Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao participated in the Bhumi Pooja programme of Hare Krishna Heritage Tower in Kokapet on Monday.
He laid the foundation stone in a traditional ceremony and paid tributes to Lord Srila Prabhupada.
Thanking the organisers, KCR spoke about the misuse of religion and the impact it creates in societies. “Religion is universal. There is nothing wrong with religion. Religious ignorance and fanaticism are a threat to us. Religion does not encourage us to make mistakes. But religious stupidity takes all human beings into madness and a trans,” he said.
“Religious madness promotes humans to commit inhuman acts. There is no place for violence in any religion. Religion is the cause of violence all over the world. It is not mentioned in our Hindu religion. Lord Krishna did not say about violence. Some people added religious fanaticism and created a lot of trouble,” he added.
He also thanked Hare Krishna Heritage for supporting the government by providing food to millions of children in the city.
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Monday hit out at National Conference president Farooq Abdullah over his criticism of the government for not holding a G20 meeting in Jammu, saying it was a “deliberate attempt” to divide the society.
He said Abdullah’s remarks show his frustration as the political ground of the National Conference is slipping fast.
Earlier in the day, Abdullah attacked the government, saying it is unfortunate that G20 meetings were scheduled in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu, and slammed BJP leaders for not raising the issue.
“A G20 meeting is taking place in J-K which is a welcome decision of the government and the people are thankful to the prime minister for it. Some people do not digest peace, prosperity and development and are feeling pain in their belly as they see J-K marching ahead with people maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood,” Raina told reporters at the party headquarters here.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a single entity and it does not matter whether the meeting is taking place in Srinagar or Jammu It is a conspiracy to poison the minds of the people and divide the society which will not succeed,” he added.
Raina said the National Conference ruled J-K for most part of the past 70 years through “divisive politics” and it is not willing to allow people to live in peace and harmony. “They are frustrated as they see their political ground slipping away and such a remark is reflective of their frustration.”
On Abdullah’s remark about growing incidents of terrorism in Jammu region post the abrogation of Article 370, the BJP leader said he wants to remind the National Conference leader, who was the chief minister for several terms and a union minister as well, that the markets and educational institutions used to remain shut for 10 months every year.
“There used to be no transport service, tourist influx had stopped and Lal Chowk and other main markets used to wore a deserted look while stone-pelting has become an order of the day with even Muslims apprehensive of visiting mosques for Friday and Eid prayers That time has gone and there is peace and brotherhood, whether in Jammu or Kashmir,” he said.
Raina said J and K is on the path of development because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Abdullah should hear the voice of his conscience and he will himself see the difference. Modi had pasted balm on the wounds of those who have suffered at the hands of Pakistan and anti-national forces,” he said, adding “Modi is living in the hearts of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He also talked about the benefits of abrogation of Article 370 on the lives of West Pakistan refugees, PoJK refugees, Gorkha community, Valmiki Samaj and women married outside J-K.
Referring to the historic 100th episode of the prime minister’s Maan Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Raina said over six lakh residents of J-K listened to the programme together, giving the BJP the confidence that it will emerge a winner in the next assembly elections.
“Holding of assembly elections is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India but the BJP is ready for the polls and given the support of the people to Modi, we will win the polls with a majority of seats (to form the next government),” he said.
He thanked the prime minister for always encouraging J-K residents through his Maan Ki Baat’ and said Modi has always heard the “Janta’s Maan Ki Baat” and is keeping them close to his heart and resolving all their issues.
Greater Noida: An unreported incident has come to light, where Hindu residents objected to a small group of Muslim occupants of the same residential society, from holding congregational prayers in the evening after the end of the day’s fast, during the recently concluded month of Ramzan in the Greater Noida Township in the NCR.
The Muslims of the residential society were also forced to stop Taraveeh, the special congregational prayer organized solely during the holy month of Ramzan after the fasting hours.
Even though the prayer was being held in the common commercial building within the society after securing prior permission from the concerned authorities, the police were summoned to stop the prayer promulgating Section 144 in the area.
This has happened in a middle-class upscale gated apartment complex in Greater Noida, part of the Delhi NCR.
In most residential complexes, such common spaces are either used – without objections from any quarter – for small family parties or community functions, including religious ceremonies, especially of the Hindus, but in this case, since Muslims were involved in religious activity, their held congregational prayers become a public row.
