Tag Archives: India

NATIONAL: HEALTH CARE / CANCER : Group of Oncologists launch Free-of-Cost second opinion Helpline Number for Cancer Patients

The number — 9355520202 — will be operational from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday.

A free-of-cost second opinion helpline number for cancer patients has been launched by a group of oncologists under their “Cancer Mukt Bharat Campaign”.

Cancer patients can call on this number to speak to oncologists directly or even do a video call to discuss about their treatment.

It can be accessed by anyone in the country and promises to be a game-changer in the fight against cancer, Dr. Ashish Gupta, who is heading the campaign, said.

“Second opinion is recommended to almost all patients who have been diagnosed with cancer as it is a matter of life and death. It is also important if their condition does not improve despite treatment or if their diagnosis or treatment is in doubt. For cancer treatment, costs may be high and differ from hospital to hospital, so cost is another important reason to get a second opinion,” Gupta said.

The helpline will serve as a valuable resource for individuals faced with the daunting challenge of cancer, offering them the opportunity to consult experienced oncologists without the burden of financial constraints, he said.

The free second opinion helpline will help in ensuring that patients receive the most accurate and up-to-date information about their condition and treatment options, Gupta said.

Sharing the reason behind starting this helpline number, he said there is been a rapid increase in the number of cancer cases in India and there is a dearth of healthcare facilities and healthcare doctors.

In the rapidly evolving field of cancer treatment, where new medicines and innovative therapies are continually emerging, a second opinion becomes invaluable, Gupta said.

“With continuous research, we are witnessing advancements in cancer care that were unimaginable just a few years ago. These breakthroughs translate into better outcomes and improved quality of life for cancer patients. The second opinion helpline ensures that patients can tap into these advancements and receive update on the most effective treatments available,” he said. PTI PLB ANB ANB

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)

GLOBAL: SPACE / MOON LANDING: Chandrayaan 3’s landing site name ‘Shiv Shakti’ gets International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognition

Chandrayaan 3’s moon lander’s landing site was named Shiv Shakti on August 26 by Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 26 had announced that the landing site of Chandrayaan 3’s moon lander would be named Shiv Shakti. Six months later, the internationally recognised body for nomenclature of celestial objects has officially granted it recognition.

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature on Tuesday approved the name ‘Statio Shiv Shakti’ for the landing site of Chandrayaan’s Vikram lander.

Chandrayaan 3 — India’s moonshot

Chandrayaan 3, India’s third lunar mission, took off from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14. After about a month, on August 23, the Vikram lander successfully touched down on the moon, along with the Pragyan Rover. This historic achievement positioned India as the first country to land near the lunar South Pole and only the fourth to achieve a controlled lunar landing.

Following 10 days of exploration on the lunar surface, both the lander and rover entered sleep mode. Meanwhile, the propulsion module remains in lunar orbit after separating from the lander.

What is Shiv Shakti point?

On August 26, PM Narendra Modi declared that the landing site of Chandrayaan 3’s moon lander would be named Shiv Shakti .

“In Shiv, there is a resolution for the welfare of humanity, and Shakti gives us strength to fulfil those resolutions,” said Modi, while announcing the name.

The IAU’s Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, where the name was officially published, described it as a compound word from Indian mythology representing the masculine (“Shiva”) and feminine (“Shakti”) duality of nature.

Why are celestial bodies named?

Planetary nomenclature is like naming places on Earth. It helps us identify and talk about specific features on planets and moons. This list, created by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), includes all the names given to different spots on planets, moons, and even some ring systems since 1919. It makes it easier for scientists to locate and describe these places.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / REGIONAL: MEDIA: The Hindu Group wins 06 Awards at WAN-IFRA Digital Media South Asia 2023

The Hindu Made of Chennai, a campaign to celebrate the city, won gold in both ‘best in audience engagement’ and ‘best in native advertising campaign’ categories.  

The Hindu’s projects bagged six of the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards South Asia 2023 presented at an event recently organised in New Delhi.

The Hindu Made of Chennai, a campaign to celebrate the city, won gold in both ‘best in audience engagement’ and ‘best in native advertising campaign’ categories.

Chennai-A-Maze, an online cryptic crossword challenge, bagged silver in the ‘best in audience engagement’ category. The crossword was rolled out on The Hindu Crossword and website as part of the Made of Chennai campaign for Madras Day (August 22, 2023) for 10 days. The activity was organised along with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and was powered by Storytrails, a company that organises story-based walking tours in India.

