Tag Archives: India World Record

WORLD / NATIONAL: WORLD RECORD SPORTS : Sibling Sisters, 10-year old Ovee Malve and Ruchi Malve from Bengaluru become World’s Youngest Certified Scuba Diver Sisters

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving.

A day after turning 10, Bengaluru-based Ovee Malve set a world record of becoming the youngest certified scuba diver.

With this, both Ovee and her sister Ruchi, daughters of Bangalore Mountaineering Club founder Neeraj Malve, have become the youngest certified scuba diver siblings in the world. Neeraj himself has been a scuba diver for 16 years now. Ovee achieved the feat in Puducherry at 7.18 am on October 11, becoming the youngest Professional Association of Diving Instructors-certified open water diver. 

Elated and proud, Neeraj said he understands that adventure sports are not easy, especially at a young age. He never pressured his children and ensured that they underwent proper training. The daughters were water babies since they were little and were fascinated with his scuba diving videos.

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving, he said. Ovee enrolled for a junior open water diver course at Temple Adventures, Puducherry and trained under coach Shreya Mehta. 

Her sister Ruchi (14) trained under Shaurya Tarni of Dive Goa in Goa. Ruchi enrolled for the Junior Open Water Diver certification course on October 27, 2022 and received the Scuba Schools International certificate on October 30, 2022. At the age of 10 and 13, both Malve sisters have become the world’s youngest scuba diver sisters.

Previously, a Mumbai-based boy, Dwit Nandu, at age 10 set the world record around 8 am on August 25, 2023.

Both the sisters underwent two-day rigorous training which included a 200-metre nonstop swimming and floating for 10 minutes without any support. 

They studied five chapters of theory about performing underwater skills in confined waters, passed a written exam and successfully performed four dives in open water up to 18-metre depth to earn their open water diver certification.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES: IIT Madras develops Steam-based method to Sterilise Medical Equipment

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a solar-thermal steam-based system that can help sterilise medical equipment in remote and rural areas, where access to electricity and water could be an issue.

The project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, uses portable steam cylinders charged by renewable energy-based stations (like solar energy) that are placed strategically in rural areas for power generation, steam generation and other uses.

The team also designed special sterilisation chambers to utilise such portably stored steam and effectively sterilise the tools.

“A portable steam storage canister can be a great contribution by facilitating minor medical interventions in the developing world by sterilising surgical instruments and combating infections in rural areas,” said Prof. Sathyan Subbiah, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, in a statement.

“The portable canister is developed with multi-layer insulation, which can retain useful heat of steam, generated via solar plants for longer duration thus making it a viable option to sterilise equipment in remote areas. The steam that is produced in the solar plant or any other means can be stored in the portable canister which can be transported to remote locations to carry out the sterilisation activities,” he added.

Safe sterilisation of surgical instruments and other medical tools are important aspects in the health care sector. It involves cleaning and disinfecting the previously-used contaminated surgical tools before subsequent use. Steam sterilisation is one of the best disinfecting methods.

Currently, doctors carry with them a set of sterilised tools, which limits the number of patients they can see at the camp.

The project was demonstrated during a medical camp at IIT Madras campus on October 14, and is all set for further trials, following which it is intended to be deployed in the field.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE & AVIATION: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) hands over First LCA Tejas Twin Seater Aircraft to Indian Air Force (IAF)

HAL said the twin seater variant has all the capabilities to support the training requirements of the IAF and augments itself to the role of fighter as well in case of necessity.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first LCA Tejas twin seater to the Indian Air Force in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence & Tourism Ajay Bhatt at a ceremony in Bengaluru on Wednesday, October 4.

The LCA Tejas Twin Seater is a lightweight, all-weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft. It is designed to support the training requirements of the IAF and augment itself to the role of a fighter in case of necessity.

It is a huge boost to self-reliance, said the minister in his address to the audience. “I am proud to be part of this historic occasion and salute the spirit of HAL which has been spearheading Swadeshi manufacturing in defence,” he said.

Mr. Bhatt unveiled the twin seater LCA. “In all, the development of LCA Tejas has also brought about a shift in our approach to defence procurement. It has demonstrated that India has the talent, knowledge and capability to design, develop and manufacture world-class fighters,” he added.

