards depicted his image. “I had an amazing reception,” he said. “My face…
Power outages compounded the misery of millions of people wilting in a heatwave across India and Pakistan on Friday, with experts blaming climate change for an early onset of roasting summer temperatures. In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh hundreds of forest fires have broken out in recent weeks,…
AN Indo-British bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October, prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi last week, as he concluded his much-delayed visit to India. Britain and India also agreed to step up defence and business cooperation, Johnson said, adding that London would support Delhi’s goal…
Speed demon Umran Malik is being backed to win a place in India's bowling attack after lighting up the IPL with deliveries of more than 150kph (93mph) and wickets galore. The 22-year-old returned figures of 5-25, becoming the first player on a losing team this season to be awarded man…
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan hit two sixes off the final two balls to pull off a sensational chase for Gujarat Titans after Sunrisers Hyderabad pace sensation Umran Malik took his first IPL five-for on Wednesday. Needing 196 for victory, Gujarat slipped to 140-5 but Rashid (31) joined Rahul Tewatia (40) to…
AMID a punishing heatwave building up in large parts of India, Delhi saw a jump of two to three degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature at most places on Wednesday (27).Extreme heat continued to scorch large swathes of south Asia this week, offering no reprieve after the hottest March on…
I HAVE been present in India with every UK prime minister since 2005 – from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron to Theresa May. Being in India last week with Boris Johnson and with Indian business leaders was a crucial visit. It was the first UK prime ministerial visit…
ENGLISH cricket has been through its “annus horribilis” partly due to the poor performance of Joe Root’s Test team, but mainly because of the revelations about the racism suffered by Azeem Rafiq at Yorkshire, it has been stated in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2022. The expression was famously used by the…
Virat Kohli's second successive golden duck in the IPL saw Royal Challengers Bangalore crash to 68 all out and lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad by nine wickets on Saturday but the team insisted their star batter will bounce back. Kohli, who also fell to a first-ball duck against Lucknow Super Giants…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat as part of his India tour. He was greeted on Thursday (21) by Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami, International Convenor of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), on behalf of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the inspirer of Swaminarayan Akshardham and spiritual head…
A state lawmaker in India was arrested for criticising prime minister Narendra Modi in a tweet, officials said Friday, raising concerns over freedom of speech in the world's largest democracy. Jignesh Mevani, a prominent campaigner for India's marginalised low-caste Dalit community, accused Modi of idolising Nathuram Godse, the assassin of…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson said that his country has already raised the Ukraine issue with prime minister Narendra Modi at a diplomatic level. Johnson added that everybody understands that India and Russia shared “very different relationships historically”. Johnson’s visit to India comes at a time when India has taken…
British prime minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled. Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson will announce new investments and export deals worth more than £1 billion by UK and Indian businesses on Thursday (21) as part of his ongoing India visit, according to a statement. These agreements in areas from software engineering to health would create almost 11,000 jobs across…
A MARVELLOUS musical achievement of 2022 has been Falguni Shah magnificently winning a Grammy award for her second children’s album A Colorful World. It follows on from her debut album Falu’s Bazaar getting a Grammy nomination in 2019 and adds to an impressive song-filled journey that took her from India…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson, who is on a two-day visit to India, met Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad on Thursday (21). "Honoured to host @BorisJohnson, the first UK PM to visit Gujarat, at Adani HQ. Delighted to support climate & sustainability agenda with focus on renewables, green…
BORIS JOHNSON was accorded a cordial welcome when he landed in Gujarat on Thursday (21) as the British prime minister began his two-day trip to India. But the pomp and publicity that generally marks top world leaders’ visits to the south Asian country was conspicuously missing.Johnson was received at the…
POPULAR singer Arijit Singh turns a year older on April 25 and then returns to UK the first week of May for two huge arena concerts, where he will be performing his greatest hits. To celebrate India’s most popular solo star returning for a British tour and his 35th birthday,…
VISITING British prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (21) termed Mahatma Gandhi an "extraordinary man" who mobilised the principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for better. Johnson became the first prime minister of the UK to visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Gandhi led India's…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
British prime minister Boris Johnson faces calls to apologise for a colonial-era massacre during his visit to Gujarat on Thursday, 100 years after as many as 1,200 people were killed protesting against imperial rule. Last month saw the centenary of the Pal-Dadhvav massacre, when Indian historians say around 2,000 tribal…
Surprise-package Gujarat Titans have taken the IPL by storm in their debut season with a cleverly assembled and astutely coached team led by the all-round talents of local star Hardik Pandya. Founded by global venture fund CVC Capital for $690 million, Gujarat on Sunday stunned four-time champions Chennai Super Kings…
Skipper Faf du Plessis on Tuesday said an elusive IPL century is "around the corner" after his 96 helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs. The South African made Bangalore fight back with his 64-ball knock after they lost two wickets, including Virat Kohli for a…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will offer to help India cut reliance on Russian oil and defence equipment when he begins a two-day visit this week that will test his diplomatic skills and provide brief respite from a row raging at home. On his first trip to India as prime…
THE World Health Organization (WHO) launched its global centre for traditional medicine (GCTM) at a site in India, aimed at unlocking its potential by blending ancient practices with modern science. The GCTM knowledge hub is intended to create a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and…
Jos Buttler's 103 and a hat-trick by Yuzvendra Chahal helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs in a nail-biting IPL contest on Monday. The England batter smashed his second IPL century this season to power Royals to 217 for five -- the highest total of this…
Yash Raj Films on Tuesday unveiled the trailer of their much-anticipated film Jayeshbhai Jordaar, starring Ranveer Singh in the lead role of a Gujarati man. At the trailer launch event, Singh said that his character in the film is a role that Bollywood has never attempted before. Jayeshbhai Jordaar deals…
TWO spiritual leaders of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently. The trio prayed for the welfare of Indians worldwide. HH Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami honoured Modi with a garland, while Brahmavihari Swami updated the prime minister on Sanstha’s Covid-19 pandemic…
South Africa's David Miller on Sunday said coming in to bat early made him "shine" as his unbeaten 94 led Gujarat Titans to a thrilling three-wicket IPL victory over holders Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 170 for victory, Gujarat slipped to 48-4. But Miller put on an attacking 70-run sixth wicket…
Dinesh Karthik said he is eyeing an India comeback after his unbeaten 66 off 34 balls powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to a 16-run win over Delhi Capitals on Saturday. The in-form Karthik steered Bangalore to 189 for five after Glenn Maxwell's breezy 55 in the second match of the day…
Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 103 on Saturday as they handed five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians their sixth straight loss this season. Rahul, playing his 100th Indian Premier League match, steered Lucknow to 199 for four after being put into bat first at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.…
BORIS JOHNSON will become the first British prime minister to visit Gujarat when he lands in Ahmedabad this week for a two-day visit to India for “in-depth” talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.Johnson's visit will begin on Thursday (21) with a trip to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, which is Modi's…
IT IS near impossible for overseas artists to make it big in Indian music, but that is exactly what singer Jonita Gandhi has done. The superb singing sensation grew up in Canada but made a stunning leap into the strongly competitive industry with hit songs across a wide array of…
