4, Dec 2023
Entrepreneurs are shaping the future through innovation in Rajasthan – Shri Kalicharan Saraf
Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur in association with PHDCCI, conducted its 7th annual seminar of Rajasthan Development Dialogue 2023 on the theme ‘Innovation, Empowerment, and Visionary Initiatives’. Shri Kalicharan Saraf – a Member of the Assembly and former Health Minister, of Rajasthan was invited as the chief guest. Shri Saraf expressed that entrepreneurs in Rajasthan are shaping the future through innovation. Shri Digvijay Dhabriya, Chair, PHDCCI, Rajasthan Chapter & CMD, Dhabriya Polywood Ltd, delivered the welcome address as the guest of honour.
Shri Dhabriya threw light upon the significant contribution of Rajasthan entrepreneurs to the national growth. Dr. Prabhat Pankaj, Director welcomed the guests and shared that this seminar will help to advocate for collaborative and innovative approaches to address challenges and unlock the region’s potential. A comprehensive student-driven SME Report was also unveiled on this occasion. The report is based on the first-hand insights by students as a part of the Industry Immersion Program into the small and medium enterprise sector of Rajasthan.
Throughout the day, notable sessions highlighted various aspects crucial to Rajasthan’s growth, focusing on advancing manufacturing via innovative technologies, process excellence, and strategic industrial initiatives. In the session ‘Rural Renaissance: Nurturing Agriculture for Rajasthan’s Tomorrow,’ Dr. Atul Gupta, Chair Managing Director, Sunrise Agriland Development & Research Pvt. Ltd; Mr. Radhey Shayam Sharma, Director, Baagwaan Irrigation; Mr. Laxman Prasad Sharma- Secretary, Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board expressed their views, while in the session ‘Empowering Rajasthan: Social Sector Innovations for a Brighter Tomorrow,’ Ms. Nisha Grover, Founder, Vatsalya Legacy Education; Ms. Priti Goyal, Founder, Dream Achiever Club; Ms. Laxmi Ashok, Founder, Shilpayan Sansthan; Ms. Lavina Rathore, Project Manager, I-India shared their thoughts.
‘Rajasthan Renaissance: Exploring the Investment and Business Opportunities,’ featured eminent speakers like Mr. R K Gupta, Resident Director, Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. VS Shekhawat, Director, VS Shekhawat & Associates and Mr. Prahlad Rai, Manager, Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd (RIICO). In the session ‘Rajasthan Reimagined: Crafting Tomorrow’s Heritage, Designing Future Tourism,’ Ms. Radhika Pachar, Director, Pachar Group of Hotels; Mr. Shivang Agrawal, Architect, Studio Infinite, and Mr. Vishnu Goyal, Director, VAB Consultancy Solution shared their thoughts.
In the session ‘Educational Visionaries: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in Rajasthan,’ Dr. R.L. Raina, Vice-Chancellor/President, Jaipur National University; Dr. Anoop Singh Poonia, Chairman Rajasthan Institute of Engineering and Technology and Dr. Raghav Prakash, Chairman, Parishkar International College expressed their views. In the session, “Evolving Landscapes: Town Planning for a Flourishing Rajasthan” the speakers were Er Nagendra Chaudhary, General Secretary, Township Developers Association of Rajasthan; Mr. Satish Sharma, Former Chief Town Planner. In the session, “Crafting the future: Innovations in Manufacturing Excellence” the speakers were Shri Ajay Gupta, CEO, Kamtech Associates Mr. Sudhir Nijawan, Managing Director, Nifty Innovation Pvt Ltd.
In the session “Circular Economy/ Sustainability-From Waste to Wealth: Rajasthan’s Circular Revolution” the speakers were Dr. V K. Singhal, Former Chief Engineer, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board Development; Mr. Manoj Sabu, Co-Founder, Ecowrap. In the session, “Blue Horizons: Rajasthan’s Journey towards Water Conservation” the speakers were, Mr. Ravi Solanki, Engineer, Water Resources Department (WRDO); Dr. V K. Singhal, Former Chief Engineer, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board Department. In the session, “Rajasthan’s Entrepreneurs: Crafting Success, Defining Tomorrow” Ms. Alka Batra, Managing Director, Aegis Jobs; Ms. Meeta Mathur, Chairperson, AWARE; Mr. Dhawal Singhal, Mentor, I-start Rajasthan expressed their views.
