Celebrating 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak… “That one plant should be sown and another be produced cannot happen; whatever seed is sown, a plant of that kind even comes forth”. Guru Nanak
Consulate General of India, Vancouver www.cgivancouver.gov.in
Vol. 02, Issue No. 52 December 28, 2018.
India in Vancouver Weekly Newsletter
India Perspectives India Perspectives is the flagship publication of the Ministry of External Affairs. Richly illustrated, this magazine provides our readers with an insight into India’s culture and tradition along with elements of contemporary India. Click here to read more…. Ministry of External Affairs, India
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Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018.
Consulate News Indian Students Annual Get Together organized by CGI Vancouver (December 21, 2018) International Indian students at the year end get together organized by Consulate General of India, Vancouver. Students enrolled at various universities and colleges in this region participated in this event. Consul General Mrs. Abhilasha Joshi, Officers of the CGI and SBI Canada Sr Vice President Mrs. Ranjana Sinha interacted with the students.
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Important Trade Fairs in India – To know more, click on Government of India Ministry of Civil Aviation The Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation is leasing out six Airports viz. Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvanathapuram and Mangaluru of Airports Authority of India (AAI) through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Request For Proposal (RFP) has been published by AAI through online tender process. The last date for submission of bids is 14.02.2019 before 1500 hours IST. Detailed information is available at https://etenders.gov.in/eprocure/app or https://www.aai.aero. 1|P a g e
Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018.
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS (PBD) is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots. During the Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad. The 15th PBD Convention is being held on 21-23 January 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is "Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India". Special arrangements are also being made for participation in Kumbh Mela and Republic day parade. Please visit https://www.pbdindia.gov.in for more information.
Program Schedule Last date for registration is 31st December, 2018.
PARTICIPATE NOW Special Attractions
Varanasi
Kumbh Mela
Republic Day Celebration
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Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018.
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Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018.
Cultural Heritage - Festivals of India Rann Utsav (1 Nov 2018 - 28 February 2019) A plethora of varied hues, profusion of design, superfluity of culture, cornucopia of music and dance, all together in the arid lands of Kutch creates a mosaic of exquisiteness which reflects the identity and spirit of the region. Kutch, one of the most ecologically and ethnically diverse district of the state is a celebratory land of art, crafts, music, dance, people and nature. During the full moon night of the winters amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape each year a three day festive extravaganza brimming with hospitality, vigor and traditional flavor of the area is hosted and known as the Kutch or Rannutsav. This three to four day carnival organized at the various locales within Kutch takes one around the natural grandiose while introducing the visitor to the indigenous cultural and ethnical flavor of the people. Semi parched Grasslands of the Banni hosts the most magnificent display of vernacular architecture as the exhibition platform for the varied range of arts and crafts of the region. While an array of folk music and dance performances organized in the shimmering moonlit landscape provides the most enchanting experience. The colorful fairs held near the beach or the banks of a lake swings one with the spirit of festivity, fervor and flamboyancy while the organized tour around Kutch is an ideal occasion to be part of the region and experience the zeal and uniqueness of the people through a celebration of life! The Online Booking site is: http://whiterannresort.com/ & https://www.rannutsav.net/
(Source: https://www.gujarattourism.com/fairs-festivals/cultural-festivals/rann-utsav)
(Photo: https://www.rannutsav.net/ )
Cultural Heritage - Yoga with Hon’ble PM Modi
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Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018.