More LCAs to be procured

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said that IAF would be going ahead to procure 97 more LCAs, and with this it will have 220 LCAs in its inventory.

C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD (Addl. Charge), HAL said that the company is committed to deliver all the twin-seater aircraft pertaining to Initial Operational Configuration (IOC) and Final Operational Configuration (FOC) contract to IAF in the current financial year.

“With this, we are moving one step closer towards achieving self-sufficiency on the fixed wing segment. These trainers also ensure smooth transition for the pilots from trainer to fighter aircraft in this class,” he added.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, HAL CMD (Addl. Charge) C.B. Ananthakrishnan, Director General, ADA, Girish S. Deodhare, A.P.V.S Prasad, CE (A), CEMILAC, officials from IAF, MoD, DGAQA, DRDO, HAL and production partners attended the event.

The Release to Service Document (RSD) and the Signalling out Certificate (SOC) were also handed over during the event.

Entering the elite club

The LCA Tejas twin seater boasts of technologies such as relaxed static-stability, quadraplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the airframe.

The production of the LCA twin seater variant adds India to the list of very few elite countries who have created such a capability and have them operational in their Defence Forces.

IAF had earlier placed orders for 20 IOC standard aircraft and 20 FOC standard aircraft, including eight twin seater trainers. Thirty two Mk-1 single seater aircrafts have already been inducted by the IAF.

In 2021, the Defence Ministry had signed a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL to supply 83 LCA-Mk1A, a more capable fighter than the current LCA-MK1 in service.

As per contract, three LCA-MK1A are scheduled to be delivered to the IAF in February 2024 and 16 aircraft per year for the subsequent five years.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : ARTS & CRAFTS / PHOTOGRAPHy: Photographer Gauri Gill Wins the Prestigious 10th Annual ‘Prix Pictet Photography and Sustainability Award’

Gill was selected from the shortlist of 12 photographers for her series ‘Notes from the Desert’.

Photographer Gauri Gill has won the prestigious 10th Annual Prix Pictet Photography and Sustainability Award, securing the massive prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs (approximately $109,219). This award is recognised as one of the world’s most significant, if not the largest, prizes in the realm of photography.

The award was announced on Thursday, September 28.

“On my many visits to rural Rajasthan, I have witnessed a complex reality I knew nothing about as a city dweller. To live poor and landless in the desert amounts to an inescapable reliance on oneself, on each other, and on nature,” said Gill.

The Prix Pictet is described as the world’s leading award for photography and sustainability. Founded in 2008 by the Pictet Group – a Swiss multinational private bank and financial services company – the award’s goal is to harness the power of photography to draw global attention to critical environmental issues.

Entry to this competition is only allowed to individuals nominated through Prix Pictet’s  global network of over 300 nominators which includes critics, curators, and other specialists in the visual arts.

Nominators are asked to recommend portfolios that have the power and artistic quality demanded by the prize.

Since it was founded, the organisation says that more than 5,000 photographers have been nominated, “all of whose work in one way or another testifies to the fragile state of our planet.”

“In a world facing unprecedented challenges, from social inequality to environmental crises, it was crucial to turn the lens towards humanity itself. The theme Human provides a platform to explore the complexities, vulnerabilities, and strengths of the human condition. It allows the artists to capture and communicate the stories, struggles and triumphs of individuals and communities around the globe,” Executive Director of Prix Pictet, Isabelle von Ribbentrop, said.

“Through this theme, Prix Pictet aims to foster a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and inspire meaningful conversations about the issues that impact us all. Especially when thinking about the theme Human, I strongly believe that instead of the future of photography, we should think about photography of the future. The power of the image lies in its ability to foreground critical and urgent environmental issues in a visually impactful yet direct way.”

Gill’s work emphasises her belief in working with and through community, in what she calls ‘active listening’. For more than two decades, she has been closely engaged with marginalised communities in the desert of western Rajasthan, Northern India and for the last decade with Indigenous artists in Maharashtra.

Her winning series ‘Notes from the Desert’ began in April 1999 when she set out to photograph village schools in Rajasthan. Having grown up mainly in cities, she soon realised that rural schools were a microcosm of a complex reality she knew nothing about.