The incident in Greater Noida points to the onset of a systemic and institutional bias against Muslims for any form of assembly even if it is for devotional purposes in India.
The message behind the protest by local residents of the society was their diktat that Muslims can live in Hindu majority colonies provided they do not ‘look’ like Muslims in public spaces. They must not publicly flaunt their religious identity or do any collective religious activity in public spaces.
The latest incident of protest in Greater Noida was from relatively ‘well-off’ people who were reasonably educated and can speak English comfortably. This group of people does not comprise the traditional political constituency of the Sangh Parivar but in fact, represents intelligentsias and white-collar communities.
The incident in Greater Noida highlights the grand design of invisibilisation of Muslims in the public space. This design is being attempted by middle-class Hindus in cities and towns across several states of India.
This design has a spiraling impact as it is seen that innumerable Muslims do not like to be identified as Muslims in public places. This could be because of their common demeanor, attire, or other characteristics they can be singled out. As a result, they have stopped acting in ways that they can be identified as Muslims. This invisibilisation of Muslims is a new trend in the changing India.
Whitefield Youth Association is a voluntary group based in Pendle, east Lancashire, that was originally set up with the aim of transforming young lives after disturbances that blighted Burnley in 2001. Good Sports, by the local photographer Nik Hartley, casts a light on the group, which now attracts about 200 young people a week
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#Good #Sports #Lancashire #youth #club #transforming #lives #pictures
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
A good music producer facilitates a studio environment that allows an artist to plunge into the depths of their soul, and cleverly shapes the sound of their music – a bad one, meanwhile, can halt a promising career. But in 2023, 70 years on from the dawn of rock’n’roll, this tremendous power still lies in the hands of an overwhelming majority of men.
Women and non-binary people claimed less than 5% of producer and engineer credits across the top 50 streamed songs of last year, according to a recent report from Fix the Mix. Dated stereotypes have framed producing as the preserve of nerdish knob-twiddling blokes – despite there being ample historic evidence to the contrary.
The meticulous and patient work of Susan Rogers is legendary, engineering Prince records at the height of his career when studio sessions could last for days on end. Kate Bush self-produced Hounds of Love, regularly voted one of the best albums of all time for its arresting sound. Sylvia Massy has worked as an engineer and producer on music from some of the most successful rock acts of all time, including Tool, System of a Down, Skunk Anansie and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Artists including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Janelle Monáe, Alison Goldfrapp and Grimes are just a few in a long list of women to have production credits on their own albums.
Catherine Marks, who co-produced the recent UK No 1 debut from indie supergroup Boygenius and has worked in the industry for 17 years, says the lack of diversity is due to a ceiling that inhibits progression. “Since I started, there have been more women coming through at entry level but there’s no support,” she says. “There’s still a perception issue that impacts their ability to find management and get introduced to decision makers in the industry.”
‘There’s no support’ … Catherine Marks. Photograph: PR
For those who do manage to reach a professional level, a lack of imagination from music executives and artists when it comes to choosing who to work with results in what producer Marta Salogni, who has worked with Björk, MIA and Bon Iver, calls a vicious circle: “It feels safer sometimes for gatekeepers to employ the same people but if women are not being employed, they can’t build up the credits that would make sure they can be employed.”
Hiring and championing a new producer who doesn’t yet have a robust track record might be seen as risky, but as Marks puts it, “stepping into the studio is always a risk because anything can happen”. Also, studio trials are commonplace, where artists and producers have a chance to see if they get on before officially working together. “I know some of the biggest names in the industry who are still having to do that now,” she says. “I don’t see why those opportunities can’t go to different people.”
A&R and marketing executive Jane Third, who has worked with self-producing acts including Rina Sawayama, says all-female sessions can be less hierarchical. “Women are maybe a bit more open and collaborative; there’s more freedom of expression. It can feel a bit more flat, where everyone is contributing equally, in comparison to other scenarios I’ve been in.”
