France awarded the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur to former Indian envoy Jawed Ashraf for his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations.

France on Wednesday conferred the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur — one of the country’s highest civilian honours — on former Indian envoy to Paris, Jawed Ashraf, in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations.

Ashraf, who served as envoy to France during 2020-2024, was presented the award by Ambassador Thierry Mathou during a ceremony at the French embassy on Wednesday. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991 and was appointed chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organization after his retirement in 2024.

“Ambassador Ashraf’s remarkable career and personal dedication have been pivotal in accelerating and deepening the bilateral relations between our two nations,” Mathou said, adding that Ashraf’s tenure envoy to France saw landmark achievements.

“I am honoured to be conferred the Insignia of the Commander of the Legion of Honour by the French Republic. It is particularly special to follow seven great luminaries of modern India, who have been earlier recipients of this honour,” Ashraf said. He added that the award is a reflection of the high importance and priority that France attaches to its relations with India and a testimony to the extraordinary progress made in the India-France strategic partnership under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron.

During his stint as Indian envoy to France, the two countries took several steps to deepen cooperation in strategic areas and defence, including the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets by the Indian Air Force. Ashraf also promoted the joint development and manufacture of military hardware.

The Legion of Honour was instituted in 1802 and has several levels, including the Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Chevalier. The Commander of the Legion of Honour has been awarded to only seven Indians so far – JRD Tata, Ratan Tata, Amartya Sen, Ravi Shankar, Satyajit Ray, SH Raza and Manna Dey. Ashraf is the first Indian diplomat to receive the honour.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The team at the firm, whose client list includes the Indian military, say there are several independent drone makers in Bengal with no ecosystem to support them.

Arnava Chakraborty and Anik Bhattacharya, like many youngsters in Bengal, were part of bands in school and college. The two school friends from Methodist Dankuni always wanted to build something, be it a guitar amplifier or something more sophisticated.

That passion resulted in DarkMatter, a start-up that makes drone components in the narrow lanes of Bally Halt in West Bengal, a state not world famous for being business-friendly.

Arnava Chakraborty and Anik Bhattacharya, like many youngsters in Bengal, were part of bands in school and college. The two school friends from Methodist Dankuni always wanted to build something, be it a guitar amplifier or something more sophisticated.

That passion resulted in DarkMatter, a start-up that makes drone components in the narrow lanes of Bally Halt in West Bengal, a state not world famous for being business-friendly.

DarkMatter started in a rented room that one of Bhattacharya’s relatives let them use with a single fan to keep it cool. Now, the single room has AC and an automated machine to assemble the drone parts, and unlimited snacks for long night sessions of programming.

Bhattacharya and Chakraborty have completed their engineering in Electronics and Electricals respectively from Academy of Technology, Adishaptagram.

Arnava Chakraborty and Anik Bhattacharya, like many youngsters in Bengal, were part of bands in school and college. The two school friends from Methodist Dankuni always wanted to build something, be it a guitar amplifier or something more sophisticated.

That passion resulted in DarkMatter, a start-up that makes drone components in the narrow lanes of Bally Halt in West Bengal, a state not world famous for being business-friendly.

DarkMatter started in a rented room that one of Bhattacharya’s relatives let them use with a single fan to keep it cool. Now, the single room has AC and an automated machine to assemble the drone parts, and unlimited snacks for long night sessions of programming.

Bhattacharya and Chakraborty have completed their engineering in Electronics and Electricals respectively from Academy of Technology, Adishaptagram.

“Anik and I have known each other since childhood,” Chakraborty tells My Kolkata. “We studied in the same school. We became proper friends in college. We always wanted to make something, be it an amplifier or a drone.”

The duo co-founded DarkMatter, which makes drone components such as flight controllers and electronic speed controllers, in 2022, and licensed it a year after. Now, DarkMatter is a four-man team, with Himadri Mukherjee as production manager and Rahul Setty as manufacturing handler.

