Why sarod virtuoso Debasmita Bhattacharya loves performing on stage
By Asjad NazirJul 06, 2024
THE pressure of being legendary sarod maestro Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya’s daughter did not deter Debasmita Bhattacharya from pursuing the same path.
The naturally gifted talent grew up in a musically rich environment, which included her acclaimed vocalist mother Sangita Bhattacharya and used all that learning to become one of the finest sarod players in the world.
She rose up to the challenge of following in the footsteps of illustrious parents by carving out a place for herself, with worldclass live performances. The sarod virtuoso will next headline the Utsav 2024 show at Harrow Arts Centre in London on July 21, with acclaimed Kathak exponent Ashwini Kalsekar and classical singer Swati Natekar.
Eastern Eye caught up with the musician to discuss her magnificent journey and magical looking London show.
How do you reflect on your music journey so far?
Born into a musical family in West Bengal India, my journey as a sarod player has been a blessing. I started this journey at the age of four. Guided by my father Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya, a sarod maestro, my eminent vocalist mother Sangita Bhattacharya and my guru Padmabhushan Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, I have learned to see life and music as inseparable.
What first connected you to the sarod?
I was born into a musical family, surrounded by my father teaching his students or his performances, and listening to great maestros. This environment deeply intrigued me, but I feel that the sarod chose me rather than me choosing it. How much does performing live mean to you? Every stage and every audience is a temple, where music becomes a form of worship. Each live performance is a spiritual connection beyond mere notes. That’s how I see it.
How much are you looking forward to the Utsav 2024 show?
I am so thankful and happy to be invited by the amazing vocalist of this country, Swati Natekar ji, to pay shradhanjali (homage) to her veteran mother, the great Pandita Vidhushi Dr Sushila Pohankarji. I am looking forward to paying my respects to her.
What can we expect from your performance?
I have been blessed with gharanedar taleem from my gurus, presenting the Senia Shahjahanpur gharana. In my concerts, I strive to deliver the most authentic Indian classical music, blending my understanding and creativity from 30 years of learning. With God’s grace, I hope the UK audience will appreciate its true essence and rich heritage.
How do you feel being on stage?
I feel at home. It’s hard to express.
How does it feel when you’re on a line up with such distinguished artists as you are for Utsav 2024?
Every opportunity to present the authentic raga music is a blessing. For me, it is about the sincerity and quality that I try to present in every performance. I am looking forward to witnessing all the other artists at the festival.
According to you, what is the secret to a great live performance?
There is no secret. I think it is the hard work and being true to yourself. These are the only two things we can work on – the rest is up to the divine.
What inspires you as an artist?
As a student of classical music, I am inspired by the profound spiritual depth that our music has. The wisdom of my teachers and joy of sharing, preserving its rich cultural heritage for future generations is something that I nurture every day.
Why should we all come to the Utsav 2024 show?
You should come to Utsav 2024 to celebrate the legacy of the maestro Sushila Pohankar ji. It’s not just any concert; it’s a musical pooja, promising a unique and deeply moving experience. I thank Swati (Natekar) ji for taking such a beautiful initiative and making us all part of it.
Utsav 2024 at Harrow Arts Centre in London on July 21. www.harrowarts.com and www.debasmita sarode.com
Ambulance are seen parked near the post-mortem room at a hospital before transferring victims' dead bodies to a mortuary in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025, a day after Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area.
GRIEVING families waited on Saturday for updates after one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent decades, as the death toll from the Air India crash rose to 279.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call shortly before crashing around midday on Thursday. The aircraft burst into flames as it hit residential buildings in the northern Indian city of Ahmedabad.
A police source confirmed to AFP on Saturday that 279 bodies had been recovered from the site. The crash is among the worst aviation disasters of the 21st century.
There was one survivor among the 242 passengers and crew members on board. The tail section of the aircraft remained lodged in a hostel for medical staff.
At least 38 people on the ground were also killed.
"I saw my child for the first time in two years, it was a great time," said Anil Patel, whose son and daughter-in-law had come to visit before taking the flight.
