central government on August The new nine judges are: justice A.S. Oka, justice Vikram Nath, justice J.K. Maheshwari, justice Hima Kohli, justice B.V. Nagarathna, justice C.T. Ravikumar, justice M.M. Sundresh, justice Bela Trivedi and senior advocate P.S. Narasimha. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, is in line

Telangana sets up state, district heritage authorities

Hyderabad, Aug 17: The Telangana government on Tuesday constituted the Telangana State Heritage Authority (TSHA) for protection, preservation and conservation of heritage of the state. The government also constituted committees at district level and a separate body for Greater Hyderabad for the purpose. The Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture Department issued an order constituting the committees under Telangana Heritage (Protection, Preservation, Conservation, and Maintenance) Act, 2017, brought to safeguard the state's tangible and intangible heritage. The Chief Secretary will be the Chairman of the TSHA, and the Secretaries, Tourism and Culture, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Education, and Finance will be members. Director, Department of Heritage will be the 1member convenor. According to the Government Order, two experts from archaeology, heritage, history background will be co-opted members. There will be a District Heritage and Precincts Committee (DPHC) for each district except Greater Hyderabad. Headed by the District

Collector concerned, it will have the Superintendent of Police, Additional Collector, District Forest Officer, District Education Officer, District Tourism Officer, District Town and Country Planning Officer As members. Assistant Director, Department of Heritage, will be member convenor. Two experts from archaeology, heritage, history background will be co-opted members. The government also constituted Greater Hyderabad Heritage and Precincts Committee (GHHC) for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)/Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) area. GHMC Commissioner will be the Chairman and Metropolitan Commissioner, HMDA the Co-Chairman. Police commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Rachakonda, Commissioner of Tourism, District Collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sanga Reddy districts, Chief City Planner, GHMC, Chief Planning Officer, HMDA, Conservator of Forests, Hyderabad, will be members and the Deputy Director, Department of Heritage, the member convenor. The government will nominate two experts from archaeology, heritage, and history background as co-opted members.

International virtual Kerala Onam floral contest gets a warm response

Kerala Tourism's Global Pookkalam (floral carpet) contest to be held virtually has got a good response from the country and abroad, said State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyaz. The government is hosting the virtual competition, titled 'Viswa Manavikathayude Loka Ona Pookkalam', in the backdrop of Covid-19 that has forced Malayalis to remain indoors and celebrate the harvest festival. Riyaz said the international Pookalam contest gives a common platform to both Malayali diaspora who are unable to visit the state during Onam and Keralites who miss their opportunity for social get-togethers this year owing to Covid-19 conditions. "The theme of the event sends across the Onam message of unity and fraternity. Usually, expatriate Malayalis celebrate this festival along with fellow members of their associations. This time, the Pookalam contest facilitates them to celebrate Onam with all Malayalis across the globe," said Riyaz who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Minister has asked all Keralites wherever they are to participate free of cost by registering at https://www. keralatourism.org/contest/pookkalam2021, where the Pookkalam image can be uploaded till August 23 midnight. The jury under the Department of Tourism will evaluate the Pookkalams and select 100 from among them. They will be uploaded onto the website of the department. The contestants will be awarded first, second and third prizes in two categories: individual and organization/association. There will be ten consolation prizes. Also, all participants will be given a special Onam gift. All contestants can download from the website their certificate of participation. Kerala Tourism is also readying a comprehensive video programme featuring folk arts by the state's performers who are in financial difficulties owing to the pandemic. The 15-minute clips will be beamed online through audio-visual and social media. The three main days of the harvest festival of Onam starts on Friday and due to the pandemic, like in the last year, this time also all public celebrations are forbidden.

'Colours of Kolkata' - an art initiative on Independence Day

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Though street art is common in the US, Australia and Europe, it has not been tried and tested in that manner in this country. In an effort to add some colour to the City of Joy, an art campaign is being initiated on Independence Day where all the walls of the Tram Depots will be painted in different colours by the West Bengal Tramways Company. The whole idea is to add some colour to the mundane streets. The campaign has been started by the West Bengal Transport Corporation. The art, celebrating Kolkata and its famous citizens, will be done on WBTC depot walls, mostly located in the heart of the city. The art works have been curated by WBTC in collaboration with a city-based artist, Mudar Patherya. The initiative - 'Colours of Kolkata', is an effort to celebrate the diversity of Kolkata. This year also marks the 100th birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray and the 160th of Rabindranath Tagore. To begin with, street art has begun with these two stalwarts. The location is Park Circus; on the wall of a WBTC Tram Depot. "A lot of times people spit and deface our depot walls. It looks bad. This would add an artsy touch to the art capital of India and also maybe discourage people from spoiling the walls," said MD of WBTC Rajanvir Singh Kapur. "In future, eminent artists of Kolkata will be invited to help in creating such public art at prominent locations to make the City of Joy even more beautiful," said Kapur. The Colours of Kolkata has already started from Park Circus and will cover the walls of most of the depots till Durga Puja. The next places in line are Tollygunge Tram Depot - opposite Tolly Club and then it will be extended to the Gariahat Depot, near Ballygunge Phari. The Gariahat Depot also houses the Tram World. The Tram World was launched in December 2020 commemorating the 140th anniversary of the foundation of Calcutta Tramways Company in London. It's one of a kind tram museum in the whole world. "The objective of #coloursofkolkata is to utilise the public walls of the city to send out a singular message - that Kolkata is artistically and aesthetically one of the most vibrant cities of the country. I am thankful to WBTC for giving me this opportunity and the movement is intended to attract a variety of artists to help put the city's best face forward," said Patherya. Once completed over all depot walls, this would be a one-of-its-kind initiative anywhere in an Indian city. Kolkata is known as the art capital of India and this will only add to its glory.