Using four operating systems to fly-test their drones, the start-up has quickly become a force in the emerging market of drone making. DarkMatter says it is the only company of its kind in Bengal and the third such company in India.

“We have had to learn everything on our own,” says Mukherjee. “From flight simulations to operating systems, I learnt from the founders, who in turn learnt from trial and error.”

The idea for DarkMatter was formed when an acquaintance brought a large drone to Bhattacharya around 2022 to figure out how to use it.

“Once we dived into the components, we saw there is almost no sustainable market for drone enthusiasts. From no reliable component supplier to product quality, everything was haywire. That is how the idea of DarkMatter came into being,” Bhattacharya says.

“In China, Japan, or Switzerland, the electronics industry is developed. They have been developing from silicone. When they build a motherboard, they know what to do with the board. When the PCB was manufactured, they did the same thing. So, they see the industry at every stage.,” Chakraborty explains.

“We are seeing all these developments suddenly, where advancements have taken leaps. So, we are trying to grow from that stage with that backlog of knowledge.”

The DarkMatter folks say there are several independent drone makers in Bengal with no ecosystem to support them.

“Many people are making drones in Bengal. But the total, if you call it the infrastructure of business or maybe the start-up ecosystem, is lagging because there is no proper support,” Bhattacharya says. “Proper support comes in the form of funds, which should be distributed to start-ups who are doing real things or solving problems.

“Given the history of Bengal, no one wants to invest here either,” he adds. “In India, there are three prominent companies. One is us. The other two are IIT-backed.”

The slow growing research and development section for drone making thus faces a problem.

“People who develop things, because they have funds, they have a mental peace that even if the first two prototypes do not work, there’s a cushion. From the third prototype maybe it will show some results,” says Chakraborty.

Because Bengal lacks that cushion of funding for research, it is essentially the added risk for companies like DarkMatter to create prototypes for newer innovations, he says.

The team at DarkMatter say they have sold bulk orders to private buyers as well as Indian military divisions.

“The layman part [of drone usage] is for delivery of goods for a distance of 5 to 10km. Then there is surveillance. Daily progress update of what is happening and not. Then there is the mining sector. [Through drones] you get the daily report of how the mining is going on. There’s agriculture, leisure photography, and racing.

“Then, there is military use – from aerial surveillance to sending arms and ammunition. Drones can be also used as kamikaze drones, which reach a specified location and destroy stuff,” said Bhattacharya.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce has featured the duo in its Success Story magazine, and the company has also won first place at an all-India innovation conference in Delhi.

source/content: telegraphindia.com/ my-kolkata (headline edited)

This year’s selections include eight poetry collections, four novels, six short story collections, two essays, one literary criticism, one autobiography, and two memoirs.

Former diplomat and English author Navtej Sarna, acclaimed Hindi writer Mamta Kalia, noted novelist N Prabhakaran from Kerala, and Telugu poet Nandini Sidha Reddy are among the 24 authors selected for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2025. Sarna has been recognised for his English novel Crimson Spring, while Kalia receives the award for her memoir Jeete Jee Allahabad. Prabhakaran will be honoured for his novel Maayaamanushyar, and Reddy for his poetry collection Animesha.

This year’s selections include eight poetry collections, four novels, six short story collections, two essays, one literary criticism, one autobiography, and two memoirs.

The announcement comes months after the academy cancelled a scheduled press conference in December 2025 to declare the awards.

“Sahitya Akademi is pleased to announce its annual awards for 24 Indian languages recognised by it. Eight books of poetry, four novels, six books of short stories, two essays, one literary criticism, one autobiography, and two memoirs have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025,” the academy said in a statement.

Awardees will receive a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh at a ceremony on March 31, the academy added.

