• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Results for "mahatma gandhi"

My film on Savarkar is anti-propaganda: Randeep Hooda

RANDEEP HOODA’S willingness to take on any acting challenge has allowed him to portray a wide range of captivating roles throughout his career. This week, the acclaimed Indian actor adds another intriguing character to his repertoire with the release of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. The period epic sees Hooda take on…

How ‘global curiosity’ can make Indian books part of the…

THE world needs books from India because they reflect the spiritual values of Indian culture and civilisation.   “Books are important for mental health,” said Yuvraj Malik, director of the National Book Trust (NBT) of India, which took a pavilion for the first time at the 2024 London Book Fair.…

Modi launches master plan for Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram

Indian prime minister Modi inaugurated the ₹1200 crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial masterplan on the anniversary of the historic Dandi Yatra in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. During the event, he stressed the significance of preserving the country's heritage, stating that a nation failing to cherish its heritage jeopardises its future. "The Sabarmati Ashram…

‘Virdee’: Bradford-set drama set to make Asian casting history

THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…

Rochdale by-election result reflects Gaza anger

BRITAIN has more than three million Muslims from many cultural backgrounds. It has become customary for politicians to say, “the vast majority of Muslims are hardworking, decent and law-abiding, but there a small extremist fringe”. My guess is most Muslims in Britain are pleased George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election.…

Hansal Mehta shares glimpse of series ‘Gandhi’

Makers of the much-anticipated biopic Gandhi gave fans a new glimpse from the sets. On the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday, production house, Applause Entertainment took to Instagram story, and shared a still from the series to pay homage. Directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Pratik Gandhi, the…

Pratik Gandhi starrer ‘Gandhi’ series begins filming

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta's much-anticipated series Gandhi has commenced production, the makers said on Friday. Backed by Applause Entertainment, the series is based on historian and author Ramachandra Guha’s two books -- Gandhi before India and Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World. “Capturing history in the making! Gandhi filming now,”…

Rajnath Singh starts UK tour with visit to Gandhi memorial

INDIA’s defence minister Rajnath Singh arrived in London on Monday (8) for a three-day visit focusing on the India-UK defence partnership as well as security and industrial cooperation. Singh has been accompanied by a Ministry of Defence delegation comprising officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters,…

India’s Rajnath Singh to discuss defence, security issues with Shapps

INDIAN defence minister Rajnath Singh will discuss bilateral issues with his UK counterpart Grant Shapps during his official visit, the ministry of defence said in a statement. Singh arrived in UK on Monday (8) night. Notably, this marks the first visit of a sitting Indian defence minister to the UK…

Indhu Rubasingham becomes first woman to lead National Theatre

ONE of the top jobs in the arts has gone to Indhu Rubasingham, who has been appointed director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre in London. She will succeed Rufus Norris who will be stepping down from the post in spring 2025, when his second term ends. Rubasingham,…

Hansal Mehta: High of making great cinema

WHETHER it is web serials or films, Hansal Mehta has been daring to do things differently as a director and producer. He continued that run of unique projects with his latest movie The Buckingham Murders, which had its world premiere at the recent BFI London Film Festival and marks the…

Amish Tripathi: ‘India becoming more influential’

BESTSELLING author Amish Tripathi has concluded his tenure as Director of the Nehru Centre and Minister for Culture and Education at the High Commission of India in London. Over the course of four years, he actively coordinated numerous India-focused cultural events in the capital. The 49-year-old diplomat oversaw the Nehru…

Author Amish Tripathi concludes term as director of Nehru Centre

Bestselling author Amish Tripathi has concluded his tenure as Director of the Nehru Centre and Minister for Culture and Education at the High Commission of India in London. Over the course of four years, he actively coordinated numerous India-focused cultural events in the capital. The 49-year-old diplomat oversaw the Nehru…

Hindu Council of Wales celebrates Gandhi Jayanti in Cardiff

The Hindu Council of Wales (HCW) commemorated International Non-violence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's 154th birthday on October 2, at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Cardiff Bay. Since its unveiling in 2018, HCW has marked the day each year, with this year's event attended by dignitaries and the local community. This…

Manchester Cathedral holds interfaith service, celebrates Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings

An interfaith service was held at Manchester Cathedral in celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's 154th Birth Anniversary on October 2, uniting people from diverse backgrounds in the spirit of love, peace, and unity. More than 350 delegates from various faith-based organisations including Afro-Caribbean, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities…

‘India committed to preserving Gandhi’s South African legacy’

INDIA will help maintain sites related to Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa, the Indian envoy said in Johannesburg on Monday (2) as the world marked the 154th birth anniversary of the peace icon. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, high commissioner Prabhat Kumar paid floral homage to the bust of…

Top 10 theatre moments of Raj Ghatak

DIVERSE work across multiple platforms has established Raj Ghatak as one of the best British Asian actors. The versatile performer, with a chameleonlike ability to transform himself, is currently in the cast of The Father and the Assassin, which has returned for another successful run at the National Theatre in…

India ready to raise curtain on World Cup

INDIA target a third World Cup when cricket's global showpiece gets underway on Thursday (5) with the country buoyed by a growing, international self-confidence and with a sport which unites and divides the sub-continent like no other on the verge of joining the Olympic elite. The epic tournament features 10…

Pratik Gandhi on playing Mahatma Gandhi in new series

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, actor Pratik Gandhi expressed his happiness over playing the role of Mahatma Gandhi in an upcoming streaming show. Based on the writings of notable historian and author, Ramachandra Guha, the series will be adapted from his two books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi-The Years…

5 actors who have played Mahatma Gandhi on screen

October 2nd is celebrated annually as Gandhi Jayanti commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement and a pioneer of non-violent resistance. Over the years, several actors have played the role of Gandhi on the silver screen. Today we take a…

Marina Abramovic: Of pain and redefining boundaries

ASIAN visitors to the Royal Academy may be baffled, possibly even a little scandalised, by Marina Abramovic’s solo exhibition. Born in 1946 in then Yugoslavia, she is credited with bringing performance art into the mainstream. In a career lasting 55 years, she has pushed her own body to the extremes…

NHS pioneer and community leader Dr Oza, 96, passes away

A PIONEERING Asian doctor who served in the NHS for nearly four decades and was a respected community leader passed away last week at the age of 96. Dr Shivkumar Oza MBBS, FRCS (Lon), was the general secretary of the Overseas Doctors Association in Nottingham and was known for supporting…

India reassures confidence in Aadhaar after Moody’s concern

THE Indian government has reassured confidence in its digital identification system, Aadhaar, after a Moody's report last week highlighted concerns about it like establishing authorisation and biometric reliability. India's ministry of electronics & IT said on Monday (25) that the Moody's report "does not cite either primary or secondary data…

India powers up for World Cup

INDIA target a third World Cup triumph when the country hosts cricket's seven-week global showpiece, buoyed by an economic boom and growing, international self-confidence. India shared hosting with Pakistan in 1987, then Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996 before another three-way split with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011. This…

‘The Father and the Assassin’ stirs painful memories of Gandhi’s…

FOR younger members of the British Asian audience who had come to see The Father and the Assassin, the play was something of a revelation. “I didn’t know anything about this,” admitted a young woman who works in PR. But for a Punjabi woman in her 60s, whose family was…

Exploring Churchill’s views on India, empire and Gandhi

“WHO was Churchill?” This was the question debated at the inaugural Chartwell Literary Festival last week at Sir Winston Churchill’s home in Kent. It was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature that Britain’s wartime leader was awarded in 1953. Introducing three historians on the…

Justin Trudeau leaves India for home after getting plane issues…

CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau belatedly left India on Tuesday (12) after an aircraft breakdown forced a two-day extension of his rocky visit to New Delhi for the G20 summit. Trudeau arrived in India for the meeting of the leaders of 20 leading economies last Friday (8) and was due…

G20 summit ends on a high note with India, Brazil,…

Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday, which notably downplayed significant disagreements regarding the Ukraine conflict and climate change. Despite the contentious issues, the summit afforded him a diplomatic moment in the spotlight. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has deeply divided G20 nations since Moscow's invasion last year, leading Russian…

‘India’s strong leadership key to agreeing G20 message’

INDIA's strong leadership made it possible for G20 leaders to reach consensus in intense discussions on a summit message urging nations to shun use of force in territorial disputes, a senior European Union official said on Sunday (10). For weeks before the New Delhi meeting, the bloc struggled to agree…

G20 leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

G20 leaders, including US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and UN secretary general António Guterres, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat on Sunday (10). Prime minister Narendra Modi received the leaders at the rain-drenched Rajghat. Modi welcomed his guests to the site where the…

What is G20 and who is attending the summit in…

LEADERS of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations are set to convene at the two-day G20 Summit in India's capital, New Delhi, commencing on Saturday (9). This marks India's inaugural hosting of this prestigious assembly of global leaders. The capital city has been adorned with ornate flowers and fountains…

‘It’s a privilege’: Paul Bazely on playing Mahatma Gandhi in…

AFTER the huge critical and commercial success in 2022, hit theatre play The Father and the Assassin returns for another run at the National Theatre in central London from Friday (8) until October 14. The gripping five star rated play based on historical events revolves around the life of Nathuram Godse,…

Asha Bhosle, who changed face of Indian commercial music, turns…

IN TERMS of ability, longevity, versatility, body of work and global impact, Asha Bhosle is regarded by most as India’s greatest singer of all time.  Born on September 8, 1933, the most recorded artist in history changed the face of commercial music in India and entertained countless people across different…

THE TOP 10 movies of Vidhu Vinod Chopra

WRITER, director, producer and editor Vidhu Vinod Chopra has had a glittering career filled with fabulous movies that have entertained audiences around the world. The forward-thinking filmmaker has also launched new talent, expanded the horizons of commercial Hindi cinema and broken box office records. Born in 1952, he turns a…

How ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ inspired a positive change

THIS week marking the 17-year anniversary of Lage Raho Munnabhai, is a perfect time to point out that the movie is a lot better than you might remember and one of the greatest comedies ever made. The satirical comedy-drama released on September 1, 2006, was a follow up to the…

US lawmakers to attend Modi’s Red Fort address

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers will travel to India to take part in the Red Fort address of prime minister Narendra Modi on the country’s Independence Day on August 15, according to an official statement. The bipartisan Congressional delegation is led by Indian-American congressman Ro Khanna and congressman Michael…

Saviour or racist? Studying ‘controversial’ Churchill

“WHO was Winston Churchill – the saviour of his nation or a racist imperialist?” This is the rather blunt question that will be examined in the opening session of a debut literary festival next month, to mark the 70th anniversary of Churchill winning the Nobel Prize for literature. It was…

ICICI Bank: Timings and holidays

Like other institutes, banks also have certain working hours for various services. From visiting the bank to making online transactions to calling customer care services, it is important to know the timings to avoid unnecessary long hours of wait. Almost all the banks in India have the same working hours…

London gears up for ‘Saree Walkathon’ on National Handloom Day

A UK-based women's organisation is planning a unique celebration of Indian weaves in honour of National Handloom Day next month through a 'Saree Walkathon'. The walkathon is scheduled to take place in central London, commencing at Trafalgar Square and culminating at Parliament Square on August 6, a day ahead of…

Full cast announced for the return of ‘The Father And…

The National Theatre has announced the full cast for Anupama Chandrasekhar’s critically acclaimed The Father and the Assassin, directed by the Kiln Theatre’s Artistic-Director, Indhu Rubasingham.  This gripping new play by one of India’s most exciting playwrights, returns to the Olivier Theatre from 8 September. Mahatma Gandhi: lawyer, champion of…

A snapshot of UK history at National Portrait Gallery

STANDING in front of the vast painting of the House of Commons in 1833 by Sir George Hayter at the National Portrait Gallery brought home how much Britain has changed. Perhaps someone should execute a similar canvas with Rishi Sunak at the centre of things, with the chamber dotted with…

IISc Bangalore top Indian institute in Asian university rankings

BENGALURU-BASED Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institution in the ‘Times High Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2023' released in London on Thursday (22). While IISc is ranked 48th, the second highest ranked university in India is also is Karnataka – JSS Academy of Higher…