Does this lack of equality affect the very sound of pop? It’s interesting to consider what Raye’s sparsely produced debut might have sounded like if she hadn’t exited her major label deal before it was released and therefore had less control in the studio. The album hit No 2 in the UK earlier this year and was widely praised for being eclectic and bold. Her back catalogue of dance-leaning pop hits (produced by men) suggests it could have been quite different. Ultimately, more diversity in the studio will result in more diverse music, as Salogni says: “A male-dominated team does not reflect how multifaceted society is. What might [more diversity] in production sound like? I think that’s all to discover.”
Having a wider choice of producers to work with will also probably result in fewer female acts being faced with predatory behaviour, as Ellie Goulding experienced as a 19-year-old desperate to make it. In an interview with the Guardian, she said: “My whole career started off with instantly being made to feel like a sexual object, and being made to feel vulnerable in those sessions. And there are so many female singers that will hear me saying that and say: ‘Yeah, I can relate.’” Raye sings about a predatory producer on her track Ice Cream Man, “tryna touch me, tryna fuck me, I’m not playing / I should’ve left that place as soon as I walked in it”.
Catherine Anne Davies, AKA the Anchoress. Photograph: Darren Feist
Producer Catherine Anne Davies, who also performs as the Anchoress, says she gets a lot of her work from women who haven’t had positive experiences in the studio and are looking for a different dynamic. “I don’t think women who produce have a different sound but I do think it impacts on the psychology of a space,” she says. “A big part of your role as a producer is, essentially, being a therapist, which is all about getting everyone to feel comfortable enough to open yourself up completely.”
She cites research by a master’s student she has supervised that looked at “accessing vulnerability and how that changed, depending on if they were in co-writing sessions with men or with women, and having what they call ‘keep your shoes on moments’ in the studio in case you need to leave suddenly because something dodgy happens.” If a male producer behaves inappropriately or in an overbearing way, or if that has happened to an artist in the past, “it’s going to have an impact on the music created because you don’t feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable”.
There is evidence of change. Women currently make up 18% of members at the Music Producers Guild – up from 5% in 2016 – and its board has three women directors out of five. Technology has also somewhat levelled the field, especially for producers with parenting responsibilities who have difficulty committing to the long hours expected in studios billing by the day. (Marks, who doesn’t have children, says she’s often in the studio until 10pm and feels that she’s made personal sacrifices for work.)
Bedroom pop … PinkPantheress. Photograph: BBC/PA
This will also play a role in a rising number of self-producing acts – PinkPantheress gained traction after posting clips of songs she had recorded herself in her university dorm room on TikTok, and Griff secured a record deal after sharing her self-produced songs online. It remains to be seen whether they’ll also produce for others as male artists often do (such as Joel Corry, Mura Masa and Digital Farm Animals in the dance pop field alone).
The major labels and music publishers point to various initiatives: panel talks and masterclasses for female engineers and producers; research reports; campaigns; non-profit initiatives; all-female songwriting camps and deals with self-producing female acts. Still, Laura Lewis-Paul, who heads up non-profit music tech initiative Saffron, which last year had 178 women graduate through its music tech courses for beginners (out of 645 applicants), would like to see greater collaboration between the music industry and initiatives like hers, which has recently lost its funding. “At the moment, people are very willing to talk and discuss the issues but they’re not necessarily looking at how to make changes.”
Lewis-Paul says that upon leaving the course, graduates “are faced with an industry or an educational setting that isn’t necessarily ready for them; they feel like they don’t belong in that space.” This can be especially true for those who are ethnically diverse: 0.7% of production credits went to women of colour across 1,100 popular songs from 2012 to 2022, according to research from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative in the US. Lewis-Paul continues: “We need to look at their journeys and how to create opportunities for them, with strategic partners.”
For Marks, support from power players in the music business for new producers is crucial. “I’ve had a lot of support. I got management quite early on and I had the support of mentors who were very well known and successful in the industry who were championing me. We need more of those kinds of people. This isn’t about a lack of women being interested, willing to work hard or having the right kind of personality to work in this industry. It’s about encouraging them all to come through.”
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
Bengaluru: With the Supreme Court looking into the same-sex marriage issue, one of the oldest civilisations, and the largest democracy in the world, waits with bated breath for the outcome.
For the LGBTQ community, after the historic moments in 2018 when homosexuality was finally decriminalised following the Supreme Court ruling, this could well be the next defining moment in its quest for equality in society.