Visiting the same people and places over decades, she witnessed the whole spectrum of life: drought years and great monsoon; dust storms leading to widespread fevers and floods leading to the rebuilding of homes; epidemics; overwhelmed hospitals and understaffed school; festivals, feuds, celebrations, and prayers.

source/content: thewire.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: AGRICULTURE : SCIENCE : Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) Bhopal team conducts Genome Sequencing of Indian Gooseberry Plant (Amla)

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have for the first time unravelled the draft genome of the Indian gooseberry plant, popularly known as Amla.

Understanding the genetic composition of Amla can help us understand their origins, evolution, and how they create the biochemicals that are of medicinal value.

While Amla holds significant pharmaceutical and nutritional importance, its genetic composition has hitherto not been studied in detail.

“We analysed the genome and transcriptome of the amla plant using leaves from our campus. We employed advanced sequencing technologies, including 10x Genomics and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing, along with transcriptomic sequencing,” said lead researcher Dr Vineet Sharma, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at IISER Bhopal, in a statement.

Amla is a well-known plant indigenous to South Asian countries and has been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine and home remedies for centuries.

The stone-fruit of the Amla tree is believed to have high Vitamin C content, in addition to being a rich source of various phytochemicals, minerals, and amino acids. Amla has been thought to be effective in treating conditions like unhealthy levels of fat, Type-2 diabetes, chronic gum diseases, symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, and more.

Apart from obtaining the draft genome structure of the Amla for the first time, the researchers also identified genes responsible for vitamin C biosynthesis and compared them with genes in other plants that bear vitamin C-rich fruits.

The team found that Amla’s exceptional antioxidant power comes from the adaptive evolution of certain genes involved in the production of antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids.

Amla’s abundant vitamin C content and the remarkable capacity of each tree to yield up to 100 kg of fruits make it superior to other vitamin C-rich fruits such as the West Indian cherry from Mexico and the camu camu fruit found in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela and makes it a perfect choice for switching from the synthetic to a natural source of Vitamin C.

According to the research team, the adaptive evolution of this plant could be one of the key reasons for its easy adaptation to various climatic zones and environmental conditions.

“The analysis of the whole genomic landscape of the Amla also helped us in understanding its evolutionary descent in comparison with 26 other plant species. It will also help in developing improved nutraceuticals, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, and for further horticultural and genomic studies,” Dr Sharma said.

The findings have been published recently in the open-access journal, Frontiers in Plant Science.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL RECORDS: WORLD RECORD FOR AN INDIAN ARTIST: Amrita Sher-Gil’s ‘The Story Teller’ sets Record for Highest Price of Rs.61.8 crore, Achieved by an Indian Artist on September 16th, 2023 by-passing the Previous Record held by S H Raza’s ‘Gestation’ of Rs. 51.7 crore

Amrita Sher-Gil “sought inspiration in Pahari paintings” to paint The Story Teller.

Painted during an important period in her oeuvre, Amrita Sher-Gil’s 1937 canvas The Story Teller sold for a whopping Rs 61.8 crore ($7.44 million) on September 16, setting a world record for the highest price achieved by an Indian artist.

The iconic work led Saffronart’s Evening Sale: Modern Art, which featured more than 70 artworks from prominent artists, including significant works by modern masters V S Gaitonde and S H Raza, and early works by Tyeb Mehta, M F Husain, F N Souza, and Akbar Padamsee.

Before this sale, the most expensive Indian artwork sold at an auction was S H Raza’s Gestation, which had fetched ₹51.75 crore.

Describing the significance of the Sher-Gil artwork, a note released by Saffronart before the auction had pointed out it was executed “during an important formative period in the artist’s oeuvre that saw her European and Indian influences merge into a unique artistic language”.

In one of the “few works that she painted en plein air”, the release added, “The dominant subjects are women—who feature in many of her works—depicted as close-knit figures, crafting an inherent intimacy within the canvas. The work is an example of the artist’s most honest and expressive compositions, one that Sher-Gil herself was especially fond of as evidenced by the numerous mentions of this work in her letters.”

A note on The Story Teller on the Saffronart website quotes art connoisseur Karl Khandalavala suggesting that “it sought inspiration in Pahari paintings”. “The cows, the women folk, and the setting, though all far removed in technique from those of Basohli miniature, are pregnant with its lyricism and vivid colour,” states Khandalavala.