‘Life of Pi’ lead actor cast in ‘The Father and…

THE Father and the Assassin, which was staged at the National Theatre in May last year – and won Indhu Rubasingham Eastern Eye’s Art Culture and Theatre Award (ACTA) for best director – is returning later this year. Written by Anupama Chandrasekhar, the play looks at Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on…

International Yoga Day: Modi’s vision to promote global collaboration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the visionary behind several initiatives aimed at fostering unity in a fragmented world. However, it is International Yoga Day, being observed on Wednesday (21), that has left an indelible mark globally with its universal acceptance. Modi’s visit to the US will commence in New York,…

Ramachandra Guha wins Elizabeth Longford Prize

THE debate on the rights and wrongs of empire need not be “toxic”, the Indian author Ramachandra Guha has said, after winning an important history prize. Guha was last week awarded the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023 in its 20th anniversary year for Rebels against the Raj: Western…

Indian-American community sends welcome messages for Modi

FROM Times Square and Niagara Falls to Princeton University and Hawaii, members of the Indian-American community are sending welcome messages from iconic US locations for prime minister Narendra Modi on his upcoming state visit. Members of the diaspora and young Indian students are taking to social media to post their…

Indian High Commission hosts panel discussion

THE High Commission of India in London on Monday (5) hosted a panel discussion on the topic 'The great disruption: Laws, constitutions and the digital era' at the Inner Temple. Indian chief justice DY Chandrachud, Lord Justice Dingemans, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Sir…

Lord Ahmad: Strong UK-India ties ‘already making a real-world difference’

I was born in South London, but like millions of British people, my family’s story embodies the “living bridge” that connects the UK and India. My father moved to Glasgow with only £5 to his name. He worked hard, initially on the railways, studied hard to become an accountant and…

Garden of Unity: Celebrating diversity at the flower festival

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)-Eastern Eye “Garden of Unity”, designed by Manoj Malde, appears to have been one of the big hits of the Chelsea Flower Show this year. Located prominently on Main Avenue and close to the Great Pavilion, Malde’s vivid colours attracted even King Charles and Queen Camilla.…

RHS-Eastern Eye Garden of Unity celebrates diversity and inclusivity

The RHS-Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, unveiled at the Chelsea Flower Show, captivated visitors with its vibrant and diverse display. Landscape designer Manoj Malde highlighted the garden's striking colors, including shades of pink, orange, aubergine, and alabaster. The garden received distinguished guests, such as King Charles and Queen Camilla, who…

Modi unveils Mahatma Gandhi’s bust in Hiroshima

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (20) unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima during his visit to the city to attend the annual summit of the G7 grouping and the third in-person Quad leaders' meeting. The Gandhian ideals of peace and harmony reverberate globally and give strength…

Eric Garcetti: India-US relations aim at peaceful Indo-Pacific

THE RELATIONSHIP between India and the United States is based on a common desire to have a strong and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Monday (15). He asserted that the two countries are an important part of a mutual strategy to protect the Indo-Pacific…

13 killed including 5 minors as bus falls into gorge…

The police reported that a tragic accident occurred early on Saturday (14) in Raigad district, Maharashtra, as a bus transporting young male and female members of a traditional `Dhol-Tasha-Zaanj' music troupe fell into a gorge on the old Mumbai-Pune highway. The incident claimed the lives of 13 individuals, including five…

Police foil Khalistan supporters’ plan to incite violence in Washington

A timely intervention by US secret service and local police has prevented violence in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington after a group of Khalistan supporters and many of their speakers tried to incite disorder on Saturday (25). According to reports, Khalistan supporters heralded abusive language and openly threatened…

Symbol of Gandhi’s legacy in South Africa in disarray due…

During his lifetime, Mahatma Gandhi spent 21 years living in South Africa, a period that stands out in his long and eventful journey. Before emerging as an icon of Indian independence and becoming one of the towering figures of the 21st century, Gandhi resided in Britain's southern African colony from…

Rahul Gandhi sentenced to two years jail for Modi ‘thieves’…

The opposition leader in India, Rahul Gandhi, has been handed a two-year prison sentence in a criminal defamation case. The conviction comes as a result of comments made during an election rally in 2019, in which Gandhi referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. Although he has been granted bail…

Albanese begins India tour, plays Holi in Gujarat

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…

‘I drew on my personal loss for Marjorie Prime’

ACTOR Tony Jayawardena said memories of his late mother helped him connect with his role in the upcoming play Marjorie Prime, which explores how people deal with the grief of losing a loved one. Set in the year 2062, the play tells the story of Marjorie, an 85-year-old woman suffering…

India’s CBI arrests Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia over excise…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's premier investigative agency, on Sunday (26) arrested Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the now-scrapped excise policy related to the sale of alcohol, a move that could widen the political rift between the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata…

Seattle City resolution seeking ban on caste discrimination sparks debate

A resolution moved by an upper-caste Hindu official in the Seattle City Council to bring in an ordinance banning caste-based discrimination in the city has generated intense debates among members of the Indian-American community. The Seattle City Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution moved by Council member Kshama…

Local to global: Khadi in focus on India Day at…

A series of khadi outfits took centre stage for India Day at the ongoing London Fashion Week, with a set of special designs curated to celebrate the message of self-reliance associated with the fabric. The collection was spun together by 12 young female designers from India's International Institute of Fashion…

SS Rajamouli: No one has ever approached me to make…

Filmmaker S S Rajamouli's "Baahubali" films and "RRR" have been blockbuster hits, but the director, who has often been accused of pandering to the majoritarian view, says he distances himself from "either Hindu or pseudo-liberal propaganda". In an interview with the US publication The New Yorker, the filmmaker took on…

Canada: Consulate General of India condemns defacing of Ram Mandir…

Consulate General of India in Toronto on Tuesday (local time) condemned the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. It requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators. "We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. We…

BBC trying to sabotage Indian Constitution: BJP

Any media organisation functioning in India will have to follow the rules and regulations of the country, the BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Tuesday, amid the ongoing 'survey' operations on BBC offices by the IT department. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Bhatia said, "Income Tax department lawfully…

Path shown by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati instils hope in crores…

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…

‘I am here as family member, not as PM,’ says…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said in the last few years an atmosphere of unprecedented trust has been created in the country as he sought to highlight his close ties with the influential Dawoodi Bohra group of the Muslim community and praised its members for changing with the times.…

Nitin Sawhney wins top honour at Eastern Eye’s annual Arts,…

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…

South Asian celebration in the heart of Manchester

THE first permanent gallery in the UK dedicated to the experiences, contributions and histories of the South Asian diaspora is set to open in Manchester Museum on February 18. The new South Asia Gallery, which has a partnership with the British Museum, presents a contemporary take on South Asian history…

Martyrs’ Day marked at Gandhi statue at London’s Parliament Square

Mahatma Gandhi’s 75th death anniversary, being commemorated as Martyrs’ Day the world over on Monday, was marked with tributes at the statue of the Father of the Nation at Parliament Square here. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was joined by community leaders, parliamentarians and Indian diaspora representatives…

‘Ideology of hate’ consuming India, says Gandhi’s great-grandson

India's rising tide of Hindu nationalism is an affront to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, his great-grandson says, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the revered independence hero's assassination. Gandhi was shot dead at a multi-faith prayer meeting on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a religious zealot angered by…

Sophia Duleep Singh to get Blue Plaque

Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh – the last ruler of the Sikh empire – and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria, is to be honoured with a commemorative Blue Plaque in London. Princess Sophia was among the leading suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote in…

Chinmay Mandlekar reacts to protests against Gandhi Godse: ‘You might…

Actor Chinmay Mandlekar delivered a very nuanced performance in Vivek Ranjan’s Agnihotri The Kashmir Files (2022). He played the character of terrorist Farooq Malik Bitta in the blockbuster film and impressed everyone with his riveting act. The actor can be currently seen in Rajkumar Santoshi’s latest directorial Gandhi Godse: Ek…

Unfortunate that people have stopped trusting filmmakers: AR Rahman

Music composer AR Rahman, who has scored the music for Rajkumar Santoshi’s "Gandhi Godse: Ek Yudh", says it's unfortunate people judge films even before they watch them. Santoshi’s film is at the centre of a debate with some arguing that the film undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and glorifies…

Gandhi Godse…: Director Rajkumar Santoshi writes to Mumbai Police, seeks…

Ahead of the release of 'Gandhi Godse -Ek Yudh', filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi on Monday wrote to the Special Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, requesting additional security for him and his family, claimed that he has been receiving repeated threats. Director Santoshi announced that he had sought protection in the light of…

Don’t make films according to flavour of the season, says…

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi says as a storyteller he would never cash in on the trending genres and would rather go by his instincts.The director, whose filmography features beloved movies such as "Andaz Apna Apna”, “Ghayal” and “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”, said he believes in trying his hand at something…

Protest at press conference of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Gandhi Godse: Ek…

A promotional event for Rajkumar Santoshi's upcoming film "Gandhi Godse: Ek Yudh" was on Friday disrupted by protesters, who claimed the movie undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and glorifies his assassin, Nathuram Godse. Written and directed by Santoshi, the film depicts the war of the two opposing ideologies between…

How Deewaar became a cult classic

WHEN lists of the greatest Bollywood films of all time are compiled, Deewaar consistently makes the top 10. The drama about brothers on opposite sides of the law became a sensation when it was released on January 24, 1975, and remains iconic. Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor as the siblings…

Sharadkumar Parikh, former NCGO president & Geeta Foundation trustee, passes…

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…

Indian-American Krishna Vavilala honoured with MLK Grande Parade Special Award

Indian-American Krishna Vavilala has been honoured with MLK Grande Parade Special Award for the 86-year-old community leader's contributions towards connecting the Indian community with mainstream America as the US celebrated the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. King, a champion of civil rights for Blacks, was born…

‘I don’t intend to see films which glorify murderers,’ says…

Director Rajkumar Santoshi's upcoming period drama film 'Gandhi Godse -Ek Yudh' has triggered a fresh controversy as Congress recently sought a ban on the film in Madhya Pradesh. Amid the ongoing row, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi expressed his views about the film. "I'm not surprised because for them Godse…

Both films are different: Santoshi on BO clash between Gandhi…

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi on Wednesday said he isn't worried about the box office clash between his upcoming feature "Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh" and Shah Rukh Khan-led "Pathaan" as both films are different from each other. "Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh", is a period film releasing on January 26, while "Pathaan”, which…

Hindu temple in Melbourne defiled with anti-India graffiti by Khalistan…

A Hindu temple in Australia has been vandalised apparently by Khalistan supporters in a global pattern of targeting the places of worship of the religious group. The walls of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne were on Thursday found defaced with graffiti calling for 'death to India' and comparing Indian…

Blessed to play Mahatma Gandhi and Jyotirao Phule onscreen, says…

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…

‘Hey Ram’ was my way of saying sorry to my…

Veteran actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently sat down for a candid conversation. Kamal Haasan, who on December 24 joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as the foot march entered Delhi, discussed politics, India-China, Mahatma Gandhi, and cinema during their one-on-one when the MNM leader opened up…

Motion poster of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Gandhi-Godse Ek Yudh gives a…

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, known for delivering such notable films as Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Ghatak (1996), and Lajja (2001), is set to make his directorial comeback after a long gap of 10 years. His last directorial venture was Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz starrer Phata Poster…

Indian High Commissioner presents credentials to King Charles

Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami presented his credentials to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday (8), marking the formal start of his UK posting. Doraiswami is the first Indian envoy to be received at the palace by the King since the death of…

Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

US president Joe Biden has recognised Indian-American and a longtime Houstonian, Krishna Vavilala, with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Award, the nation's highest honour for his contributions to his community and the country at large. The Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Awards, led by AmeriCorps, is an annual event held to…

Mohit Parmar talks about his hit TV show Pandya Store…

The popularity of Pandya Store has seen the hit drama serial pull in big audience numbers since it premiered in January 2021. The relatable Star Plus family drama, which is fast approaching 600 episodes, has made a strong connection with cross-generational audiences. The show has also given a great platform…

Subrang Arts helps Gujaratis in UK stay rooted to their…

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.…

Gandhi Peace Pilgrim Award presented to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar…

Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar was presented with the Gandhi Peace Pilgrimage award in Atlanta in recognition of his tireless efforts to spread the messages of peace and non-violence as espoused by Mahatma Gandhi & Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The prestigious award given by the Gandhi Foundation of…

NYC mayor urges people to ‘live in the spirit’ of…

As communities grapple with hate crimes and darkness, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged people to live in the spirit of Lord Ram, Sita, and Diwali and be the beacon of light and hope each day of the year. There's too much darkness. We have been engulfed in…

Indians delight in Rishi Sunak’s rise to UK PM on…

Many Indians are delighted at the prospect of Rishi Sunak becoming the first person of Indian origin to become British prime minister, just as Hindus like him celebrated Diwali across the world on Monday. Sunak was set to take the top job after his rivals Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt withdrew…

UK to honour 75 Indian students, alumni to mark South…

The UK is set to honour 75 Indian students and alumni for excellence in fields such as education, professional achievement, and making contributions to society, on the occasion of India's 75 years of Independence. On Wednesday (12), the nomination process for India's 75 achievers -- the Achievers Honours was declared…

Accord Honorary Knighthood to ‘Star of the Millenium’ Amitabh Bachchan:…

On the occasion of Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday, Keith Vaz, who is Britain's longest-serving Indian-origin MP, has written a letter to the British PM Liz Truss, suggesting that the Bollywood superstar be given an honorary knighthood, a privilege that in the past has been bestowed on film director Steven Spielberg,…

Indian restaurant in Virginia spray-painted with racist graffiti

Henrico county police in the US state of Virginia have launched an investigation into the racist vandalism of a local Indian restaurant.The walls of India K’ Raja restaurant were spray-painted with offensive words and phrases in the latest instance of growing racism and hate crimes against Indian-origin people.According to the…

Indian state begins campaign to replace ‘hello’ with ‘Vande Mataram’…

An Indian state has launched a campaign to Indianise the greeting on the telephone. The Maharashtra government passed a resolution that appealed to its employees to say ‘Vande Mataram’ instead of ‘hello’ while receiving official or personal phone calls.However, the government clarified that it was not mandatory to use the…

Sadbhaavna Sammelan Celebrates 90 years of Harijan Sevak Sangh in…

Hon’ble Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankharji  joined HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan, Co-Founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Padma Bhushan Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh International, alongside Harijan Sevak Sangh President, Shri Sankar Sanyalji, Vice Presidents of HSS  Shri Naresh Yadavji and Shri Laxmi Das as well as…

Leicester violence: Hindus and Muslims make joint appeal for harmony

Leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities in the eastern England city of Leicester presented a united front on Tuesday as they appealed for harmony in the wake of violent clashes following an India-Pakistan cricket match, which has led to 47 arrests. Pradyumna Das, President of the city’s ISKCON Temple,…

Biden administration has appointed 130 Indian-Americans to key positions, says…

US President Joe Biden has appointed 130 Indian-Americans to key positions in his administration so far, a senior White House official has said, the best representation from the community that makes up around one per cent of the American population. Representing the Biden administration at an event to celebrate 'Azadi…

‘She embodied our values’

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…

‘She was our family’s Shakti, guru and guide’

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…

Indian-Americans protest against hate crimes, vandalism of Gandhi statue

Indian-Americans held a peaceful protest at the Time Square against the recent spurt in hate crimes and instances of vandalism of the Gandhi statue in the city. The protest was organised in association with the influential Federation of Indian Americans (FIA) along with other community outfits. The participants urged the…

Modi outlines vision for self-reliant India

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…

Gandhi statue outside Hindu temple in New York vandalised in…

In a possible hate crime, unidentified persons have destroyed a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a sledgehammer at a Hindu temple here after vandalising it earlier this month, media reports said on Friday. Surveillance video shows a person thrashing a statue of Gandhi with a sledgehammer on Tuesday, before…

UK PM Johnson hails ‘thriving Living Bridge’ on India’s 76th…

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…

Running away from discussion in Parliament on price rise, GST…

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the government over the issues of price rise, hike in GST rates and depreciating value of the Rupee and alleged that it is "unparliamentary" on the part of the prime minister to not answer questions and run away from a discussion in…

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi defaced at Hindu temple in Canada,…

INDIA on Wednesday (13) expressed its deep anguish over the desecration of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Richmond Hill city of Ontario in Canada and for a probe into the vandalism, which police said is being investigated as a hate crime. The statue was vandalized at Vishnu Mandir…

Why tackling racism is integral to ending poverty

LAST week, the House of Commons International Development Select Committee published a damning report about racism in the development sector. They criticised aid organisations which depict the communities they serve as “helpless and needy” and “strip them of their dignity”, and they took aim at what they described as a…

Women show the power of community in Lotus Beauty

LIVE PERFORMANCE PRIYA PURUSHOTHAMAN – LIVE When: Saturday June 11 Where: Rose House, Barningham Way, off Kingsbury Road, London NW9 8UP What: An Indian classical and semiclassical vocal concert headlined by an upcoming music star, who has received specialised training. www.eventbrite.com BOTOWN: THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD When: Saturday June 11…

Pledge to end violence against women at Pujya Swami Chidanand…

A NUMBER of distinguished guests came together at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh in the northern Indian state if Uttarakhand on Tuesday (7) – the fifth day of the week-long celebrations that are underway in the honour of the 70th birth anniversary of His Holiness (HH) Pujya Swami Chidanand…

No proposal to replace Mahatma Gandhi’s picture on banknotes: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday clarified that it has no proposal to replace the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi's picture on currency notes. Referring to media reports that claimed that the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India were considering a proposal to also use images of famous personalities like Rabindranath Tagore…

Upcoming singer Priya headlines classical concert

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…

Kamal Haasan: A pathbreaking icon

A WATCHLIST OF THE LEGENDARY STAR’S MOST MEMORABLE MOVIES AHEAD OF HIS NEW RELEASE VIKRAM LEGENDARY actor Kamal Haasan makes a welcome return with big budget film Vikram. He stars alongside popular stars Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil in the dark Tamil action thriller, which will also have dubbed versions…

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana is expected to be the hub of…

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…

Pratik Gandhi: It’s a huge honour for me to play…

Actor Pratik Gandhi, who shot to overnight fame with the riotous success of Hansal Mehta’s streaming show Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), has been roped in to play Mahatma Gandhi in an upcoming streaming show. Based on the books by noted historian Ramachandra Guha, the multi-season drama series…

Somy Ali’s Top 10 Inspirations

AN ACTION-PACKED journey led Somy Ali from a thriving Bollywood career to becoming a hard-working humanitarian and setting up the USA-based No More Tears NGO, which has helped over 30,000 victims of domestic abuse. The driving force behind the charity, she has fearlessly fought for what is right and features…

Supreme Court suspends India’s British-era sedition law

INDIA's Supreme Court on Wednesday (11) suspended a colonial-era sedition law that activists say is often used by prime minister Narendra Modi's government to target free speech and dissent. Modi's critics say that the law, which was once used by Britain to target independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, has been abused…

Johnson thrilled with posters

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…

Indian lawmaker arrested over tweet criticising Modi

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…

No pomp or grandeur as Johnson visits India

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…

Johnson calls Gandhi an ‘extraordinary man who changed world’

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…

Johnson to urge Modi to back Western action against Russia

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…

‘Why is the BBC failing when it comes to diversity?’

As the BBC’s diversity chief, June Sarpong, quits the corporation, former correspondent, Barnie Choudhury, asks what the corporation has achieved in almost two generations. A journalist famously asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought about western civilisation. Quick as a flash he responded, “I think it would be a good idea.”…

These cities are the most sought after to meet people…

India, one of the most populous countries in the world, despite all its deep-rooted socio-cultural problems, is a magnificent destination that attracts tourists from all over the world. People who want to discover not only its historic monuments, but also understand more about its intriguing culture and religion. It can…

Mahatma Gandhi, Virginia Woolf statues on racism review list

STATUES of Mahatma Gandhi, Virginia Woolf are said to be included in a council review of how to make its monuments more “inclusive”, The Times reported.  The other statues in the Labour-controlled Camden review are of Karl Marx and Matthew Flinders, the colonial explorer of Australia. The bronze bust outside…

Indian industrialist Rahul Bajaj dies at 83

VETERAN industrialist Rahul Bajaj, whose name was synonymous with road transport in India, died Saturday (12) aged 83, his company said.He "had not been keeping well", the Bajaj Group said in a statement, adding he would be cremated on Sunday in Pune, western India.Bajaj was born into the Indian elite…

Schools ordered shut in India as hijab ban protests intensify

Authorities in southern India ordered schools to shut on Tuesday (8) as protests intensified over a ban on Islamic headscarves that has outraged Muslim students. The stand-off in Karnataka state has galvanised fears among the minority community about what they say is increasing persecution under the Hindu nationalist government of…

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files dominates Times Square on…

Renowned filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s upcoming film The Kashmir Files makes India proud at the global level on Republic Day as it dominates Times Square in New York. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri feels honoured and privileged that his hugely-anticipated film The Kashmir Files has become the first one to dominate the…

Indian diaspora a living bridge connecting India to world: minister

THE Indian diaspora acts as a living bridge connecting the country and the world, India’s junior minister for external affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday (9) said on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) or Non-Resident Indian Day. The day is observed to mark the contribution made by the overseas…

Eternal Gandhi Museum in Houston receives $457,000 grant

THE Eternal Gandhi Museum in Houston has received a grant of $475,000 from Fort Bend County under the American Rescue Plan. The facility is expected to open in 2023. The aid will help to complete the construction of the first museum in the US dedicated to preserve and promote Mahatma…

South African anti-apartheid veteran Ebrahim dies aged 84

Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, a veteran of the fight against apartheid who spent years imprisoned on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela, died Monday (6) aged 84, South Africa's ruling party announced. Ebrahim passed away at his Johannesburg home after a long illness, the African National Congress (ANC) said in a statement.…

New book narrates rise of ‘phenomenal’ Kamala Harris

A new book narrates the 'phenomenal' rise of US vice president Kamala Harris and throws some previously unknown facts about her. The book-Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman-by Washington-based Indian journalist and author Chidanand Rajghatta tells the story of how Harris became the first woman to be the VP of the US.…

Kangana Ranaut says India attained freedom in 2014 and 1947…

Four-time National Film Award-winning actor Kangana Ranaut triggered a firestorm on Thursday for declaring that India attained freedom in 2014, when the Modi-led government came to power, and describing the country's Independence in 1947 as alms. The Panga (2020) actor, known for her provocative and often inflammatory statements, was once…

Sunak unveils Gandhi coin to mark Diwali

Britain on Thursday (4) unveiled a new commemorative coin to mark Diwali, celebrating the life and legacy of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. The special coin, available in gold and silver, features an image of India's national flower, the lotus, and one of Gandhi's most famous quotes: "My life is…

Royal British Legion launches centenary Poppy Appeal

UK's largest charity for the Armed Forces community on Thursday (28) launched its biggest fundraising campaign by 10 generations of collectors. The Royal British Legion (RBL) has launched its centenary Poppy Appeal, held every year in October and November, in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, a statement…

Property tycoon Vivek Chadha, 33, dies at London address

Tributes have been paid to a young multi-millionaire property tycoon who died just eight weeks after he wed in a lavish ceremony. Vivek Chadha, 33, ran the multi-million pound Nine Group, which had hotel and property interests. Reports suggest he collapsed at a London address in early last Sunday (24),…

Mahatma Gandhi’s bronze bust unveiled in Mississippi

A city in the Mississippi Delta region on Friday (8) unveiled a bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi. The bust was installed in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and Coahoma County, and was supplied by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and designed by Ram Sutar. “We are humbled by this most generous gift.…

Interfaith event in Manchester commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary

AN Interfaith service was held in Manchester on 2 October to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 152nd birth anniversary. The event started with a flower offering at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in front of the Manchester Cathedral. The 9-foot bronze statue was a gift from the Kamani family in 2019 to commemorate Gandhiji’s…

London marks Gandhi Jayanti through floral tributes, bhajans, peace march

LONDON on Saturday (2) witnessed events being organised in different parts to commemorate the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. While Indian High Commissioner to the UK HE Gaitri Issar Kumar paid floral tributes to the statue of the iconic leader in Parliament Square, bhajans and talks were organised on…