Skipper Hardik Pandya hit a blazing 87 to set up a comfortable 37-run victory for Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, as his side replaced their opponents at the top of the Indian Premier League. Pandya smashed eight fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 52-ball knock to help…
A fire at a chemical factory in southern India killed at least six people and injured 12, a government official said on Thursday (14), with more casualties feared in the second such accident this week. Pictures of the scene provided by government officials showed Wednesday's (13) massive blaze, with at…
Kane Williamson hit 57 to win the battle of captains against Hardik Pandya as Sunrisers Hyderabad handed newcomers Gujarat Titans their first loss in the Indian Premier League On Monday. Chasing 163 for victory, Hyderabad started strongly with a 64-run opening stand between Williamson and Abhishek Sharma (42) before Nicholas…
AUSTRALIAN prime minister Scott Morrison posted a picture on social media showing him preparing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's favourite dish to celebrate a new trade deal with India.On April 2, India and Australia signed an economic cooperation and trade agreement under which Canberra would provide duty-free access to its…
INDIA's Kashmir region is attracting record tourists after the easing of pandemic restrictions and some improvement in the security situation, bolstering local businesses. Tourist arrivals are set to touch a ten-year high this year after more than 340,000 tourists have come since January, local tour operators and government officials said,…
Lockie Ferguson claimed four wickets and Shubman Gill hit 84 to help newcomers Gujarat Titans remain unbeaten in two IPL matches after a 14-run win over Delhi Capitals on Saturday. Ferguson returned figures of 4-28 with his express pace in Pune to keep Delhi down to 157 for nine while…
Evin Lewis hit an unbeaten 55 off 23 balls to star in Lucknow Super Giants' six-wicket win over reigning IPL champions Chennai Super Kings who scored 210-7 after they were asked to bat Thursday. It was the first victory for KL Rahul-led Lucknow who lost their opening match to Gujarat…
Mohammed Shami's three wickets and a batting blitz by Rahul Tewatia helped Gujarat Titans begin their IPL journey with a thrilling win over fellow debutants Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Chasing 159 for victory, Gujarat were in trouble at 78-4 but Tewatia smashed an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls to…
Faf du Plessis smashed 88 on his Indian Premier League debut as captain but his side Royal Challengers Bangalore went down to Punjab Kings in a high-scoring match on Sunday. The South African veteran put on fiery stand of 118 off 61 balls with predecessor Virat Kohli, who hit an…
India's cricket board is planning to launch the women's edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament next year. "It has to be approved by the (annual general meeting)," Sourav Ganguly, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told reporters on Friday. "We plan to start…
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 extravaganza begins on Saturday when holders Chennai Super Kings face Kolkata Knight Riders. Eastern Eye guides you through the 10 teams, including two new franchises, who will compete in the world's richest cricket championship. Mumbai Indians Key Indian players: Rohit Sharma…
THE son of an Asian doctor who died in the pandemic said Covid has united communities as he explained his family was one among many who had suffered the loss of loved ones in the past two years. Dr Yusuf Ismail Patel, founder of Woodgrange Medical Practice in east London,…
THE Indian Premier League (IPL) returns for its biggest season on Saturday (26), with a galaxy of top names and two new franchises expanding the world's richest cricket competition to 10 teams for its 15th edition. But crowds in the cricket-mad nation will, initially at least, be limited to 25…
SUZUKI MOTOR will invest $1.3 billion (£990 million) in electric vehicle and battery production in India, the Japanese carmaker said Sunday (20), as it accelerates long-term plans to achieve carbon neutrality.In a deal signed with the western Indian state of Gujarat in the presence of visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio…
IN-DEMAND ACTRESS DISCUSSES HER NEW MOVIE RADHE SHYAM BEAUTY queen turned actress Pooja Hegde has made an impressive rise since making her film debut with 2012 Tamil-language superhero flick Mugamoodi and now firmly established herself as one of the most-sought-after actresses in India. Her latest offering is mega-budget period romance…
LIVE PERFORMANCE KATTAM KATTI When: Tuesday March 22 – Wednesday March 23 Where: Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX What: The Pagrav Dance Company presents a contemporary Kathak production that taps into the competitive chaos, creativity, and colour of Uttarayan, the world-famous international kite festival of Gujarat. www.junction.co.uk NITIN…
HARDLINE Hindu groups are demanding restrictions on wearing the hijab in classrooms in more Indian states after a court upheld a ban on the traditional Islamic head-scarf in Karnataka state, worrying Muslim students who had protested against the ban. The Karnataka High Court decision on Tuesday (15), backing the southern…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, a film based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. He said the film is "bringing the truth in its correct form" and history has to be presented in…
EMOTIONS ran high as Indian students, evacuated from the embattled Ukrainian city of Sumy, came out of the Delhi airport on Friday (11) and hugged their waiting parents.Some of the parents distributed sweets and garlanded their children while others welcomed them with bouquets and hugs as they arrived at the…
GUJARAT TITANS have signed Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a replacement for England batsman Jason Roy in the Indian Premier League tournament starting later this month, the franchise said. Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has played 20 T20 internationals, scoring 534 runs at a strike rate of 138. The Titans, who are making…
AN upstart political party that rules India's capital has swept an election in Punjab state, a Thursday (10) vote-count showed, bolstering its hopes of becoming the main challenger to prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, was…
A NUMBER of remarkable women were amongst the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (8). Bina Mehta took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award, presented to a BAME person who has smashed the proverbial glass ceiling, for her rise…
WOMEN are very much on the move – rising to roles not previously seen before and smashing glass ceilings in the process. The GG2 Power List was unveiled on Tuesday (8) evening at Eastern Eye publisher AMG’s high-profile and glittering GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards, where the role of highflying women…
LIVE PERFORMANCES BOTOWN - THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD When: Saturday March 5 Where: Mystique Banqueting Suite, 928a Melton Rd Brittania Way, Leicester LE4 8GR What: Concert featuring the acclaimed multicultural soul band that reboots Bollywood classics with a unique soul funk twist, which takes you on a musical trip from…
Legendary Indian singer, musician, and composer Bappi Lahiri passed away aged 69 after battling against various illnesses. Although tributes poured in from all over the world for him, it is difficult to know where to start when reflecting on his extraordinary life because he was a man of many contradictions.…
INDIA's Modi government's plan to redevelop the Gandhi ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, at a cost of £117 million has attracted criticism, according to a media report. Descendants of Gandhi, historians, scholars, Gandhian institutions and lifelong ashram residents have accused the government of attempting to co-opt and politicise Gandhi’s legacy, the…
THE Ministry of Education (MoE) appealed to the Indian students stranded in Ukraine on Saturday (26) to follow all the guidelines issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian embassy. It also assured the students that all possible efforts are being made by the government to bring…
HOW ALIA BHATT BECAME BROTHEL QUEEN GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI IN HER NEW UNDERWORLD FILM POPULAR actress Alia Bhatt is used to portraying emotionally demanding roles. Yet headlining Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama Gangubai Kathiawadi offered a different set of challenges. The film, based on a real-life brothel madam, sees the versatile…
THE US hospitality industry is mourning one of its great entrepreneurs after hotelier, philanthropist and pioneer Jayanti P “JP” Rama, of Greenville, South Carolina, died last Thursday (17) at the age of 74 in Ahmedabad, India. He is survived by his wife, Ilaben (Laxmiben) Rama, son Dharmendra “DJ” Rama and…
UN rights experts have called for an end to "misogynistic and sectarian" online attacks against a female Muslim Indian journalist, asking the authorities to investigate the harassment. Rana Ayyub, a fierce critic of prime minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist government of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been…
