Rediscover, Reconnect and Revisit India and its Culture at ARTH – A CULTURE FEST

Rediscover, Reconnect and Revisit India and its Culture at ARTH – A CULTURE FEST

Riding high on the back of two glorious and successful seasons, Zee Live’s one-of-a-kind cultural festival, Arth – A Culture Fest is back with a bang, in the form of a scintillating third season. Making for a digital delight, Arth,this year, will be a virtual extravaganza, organized in Kolkata and will be live-streamed from 27th – 28th February 2021through the Facebook and YouTube channels of Zee 24 Ghanta & Arth-A Culture Fest. Viewers can register online at https://www.arthlive.in.

 

In the Kolkata edition, Arth – A Culture fest will bring to fore the very essence of East India. The audience can look forward to seeing eminent panellists from various walks of life, share their views, narrate interesting anecdotes, and share their perspective on much- loved topics such as the Bengal Elections, Women in Power, Reviving the Lost Culture of Bengal amongst others, along with paying a heartfelt tribute to Satyajit Ray & Soumitra Chatterjee, celebrating 125 years of Subhash Chandra Boseand the love for sports in the City of Joy amongst others.

 

Prominent speakers at the event includeHonourable Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Smriti Irani, Babul Supriyo, Nusrat Jahan, Swapan Dasgupta, Dilip Ghosh, Bratya Basu, Samik Bhattacharya, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Agnimitra Paul, Anjan Bandyopadhyay, Anuj Dhar, Anupam Kher, Ashoke Viswanathan, Atanu Ghosh, Bhaichung Bhutia, Binod Gurung, Chaiti Ghoshal, Chandrachur Ghose, DibyenduBarua, Dola Banerjee, Gautam Bhattacharya, HarshavardhanNeotia, Hirak Bhattacharjee, Ila Arun, Imtiaz Ali, Ina Puri, Irshad Kamil, K.B Agarwala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Manas Bhattacharya, MD Salim,Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, MoupiaNandy, Nandini Bhattacharya Panda, Purabi Roy, Rajat Kanta Ray, Ranjan Chowdhury, Ranjit Mallick, Sandip Ray, Satrajit Sen, Satya Vyas, Satyajit Chatterjee, Sharmistha Goswami Chatterjee, Shinjini Kulkarni, Shuvaprasanna, Srijit Mukherji, Sudeshna Roy,Sudipta Chakraborty, Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, Sulagna Ray Bhattacharyee, Suman Ghosh, Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury.

 

The festival will see artistes Nachiketa Chakraborty, Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee entertain the audiences with their enthralling performances

 

Event details:

 

Date:

    • 27th – 28th February 2021

Venue:

    • Live from ITC Sonar, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Kolkata.

Watch Link- https://www.facebook.com/Zee24Ghanta Time:

    12:00pm

 

 

For more details, please contact:

Shlipa Negi |91-97116-77211| Shilpa@moes-art.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Disclaimer- Names and Panels are subject to change

 

Schedule for 27th and 28th February-

 

27th Feb (Day 1)

 

 

 

Start Time

Session

 

 

12PM

Opening Address: Honourable Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in conversation with Anjan Bandyopadhyay

 

 
   

12:45PM

Women in Power: Changing the Narrative Nusrat Jahan &Sudeshna Roy

   
   

1:30PM

                Rise of The Right in Bengal Samik Bhattacharya, MD Salim, M – Anjan Bandyopadhyay

   
   
   
   

2:15PM

বাঙালিঅস্মিতা-এবারভোটেরমন্ত্র! Cultural Nationalism Leading Up To The Elections Babul Supriyo, Swapan Dasgupta &  M- Anjan Bandyopadhyay

   
   
   
   
   

3PM

আজওফুটবলেবাঁচেবাংলা
West Bengal’s Undying Love for Football Satyajit Chatterjee, Manas Bhattacharya, Ranjan Chowdhury & M – Gautam Bhattacharaya

   
   
   
   

3:45PM

Make In India Success Stories: K.B Agrawala& M – Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury

   
   
   
   
   
   