Labour MP invokes Gandhi, India’s independence struggle in her speech

LABOUR MP and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy evoked Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence struggle during her flagship speech at the party's annual conference in Brighton this week. Nandy is the daughter of Dipak Nandy, a Kolkata-born academic known for his work in race relations in the UK. Addressing…

Modi meets Biden; discusses Indo-Pacific, climate and Covid

PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Friday (24) described as "outstanding" his first bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden who said the Indo-US relationship is destined to be "stronger, closer and tighter" as the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including combating Covid-19, climate change, trade and the…

India’s rural work scheme plots green jobs to fight climate…

ON the outskirts of Amaravalli village on India's east coast, Marada Suguna has been hard at work planting mangroves. Hired through India's rural employment scheme, she is on the frontline of a project by the Andhra Pradesh state government to protect fishing villages from storms and coastal erosion. "I have…

Taapsee Pannu or Bhumi Pednekar to headline freedom fighter Usha…

The trend of making biopics in Bollywood is not going anywhere. Almost half a dozen such projects are at various stages of development in the industry and several more are on the anvil. Reports have been doing the rounds lately that after the huge success of Shershaah (2021), filmmaker Karan…

Biopics on freedom fighters that you can binge-watch on Independence…

15th August 2021 will mark India’s 75th Independence Day. A lot of freedom fighters sacrificed their lives, so the country can get its independence from the British rule. While there’s a lot of written material about these freedom fighters, movies have also been a source of information to us. Along…

Indian minister welcomes court’s order on Amazon Flipkart probe

INDIA’S commerce minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the supreme court’s decision that Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart should face investigations into alleged anti-competitive behavior. On Monday (9), the supreme court pulled up the two companies for trying to stall investigations ordered in 2020 by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), saying big…

Sanjay Dutt: 12 finest films of Hindi cinema’s ‘bad boy’

BIRTHDAY SPECIAL TO CELEBRATE THE BOLLYWOOD ACTOR’S ACTION-PACKED 40-YEAR CAREER ON JULY 29, actor Sanjay Dutt turns a year older and celebrates his 62nd birthday. The bad boy of Bollywood has had a rollercoaster life and career filled with high drama, which was documented in blockbuster movie Sanju (2018). He…

Asia’s oldest newspaper Mumbai Samachar enters 200th year

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,…

Lyric play explores the coming of age of Gandhi

AWARD-WINNING writer Tanika Gupta is set to premiere her new play on the early life of Mahatma Gandhi at a west London theatre next week. The Overseas Student centres upon Gandhi during his time studying law in the UK, in the years before he became famous for his role in…

Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter gets 7 years jail in South Africa…

A court in South Africa on Monday (7) has jailed Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter, Ashish Lata Ramgobin, for seven years after she was found guilty of fraud and forgery.  Ramgobin, 56, was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj after the latter gave her R6.2 million (around $457,000) for allegedly clearing import…

Indian High Commission in UK announces the winners of Khadi…

THE High Commission of India in UK has conducted an activity to introduce and promote Khadi through the students of textile designing in collaboration with Khadi London and Chelsea College of Arts. It was held in connection with the celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. [caption id="attachment_143454" align="alignleft"…

‘Prince Philip’s passing is truly the end of an era’

  By Amit Roy IT WOULD be fair to say that Prince Philip was not very well known to British Asians even though, as the Queen’s consort, he was at the centre of the ruling establishment for more than seven decades. In marked contrast to his eldest son, Prince Charles,…

India makes sustained outreach to US universities to build knowledge…

India, which sends the largest number of STEM students to the United States, is making a sustained outreach with American universities to build knowledge partnerships. As part of this effort to build knowledge partnerships, India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjt Singh Sandhu, has intensified interactions with US universities. “With over…

Modi dons ‘Mujib jacket’ as he pays tribute to Bangladesh’s…

India prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (26) donned a black 'Mujib jacket' made of handcrafted Khadi fabric as he paid tribute to 'Bangabandu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the main event in Dhaka to mark the country’s 50 years of independence. An immensely popular outfit in Bangladesh, the Mujib jacket…

Why the right to protest is vital in a democracy

  By Sailesh Mehta  IT IS in the nature of all governments, whether democratically elected or autocratic, to amass more and more power until their citizens say “enough”. Ministers of state do not like protesters. Bad ones crush all dissent; good ones allow just enough steam to escape before the…

Gandhi Peace Prize for Bangladesh’s Mujibur Rahman, late Oman Sultan

INDIA'S culture ministry on Monday (22) conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2020 and 2019 to father of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, respectively. The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the government of…

Modi launches celebrations to mark 75 years of India’s Independence

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (12) launched 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' (elixir of the energy of freedom), India's initiative to mark 75 years of India's Independence, in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. Modi flagged off the event by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and all the freedom fighters who lost their…

Why Bristol statue honours Rammohun Roy’s liberal values

by SHALINA PATEL  STATUES of south Asians are a rare sight in Britain today, so when I came across one outside Bristol Cathedral (pre Covid), I had to find out more. Raja Rammohun Roy was born in India in 1772, and his extensive education led him to grasp many languages,…

‘Cornelia Sorabji’s story was one of many firsts’

by SHALINA PATEL CORNELIA SORABJI was the first woman to study law at Oxford University and subsequently the first woman to practise law in India, but it wasn’t an easy journey for her. Sorabji was born in Nashik in what is now the western Indian state of Maharashtra in 1866,…

‘Reassessing Bose’s legacy must include younger generation of Asians’

By Suhas Khale WHY are we talking about Sub­has Chandra Bose on his 124th birth anniversary? British war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill once fa­mously said history was going to be kind to him as he was go­ing to write it. After the Second World War, history was written by British…

Daughter reveals British plot to assassinate Netaji

By Amit Roy THE British apparently had a plan to assassinate Indian nationalist leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during the Second World War, according to his 78-year-old daughter Anita Bose, who has given an interview to mark her fa­ther’s birth anniversary. Anita said: “By chance a document turned up in…

India cuts Internet near Delhi as hundreds of farmers begin…

India blocked mobile internet services in several areas around New Delhi on Saturday as protesting farmers began a one-day hunger strike after a week of clashes with authorities that left one dead and hundreds injured. Angry at new agricultural laws that they say benefit large private food buyers at the…

Police tighten security as thousands join Indian farmer protests

INDIAN police tightened security on Saturday(30) around camps where farmers have been protesting against new agricultural reform laws, as thousands more arrived to join the campaign. Authorities cut internet links to most of the camps where tens of thousands of farmers have been based since November as they demand the…

Auction reflects Mountbatten family’s close links with India

By Amit Roy FAMILY treasures belonging to Patricia Mountbatten, the elder daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, are to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on March 24. More than 350 lots “spanning jewellery, furniture, paintings, sculpture, books, silver, ceramics & objets d’art” reflect the Mount­batten family’s close…

Auction reflects Mountbatten family’s close links with India

By Amit Roy Heirlooms in Sotheby's sale include jewellery, paintings and objects D'art FAMILY treasures belonging to Patricia Mountbatten, the elder daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, are to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on March 24. More than 350 lots “spanning jewellery, furniture, paintings, sculpture, books,…

Prithviraj Sukumaran nails it in the promo of Jana Gana…

By Murtuza Iqbal Prithviraj Sukumaran has many interesting films lined-up and one of them is Jana Gana Mana. Today, on the occasion of Republic Day, he took to social media to share the official promo of the film. The actor tweeted, “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority…

Gandhi’s bowl and cutlery might fetch £60,000 in online auction

A bowl and cutlery used by the father of Indian independence in prison in India in the 1940s are likely to fetch more than £60,000 at an auction. The metal bowl, two spoons and a fork were used by Mahatma Gandhi after British colonial rulers confined him to the Aga Kahn…

Welsh government report says Churchill, Nelson and Gandhi were ‘complicit’…

The statues and street names of Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson and Mahatma Gandhi in Wales are likely to be removed as they were named in a Welsh government report reviewing those 'complicit' in slavery and colonialism. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, an audit was launched to…

Peer’s exit ‘should worry Labour’

By Amit Roy THE Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is becoming fond of us­ing the phrase. “If I were prime minister…,” no doubt to get peo­ple used to the idea. He used it last week in relation to Priti Patel: “If I were prime minister, the home secretary would have…

Gandhi’s great-grandson Satish Dhupelia,66, dies of Covid-19

MAHATMA GANDHI's great-grandson Satish Dhupelia, 66, has died of Covid-19 in South Africa on Sunday(22), a family member said. His sister Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie has said that Dhupelia died after he contracted the coronavirus in hospital where he had been under treatment for a month due to pneumonia just three days after…

Barber charts Modi’s journey as leader who inspires millions

  By Amit Roy IN HIS just-published diaries, Lionel Bar­ber, who enjoyed a long stint as editor of the Financial Times from 2005 to 2020, has written about three trips to India and meeting some of the country’s most pow­erful figures, including Narendra Modi. The first time was in 2013…

Updated Saklatvala book reveals ‘relevance of Labour MP’s views’

  By Amit Roy MARC WADSWORTH has spoken about his updated and, in fact, scholarly biography of Shapurji Dorabji Saklatvala, a member of the wealthy Tata family in India who became a Communist, representing Battersea North in London as a Labour MP from 1922-1923 and from 1924-1929. It took Wadsworth…

Britain’s ‘biggest hoarder’ Ramann Shukla’s collection include rare photos and…

BRITAIN's 'biggest hoarder' Ramann Shukla's,64, more than 60,000 rare items will now go up for auction with Unique Auctions between October 22 and 25. The collection includes signed photos and letters relating to John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Elvis Presley, more than 6,000 vintage comics, 3,000 chemistry…

Shabana Azmi on Kangana Ranaut: Why doesn’t she just do…

After Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise, Kangana Ranaut has spoken about movie mafia, nepotism, outsiders being cornered in the industry, drug abuse in the industry, how she started feminism and nationalism, and a lot more. She has also targeted actresses like Urmila Matondkar, Swara Bhasker, and Taapsee Pannu in her interviews.…

Gandhi Jayanti: Movies revolving around Mahatma Gandhi

Today, India is celebrating Gandhi Jayanti, the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He is called the Father of the Nation and many filmmakers have tried to give Gandhi ji a tribute and make a movie revolving around him. So, today let’s look at the list of movies revolving Mahatma…

Community leaders, defence personnel mark Gandhi birth anniversary in Cardiff

COMMUNITY leaders and British defence personnel joined an official Covid-secure celebration in Cardiff to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary on Friday (2). Led by Indian Honorary Consul in Wales Raj Aggarwal, the event was a low-key one due pandemic restrictions, unlike last year which saw over 400 guests and…

‘They even had Gandhi’: Trump calls violent anti-racism protesters ‘bunch…

US President Donald Trump on Friday (18) vandal anti-racism protesters as a "bunch of thugs", saying they did not spare even the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington DC. The death of black American George Floyd who died in police custody in May had led to mass protests across the…

Virtual classes commence at first yoga university outside India

THE Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) in Los Angeles -- world's first yoga university outside India -- has commenced classes virtually. Offering programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice of yoga, VaYU was launched in June as part of the 6th International Yoga Day…

WW II spy Noor Inayat Khan becomes first South Asian…

BRITAIN's World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan on Friday (28) became the first South Asian woman to be honoured with a memorial blue plaque at her former family home in central London. The blue plaque scheme, run by the English Heritage charity, honours notable people and organisations who were…

Bristol company auctions Mahatma Gandhi’s glasses for £260,000

A PAIR of glasses believed to have been used by Mahatma Gandhi has been sold for £260,000, after it was found in an envelope sticking out of a Bristol-based auctioneer’s letterbox. Reports said an American collector bagged the spectacles – initially estimated to fetch about £15,000 – through "a phone…

Value of Kamala’s past

By Amit Roy THE choice of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s run­ning mate has added a new excitement to No­vember’s presidential election in America. Back in 2008, I made a point of going to the US when it was even more exciting with Barack Oba­ma running as the Demo­cratic candidate.…

Labour creates ‘Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders’ plan

Labour Friends of India, a representative group part of the Labour Party, on Saturday launched its new 'Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders Programme' to encourage greater Indian diaspora representation in the elected offices of the party. The group said that its new programme will cover modules such as community engagement, communications,…