Shri Amit Kumar Choudhary, Co-Chair, PHDCCI-Rajasthan Chapter & Director, DD Pharmaceuticals was the guest of honour for the valedictory session. Dr. Varun Chotia and Dr. Aparna Mendiratta convened the seminar and presented a formal vote of thanks.
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- By Rabindra
4, Dec 2023
Scheffler finally lands the Hero World Challenge Trophy, Woods happy with comeback campaign
Bengaluru, December 4, 2023: Scottie Scheffler completed the job he may have been left incomplete in his first two visits here in 2021 and 2022 when he finished second at the Hero World Challenge. He stayed bogey-free on the final day for a 68 to win the 2023 World Hero Challenge, an event he confessed he had watched for a good part of his life.
Scheffler, who received his Tiger Trophy from Woods, and Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, admitted, “It was cool for me two years ago just to get into this tournament. I had seen the Hero World Challenge pretty much my entire life and it seemed like such a fun time, only 20 guys – 20 of the best in the world coming down to play Tiger’s event.”
He added, “It’s definitely nice to win and also nice to be consistent. Finishing second is not nearly as good a feeling as finishing first.”
Scheffler, starting the day three clear, totaled 20-under and finished three ahead of Seep Straka (64), who rocketed up the leaderboard with the day’s second-best card and a total of 17-under.
Matt Fitzpatrick (70) and Justin Thomas (67), the only players inside five shots of Scheffler with 18l holes to go, never really mounted a challenge as the World No. 1 polished off his third win of 2023 and ensured he would go into 2024 with even more confidence.
Tiger Woods had a mixed bag with a 72 that had five birdies and three bogeys as he finished even for the week and 18th.
Neither the score nor the position mattered. All that mattered was that he lasted 72 holes and was smiling and sounding confident.
“I think I have come a long way from being a bit rusty to playing four rounds,” Woods said. “Just the physicality of playing and competing again, I haven’t done this in a while so it was nice to get out there with the guys and have some fun.
Scheffler looked in command as he started the final round. Two birdies on either side and no bogey did not allow anyone any chance. He had back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh and then again on the 14th and 15.
He said, “I was kind of on the outside looking in the last couple years on Sunday and I needed a good back nine to finish second and give myself an outside chance. Going into today was definitely nice being in the lead and I played solid golf to kind of finish it off.”
On how he will take this going in 2024, he went on, “Yeah, great confidence going into next year. I think we have maybe four weeks until we leave again, so it’s nice kind of having the momentum of a win as I go into preparing for next season. Yeah, I mean, couldn’t get better momentum than this, you know.”
Scheffler’s confidence for 2024 will come from his putting, which from being below average has become amazingly good.
Scheffler began the 2023 HWC with three bogeys in the first six holes and had only four more in his next 66 holes. Round 2 had two dropped shots, while round 3 had one and the final round had none. Overall, he had two eagles, both in the third round, 23 birdies, and seven bogeys.
Scheffler said, “I was optimistic going into this week. I think I just played solid today and kept my distance from the rest of the guys. It was the same game plan as always.”
Woods, who plans one tournament every month next year, added, “I just wish I could have played a little cleaner but there is always next time. I think if you ask me right now, I am a little bit sore.
“Maybe I can get into the rhythm of something like one tournament a month.
“That was the plan going into next year and I don’t see why that would change.”
Woods parred the first and double-bogeyed the par-three second but drained a sensational birdie putt from 34 feet out on the par-three fifth. Three other birdies on the sixth, 14th, and 15th were neutralized by bogeys on the eighth, 11th, and 16th.
Woods had struggled on the back nine throughout the week and was over par for it on the first three days but was even par on the final day. The birdies on Par-5 15th was particularly satisfying after a double bogey on the first, a bogey on the second, and a par on the third. In the final round, He drove 357 yards and followed with a fine second shot to inside 40 feet, but just off the green. A nice chip to under six feet set him up for birdie, which he holed.
Finishing behind the world No 1 was Sepp Straka, who last year had come as a replacement when Woods pulled out at the last moment. Straka fired a bogey-free 64 with eight birdies to move to 17-under and second.
Justin Thomas had six birdies against one bogey for 67 and a total of 16 under, as Tony Finau (67) and Matt Fitzpatrick (70) were fourth at 15 under.
The 2021 and 2022 champion, Viktor Hovland after a sedate 73-73 on the first two days improved on the third to 70 and then exploded on the final day with a 63 that had three birdies and eagle on either side and one bogey on the 16th.