Other recipients include Prasun Bandyopadhyay for Shrestha Kabita (Bengali), Yogesh Vaidya for Bhattkhadaki (Gujarati), Amresh Nugadoni for Dada Seerisu Tande (Kannada), Raju Baviskar for Kalyanilya Resha (Marathi), Jinder for Safety Kit (Punjabi), Jitender Kumar Soni for Bharkhama (Rajasthani), and Sa Tamilselvan for Thamiz Sirukathaiyin Thadangal (Tamil).

Other awardees include Pritpal Singh Betab (Safar Jari Hai, Urdu), Bhagwan Atlani (Waghoo, Sindhi), Sumitra Soren (Mid Birna Chenne Saon Inag Sagai, Santali), Mahamahopadhyay Sahu Bhadreshdas (Prasthanacatustaye Brahmaghosah, Sanskrit), Girijakumar Baliyar Singh (Padapurana, Odia), Prakash Bhattarai (Nepali Paramparik Sanskriti Ra Sabhyata Ko Dukuti, Nepali), and Haobam Nalini (Kanglamdriba Eephut, Manipuri).

The December press conference was cancelled following directives from the Union Ministry of Culture, reportedly over concerns about the selection process. The Sahitya Akademi, which functions autonomously under the ministry, expressed displeasure at the deferment, reaffirming its independence in the selection of awardees.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The tulip garden was among 44 destinations closed for tourists last year following the Pahalgam terror attack in April that killed 26 people. It reopened this year after a security audit.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, centre, during a visit to the Tulip Garden, in Srinagar, Monday, March 16, 2026. (All images by PTI)

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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday threw open Asia’s largest tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake here for visitors, and hoped that the tourism sector bounces back from the setbacks of last year.

Abdullah was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues and National Conference MLAs to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on Cheshma Shahi Road, officials said.

“This will be a new start for those associated with the tourism industry. They had to go through a very tough phase. However, the situation keeps changing, and we hope that it improves to enable people from outside to come and enjoy the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah told reporters.

The tulip garden was among 44 destinations closed for tourists last year following the Pahalgam terror attack in April that killed 26 people. It reopened this year after a security audit.

Abdullah said various stakeholders are working on making floriculture a commercial venture whereby flowers grown here are exported to other parts of the country.

“Most things are in place. A reliable cold chain is the issue right now. Once we get that, be it through rail or air, this sector can bloom,” he said.

Abdullah also said that efforts are underway to develop tulip bulbs locally to save the expenditure on importing them from the Netherlands.

“This will save foreign exchange as well,” he said.

On security at tourist places, Abdullah said those responsible for security would definitely make their presence felt at all the tourist destinations.

The garden was opened for visitors almost 10 days ahead of schedule, as the Valley experienced warmer days that led to early blooming of the flowers.

The garden, which was added to the tourist spots of Kashmir in 2008, is usually opened for visitors in the last week of March.

However, as Kashmir witnessed the hottest February in decades, the tulips started to bloom early.

More than 70 varieties of tulips will be on display at the garden as the floriculture department has increased the density of bulbs to give a richer look to the garden, where over 1.8 million bulbs have been planted.

Cultural events have also been lined up to add to the attraction.

The response was encouraging on the opening day, as a large number of tourists and locals were seen waiting outside the garden before its formal opening.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The delay is only a few hundred milliseconds, and the developers are now focusing on regional languages, project leader Vineet Gandhi says.

A whisper. A few slurred words. For those who suffer from dysarthria, a motor speech disorder, basic communication is a challenge, indelibly affecting both their professional and personal life. But now a new innovation based on artificial intelligence (AI) and developed in India could be life-changing.

Led by associate professor Vineet Gandhi of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad, a team has developed a simple app that can help people talk as an audio translation converts the speaker’s voice almost in real-time. The app can either convert slurred speech into clear, natural-sounding speech or use a camera to analyse lip movements and subtle throat vibrations to generate intelligible speech.

While the current project runs in English, the team’s next aim is to take these technologies to regional languages, including Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, as many across the country do not have the means to benefit from accessibility-focused AI models. For this work, Mr. Gandhi won the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) award in 2026.