INDIA has paid Cairn Energy Plc Rs 79 billion (£780 million) in a refund of taxes it had collected to enforce a retrospective tax demand.The payment ends a seven-year-old dispute that had tarred the country's image as an investment destination.Cairn Energy, which is now known as Capricorn Energy PLC, said…
AN Indian court sentenced 38 people to death on Friday (18) over a string of bomb blasts in 2008 that killed dozens in the city of Ahmedabad, in one of the country's biggest mass death sentences. Coordinated attacks in western Gujarat state's commercial hub in 2008 killed 56, launching shrapnel…
If ever there was a persona perfectly in tune with his songs, it must be Bappi Lahiri, the man who introduced disco to Hindi films, his young-at-heart, popular music as unmindful of disapproving purists as he may have been of those who raised eyebrows at his gold chains and dark…
LIVE PERFORMANCE MAGNIFICENT 4 RELOADED When: Saturday February 19 and Sunday February 20 Where: Indigo at The O2, 205 Peninsula Square, London SE10 0ES and De Montfort Hall, Granville Road, Leicester LE1 7RU What: Popular Indian Idol 12 finalists Arunita Kanjilal, Nihal Tauro, Shanmukha Priya and the winner Pawandeep Rajan…
INDIAN police said that they had arrested three members of a gang they accused of beating up and robbing men contacted through the use of a gay dating app. Gay sex is no longer a criminal offence in India, but the fear of being ostracised or ridiculed prompts several among…
MEGHRAJ GROUP has reaffirmed its commitment to business growth and contribution to society as the international financial services and consulting organisation celebrates its centenary.Headquartered in the British Isles, the group’s main businesses include Meghraj Capital, focused on investment banking advisory and MTC Trust & Corporate Services which provides fiduciary services.The…
A shipbuilding company has been accused of defrauding India's largest state-run bank and 27 other financial institutions of over $3 billion, the country's top investigative agency said, in what would be its biggest-ever bank fraud. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) -- India's federal investigative agency -- said in a…
INDIAN businessman Rahul Bajaj, who died in Pune last Saturday (12), aged 83, gave Lakshmi Mittal crucial support in 2006 when Mittal Steel’s takeover bid for Arcelor was almost blocked by the French government of president Jacques Chirac.Bajaj, one of India’s most prominent industrialists, built up the family’s business in…
ENGLAND'S Liam Livingstone on Sunday (13) became the most expensive foreign player in this season's IPL auction at $1.52 million (£1.13m), while fellow England international Jofra Archer also fetched a high price despite being doubtful for the upcoming edition. Livingstone went to Punjab Kings as the 10 teams splurged millions…
INDIA'S Shreyas Iyer fetched the top price in the first round of the auction for the Indian Premier League - the world's most valuable cricket tournament - on Saturday (12).Iyer, who stood out with his match-winning 80 in India's 3-0 ODI whitewash of the West Indies on Friday (11), went…
I DON’T think I would have the courage to do it now, but back in 1998 – when I was even more foolish – I said yes when the BBC asked if I would talk about Lata Mangeshkar for a Radio 4 show called Distant Divas. What eased my nervousness…
YOUNG Londoners in need of support will have access to “dedicated mentors” by 2024 to help them reach their potential, the city’s mayor announced on Wednesday (9). A manifesto pledge of Sadiq Khan, the initiative aims to cover children who have been excluded from school or college or impacted by…
FROM across the south Asian diaspora, the refrain was the same: Lata Mangeshkar, who died in Mumbai last Sunday (6), aged 92, may have gone, but her songs will live on forever. She had a special connection with the UK, where her first concert in 1974 was in a packed…
THE Indian High Commission in London said that it has not been approached for the repatriation of the mortal remains of three British victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots. It was responding to a comment made by Kim Leadbeater MP in the UK Parliament on Wednesday (9). Leadbeater, Labour MP…
THIS month’s 72nd Berlin International Film Festival features the world premiere of Gangubai Kathiawadi. The big-budget Bollywood film starring Alia Bhatt in the title role is based on a real-life female brothel owner, who rose through the ranks to become one of the most feared figures in the Mumbai underworld.…
LIVE PERFORMANCE THE FOUR ACES When: Friday February 11 Where: Symphony Hall, 8 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA What: Concert headlined by iconic artists Shankar Mahadevan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia and Louis Banks, which mixes up a musical melting pot of world influences. They are supported by…
INDIA convicted 49 people over a 2008 attack in the western city of Ahmedabad that left dozens dead, in what perpetrators said was retaliation for earlier deadly communal violence. The string of bombings killed 56 people and wounded more than 200 others as shrapnel ripped through markets, buses and other…
INDIA’s Gautam Adani has become Asia’s richest person with a fortune of $90 billion, overtaking fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani, Forbes said. Adani’s investments in green energy in India helped him to enter the top 10 of the world’s richest people, according to figures from Forbes and Bloomberg. He is the…
INDIA's official Covid-19 death toll crossed 500,000 on Friday (4), a level some data analysts said was breached last year but was obscured by inaccurate surveys and unaccounted dead in the hinterlands, where millions remain vulnerable to the disease. The country, which has the fourth-highest tally of deaths globally, recorded…
ROOTS & CHANGES LIVE When: Saturday February 5 and Sunday February 6 Where: Sue Townsend Theatre, 16 Upper Brown Street, Leicester LE1 5TE and Chickenshed Theatre, 290 Chase Side, London N14 4PE What: Acclaimed British bhajan singer Bhavik Haria delivers a devotional music concert combining contemporary and classical influences, including…
Exhibition showcases seven decades of pioneer Asian photographer's work AN EXHIBITION dedicated to the work of a local Asian photographer in Coventry is a record of immigrants’ lives in the region and also a tribute to the partnership with his wife, his daughter has said. Photographs taken over a span…
INDIAN police have detained six people in a crackdown on illegal immigration after four Indians were found frozen to death near the border between the US and Canada last week, officials said on Thursday (27). Hundreds of Indians, mostly from the western states of Punjab and Gujarat, attempt to cross…
ROOTS & CHANGES LIVE When: Saturday February 5 and Sunday February 6 Where: Sue Townsend Theatre, 16 Upper Brown Street, Leicester LE1 5TE and Chickenshed Theatre, 290 Chase Side, London N14 4PE What: Acclaimed British bhajan singer Bhavik Haria delivers a devotional music concert combining contemporary and classical influences, including…
AUTHOR AND CHEF DISCUSSES HER LOVE FOR TEACHING COOKING PERHAPS the most popular pastime of the current pandemic has been cooking. Extended time indoors has led to a lot of people learning the finer points of culinary skills, cuisine and creating delicious homemade dishes. Restrictions being lifted has led many…
BRITAIN’S satellite communications company OneWeb and Hughes Communications India Pvt Ltd (HCIPL) have come together to provide low orbit connectivity services across the south Asian country for six years.However, the financial details of the satellite broadband distribution deal are not disclosed. HCIPL is a joint venture between America’s Hughes Network…
A Florida man accused of smuggling Indian migrants who crossed through a freezing snow storm into the US from Canada last week was granted conditional release in a hearing on Monday (24). Steve Shand, who appeared via video feed from a Minneapolis jail, was arrested by US border patrol the…
LIVE PERFORMANCE THE FOUR ACES When: Friday February 11 Where: Symphony Hall, 8 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA What: Concert headlined by iconic artists Shankar Mahadevan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia and Louis Banks, which mixes up a musical melting pot of world influences. They are supported by…
BRITISH security services recently investigated Malik Faisal Akram, the man behind a hostage-taking at a synagogue in Texas over the weekend.But the investigation reportedly ended as there was no evidence to support the perception that Akram posed any threat.However, his family said he was "radicalised" in his home town of…
LIVE PERFORMANCE BOLLYWOOD BLAST When: Sunday January 16 Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE What: Ketan Kansara headlines an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of Indian cinema from the 70s, 80s and 90s. He will be accompanied by the band D26, along with fellow singers Anuradha Shukla,…
ADANI GROUP has signed a pact with South Korea's POSCO to explore business opportunities in sectors like steel and renewable energy.In a statement on Thursday (13), Adani Group said the investment under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies is estimated at £5 billion (£3.64 bn). It said…
URJIT Patel, the former governor of India’s central bank – the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – has been appointed as a vice president of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral funding institution based in Beijing, China, sources in the bank said on Sunday (9). India is a founding…
