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Sarala Birla passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders

Sarala Birla, wife of industrialist Basant Kumar Birla passed away on Saturday in Delhi.

She was 91 and is survived by her husband and two daughters — Manjushree and Jayashree.

Birla group sources said that the death came unexpectedly.

Born on November 23, 1924 in Rajasthan, Sarala played an active role in the expansion of the Birla empire as her husband Basant Kumar Birla stepped into new areas that shaped the course of Indian business.

“In the Birla household where enterprise, culture and convention went side by side, Sarala stepped out of her role as an exclusive home-maker to carve a niche of her own in the spheres of education, art, culture and philanthropy.

In partnership with her husband, she laid the foundation of some 45 educational institutions including the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kolkata / by Special Correspondent / Kolkata – March 29th, 2015

It’s a pat for Bengali film industry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Last year, your ‘Jaatishwar’ won four National Awards. Did you regret missing out the Best Direction award?

I genuinely feel it’s a team effort. Like last year, this time too I feel all the awards belong as much to me as my team. After a very long time, a director has got two awards — Best Direction and Best Screenplay (Original) — at the same time. In fact, I don’t remember when such a thing happened last. It’s a top-of-the-world feeling and a validation of all the hard work that has gone into making this film, especially in this part of the world where budgets and logistics are a fraction of what the biggies enjoy. I think it’s a huge pat on the back for the Bengali film industry. That Bengali cinema can hold its own on a national stage is a huge feat for us. Bengali directors are on a roll.

It’s not been many years since you started out. This is indeed a big win…

There is something which Rituda (Rituparno Ghosh) used to tell me — don’t think about awards, just keep doing your stuff the way you want to. If the content is good, you will get noticed, he said…

In 2009, Rituparno Ghosh got the Best Direction award for ‘Abohoman’. ‘Chotushkone’ too was supposed to feature him.

Life seems to have come full circle. Rituda was an integral part of ‘Chotushkone’. I started writing the script right after ‘Autograph’. Rituda loved this concept and was keen to act in it. My intimacy with him started because of ‘Chotushkone’. When I was writing the script, he would call me very early in morning when I was about to crash. ‘Chotushkone’ brought us together. Rituda was supposed to play the role, which was ultimately essayed by Parambrata Chatterjee. The last conversation I had with Rituda was about the wig, which I was trying to get from Mumbai. I wanted him to sport curly hair and round glasses. He said, ‘Then I’ll have to put on weight.’ I miss him today. I dedicate this award to him, along with all the members of ‘Chotushkone’.

You crossed many hurdles to make this film…

Yes, I’ve gone through troubled times. After ‘Jaatishwar’, I wasn’t keeping well and ‘Chotushkone’ got pushed back. Because of this, Soumik Halder (DoP) pulled out. Ironically, Sudip Chatterjee has now got the award for Best Cinematography. I would call it a twist of fate. Anjan Dutt was supposed to be a part of the cast; he too pulled out because of differences with the producer. But two people stood by me — Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghose. I’ll be eternally indebted to both of them. Of course, I have to give it to the producers — Reliance and Rana Sarkar.

Weren’t you expecting the award this year?

‘Autograph’ onwards, all my films have been sent for the National Awards. Since ‘Jaatishwar’ was the toast of the 61st National Film Awards, I knew ‘Chotushkone’ will be in the reckoning too. But I didn’t know I would win the Swarna Kamal.

Detractors said ‘Chotushkone’ wasn’t even a hit…

Green-eyed monsters will always be there. People had doubted ‘Chotushkone’s run. The film completed 100 days and it shut them up. It was certified as the first hit of 2014 and it was a milestone as it brought back Bengali audience to the theatre after the post-‘Chander Pahar’ drought.

There are also allegations of lobbying at the Awards…

There’s lobbying in Oscars too, isn’t it? Where’s the harm in that? The biggest lobby is a good film. First, you need to make one. My detractors have nothing to show for their efforts. I have nothing for them but pity.

Do awards make a difference to your life?

Yes, of course. I’m now in the august company of huge names. That’s intimidating as well. The burden of expectation will be huge. Once you touch a pinnacle, you have to sustain being there. That’s a huge responsibility. But awards do make you feel good.