Excerpts from an interview:

What inspired you to begin work on this humanitarian AI project?

My research has always been driven by a simple question: what real problem can technology help solve?

While my academic training is primarily in computer vision, about four years ago, I began to see exciting possibilities emerging in speech research and decided to explore the field more deeply. I became increasingly aware of the challenges faced by many individuals who lose their ability to speak due to medical conditions: the impact of this loss extends far beyond communication — it affects independence, identity, and connection.

Recognising this need inspired me to focus my work on accessibility-driven technologies designed to restore or enable speech, with the goal of helping people regain their voice.

Could you describe how the app works for people with speech impairment?

The app is designed to convert impaired or distorted speech into clear, natural-sounding speech with only a few hundred milliseconds of delay. A user simply speaks in their own voice, and the system processes it to produce intelligible speech for the listener.

We are also developing a complementary lip-to-speech capability, where a person can silently move their lips and the system generates the corresponding speech.

A key aspect we are focusing on is personalisation, where users can calibrate and refine the application to their voice by reading few minutes of text on the app.

We aim for these technologies to be integrated into common communication platforms, such as web-based calling applications, making everyday communication easier for people with speech impairments.

You also aim to expand this technology to regional Indian languages. How do you hope to achieve this?

At present, much of the global speech technology ecosystem is predominantly designed for English, and our initial experiments have naturally followed the same trajectory. However, a major goal of our research is to extend these capabilities to regional Indian languages, where accessible speech technologies are equally important.

To achieve this, we plan to collect speech data in Indian languages and develop data-efficient models suited for low-resource scenarios. Our approach includes data augmentation and efficient fine-tuning of pre-trained models.

We have already conducted preliminary experiments in Hindi with promising results, and with support from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, we aim to further enhance and expand this work to additional Indian languages.

You believe that “accessibility and linguistic diversity” are crucial for AI research in India. Could you elaborate?

Accessibility and linguistic diversity are fundamental considerations for AI research in India. Having spent several years in Europe, I observed that accessibility is far more systematically integrated into public infrastructure and digital services there.

In contrast, India still has significant gaps, even in public spaces such as railway stations, where basic accessibility provisions are often limited. This highlights the broader need to design technologies that consciously include people with disabilities.

At the same time, India’s linguistic diversity presents another important dimension. In many parts of the country, particularly in rural regions, speech remains the most natural and primary mode of interaction. Text-heavy or typing-based interfaces may not always be practical or inclusive in such contexts. Therefore, AI systems designed for India must prioritise speech-based interaction and support multiple regional languages.

Taken together, meaningful accessibility and strong support for linguistic diversity are essential if digital technologies are to be truly inclusive and widely usable across the country.

WHO has said the “future of healthcare is digital”…

The World Health Organization has emphasised that the future of healthcare will be increasingly digital. In a country like India, telemedicine can play a transformative role, particularly when supported by basic diagnostic infrastructure at the local level, which enables more accurate remote consultations.

Another important direction is AI-assisted diagnostics, where machine learning systems analyse medical images, speech, or health records to support early disease detection and prediction.

Practical solutions are already emerging. For example, ‘Shishu Maapan’ developed by Wadhwani AI helps measure newborn weight and size simply from mobile photos and is being adopted by frontline health workers such as ASHA workers.

Digital tools are also enabling assistive healthcare technologies, including speech restoration systems for individuals who have lost their ability to speak, and wearable devices that continuously monitor health parameters and alert doctors to potential anomalies. These developments illustrate how digital innovation can make healthcare more accessible and scalable.

A common criticism of AI-generated speech is that while it’s intelligible, it often fails to capture the unique cadence of the speaker. When restoring a voice to someone with dysarthria, how do you balance the need for clear communication with the need to preserve the user’s individual human essence?