A ‘Made of Chennai song’ — an audio-visual tribute to the city that was part of the campaign — won a special jury mention in the ‘best use of video’ category. The track reinforced the uniqueness of the coastal city.

The Hindu website won silver in the best news website category. The Hindu’s meta description for news articles using generative artificial intelligence bagged silver under the best use of AI in the newsroom category.

L.V. Navaneeth, Chief Executive Officer of The Hindu Group, said, “With Made of Chennai, we embraced the city’s passion points and crafted engaging activities around them. The resounding success of our campaign underscores our deep understanding of Chennai and its vibrant community. With digital technology, we intend to elevate the user experience on our platforms and foster deep engagement with readers. The Hindu website is reshaping how we deliver top-notch news content, particularly to young audiences. This acknowledgement from WAN-IFRA fuels our drive to elevate the efforts.”

The World Association of News Publishers is the global organisation of the world’s press. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers to operate independent media.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE / NAVY: Navy commissions strategically important ‘INS Jatayu’ base in Lakshadweep Islands

INS Jatayu is the second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.

The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its new base “INS Jatayu” at Minicoy in Lakshadweep islands, enhancing its operational capability and reach in the Indian Ocean region.

INS Jataya is the second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti. Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep, 215 nautical miles southwest of Kochi.

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar commissioned the new base at a function held in Minicoy. Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel, Southern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral V Srinivas and Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh were also present.

Jatayu has been commissioned under the command of Commandant Vrat Baghel, according to PTI.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Kumar said the unit was named after Jatayu – the mythical creature in the epic Ramayana who tried to stop the abduction of Sita.

“In the Ramayana, Jatayu was the ‘first responder’, trying to stop the abduction of Sita ji, even to the peril of his own life, exemplifying service before self. So the naming of this unit as Jatayu is an apt recognition of this spirit of providing security surveillance and selfless service,” Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI.

The navy chief added that the information relayed by Jatayu to Lord Ram provided crucial situational awareness.

“Similarly, we expect that this unit will provide situational awareness to the Indian Navy in maintaining good maritime domain awareness of the entire region. INS Baaz to the east in the Andamans and now the INS Jatayu in the west will serve as eyes and ears to the Navy to safeguard our national interest,” he said.

Kumar further added that it was crucial to recognise the requirement for heightened surveillance amidst the prevailing geopolitical developments.

“The Indian Ocean region is witnessing an upsurge in maritime terror, crime, and piracy. The Indian Navy has responded with an assertive posture in the west and north Arabian Sea, undertaking anti-drone, anti-missile, and anti-piracy operations to safeguard merchant traffic in the region,” he said, according to PTI

Patel, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that the approval for an airstrip at Minicoy is also in its final stages.

He also announced that a 24-hour operational chopper hanger at Kavaratti will start soon and that land has been allotted to set up a radar base in Lakshadweep for the Indian Air Force.

Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep) Captain Lovekesh Thakur told PTI that the Minicoy island is on an important trade route, and having a base with enhanced surveillance capabilities is of great importance to the country.

“Because of the strategic location, specifically Minicoy, it is a place for gathering information on the shipping movement,” Thakur told PTI.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MUSIC: GRAMMYS: ‘I felt extremely proud of my instrument, the bansuri’: Flautist Rakesh Chaurasia on winning two Grammys

“The West likes the sound of this instrument as it gels well with almost any kind of music, be it jazz, rock or even divine music.”

Flautist Rakesh Chaurasia—nephew of legendary flute player Hariprasad Chaurasia — featured with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain in the album As We Speak, which won two Grammy awards in Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Global Music Performance categories. Chaurasia was in the city recently for the concert Uttar Dakshin held at JNAFAU. CE speaks with him to learn about the Grammy, his musical journey and more

Excerpts from the interview:

What was your initial reaction when you heard your name for Grammy?

Initially, we thought we might get it because big names like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer were part of it. When the nominations were announced, the categories had such good entries that we felt a little nervous about it. But then our names were called out and my reaction was just, wow! Most importantly, I felt that I was taking something for India and felt extremely proud of my instrument, bansuri or the Indian bamboo flute.

The award puts Indian classical music on the global map, especially for the younger generations. How do you view it?

Initially, it was quite difficult to understand the different genres of music and what I could do with my instrument. We had to figure out how to keep everything fluid. The West likes the sound of this instrument as it gels well with almost any kind of music, be it jazz, rock or even divine music. For young people who never thought of playing live classical music in flute, this award is a big encouragement and proves that they can also reach this stage. Provided they work hard and go in the right direction.