"And now, there is nothing," he said, breaking down. "Whatever the gods wanted has happened."
Search for black box continues
Relatives of the victims have been providing DNA samples in Ahmedabad. Some family members have flown in to assist in the identification process.
The final casualty figure will only be confirmed once DNA testing is completed.
According to Air India, the aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian citizen, along with 12 crew members.
The victims included a senior politician and a teenage tea seller.
The only survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, spoke to national broadcaster DD News from his hospital bed. A British citizen, Ramesh said, "Initially, I too thought that I was about to die, but then I opened my eyes and realised that I was still alive."
Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Friday that a flight data recorder had been found. "It would significantly aid" the investigation, he said.
Forensic teams are still searching for the second black box as investigators try to determine why the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, reaching a height of only 100 metres (330 feet).
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it was in contact with Air India and "ready to support them" regarding the incident. A source close to the investigation said this was the first crash involving a 787 Dreamliner.
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The tidal wave of top Indian stand-up stars touring the UK continues with upcoming shows by Shraddha Jain this July. The hugely popular comedian – who has over a million Instagram followers – will perform her family-friendly show Aiyyo So Mini Things at The Pavilion, Reading (4), the Ondaatje Theatre, London (5), and The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham (6). The 90-minute set promises an entertaining take on the mundane and uproarious aspects of everyday life.
Shraddha Jain
MEMOIR NIGHT Acclaimed author Arundhati Roy will mark the publication of her hotly anticipated memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me with a live event at London’s Cadogan Hall on September 4. The Booker Prize-winning author of The God of Small Things will reflect on her life and work in what promises to be one of the year’s most compelling interview-based events. The evening will also include an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions.
Arundhati Roy
SPECIAL AUTHOR SELFIE Acclaimed author Onjali Q Rauf shared this great photo with historian William Dalrymple from the recent Hay Festival. What made this snap extra special is that they delivered Eastern Eye newspaper’s best two books of 2024. While Rauf wrote the year’s best fiction, The Letter With The Golden Stamp, Dalrymple delivered the greatest non-fiction book of 2024, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. Both brilliant books are highly recommended.
William Dalrymple and Onjali Q Rauf
DREAM TEAM WINS AGAIN Producing power couple Sargun Mehta and Ravie Dubey have scored another success with their latest release, Saunkan Saunkne 2. The Punjabi comedy sequel received critical acclaim and performed well at the box office. Actress Mehta was especially praised for her dynamic double role opposite Ammy Virk and Nimrat Khaira This latest triumph adds to the growing list of achievements for the husband-and-wife team, who also run the entertainment platform Dreamiyata Dramaa. The YouTube channel, now nearing 1.4 million subscribers, continues to produce popular original TV serials.
Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta
THE YOUTUBE DUMP One recent decision that made little sense was quietly dumping the 2023 Pakistani film Money Back Guarantee onto YouTube. With streaming platforms seemingly buying anything and a wide range of video-on-demand services available, the political satire heist comedy – headlined by Fawad Khan – surely deserved better. YouTube is typically a last resort when all other options fail. What made the move even more baffling was the near total lack of promotion, leaving most film fans unaware that it was available to watch for free. Unsurprisingly, it generated little buzz or interest – another example of why Pakistani cinema is in the doldrums.
Money Back Guarantee
LITTLE FILM BUZZ Despite a glitzy world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Indian film Homebound has failed to make a meaningful impact. Unlike other festival favourites, it received little coverage from global media, prompting producers to share handpicked audience reviews instead. This meaningful movie with a message has also struggled to stand out due to its ill-judged title. Not only does the English-language title alienate core Hindi-speaking audiences, it is identical to a 2021 British horror film that was widely savaged by critics. Several other films and TV shows with the same or similar name have appeared in the past 15 years, making it even harder for the film – starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa – to find visibility.