TWO brothers in Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat left no stone unturned to celebrate the second birthday of their pet dog Abby, an Indian Spitz, with fanfare. They spent as much as rupees seven lakh (£6,961) for the occasion -- from booking a party plot to roping…
OFFICIALLY, India’s coronavirus death tally is told to be less than 500,000 but if a new study by a leading global epidemiologist is to be believed, the country has seen approximately three million deaths due to the pandemic by September last year, making it the worst-hit nation in the world.…
INDIA reported 159,632 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday (9), as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in the country, nudging several state governments to impose fresh restrictions. India's richest state, Maharashtra, said on Saturday (8) it would close swimming pools and gyms from Monday (10) while…
SIX workers at a dyeing and printing mill in India were killed and more than 20 were taken to hospital on Thursday (6) after inhaling toxic gas caused by an illegal dump of waste chemicals, officials said. The disaster took place in the industrial city of Surat in Gujarat state…
INDIA’S Gujarat state government has decided to postpone the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases. The three-day biennial summit was planned in Gandhinagar from Monday (10) to attract investments and delegations from partner countries and CEOs of top companies were…
DIVERSE CINEMA ACROSS DIFFERENT GENRES AND LANGUAGES THAT ROSE ABOVE THE REST, ACROSS THE PAST 12 MONTHS IT MAY have been a horrible year for Bollywood, but that didn’t stop the various regional Indian film industries from delivering delightful gems, across a wide variety of genres. This resulted in one…
INDIAN megacities Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, although without a corresponding rise in hospitalisations, but fears are growing about a spread to rural areas in coming days. India reported 90,928 new daily Covid-19 cases on Thursday (6), up nearly four-fold since the start of…
EXPECT AN ACTION-PACKED YEAR FILLED WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND TALENT THE world slowly opening back up again after the awful pandemic means there will be plenty to look forward to this year. From great live events and delayed movies finally releasing to emerging talent, boundary breaking artists and unexpected surprises, it…
HE may have delivered winning performances across film and television, but this looks like being one of the biggest years in Vatsal Sheth’s career. He has big movie projects on the way, including multi-language blockbuster Adipurush and his debut Gujarati film. Eastern Eye caught up with the versatile actor to…
INDIA started vaccinating children aged 15 to 18 against the coronavirus on Monday (3) as it quickly expands its inoculation effort to cover the world's largest adolescent population amid fears the Omicron variant will drive a new surge of infections. Authorities on Monday (3) reported 33,750 new Covid-19 cases and…
INDIA reported more than 27,000 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday (2), with infections sharply rising for a fifth consecutive day. The country's largest cities, including Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai, have seen a recent spike in Covid-19 cases, including those of the Omicron variant, which has triggered a fresh…
THE total count of the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant reached 781 in India on Wednesday (29), the health ministry said. Of the 781 cases, 241 people have been either discharged, recovered or migrated. Delhi has the highest Omicron count with 238 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 167 cases. The…
INDIA has moved to cut off foreign funding to a charity founded by Mother Teresa. The Missionaries of Charity was founded in 1950 by the late Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who devoted most of her life to helping the poor in Kolkata. She won the Nobel Peace Prize and…
BRILLIANT BOOKS BY BRITISH AUTHORS IN DIVERSE GENRES THE pandemic hasn’t been able to prevent this from being a strong literary year filled with brilliant books by great British authors. What made 2021 special was the range of genres that were tackled and the number of unique protagonists that filled…
A TO Z OF AN ACTION-PACKED 2021 FILLED WITH HIGHS, MEMORABLE MOMENTS AND NEW TALENT AFTER a relatively quiet few years, it has been an action-packed year for British Asian artists and music, with songs, albums, performances, comebacks, and interesting innovations. There have also been breakthrough artists and emerging talent,…
INDIA'S Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday (13) removed a controversial comprehension passage and the accompanying quotations from the English examination paper of Standard 10 and decided to award full marks for it to the students. The board took the decision following an outrage over it allegedly promoting…
THE Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has decided to honour noted Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi with the Royal Gold Medal 2022, one of the world’s most prestigious awards in the field. The medal, which is approved personally by the British queen and is awarded to a person or group…
Renowned singer Monali Thakur has started shooting for an upcoming Hindi film, titled Dukaan. Thakur, who made her acting debut with the 2007 film Krishnakanter Will, won rave reviews for her powerful performance in Nagesh Kukunoor’s 2014 film Lakshmi. She was also seen in a special appearance as a Kashmiri…
PEOPLE in India are in "extreme pain" and the economy is still below the 2019 levels, with "small aspirations" of people becoming even smaller now, Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee has said. He was virtually addressing students of Ahmedabad University in India’s Gujarat state on Saturday (4) night during the…
Friday afternoons are a time for communal prayer for Muslims in the northern Indian city of Gurugram, who over the years had negotiated with local authorities to pray in parks and empty plots of land as they outgrew their mosques. But recent protests by Hindu groups, sometimes preventing prayers as…
THE annual Asian Business Awards, hosted last month by the Asian Media Group, publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weeklies, will be broadcast on TV this weekend. The ceremony, held in central London on November 19, will be shown on Zee TV’s flagship community show Out and About,…
LIVE PERFORMANCE KATTAM KATTI When: Friday November 19 Where: Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, 183 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TJ What: The Pagrav Dance Company presents a contemporary Kathak production that taps into the competitive chaos, creativity, and colour of Uttarayan, the world-famous international kite festival of Gujarat. www.sadlerswells.com AAKASH…
AFTER missing two deadlines, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has shelved a proposed deal to sell a 20 per cent stake in its oil refinery and petrochemical business to Saudi Aramco for an asking of $15 billion (£11.1 bn). "Due to the evolving nature of Reliance's business portfolio,…
ONE OF BRITAIN’S leading wholesale companies won the coveted top award at the Asian Business Awards, hosted by Eastern Eye, on Friday (19). Bestway Group was named Asian Business of the Year at a gala event held at the newly opened Londoner in Leicester Square. Founded by Sir Anwar Pervez…
ONE of the big British theatre successes before the pandemic sent everyone into lockdown was hit play Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding. The masterful mix of songs, comedy, dance, and colourful characters played to packed houses around the UK before theatres went dark due to Covid restriactions. Now the musical stage…
LIVE PERFORMANCE YUVA NARTAN When: Saturday November 13 Where: Curve Theatre, Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB What: An exhilarating evening of vibrant Indian classical and contemporary dance, featuring several emerging and established artists, performing Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance styles. www.curveonline.co.uk SONU NIGAM: RAFI, KISHORE AUR MAIN When: Saturday…
There have been reports about a movie starring Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy, and on Thursday (11), finally, the film was officially announced. The untitled comedy drama will be produced by Ellipsis Entertainment and Applause Entertainment, and it will be directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta. Balan…
DESPITE being afflicted with polio from a young age, Arun Patel was undeterred by the disability; rather, he chose to take life head on. In his new book, In Out of My Way, Polio! - Patel narrates his life story, which was full of challenges, starting from meeting the expectations…
In 2019, a Gujarati film titled Chaal Jeevi Laiye had hit the big screens. The movie starring Siddharth Randeria, Yash Soni and Aarohi Patel became the highest-grossing film of Gujarati cinema. Recently, while talking to PTI, the producer of the film, Rashmin Majithia, revealed that they were in talks with…
FIRE tore through a hospital in western India on Saturday (6) killing at least 11 coronavirus patients, officials said. The blaze was the latest to hit pandemic wards across India. There were about two dozen patients at the intensive care unit in the hospital in Ahmadnagar district, Maharashtra state, when…