Could you tell us about the album that won two grammy awards?

The album is called ‘As We Speak’. Three to four years back, we started touring in the US, Dubai, India and Bangladesh. We started recording some of these performances. What’s special about this album is that it has all live music. It took us two to three days to listen to different versions of these live performancesand select which ones to keep for the album, and got the final 12 songs. Last year, we started to cut the album and then the Grammy happened.

How do you see your journey as a musician?

It was nice and pleasant. From the age of five, I started playing with this instrument, as in, it was my only toy. I took to this instrument because I liked the sound of it. I heard my guru, Hariprasad Chaurasiya ji playing it and practising all day long. I was fascinated when I heard him. I also think it is blessed as it is an instrument of Lord Krishna. It attracts the ears and eyes of the people. I am happy to have been associated with it and the maestros playing it. You get to learn a lot from them. It was challenging also, at the same time. Once you get the confidence, you start enjoying it. You wonder what else you can do from your end to make that piece more beautiful. For a musician, continuous growth is important. One cannot say you have finished your curriculum, and now exams are over. There is always scope for improvisation and for us, the exams’ results are received when people applaud and come to us with appreciation.

You mentioned your guru, Hariprasad Chaurasiya. Could you tell us about your memorable moments with him?

Every second of every day spent with him is memorable for me, be it off stage or on-stage. The behaviour, the way he used to keep himself calm, not getting angry. That is also something to learn because if you are not happy on the day of the performance, it shows in your music. He would be very calm and practice all day long. No wonder, even while watching a film, the flute would be in his hand. He has touched 85 now and has an amazing thought process and power. Whenever we go up to him to learn, he serves us with something new each time.

Carrying forward his legacy—does that feel heavy on your shoulders at times?

Yes, indeed. People have that expectation of listening to something as remarkable as his music, which is all over the world. I don’t think any village or city is left where his music hasn’t reached. In one way, it helps also because people know what they’re going to get. But on other hand, it’s also very intimidating as I have to meet people’s expectations and keep his legacy up to the mark. People might think what else can we do in this field since he has done so much already but there is so much more to explore. We also keep researching on his work. I try to take it in a positive manner.

What comes to mind when you think of Hyderabad?

The first thing that comes to mind is, biryani. The cuisine of Hyderabad. In my earlier days when I went to Charminar, I used to buy a lot of pickles. The city has always been very well known for its pickles. I went to the shop and was surprised to see around 300-400 different kind of them. Then there is Kubani ka meetha, mirchi ka salan, and other amazing things. The next best thing is the audience. The way people appreciate and understand music , is commendable.

How do you see the interest of young generations in classical music?

Nowadays, I see many young people getting attracted to classical music because a lot of things are available on the net. Before coming to the concert or booking a ticket, they do a small research with the artiste’s name and everything is available. They like the sound of the instrument or the chemistry we have on stage with other musicians. What triggers them, we don’t know. But I see lot of young people interested. If your foundation is strong, you can do any kind of music. Legends like Mohammad Rafi sahab, Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhonsle ji, they all had a very strong foundation which allowed them to do different things.

Do you also see the same dedication in them as it has been yours towards your music?

It’s a little lacking because of the gadgets. At times, when I see them playing, they tend to get distracted by the notifications on their phones. What happens is that once you get distracted, whatever you have done until then gets wasted. Your mind gets diverted. For music, I think, little dedication and focus is essential.

How do you see the influence of technology and do you think it actually helps music?

In the lockdowns, it really helped. We were doing a lot of virtual concerts. For practice also, we have a lot of apps now, like for tanpura or tabla. These things were not available for musicians earlier. Definitely, it has a very big impact and it’s useful if you use only in the right way.

What advice would you give to somebody who does not have a great background, but wants to learn?

You don’t have to. Music came in our family from Hari ji. My grandfather was a wrestler. If you know god is watching you, you will not be left behind. It is true for any field, not just music.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: FOOD & CUISINE: Three Indian Restaurants among the World’s Top 10 Legendary ones. They are…

hree Indian restaurants have made it to the list of top 10 legendary eateries in the world.

Taste Atlas, an experiential travel online guide, unveiled the list of restaurants that are “not just places to grab a meal, but destinations in their own right, comparable to the world’s most famous museums, galleries and monuments.”

Paragon in Kozhikode, Kerala, immensely popular for its biryani, occupied the 5th rank on the list. Lucknow’s famous Tunday Kababi, known for mouth-melting galouti kebabs, grabbed 6th spot.