This is an important concern. If recordings of the speaker’s original voice from before the onset of dysarthria are available, modern voice cloning techniques can recreate that voice with as little as 10 seconds of speech. So preserving an individual’s vocal identity is technically feasible today, and there is substantial research demonstrating this capability. Our current app, however, focuses primarily on restoring content intelligibility, ensuring that what the user intends to say is conveyed clearly. For now, the generated speech uses a common voice rather than a personalised one.

That said, text-to-speech systems are becoming increasingly natural, to the point that they are now being integrated into conversational bots replacing many traditional customer service applications. Emotional nuance remains more challenging, as we discussed in our earlier work on empathic speech generation , but progress is rapid.

How does the model differentiate between impaired speech and a noisy background as the user navigates, say, a busy Indian street?

This is indeed a significant challenge in India, where real-world environments can be extremely chaotic. Anyone who has thought about deploying self-driving cars here quickly realizes how unpredictable our roads can be: traffic patterns, honking, pedestrians, and vehicles all interacting in highly dynamic ways. Speech technology faces a similar level of complexity.

In our experiments, we improve robustness using noise augmentation, where we simulate different noisy environments during training so the model learns to handle background sounds. Ultimately, the most effective solution is to collect and train on more real-world data from noisy settings. Even then, some performance degradation is inevitable because separating impaired speech from heavy background noise is fundamentally a difficult problem.

divya.gandhi@thehindu.co.in

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Plan stresses joint operations, emerging technologies and indigenous defence capabilities .

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) released Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military at an event in South Block, outlining a long-term strategy to transform India’s armed forces into a modern, integrated and technologically advanced military by the centenary of Independence.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the comprehensive vision document has been prepared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and lays out a blueprint to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces in line with the country’s ambition of becoming a developed nation—Viksit Bharat—by 2047.

Officials said the roadmap identifies key strategic reforms, capability enhancements and organisational changes required to address the rapidly evolving geopolitical, technological and security landscape. The document envisages transforming the military into an integrated, multi-domain and agile force capable of deterring adversaries, responding across the full spectrum of conflict and safeguarding India’s expanding strategic interests.

A central pillar of the vision is greater jointness among the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The document emphasises deeper coordination in planning, operations and capability development to ensure seamless integration among the three Services.

It also underscores the need to leverage innovation, emerging technologies and modern training frameworks to prepare the armed forces for future warfare. Another major focus area is strengthening self-reliance in defence by promoting indigenous technologies and solutions tailored to India’s security needs, the MoD added.

The document outlines a phased roadmap with prioritised capability goals across short, medium and long-term timelines. Officials said this structured approach would guide the development of critical military capabilities, institutional reforms and strategic partnerships needed to build a world-class defence force.

Highlighting the complexity of emerging security challenges, the document advocates a whole-of-nation approach that integrates military strength with diplomatic, technological and economic power to safeguard national interests.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Last week, Diggi, who now runs a small IT services startup called Ipil Innovation, launched a new version with more than 10,000 words to make it fully usable in daily life.

In 2017, app developer Krishna Diggi of the Ho tribe in Chaibasa in Jharkhand’s Kolhan region wanted to create something meaningful with his skills. A self-taught developer, he aimed to build something that would be both accessible and help preserve and perpetuate the indigenous language.

That’s how the Ho mobile dictionary was born. “Many people from our community are studying or working in cities like Bengaluru or other places. They don’t always get the environment to speak the language there,” the 33-year-old tells The Indian Express. “The idea is to ensure the language remains relevant in an increasingly digital world.”

Last week, Diggi, who now runs a small IT services startup called Ipil Innovation, launched a new version with more than 10,000 words to make it fully usable in daily life. While the primary audience for the app are young Ho speakers living outside their homeland, Krishna also hopes the tool will encourage non-Ho speakers — including researchers and language enthusiasts — to learn more about the language and its structure.