Part of the prevailing optimism that things will change for the better, is fuelled by the changing societal attitudes towards issues like same-sex relationships.
The slow but steady acceptance of movies in this genre is also playing a part in changing perceptions towards sexual minorities.
Realizing the limited opportunities available to the community to bring their stories to the screen, UK-based Indian filmmaker Neeraj Churi started Lotus Visual Productions with the sole purpose of producing and promoting South Asian LGBTQ+ films worldwide.
He has been associated with several film projects including ‘Sheer Qorma’ (2021), ‘Queer Parivaar’ (2022), ‘Gair’ (2022) and ‘Muhafiz’ (2022).
The latest production by Neeraj, ‘Ek Jagah Apni’, has received global recognition for its raw portrayal of the transgender community.
‘Ek Jagah Apni’ was also selected for Cannes Marche Du Film 2022 as part of NFDC-Goes-To-Cannes. The film premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2022 and won the Certificate of Merit as well as a special mention for two leads at the International Film Festival of Kerala 2022.
Churi feels that movies can be catalysts for societal change. “Those who are in the process of coming out, or are yet to come out probably feel more comfortable and less confused about their gender or orientation. They also feel less overwhelmed when they eventually decide to ‘come out’.”
Films and the media can build empathy and understanding. By amplifying marginalized voices and creating diverse perspectives, we can move towards a more equitable and just society where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Cinema, when seen by the wider community hopefully helps them understand that the existence of the LGBTQ+ community is not just a Western implant, Churi told IANS.
He opined that legalizing same-sex marriage or broadening the term to marriage equality to include trans individuals, is not just a matter of equality, it’s a matter of dignity and humanity for those involved.
“It’s about providing the LGBTQ+ community with the same legal and social recognition that heterosexual couples receive. We are talking about access to insurance, medical benefits, financial nominations and the same benefits that spouses have. It’s about creating a more inclusive and accepting society that normalizes queer people as opposed to making them seem like objects to be afraid of,” he elaborated.
On a lighter note, the filmmaker feels that the legal sanctity of same-sex marriages will also lead to economic benefits for society at large.
“The Indian wedding industry is already a behemoth — $50 billion — and by opening it up to same-sex couples, we can tap into a whole new category of couples across the globe looking at India as a destination to get married. Here’s hoping that love prevails over hate and bias,” he signs off.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the Rajya Puraskar Ceremony of JK Bharat Scouts and Guides on Friday at Convention Centre.
The Lt Governor, who is also the Chief Patron of Jammu and Kashmir Bharat Scouts & Guides, congratulated the Rajya Puraskar Awardee Scouts & Guides and lauded their contribution to the society.
“With its aspirational vision, Scouts & Guides is leading the change in society especially by serving vulnerable section of the community & enabling the youth leaders to drive transformative change,” said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor called upon the youth to follow the rich legacy of Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and dedicate themselves in the service of the nation.
“The young generation is the key to change and today they are eager to play a bigger role in sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. With their commitment to selfless service, Scouts & Guides is contributing to build an inclusive & prosperous society,” observed the Lt Governor.
In the fast-changing world, Scouts & Guides will have to turn their voice into action. In the partnership with local administration, they must engage in social welfare works to complement the government’s efforts and to develop new youth networks to promote peaceful, equal and just communities, he added.
The Lt Governor also urged the trainers and teaching community to nurture individual growth and leadership qualities amongst the youth.
“Young generation is the main stakeholder of the future and it is our collective responsibility to provide them with the opportunities to fulfil their potential and strengthen their involvement in development processes,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor asked the J&K Bharat Scouts & Guides to actively contribute to drug abuse prevention programmes.
The Lt Governor also reiterated the UT Administration’s commitment to facilitate the smooth operations of J&K Bharat Scouts & Guides.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor felicitated the Scouts & Guides from various schools with Rajya Puraskar Award Certificates.
Noida: In a shocking incident, a woman, walking her pet dog in a park inside a posh Noida society, had to flee for her life after she was attacked by a pack by stray dogs, as per a video that has gone viral.
The incident was reported from Mahagun Moderne Society in Sector 78 on Tuesday evening, as per information available. The video shows the woman running a considerable distance to reach safety, while holding her pet dog in her arms, as the stray dogs continue to chase her and try to bite her.