So today, there’s something called Brand Srijit…

Talk of brands and I feel like a toothpaste or a soap. I make films, I tell my stories the way I want to, that’s it. Consumer behaviour is not for me.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Zinia Sen, TNN / March 25th, 2015

Jatiya Sangha turns 70

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Prize distribution at Jatiya Sangha’s programme
Prize distribution at Jatiya Sangha’s programme

The members of Jatiya Sangha, Shibpur celebrated the club’s 70th anniversary with cultural programmes on February 28 and March 1 at the Shibpur Public Library. The prize distribution ceremony of various competitions held through the past year took place on the first day, which was followed by a sarod recital by Rupak Dey.

On the second day, members felicitated two founder members of the club, who are still alive. Amarnath Chatterjee, 93, and Nirmal Kanti Chatterjee, 89, were members of the first committee that was formed after Jatiya Sangha took shape. Kinjal Chatterjee of Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame regaled the audience with both old and
new popular Bengali and Hindi numbers.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Howrah> Story / by Amrita Ghosh / Friday – March 20th, 2015

Honours galore at Howrah salon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion
Vladimir Proshin’s photograph ‘In the River’
Vladimir Proshin’s photograph ‘In the River’

Vladimir Proshin caught five country boats floating together on a river. Their masts high, the boats were setting sail at dawn, through thick fog that was beginning to clear as the sun came up. Vladimir named this picture, ‘In The River’, which won a gold medal from the Fèdèration Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) at the Society of Photographers’ (SOP) 47th Howrah Colour Salon 2015.

FIAP gold medal is considered to be the highest honour for photographers, who participate in competitions. At the 47th Howrah Colour Salon, 440 photographers from 41 countries sent in 3,120 entries. The panel of seven judges selected 761 photographs which were displayed through a slide show every evening from February 28 to March 1 at the Howrah Medical Club hall. There were three segments of the colour salon, open, creative and nature. This year’s colour salon was inaugurated by artist Nikhilesh Das. Also, a postal stamp with the SOP logo was launched on that day, marking the 50th year of the society.

Artist Nikhilesh Das launches a postal stamp with the SOP logo. Picture by Gopal Senapati
Artist Nikhilesh Das launches a postal stamp with the SOP logo. Picture by Gopal Senapati

FIAP contributed three gold medals at the Howrah Colour Salon and Vladimir Proshin received one. Marcel Gustave Beauraind from Belgium won the second and Prabir Kumar Das from India won the third. The Photographic Society of America (PSA) contributed three gold medals and one silver medal at the competition. Martina Wolf’s photograph of a woman draped in lace won a PSA gold medal. India’s S P Nagendra’s wildlife shot of a cheetah chasing a deer, in the nature segment won the second PSA gold medal while the third went to India’s Shantanu Saha. Ian Whiston of UK won the PSA silver for the photograph of a lion and lioness in a fight.

“The quality of photographs have improved over the years,” said Asim Bhattacharjee, the secretary of SOP. Since digital photography is the order of the day, there is also place for experimentation in this art form. “A lot of photographs in the creative and open section may look less like photographs and more like creation through software. It is up to the experienced eyes of the judges to decide how much of the image is a photograph and how much has been created,” said Bhattacharjee.

Apart from the foreign medals and honour mentions, SOP gives away 10 gold medals and also certificates of merit. Memorial awards in the name of veteran photographers, Benu Sen, KG Maheswari and T D Pal were given away. The Benu Sen Memorial Award went to John Harding from the UK. The KG Maheswari Memorial award has been introduced this year as a tribute to the photographer, who died in December last year. Danielle Rovangati from Argentina won this award. TD Pal Memorial award went to Daniel Lybaert from The Netherlands.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Howrah> Story / by Dalia Mukherjee / Friday – March 13th, 2015

Hawking legalised in Kolkata

Business & Economy

Move comes a month ahead of municipal polls

Providing legal sanction to hawkers crowding several markets and footpaths of Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced a policy aimed at legalising hawking in West Bengal.

The decision, which is seen as a sop to hawkers, comes only a month before the Kolkata Municipal Corporation goes to polls.

“We are the first State government in the country which has decided to legalise hawking. This will ensure you are not evicted by anybody. We have formulated a policy for the hawkers. We are the first in the country to start the process of registering vendors and hawkers,” Ms Banerjee said at a gathering of hawkers.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister announcement comes when shopkeepers in the city’s New Market area have declared a 72-hour shutdown against the hawker menace.

The process of legislation of hawkers will begin on July 15 and continue for three months.