News from/of India 1. Railways develops AI-powered robot to check for faults in trains New Delhi: To make trains more safe by eliminating human errors, Central Railway has developed an AI-powered robot which would click pictures and record videos of the under-gears of trains and send them to engineers for repairs and maintenance. The mechanical branch of Central Railway's Nagpur division has developed the robot named USTAAD (Undergear Surveillance Through Artificial Intelligence Assisted Droid), which examines parts of the coach in real time with a HD camera and transmits them over WiFi. Read more… (PTI: December 27, 2018)
2. Swiggy raises $1 billion in funding, puts Zomato on notice Bengaluru: With this funding, Swiggy has become the fifth most valuable startup in India at a valuation of $3.3 billion, underscoring the stunning rise for a firm that was started four years ago. Online food delivery startup Swiggy, which entered India’s “unicorn” club earlier this year, has raised $1 billion in fresh capital, marking the biggest ever funding round in the country’s booming food-tech sector...Read more… (QB, Fri, Dec 21 2018. 10 13 AM IST)
3. 2018: Peerless Mary Kom and a clutch of wonder girls give India reasons to cheer Boxer MC Mary Kom, shuttler PV Sindhu, javelin-thrower Neeraj Chopra, sprinter Hima Das, and gymnast Dipa Karmakar along with various other players made sure that 2018 was not only about the men in blue but also about women stars in other sports. The year that saw three major sporting events - Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast 2018, Asian Games, Jakarta 2018 and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games - gave us many medals and new sporting heroes. Read more… (New Indian Express, Wed, 26 Dec, 06:19pm)
4. NASA to feature 12-year-old Indian boy’s painting in their annual calendar For its annual calendar the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)selected the painting of a 12-year-old, Tamil Nadu boy. N Thenmukilan, who is a resident of Dindigul district Tamil Nadu, sent a painting on ‘space food’, as a theme. The painting was based on the idea of astronauts growing vegetables in space in order to add nutrients to their diet. Thenmulikan’s painting will be used as cover for the month November 2019 in NASA’s annual calendar. Copies of this calendar will be transmitted to astronauts in the space station. Read more… (DB Post, Wed, 26 Dec, 06:16pm)
5. Can Saffron Arrest Alzheimer’s? These Indian Scientists are Finding Out! The very mention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) spells dread and helplessness. Rightly so, for this terminal brain disorder borders on the unknown realms; characterised by progressive damage to the brain centres, the afflicted gradually loses memory, and the ability to communicate or take care of themselves. With normalcy toppled, there is an overwhelming dependency on caregivers, which also burdens the socio-economic structure of a society. Read more… (Susheela Srinivas, The Better India, Fri, 21 Dec, 06:23am)
6. From Poverty to Prosperity: How a Manipur Village Became a Model in Development Residents of Nongpok Sanjenbam have come together to bring about economic and social transformation, enjoying the benefits in the process. Nongpok Sanjenbam village, about 15 km east of Manipur’s capital city Imphal, is clean, with a lot of greenery. Spread over ten acres of land, a weaving unit and a poultry farm provide employment to most of the villagers.. Presently it is a model in development, as it ensures sustained economic growth through various programmes, involving the community. Read more… (The Wire, Sun, 23 Dec, 04:44pm)
7. Farmers to Entrepreneurs: How Cherai Became India’s First Aquaponics Village in Just 2 Years! Cherai is a small coastal village near Kochi in Kerala, and its scenic beach and stunning backwaters are much sought after by people who seek a tranquil travel experience. However, Cherai also happens to have a very unusual attribute to its name—one that has been drawing farmers and agriculturists from across the country. Read more… (Gayatri Mishra, The Better India, Thu, 20 Dec, 05:15pm)
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Vol. 02, Issue 52, December 28, 2018. 8. IN PICTURES: Theatre of the blind an eye-opener for audiences in India Calcutta is India’s cultural capital for as long as anyone can remember. The teeming eastern port city is acknowledged as the national headquarters of music, poetry and the fine arts from pre-independence era until today. New Delhi is catching up but is still far behind, while Mumbai has its charm but of a different kind, though. Calcutta’s undying passion for drama is borne out by a unique theatre group comprising actors who can’t see but are still going places – literally and otherwise. Read more… (S. N. M. Abdi, Al Arabiya, Mon, 24 Dec, 04:19pm)
9. This ancient Indian city attracts thousands of tourists. Photo One of the most interesting attractions of India. Chittorgarh is a small town in the North-West of India Rajasthan, famous for its massive ancient Fort perched on the crest of a high hill on the left Bank of the river Berach. It rises sharply above the surrounding plains to a height of 180 metres and covers 280 hectares of land. The old building has the status of the largest Fort in India and, of course, considered the greatest fortress of Rajasthan state. Still, the Majesty and the splendor, despite the considerable destruction, stretched through the centuries and preserved in the walls of the fortress, presenting a beautiful and mysterious picture. Read more… (Mice Times, Wed, 26 Dec, 06:25pm)
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