Latest news with #Vaishnav
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Row over Ram Katha in ‘sutak kal'; seer apologises but continues event
1 2 3 Varanasi: Popular narrator of the story of Lord Ram, Morari Bapu, faced objections raised by scholars and seers of Kashi for his holding the Ram Katha event during 'sutak kaal', his period of mourning, following the demise of his wife on Jun 12. Scholars said his holding the religious programme was inauspicious, given his personal circumstance. Ending his Katha session at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre, Bapu sought apology from those who had raised objections, but said he would continue with the Ram Katha event because he was a Vaishnav, hence, followed no such tradition as of abstaining from religious duties while mourning family members. "Many revered figures, great personalities and several people did not find this appropriate and felt it should not have been done. If this has hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise to all and ask for your forgiveness," said Bapu, stating that he offered 'jalabhishek' to Lord Vishwanath and commenced Katha Manas Sindoor on Saturday. Meanwhile, sharp reactions from seers and scholars went viral on social media immediately after Bapu came out of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and left for Rudraksh centre on Saturday. Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti's Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said this act of Morari Bapu would not send out the right message to society. Kashi Vidwat Parishad's Prof Vinay Pandey said Bapu's act was highly condemnable. Astrologer Daivagya Krishna Shastri questioned what message Bapu wanted to give to society by offering prayers and reciting Katha despite being in a period of mourning. Pt Sanjay Upadhyaya of Shastrartha Mahavidyalaya held the act as against Shastra. Many individuals and poets trolled Bapu on social media, while a group burnt his symbolic effigy in the Assi area on Saturday.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Classical dancer Sonal Mansingh conferred with Sankardeva Award in Assam
Guwahati, Eminent classical dancer Sonal Mansingh has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankardeva Award for 2023 by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The award was instituted by the Assam government in 1986. In a message, President Droupadi Murmu said Mansingh was an inspiration for the people of the country who faced many challenges but with grit and determination, she overcame that and has made immense contributions to the cultural world. The Vaishnav saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva had spread the message of unity and equality among all sections to strengthen society, the President said. Murmu was scheduled to confer the award on Mansingh on April 25 but her visit was postponed following the terror attack in Pahalgam. She was again scheduled to arrive here on a day-long visit on Wednesday to confer the award but her visit was cancelled due to ''personal reasons". The governor said that the award to Mansingh was in recognition of her lifelong dedication to Indian classical dance, cultural advocacy, and social reform. 'This award is not just a tribute to her as a person, but a recognition of her relentless service in upholding and modernising the spirit of Indian heritage,' he added. Acharya also paid rich tributes to Srimanta Sankardeva, describing him as a spiritual luminary and cultural reformer who transcended regional boundaries to become a national symbol of unity, harmony, and inclusiveness. Speaking on the occasion, Mansingh said that she is grateful to the Assam government for honouring her with this award and this has been possible due to ''Ma Kamakhya's blessings and love of the people of the state''. She said that Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika as the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi had asked her to ascertain whether the Sattriya dance, originated from the Vaishnavite monasteries known as Sattras in Assam, can be declared a classical dance form. ''I along with some others conducted considerable research and we came to the conclusion that it should be the eighth classical dance form of the country,'' the 81-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee said. The dance form is now performed all over the country as well as abroad and is globally famed, said the she added. Mansingh said that she has earlier presented an entire production on Sankardeva's spiritual philosophy, literary and cultural works and ''I am planning to introduce more 'Borgeets' in the repertory of Bharat Natyam and Odissi''. She was presented with an Angavastram, a gold medallion, the traditional Assamese bell-metal 'Xorai' , a citation and a cheque of ₹five lakh. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the occasion that for decades, the dancer dedicated herself to taking forward India's classical dance forms and keeping them alive in contemporary times. "It is only fitting that she has been conferred with the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award in recognition of her contributions,'' he said. ''Culture formed the bedrock of Gurujona's teachings and his timeless creation of Sattriya is a testament to it. As the philosophies align, we are proud to present the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award 2023 to the veteran dance exponent,'' Sarma said. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who hails from Assam, described Mansingh as a guardian of Indian classical traditions who has equally honoured her social responsibilities with her art. "To honour her with this award is to affirm the values of the great saint in our contemporary cultural landscape,'' he said. Mansingh used Bharat Natyam and Odissi dance forms to raise issues of women empowerment, social justice and environment sustainability and she has inspired several generations through her work and art form, he said.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rare terracotta sculptures unveiled in Chausa museum