“The process of verifying the applications will be carried out between January and March. Once verified, you will be given a registration certificate and free trade license. But this facility is available only for the existing hawkers,” she added

Though Ms Banerjee asked hawkers not to encroach the shops or inconvenience pedestrians, Opposition parties said that the decision will increase hawker menace.

According to reports, there are at least 2 lakh hawkers in Kolkata.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kolkata / by Special Correspondent / Kolkata – March 14th, 2015

All-Women Police Station Opened in Howrah

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel

An all-women police station was today opened in Howrah (rural) district.

The police station was inaugurated by state correctional home minister Hyder Azid Safi at the Uluberia police station.

Parliamentry secretaries and MLAs Nirmal Majhi and Pulok Roy alongwith DIS Subroto Mitra was present on the occasion.

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> Howrah / March 16th, 2015

India’s first private airport, at Durgapur, to be operational by April 14

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Picture for representation purpose only. (Source: Reuters)
Picture for representation purpose only. (Source: Reuters)

India’s first private greenfield airport at Durgapur, promoted by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects (BAPL), is likely to be operational by April 14.

“The final calibration of navigational aids at the airport by Airport Authority is done. Now, we expect to get final DGCA licence in a month,” state Transport Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay said in Durgapur on Monday.

In all probability, the airport, christened Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, will be operational from April 14, the first day of Bengali calendar, BAPL officials said.

The West Bengal government has 1.2 per cent stake in BAPL, and Singapore’s Changi Airport is the single largest shareholder in the airport.

Bandyopadhyay said Pinnacle Air, a non-scheduled airline, will begin its operations from here four days a week connecting Bagdogra, Coochbehar, Durgapur and Kolkata soon after getting license from DGCA.

BAPL managing director Partha Ghosh said the company is in negotiations with IndiGo and GoAir for scheduled flights for connecting Delhi-Durgapur including Air India and non-schedule airline Air Coasta for connecting southern cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Air Costa may connect these two south Indian cities for four days a week.

However, the final agreement will depend on concessions the Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport offers.

The major concessions demanded by the scheduled airlines are waiver of landing and takeoff fees, underwriting minimum of seats and 30 per cent surcharge waiver for ATF for a greater timeframe.

State government has already given a three-year waiver of surcharge on ATF for three years to Andal, Coochbehar and Bagdogra airports.

Utsav Parekh, one of the initial promoters of BAPL, said the company will focus on real estate and was holding dialogue with several global real-estate majors from Singapore, Japan and others.

source: http://www.businesstoday.intoday.in /Business Today / Home> Sectors – Aviation> Story / by PTI / Durgapur / March 16th, 2015

IIT alumnus makes green sanitary pads

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Kolkata :

Spurthi Gummadala, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus who is now working with National Innovation Foundation and Honeybee Network, has developed low-cost, “semi-reusable” and “bio-friendly” sanitary napkins.

“The napkins available in the market have three parts – the top dry feel layer, the middle absorbent polymer layer mixed with wood pulp to soak in the liquid and the bottom polypropelene layer that helps avoid leakage. Once used, the entire napkin is discarded adding to landfills. I have tried to tweak this in my product,” Spurthi said.

“I have made my napkin a semi-reusable one. Here you have a holder made of polyurethin coated polyester for repeated use. The absorbent layer can be disposed and refilled with a fresh layer which doesn’t pose biohazard. So, it will help arrest biohazard to an extent,” she added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / March 12th, 2015

Industrialist Deepak Khaitan passes away

Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinion

Kolkata :

Deepak Khaitan, the vice-chairman of Williamson Magor Group and the eldest son of B M Khaitan, passed away at his Kolkata residence on Monday morning. He was 60 and is survived by his wife Yashodhara, son Amritansu, daughter Nitya and grand daughters. Khaitan was suffering from cancer for over 8 years.

B M Khaitan Group includes companies like Eveready Industries, Mcleod Russel and Mcnally Bharat Engineering among others. Khaitan was the vice-chairman of Eveready and chairman of Mcnally Bharat. An MBA from Geneva, Khaitan served as the managing director of Eveready Industries until August 10, 2011. He had over 30 years of experience in business enterprises in India.

Khaitan had in-depth knowledge of tea, batteries and engineering industries. He became the chairman of McNally Sayaji Engineering Ltd on June 11, 2009 and was also the non-executive chairman of Kilburn Engineering Limited. He was the executive chairman at McNally Bharat Engineering Co Ltd and also served as chairman of its board till August 12, 2011.