Born in 1913 in Budapest to an Indian Sikh aristocrat father and Hungarian-Jewish opera singer mother, Sher-Gil was eight when she moved to Shimla. Though she was already painting, her uncle Ervin Baktay encouraged her to develop her own vocabulary and pursue formal training.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: 15 September – National Engineers Day: The Story of M Visvesvaraya, India’s Pioneering Civil Engineer

Having played a role in major public works projects across the nation, he later served as the 19th Dewan of Mysore and wrote two books on the Indian economy. Here is a look at his life and his legacy.

September 15 is marked as the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861-1962), credited for his role as a civil engineer and administrator in colonial India.

Born on September 15, 1861, in the Muddenahalli village of Karnataka, ​​Visvesvaraya completed his school education in his hometown and later on went to study Bachelor of Arts at the University of Madras. He then pursued a diploma in civil engineering at the College of Science in Pune. Having played a role in major public works projects across the nation, he later served as the 19th Dewan of Mysore and wrote two books on the Indian economy. Here is a look at his life and his legacy.

After completing his engineering from the Poona College of Science, Visvesvaraya accepted an offer to work as an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Bombay. He was 22 at the time and one of his first projects was to construct a pipe syphon across one of Panjra river’s channels. On November 15, 1909, he joined the Mysore service as Chief Engineer, ultimately assuming the position of the 19th Dewan of Mysore.

However, he took voluntary retirement in 1918 because he did not agree with the proposal to set aside state jobs for the “non-brahmin” community. After his retirement, he presided as chairman or became a member of various committees including the Bombay Technical and Industrial Education Committee, Bombay University Committee for Promoting Chemical Industries and the Cauvery Canal Committee.

M Visvesvaraya’s significant works

Some of his significant works include the introduction of the block system of irrigation in the Deccan canals in 1899, solving the problem of the “muddy and discoloured” water in the city of Sukkur located on the banks of the Indus river and inventing automatic gates meant to regulate the flow of water in reservoirs, which is patented.

According to Vigyan Prasar, “The objective of the Block System of Irrigation was ‘to distribute the benefits of an irrigation work over a large number of villages and to concentrate the irrigation in each village within blocks of specified limits and in selected soils and situations’”. The Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Karnataka was the first to install these gates in the 1920s.

He also travelled abroad a few times and sought to understand aspects of other countries’ systems. In Italy, he studied for two months the soil erosion problem and their irrigation and drainage works. While there, he also took a trip to the sewers of Milan, accompanied by the Chief Engineer responsible for the Milan Drainage Works and asked him some particularly “large questions” which the officer was confused about, since he thought that British officers would be responsible for all such “higher work”. To this, Visvesvaraya responded that Indians’ services were appreciated and utilised if they had the necessary qualifications and worked hard.

In a speech delivered on March 16, 1912, at Central College Bangalore , Visvesvaraya said: “As compared with Europe, our climate and traditions all pre-dispose us to a life of inaction and ease. We are influenced either by religious sentiment, class patriotism or belief in kismet, whereas the activities of Western nations rest on an economic basis. While they think and act in conformity with economic necessities, we expect to prosper without acquiring the scientific precision, the inventive faculty, the thoroughness, the discipline and restraints of modern civilisation.”

On another occasion, he said: “Progress on modern lines is a necessity. We cannot afford to ignore scientific discoveries which have almost vivified material nature. Past ideals were for past times. We must adopt ourselves to the everlasting conditions of existence or be content to be left behind in the race for material prosperity.”

Visvesvaraya pleaded for a “self-examination not moral or spiritual, but secular – that is, a survey and analysis of local conditions in India and a comparative study of the same” with those in other parts of the globe.

His books, “Reconstructing India” and “Planned Economy of India” were published in 1920 and 1934, respectively.

On Education

During his three-month visit to Japan in 1898, Visvesvaraya realised that education largely determines the health of an economy. In his, “Memoirs of Working Life”, which was published in 1951, he noted that while in Japan there were some 1.5 million girls in school, there were only over 400,000 of them in Indian schools, “notwithstanding the vastly greater population in our country”.