“Paragon in Kozhikode, Kerala, is an emblem of the region’s rich gastronomic history, celebrated for its mastery of traditional Malabar cuisine,” Taste Atlas noted.

The travel guide called Tunday Kababi “a jewel in the crown of Lucknow’s culinary scene in India” that has “gained widespread acclaim for its Mughlai cuisine”. The star offering, the galouti kebab, is a culinary masterpiece featuring finely minced meat tenderised with raw papaya and an assortment of spices.

Another proud entry in the top legendary restaurants is Peter Cat, Kolkata, occupying the 10th spot. Found in 1975, the iconic eatery is best known for chelow kebabs.

Apart from these three Indian entries in the top 10, several other restaurants made it to the elaborate list of 100 legendary restaurants in the world. Murthal’s Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba grabbed the 16th spot while Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, Bengaluru, occupied 32nd rank. Also on the list is Karim’s, Delhi, occupying the 84th spot.

See the full list here:

How many of these Indian restaurants have you visited so far?

Watch Live TV in English

Watch Live TV in Hindi

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)

GLOBAL: BUSINESS LEADER : Sundar Pichai, CEO Google & Alphabet, Awarded with Padma Bhushan, says, ‘India is a part of me…’

India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu handed over the award to Pichai.

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai was awarded the Padma Bhushan – India’s third-highest civilian award – for 2022 in the Trade and Industry category on Friday in the presence of his close family members in San Francisco. India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu handed over the award to Pichai and said that his “inspirational journey reaffirms Indian talent’s contribution to global innovation”.

“Delighted to hand over Padma Bhushan to Google CEO Sundar Pichai in San Francisco. His inspirational journey from Madurai to Mountain View, strengthening India-America economic and tech ties, reaffirms Indian talent’s contribution to global innovation,” Sandhu wrote on Twitter.

Upon receiving the prestigious award, Pichai in his blog said India is a part of him.

“India is a part of me and I carry it with me wherever I go. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that cherished learning and knowledge, with parents who sacrificed a lot to make sure I had opportunities to explore my interests,” he said.

Pichai added, “I am deeply grateful to the Indian government and the people of India for this immense honour. It is incredibly meaningful to be honoured in this way by the country that shaped me.”

Pichai also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of technology to combine the 3s -speed, simplicity, and service.

“We recently announced that we’ll be investing USD 10 billion in India’s digital future, working to enable more affordable internet access, building products for India’s unique needs, helping businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation, and using AI to tackle big societal challenges,” the Google CEO said.

“I look forward to continuing the great partnership between Google and India, as we work together to bring the benefits of technology to more people,” Pichai added.

(With inputs from agencies)

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES: National Drugs Regulator Approves Mylab’s PathoDetect™ kit, making it India’s First Indigenous Tuberculosis (TB) Detection Testing Kit

TB is an infectious disease, and according to the government data, India reported 1.93 million new TB cases in 2021.

India’s national drugs regulator has approved Pune based Mylab’s test kit to detect tuberculosis (TB) , making it the first made in India test kit to be approved for TB diagnosis, the company announced on Tuesday.

The kit simultaneously detects drug resistance to the two most commonly used drugs in TB treatment— Rifampicin and Isoniazid, the company added.

TB is an infectious disease, and according to the government data, India reported 1.93 million new TB cases in 2021, making it one of the major public health concerns in the country. India currently uses imported test kits; most of them come from US and Europe.

Apart from the central drugs standard control organization (CDSCO), the kit has also received approval from the national TB expert committee and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

“We are addressing several problems simultaneously here. First being able to speed up testing by automated systems that can do multiple tests at one time. Secondly, there is scarce trained manpower for RT-PCR testing, which India can now overcome with fully automated system which does not need highly technical person to handle samples and reagents,” said Hasmukh Rawal, managing director, Mylab.

According to people familiar with the matter, this kit is more automated that others in the market and reduces the need for high expertise to run the test. Also, the kit can be stored at Indian room temperature; thus catering to look temperature requirements.

The kit is priced around ₹650 per unit, which is almost comparable to the prices of others in the market.

“We have technology to detect TB and drug resistance in the form of genexpert that’s a cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test. But this is an expensive test in the private sector and the advantage of made-in-India kit will be its low cost. We will still have to be sure how reliable the technology is,” said Dr Vikas Maurya, director, department of Pulmonology, Fortis Healthcare.

According to the company, the kit has been approved after rigorous and large scale field trials and recommended by TB Expert Committee under the aegis of ICMR. Multicentre centre evaluation study and field feasibility testing studies were also carried out for the test kit.