Trump campaign launches coalitions to woo South Asian communities

US President Donald Trump's reelection campaign has launched four coalitions as it seeks to boost its appeal among Indian-American, Sikh, Muslim and other South Asian communities ahead of the general election. An estimated 1.3 million Indian-Americans are expected to vote in the November 3 election, including nearly 200,000 in Pennsylvania and 125,000…

Indians in Houston react to Kamala Harris as potential VP

In Houston's Little India, also called the Mahatma Gandhi District, Indians give their views on Joe Biden naming Kamala Harris as his vice presidential pick. Harris is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants to the US. [video width="640" height="360" mp4="https://www.easterneye.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFP_1WG9KD-mmv_640x360.mp4"][/video]

Gandhi glasses set to go under the hammer

By Amit Roy A FEW people have quibbled about the decision by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to put Gandhi on a British coin as the first ethnic minority figure. In Leicester, there was even been a petition – now apparently abandoned – to remove the Mahatma’s statue in the wake…

UK company set to auction specs believed to have been…

A PAIR of gold-plated spectacles believed to have been worn by Mahatma Gandhi has emerged on the UK auction circuit, after the vendor initially presumed it to be of "no value". East Bristol Auctions in Hanham said on Sunday (9) that they were pleasantly surprised to find that the spectacles,…

Javid and a Gandhi coin

By Amit Roy THE chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is also “mas­ter of the mint”, is said to have decided that the first-ever ethnic minority figure on a British coin is to be Mahatma Gandhi. In a letter to former Conservative candidate Zehra Zaidi, who is leading the ‘We Too Built…

Campaigners seek to clarify confusion around UK’s Gandhi coin

Campaigners in the UK on Tuesday (4) sought to clarify confusion arising out of recent reports of Mahatma Gandhi being featured on a future commemorative coin being mistakenly associated with a separate drive for ethnic minority representation on British legal tender. The UK's Treasury department confirmed that the commemorative coin…

Rishi Sunak wants ethnic minorities on UK coins

UK chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday (2) backed a campaign for influential ethnic minority figures to be featured on a set of UK coins to celebrate Britain’s diversity. Mahatma Gandhi is in the running as an influential Commonwealth figure, as the UK’s Royal Mint considers the plans as part of…

Leicester council to verify Gandhi petition

By Amit Roy A PETITION calling for the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Leicester is being scrutinised by the city council to ensure it is not a fake one, given there appear to be multiple signings by the same people. Those who sign the petition also have to live…

Anti-Gandhi protest unwarranted

By Lord Rami Ranger CBE I am appalled by the campaign launched for the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s statues in the UK by misguided and ill-informed few. The statues had been erected by public demand to recognise the immense contribution of Gandhi Ji to the free world. As a result,…

Leicester mayor gives ‘absolute assurance’ of support to Gandhi statue

THE mayor of Leicester has given “absolute assurance” that statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the heart of the central England city will be protected, as an online petition created to save the under-threat monument attracted over 6,000 signatures. Peter Soulsby committed his support in response to a letter from former…

Why Gandhi was not a racist and why we need…

By Dr Raj Persaud FRCPsych Consultant Psychiatrist ON JUNE 7, the statue of Edward Colston, a slave trader, was torn down during an anti-racism protest in Bristol following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in the US, in police custody. Statues of other prominent historic men then became…

Why statues should fall – or not

By Amit Roy STATUES with Indian connections targeted by Black Lives Matter activists include those of Win­ston Churchill, Jan Smuts, Robert Clive (Clive of India), Lord Mountbatten, Sir Henry Havelock and General James George Smith Neill, among others. Critics say Churchill must fall because he opposed Indian independence, insulted Mahatma…

Gandhi ‘evolved as a person with the years’

By Amit Roy THE Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement didn’t exactly win friends in the Indian community by daubing the word “racist” on the pedestal steps of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parlia­ment Square and flicking white paint on the bronze. In fact, quite the opposite. I have not heard of…

Why we need to reflect before destroying old statues

By Lord Meghnad Desai DURING the Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations around the world after the death in the US of George Floyd, a lot of rage was expressed against racism and in­justice to black people. Many monuments and statues were de­faced and damaged, among them the statue of Mahatma…

Anti-racism protests ‘hijacked by extremists’, says Boris Johnson

BORIS JOHNSON on Friday (12) said the wave of anti-racism protests across Britain had been "hijacked by extremists", as fears mounted over vandalism, and clashes between activists and far-right groups. Several statues were boarded up as a precaution, including one of World War II leader Winston Churchill and the Cenotaph…

Petition seeks removal of Gandhi statue in Leicester, calls him…

A FORMER British-Indian lawmaker has launched an impassioned campaign to defend a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Leicester, after an online petition calling for its removal attracted nearly 5,000 signatures. Keith Vaz, who was the longest-serving member of Parliament from Leicester until last year, called for the petition to be…

US expresses ‘sincere apologies’ over desecration of Gandhi statue in…

US ambassador to India Ken Juster on Thursday (4) apologised for desecration of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Indian embassy in Washington DC. Unknown miscreants vandalised the statue with graffiti and by spraying paint, prompting the Indian embassy officials to register a complaint with the local law enforcement…

Neil Basu: Reading thrillers helps me switch off

by AMIT ROY NEIL BASU, assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police and the most senior Asian police officer in the country, has talked to Eastern Eye – not about his work as the national lead for counter-terrorism policing in the UK – but about something completely different. “I really enjoyed…

Understanding Churchill’s finest hour

By Amit Roy INDIANS have reservations about Winston Churchill because of his hostility to the whole idea of Indian independence, his ir­rational hatred for Mahatma Gandhi and his alleged com­plicity in aggravating the effects of the Bengal famine of 1943-44, in which an estimated three million people died. Churchill’s Secret…

India-UK ties poised for ‘bigger take-off’, says outgoing Indian high…

RUCHI GHANASHYAM retired as the Indian high commissioner to the UK early this month in an unusually discreet way given the constraints related to the coronavirus lockdown, bidding farewell to her team at the India House in London virtually over a conference call. However, there has been little impact on…

Queen offers messages of support in dealing with virus

By Amit Roy AS CHILDREN in the heat and dust of India, we learnt about the “Lady with the Lamp”. So, it woke memories from long ago to hear Prince Charles refer to her last week when open­ing the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London by video link from his home…

Wheelers bereaved

By Amit Roy DIP SINGH WHEELER, whose late husband Sir Charles Wheeler was the distinguished BBC correspondent in Delhi, has died at her home in Sussex, aged 88. I am told by my friend Rahul Singh, who is the son of the author and journalist Khushwant Singh, that when Dip…

‘Garavi Gujarat will come to be the pride of Britain’

By Rithika Siddhartha WHEN he took to the stage at the Asian Business Awards in March 2018, it was the first and only time that Ramniklal Solanki was the recipient of an accolade at an AMG event – usually it would be him who had the honour of presenting awards…

Gandhi’s spirit is essential now, says UN chief on Delhi…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that Mahatma Gandhi's spirit is needed more than ever as it is essential to create conditions for a true community reconciliation. Guterres has expressed sadness over the casualties following the protests in Delhi, and called for maximum restraint. The death toll in Delhi's communal…

India’s Growing Soft Power: From Howdy Modi to Namaste Trump

By Dinesh Sharma AS THE two leading democracies – US (oldest constitutional democracy) and India (largest constitutional democracy) – continue to tighten their embrace, prime minister Narendra Modi may be promoted to the “hugger-in-chief,” who was formerly known as the “chaiwallah.” Chai has now become a specialty drink – you…

Trump starts India visit; tweets in Hindi twice in four…

US president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump started their maiden India visit on Monday (24). Just before arriving in India, the president tweeted in Hindi. The first time Trump attempts to use the language. "Ham Bharat Aane Ke Liye Tatpar Hain. Ham Raste Me Hain, Kuchh Hi Ghanton…

India tempers Trump’s hopes of ‘millions’ in welcome parade

It may be a misunderstanding, a translation error or his showman schtick, but Indian officials are tempering Donald Trump's expectations that millions of Indians will line up to welcome him next week -- by a matter of zeroes. On his first official visit to India, Trump is due to arrive…

Melania Trump likely to visit Delhi government school, interact with…

US First Lady Melania Trump is likely to visit a Delhi government school and interact with students on February 25, sources said. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a little less than 36-hour-long trip.…

Trump to attend roadshow, ‘Howdy Modi’-like event in India

US president Donald Trump, during his India visit, would participate in a grand roadshow in Ahmedabad and also tour the Sabarmati Ashram and inaugurate a newly-built cricket stadium here with prime minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Wednesday (12). He is likely to visit Ahmedabad on February 24, they said.…

‘Glad that India was partitioned’: Former foreign minister

IF India had not been partitioned, the Muslim League would not have allowed the country to function and there would have been more “Direct Action Days”, Congress veteran K Natwar Singh said in Delhi on Sunday. “I am glad that India was partitioned,” said the former foreign minister at the…

India, US will work together to combat terrorism, Jihadi culture: Sandhu

NOTING that there is an "unlimited potential" in Indo-US relations, India's new Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said the two countries will stand shoulder to shoulder to combat terrorism and the Jihadi culture that is invading the world over. The 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer on…

Urmila Matondkar calls CAA a ‘black law’

Actor-turned-politician and former Congress Lok Sabha candidate Urmila Matondkar has called Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) a black law. The ‘Rangeela star’ compared CAA with the British era Rowlatt Act.  However, she was criticized for mentioning the year wrong.  While addressing an event in Mumbai on the death anniversary of Mahatma…

Man fires at anti-CAA protesters in New Delhi

The protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) near Jamia Millia University in New Delhi turned violent on Thursday (January 30) when a man, identified as Rambhakt Gopal, opened fire at protesters. A student at the University was injured following gunshots. The shooter was later detained. The injured student has…

Focus on economic ties reiterated at Republic Day event

INDIA’S high commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam, described Britain as a “natural partner” as she paid tribute to bilateral ties in her Republic Day speech in London on Monday (27). Addressing guests at an annual reception to mark the day that independent India adopted its constitution, the envoy noted…

Foxed by ignorance of Sikh sacrifices in 1917

  By Amit Roy A GUARDIAN writer referred cuttingly to Harrow as “a minor public school”, which is a little unkind because it ranks, alongside Eton, as one of the two great public schools of England. But perhaps the actor Laurence Fox, 41, who complained that the casting of Sikh soldier…

Bezos flies into internet trading storm in India

ANGRY Indian street traders vowed Wednesday (15) to stage protests against the world's richest man Jeff Bezos as the Amazon tycoon started a visit just as authorities launched an anti-trust investigation into e-commerce giants. Bezos, whose worth has been estimated at more than $110 billion, is officially in India for…

Books, books, books

  By Amit Roy IT WAS ever thus: so many books, so little time to read them. One I can recommend is Kusoom Vadgama’s India & Britain: Over four centuries of shared heritage (Austin Macauley Publishers), which provides a potted history of the engagement between Britain and India. Kusoom, now in…

Bill to promote Gandhi’s legacy introduced in US House

America's legendary civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis has introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to promote the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr and sought a budgetary allocation of $150 million for the next five years. Introduced to mark the 150th birth anniversary…

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi rejects genocide claims at top UN court

Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi rejected allegations of genocide against Myanmar in the UN's top court Wednesday, despite admitting the army may have used excessive force against Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi denied "misleading and incomplete" claims by The Gambia that a 2017 military operation had attempted to exterminate…

High stakes: Aung San Suu Kyi gambles image in Rohingya…

From democracy champion to defending Myanmar against genocide charges, the shock decision by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to face the UN's top court risks further damaging her image overseas and deepening the siege mentality at home. "We stand with you," proclaim billboards across Myanmar, sporting beaming portraits of…

UK’s newest Gandhi statue unveiled in Manchester

A NEW statue of Mahatma Gandhi, described as a “gift” to Manchester, was unveiled last Friday (21). The nine-ft high, 800 kg bronze statue, created by Indian artist Ram V Sutar, marks one of the tallest sculptures of Gandhi outside India. It is part of the Mahatma Gandhi Statue Project,…