Visvesvaraya was instrumental in the setting up of the University of Mysore in July 1916, as he was the Dewan of Mysore at the time. He believed that the aim of an educational institution should be in line with the “state of the country’s civilisation and of its material prosperity”, and that the conditions inside a university should not be very different from the ones a student has to encounter in real life.

After taking a voluntary retirement from state service in 1918, he continued work including on the Mysore Iron and Steel Works and established the Sir Jayachamarajendra Occupational Institute in Bangalore in 1943, which was later renamed Sir Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic. This institute was meant to impart special training to technicians keeping in mind the impending industrial development of India.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: DEFENCE / INDIAN AIR FORCE / MAKE IN INDIA : Airbus Defence & Space hands over First of the 56, C-295 Transport Aircraft to IAF at a ceremony in Spanish city of Seville. The 1st Make in India C-295 will roll out from Vadodara in 2026.

The final assembly line for the C295 aircraft in Vadodara is set to be operational in November next year.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Wednesday received the first of the 56 C295 transport aircraft two years after India sealed a Rs 21,935-crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure the jets to replace its ageing Avro–748 fleet.

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari, receiving the aircraft at the aerospace major’s production facility in the southern Spanish city of Seville, described it as a “momentous day” for the IAF and India as 40 C-295 out of the total fleet will be manufactured in Vadodara.

“It is a momentous day for us, for the Indian Air Force in particular, and a nation as a whole to receive the first aircraft which marks the beginning of a new era, wherein we will be manufacturing 40 of these aircraft in India,” he said.

Under the deal, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville by 2025 and the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

“It gives a tremendous boost to the capability of moving our forces to the frontline when required,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said.

The Chief of Air Staff also took a sortie on the new aircraft.

The C295, in transport configuration and with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will leave Airbus’ production site in Seville for Delhi on September 15. It will be piloted by a joint IAF-Airbus crew.

“While the first aircraft was rolled out from Spain, the 17th aircraft will be assembled at the final assembly line in Baroda in 2026. It will mark a historic moment as the first time a military transport aircraft will be fully manufactured in India,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari told PTI.

The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara final assembly line in September 2026 in what will be a milestone for the Indian aerospace industry. The final aircraft is expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031.

“It was only two years ago that we signed this contract with India, the largest order in the history of the C295,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus’ Head of Military Air Systems.

“Today, we are enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and modernising its transport fleet by delivering the first aircraft on schedule. This is the beginning of an exciting and long-term journey with the Indian Air Force,” he said.

The production of components of these aircraft has already started in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, southern India. These parts will be shipped to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara which is expected to be operational by November 2024.

In October last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the manufacturing facility for C295 planes in Vadodara. It will be the first military aircraft to be manufactured in India by a private consortium.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is procuring the C295 aircraft to replace its fleet of ageing Avro-748 planes that entered the service over six decades back.

The global C295 programme comprises a total of 280 orders from 39 operators, making it an unmatched aircraft in its weight and mission class, the plane maker said.

The C295 is known to be a superior aircraft used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible to current heavier aircraft.

The aircraft can airdrop paratroops and loads, and also be used for casualty or medical evacuation.

The aircraft is capable of performing special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties.

After the mega deal was finalised last year, Airbus said the C295 programme will see the company bring its complete bouquet of world-class aircraft manufacturing and servicing to India in collaboration with its industrial partners.

In May, the first C295 aircraft built for India successfully completed its maiden flight in Seville. The second one is in the final assembly at the Seville facility and is scheduled to be delivered to the IAF in May next year.

Six pilots from the IAF and 20 technicians have already undergone extensive training at the Seville facility.

The final assembly line for the C295 aircraft in Vadodara is set to be operational in November next year.

Officials said the IAF will be the world’s largest operator of the C295.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE: Ensemble of 78 Instrumentalists to Perform for World Leaders attending G20 Summit

The performance ‘Bharat Vadya Darshanam’ — Musical Journey of India — by the ‘Gaandharva Aatodyam’ group will be showcased during the ceremonial dinner that will hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

Celebrating the rich tapestry of the country’s musical heritage, an ensemble of virtuoso instrumentalists bringing different styles of classical and contemporary music will perform for world leaders attending the G20 Summit here, according to an official brochure of the programme.