Homebound
DOOMED DUTT BIOPIC Recent reports suggest a biopic on legendary Bollywood actor and filmmaker Guru Dutt is in the works. This is not the first time a film based on his life has been discussed, but like earlier attempts – including those centred on icons such as Meena Kumari and Madhubala – the project has yet to materialise. The reason is clear: telling an honest story would require confronting the darker aspects of their lives, making it difficult to secure life rights from those involved. Bollywood also has a tendency to whitewash difficult truths, which can compromise the integrity of such projects and limit their commercial appeal. If a truly candid account of Dutt’s life were ever made, many film fans might find it hard to forgive the way he reportedly treated his wife, acclaimed singer Geeta Dutt.
Guru Dutt in Chaudhvin Ka Chand
SARITA STUNS IN NEW SERIES The recently launched third season of Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That has received more positive reviews than its previous seasons. Sarita Choudhury’s glamorous realtor remains the standout new character, continuing to make such an impact that many feel she deserves far more screen time. The 58-year-old British actress is simply brilliant in the sassy role and looked stunning as she joined fellow cast members for a recent photocall in Paris. She has seamlessly filled the space left by Kim Cattrall, and her performance is so compelling that a spin-off series focused solely on her character would be hugely entertaining.
Sarita Choudhury
DILJIT’S DETECTIVE DUD Bollywood film Detective Sherdil is set to premiere on ZEE5 on June 20, following a high-profile announcement. Despite being headlined by Diljit Dosanjh and Diana Penty, one major red flag suggests this quirky detective mystery-comedy may fall flat: it is being released directly to a streaming platform, bypassing cinemas entirely. This often signals a lack of confidence in the project. ZEE5 is typically seen as a last resort when bigger platforms like Netflix or Amazon decline interest – which further works against the film. Although whodunnits are trending globally, the genre remains underdeveloped in Indian cinema, and that adds to the low expectations surrounding this release.
ASIAN health workers, academics, charity workers and campaigners are among those who have been recognised in the King’s birthday honours list announced tonight (13).
More than a thousand recipients have been awarded for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus on those who have given their time to public service, according to the Cabinet Office.
Professor Jagtar Singh, chair, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, has received a CBE for services to the NHS along with Prem Babu Goyal, Alderman, City of London Corporation, for public service.
Sunita with her husband Surinder Arora.
Recipients of the OBE (Officers of the Order of the British Empire) include Sunita Arora, founder, the Arora Charitable Foundation, for services to the charitable sector and to philanthropy; Avinderjit Bhatia, chief nurse, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS and nursing and Rita Hirani, strategic advisor and CEO, MindOut. for services to women, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to victims of domestic abuse.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said, “This year’s birthday honours list is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country.
"From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.”
Some famous names in the list are David Beckham, former England captain, who receives a knighthood for services to sport and charity; sculptor Sir Antony Gormley who has been made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his services to art and Emma Bridgewater, known for her distinctive ceramics, who has been made a dame.
Other Asians recognised by the monarch are Jaspal Singh Taggar, 46, from Nottingham, who received an MBE, for services to general practice and general practice teaching.
He is the head of the primary care education unit at the University of Nottingham and played a key role in the development and large-scale expansion of primary care clinical placements to 1,000 students. Singh Taggar led the region to be consistently in the top five for national research recruiters in the past five years.
Farhan Adam, 48, from Leicester, also received an MBE, for services to education. He has led Crown Hills Community College since 2017, a multicultural school of 1,500 pupils and under his leadership, academic outcomes for pupils have improved, from being below national and local authority averages in 2019 to being above in 2023.
In November 2023, he was awarded ‘Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School’ at the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards. Adam also supports local food banks and homelessness initiatives, offering free weekly hot meals to struggling families.
Farhan Adam
Glaswegian Zahrah Mahmood, known as The Hillwalking Hijabi, has been recognised with an MBE for voluntary service in Scotland. Mahmood, 34, is known for her work to tackle barriers faced by ethnic minorities in outdoor spaces and shares her hillwalking adventures through social media where she offers practical advice to beginners. She was recently appointed president of Ramblers Scotland.
Sonia Sabri
In the arts and culture sector, Sonia Sabri and Sudarshan Singh Chana both received an MBE. Kathak exponent Sabri, 47, from Birmingham, was recognised for her services to dance. She is known to be the first and only British-born female Asian professional dance artist fully trained in Britain.