4, Dec 2023
TrueBalance partnered with TERI to promote financial inclusion with the launch of ‘Project HARMONY’
4TH December 2023: Balancehero India Private Limited (BHI), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Balancehero Co. Ltd. Korea, which operates “TrueBalance” (the RBI-authorised PPI issuing entity and emerging lending platform), recently announced the launch of its new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ‘Project HARMONY.’ In collaboration with TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute)- a renowned institution known for its expertise in environmental research and sustainable development, ‘Project HARMONY’ intends to foster environmental sustainability and youth empowerment, aligning with the company’s dedication to societal well-being under its esteemed CSR program, “Sahayak.”
Speaking about the initiative, the COO (Souparno Bagchi) & the CHRO (Gaurav Sharma), Balancehero India jointly stated, “With the overall philosophy of “Finance for all,” we at Balancehero India believe every business has a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of society. Project HARMONY reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and youth empowerment, two pillars that we believe are crucial for a digital India and its prosperous future. We are glad to collaborate with TERI and look forward to making a positive impact on the communities we serve, thus fostering a more financially inclusive society.”
Dr Amit Kumar Thakur, Associate Director and Head CSR, TERI stated, “Project HARMONY is a unique collaboration between TERI and True Balance, bringing together a distinctive blend of environmental sustainability, financial inclusion, and digital literacy. Through this project, we aim to upskill the youth and women of semi-urban areas and provide clean energy access. TERI, in its 50 years of existence in India, feels proud to associate with True Balance for this skill development program.”
Through Project HARMONY, TrueBalance is driving sustainable community development through skilling and capacity building of community members, focussing on youth and women, from selected villages covered under the project including those along the Gurgaon-Faridabad road, such as Baliyawas, Bandhwari, Mangar, and Mandi. Furthermore, Project HARMONY would explore solar energy technologies for community spaces, such as solar street lights, and powering selected livelihood applications as a step towards fostering sustainable development in rural communities. The Company aspires to have lasting positive change through Project HARMONY, emphasizing education, community well-being, and economic stability.
The program will be live at the selected project sites for the next six months, and with TrueBalance’s support and local response, it will further explore a greater scale-up phase.
4, Dec 2023
Sai Unwind 2023 Receives a Footfall of over 30,000
Mumbai / Kolkata, 4th December 2023: SAI International proudly presented the 15th edition of UNWIND, a vibrant cultural celebration that not only embodies SAI’s spirit but also stands as one of India’s largest school-based cultural fests driven by students on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Themed “Unveiling the Wonders Within,” this day-long extravaganza welcomed over 30,000 attendees and was expertly orchestrated by Class XI students from the Commerce & Humanities streams, supported by their mentors.
Chief Guest, Shri Pratap Keshari Deb, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Energy, Government of Odisha inaugurated SAI UNWIND 2023. He expressed his happiness, stating, “I am delighted to be a part of UNWIND 2023, where young minds are nurtured with an entrepreneurial perspective and instilled with leadership skills from an early age. It is truly exciting to witness students organize such a significant event flawlessly.” Speaking about entrepreneurship, Shri Deb went on to state the contribution that UNWIND makes in inculcating 21st-century skills and the nuances of modern-day businesses, inspiring the GenZ to be leaders of the future.
Takeaways from UNWIND:
Entrepreneurship
Leadership
Collaboration
Team Work
Cohesiveness
Communication
Critical Thinking
Negotiation
Creativity
Persistence
Initiated in 2008 by Founder-Chairman, SAI International, Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, UNWIND has evolved into one of India’s leading student-driven cultural events, exemplifying innovation and creativity. Dr. Silpi Sahoo, the Chairperson of SAI International Education Group, continues to steer this legacy toward greater heights, emphasizing the development of critical thinkers and future leaders.
During her address at UNWIND 2023, Dr. Silpi Sahoo shared, “It’s immensely gratifying to witness my SAIoneers from Commerce and Humanities present such a grand and engaging fest for UNWIND 2023. Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, our Founder-Chairman, envisioned nurturing critical thinkers and problem solvers, shaping future entrepreneurial citizens of India. His dream was to forge global leaders, critical-thinking innovators poised for impactful careers, ready to reshape the world. Seeing my SAIoneers following the path set by our Founder fills me with immense joy.”
The event boasted over 100 food stalls with global cuisines, 100 engaging game stalls, and a diverse range of experiences including arcade games, e-games, adventure sports, fun rides, cultural performances, a horror house, and an enchanting open-air amphitheater experience.
The Women’s Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) under the aegis of ‘Mission Shakti’, Govt. of Odisha had also put up a lounge at this mega event this year. This endeavour showcased financial independence & women’s empowerment.