Among these users is Dobro Biruly, a Ho writer and language activist based in Chaibasa, who believes such digital tools mark an important step in bringing indigenous languages into the modern technological space. This is particularly significant since the Ho script, Warang Chiti, received international recognition after being included in the Unicode Standard in 2014 — meaning it can be used in modern digital environments alongside other major languages.

“Today the world is moving into the digital space, and our languages also need to find their place there,” Biruly says. “When young people from the community build tools like a digital dictionary, it helps strengthen both language learning and cultural identity.”

Dildar Purty, an assistant professor who teaches the Ho language at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University in Ranchi, agrees, saying digital tools play a crucial role in language preservation, especially among younger generations.

“Young people today spend far more time on their mobile phones than with books. In this digital age, reaching learners through technology can sometimes be more effective than traditional printed materials,” Purty says.

Keeping identity alive

Ho is part of the Austroasiatic language family, which includes Vietnamese, Khmer and Santhali. Closely related to Mundari, it is also spoken in parts of West Bengal, apart from Odisha and Jharkhand. In 2011, it received ‘second official language’ status in Jharkhand.

According to the 2011 Census, Ho has 14.21 lakh speakers, with over 9 lakh in Jharkhand alone.

The first version of the project was a simple desktop software for personal computers.

“Most of the work has been done voluntarily by a small team of contributors, including academics and language experts. The main investment has been time,” he says.

But as smartphone use grew rapidly, Krishna and a small group of collaborators decided to shift focus to a mobile application. After working on it gradually for several years, often alongside other professional commitments, the group released the first version on the Google Play Store in 2021.

The app functions primarily as a trilingual dictionary, allowing users to search for words in English, Hindi and Ho. It also provides translations and example sentences and includes words written in Warang Chiti, a script developed specifically for the language.

Beyond language learning, Krishna sees digital tools as a way to address a long-standing challenge faced by many indigenous languages: that of accessibility. Traditionally, dictionaries and learning materials have been produced in print, a process that can be expensive and difficult to distribute widely. “If someone publishes a book, the cost is high and the reach is limited. But if we create digital tools, people anywhere in the world can access them,” he said.

But the dictionary plays another vital role: it helps preserve the Ho identity, especially in an era when English and Hindi dominate digital spaces. “Language is one of the biggest markers of our identity.”

Writer Biruly agrees. “For languages that are still struggling for wider recognition, even a small step like an app can be significant,” Biruly says. “It shows that the community itself is taking initiative to preserve and develop the language.”

Meanwhile, Krishna hopes digital tools such as an online dictionary will help gain wider recognition for the language, and even help its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which currently recognises 22 languages.

“We have currently approximately 10,000 downloads after the upgrade. If one day the app reaches one lakh downloads, it will show how many people are actively interested in learning and using the language,” he says. “That kind of data can also demonstrate its relevance.”

Krishna now hopes to expand the app’s vocabulary and add translation tools. He also plans to allow users to suggest new words that can be reviewed by language experts and incorporated into future updates.

For him, the goal remains simple: ensuring the Ho language continues to evolve alongside modern technology. “Today’s generation is on the internet,” he said. “If our language does not enter the digital world, it will slowly disappear. We have to bring it there.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Besides Guruswamy, TMC candidates Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar, and Koel Mallick and BJP candidate Rahul Sinha were also elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 9.

Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy was on Monday elected to the Rajya Sabha on a ticket by the All India Trinamool Congress.

Guruswamy, a renowned lawyer has become the country’s first member from the LGBTQ community to be elected as a Member of Parliament.

Besides Guruswamy, TMC candidates Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar, and Koel Mallick and BJP candidate Rahul Sinha were also elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 9.

Her election to the Rajya Sabha also comes shortly after she represented the Trinamool Congress in a legal dispute concerning searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Guruswamy had appeared before the court in proceedings challenging the ED’s searches at the premises of political consulting firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which is associated with election strategy and political campaigns.