U2, AR Rahman collaborate for new track

Irish band U2 has launched a new track, Ahimsa, in collaboration with Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman, ahead of their maiden performance in the country. Island Records announced the release of the track which aims to celebrate the spiritual diversity of the country. Rahman said Ahimsa requires courage and strength,…

Gandhi visited Cambridge to reach out to elite Indians

By Amit Roy EVENTS to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi have thrown up the fact he made an effort to get through to the elite class of Indians who often benefited from British rule – and hence visited Cambridge twice. The first trip was on November…

India rejects China-backed world’s biggest Asian trade deal

CHINA joined 14 countries on Monday (4) in agreeing terms for what could be the world's biggest trade pact, but India pulled out at the last minute on the grounds that the deal would hurt its farmers, businesses, workers and consumers. The Sino-US trade war and rising protectionism have given new impetus to years…

India received fullest support from US on Kashmir: Indian Ambassador

NOTING that India has received the "fullest" support from America on Kashmir, Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that New Delhi is happy that the Trump administration has taken a "very very understanding view" on the issue. Shringla made the remarks during a programme to celebrate Diwali…

Merkel likely to press for free trade deal in talks…

GERMANY is likely to urge India to restart talks on finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union during Chancellor Angela Merkel's meetings with government leaders in New Delhi on Friday (1), two sources with knowledge said. Merkel, accompanied by several Cabinet colleagues and a business delegation, began…

Investment in India slowing: Raghuram Rajan

By Amit Roy THE former governor of the Reserve Bank of India has urged prime minister Narendra Modi’s government not to seek an “authoritarian” route to solving the country’s economic problems. Addressing a packed gathering of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) in London last Wednesday (23)…

Trump to celebrate Diwali at White House on Thursday

US president Donald Trump will celebrate Diwali at the White House on Thursday (24), three days ahead of the formal celebrations of the festival of lights in India. This would be Trump's third Diwali celebrations at the White House, a tradition that began with his predecessor Barack Obama in 2009.…

India prime minister Modi meets with Bollywood stars on Gandhi’s…

India prime minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, met Bollywood actors and filmmakers, including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, to discuss initiatives to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In an interaction with them at his official residence in New Delhi, the prime minister said several people from…

Hindu and Jain communities show support for organ donation this…

Members of the Hindu and Jain communities have been urged to show support for organ donation this Diwali as there is an urgent need for more Asian organ donors. In 2018-19, there were 149 Asian organ donors in the UK; 83 were living kidney donors and 56 give the gift…

Holocaust memorial will reflect ‘the lows that humanity can sink…

by ZAKI COOPER and DR PETER CHADHA EARLIER this month [on October 2], we marked the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. One of the interesting things about the Mahatma was the special connection he had with the Jewish community. He had a number of Jewish friends from the two…

‘UK diversity key to post-Brexit ties’

BRITAIN’S rich culture and diversity will help the country expand and build trading ties with Commonwealth countries as the UK prepares to leave Europe, the Asian Media Group’s Kalpesh Solanki said. Addressing guests at the annual GG2 Leadership Awards in central London last week, Solanki, who is the AMG’s group managing…

Ruchi Ghanashyam visits Neasden temple

The High Commissioner of India to the UK joined worshippers for a special assembly at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London on Saturday (12). Ruchi Ghanashyam, a career diplomat who joined the Indian Foreign Services in 1982, was given a peek into the various social, community and outreach activities…

Resolution celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy introduced in US House

INDIAN-AMERICAN Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives celebrating Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary and his enduring legacy. "Mahatma Gandhi is one of my personal heroes," Krishnamoorthi said after introducing the resolution on Friday (11). The resolution was cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 14…

Britain to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 1931 visit with commemorative coin

BRITAIN will commission a commemorative coin to mark the 90th anniversary of the final visit by Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, Chancellor Sajid Javid announced Thursday (10). Gandhi came to London in 1931 for a roundtable conference on India's future and ended up travelling around Britain, including visiting textile workers in…

Labour politicians and groups call out Kashmir motion

SENIOR Labour MPs are said to be working to refer the party’s controversial Kashmir motion, which alleged “state-endorsed sexual violence of women by armed forces”, back to its National Executive Committee (NEC). At its annual party conference in Brighton last month, Labour passed a resolution which said: “The enforced disappearance…

‘We need to remember Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy of tolerance’

  By Amit Roy JO JOHNSON has kept a low profile since he resigned as universities minister from his brother Boris’s government, but he made an effort to turn up for the commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150 birth anniversary in Parliament Square in London last Wednesday (2). Johnson is something…

Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes stolen, photo defaced on 150th birthday

A portrait of Mahatma Gandhi was defaced at Bapu Bhawan in Laxmanbagh Sansthan on Gandhi Jayanti by unidentified persons who wrote “deshdrohi” (traitor) over it and also stole an urn which was used for immersing his ashes, police said on Thursday (3). The incident happened on Wednesday when the country…

Indian-Americans protest against Congressman Ro Khanna

A group of Indian-Americans from the Silicon Valley on Thursday held a peaceful demonstration against Congressman Ro Khanna, demanding that he distance himself from anti-Mahatma Gandhi and anti-India activists. The demonstrators said Khanna's endorsement of anti-Gandhi activists Amar Shergill and Pieter Frederich through his social media posts have angered many…

Cardiff celebrates 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi with verve

Cardiff City Hall shone in Indian tricolour -  saffron, white and green - on October 2 celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The commemorative event, sponsored by Indian government, saw performances of traditional Indian music and dance, as well as speeches on Gandhi’s life and legacy. “This is a…

Unique art exhibition marks 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in…

Embassy of India at Berlin opened an art exhibition on October 2 in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The exhibition features original works received from German residents for a competition organized by the Tagore Centre, Berlin. Speaking on the occasion, Mukta Dutta Tomar, India’s Ambassador to Germany,…

Lord Ahmad reaches New Delhi to boost India-UK relations

LORD Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon is on a visit to India to further strengthen relation between the two countries. During his visit to New Delhi, Lord Ahmad will promote the UK’s role to work with India on major global challenges such as climate change and gender equality. He is also…

Modi pays rich tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (2) paid glowing tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary, describing him as the “best teacher” and “the guiding light” who continues to give courage to millions globally. In an op-ed in ‘The New York Times’ to mark the birth anniversary of…

People across globe mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

MAHATMA Gandhi's life and legacy were remembered by people across the world on his 150th birth anniversary on Wednesday (2) with several countries, including France and Sri Lanka, releasing commemorative postage stamps and organising events to mark the day. Indian missions across the world held commemorative events where leaders and civil…

Important for larger bilateral relationship to have some early results…

IT IS important for the larger India-US relationship to have some early results to address concerns on the trade issues between the two countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo agreed here during a meeting. Trade tensions between India and the US have been rising…

Troubled world needs Mahatma Gandhi’s example: Sculptor Philip Jackson

THE award-winning Scottish artist behind the iconic sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square in London believes that the apostle of peace is the most revered of world leaders who occupy that historic site opposite the Palace of Westminster, which houses the UK Parliament. As Britain joins in marking the…

Mahatma Gandhi’s London connect to be celebrated to mark 150th anniversary

MOHANDAS Karamchand Gandhi first docked in England as a student just days before his 19th  birthday in 1888 in pursuit of a law degree and is known to have fully immersed himself in London life. The connect of that teenager who went on to become the leader of the Indian national…

Lord Meghnad Desai: Gandhi at 150 in London

NEXT Wednesday (2), there will be a commemoration event at the site of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi – to mark his 150th birthday – in London’s Parliament Square. The statue, sculpted by Philip Jackson, is a stunning example of its kind. Jackson worked from a photograph of Gandhiji just…

British royals’ biggest Indian fan dies

Mumbai cafe owner Boman Kohinoor, arguably India's biggest fan of the British royal family, died on Wednesday (25), officials said. The Indian Parsi restaurateur "was suffering from cardiac issues and passed away at 4:45 pm (1115 GMT)," an official from Parsee General Hospital told AFP. Kohinoor was the star of…

Modi gets ‘Global Goalkeeper’ award for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday (25) conferred the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government. In a series of tweets in Hindi, the prime minister's office (PMO) said Modi lauded the countrymen for contributing to…

Modi inaugurates Solar Park, Peace Garden at UN

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi, along with UN chief Antonio Guterres and other world leaders, inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park and Gandhi Peace Garden at the headquarters of the global body, underlining that Mahatma Gandhi's principles act as a moral compass as the world grapples with challenges of climate change,…

Modi holds series of bilateral meetings with world leaders in…

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here, including with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad. Modi, who arrived here to attend…

India, US can contribute to building more peaceful, stable world:…

US president Donald Trump's presence at the Houston event marks a new milestone, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (20) as he expressed confidence that his visit would present India as a vibrant land of opportunities, a reliable partner and a global leader. This would be the first time…

U2 announce first ever concert in India

U2 is set to finish their 2019 Joshua Tree tour with a concert in India in December. The band will play at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on December 15, and this will be the first time they will have performed in the country. In a video for the…

Debt-ridden Air India to stop using single-use plastic on flights

DEBT-RIDDEN Air India said it will stop using single-use plastic and replace the packaging with eco-friendly paper and wooden cutlery, as the government ramps up its "clean India" mission. Prime minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in mid-August said eradicating single-use plastics was a key goal and called…

Gandhi statue approved in Manchester

THE Manchester City Council on Friday (23) granted planning approval for the installation of a bronze statue on Mahatma Gandhi. The 9ft high, 800kg statue is crafted by artist Ram V Sutar and it is set to be unveiled outside Manchester Cathedral on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.…

Lives and loves of the Mountbattens to be featured in…

Edwina Mountbatten's love affair with Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru will be featured in a new book on the lives and loves of the Mountbattens. Nehru is one of the 18 lovers Edwina is believed to have had, but it was her most enduring one. When she died in 1960…

Twins’ triptych inspired by Amritsar massacre

PAINTING EXPLORES JALLIANWALA BAGH AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN GREAT DETAIL by AMIT ROY The Singh twins, Rabindra and Amrit, have completed their triptych inspired by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919, now recognised as a landmark event which hastened the end of British rule in India. The three…

More Indians are becoming obese: UN report

MORE Indians are becoming obese while the number of undernourished people in the country have declined, according to a report by the UN that said that globally over 820 million people are suffering from hunger. The report titled the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019 was…

Rahul, the Gandhi dynasty’s first failure

Being born a Gandhi is traditionally a guaranteed ticket to the Indian prime minister's office, but the magic ran out for Rahul, the latest scion of the country's most famous and powerful family. The 49-year-old son, grandson and great-grandson of Indian prime ministers, resigned as head of Congress, the main…

Significant increase in popularity of yoga in US, says Indian…

There has been a significant increase in the popularity of yoga in the United States after the UN in 2014 declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, India's Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. Addressing hundreds of yoga enthusiasts at the National Monument in Washington on…

Modi invites chiefs of all parties to discuss ‘one nation,…

Chairing an all-party meeting on the eve of the first session of the new Lok Sabha, prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (16) invited heads of all parties to a meeting on June 19 to discuss the "one nation, one election" issue and other important matters. Noting that there are…

Indian MP accused of mosque bombing appears in court

A firebrand Hindu nationalist nun accused of participating in the deadly bombing of a mosque appeared in court on Friday (7), two weeks after she won a parliamentary seat in India's election. Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is being tried on terrorism and criminal conspiracy charges over the 2008 attack in western…

Ahead of swearing in, Modi pays tributes to Gandhi, Vajpayee

AHEAD of being sworn in as the prime minister for a second consecutive term, Narendra Modi Thursday (30) morning paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and BJP veteran, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also placed a wreath at the National War Memorial adjoining the India Gate in New Delhi. The…

Venice Biennale display features Indian artists who channelled Mahatma Gandhi’s…

by AMIT ROY THIS is only the second time that India has had a pavilion of its own at the Venice Biennale – the last occasion was in 2011 – but it is being held up by critics at the world’s biggest festival of art as “one of the very…

Worst of mudslinging during six weeks of India poll campaign

INDIA'S mammoth election, the biggest in the world, was a frequently bad-tempered affair and awash with insults. Ahead of the vote counting and results due on Thursday (23), here is a look back at the worst of the mudslinging during almost six weeks of campaigning. Thief Versus Prince Prime minister…

Hindu not native description, but only foreign coinage: Kamal Haasan

FACING severe backlash over his recent Hindu extremist remarks, India’s regional political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan claimed that the very term ‘Hindu’ was not a native description, but only a foreign coinage. Neither the Alwars nor the Nayanmars, the famed Vaishnavite and Shaivite saints, had made…

Exclusive: “Return of PM Narendra Modi is going to benefit…

After facing a string of hurdles, the biopic on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is finally set to roll into theatres on 24th May. Titled PM Narendra Modi, the biographical drama is directed by well-known filmmaker Omung Kumar and stars actor Vivek Oberoi in the titular role. Ahead of the…

Rahul Gandhi: destiny’s child or an ’empty suit’?