LIVE PERFORMANCE DEEPAVALI: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT When: Saturday, November 6 Where: Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH What: Uplifting family-friendly performances in celebration of Diwali, which showcase Bollywood, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and bhangra by some of the best British south Asian dance artists, companies, and community groups.…
TELECOM gear maker Nokia India on Wednesday (3) claimed to have recorded a top speed of 9.85 Gigabit per second on the Vodafone Idea (Vi) network during the ongoing 5G trials. The company has achieved the top speed in back end data transmission, which means connecting mobile base station networks,…
INDIAN president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday (29) paid a visit to spiritual leader Morari Bapu at his native Talgajarda in Bhavnagar district of the western Indian state of Gujarat. Bapu, 75, received the president after he landed at the helipad near a high school in his village. Bapu then…
INDIA’S home minister Amit Shah and his family visited the BAPS Mandir at Sarangpur in Gujarat on Monday (1). BAPS saints Gnaneshwar Swami and Brahmavihari Swami welcomed the minister with a garland on behalf of BAPS leader His Holiness Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj. Shah, who visited HH Param Pujya Pramukh…
Why Pepsi's former CEO wants women to have support at home and in workplace MENTORING, teaching, writing a book and learning “how to chill” is how Indra Nooyi says she has been spending her time since leaving PepsiCo more than two years ago. In an interview from her Connecticut home…
Pan Nalin’s Gujarati film Chhello Show (Last Film Show) has won the Golden Spike Award for the Best Picture at the SEMINCI 66th Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain. It is the second Indian film in the last four decades to have bagged this honour. The first one was won…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJoEX6Peqhw TAAPSEE PANNU DISCUSSES HER LATEST FILM NEWLY released ZEE5 film Rashami Rocket is powered by a perfect lead performance by acclaimed actress Taapsee Pannu. The versatile star has once again shown off her remarkable range in the role of a gifted athlete who finds herself in an unexpected battle,…
RESPECTED filmmaker Rajkumar Kohli had taught Vikash Verma about film directing, but it was a trip to Poland that started the interesting journey he is now on. Family friend Ajay Bisaria was the Indian ambassador to the country and asked him to make a movie on Raja Jam Saheb, who…
INDIA’S Supreme Court on Wednesday (27) ordered an independent investigation into the alleged government use of Pegasus spyware on journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with the chief justice calling the implications "Orwellian". India was one of 45 countries where tens of thousands of phone numbers were targeted by the spyware…
At the 67th National Film Awards event held on Monday in New Delhi, Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu honoured Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth with 51th Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The event is organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, which comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Rajinikanth, whose…
Emmay Entertainment and T-Series Films’ joint production venture Satyameva Jayate 2 will now release in theatres on November 25, a day earlier than its previously announced release date. The vigilante action film, written and directed by Milap Zaveri, stars John Abraham in the lead role. Actress Divya Khosla Kumar is…
CHIEF EXECUTIVES must challenge bad behaviour which stops women and minorities from progressing, Indra Nooyi, the former CEO and chair of global company PepsiCo, has said. Speaking at the GG2 Leadership Series last Tuesday (12), the first Asian woman to lead a Fortune 500 company warned that firms would lose…
INDIA administered its one billionth Covid-19 vaccine dose on Thursday (21) as it fights its way back from a devastating surge in cases that brought the health system close to collapse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the feat as a "triumph of Indian science", but authorities remain on guard for…
Pratik Gandhi is a big name in the Gujarati film industry and he became a household name all over India and even internationally after playing the lead role in Sony Liv’s series Scam: 1992. Gandhi has played supporting roles in some Hindi films, but now he has made his Bollywood…
AFTER the cost of fuel and edible oils hit record highs, Indian consumers are likely to be further squeezed by a rally in onion prices after heavy rainfall in the country's key growing regions damaged the summer-sown crop and delayed winter crop planting. Onions are also a politically-sensitive commodity, with…
FROM his support for animal welfare to well-funded social care, Sir David Amess was known for championing several causes. One among them was his backing for the High Street and small shops. The Conservative MP for Southend West, who died last Friday (15) after being stabbed multiple times while in…
UK firm Rajah Spices has partnered with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to empower women farmers in Gujarat who grow cumin and other spices, a statement has said. As part of the initiative, 5p from every promotional pack of Rajah Spices sold in the UK is donated to SEWA to…
ANANDIBEN Patel, the governor of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday (17) concluded her three-day visit to Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand. The visit coincided with Navratri, the nine-day Hindu festival that celebrates the divine feminine energy. Patel observed Navami and…
AN NHS leader on ethnic health inequalities has urged people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills ahead of Restart a Heart Day on Saturday (16). Dr Habib Naqvi, the director in charge of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, has called for…
India's main religious festival season is back in full swing with huge noisy crowds thronging markets and fairs for the first time in two years, barely six months after a devastating Covid-19 surge. The coronavirus is still claiming over 200 lives daily in the nation of 1.3 billion people but…
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last week visited the BAPS Hindu temple display at the India Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai with consul general Dr Aman Puri. He is the latest dignitary to visit the display after…
THE first major London solo exhibition by critically acclaimed Indian artist Shilpa Gupta has premiered in the capital this month. Held at the Barbican Centre, Gupta’s Sun at Night presents and builds on her acclaimed project For, In Your Tongue, I Cannot Fit (2017–18). It is an immersive multi-channel installation…
INDIA’S largest port operator has said it will not handle cargo from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan from next month following the seizure of almost three tons of heroin. Adani Ports, part of the Adani Group conglomerate, said Monday (11) that its "trade advisory" will apply to all the terminals it…
Pratik Gandhi is a big name in the Gujarati film industry. But, he became a household name in India and internationally after the release of the series Scam: 1992. The series on Saturday (9) completed one year of its release. So, Gandhi posted on Twitter, “Dear 9th Oct, you've a…
THIRTY-FIVE officials of the government of the western Indian state of Gujarat, including some Indian Administrative Service officers, on Tuesday (5) visited the under-construction BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Ahmedabad Mirror reported. They are in the UAE to attend the Expo 2020 Dubai which kicked…
VETERAN actor Arvind Trivedi, known for his performance as Raavan in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, passed away on Tuesday (5) due to a heart attack. Kaustubh Trivedi, the actor’s nephew, said, "He had a lot of age-related health issues and was not keeping well. He was in the hospital earlier and…
BRITAIN'S home secretary Priti Patel on Tuesday (5) set out a series of crime-fighting measures, including stringent action on crimes against women, and tougher penalties for protesters disrupting highways. In her speech at the ongoing annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the senior Indian-origin politician also highlighted the progress of…
There are many songs like Nagada Sang Dhol, Dholi Taro, Chogada, and others that are perfect to perform Garba during Navratri. But, we are sure everyone likes to shake a leg on new songs as well. https://youtu.be/O7Tj-Ojui_s Navratri is all set to start from 7th October. So, here’s a list…
RULING BJP on Tuesday (5) registered a landslide victory in Gujarat's Gandhinagar municipal corporation (GMC) elections by winning 41 seats out of 44. Following the victory of the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude towards the people saying that it has reaffirmed the deep-rooted bond between the people of Gujarat…
US Vice President Kamala Harris met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (23) and stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region at a time when the US is trying to solidify its pivot toward Asia and strengthen ties with allies to take on China's growing influence in…
Pratik Gandhi, the breakout star of SonyLIV’s Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), is ready to set his foot in Bollywood with the upcoming film Bhavai. Directed by debutant filmmaker Hardik Gajjar, the film is set in 1982 in a rural village in Gujarat and revolves around two artists,…
