Purva Naresh Brings The Allure Of ‘White Nights’ To Aadyam Theatre’s Seventh Season With ‘Chandni Raatein

India-wide release,16th January 2025: Aadyam Theatre, a pioneering live storytelling initiative by Aditya Birla Group to preserve the immortal craft of theatre, is back with its seventh season. The season brings back the allure of tales with some of the most prolific theatre personalities breathing new life into them. Following the thundering success of Atul Kumar’s adaptation of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,’ Purva Naresh is all set to bring ‘White Nights’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky, to the Indian stage with ‘Chandni Raatein’. The debut in Mumbai is set to take place on February 1st and February 2nd, 2025, at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, followed by the second run on February 15th and February 16th, 2025, at Nehru Centre Auditorium. The theatrical presentation will finally be brought to Delhi at the Kamani Auditorium on March 1st and 2nd, 2025.

‘White Nights’ has mesmerised cine-goers and readers alike with its tragic yet formidable storytelling through various reimaginings for celluloid in German, French, Italian, and other languages. Purva Naresh, one of the prominent voices in the Indian theatre scene, will resurrect this story of love through the four nights, for the first time, on the Indian stage at a larger scale.

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s groundbreaking literary work explores the rare phenomenon of St. Petersberg’s transient darkness, where the city experiences longer days and shorter nights. The narrative follows the protagonist, lost in a city full of known faces. As he wanders on the streets of the city, he becomes enchanted by the beauty of a woman. Despite the bleakness and engulfing darkness in the air, a love story emerges, and the two find light in each other.

Purva Naresh’s interpretation infuses a new perspective into this iconic story with cultural resonance and a good blend of emotions and humour. The story spans four nights, each exploring different perspectives—the deewana, the deewani, the man she yearns for, and a silent spectator who sees more than meets the eye. The adaptation uncovers the intricate layers of love, longing, and fate’s unexpected turn, breathing moments of warmth and comedy. Set on the backdrop to one of India’s most celebrated and ancient forms of storytelling, the genre-bending adaptation of ‘Chandni Raatein’ will promise to enthral the audience with its emotional nuances, laughter, and celebration of love’s transcendental power.

Through this multifaceted drama, Purva will bring the other characters in the story to the forefront, along with the protagonists. Her flair for dabbling into the varied complexities of human life will be seen with one of the most complex human emotions, love, being the central theme. The song and dancing, along with a multi-genre fusion, will take us through the gamut of emotions, setting the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the literary masterpiece into a larger-than-life visual treat.

Purva Naresh is taking forward the rich legacy of female playwrights in India. The director has brought forward some of the most important stories from the heartland to the stage. Her notable plays, namely Zoon: Noor Kashmir Ka and Bandish 20-20,000 Hz, deal with the complexities of political and gender issues in the country. For her, the voices of marginalised communities and women matter, and her stories echo and represent them in the most innovative forms of the craft.

The play also boasts a stellar array of actors starring in the adaptation. Mantra Mugdh (Rashmi Rocket, Tum Mile, Panipat) and Girija Oak Godbole (Taare Zameen Par, Jawan, Qala) will be the leading faces. Danish Husain (Tiger 3, Delhi Crime, Dasvi), Anamika Tiwari (3rd October, Rangbaaz, Bastar: The Naxal Story), Kaustav Sinha (Rocket Boys, Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai), Trupti Khamkar (Tumhari Sulu, The White Tiger, Zombivli), Girish Sharma (Scoop, Scam 2003, City Of Dreams), Shimlli Basu, and Subhashree Sahoo will also be seen in prominent roles.

Talking about the adaptation of Dostoevsky’s celebrated novella, Purva Naresh said, “For me, theatre is the medium that will always remain relevant even in the worst adversities that humankind will face. Aadyam Theatre has helped to keep this spirit of the indomitable craft alive with over six successful seasons. I have always felt a sense of joy and liberation when I was writing and directing a play for Aadyam. With ‘Chandni Raatein,’ I want to celebrate love and its transcendental nature even in times of darkness. I chose it to adapt into a musical because we Indians love to sing in grief and joy. However, I have not restricted it to just a genre, as every emotion unfolds through various formidable means of storytelling. I hope this universally renowned story receives love in India, and the audience cherishes this jubilant experience.”