The CSR initiative Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo-100 Library Project benefited from the UNWIND sponsorships. This philanthropic initiative aims to support government and private school students in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar by establishing fully functional libraries and providing teacher training in bookkeeping. Children from Shri Harsha Memorial School for Deaf and Mute also were a part of the mega event.
The holistic Parenting award was instituted to the parents of Class XII CBSE State topper Pratishtha Pal.
The SAIoneers didn’t hold back when it came to showcasing their abilities in plays, dances, or music. Team Unwind 2023 also took part with great enthusiasm, receiving thunderous acclaim from the crowd as they danced merrily in a flash mob.
The well-known band T.R.A.P. hit the stage at UNWIND 2023 amid the enchanted atmosphere of the celebrity event. A wonderful mood was created in the darkness by their enthralling performance, filling the air with a perfect blend of tunes and laughter. Unwind 2023 became a tapestry of innumerable remarkable moments that were all permanently captured in time as the evening went on. This amazing occasion has created a lasting impression that will always be treasured in the hearts and memory of everyone who was fortunate enough to take part in this remarkable celebration.
4, Dec 2023
The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize Announces the Winner of its Sixth Edition
Bangalore, Friday; December 4th, 2023: The New India Foundation announces the Winner of the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2023 — Akshaya Mukul for Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover: The Many Lives of Agyeya, published by Penguin Random House.
The winner of the sixth edition was selected from a diverse shortlist of five magisterial books across a distinct range of Indian history, including Achyut Chetan’s Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic (Cambridge University Press), Rotem Geva’s Delhi Reborn: Partition and Nation Building in India’s Capital (Stanford University Press), Gita Ramaswamy’s Land, Guns, Caste, Woman: Memoirs of a Lapsed Revolutionary (Navayana), and Taylor C. Sherman’s Nehru’s India: A History in Seven Myths (Princeton University Press).
The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize recognizes excellence in non-fiction writings about modern and contemporary Indian history by writers of all nationalities. The winner receives a cash award of INR 15 lakhs, a trophy, and a citation.
The winner was selected by an eminent Jury including political scientist Niraja Gopal Jayal (Chair); entrepreneur Manish Sabharwal; historian Srinath Raghavan; former diplomat Navtej Sarna; policy analyst Yamini Aiyar, and lawyer Rahul Matthan.
The Jury Citation for the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2023:
“This is an outstanding biography of the writer, Sachidanand Hiranand Vatsyayan Agyeya, one of the towering figures of the Hindi literary world in the 20th century. Through Agyeya’s life, the book offers a panoramic view of the landscape of Hindi literature in possibly its most fertile period, and of the exceptional writers and poets who populated it.”
4, Dec 2023
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya And Partners Present A New Model Of International Co-Curation And Cooperation
Mumbai, 4th December 2023 – More than 65% of India’s vast population is under the age of 25. For most young Indians, the primary sources for understanding the world around them are schools, universities, books, and popular media. Indian museums can play a critical complementary role by providing direct experiences with original works of art, allowing people to reflect on, and draw their interpretations from, real evidence of history.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, CSMVS Museum, Mumbai attracts over a million visitors annually, most of whom are children and young adults. Working closely with universities, schools, and NGOs, CSMVS is a public-facing people-first museum, which, with its participatory approach, has been adaptive to the changing needs of the people. Today, it invests over 60% of its annual budget in education and outreach.
On the occasion of 75 years of Indian Independence and India’s Vasudeva Kutumbakam (‘the world is one family’) initiative, CSMVS Museum, Mumbai is honoured to present an exceptional tribute planned in association with its special international partners – the Getty, The British Museum, the Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, as well as leading Indian museums.
With the opening of Ancient Sculptures: India Egypt Assyria Greece Rome, for the first time ever, the Indian public and the country’s young population will have the opportunity to view, and study the great artistic achievements of the ancient Mediterranean alongside India’s vast living heritage of sculptural traditions. In an act of extraordinary generosity, our international colleagues have allowed great works of art from their collections to remain at the CSMVS Museum, Mumbai for almost one year from December 2023 to October 2024. We are truly grateful for their trust and equally grateful to the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra for their support.
In early 2025, this ambitious collaboration will culminate in the opening of an Ancient World Gallery at the CSMVS, where the partners once again will share their collections, lending well over 100 objects.