The performance ‘Bharat Vadya Darshanam’ — Musical Journey of India — by the ‘Gaandharva Aatodyam’ group will be showcased during the ceremonial dinner that will hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in the honour of G20 leaders on September 9, officials said.

It will feature Indian classical musical instruments such as santoor, sarangi, jal tarang and shehnai, among others, which have been conceptualised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, according to the brochure.

The ensemble is a “unique and groundbreaking musical presentation, a harmonious journey of Bharat through music,” reads the concept note in the brochure.

Some of the prominent styles that will be depicted include Hindustani, Carnatic folk and contemporary music, it says.

“This journey will take us through all parts of India through their representative music. Our co-traveller will be the ‘Gaandharva Aatodyam’ with an ensemble of 78 traditional instrumentalists from all over the country,” the official brochure reads.

“This pioneering programme celebrates the rich tapestry of Bharat’s musical heritage, bringing together virtuoso instrumentalists who infuse their unique styles into a mesmerising symphony of sounds. With this innovative blend, the ensemble not only showcases the cultural depth of India but also creates an auditory experience that transcends regional boundaries,” it says.

The performance will begin with compositions of Vilambit Laya (slow tempo), followed by Madhya Laya (medium fast tempo), ending with few scores in Druta Laya (fast tempo), officials said.

The ensemble includes 34 Hindustani musical instruments, 18 Carnatic musical instruments and 26 folk musical instruments from across India.

The 78 artists include 11 children, 13 women, six differently-abled (divyang) artists, 26 young men and 22 professionals, the brochure says.

“We will immerse in some of the most ancient Vedic musical instruments, tribal instruments, and folk instruments alongside classical musical instruments creating a beautiful soundscape. The participating musicians too are hailing from different regions of India, playing an array of traditional instruments in their traditional attire,” it adds.

The musicians will play instruments in traditional attires of the region they belong to, officials said, adding, that this first-of-its-kind initiative ensemble exemplifies the power of music in celebrating the country’s diverse artistic expressions in a truly aesthetic manner.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is slated to be held at the newly-built international convention and exhibition centre — Bharat Mandapam — at Pragati Maidan from September 9-10.

The G20 dinner for the heads of state and other top leaders will be hosted at the Bharat Mandapam.

In the official invitation for the ceremonial dinner sent out by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu was addressed as the “President of Bharat”.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER: How Paris-based, Kolkata’s Neha Ganeriwal Captured ‘Fedal’ & Won in the Independent Photograper Category at the Prestigious ‘2023 World Sports Photography Awards’

Neha recalls the Rafa-Roger day that changed her life, how the same ‘boys’ gave her the best photo of her career, and more.

When Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal held hands at the end of the last competitive match of the former’s career at the 2022 Laver Cup, tears flowed. First, from the eyes of the two tennis GOATs at London’s O2 arena. And then, from millions of their admirers around the world. However, were it not for one Neha Ganeriwal, many would never have witnessed that iconic moment. It was Neha, originally from Kolkata’s Hindustan Park but currently based in Paris, who snapped ‘Fedal’ at their most human, providing one of the most enduring sports images of 2022.

Almost a year later, that image has been adjudged as the winner (out of more than 800 submissions) in the Independent Photographer category of the 2023 World Sports Photography Awards, sponsored by IMAGO, which is the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind. Additionally, two other photos taken by Neha (as well as the ‘Fedal’ one) at the aforementioned Laver Cup finished as finalists in the tennis category of the awards.

Days after her victory, Neha, 42, spoke to My Kolkata, via a video call connecting a wet Kolkata and an equally drenched Paris, reflecting on the ‘Fedal’ image, her journey, her most memorable clicks and more. Edited excerpts from the conversation follow.

My Kolkata: Congratulations on your win! Has the achievement sunk in yet?

Neha Ganeriwal: It’s been overwhelming! I was on vacation when I got the news. It was my first time applying to any award, so I couldn’t have been happier. It’s been a barrage of congratulatory messages since I found out on email (from the sponsors and organisers) that I had won, sometime in the middle of August. What makes me even more delighted is that these are the only dedicated sports photography awards in the world.

‘I had blurry vision because of my tears and was quite worried about the photo’

The image that won you the prize is one of the most moving and shared sports photos of the past year. Talk us through how you captured it.