Farmers’ Organisation-Backed Education Trust Opens 500 Rural Play-Schools with Focus on Spoken English

Backed by a farmers’ organization, Adhiti Education Trust, created to bring the highest level of early childhood learning and activity based learning for primary, middle and secondary school students of rural areas coming from families of farmers and farmworkers, free-of-cost, held a press conference at the Kolkata Press Club today.

Farmer Leader Avik Saha, Managing Trustee of the Trust and all other trustees, namely Tejvinder Singh Chattha (Rural Business Entrepreneur), Abhijit Banerjee (Social Activist), Jayati Saha (Advocate of Calcutta High Court) and Tapas Kar (Social Activist) along with Ms. Pritha Ray, Academic Director of the Trust, were present.

Addressing the media, Avik Saha said: “The ideology behind the activities of the trust are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj, where the father of the nation had envisaged villages would be developed as economic and social growth centres. We follow the credo of “Sangharsh and Nirman” going side by side. Unfortunately due to policy misdirection, lack of political will and grave shortcomings in implementation, although some schemes for bringing equality between villages and cities have been announced by several governments, no visible change is seen. Exodus from villages continues and the village economy has collapsed into dole-driven livelihood. Particularly in the field of education, right from birth, children in villages are denied and deprived of early childhood learning, which every city child has easy access to. That is why we have opened play- schools named DhuloMati and activity centres named SlatePencil and ChokKhori. Already 50 such schools have been opened in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and North 24 Parganas. More than 1300 rural children now have access to play-schools and are getting the highest level of early childhood learning facilities. We plan to take this number to 500 by the end of 2025. Already, more than 100 local women have been trained to become teachers and are drawing respectable salaries and have become financially independent. The Activity Centres for students are designed to fill the gap in reading, writing, speaking and arithmetic skills that have been repeatedly reported about in education standard surveys. Teachers are being trained to speak English as a language. Pedagogy and Curriculum are being developed on an ongoing basis. Children of brickfield workers who have zero access to education are now being given their right to education. This is nothing short of an education revolution through which equality of access to education will emerge and all children of Bengal can build the future of Bengal together.”

Abhijit Banerjee said: “English is the great divider of India; those who can speak the language access the highest standards of life and livelihood, and those who cannot, toil below them. Most students of Government schools find themselves unable to compete with children educated in so-called English medium schools. I have personally taken charge of training the teachers to speak in English, and the teacher training course has been launched today itself. The first batch of 10 teachers have started their training, We are confident that by the end of the year, all teachers will be able to use basic spoken English in classes so that through hearing, children learn to speak English. We are very clear that we are not promoting English medium schools. Our schools are not English medium schools. We believe that learning through our mother tongue is the best way of learning. However, knowing how to speak in English is a necessary skill in a diverse country like India. English can be a language of connection and there is no debate that English is also the language of higher education. From Government offices to the Supreme Court, English is the language used. By knowing how to speak English, the children will also be able to connect with half the world that speaks English. On the one hand, this is the great differentiating factor of our schools and on the other, this is the great equaliser. We know that teachers who can speak in English will pass it on to the students so that the great Indian divide of English speaking and Non-English-speaking students ends soon.”

Tejvinder Singh Chattha said: “As an entrepreneur who has to regularly do business with rural people, I have observed firsthand the great hopelessness that rural Bengal faces. Not a single teenager of a village dreams of staying in the village and making a respectable living in the village. Their aspiration is to move to the cities. Through this education initiative, we hope that village children will be at par with city children, and if economic activity in villages follows, which is sure to happen as we have seen in Tamil Nadu, then there will be no migration and exodus from villages. Multiple entrepreneurship and livelihood ideas will emerge and bloom in the villages itself. We are confident that citizens with privileges will come forward and donate generously for taking this initiative forward.”

Jayati Saha said: “Dhulomati, SlatePencil and ChokKhori are viable dreams provided we as a society have the courage to dream these dreams. This initiative is not just to educate but to bring equality between villages and cities. This initiative is now reaching out to children whose parents work in brickfields, and who neither get education in their own village or in the village where their parents work. They are nobody’s children so far as education is concerned. The first Brickfield school has been opened in 24 Pargana near Rajarhat and we will be reaching out to all brickfield owners in Bengal to implement the same model.”