Sabri has performed in the UK and abroad; in 2022, she was part of the inauguration ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The artist is known for dance therapy sessions online during lockdowns and her work using Kathak to support literacy development in children and adults.
Singh Chana, 43, also from Birmingham, is renowned for his playing of the drum instruments tabla and jori and efforts to promote and preserve the oral tradition of Sikh music. He has made a particular study of dhrupad, the oldest form of Indian classical music and has a specialist knowledge of rare rhythmic compositions
The accomplished musician has performed at Buckingham Palace as well as the UK and in the US, Canada, Malaysia, Italy, Kenya, South Africa and Israel.
Zarith Nasa Hussain
Zarith Nasa Hussain, 55, Bradford, received a BEM for services to cricket. Nasa Hussain is known for his volunteering, coaching and prominently groundskeeping at Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Club.
Bolton’s Prashant Jayantilal Ladva has also been awarded a BEM for services to British Citizen Doctors Trained Overseas Jayantilal Ladva founded LinkMedics, a digital platform which supports and recruits’ British citizens who have completed their medical training overseas. It provides conversion courses for doctors who, like him, have trained outside the NHS. He also mentors young migrants who aspire to work in the NHS.
Proving that age is no bar to a commitment for service Adarsh Khullar, 84, has been recognised with a BEM for services to the Scottish Asian Ekta Group. The Glaswegian set up the Grub Club (GC), so children and their families would come into the centre to enjoy activities and enjoy a bonus of lunch.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, she and her team ran the club, adapting the format to home delivery, distributing meals to the elderly and vulnerable residents. More recently, during the cost of living crisis, she stepped up parcel deliveries, ensuring poorer people have access to nutritious, home cooked meals.
Another community worker recognised with a BEM is Aruna Bipin Mistry, 62, from Warwickshire, for services to higher education, particularly in the teaching of practical engineering and sciences.
Bipin Mistry played a key role in designing the University of Birmingham’s £45 million Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL), which promotes multidisciplinary STEM lab teaching.
Her efforts over 45 years have benefited more than 10,000 students. The CTL has won numerous design and teaching awards, and she continues to host visits from other institutions eager to replicate its success.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, said: “I send my congratulations to all of the recipients of this year’s Birthday Honours List, and thank them for their contributions to their communities and the country.
“If you know someone who has done something incredible, nominate them for an honour so the nation can recognise their achievements.”
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour.
If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.
Asians in King's birthday honours list
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Prem Babu GOYAL OBE
Alderman, City of London Corporation. For Public Service
(London, Greater London)
Frederick Khandekar PERRY
Lately Director, Advanced Manufacturing, Department for Business and Trade. For services to Business and Trade
(London, Greater London)
Tanuja RANDERY
Managing Director and Vice President, Amazon Web Services, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. For services to Business and the Technology Sector
(London, Greater London)
Professor Jagtar SINGH OBE
Lately Chair, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. For services to the NHS
(Bedford, Bedfordshire)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Dr Sayed Ali ABBAS
For services to Peacebuilding and to Interfaith Dialogue
(London, Greater London)
Professor Robin Raihan ALI FMedSci
Professor of Human Molecular Genetics, King 's College London. For services to Gene and Cell Therapies
(London, Greater London)
Sunita ARORA
Founder, The Arora Charitable Foundation. For services to the Charitable Sector and to Philanthropy
(Virginia Water, Surrey)
Avinderjit BHATIA
Chief Nurse, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the NHS and Nursing
(Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
Rita HIRANI
Strategic Advisor and Lately Chief Executive Officer, MindOut. For services to Women, to the LGBTQ+ Community, and to Victims of Domestic Abuse
(London, Greater London)
Mohammed Umar HUSSAIN MBE
Police Staff, Chief Finance Officer, South Wales Police. For services to Policing
(Newport, Gwent)