INDIA'S anti-smuggling intelligence officials have seized almost three tonnes of heroin, reportedly worth around £1.9billion, in a major bust at Mundra Port in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Officials told BBC that forensic testing was underway to determine the exact value of the seized drugs. According to one statement,…
A couple of weeks ago, news emerged that National Film Award-winning actor Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi, the breakout star of SonyLIV’s highly successful web series Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) were set to star in ad filmmaker Shirsha Guha Thakurta’s directorial debut. The latest we hear is…
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is set to present a free three-part mini-course on parenting titled ‘Parenting from the Bhagavad Gita: What Can Krishna and Arjuna Teach Us About the Parent-Child Relationship?’ starting Tuesday (21). Each session at the programme will be of half-an-hour duration and be premiered fortnightly on YouTube…
Mayor Burnham emphasises need to build trust and people-to-people ties MANCHESTER, which is apparently “the most liveable city in the UK”, is taking the whole business of attracting inward investment from India very seriously. Last Thursday (9), it held an “in person” Manchester India summit which was attended by more…
AN official raid on the offices and residence of a noted human rights activist in India critical of its Narendra Modi government has created an outrage in the country. The enforcement directorate (ED), a government agency in India that tackles financial crime, searched the premises of Harsh Mander in Delhi…
Pratik Gandhi, whose breakout performance in Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) made him a household name in India, has a slew of exciting projects under his belt. One of them is the upcoming Hindi film Bhavai. The film marks Gandhi’s much-awaited debut in Bollywood. Recently, the makers dropped…
BRITISH Indian workers are now dominating the finance industry in the UK, official figures have revealed. Some 20.5 per cent of employees of Indian origin are in the banking or financial sector, the highest proportion of any group. The figure was 14.6 per cent for those of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin…
British prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (15) undertook a reshuffle of his top team, keeping two of his senior Cabinet ministers Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel in their posts. Sunak will remain next door to Johnson at Downing Street as his chancellor of the exchequer and Patel, who had…
A few days ago, in an interview, writer Javed Akhtar drew parallels between the Taliban and Hindu extremists. However, now in a statement given to PTI, he has expressed the views. In the emailed statement, Akhtar said, "India can never become like Afghanistan because Indians by nature, are not extremists;…
BUSINESSES will lose out in a “war of talent” unless they invest in Asian and black employees, senior corporate executives have been warned. The inaugural GG2 Women of Colour (WoC) conference cautioned that companies would be left behind if they did not hire enough ethnic talent. Panellist Sanjay Bhandari, chairman…
AS Bhupendra Patel took charge as the chief minister of Gujarat from Vijay Rupani, there was speculation as to what led to the change of guard in the western Indian state. The perceived “mismanagement” of Covid-19 by the Rupani government and his differences with other leaders of the ruling Bharatiya…
The title of Pratik Gandhi starrer Raavan Leela has been changed to Bhavai. The makers have stated that they have taken this decision after getting requests from the audiences and they want to respect their sentiments. In a statement, director Hardik Gajjar said, "I am happy to honor the wishes…
THE BJP legislature party meeting in Gandhinagar on Sunday (12) elected Bhupendra Patel,59, as the new chief minister of India's Gujarat. Here are the details about the senior leader who became the chief minister in one of the key states in India A first-time MLA and member of the Patidar…
SENIOR BJP leader Bhupendra Patel will become the next chief minister of Gujarat. He will succeed Vijay Rupani who resigned on Saturday (11) in a surprise move. Patel along with Rupani and state BJP president CR Paatil handed over the government formation claim to governor Acharya Devvrat on Sunday evening.…
Ford will stop manufacturing cars in India and expects to record a $2 billion restructuring charge after failing to find a "sustainable path" forward, the American auto giant said on Thursday (9). The announcement is the latest blow to prime minister Narendra Modi's efforts to urge foreign businesses to manufacture…
VIJAY Rupani resigned as the chief minister of India’s state of Gujarat on Saturday (11), more than a year before the state goes to the polls. Elections are due in December 2022 to elect 182 members of the Gujarat assembly where prime minister Narendra Modi’s party BJP has been in…
THE author of a new book on Narendra Modi has warned that India's transformation to an “ethnic democracy”, in which religious minorities are relegated to second class citizenship, may reach the “point of no return”. Christophe Jaffrelot, a Frenchman who is professor of politics and sociology at King’s college London, has…
Starring Daniel Craig in the lead role, No Time To Die is one of the eagerly awaited movies of 2021. The upcoming 007 film has faced a long road to theatres due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that has not abated fans’ interest even a bit. Universal Pictures India recently…
BHAVINA PATEL on Sunday (29) became only the second Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics after she signed off with a historic silver following a 0-3 loss to world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the women's singles table tennis class 4 final in Tokyo. The…
India will supply millions of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses to its states to try to inoculate all school teachers by early next month, the health minister said on Wednesday (25), as the country gradually resumes physical classes. The pandemic has hit the country of 1.35 billion people particularly hard and…
A TRILOGY of films depicting ethnic minority protagonists in Hollywood blockbuster movies that “they are typically excluded from” is part of a new exhibition in Southampton. Hetain Patel’s new art show Trinity is based on his fascination with the cultural influence that Hollywood has on people’s lives. Having premiered at…
OUTSIDE the main iron gate of the Indian embassy in Kabul, a group of Taliban fighters waited - armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Inside the compound were 150 Indian diplomats and nationals - growing increasingly nervous as they watched news of the Taliban tightening their grip on…
DURING the Covid-19 pandemic in India, there were some doctors and healthcare staff who went beyond their line of duty to mitigate the pain of fellow citizens. Eastern Eye looks at some of them who made a difference to the communities they serve: 1. Dr Rajendra Bharud Doctor-turned IAS officer…
A BRITISH ASIAN firefighter has revealed how his cultural background has helped him build relations within his local community. Asif Mahroof, 42, has worked for the West Yorkshire Fire Service for 15 years. Acting as the crew commander at Dewsbury station, he features in the BBC Two documentary series Yorkshire…
INDIAN conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd said on Tuesday (10) it would invest $144 million (£104m) in US energy storage company Ambri Inc, along with billionaire Bill Gates, investment management firm Paulson & Co and others. The announcement comes after the Indian major in June unveiled its plans to invest $10…
Knight is now set to arrive in India on August 27. The David Lowery directorial will get a theatrical release in the country by PVR Pictures. The Green Knight follows the journey of Sir Gawain, played by Patel, King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew who seeks to confront the eponymous…
BILLIONAIRE Gautam Adani has launched a new subsidiary to foray into refineries, petrochemical complexes and hydrogen plants’ businesses. Adani Enterprises in stock exchange filing said it has incorporated Adani Petrochemicals Ltd (APL) as a wholly-owned subsidiary to "carry on business of setting up refineries, petrochemicals complexes, specialty chemicals units, hydrogen…
SAJID JAVID has written his “isolation diary” in the Spectator, expressing satisfaction that after more than a year in the political wilderness, he is back in the cabinet as health secretary. Matt Hancock’s misfortune brought Sajid good luck. He reveals, “my mum was delighted – like many Asian mothers she…
Gujarati film Teacher of The Year was released in September 2019. Directed by Dr. Vikram Panchal and Shaunak Vyas, the movie stars Shaunak Vyas, Alisha Prajapati, Mehul Buch, Ragi Jani, Jitendra Thakkar, Archan Trivedi, Meera Acharya, and Nisarg Trivedi. Teacher of The Year is based on the education system and…
KNOWN as India’s first female photojournalist, Homai Vyarawalla was born on December 9, 1913, into a Parsi family based in Navsari, Gujarat. The family later moved to Mumbai, and when she was at university, she was introduced to photography by a professor (and her future husband) Manekshaw Vyarawalla. Her first…
NED Lamont, the Democratic governor of the US state of Connecticut, on Monday (26) announced the nomination of Manisha Juthani as the state’s public health commissioner. Juthani, who succeeds Deidre Gifford, is an associate professor at the Yale University of Medicine. Gifford has been promoted to the post of senior…