Before I’m a photographer, I’m a tennis fan. And I was bawling at the time, it was so emotional! I had blurry vision because of my tears and was quite worried about the photo. I was certain that the camera had shaken. The lighting wasn’t great, either, and we were all just clicking away… Federer had just given a speech and he came to sit down. Then a singer took centrestage. A lot of people went towards her, but, for some reason, I kept tracking Federer. He sat down, and just for a split second, he happened to reach for Nadal, for comfort, first touching Nadal’s thigh and then his hand. That’s when I clicked. I had no idea how the results were until I downloaded my work on my laptop. And then, of course, the image went viral. There were two or three photographers who got a similar shot, but depending on which part of the world you were in, you got to see my image.

Why did you choose to submit the photo in black and white?

The actual image has a lot of blue. The background is sort of purple-ish and there’s a bit of white, too. There’s a lot of colour and that distracts from the emotion of the moment. I usually prefer black and white photography, as that helps to train the eye and take it to whatever you want by cutting out all the distractions. That’s why I went for monochrome and I think that’s also why it won.

You named the photo as “Boys don’t cry”. It seems ironic at two levels. First, because the subjects in the photo are actually crying. Second, because there is a suggestion that boys become men when they are comfortable displaying their emotions openly. Would that be a reasonable reading of your caption?

Exactly, that’s right. There’s also a third point to it. There’s this whole myth that men can’t be “weak” or show emotions. Nobody would use the adjective “weak” for Nadal, though. There’s probably no fiercer athlete than him on the tennis court. But there he was, in tears, underlining how even the greatest are also human beings with emotions, perhaps even more so than the rest of us. And there’s nothing weak about that.

‘I know that both Federer and Nadal have seen the photo’

Do you know if Federer and/or Nadal saw your photo? Did any of them reach out or speak to you about it?

I know that both Federer and Nadal have seen the photo. I haven’t met Federer since, but I hope to hear from him in person soon, possibly at some event later this year. I’m actually working on a photo book, combining other unreleased photos, which I’d like to present to Federer. As for Nadal, I met him in November and got him to sign a copy of the photo. We had a little chat about it and he was a bit embarrassed about it all!

‘That one day in Madrid had changed my life… I knew nothing about photography but jumped right into the deep end’

Going back in time, how did your journey as a sports photographer begin? And what did meeting Federer and Nadal (those boys, again!) a decade ago have to do with it?

The photo was a full circle moment for me. I was born and brought up in Hindustan Park in Kolkata. I went to La Martiniere for my schooling and then studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), before completing my master’s in fashion designing in Milan. A personal tragedy made me settle in Europe about 15 years ago. But I wasn’t working in sports at all. I was a professional fashion designer living the corporate life. Everything was good, but I felt that something was missing. I was climbing the ladder that we’re told to climb, but I never felt that it was mine to climb. I had always been a sports fan. Growing up, I used to go to Ordnance Club (in Kolkata) to play tennis with my father, was in my school swimming team and used to love watching Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari.

Exactly a decade ago, the Rafa Nadal Foundation was having an event in Madrid and I somehow managed to get a pass for that. I almost didn’t go because my resources were limited. But I finally took the plunge, not knowing what to expect. When Federer and Nadal entered the room, they shook hands with absolutely everyone. It was a stark contrast to the glamour industry I was used to, where everyone was inaccessible and god-like. We spent the entire day with the two of them. There was a press conference, a session with kids, a match and a gala. Just seeing the energy and just how the two of them were, I went back to being a sports lover, in between the emotional trauma that was going on for me personally.

I came back thinking that I have to find a way to be a part of that sporting world. So, I got an extra job to pay for a camera, acquired skills and read like a mad woman! I knew nothing about photography but jumped right into the deep end. That one day in Madrid had changed my life. I had found what my soul really wanted, to be around brilliant but normal, wonderful human beings.

What have been some of your other most memorable photos till date?

Capturing Federer winning his 10th Swiss Indoors Basel title (in October 2019) was special. He had started out over there as a ballboy and that was the last time he was going to be playing there. That was really emotional, Federer was crying again. Nadal winning his 10th Roland Garros (in 2017) would be up there, too. Nobody expected him to win that one, but he did. I got a special photo between him and Toni [Nadal] back then.

n football, there was the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal beat France, and Ronaldo was lapping it all up. He was injured and substituted, and there were some really great shots of him stepping up as an additional manager. And, of course, Messi was here [in Paris] for the last two years, which produced some nice shots of him along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Just the sheer starpower in the same frame was special.