Khaitan was involved in developmental matters of Eveready and Mcnally till 2012. A close associate of Khaitan said that he was instrumental in making Williamson Magor Group the largest bulk tea producer in the country.

Between 2004 and 2007, the group had three to four major acquisitions where he played an active role. The acquisitions include Williamson Tea Assam from its owners in UK, Doomdooma Tea from Unilever (then Hindustan Lever) and Moran Tea. In July 2005, McLeod Russel acquired Borelli Tea Holdings from the Magor family based in England and took over the 17 tea estates of its Indian subsidiary Williamson Tea Assam Ltd. McLeod Russel also acquired two more quality tea companies in Assam — Doomdooma Tea Company and Moran Tea Company India Limited. All three were then merged with McLeod Russel India Limited, making the group the largest tea producing company in the world. Khaitan also had a role in the acquisition of Eveready from Union Carbide in 1994.

Indian Chamber of Commerce, where Khaitan was president in 1992, condoled his death. “During his tenure, ICC achieved new heights of excellence through a process of interaction and consultation with international and Indian experts on economy, business and management,” said ICC director general Rajeev Singh.

Nazeeb Arif, who worked with Khaitan as ICC secretary-general, said, “I will always remember him for his courage of conviction, his extremely forthright and honest views, thorough professionalism and deep commitment.”

MCC Chamber released a statement after Khaitan’s death. “We at the MCC Chamber of Commerce & Industry are shocked at his sudden demise and pay our respectful homage to his immortal soul,” the statement said. .

“The death of such an industrial doyen from Bengal is really sad,” said P Roy, director general of Bengal Chamber of Commerce.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / March 10th, 2015

On the wrong side of a highway

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Chayanika Granthagar beside NH6
Chayanika Granthagar beside NH6

A small building beside NH6 is where Chayanika Granthagar is. The isolated two-storeyed structure is symbolic of how this once popular library has now become a lone building by the road which few people visit. Members and readers alike, prefer to go to other libraries in Uluberia and Bagnan instead of crossing the highway to come to this library. Ever since the national highway was commissioned, people have abandoned this institution that has, unfortunately, fallen on the wrong side of the road.

“The habitations are on the other side of the road. Kushberia village is actually on the other side of NH6 and that is where our members mostly reside. No one takes the risk of crossing this stretch of the highway as vehicles are always speeding,” said Sujata Ghosh, the librarian of Chayanika Granthagar.

The library was initially run from a local club in Kushberia. At that time, this was the only library in this village and area. The area had a number of jute mills at that time, and the level of education here was moderate. However, when the state government declared that it would give aid to public libraries, some educated locals took the initiative of starting a separate library. Chayanika Granthagar started at the present building in 1980 on the initiative of the founder and first librarian, Tulsi Charan Khan, Joydeb Mondal, Sukumar Basu and others. It is a rural library and was the sole source of books for many people who lived in this area, until the highway came up. “There is a library in Jaduberia. It is the nearest library now and members of this library have moved there since it is close by and they don’t have to cross the road,” said Ghosh.

The reading room. Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya
The reading room. Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya

At present, the library has 6,551 books. A separate children’s section has been made on the first floor of the building, but it remains closed most of the times. “Few child members visit the library because they cannot come on their own. They need a guardian to help them cross the road,” said Ghosh. However, there is no career guidance section here. “We have a few books for competitive exams at the library but we do not have an entire section dedicated to it,” said Ghosh.

In 2008, the library had received a book and furniture grant worth Rs 50,000. The annual grant of Rs 19,500 comes regularly. The library authorities have applied for a building grant some time back for making toilets and repairing the present building. While the library authorities are maintaining the institution with the hope that some day things will change, they had also sent written requests to the National Highway Authorities of India for building an underpass near the library. “We had sent a letter to the NHAI and also to the construction company, requesting them to make an underpass near the library. However, our request fell on deaf ears. The underpass is coming up further down the road, from where this library would be too far,” said Ghosh.

FACTFILE

Name:Chayanika Granthagar
Estd: 1978
Address: Village and PO – Kushberia, PS – Uluberia
No. of members: 261
Membership fees: Rs 2 per month for general members, free for children

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Howrah> Story / by Dalia Mukherjee / Friday – February 27th, 2015