Rahul Gandhi, vying to become the latest prime minister from India's most famous dynasty, has worked hard to shed his image as an entitled footloose princeling and political lightweight. But the great-grandson, grandson and son of three past premiers of the world's biggest democracy still faces a tough task beating…

Modi slams Gandhi assassin comments ahead of India’s key final…

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (17) condemned a firebrand Hindu election candidate from his ruling party who called the assassin of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi a "patriot". The conservative prime minister was forced to act as a backlash grew over comments by Pragya Singh Thakur, already dogged by…

Gandhi killer a ‘patriot’ comment sparks outrage in India

An Indian election candidate for prime minister Narendra Modi's party, already accused of involvement in a deadly bomb attack, sparked outrage on Thursday (16) by saying the killer of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi was a "patriot". The comments by firebrand monk Pragya Singh Thakur came as the country heads into…

BJP politician calls Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin a ‘patriot’

BJP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday (16) kicked up a row as she called Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse a “patriot”, but apologised for it hours later and withdrew the statement. The BJP distanced itself from her statement saying it did…

Kamal Haasan stirs row after saying India’s first ‘extremist was…

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has said independent India's first "extremist was a Hindu"—Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi, stoking a controversy with the BJP on Monday (13) asserting that an "assassin" is very different from a terrorist. The BJP also accused the Makkal Needhi Maiyam founder of indulging in "divisive politics"…

Empress of India: Exhibition explores Victoria’s relationship with subcontinent

by AMIT ROY QUEEN VICTORIA was the “Empress of India”, but what did she really think of Indians and India? Kensington Palace, which is inaugurating a new exhibition on Queen Victoria on May 24 to mark her 200th birth anniversary, has consulted a number of historians, including Professor Miles Taylor…

‘I give each scene real emotions’

SHAHEER SHEIKH ON ACTING, HIS BRAND NEW SERIAL YEH RISHTEY HAIN PYAAR KE AND SUCCESS by ASJAD NAZIR There is a lot more to Shaheer Sheikh than being a talented actor and a handsome pin-up with a massive female fan following. The small screen star has also made a positive…

Modi and Gandhi greet people of Gujarat on foundation day

INDIA prime minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among prominent political leaders who on Wednesday (1) greeted the people of Gujarat on the occasion of the state's foundation day. President Ram Nath Kovind also extended his greetings on the occasion. Modi hailed Gujaratis for their courage, innovation…

University challenge: Forging fresh UK-India education bonds

by AMARJIT SINGH INDIA’S love of a higher education in the UK spans centuries. After all, the ties of shared history, culture and language bind us together, making a compelling case for the Indian student to consider Britain as a natural home for their university education. The father of the…

Spark that lit the freedom flame

by KISHWAR DESAI FIRST the British tried to silence them, then they tried to kill them, and then those who survived were tortured, jailed, whipped and even bombed under martial law. This was the fate of many of the residents of Amritsar, and other cities of undivided Punjab in 1919.…

Is it time Britain apologises for Jallianwala Bagh?

by LAUREN CODLING and NADEEM BADSHAH APOLOGISING for the Amritsar massacre would be a “reflection of the close relationship between the UK and India”, a British-Asian peer said, as Saturday (13) marks 100 years since the tragedy. Hundreds were killed in Jallianwala Bagh, a walled area in the Sikh holy…

World War II spy first Indian-origin woman to get Blue…

Britain's World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan was on Monday (25) confirmed as the first Indian-origin woman to be honoured with a Blue Plaque at her former London home. The Blue Plaque scheme run by English Heritage honours notable people who lived or worked in particular buildings across London.…

Top India envoy hails Indo-UK ties

CONSULAR facilities such as passport and visa services will be taken to the Indian diaspora across the UK, the new Indian high commissioner announced at an event on Monday evening (28). Ruchi Ghanashyam, who took up her position in November, said the move was part of an extensive range of…

First Indian film museum opens in home of Bollywood

From silent black-and-white films to colourful blockbusters bursting with song and dance, the evolution of Indian cinema is traced by a new museum in the home of Bollywood. Costing 1.4 billion rupees ($19.6 million), India's first national film museum is spread across a stylish 19th-century bungalow and a modern five-storey…

New film sheds light on Gandhi murder

POWERFUL new film The Gandhi Murder attempts to shed new light on history. Based on true events leading up to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the film questions who really played a role in the murder of the legendary leader and whether the tragic event had deeper, darker roots. Stephen…

Battle of the icons

by Amit Roy MAHATMA GANDHI is, by a long measure, the greatest icon of the 20th century because he not only led India to independence through non-violent means, but also laid the blueprint for mainly peaceful British withdrawal from several other colonies. He inspired countless others, notably Nelson Mandela and…

India’s ties with the UK to grow post-Brexit, says high…

India's relations with the UK will continue to grow even after Britain's planned exit from the European Union in March, Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam has assured London, amidst the political turmoil here over Brexit. The Indian envoy said this during her first visit to the Midlands on January 18…

Kamala Harris’ 2020 US presidential bid excites Indian-Americans

Kamala Harris' plunge in the 2020 US presidential race has thrilled the Indian-American community which considers the first Indian-origin Senator's "groundbreaking" announcement a "proud moment" and a reflection that Indian-Americans have finally arrived at the centre stage of US politics. Harris, 54, officially launched her campaign for the US presidential…

Historic Books Including Gandhi’s Writings Get New Home In South…

MORE than 3,000 books written by renowned writers across the globe, including 12 volumes of collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, amassed over six decades by an Indian-origin family has found a permanent home at a knowledge centre in South Africa. Most of the books, once banned under the apartheid regime,…

Gandhi statue removed from Ghana’s top university over racism claims

A statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi has been removed from Ghana's most prestigious university after complaints that he was racist against black Africans. India's former president Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the statue to the global peace icon at the University of Ghana in Accra two years ago as a…

Indian President Unveils Mahatma Gandhi’s Statue In Australia

Indian president Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday (22) unveiled a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Australian city Sydney and said his powerful message of non-violence and peaceful coexistence is relevant in these times of strife. Marking the ongoing celebrations of the 150th anniversary year of the Mahatma along…

First Gandhi Peace Centre Outside India Opens In UK

The first Gandhi Peace Centre outside India opened last week at Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple in Tividale, near Oldbury of UK. Over 300 people gathered on the occasion to witness the opening of the centre. The newly launched centre has a permanent exhibition of Gandhi's life and message which is…

Cambridge formalises chemistry with Hamied

by Amit Roy CAMBRIDGE University is bestowing an exceptional honour on Dr Yusuf Hamied by renaming its ‘1702 Chair in Chemistry’ after the head of Cipla, the Indian pharmaceutical company. It is called the 1702 Chair of Chemistry because that was the year in which it was founded. It is…

Indian activist to lead walk for peace from New Delhi…

An Indian activist said on Wednesday (7) that he expects thousands of people to join his "March for Justice and Peace", a 9,500-kilometre hike from New Delhi to Geneva next year. Rajagopal PV told reporters in Geneva that he plans to begin his long trek from New Delhi next October 2…

UK salutes South Asian war heroes

by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN peers, politicians and community leaders have paid tribute to south Asian soldiers who contributed to the First World War, as Remembrance Sunday is marked this weekend. Almost half of the three million Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the First World War were from undivided India, which…

Lord Swraj Paul receives ‘Mahatma Gandhi Honour’

Industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has been honoured by a non-profit NGO for his outstanding efforts to highlight the profile of Non-Resident Indians and their contributions to India. A spokesman of the NRI Institute said that it honoured Paul, chairman of the Caparo group of industries, on Monday in London at…

Malawi court halts ‘racist’ Gandhi statue plan

Campaigners in Malawi won an injunction on Wednesday to temporarily halt work on a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the commercial capital as part of a $10 million construction deal with Delhi. They argued in the high court that the statue, part of a deal to build a convention centre…

David Gilmour’s ‘The British in India’ Highlights How Different Life…

When people think of India's history with British colonialism, they probably think of a time of oppression, of the East India Company, and of Indian activist and independence campaigner Mahatma Gandhi. While many know the grand struggle of India at the time, the minutiae and the day to day lives, thoughts,…

In Delhi, walk with Gandhi in the President’s House

With a moon rock, a chunk of Mount Everest and the chance to stroll with Gandhi, the President's House in Delhi is lifting the veil on its treasures in its new museum. The President's House, a classical palace with an Indian twist, is one of the grandest buildings in India, built…

Arundhati Roy: We are living through history as fake news

Booker Prize winning author and activist Arundhati Roy has expressed concern over what she fears are historical facts being manipulated in India, creating a form of fake news in the country. Speaking on the subject of freedom, the author of 'The God of Small Things' also spoke of the influences…

Piccadilly Circus lights up with Mahatma’s message

by AMIT ROY MAHATMA Gandhi’s universal messages of peace and reconciliation are being taken all over the world as part of his 150th anniversary celebrations. In London on Tuesday (2), the Indian icon’s images and some of his famous sayings were projected on to a giant screen in Piccadilly Circus.…

US lawmakers want to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medal to…

Half a dozen influential US lawmakers, including four Indian Americans, have moved a resolution in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi in recognition of his promotion of peace and non-violence. Introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congresswoman Carolyn…

Mahatma Gandhi’s message projected in Piccadilly Circus

By Amit Roy MAHATMA Gandhi’s universal messages of peace and reconciliation are being taken all over the world as part of his 150th anniversary celebrations. In London on Tuesday (2), the Indian icon’s images and some of his famous sayings were projected on to a giant screen in Piccadilly Circus. This…

London Fashion Show Promotes Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi

Indian designers Shantanu & Nikhil recently held a fashion show in London to promote khadi, the cotton fabric once used by Mahatma Gandhi during India's Independence struggle. The theme of the fashion show was "Independence" and the show was held at the elegant surroundings of the Saatchi Gallery in the…

Gandhian Thought to be Promoted in Upcoming Kumbh Mela as…

A special Sadbhavana Conclave took place at Gandhi Ashram on Monday (24) to commemorate the anniversary of the historic Poona Pact, which led to the establishment of Harijan Sevak Sangh on 24 September 1932.   The Poona Pact was drawn by the joint consultation between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R…

London Show Promotes Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi

By Amit Roy Indian designers Shantanu & Nikhil last week held a fashion show in London promoting khadi, the homespun cotton fabric once used by Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle for India’s independence. In fact, the theme of the fashion show, which used images of Gandhi and a spinning wheel…

India and England Unite to Unveil Khadi Poppy

The Indian and England cricket teams united to recognise the role of Indian soldiers during the First World War as part of a British armed forces charity’s movement, with the two squad captains, Virat Kohli and Joe Root, wearing a unique poppy made from khadi. Khadi is the handwoven cotton…

Hindu group behind Modi’s rise in India opens up as…

A Hindu nationalist group behind the rise of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is opening up to critics and supporters through a first-of-its-kind outreach programme in New Delhi, preparing the ground for his re-election bid next year. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that believes in a Hindu-first ideology, provided thousands of campaigners…

India and England cricket teams unite to unveil Khadi poppy

The Indian and England cricket teams have united to recognise the role of Indian soldiers during the First World War as part of a British armed forces charity's movement, with the two squad captains, Virat Kohli and Joe Root, wearing a unique poppy made out of Khadi. Khadi is the…

Indian politician courts controversy over ‘Hindu Pakistan’ comment

Indian politician Shashi Tharoor has courted controversy for saying the BJP would make India a "Hindu Pakistan" if it came to power in 2019. Tharoor's party, the Congress, has urged him to keep "restraint and caution" but Tharoor firmly defended his statement to NDTV saying: "Why should I apologise when they…