As per the video, shot by a resident and shared on social media, the woman had entered the society park with her dog when it was attacked by the strays, and as she tried to protect it, the stray dogs attacked her too.
Disturbing scenes from Noida’s Mahagun Mezzaria Society where stray dogs attack a woman and her pet.
Thanks to the Dog Lovers in every such society where they neither adopt them nor they’ll allow others to evict them from the complex.https://t.co/rSYRvyhfOv
The viral video has garnered many reactions with people saying that they are not safe in societies as well, while the menace of stray dogs outside is always there.
In the previous days, several cases of dog bites had been reported, after which some local authorities slapped fines on dog-owners whose pets had attacked others. However, no concrete action has been taken in this matter.
Burhanpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, in an apparent reference to religious conversions, said on Sunday that missionaries take advantage of situations wherein people feel that the society is not with them.
He was addressing an event here, where he dedicated to the people the samadhi of Govindnath Maharaj.
“We don’t see our own people. We don’t go to them and ask them. But some missionary from thousands of miles away comes and lives there, eats their food, speaks their language and then converts them,” Bhagwat said.
Over the course of 100 years, people came to India to change everything, he said.
They have been working here for centuries but failed to gain anything as our roots remained strong thanks to the efforts of our ancestors, Bhagwat said.
“Efforts are made to uproot them. So, the society should understand that deceit. We have to strengthen the faith,” he said.
Deceptive people raise some questions about religion to waver the faith, he said, adding, “Our society never faced such people earlier so people get sceptical…We have to remove this weakness.”
Bhagwat said, “Even after this, our society doesn’t waver. But people change when they lose faith and feel that the society is not with them.”
The RSS chief said that an entire village in Madhya Pradesh became “sanatani” 150 years after they locals got converted to Christianity as they got help from Kalyan Ashram (an RSS-backed voluntary organisation).
“We don’t need to go abroad to spread our faith as ‘sanatan dharma’ doesn’t believe in such practices. We need to remove the deviation and distortion of the Bharatiya traditions and faith here (in India) and strengthen the roots of our ‘dharma’,” he said.
Bhagwat also addressed a Dharma Sabha and visited Gurdwara Badi Sangat to pay obeisance.
After visiting the gurdwara, he said that Guru Granth Sahib is a source of inspiration for the Hindus.
On Monday, Bhagwat is scheduled to inaugurate the office building of Dr Hedgewar Memorial Committee at Saraswati Nagar and also address the Sangh volunteers in Burhanpur.
Burhanpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, in an apparent reference to religious conversions, said on Sunday that missionaries take advantage of situations wherein people feel that the society is not with them.
He was addressing an event here, where he dedicated to the people the samadhi of Govindnath Maharaj.
“We don’t see our own people. We don’t go to them and ask them. But some missionary from thousands of miles away comes and lives there, eats their food, speaks their language and then converts them,” Bhagwat said.
Over the course of 100 years, people came to India to change everything, he said.
They have been working here for centuries but failed to gain anything as our roots remained strong thanks to the efforts of our ancestors, Bhagwat said.
“Efforts are made to uproot them. So, the society should understand that deceit. We have to strengthen the faith,” he said.
Deceptive people raise some questions about religion to waver the faith, he said, adding, “Our society never faced such people earlier so people get sceptical…We have to remove this weakness.”
Bhagwat said, “Even after this, our society doesn’t waver. But people change when they lose faith and feel that the society is not with them.”
The RSS chief said that an entire village in Madhya Pradesh became “sanatani” 150 years after they locals got converted to Christianity as they got help from Kalyan Ashram (an RSS-backed voluntary organisation).
“We don’t need to go abroad to spread our faith as ‘sanatan dharma’ doesn’t believe in such practices. We need to remove the deviation and distortion of the Bharatiya traditions and faith here (in India) and strengthen the roots of our ‘dharma’,” he said.
Bhagwat also addressed a Dharma Sabha and visited Gurdwara Badi Sangat to pay obeisance.
After visiting the gurdwara, he said that Guru Granth Sahib is a source of inspiration for the Hindus.
On Monday, Bhagwat is scheduled to inaugurate the office building of Dr Hedgewar Memorial Committee at Saraswati Nagar and also address the Sangh volunteers in Burhanpur.