In a pioneering exercise of global co-curation, unprecedented both in India and abroad, objects for the present exhibition were chosen by Indian curators to take their place in Indian narratives of antiquity, joining and complementing cultural histories from ancient Greece and Rome. Curators from CSMVS Museum Mumbai, with their colleagues from the participating museums have chosen sculptures to be exhibited alongside objects from their collection.
This long-term project of sharing collections is made possible through the generous support of the Getty.
The themes will explore traditions that shaped ancient cultures, many of which continue to dominate aspects of society today such as the role of nature in human lives, the divine form, and concepts of beauty. Displayed beside the Museum’s Indian collections, the visiting sculptures will demonstrate the interconnectedness of the ancient world — and the extraordinary longevity of India’s cultural traditions.
The experience will be further enriched through immersive gallery walks, a multilingual audio guide, and short films featuring experts from different parts of the world talking about the exhibits.
India And Its Role In The Ancient World
As India continues to commemorate 75 years of independence across the nation and the globe, this project highlights the rich history of the ancient world and India’s position in it. Young Indian visitors will explore India’s centuries-old capacity to cradle and sustain a diversity of ideas and cultures, both from within and outside the subcontinent, underscoring thousands of years of cultural exchange.
“More than 65% of India’s vast population is under the age of 25. For decades, school children and university students in India have learned about ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, but until now they have not been able to study at first-hand any of the great works of art that these civilisations produced. We see the exhibition as a unique and important educational endeavour that provides our Indian audiences and children with new ways of viewing their own culture as a result of seeing it in relation to other societies and geographies” said Sabyasachi Mukherjee, director general of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai.
A New Model For Museum-University Partnership
The impact of the project will be increased and strengthened through school and university programmes across the country that will enable teachers and professors to introduce teaching with original art objects. The initiative will also enable micro-exhibitions onboard CSMVS’s mobile travelling buses, the Citi-CSMVS Museum on Wheels, that will ensure the project’s learning seeps deep into the cultural fabric of rural India.
This Pilot Project is a prelude to the larger initiative of the Ancient World Gallery which is planned to open in early 2025 — a new gallery on the ancient civilisations at CSMVS, which is planned to open in 2025. Both projects together hope to reach out to 5 million people physically, nearly 60 percent of whom will be school and university students; and 1 million digitally, to redefine the role of museums in formal learning, thereby widening their educational and social contribution.
Discussions with a group of universities from across the sub-continent has led to an ambitious undertaking, which will be developed in association with Cambridge University’s Global Humanities Programme. Because of the exceptional length of loan for both phases, it will be possible for universities to devise a bespoke curriculum, specifically designed to take advantage of the presence of the visiting objects. For more distant universities, preliminary teaching may be done on campus remotely, to be followed by visits to Mumbai and the Museum. Lectures and seminars will be given by both Indian and international scholars: among these, there will be, crucially, specialists from the source countries — thus offering a range of perspectives which should lead to many new insights.
CSMVS has also planned a series of lectures, films, and other activities, many of which will take place in Maharashtra and several cities outside of Mumbai.
“CSMVS has organized a fantastic exhibition that infuses art from European collections and Getty with fresh ways of looking and understanding – and brings CSMVS’ own objects into a larger global narrative,” said Katherine Fleming, President, and CEO of Getty. “This is our objective in supporting cross-continent collection sharing.”
Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, said that “We see ‘Ancient Sculptures: India Egypt Assyria Greece Rome’ as a unique and important educational endeavour providing our Indian audiences and children (in particular the high percentage of India’s young people who might never have the opportunity to travel and experience the art and culture of other parts of the world), with new ways of viewing their own culture as a result of seeing it in relation to other societies and geographies. It is intended that this project have not just local but national and international outreach and that it might introduce new ways of approaching information and learning that have the potential of being introduced into our own school and university curricula. The Public programming, Metro City outreach initiative, the University programme, and the Museum’s extended education services are designed to encourage large numbers of young adults to visit the exhibition and to leave it with a new understanding not only of Indian history in the ancient world but also of their own proud place within it as citizens of the world.
Neil MacGregor, Advisor to the Getty’s sharing collections programme said, “This small exhibition is a huge experiment. Here for the first time is the ancient world seen and interrogated not from a European point of view but from the standpoint of India”.
Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, President, of Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz said that ”For the Berlin museums, this major long-term partnership with CSMVS is a welcome step towards deepening our ties with India, and we look forward to working together on the next stage of this enlightened project of sharing our collections in the years to come’.