Of all the great athletes you have been around and photographed, who has surprised you the most?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was really interesting! He has this aura of arrogance, but that’s a persona for the camera. He’s the nicest guy you can meet. Of course, he can get annoyed if you poke him or rub him the wrong way, but he’s generally super nice.

‘I can tell which side Mbappe is going to run after he scores a goal or when Djokovic is going to smash his racket’

Given you predominantly cover tennis and football across Europe, what are the different challenges concerned with each sport? Both institutionally and technically.

In terms of institutional challenges, breaking in wasn’t easy. I had to create my own path. When I started, the internet wasn’t the way it is now. Getting in touch with press managers and press officers and getting accredited to FIFA or UEFA was complicated. I had to learn multiple languages, including Italian and French. All of that took time.

The technical aspect took a lot of education and learning, most of which happened on the pitch or the court. Which place to be in, where the players’ teams are and all that. After some experience, you know exactly what the athletes are going to do. For instance, I can tell which side Mbappe is going to run after he scores a goal or when [Novak] Djokovic is going to smash his racket in frustration and yell at his team. There are also the technical fundamentals, such as shutter speed, but that’s about skill acquisition. About putting your ego aside and learning. At the same time, hard as the challenges have been, my colleagues have been amazing and have always answered my questions.

On the ground during match days, tennis gives you more space to move around. I go for close-ups when in doubt. The top positions are always free in tennis. In football, movement is more limited. I can’t always choose my position. Mentally, I make a list of the players I need to photograph. Then, I choose my end and usually go for the one where the home fans are sitting, as it makes for a better background. Then there are the lenses, which also affect the images. Generally, I have less options for lenses when I’m travelling farther.

‘Learning from Nadal, at no point did I give up’

Sports photography still remains a male domain for the most part. How much of your experience so far has been shaped by your gender?

Whenever I walk into those photographers’ rooms, more for football than tennis, I’m usually the only person of colour, often the only woman, too. European football is completely male-dominated. It wasn’t easy when I started, but I’ve become accustomed to it now. Initially, I didn’t want to come across as brash. At the same time, I wanted to be taken seriously. To have people treat me with respect and not dismiss me was challenging. However, at no point was I completely disillusioned. Learning from Nadal, at no point did I give up.

‘I’d love to be a part of some professional event in Kolkata’

Coming to your Kolkata connection, how often do you come back? What are your favourite things to do in the city?

I spent the first 25 years of my life in Kolkata. My parents are still there, so I try to come back every six months. It’s just about downtime for me. I love the street food, like the phuchka and the papdi chaat near Lake Kalibari. Strangely, I haven’t shot anything in Kolkata yet. I’d love to be a part of some professional event in the city, particularly given how big football is back home.

‘My dream is to photograph an Indian winning an Olympic medal, ideally gold!’

What are you most looking forward to in terms of upcoming events? Is there a dream shot that you are still chasing?

I’m really looking forward to next year’s Olympic Games (in Paris). My dream is to photograph an Indian winning an Olympic medal, ideally gold! Then, I’ll probably have to choose between the Euros (in Germany) and the Copa America (in the US). I do want to click Messi with a trophy, since I couldn’t do the World Cup (in Qatar) last year.

‘Do what you do for the right reasons, for your reasons’

Lastly, what would your advice be to budding photographers, especially those wanting to document sports?

No matter what you do, it’s going to be hard, so it’s much better to figure out what it is that you’re willing to suffer for. Do what you do for the right reasons, for your reasons.

Moreover, sports mirror life. There’s no instant gratification, no substitute for consistency. It’s the small successes that lead to the big triumphs. Today, I’m talking about my award, but nobody apart from me has seen those days when all I wanted to do was stay in bed. But I pushed myself, went out in the rain and stood there for four hours. I did it because I love it. As Nadal has taught the world, show up everyday and do the basics. Think of the number of matches he has won simply because he refused to go away. If you do that, things eventually fall into place.

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