NHS at 70: ‘Asian doctors helped create the health service’

by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN doctors have not only contributed to the NHS by working in the health service but helped “create” it, an influential doctor has said as the public healthcare system celebrates its 70th anniversary on Thursday (5). Professor Mayur Lakhani CBE, president of The Royal College of General…

Sanjay Dutt: Seven of his best lead roles

THIS month sees the release of hotly-anticipated biopic Sanju. Ranbir Kapoor portrays the turbulent life of pop­ular Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt in the Rajkumar Hirani-directed film. But apart from the personal lows, Sanjay has also had many highs on the big screen. With that in mind, here are seven of…

Gandhi denies defaming Hindu group

INDIA’S opposition leader Rahul Gandhi pleaded not guilty on Tuesday (12) to defaming a powerful Hindu group closely linked to the ruling party of prime minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi will fight charges in court that he defamed the Rashtriya Sway­amsevak Sangh (RSS) organisation when he accused them of “assassinating” Indian…

Rahul Gandhi vows to fight powerful Hindu group in court

India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi pleaded not guilty on Tuesday (12) to defaming a powerful Hindu supremacist group closely linked to the ruling party of prime minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi will fight charges in court that he defamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organisation when he accused the Hindu movement…

Cast in a new light

by Amit Roy ROYAL COURT HOLDS FRESH READING OF PARTAP SHARMA’S ‘BANNED’ PLAY THE Royal Court in London’s Sloane Square last week had a reading of the late Partap Sharma’s play A Touch of Brightness, which it first staged over 50 years ago in 1967, after it had been banned by…

Fun in the winter sun

by HOWARD ROBIN INDIAN BEACHES OFFER VISITORS GOLDEN SANDS, TASTY CUISINE AND WATER SPORTS WHETHER it’s lazing on a sun-kissed beach in Goa, swimming in the cerulean waters of the Andaman Islands or bask­ing in the glorious sunsets of Kerala, taking a winter break in sunny climes could be just…

Of (India) Club and country

by Amit Patel HISTORIC ENGLAND IN ROW OVER LONDON ‘INSTITUTION’ THE property company which is planning to de­molish the India Club in the Strand in London and convert it into a fancy hotel will locate a lavatory in the corner of the restaurant that has been oc­cupied for decades by portraits…

Indian American tennis player removed from University of Portland team…

GOUTHAM Sundaram, an Indian American student at University of Portland, was reportedly removed from the tennis team for making a misogynistic speech at the university’s fifth annual Wally Awards, a sports banquet. Sundaram spoke about his quest to "get white women to sleep with brown men" while hosting the awards.…

Modi’s Bharat Ki Baat Live: ‘Can’t politicise rape of a child’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (18) kickstarted his four-day visit to the UK by meeting his British counterpart Theresa May and the two heads of state discussed a wide range of issues including terrorism, visas and immigration. During his interaction with May, Modi also spoke about the commendable job…

Here’s everything you need to know about prime minister Modi’s…

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is set to address people from various nationalities and backgrounds through his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath live event on Wednesday (18). The event, which will be held at the iconic Central Hall Westminster, is expected to be attended by more than 2,000 people and the no-holds-barred interaction…

ENO’s Sanskrit opera celebrates Gandhi

by LAUREN CODLING AN OPERA themed around Indian freedom icon Mahatma Gandhi’s early years in South Africa hopes to entice diverse audiences to become future performers, the production’s director has said. Satyagraha focuses on Gandhi’s journey as a young man as he develops the idea of non-violent protests. Composed by…

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau rubs shoulders with Bollywood Bigwigs

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is currently on a eight-day tour in India, and on Tuesday he rubbed shoulders with Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. "Tonight, we celebrated stronger ties & new co-production opportunities between Bollywood and the Canadian Film Industry. And who better to help…

Canada eyes more trade as Trudeau starts India trip

  CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau today (18) toured the Taj Mahal with his wife and children as he began a week-long visit to promote trade and investment with India. Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire and their three children posed for a family portrait before marvelling at the legendary marble…

Gandhi’s non-violence message a tough sell in Trump era, says…

Seventy years ago, a 12-year-old boy seething with resentment over his treatment in apartheid South Africa was sent to his grandfather in rural India on an anger management course. The boy, who grew up in an Indian ashram near the city of Durban, had been getting into a lot of fights. White…

HISTORICAL GANDHI DRAMA SPARKS HUGE INTEREST

Coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s 70th death anniversary in January 2018, having completed over 1,001 shows across 300 cities worldwide in just one year, the award-winning play ‘Yugpurush – Mahatma’s Mahatma’ in English premiered in London’s Mermaid Theatre on Friday 19th January, attracting an impressive galaxy of distinguished guests. The High Commissioner of…

British Museum’s new gallery celebrates diaspora artefacts

By Lauren Codling A NEW collection of historical treasures from the subcontinent has opened at the British Museum in London. The Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery of China and South Asia underwent a major refurbishment before welcoming visitors last Thursday (14). Imma Ramos, a curator of the south Asia collection at…

Mayor meets the best of Bollywood, sports and religion on…

by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed plans for revised student visas and announced a scheme to monitor pollution in Indian and British cities on his visit to India earlier this week. Khan landed in the country last weekend and will wrap up his six-day visit in Pakistan…

Blue plaque for Sister Nivedita unveiled in Wimbledon

  By Amit Roy SISTER Nivedita, who was born Margaret Elizabeth Noble in Northern Ireland on October 28, 1867 and gave her life to the service of India, was honoured with a Blue Plaque on Sunday (12) to mark the 150 anniversary of her birth. The unveiling was done by…

Sadhguru and Naidu lead 20,000-strong in Rally For Rivers event

INDIA’S vice president Venkaiah Naidu and leading spiritual leader Sadhguru presided over a 20,000-strong audience as the Rally For Rivers came to an end in New Delhi this week. A month-long water revival and conservation campaign that was conceived by Sadhguru, the Rally For Rivers began at Kanyakumari in south…

Gandhi statue unveiled in Wales

A six-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled today in Wales to mark his 148th birth anniversary. The 300-kg statue, which is made of Indian bronze, is situated at Lloyd George Avenue in Cardiff. The amount for the memorial, £65,000, was raised from three years of fundraising by the…

Mother Teresa’s 107th birth anniversary celebrated

Special masses and prayers were held on Saturday at the Missionaries of Charity’s Mother House (MoC) to mark the 107th birth anniversary of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa. Hundreds of nuns took part in the prayers.  On September 4, 2016, Vatican City had witnessed the canonization of Mother Teresa with people across the world applauding…

Fifteen years after bloody riots, Indian Muslims struggling to escape…

S hahjahan Bano was a young boy in February 2002, selling vegetables with his mother in a market in Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat, when some of the worst communal riots in the country's history broke out. For days mobs rampaged the city, burning houses, looting shops, raping…

Gandhi sketch and letters go under the hammer

A previously unknown pencil portrait of Indian icon Mahatma Gandhi, drawn from life in 1931, is set to go under the hammer at an auction next week and may fetch between £8,000 and £12,000. The sale on July 11 by Sotheby's will also include a collection of handwritten letters by…

Rare portrait and letters of Mahatma Gandhi to be auctioned…

A previously unknown pencil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, drawn from life in 1931, is set to go under the hammer at a Sothebys auction in London next week and may fetch between £8,000 and £12,000. The sale on July 11 by Sothebys will also include a collection of handwritten letters…

Killing people over cows ‘not acceptable’, says Indian prime minister…

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condemned on Thursday (29) a string of murders targeting minorities under the pretext of protecting cows, which are considered sacred by many Hindus, after critics accused the government of turning a blind eye. Modi's remarks -- his first on vigilantism in nearly a year -- came shortly before…

Gandhi, Indian independence movement on Oxford curriculum

The University of Oxford has introduced a new compulsory exam paper for history students to include Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern affairs as part of a wider move to make its curriculum more inclusive. Possible topics include the Indian independence movement and the 1960s civil rights movement, highlighting figures such…

Tributes paid to aviation pioneer Maneck Dalal

Tributes were paid to Maneck Dalal, the aviation pioneer behind international expansion of Air India, who recently passed away. Speaking at a condolence meeting held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London, India’s High Commissioner to the UK Y K Sinha described Dalal, 98, as a “legendary figure” for the…

Palestine president Abbas in India ahead of Modi Israel trip

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas landed in New Delhi late Sunday (14) for a three-day visit looking to strengthen ties with India ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to Israel. Abbas arrived with a delegation for his third state visit to India, where he will hold key talks on bilateral,…

India overturns flight ban on sandal-whacking politician

India on Friday overturned a travel ban on a controversial politician who attacked a flight steward with his sandal after being refused a business class seat. Ravindra Gaikwad made national headlines after footage emerged in March of the Shiv Sena politician repeatedly striking a steward aboard an Air India flight.…

SIR IAN’S CALL TO ACTION

ACCLAIMED actor Sir Ian McKellen has done whatbig-name gay Bollywood actors are afraid to do. While they still remain in the closet, Sir Ian (right)used his recent trip to In- dia to talk about gay rights in a country where homo- sexuality is still a criminal offence. Attending the seventh…

Gandhi’s food bowl and wooden spoons up for auction

NEARLY 70 years after his death, property belonging to Mahatma Gandhi continues to be in demand at auctions, especially in the UK. A metal food bowl, wooden fork and two wooden spoons, which probably did not even cost a rupee, are being auctioned with the starting bid set at £22,900…

Keeping the (Swaminarayan) faith in today’s world

Scholars who contributed to a text about the Swaminarayan faith group have paid tribute to the community, whose origins are in Gujarat, as they praised their tradition of service and their resilience. Raymond B Williams, a professor at Wabash College in Indiana in the US; and Yogi Trivedi, an adjunct…

British Asians defend Cameron legacy

British Asians have vowed they will protect David Cameron’s legacy as “Britain’s greatest prime minister” of recent decades. They made this pledge as political malcontents and the former prime minister’s enemies inside the Conservative party and far right lobbies sought to disparage his achievements. But the view that is likely…

India’s Modi in South Africa for talks with Zuma, trade…

INDIA’S Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma today to discuss boosting investment and trade, in a continent where India is playing catch-up to China. Modi in October hosted the leaders of 54 African nations, including Zuma, in the biggest India-Africa summit, promising $10 billion in credit…

Doctors suffer visa bar

TWO Indian doctors scheduled to visit the UK on Gandhi fellowships have had their visa applications rejected by the British High Commission in India. Professor Narinder Kapur, who played a leading role in setting up 10 Gandhi fellowships to allow senior and junior Indian clinicians to attend important UK conferences,…

May urges nation to follow values of Diwali post Brexit

Prime minister Theresa May has urged the British public to follow the values of “hope, optimism, of forgiveness” represented by Diwali and the Hindu New Year as the nation looks to build a positive future post Brexit. Speaking at a Diwali celebration she hosted on Monday (24) at Downing Street,…

India ratifies historic Paris climate change pact

India, the world’s third biggest carbon emitter, ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on Sunday (October 2) on the birthday of the country’s independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. The country, with a population of 1.3 billion people, is the latest big polluter to formally sign onto the historic accord which…

Gurinder Chadha wants Trump learn from her film on Partition

Gurinder Chadha wants US president Donald Trump to watch her new film on the Partition of India to learn about the tragic events and their resonance in today’s world. “We are living in a world that is quite divisive, we have politicians talking about building walls and labelling huge groups…

Amazon’s Gandhi flip-flops spark anger in India

Flip-flops bearing the face of India’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi for sale on Amazon triggered fresh outrage on Sunday (15), days after the e-retail giant was forced to stop selling Indian flag doormats. On Wednesday (12), India demanded Amazon apologise for selling “insulting” doormats featuring India’s national flag, with foreign…

Award-winning Indian actor Om Puri dies of heart attack

Om Puri, the acclaimed Indian actor who appeared in hit films including Gandhi, City of Joy and East is East, died on Friday (6) after suffering a heart attack. The award-winning character actor, whose career ranged from arthouse Indian films to Hollywood epics, died of a heart attack at his…