The Next Stage: The Ancient World Gallery At CSMVS 2025
Having the Museum’s collection of ancient Indian material as its core, and drawing on the collections of our partners, the new gallery will focus on the four river cultures of Harappa (Indus civilisation), Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. Expanding into the Persian, Greek and Roman worlds, it will stress the legacies and oftentimes interconnectedness of these civilisations and how they continue to impact the world today. The Ancient World Gallery will once again be a collaboration of the four partner museums, supported by Getty.
2, Dec 2023
Former Top Lutyens’ Bureaucrat Launches Bengali Memoir in Delhi
Kolkata, 2nd December, 2023: Sumit Dutt Majumder, former Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs, launched his Bengali memoir titled Jonopod Thekey Rajpath – A Memoir (loose translation: From The Streets of a Small Town to the King’s Way) in an event at the Chittaranjan Bhavan’s ‘Bhavan Bookfest 2023’ in Chittaranjan Park.
Besides his work in the field of customs, excise, anti-smuggling and narcotics in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Pune, Mr. Dutt Majumder has also worked in other areas, on deputation. These include being Joint Director (Works), monitoring and coordinating the construction and renovation of seventeen stadia spread across Delhi for the 1982 Asian Games. He was also a Special Assistant to Rajiv Gandhi (then MP) at this time. He has also worked on the Non-Alignment Meet of 1983 as Joint Director (Security Access Control). And he served in Bahrain as Director (Trade Promotion), Cardamom Board (later expanded into the Spices Board), where his beat was the entire West Asian and North African (WANA) region.
“Jonopod Thekey Rajpth – A Memoir is a documentation of my lifelong experience of working in different areas,” Sumit Dutt Majumder says. “It is the story of my journey from a small town to the corridors of Lutyens’ Delhi, told so that it is easy to understand and enjoy, even for a layperson.”
The book was released after an initial talk by Siddhartha Dasgupta, a theatre personality and General Secretary, of the Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Memorial Society. For the launch, the author was in conversation with Gautam Hore, author and senior journalist at Deutsche Welle, Bangla.
Sumit Dutt Majumder has previously authored many books, in English, on Customs Valuation, the Goods and Services (GST) Act, and Article 370. While some of these books have been authored for practitioners, two of his books—GST: Explained for the Common Man and Article 370: Explained for the Common Man—have been bestsellers and have been translated into Hindi. He has also written a Bengali novel titled Donde Chonde in 1984. Mr. Dutt Majumder is the recipient of the ‘Asiad Jyoti’ for his work in the preparation for the Asian Games in 1982, and the ‘Presidential Award’ for his investigation of Customs frauds, in 1991.
2, Dec 2023
Industry Trailblazers Celebrated: Winners Announced at Digital Reinvent Awards 2023
2nd, December 2023: The Digital Reinvent Awards 2023, a prestigious event that celebrates and honours outstanding achievements in the world of streaming entertainment in India concluded its 2023 edition on 1st December 2023 with a virtual event. The Awards along with a distinguished ceremony recognizing excellence in the Indian streaming entertainment industry broadcasted live on the Digital Reinvent Facebook Page.
Netflix has once again demonstrated its unparalleled prowess in the entertainment industry, as it bagged 7 Golds and 6 Silvers across diverse categories. Noteworthy victories include the gold accolades for the compelling documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers,’ showcasing Netflix’s ability to deliver captivating narratives in the Documentary or Non-Fiction Program or Series category.
The streaming giant’s triumph in the Supporting Actress of the Year category further solidifies its standing, with Shefali Shah in ‘Darlings’ and Tillotama Shome in ‘Delhi Crime S2’ securing top honours. Netflix’s consistent excellence is highlighted in the Movie/Mini-Series category, where ‘Darlings’ and ‘Monica O My Darling’ clinch gold, reaffirming Netflix’s status as an industry leader. The total metal count stood at 13 with maximum Gold. On Top of it all, Netflix won the Platform of the Year award.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises has made a significant impact in the awards arena, securing a total of 4 gold and 4 silver awards across various categories. Zee’s adept use of influencers in ‘TVF Pitchers Season 2 Promo | Pitching to Ashneer Grover on Zee5’ earns them a silver in the Use of Influencers Using Social Media category, highlighting the strategic utilization of social media platforms.
The silver-winning entry ‘Zee Bangla Mother’s Day Campaign’ showcases Zee’s prowess in the micro video content category. Additionally, Zee Bangla’s success extends to the Digital Brand Campaign of the Year, with gold awards for both ‘IPL Combat Campaign’ and ‘Neem Phuler Modhu Launch Campaign,’ exemplifying Zee Entertainment Enterprise’s versatility and creativity in digital marketing and content creation.