Academic Director Pritha Roy said: “While spoken English will be a great differentiator, this initiative will also give better childhood to children. Every Dhulomati school has a toy and book lending library named Dhulomati Khelaghor. The response to this has been phenomenal and I must thank the hundreds of people who have generously donated books and toys. Along with our consultant, I am personally in charge of evolving the pedagogy based on which the curriculum is being developed. It will be of the highest standards. I don’t want to mention any names, but whatever is taught in reputed chain play schools today, is being taught at Dhulomati, but with locally sourced material and resources. The name DhuloMati itself indicates that rural children must learn with what is available around them.

Avik Saha concluded by saying that the initiatives of the trust are to supplement the initiatives of the Government through ICDS. The ongoing teacher training program will create village based expert teachers in an early childhood education. He added that every school is opened with the local community participating in full force and equal inputs. All physical infrastructure of schools are provided by the villagers free of cost, and without receiving any corresponding benefit. The concept and its execution till now shows that with minimal effort, a whole village can develop through development of its children and women – the children through access to high-quality education and the women through training, employment and financial independence.

Green Corridor Enables Life-Saving Lung Transplant at DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri

15th January 2025: In a remarkable show of coordination and dedication, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, and the Maharashtra Police Department successfully facilitated a green corridor for the transport of donor lungs from JJ Hospital, Mumbai to its facility in Pune, ensuring the timely and safe delivery of this precious gift of life within the stipulated time in order to maintain the quality of the organ.

 On January 10th, a meticulously planned and flawlessly executed road transport enabled the safe passage of the donor lungs to our recipient. This effort has made it possible for a critically ill patient to undergo a life-saving lung transplant, offering them a renewed chance at life. The green corridor, established with the swift and efficient cooperation of the Maharashtra Police Department and Traffic Police,under the guidance of Mumbai and Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner allowed the donor lungs to travel from Mumbai to Pune in just under two hours, bypassing regular traffic. The police personnel, medical teams led by Dr. Rahul Kendre and Dr. Sameer Chauhan from DPU Super Specialty Hospital and support staff involved in the operation demonstrated impeccable coordination and swift action, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of this vital organ.

 The donor was a 36-year-old male truck driver who had been declared brain dead following an accident. Officials and coordinators from the donor hospital provided counseling and encouragement to the donor’s family, inspiring them to contribute to this noble cause and save lives through organ donation.

 Dr. P.D. Patil, Chancellor, Dr. D.Y Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, said, “It is a privilege for our hospital to be at the forefront of performing intricate organ transplants and surgeries. My heartfelt congratulations go out to our exceptional team of doctors for their remarkable efforts. At DPU Super Specialty Hospital, we strive to reach greater heights and perform even more life-saving surgeries, driven by our state-of-the-art infrastructure and unwavering commitment to excellence. “

 Dr. Bhagyashree P. Patil, Pro-Chancellor, Dr. D.Y Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune shared her thoughts “ It has always been my vision to promote greater awareness about organ donation and its profound impact on saving lives. Our team of doctors has been instrumental in turning our vision into reality through their hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment to saving lives. My heart swells with pride and we aspire to leave a lasting impact on countless more lives in the future. “

 Dr. Yashraj Patil, Trustee & Treasurer, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune commented “When a lung is transported over 150 kilometers via a green corridor, it is a testament to extraordinary teamwork across all fronts. From doctors and hospital staff to the police department and countless others, it takes a unified effort to ensure the process is seamless and life-saving. I am deeply grateful for everyone’s dedication to making such miracles possible”

 Dr. Sandeep Attawar, M.D., Founder Director & Chair of Advanced Heart Failure, Terminal Lung Disease & Solid Thoracic Organ Transplant Program, DPU’s centre for Heart and Lung Transplantation, said “We have been at the forefront of successful heart and lung transplant surgeries in India. Guided by a patient-first philosophy, we are dedicated to providing access to cutting-edge medical expertise and world-class infrastructure for our patients. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the donor family for their noble and selfless act, which has made this transplant possible. Their generosity will forever be remembered as an inspiration to many. “

IIM Raipur Inaugurates 5th Batch of Executive Master of Business Administration

Raipur, 16th January 2025: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, a leading institution recognized for #BuildingBusinessOwners, conducted the inaugural ceremony for the 5th Batch of the Executive Master of Business Administration (eMBA). As many as 145 professionals enrolled in this immersive course, consisting of 40 females and 105 male aspirants.

 The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Niharika Rai, HR Leader, Microsoft Security IDC along with Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, Director, IIM Raipur and other esteemed faculty and staff members of the institute.

 Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ram Kumar Kakani, Director, IIM Raipur, said, “Our two-year Executive MBA program is designed such that it will not only increase your knowledge base but also give a holistic development through exposure to international universities. The cohort this year represents a remarkable diversity of industries and expertise, which will foster collaborative growth. After these two years of learning, you will become an alumnus of IIM Raipur. Make out the maximum of your time in these two years.”

 To be delivered in hybrid mode, the meticulously crafted curriculum is for professionals aspiring to take on leadership roles in the future. The average age group of this year’s intake is 34. The 5th batch boasts a diverse range of student body, comprising individuals with experience from various industrial backgrounds. The major sectors include insurance, finance, healthcare, commerce, automotive etc. This diversity not only brings a wealth of knowledge to the program but also extensive networking opportunities.

 The Executive MBA program offers a blend of various general management theories, soft skills and analytical methods with real world business scenario cases for junior, mid-level and senior executives aspiring to assume a leadership role in their respective functions/organizations. The participants will also spend 15 days in IIM Raipur’s fabulous campus over two campus visits.

IIM Bodh Gaya is coordinating CAP 2025

The Common Admission Process (CAP) is a combined process that shortlists and interviews candidates for admission to MBA/PGP programs at CAP-participating IIMs, namely IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Tiruchirappalli and IIM Udaipur.

 The following cut-offs are set for shortlisting candidates for the PI and WAT process under CAP 2025:

 CAP-2025 Total Cut-off Percentiles & Sectional Cut-off Percentiles for PI/WAT Shortlisting

Shortlisting for PI/WAT will be based solely on overall and sectional percentile cut-offs. All candidates who have scored percentile more than or equal to the above-mentioned percentiles are eligible for the CAP 2025.

 IIM Bodh Gaya will send PI/WAT shortlist notification emails, and the PI/WAT registration portal will open on 14 Jan 2025. All shortlisted candidates must register on the CAP portal to participate in the CAP 2025 PI/WAT process. There is no separate fee charged for the CAP 2025 application/registration process.

 Prof. Prabhat Ranjan (CAP 2025 Coordinator, IIM Bodh Gaya) mentioned that CAP 2025 will be conducted in an offline process. Candidates can provide preference for four cities in the PI/WAT registration form, and they will be able to select the date on the CAP portal during 27-30 Jan 2025. PI venues for CAP 2025 are in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Nagpur, and other CAP participating IIM campuses.

WATCH Video: 55-second First Look of sci-fi film BAIDA is all goosebumps, transports you to a different world

India’s favourite storyteller Sudhanshu Rai marked Makar Sankranti with the official first-look video of his much-anticipated upcoming sci-fi supernatural thriller film BAIDA. Truly a never-seen-before experience, the first reveal from the film, a 55-second video, will transport you to a completely different and intriguing world, consisting of abandoned cottages, lanterns, forests and a web of illusions. With the official unveiling of the first-look video, the makers of the film, Sudhanshu Rai and director Puneet Sharma, have also announced that BAIDA will hit cinema halls across India on March 21, 2025.

Directed by Puneet Sharma, BAIDA is set to be the first-of-its-kind sci-fi supernatural thriller set in the backdrop of India’s Hindi Heartland. The film is based on one of Sudhanshu’s most popular audio stories that has been a favourite among his fans and listeners. While the banner of Saints Art and Kahanikaar Sudhanshu Rai created a differentiator with immensely-loved horror comedy Chaipatti, the filmmakers have definitely upped the ante with the first glimpse of BAIDA.

“BAIDA is a tale of illusions, where the lead protagonist played by Sudhanshu traverses through different dimensions and timeframes. As he heads to a destination unknown, he meets someone delusive, and then begins an experience that has never unfolded before the Indian audience before. A story about unimaginable worlds, BAIDA is two hours of pure entertainment, which can only be experienced on the big screen,” said the film’s director Puneet Sharma.

Speaking about BAIDA, the film’s lead actor and writerSudhanshu said, “BAIDA fulfils my promise to my fans and listeners that they will soon get a never-seen-before cinematic experience of the fictional universe that I have created over the years. While it is the story of a former spy entrapped in the dark and sinister world of a man who defies the cycle of time and death, a special treat in store is the on-screen debut of Dr Shekhawat, a character loved by all my listeners. We hope the audience will love the uniquenss and illusionary world of BAIDA.”