Professor Muhammad Afzal JAVED
Consultant Psychiatrist, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Lately Honorary Associate Clinical Professor, University of Warwick. For services to Mental Health
(Nuneaton, Warwickshire)
Pooja KANDA
Anti-Knife Crime Campaigner, Justice for Ronan. For services to the Prevention of Knife Crime
(Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire)
Dr Kulin Kantilal PATEL
Veterinary Advisor for International Trade, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to Animal Health and to International Trade
(London, Greater London)
Rasheed Nicholas John PENDRY
Director of Practice, Children's Services, Wandsworth Borough Council. For services to Children and Family Social Care
(London, Greater London)
Vaibhav PURI
Director of Sector Strategy and Transformation, Rail Safety and Standards Board. For services to Rail Safety and Standards
(St Neots, Cambridgeshire)
Mohammad SADIQUE (Sid Sadique)
Chairman and Owner, Electra Commercial Vehicles Ltd. For services to the Automotive and Transport Industry
(Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Professor Hanifa Unisa SHAH
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University. For services to Higher Education
(Birmingham, West Midlands)
Professor Pankaj SHARMA
Director, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Royal Holloway University of London. For services to Research in Strokes in South Asian People
(London, Greater London)
Ranjit SINGH
Vice Principal for Quality and Learner Experience, Hull College. For services to Further Education
(London, Greater London)
Dr Parag SINGHAL
Consultant Endocrinologist, Weston Area Health NHS Trust. For services to Health Education and Black and Minority Ethnic Doctors
(Weston-super-Mare, Somerset)
Captain Jagjit Singh SOHAL
Chair, WW1 Sikh Memorial Fund. For services to the Commemoration of Commonwealth Soldiers who served Great Britain
(Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands)
Members of the Order of the British Empire
Farhan ADAM
Headteacher, Crown Hills Community College, Leicester. For services to Education
(Leicester, Leicestershire)
Surdarshan Singh CHANA
Indian Classical Musician. For services to Music and Sikh Culture
(Birmingham, West Midlands)
Hafsha DADABHAI-SHAIKH
Director, Smartlyte - Get Families Talking. For services to Digital Inclusion
(Birmingham, West Midlands)
Umeshkumar DESAI
For services to Higher Education
(Leicester, Leicestershire)
Zamiha DESAI
Founder, RecommendAsian and Founder, ProfessionalAsian. For services to the British Asian Community
(London, Greater London)
Neelam DEVESHER DL
Chair, Community Foundation for Surrey and Chair, Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum. For services to Charity and to the community in Surrey
(Leatherhead, Surrey)
Riazul HASSAN
Head of Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, Welsh Government. For services to Community Relations and the Vision of a Racism-free Wales
(Swansea, West Glamorgan)
Muhbeen HUSSAIN
For Political Services to Integration, Cohesion and to British Society
(Grays, Essex)
Amina HUSSEIN
Operations Manager, International Family Tracing, British Red Cross. For services to the Red Cross
(London, Greater London)
Professor Noor Ul Owase JEELANI
Professor of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Neurosurgery and Global Child Health
(Loughton, Essex)
Pravin Ravji Kara JETHWA
Delivery Officer, Regions Group London, Department for Education. For services to Education
(Watford, Hertfordshire)
Sujan KATUWAL
For services to the community in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
(London, Greater London)
Fazilette Sultana KHAN
Founder Trustee, Greenseas Trust. For services to Marine Conservation
(London, Greater London)
Muzahid Uddin KHAN DL
For services to Charity and to the community in Oldham
(Oldham, Greater Manchester)
Mohan Singh KUNDI
Chair, Sefton Carers Centre. For services to Charity
(Formby, Merseyside)
Zahrah MAHMOOD
President, Ramblers Scotland. For Voluntary Service in Scotland
(Glasgow, City of Glasgow)
Ram Kishan MEHMI
Councillor for Pleck, Walsall and Trustee, Darlaston Temple. For services to Faith and Integration
(Walsall, West Midlands)
Muhammad Abdul MUSABBIR
Chair, Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Association. For services to Community Cohesion
(Hyde, Greater Manchester)
Parimalkumar Bhanuprasad PATEL
Paralegal Officer, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to Law and Order
(London, Greater London)
Sanjay Mahendra PATEL
Lately Managing Director, The Hundred. For services to Cricket
(Marlow, Buckinghamshire)
Sat PAUL
For services to the community in Bedford, Bedfordshire
(Bedford, Bedfordshire)
Professor Raman Kant PRINJA