Following on its heels and acing digital marketing innovations has been Amazon Prime Video winning both a gold and a silver award for the Web Series of the Year category for ‘Dahaad’ and ‘Farzi’. Other individual winners on the list were Shemaroo Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Liv, White Turtle Studios, Applause Entertainment, and Promoshop.
Andy Chua, Events Director- PIM Asia commented, “Netflix and Zee Entertainment have truly outshone the competition at the Digital Reinvent Awards 2023, setting new benchmarks for excellence in the Indian streaming entertainment industry. This year’s total medal count of 13, with a remarkable dominance in Gold, solidifies Netflix’s status as an industry leader, culminating in the prestigious Platform of the Year award. Zee Entertainment Enterprises, equally deserving of accolades, showcased strategic brilliance across categories, securing 4 Golds and 4 Silvers. As we celebrate these achievements, it’s evident that the future of streaming entertainment is in the hands of trailblazers like Netflix and Zee, shaping the industry’s landscape with their creativity and dedication.”
2, Dec 2023
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2023 celebrates India’s brightest talents in the Youth Icon category
New Delhi | December 02, 2023: ‘CNN-News18 Indian of the Year’ (IOTY), the largest awards platform on news television, has revealed the nominees in its ‘Youth Icon’ category for this year. The platform seeks to honour young trailblazers who have emerged as influential voices among India’s youth today.
Recognizing excellence across seven categories – Entertainment, Business, Sports, Youth Icon, Rising Sports Star, Social Change, and Climate Warriors, the 13th edition of ‘CNN-News18 Indian of the Year promises to be a celebration of India’s finest achievers on the global stage.
The nominees for the Youth Icon Category encompass exceptional individuals and internet personalities who have ingrained themselves into India’s pop culture. This distinguished roster includes AP Dhillon, Kusha Kapila, Anirudh Ravichander, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju.
A notable figure in the global music scene, A P Dhillon seamlessly blends traditional Punjabi folk music with modern hip-hop, captivating the youth with his distinctive style. His recent release ‘With You’ garnered an astounding 37 million views on YouTube in just a month, a testament to his impactful storytelling and authentic embrace of identity.
Social media influencer and versatile artist Kusha Kapila has earned widespread acclaim for her roles in Masaba Masaba Season 2, Shilpa Shetty-starrer Sukhee, and Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor’s production ‘Thank You For Coming.’
Renowned Chennai-based composer-singer Anirudh Ravichander, celebrated for his globally popular ‘Why This Kolaveri Di,’ continues to dominate the Indian music scene. Hits like Kaavaalaa, Chaleya, and the Jawan title track have solidified his position as the anthem creator of the year, especially for Shah Rukh Khan’s fans.
A pioneer in Indian podcasting, Ranveer Allahbadia has spearheaded ‘The Ranveer Show’ on his YouTube channel ‘BeerBiceps.’ With over six million subscribers, Allahbadia’s podcasts feature some of India’s most successful individuals, contributing to meaningful conversations and thought leadership.
Karnataka’s first trans-woman doctor and a trailblazer in Indian content creation, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, has established a safe platform for the queer community. Her acting debut in Made in Heaven Season 2, coupled with recognition on “The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2022,” underscores her multifaceted impact.
The winner in the Youth Icon Category will be revealed at the star-studded grand finale celebrating luminaries in Indian entertainment at The Indian of the Year 2023 award ceremony.
CNN-News18 IOTY has a rich legacy of honoring exceptional talent across various fields, with past winners in the category including Allu Arjun, Neeraj Chopra, Yogi Adityanath, and Marimuthu Yoganathan.
This year, the winner selection process will combine expert judgment and public voting, with 50% of the decision-making power given to the audience and the remaining 50% entrusted to the jury.
2, Dec 2023
Harman and Finau share the lead at Hero World Challenge, Woods holds on despite late struggle
Bengaluru, December 2, 2023: The Open champion, Brian Harman, made a strong debut at the Hero World Challenge. First off the blocks, he came back with a 5-under 67, which was matched by Tony Finau. The two were co-leaders after the first day.
Playing for the first time in almost eight months since the end of the second round of the Augusta National, Woods admitted to ‘soreness’ all over after his 3-over 75. For the first 14 holes, he was still in red numbers at 1-under. Then came trouble and he crashed to 3-over. Yet, he seemed to have seen a few things to work on and get better with each step, which at times indicated a limp.