Emphasizing on the important point of drug resistance, Rawal said, “There is a huge problem of resistance to drugs when it comes to TB.

Until now, India had to conduct 2 tests: one to detect TB first and to check drug resistance – that against only one drug (Rifampicin). With Mylab’s PathoDetect™ kit, in a single test – patients can know their active TB infection as well as drug resistance to 2 most common drugs – Isoniazid and Rifampacin – so that they take treatment that will actually work. This is a milestone moment in India’s TB Testing.”

The test kits have been designed to work in ambient temperatures compared to existing PCR options which need 2-8 degree cold storage. Mylab Compact device systems do not require special infrastructure for operations and feasibility studies done on mobile van in rural areas indicate them to be very robust, said the company.

sources/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA’S HUMANITARIAN AID : India’s ‘Generous Humanitarian Support’ for Afghanistan draws US envoy’s praise

The US envoy also mentioned about meeting Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee.

India’s support for Afghanistan – at a time when the neighboring country is struggling with multiple civic and economic concerns under the Taliban rule – has drawn praise from an envoy from the United States. New Delhi had re-established its presence in Kabul, months after pulling out.

Thomas West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, during his India visit discussed issues related to the conflict-ridden country that evoke global concerns. He met Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (PAI) JP Singh. “1/2 Great to see @VikramMisri, @MEAIndia JP Singh and other Indian colleagues in Delhi to discuss shared interests in Afghanistan.

As fellow friend of Afghan ppl, US deeply appreciates India’s generous humanitarian support and commitment to Afghans’ fundamental rights. (sic),” Thomas West wrote in one of the tweets. While this is West’s third visit to the country, it is his first visit after India re-established its diplomatic presence in the country.

The US envoy also mentioned about meeting Dr. Abdullah, the chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee, in Afghanistan. “Also valuable to meet with @DrabdullahCE about urgent need for national political dialogue among Afghans. There is consensus in int’l community on this imperative, which Afghans must lead and shape,” he further added.

Apart from India, Japan and the United Arab Emirates are also included in his three-nation visit. He is said to be engaging with the Afghan diaspora, including human rights, business, political, and media leaders on how to address these challenges, news agency ANI reported.

This visit comes as the UN mission in Afghanistan has urged the Taliban to take immediate steps to end violence against women.

Meanwhile, security concerns linked to Afghanistan also remain on top of agenda as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval meets his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

(With inputs from ANI)

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SOUTH ASIA: ARTS & CULTURE : 1st ‘Sylhet-Silchar Festival’ Celebrating Indo-Bangla Ties opens in Barak Valley, Assam

The first Sylhet-Silchar Festival celebrating the close cultural ties between the neighbouring regions of India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in Assam’s Barak Valley on Friday. Being celebrated as a two-day festival, it coincided with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. 

The first Sylhet-Silchar Festival celebrating the close cultural ties between the neighbouring regions of India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in Assam’s Barak Valley on Friday. Being celebrated as a two-day festival, it coincided with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. 

In an attempt to boost bilateral relations between the two countries, the festival is being organized by the India Foundation under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture in association with the Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies.

“With the aim of revisiting the common values and shared heritage of the twin cities and their people separated by international borders, the festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity,” the organisers said in a statement. 

In addition, the festival will provide a platform to explore multi-disciplinary trade opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, tourism, education and digital infrastructure. With the support of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Assam government and in association with the Bangladesh India Friendship Society and India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the festival will mark the first step towards creating potential opportunities for all involved.

It will be addressed by personalities including Mizoram Governor Dr Kambhampati Hari Babu, Union Minister for Culture, Tourism & Development of North Eastern Region G KIshan Reddy, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman.

The delegation from Bangladesh is led by Momen and it comprises the members of parliament, representatives of trade organisations, political and social leaders, academics, artists and practitioners.
In his speech, Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy spoke about undivided Sylhet which also had Assam’s Barak Valley. 

“We are at the cusp of history. It is by a stroke of providence that this beautiful land got divided into two. After the Liberation War, India was one of the first states to recognise Bangladesh. Today, we see that the relationship between the two countries has gone far and wide,” Roy said.

He said during the two days of the festival, the two sides would reminisce their olden history, civilisation, art and culture. Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said such engagements would further consolidate the bilateral relations. “Assam and India occupy a special place in my heart and memory because my grandfather was in the Assam Civil Services and he served in many cities of Assam,” Dr Momen said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)