Professor of Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London. For services to Academia and Education
(London, Greater London)
Sonia SABRI
Dance Artist. For services to Dance
(Birmingham, West Midlands)
Shahbaz Hussain SHAH
Firefighter, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the community in Lancashire
(Nelson, Lancashire)
Monaser SHAHZAD (Mona Shah)
Founder and Managing Director, Harry Specters. For services to Training and Employment for Young People with Autism
(Ely, Cambridgeshire)
Aruna Kumari SHARMA
Lately Headteacher, Villiers High School, London. For services to Education
(London, Greater London)
Dr Richa SINHA
Chair, The Scottish Hindu Foundation. For services to the Hindu Community in Scotland and to Tackling Hinduphobia
(Glasgow, City of Glasgow)
Professor Jaspal Singh TAGGAR
Head, Undergraduate Primary Care Education and Director, Primary Care Education Unit, University of Nottingham. For services to General Practice and General Practice Teaching
(Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)
Vasim UL-HAQ
Vice Chair and Treasurer, Thames Reach Charity. For services to the Homeless in London
(Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire)
Shahid ULLAH
Work Coach, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public and Charitable Service
(London, Greater London)
Sandeep WALES
Quality Improvement Advisor and Co-Chair, Together Network, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Supporting Ethnically Diverse Ambulance Staff
(Bishop Auckland, County Durham)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire
Dr Muhammad AHSAN
Community Safety Officer, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the community in Essex
(Chelmsford, Essex)
Ram Prakash GUPTA
For services to the community in Lancashire and Greater Manchester
(Blackburn, Lancashire)
Zarith Nasa HUSSAIN
For services to Cricket
(Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Mujahid KHAN
For services to the Development, Practice, and Teaching of Tang Soo Do
(Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)
Adarsh KHULLAR
Founder and Chair, Scottish Asian Ekta Group. For services to the Scottish Asian Ekta Group
(Glasgow, City of Glasgow)
Dr Prashant Jayantilal LADVA
Doctor, NHS and Chief Executive Officer, LinkMedics. For services to British Citizen Doctors Trained Overseas
(Bolton, Greater Manchester)
Aruna Bipin MISTRY
Laboratory Teacher, Science and Engineering, University of Birmingham. For services to Higher Education
(Coventry, Warwickshire)
Hafsa OMAR
Founder, Moss Side Eco Squad. For services to the community in Manchester
(Manchester, Greater Manchester)
Amish Dipakkumar PATEL
Director, Hodgson Pharmacy. For services to Community Pharmacy
(London, Greater London)
Ali QADAR
For services to the community in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
(Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Santosh SHARMA
Volunteer, Oxfam. For Charitable Service
(Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
OVERSEAS AND INTERNATIONAL LIST
MBE
Raj GHOSE, Team Leader, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. For services to British Foreign Policy.
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A view shows the wreckage of the tail section of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed during take-off from airport in Ahmedabad. (Photo: Reuters)
THE INVESTIGATION into the Air India crash that killed more than 240 people is focusing on the aircraft's engine, flaps, and landing gear.
The Indian aviation regulator has ordered safety checks on the airline’s entire Boeing 787 fleet, reported Reuters.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with 242 people on board and headed to Gatwick Airport near London, began losing altitude shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. CCTV footage showed the aircraft crashing into a residential area and erupting into a fireball after hitting buildings.
Only one passenger survived. Local media reported that up to 24 people on the ground were also killed when the plane hit a medical college hostel during lunchtime.
This is the deadliest aviation accident globally in the past ten years.
Probe focuses on aircraft components
A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters the investigation is examining several factors, including engine thrust, flap deployment, and why the landing gear was still down during take-off. The plane lost height and crashed moments after leaving the runway.
The probe is also looking into possible maintenance issues and whether Air India was at fault, the source said.
A bird-hit is not among the primary areas being investigated, the source added. Anti-terrorism teams are also involved in the probe.