Considering all he has been through, he showed enough to suggest a good meaningful comeback. Jostling for attention with the flashes of class was lot of rust and signs that the mind and the body were not in sync. He seemed to tire and struggle in the closing stages, but still smiled and hugged Justin Thomas at the end of 18 holes in conditions that were not very easy.
Harman may not have found many greens, but he scrambled really well. He said, “Yeah, I think it’s a really tough golf course. The wind was blowing. I got out of position a few times, made some really nice up-and-downs. I’m going to go hit a few, see if I can tighten my iron game up a little bit. Putted nicely other than the bogey on the last, pretty good.”
On his scrambling, he said, “Last time I played the RSM, my short game wasn’t very good, so I worked a little bit on it in the couple weeks. Glad that I chipped a couple close.”
Finau made gains on the first and the third holes, but gave one of them on the tenth. Then in a span of five holes, he picked four birdies to surge to the top.
He said, “That was a nice start. I made some crucial par saves, I would say. I made a lot of six, seven footers whether it was after a chip or a bad first putt. That just kind of kept the momentum throughout the round.”
Jordan Spieth rode a roller-coaster with two eagles, six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. His final tally of 4-under put him one behind Harman and Finau.
Woods was doing fine, but following up on each of his birdies with an immediate bogey. That happened three times but a fourth birdie on the 14th had him at 1-under for the fourth time. He was never better than 1-under, but still under par after 14. Then a double bogey on the Par-5 15th and two more bogeys on the next two holes. He closed with a birdie try from 25 feet and then tapped for par.
Woods gave away four shots in a span of three holes, starting the 15th. A wayward left tee shot landed under a large clump of bushes. He stabbed at it and moved it only a foot and lost a shot. He even toyed with the idea of a left-handed attempt but then punched it backwards into the fairway.
The third shot, a 3-wood, came short and an average pitch left him a 12-foot bogey putt, which he missed for a double-bogey. From one-under he went to 1-over. On 16 he missed the green in regulation and missed a 20-footer for par and on the Par-3 17th, he found the green, but was 50-plus feet away for. He went six feet past and missed the comeback putt.
The obvious question was about how he felt after the round? And, where did he feel sore? Woods shot back, “Everywhere”.
The persistent question, Where is the most? “My leg, my back, my neck. Just from playing, hitting shots and trying to hold off shots. It’s just different at game speed, too.”
He said, “I’m sore, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve got some work to do tonight. Tomorrow (we) get back in the gym and activate and get ready for it. Hopefully hit some better shots. And now I know mentally what I need to do better. I think that’s something that physically I knew I was going to be OK. Mentally, I was really rusty and made a lot of errors in the mind that normally I don’t make.”
Overall, summing up, he said, “Yeah, you know, I got off to a decent start. I didn’t play the par 5s particularly well all day. I had really a lack of commitment through most of the middle part of my round and finishing. I just didn’t quite commit to what I was doing and feeling.” Woods’ playing partner and friend, Justin Thomas, got a big hug at the end of the round, in which Thomas rallied from 3-over after four to finish 2-under. Spieth describing his round said, “Yeah, it was an electric factory out there, for sure. Some rusty putting, a couple toe balls and then a lot of really, really good stuff. So all in all I would have probably signed for 4 under when I was warming up today, I just didn’t think I’d get there this way.” He had just five pars in 18 holes.
Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and max Homa brought in 3-under 69 each for tied fourth. Both had eventful rounds. Young had six birdies against one bogey and one double, while Scheffler, trying to better his second place finishes in the last two editions, had six birdies and three bogeys, as did Homa and Morikawa.
Two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland had three birdies in a row from fifth and a fourth one on 14th, but he also gave away three bogeys and a double on Par-3 17th for a 73. It was his first round above 70 in the Hero World Challenge, which he has won in both his previous starts.
ROUND 2 PAIRINGS: From Tee 1:
10:51 am: Wyndham Clark (76) and Will Zalatoris (81)
11:02 am: Rickie Fowler (74) and Tiger Woods (75);
11:13 am: Justin Rose (72) and Viktor Hovland (73);
11:24 am: Sepp Straka (72) and Keegan Bradley (72);
11:35 am: Sam Burns (71) and Jason Day (71);
11:46 am: Justin Thomas (70) and Lucas Glover (71);
11:57 am: Max Homa (69) and Matt Fitzpatrick (70);
12:08 am: Scottie Scheffler (69) and Collin Morikawa (69);
12:19 am: Jordan Spieth (68) and Cameron Young (69);
12:30: Brian Harman (67) and Tony Finau (67)