ONE of the founders of the UK-based Overseas Friends of the BJP, Lalubhai (Dhirubhai) Parekh, passed away on Monday (26). Parekh was also a leader of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and a former president of the National Congress of Gujarati Organizations and a trustee. A native of Rajkot, Gujarat,…
Chithra needs no introduction. She is one of the best playback singers Indian cinema has ever produced. In a career spanning over four decades, she has given her mellifluous voice to more than 25,000 songs in various Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi. The…
AN award-winning former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner, Dr Kailash Chand OBE, has passed away at the age of 73. His son Dr Aseem Malhotra said on Twitter his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening (26). Dr Chand was one of the most influential Asian doctors…
A REFUGEE, who arrived in Britain after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelled Asians from that country, has revealed how the UK gave him and his family a new life. Mukund Nathwani, came to England in 1972 from Uganda at the age of 23. “We were emotionally very disturbed people…
HARIPRASAD Swami, founder of Yogi Divine Society and the head of Haridham Sokhada Swaminarayan Temple, passed away around 11 pm India Time on Monday (26). He was undergoing treatment for kidney ailments at Bhailal hospital in Vadodara in the western Indian state of Gujarat where he breathed his last. He…
Family lead tributes to entrepreneur and inspiring community leader Alka, Ranna, Nisha and Miraj Patel: Our pappa accomplished tremendous things in various sectors – in industry, Hindu religion, community affairs both in the UK and in India, but at the same time, he was a loving and exciting family man.…
AN NHS doctor has criticised social media platforms for not doing enough to address online abuse after she was targeted by racist trolls earlier this month. Dr Chintal Patel, a GP based in London, faced abusive comments after she posted a video of herself eating a thepla (a type of…
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who has played a variety of roles in Hindi movies over the years, is a popular name in Gujarati cinema as well. He acted in a number of Gujarati films at the beginning of his career. But once he started getting plentiful of offers from Bollywood,…
INDIA’S dairy giant, Amul won a trademark violation case in the federal court of Canada, and awarded damages to the tune of Canadian dollar 32,733 (£18,910), The Times of India reported. The court ruled that a brand named 'Amul Canada' had infringed on Amul's copyright by advertising their product, using…
THE inaugural meeting of the UK-India Financial Markets Dialogue (FMD) between senior representatives of both countries was held virtually on Friday (9). As part of the dialogue, discussions were held to strengthen cooperation on four key themes- Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City, banking and payments, insurance and capital markets.…
AUTHORITIES in the southern Indian state of Kerala have raised an alarm in all districts of the state following the identification of 15 cases of Zika virus. Veena George, the state’s health minister, confirmed the infections that spread in Thiruvananthapuram district where the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram is located. In…
Entrepreneur's loss ‘will be felt by community' DAHYABHAI JHINABHAI PATEL, a pioneering British Asian businessman, passed away on Monday (5) after a short illness, writes Shailesh Solanki. Dahyabhai, 91, was an eminent entrepreneur and philanthropist who made an enormous contribution to local business and the Asian community in the West…
MUSIC MAESTRO KAYKAY CHAUHAN DISCUSSES HIS NEW MULTI-FAITH ALBUM MIND & SOUL LOCKDOWN inspired Kaykay Chauhan in multiple ways. The ace British musician collaborated with world-class singers and delivered free online concerts in diverse genres to lift the spirits of those stuck indoors. Audiences connecting to meaningful songs being performed…
FOUR top south Asian leaders including Narendra Modi and Imran Khan have been accused of being "predators" who are “cracking down on press freedom”. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global free media advocacy group, has featured the duo in their 2021 "Press freedom predators gallery – old tyrants, two women…
Mumbai Samachar, Asia’s oldest newspaper still in print, has registered a mark of durability by entering its 200th year on Thursday (1) and its editor is confident that the journey will continue for another 500 years. However, a tragedy awaited the newspaper at its moment of glory as Muncherji Cama,…
Eastern Eye and its sister paper, Garavi Gujarat, have been telling the story of the pandemic and campaigning to make sure south Asians take the opportunity to get vaccinated. Dr Nikita Kanani, a working GP, as well as a director in NHS England, recognised our work and told this personal story…
AT LEAST one in three south Asians, aged 18 or over, is still not fully protected from the Covid virus, Eastern Eye can reveal. Despite the government spearheading a “concerted community-led effort” to persuade minority communities to get vaccinated, the latest figures reveal that about 67 per cent of “Asians…
ZEE5, one of the leading streaming media platforms in the world, on Saturday announced the premiere date for one of its hugely anticipated films, State of Siege: Temple Attack, which follows their well-received streaming show State of Siege: 26/11. Directed by Ken Ghosh, the film stars Akshaye Khanna in the…
INDIAN billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries unveiled plans to invest $10 billion (£7.2bn) in renewable energy over the next three years. Ambani made the announcement on Thursday (24) during a virtual address to shareholders, adding the new business aims to "bridge the green energy divide in India and globally". India…
DID you know there was an Indian elected as an MP in 1892? Dadabhai Naoroji, also known as the Grand Old Man of India, was born in Bombay [now Mumbai] in 1825. He was involved in politics and in 1886, was elected as president of the Indian National Congress, an…
Creating Swaraj: I created my first dance drama aged 19. Choreographing a cast of 40 to depict the independence of India was a life-changing project that allowed me to push the boundaries of people’s abilities. The cast was made up of supermarket workers, mechanics, beauty therapists, students and so on.…
THE burnt-out MV X-Press Pearl has caused "significant damage to the planet by the release of hazardous substances", the United Nations (UN) said on Sunday (20) as it announced a team of experts to determine the full extent of the disaster and necessary follow-up action. A team of oil spill and chemical…
By Amit Roy IT WAS brave of the author Nikesh Shukla to turn down the offer of an MBE, braver still to let everyone know he had refused it because it stands for ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’. His action might had more of an impact, though,…
INDIAN-ORIGIN author Nikesh Shukla last month said that he turned down an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List because he did not wish to be associated with what it stands for — “Member of the Order of the British Empire”. “Last month I was offered an MBE for services…
INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (14) said the country is on the right track to achieve its target of land-degradation neutrality. The leader said this while delivering a keynote address at the United Nations’ “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” via a video call. “We are…
THE Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has always been an ambitious outfit. After having done well in its first-ever election in Delhi in 2013, the party of Arvind Kejriwal came to power but thereafter, it failed to keep up the momentum. The party could not stay in power in Delhi for…
A leading charity has joined efforts in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and alleviating the suffering in India during the second wave. BAPS Charities, through its global network and partner hospitals, has so far supported the treatment of over 3,800 victims to full recovery from Covid-19 in the country, a statement…
SRI LANKA made an interim damage claim of USD 40 m (£33 m) from the owners of the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV X-Press Pearl. The Lankan government has lodged the claim of USD 40 m (£33 m) through the attorney general following a directive by prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. "We are…
Authorities in an Indian city have organised a special drive-through vaccination camp for disabled people in a bid to address low vaccination rates, especially among more vulnerable members of society. Organisers of the weekend campaign in Ahmedabad, the biggest city in Gujarat state, aim to vaccinate 500 disabled people, who…
THEY both are promising economies and with mammoth populations on either side of the border, these two neighbours can aspire to be world beaters in decades to come. But in reality, India and China have been more at odds than in unity. From border to political to geostrategic, the two…
A LEADING Asian businessman and philanthropist has emphasised the “urgent” need for aid in India to help the healthcare system tackle the Covid-19 crisis, as the toll continues to rise across the country. Coronavirus has ravaged India in a devastating second wave in recent months, with more than 350,000 deaths…