The Indian government is considering whether to ground the Boeing 787 fleet during the investigation. Air India, Boeing, and the aviation ministry have not commented on this yet.
Air India operates more than 30 Dreamliners, including Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. An Air India source said the airline has not received any communication about grounding the fleet so far.
Safety checks ordered on Dreamliner fleet
India’s aviation regulator has directed Air India to carry out additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft with GEnx engines. This includes a "one-time check" of take-off parameters before each flight starting from midnight on 15 June.
The regulator also asked the airline to add flight control system checks during transit inspections and to complete power assurance checks within two weeks. These are aimed at confirming the engine can generate the necessary power.
Flight data recorder recovered
The aviation ministry said investigators have recovered the digital flight data recorder from the rooftop of the building where the plane crashed. The cockpit voice recorder, the second black box, has not yet been found.
The Tata Group, which took over Air India from the government in 2022 and later merged it with Vistara, is part of the investigation. Tata Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in an internal memo that investigators from India, the UK, and the US have arrived. “We don’t know right now,” he said. “We want to understand what happened and will be fully transparent.”
GE Aerospace, which manufactures the aircraft engines, said it supports the regulator’s actions. “Safety is our top priority,” a GE Aerospace spokesperson said. “We are committed to providing all technical support necessary to understand the cause of this accident.”
Rescue operations completed
On Friday, rescue workers completed search operations at the crash site. Teams were searching buildings for missing people, bodies, and aircraft parts that could assist the investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site in Gujarat, where he was briefed on rescue operations and met some of the injured in hospital. “The scene of devastation is saddening,” he said on X.
This is the first crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner since the aircraft began commercial service in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The aircraft involved in Thursday’s crash first flew in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, according to Flightradar24.
The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Jungkook, RM, and V return from military service as BTS shifts focus from solo journeys to full-group comeback
It’s a moment fans around the world have been waiting for! BTS, the global K-pop sensation, is almost whole again. Six out of seven members of the South Korean boy band have now completed their mandatory military service, setting the stage for what could be the biggest music comeback in recent years.
Thousands of fans from across the globe have already descended on Seoul this week, many attending BTS Festa, an annual celebration marking the group’s anniversary. This year is extra special, as it coincides with the near-completion of the band’s military duties. The final member, SUGA, is set to be discharged on 21 June.
K-pop band BTS's members salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service Getty Images
Fans gather with hope as BTS nears full return
The group hasn’t performed together since their last concert in Busan in 2022. Since then, each member has embarked on solo projects while also fulfilling national duties. Jin and J-Hope were the first to complete their service last year. This week, Jungkook and Jimin exited their base in Yeoncheon to cheering crowds. RM and V followed shortly after, with RM even serenading fans on a saxophone and V promising that the reunion was just around the corner.
HYBE’s headquarters in Seoul is now wrapped in a massive banner reading “WE ARE BACK”, reflecting the excitement around the group’s 12th anniversary and the anticipation of their long-awaited comeback. Fans, like Karla Linan from Mexico and Ayla O’Ryan from Scotland, have travelled far just to be part of the celebration, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the stars.
Fans from around the world gather in Seoul for BTS Festa celebrationsGetty Images
India’s BTS ARMY ready for a concert of a lifetime
Back in India, the ARMY is equally thrilled. The country was originally included in BTS' 2020 tour plans, which were shelved due to the pandemic. But fans haven’t stopped streaming, supporting, and waiting. With India now ranked among BTS’ top international markets, the buzz around a possible tour date is growing louder.
The success of Coldplay’s India tour in 2025 proved the massive scale and impact a global act can have. Coldplay’s Ahmedabad leg alone brought in over £37 million (₹392 crore) to the local economy. Industry insiders believe that BTS, arguably an even bigger draw, could surpass those figures if they announce an Indian date.
J-Hope, Jin, and other BTS members gear up for reunion, as solo eras give way to group plansGetty Images
With new music and a world tour expected in 2026, the stage is being set. For fans across the world and especially in India, BTS isn’t just returning. They’re about to make history again.