The cast of the film starring Sudhanshu Rai includes Chaipatti-fame Shobhit Sujay, Detective Boomrah’s Manisha Rai, Tarun Khanna, Sourabh Raaj Jain, Hiten Tejwani, AkhlaqAhmad Azad and Pradeep Kabra, among others. The Editor of the film is Kantara and 777 Charlie-fame Pratheek Shetty. Abhishek Modak is the Director of Photography.

Dr. Tony Nader Highlights the Role of Consciousness in Global Peace at National Sanskrit University, Presents the Book to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

[New Delhi, 16th January 2025]: The National Sanskrit University, in collaboration with Ved Bhumi Connect and the Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry, hosted a landmark event celebrating the launch of Dr. Tony Nader’s book, ‘Consciousness Is All There Is’. The event included a felicitation ceremony and a keynote lecture by Dr. Nader as part of the ‘Vedas and World Peace Series’. The initiative received support from over 60 academic institutions across India. Additionally, Dr. Nader presented his book to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, underscoring its significance in bridging ancient wisdom and modern governance.

Dr. Tony Nader, an eminent Vedic scholar and global leader of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement, is renowned for his ground-breaking work integrating ancient Vedic knowledge with modern science. A Harvard and MIT-trained medical doctor with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, Dr. Nader’s research bridges the gap between human physiology and Vedic principles, emphasizing the role of consciousness as the basis for individual and societal transformation.

During his keynote address, Dr. Nader stated, “Consciousness is not only the foundation of individual existence but also the source of all progress and harmony. Understanding and experiencing it fully can transform education, health, and societal well-being.” He also spoke about the creation of the universe, remarking, “The explosion of energy that created the universe, what we call the Big Bang, emerged from a singular, unified field of consciousness. This same consciousness exists within us, and through understanding it, we align ourselves with the very force that created life itself.”

His lecture captivated the audience, offering practical insights into how Vedic technologies can address modern challenges such as stress, mental clarity, and creativity. The event’s swift organization, accomplished in just two days, reflected the dedication of the participating institutions. It also underscored the growing relevance of Vedic teachings in fostering global peace and holistic development.

This gathering highlighted the potential of ancient wisdom to address contemporary global issues, reinforcing India’s leadership in promoting consciousness-based education.

Uptown by Advant Navis Business Park Rings in 2025 with Record-Breaking New Year’s Eve Footfall

Noida, 16.01.2025: Uptown by Advant Navis Business Park, located in Noida’s Sector 142, celebrated New Year’s Eve with an exceptional surge in footfall, recording an impressive 28,458 visitors on December 31, 2024. This marks a significant increase of over 30% compared to the 16,678 guests recorded last year. The surge highlights Uptown’s growing appeal as a premier lifestyle destination for celebrations, dining, and vibrant community experiences.

This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations at Uptown by Advant Navis Business Park were nothing short of spectacular, with visitors flocking to enjoy the festive spirit, lively entertainment, and diverse dining options. Restaurants and cafes reported excellent business, bolstered by exclusive promotions and themed events designed to elevate the guest experience. Attendees explored new culinary offerings, indulged in wellness services, and participated in engaging activities that created a memorable evening for all.

“We are thrilled by the incredible footfall this New Year’s Eve, which far exceeded our expectations. The live music, festive decorations, and vibrant atmosphere made the evening truly special for our visitors. This growth reflects the trust and enthusiasm of our community, and we are excited to launch new initiatives in 2025 to further enhance their experiences. From seasonal promotions to interactive activities, Uptown remains committed to delivering joy and fostering a strong sense of connection. We look forward to welcoming even more guests in the coming year and creating unforgettable moments for all,” said Mr. Sunil Sharma, Managing Director, Advant Navis Business Park.

“Our vision is to create a vibrant space where families and friends come together to celebrate life, enjoy premium dining, and connect with the community. The record-breaking footfall this New Year’s Eve inspires us to continue collaborating with our partners to showcase the best of our local and international offerings. 2025 will be a year of growth, innovation, and memorable experiences at Uptown. We invite everyone to join us on this exciting journey!” said Mr. Kamal Batra, Director, Advant Navis Business Park.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations featured festive decorations, live music performances, and a lively atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. A highlight of the night was a special countdown event with live entertainment that captivated visitors and encouraged them to explore Uptown’s offerings. The evening blended holiday cheer with a strong sense of community, making it an unforgettable experience for attendees.