The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India, which started in March, crippled production activities across the country again for more than two months. The state of Maharashtra was one of the worst affected states in the country. During the peak of infections, it recorded more than 50,000 Covid-19…
A BLACK box was recovered from a container ship sinking off Sri Lanka, but a dive to check for oil leaks had to be aborted on Sunday (6), the navy said. The Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), also known as a maritime "black box", was found intact and is expected to…
SOME of India's states are easing lockdown restrictions as coronavirus infections subside, with the world's second most-populous nation on Saturday (5) logging its lowest daily case count in nearly two months. India saw 120,529 new coronavirus infections emerge over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,380. The country's…
SRI LANKAN authorities said on Thursday (3) they are preparing for the worst-case scenario of a possible oil slick from the burnt-out cargo ship sinking off Colombo's main harbour. The Marine Environment Protection Authority readied oil dispersants, booms and skimmers in case of a leak from the MV X-Press Pearl,…
A BURNT-OUT container ship that has already caused Sri Lanka's worst maritime environmental disaster was sinking on Wednesday (2) with several hundred tons of oil still in its fuel tanks, the navy said. The MV X-Press Pearl, carrying hundreds of tons of chemicals and plastics, burned for 13 days within…
A FIRE aboard a cargo ship off Sri Lanka carrying hundreds of tons of chemicals, plastics and cosmetics was finally extinguished on Tuesday (1) after a 13-day international operation, the navy said. In Sri Lanka's worst marine ecological disaster, huge volumes of microplastic granules from the ship's containers have inundated…
SRI LANKAN authorities said they will sue the owners of a Singapore-registered cargo carrier that has burned for 11 days off the island's west coast and caused its worst-ever marine pollution. Police said a criminal investigation was also launched into the blaze aboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying…
AT LEAST seven crematoriums and graveyards in India's western city of Surat saw a more than three-fold rise in the number of cremations and burials last month compared with a year ago, suggesting many more Covid-19 fatalities than an official tally. The data, gathered from site visits and logs reviewed…
Ford Motor Co said it will halt production at its car plant in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu after workers staged a lunchtime sit-in protest on Thursday, demanding leave and health benefits, as the country battles the coronavirus. The automaker will stop work at its Chennai plant on Friday…
INTERNATIONAL salvage experts and Indian vessels on Thursday (27) joined a desperate bid to extinguish a huge blaze on a container ship off the Sri Lankan coast as fears grow that the vessel could cause a devastating oil spill. Strong Indian Ocean winds have hampered efforts to douse the inferno…
By Amit Roy AUTHOR Sam Pitroda is calling for a radical reform of major global institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, NATO and the World Health Organization due to “stagnation in their functioning”. “These institutions have made significant contributions to keep peace alive,…
A severe cyclone is brewing off India's eastern coast, the nation's weather bureau warned on Sunday, as the death toll rose from a major storm that wreaked havoc in the west of the virus-hit nation last week. Moving northwards in the Bay of Bengal, the depression was set to form…
A poignant and heartwarming documentary about an Indian woman who walked for 4,000 km over 240 days across India will be the opening movie of this year’s London Indian Film Festival. “We will be showcasing the unstoppable force that is India’s rich and diverse filmmaking, and of course the festival…
AFTER cyclone Tauktae, a new cyclonic storm named cyclone Yaas is brewing in the southeastern part of India and expected to start forming in the Bay of Bengal by May 22, India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Wednesday (19). “Low pressure of the new cyclonic storm is expected to start…
FOURTEEN people have died as a barge sank off India's west coast after a powerful cyclone hit the country, authorities said on Wednesday (19), as Indian navy ships and aircraft scoured waters to locate scores of other missing personnel. "We can confirm that 14 bodies have been recovered from the…
More than 90 people are reported missing on Tuesday (18) after a vessel adrift off Mumbai's coast sank during cyclone Tauktae, the Indian navy said. About 177 people were rescued from the vessel as per the latest report. The rescue operations are still on. Two ships and helicopters are deployed…
FOUR people were killed in Gujarat as Cyclone Tauktae pounded parts of the state and left behind a trail of destruction along the western coast, officials said on Tuesday (18). The landfall process of the eye of the extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae, which hit the Gujarat coast in Saurashtra…
India's total Covid-19 caseload surged past 25 million on Tuesday (18) as a powerful cyclone complicated the health crisis in one of the states where the disease is spreading most quickly. Covid-19 tests were administered to 200,000 people evacuated from coastal districts of the western state of Gujarat before the…
PAKISTAN is likely to escape the fury of Cyclone Tauktae as it changed its direction when it was some 1,300 km away from the port city of Karachi, according to the country’s meteorological department (PMD). Located about 145 km west off Mumbai in the Arabian sea just before midday on…
CYCLONE Tauktae, likely to be the strongest to hit the region since 1998, is expected to make landfall tonight in the covid-battered state of Gujarat. The cyclone would subsequently move northwestwards and is likely to affect the Pakistani port city of Karachi as well, a statement by the India Meteorological…
Pakistan is bracing itself to face tropical Cyclone Tauktae as the country’s meteorological department predicted powerful winds and heavy rainfall in parts of Sindh province between Monday (17) and Thursday (20). The weatherman said the cyclone centred at a distance of about 1,460km south-southeast of the port city of Karachi…
INDIA prime minister Narendra Modi will hold an important meeting on Saturday (15) to review preparations to deal with impending Cyclone Tauktae, government sources said. Top officers from across government departments, including the National Disaster Management Authority, will attend the meeting, they said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said…
Saturday's infections are lowest rise in almost 3 weeks Testing rates also at their lowest since Sunday India a huge concern as second year seen more deadly -WHO India panel recommends longer gap between AstraZeneca doses INDIA reported a smaller rise in daily coronavirus infections on Saturday (15), but deaths…
THE National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked 53 teams to tackle possible after-effects of Cyclone Tauktae that is developing in the Arabian Sea, a senior officer said on Friday NDRF director general SN Pradhan said in a tweet that these teams are being deployed in the coastal regions of…
ASIAN businessmen Vijay and Bhikhu Patel have pledged to match donations received up to £1 million to help Covid patients in India. The brothers, who made their fortune in the pharmaceuticals industry, are behind the Waymade Critical Care Unit at the Shree Krishna Hospital in Karamsad, Gujarat. Seeing the surge…
DOCTORS in India are warning against the practice of using cow dung in the belief it will ward off Covid-19, saying there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness and that it risks spreading other diseases. The coronavirus pandemic has wrought devastation on India, with 22.66 million cases and 246,116…
BHARAT BIOTECH has commenced direct supply of its Covid-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' to 14 states, including Delhi and Maharashtra, with effect from May 1, according to the company's joint managing director, Suchitra Ella. The Hyderabad-based firm has started supplying its Covid-19 treatment vaccine to the states based on the allocations received…
GUJARAT police on Monday (10) arrested three persons for operating a fake call centre in Ahmedabad which targeted US citizens by offering them quick loans. A cyber crime team raided the call centre located in Jagatpur on Sunday (9) and nabbed Ahmedabad-residents Bharatsingh Mandola (35), Akhilesh Nair (23) and Ajay…
By Pooja Shrivastava India is witnessing a brutal second wave of Covid-19. On May 6, Thursday, the country recorded 412,262 new infections and 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry. The country’s health system is stretched, with reports of acute shortage of hospital beds, oxygen,…
By Swati Rana INDIA'S rising Covid infection rates and deaths have prompted relief efforts from countries worldwide as well as community and charitable organisations. On Thursday (5), India reported 412,431 new cases and 3,980 deaths. There are several reports of shortage of oxygen and availability of beds in hospitals. Some…
As the deadly second wave of Covid-19 grips the western state of Gujarat, the obituary columns of local newspapers in the state are becoming longer with each passing day. The Saurashtra Bhaskars daily's Bhavnagar edition on Thursday (6) set aside eight of its 16 pages for obituary notices. The burgeoning…