Our Rajya Sabha elects, Smt. @yourkoel, Smt. @MenakaGuruswamy Shri Rajeev Kumar, and Shri @SuPriyoBabul, received their winning certificates today.

We are confident that, following the ideals of Smt. @MamataOfficial and the guidance of Shri @abhishekaitc, they will strongly… pic.twitter.com/LJcQZh6xy5

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 9, 2026

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source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2010. Naveen Patnaik said Kulke ‘brought Odisha’s rich heritage into global academic discourse’.

Eminent historian and Indologist, Prof Hermann Kulke, considered the foremost global voice of Odisha’s culture and history, died on Tuesday. He was 87 years old.

Born in Berlin in 1938, Kulke was a Professor Emeritus of South and Southeast Asian History at Kiel University in Germany. He completed his PhD in Indology on the temple city of Chidambaram from Freiburg University in 1967, and his D.Litt on Gajapati Kingship and the Jagannath Cult from Heidelberg University in 1975.

He was a founding member and coordinator of the first two Orissa Research Projects of the German Research Council and taught Indian history for 21 years at the South Asia Institute at Heidelberg University.

He was based in Odisha for several years and was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2010.

In his 1975 thesis, ‘Jagannatha Cult and Gajapati-Kingship. A Contribution to the History of Religious Legitimation of Hindu Rulers’, Prof Kulke explored how the Jagannath Cult served as a mechanism for political legitimation in medieval Odisha and how the Gajapati kings used the deity to solidify their authority.

He studied how, like in Odisha, Chola kingship ideology was also strongly associated with a monumental temple — the Rajarajesvara or Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, constructed by Rajaraja I in the early 11th century.

Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik condoled Prof Kulke’s death. “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of eminent historian and Padma Shri awardee Prof Hermann Kulke. His demise is a profound loss to the world of history and Indology. His leadership at Orissa Research Project; pioneering research on Odisha’s culture, history and Shree Jagannatha tradition brought Odisha’s rich heritage into global academic discourse. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace,” wrote Patnaik.

Taking to X, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo said, “Deeply saddened by the passing of eminent historian and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Hermann Kulke. His pioneering research on Odisha’s history, culture, and politics has left an indelible mark on Indology and will continue to inspire generations of scholars. As a founding member of the Orissa Research Project, his contributions to the study of our state’s heritage remain unparalleled. May his soul rest in peace.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Sanju Samson dominated NZ alongside Abhishek Sharma, who saved his best for the last in India’s 255 for five against New Zealand in the final.

India on Sunday became the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title, and the first to lift it three times, after beating New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Sanju Samson dominated New Zealand alongside Abhishek Sharma, who saved his best for the last in India’s 255 for five against New Zealand in the final. Ishan Kishan (54 off 25 balls) joined them, forming a top three that left New Zealand stunned.

Abhishek capitalised on Mitchell Santner’s errors with a 21-ball-52, while Samson scored 89 off 46 balls with eight sixes — a few over long-on, a couple over square leg, down the ground, and over long-off.

After Rachin Ravindra (1/32 in 2 overs) removed Abhishek following a 98-run opening stand off 43 balls, Kishan kept the momentum with four sixes and four boundaries.

A 105-run partnership off 48 balls pushed India past 200 before Jimmy Neesham (3/46 in four overs) removed Samson, Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in the 16th over.

New Zealand’s Tim Seifert tried to keep the chase alive with a brisk 52 off 26 balls, but the rest of the top order failed to make an impact in the big run chase.

Axar Patel removed Finn Allen for 9 and later dismissed Glenn Phillips for 5, while Jasprit Bumrah sent back Rachin Ravindra for 1.

The pressure continued to build as Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy picked up a wicket each, leaving New Zealand five down by the halfway mark.

On Nov 19, 2023, Rohit Sharma’s men had lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final at the same venue. More recently, South Africa beat India by 76 runs in the opening Super 8 match of this tournament, putting their qualification hopes in doubt.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)