Tag Archives: Calcutta

Anmol Rajan appointed ‘ The Independent ‘s Editor and becomes first non-white Editorial head of a UK national newspaper . June 2013 .

In a bold move Evgeny Lebedev the Russian owner of The Independent named, Anmol Rajan, a  29-year old Indian-origin journalist,as the newest editor of  The Independent newspaper on June 17th, 2013. He was the editor of The Independent Voics section. Rajan takes over from Chris Blackhurst who became Group Content Director.

Anmol Rajan one of the youngest ever at 29, makes Fleet Street history by becoming first non-white newspaper editorial head of a UK national newspaper creating ripples in London’s all-white Oxbridge media elite. And also the first- ethnic minority editor, a first-British Asian editor of a British national newspaper.

Rajan was born in Calcutta (Kolkata)on July 04th, 1983 , before moving to London as a three year old. He grew up in Tooting, South London and went on to read English literature at Downing College, Cambridge University and edited the prestigious student magazine ‘Varsity’. He spent his gap year working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

After graduating, Rajan worked briefly for the ‘Evening Standard’ and ‘Channel 5’ before moving to ‘The Independent’ in August 2007 where he rose through the ranks from being a news reporter , columnist, comment editor and editor of Independent Voices. He is also a devoted foodie, writing a restaurant column for The Independent on Sunday and appeared as a judge on BBC1’s Masterchef in April. Rajan was the secondary presenter on ‘The Wright Stuff’ the daytime talk show on the Five Network during its 2006-07 season. A former columnist of ‘The Salisbury Review’.

Anmol Rajan is also a volunteer youth worker with Prospex, a charity based in Islington.

Books: Anmol Rajan is a keen cricket fan and has even written a well regarded book ‘Twirlymen: Unlikely History of Cricket’s Greatest Spin Bowlers’ published by Random House in 2011.

India’s first ‘ Mr. Universe ‘ . 1952 .

Manohar Aich won the ‘ Mr. Universe’ title in the Group III Championship category in 1952, achieving greatness in becoming India’s first Mr.Universe. His global achievement came in an era, when the country rarely made heroes of its sports people.

The diminutive Manohar Aich also known as ‘Pocket Hercules’ having a height of 4’11” (approximately 1.5 metre tall). He was born in Dhamti village, Comilla district (now in Bangladesh). With Independence he moved to Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1949.

Manohar Aich attended the Jubilee school in Dhaka. Later he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1942 where he began his pursuit in body building. He was encouraged by a British officer named Reub Martin who introduced him to weight training.

In 1950 – he won the Mr. Hercules contest. In 1951 he stood 2nd in the Mr. Universe contest . He went to London for training and in 1952 he won the Mr. Universe title achieving body building glory. In 1955 he stood 3rd in the Mr.Universe contest.

The superfit centenarian Aich currently lives in Baguihati, north of Kolkata and celebrated his 100 years on Sunday, March 17th, 2013.