Buxar: Rare terracotta sculptures unearthed from Chausa Garh in Buxar are set to reshape Indian art history, said former Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Nath Ojha at a programme held during the inauguration of a dedicated gallery at the Sitaram Upadhyay Museum on Tuesday. Ojha called for research into the artisans' lives and practices behind the ancient works. The gallery, based on Ram Katha, was jointly inaugurated by Ojha, Buxar Municipal Council chairperson Kamrun Nisha and a representative of the erstwhile Dumraon estate. Museum head Shiv Kumar Mishra said that between 2011 and 2014, the department of art, culture and youth excavated a Vaishnav terracotta temple under Umesh Chandra Dwivedi's supervision. "The site reveals traces of four cultural layers, suggesting a civilisation dating back 4,000-5,000 years," Mishra said. Among the rare finds is a fourth-century clay sculpture of Shiva-Parvati's marriage, believed to be India's oldest. Others depict Vishwamitra, Menaka and Shakuntala, Hanuman, Kumbhakarna, and Ram with some bearing inscriptions in ancient scripts. Mishra added, "Scenes such as Sita's abduction and Ram striking Kumbhakarna with an arrow showcase remarkable craftsmanship." Clay figures of deities, monkeys and mythical beings are also on display. Bronze Jain statues from 1931 found at the same site are preserved in the Bihar Museum. Chairperson Kamrun Nisha commended the museum for preserving Buxar's heritage and pledged continued support.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Edu min says govt teacher tried to bribe him for post
1 2 Jaipur: Education minister Madan Dilawar Monday accused a govt school teacher from Banswara of attempting to bribe him for a position on the state-level curriculum review committee. Dilawar told reporters at a press conference that the teacher, Chandrakant Vaishnav, visited his official residence in Jaipur during a public hearing. He submitted a box of sweets, an envelope, his biodata, and a letter seeking inclusion in the committee. The minister said he accepted the envelope assuming it contained a recommendation letter. "My photographer Bharat later informed me that there was money inside. When I checked, it had Rs 5,000 in cash. I was about to leave for Ramgarh Dam, but I asked my staff to keep him seated and informed the police," Dilawar said. Vaishnav is posted at the Govt Upper Primary School, Budha, in Ghatol block of Banswara district. Officials said the accused was immediately suspended and disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the education department. He was also detained by police and the case was handed over to ACB. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News: You May Be Richer Than You Think Undo Officials added Vaishnav, a Grade-3 teacher, was not even eligible for the curriculum review committee, which is limited to Grade-1 teachers. Expressing his shock, Dilawar said, "I've been in politics for 35-36 years, but never faced such a situation."
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Teacher detained for trying to bribe Education Minister with Rs 5,000
The Rajasthan Police have detained a government teacher for allegedly trying to bribe the cabinet minister for School Education, Madan Dilawar, at his Jaipur residence on Monday. The incident happened when the minister was holding a public hearing at his official residence in Civil Lines area. As per the minister, the teacher Chandrakant Vaishnav arrived with a letter, a box of sweets, and an envelope. The minister said that he didn't suspect anything upon seeing the envelope as these are usual with the letters, 'thinking it might have someone's recommendation. But then my photographer Bharat told me that apparently the envelope has money. Once we opened, it had Rs 5,000.' Vaishnav, posted as a Level 2 science teacher in Banswara's Ghatol, was seeking a recommendation for appointment as a writer in the textbook committee for science for Classes 6-8, which comes under the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT). To influence the minister, who has an RSS background, Vaishnav stated in his letter that he had been associated with RSS's student organisation, the 'Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and Sangh ideology since his student days.' He said that currently, while holding the post of a teacher, he is also associated 'with organisations like the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, which are associated with the ideology of the Sangh.' Indicating his willingness to rewrite textbooks as per the ideology, Vaishnav said that the new textbooks will be drafted 'as per the intention of the present government' and sought a recommendation from the minister for his inclusion in the committee. Dilawar said that this was the first such instance of his life which is also the 'worst.' 'This is the first such instance in my life; I have been in politics for 35-36 years and am a third time minister. It is quite painful that someone could think that the Education Minister can take a bribe and act on their request,' Dilawar said, adding that this was also the first time he saw this person. Taking a dig at the Congress, Dilawar said, 'I would not like to comment on the past or future. There could have been a tradition (to bribe the minister). Hence, he dared to do this.' Vaishnav, now suspended, is now being questioned by the Jaipur Police.