4:05PM

How the Search for Indian Food Changed World Culture
Nandini Bhattacharya Panda ,Hirak Bhattacharjee & M – Rakhi Purnima Dasgupta

   

4:25PM

চায়েরকাপেতুফান: Diving Deep into East India’s Chai Culture
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra ,Binod Gurung, M -Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee

   

4:45PM

আত্মবিস্মৃতবাঙালিছফিরেযাওয়াশিকড়ে
                   In Search of our Roots Shuvaprasanna, HarshavardhanNeotia, Rajat Kanta Ray, Meghdut Roy Chowdhury & M – Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury

   
   
   
   

5:30PM

Your Best Day is Today – Book launch by Anupam Kher& Ina Puri

   
   

5:55PM

সৌমিত্র-একটিজীবন
A Tribute to SoumitraChatterjee  Suman Ghosh, Atanu Ghosh, Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, Ashoke Viswanathan, Sudipta Chakraborty, Rituparna Sengupta & M -Satrajit Sen

   

 

 

Start Time

Session

 

 

12PM

One Woman, Many Roles: A Conversation with Smriti Irani &Anjan Bandyopadhyay

 

 
   

12:40

Rediscovering India Through Her Drapes-
Sulagna Ray Bhattacharyee, Agnimitra Paul &Chaiti Ghoshal

   

1PM

Netaji, A Man Who Inspired The World
125 Years of Subhash Chandra Bose
Chandrachur Ghose, Anuj Dhar, Purabi Roy &Srijit Mukherji & M – MoupiaNandy

   
   
   
   
   

2PM

Satyajit Ray In Today’s India –Ashoke Viswanathan & Imtiaz Ali

   

2:45PM

আন্তর্জাতিকসিনেমায়ভারতীয়মুখসত্যজিৎ  Remembering The Man who took Indian Cinema to The World –Madhabi Mukherjee, Sandip Ray, Ranjit Mallick, Deepankar Dey & M – Sharmistha Goswami Chatterjee

   

3:30PM

অন্যমাটিরসুরে: ইলাঅরুণ Influence of folk music in creativity by Ila Arun, Shinjini Kulkarni

   
   
   

4:30PM

Performance by Nachiketa Chakraborty

   
   

5PM

Jo bhimaikehnachahunbarbadkarealfaz mere – In conversation with Irshad Kamil & M – Satya Vyas

   
   

5:45PM

West Bengal’s Love Affair With Sports And Sportspersons Dola Banerjee, DibyenduBarua, Bhaichung Bhutia & M –  Moupia

   
   
   
   

6:30PM

বাংলারসংস্কৃতিপুনরুদ্ধার, ফেরাতেহবে ‘সোনারবাংলা’ Reviving The Lost Culture of Bengal Dilip Ghosh &MoupiaNandy

   
   

7:00 PM

A Spoken Word and Music Performance by Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee and Shibasish Banerjee

   

 

 

XXX

Hong Kong – Message by SJ at 46th session of UN Human Rights Council

 

Following is the full text of the video message by the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, at the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council today (February 26):

Madam President,

     After the enactment of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong’s law and order is restored, and residents can resume their normal daily lives.

     In the second half of 2019, due to the civil unrest properties and facilities had been damaged, citizens arbitrarily attacked, the functioning of the legislature and government seriously disrupted, and many citizens and police officers were injured.

     To suppress these violent, subversive and terrorist activities which posed a serious threat to our national security, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the National Security Law in June 2020.

     Like the national security laws of many countries, it makes secession, subversion, terrorist activity, and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security a crime. The civil unrest has since subsided and the residents can enjoy their lawful rights and freedoms.

     People are now free to travel without fearing for their personal safety; vigilantism are no longer prevalent and people are free to express different views openly; and people are more respectful of the rights of others whilst exercising their own.

     In short, Hong Kong has reverted to a safe, rational, inclusive and vibrant society.

     The National Security Law expressly provides that human rights such as freedom of speech and assembly, be protected, and legal principles such as presumption of innocence be respected and observed. The law enforcement agencies and courts of HKSAR have been entrusted by the Central Authorities to exercise jurisdiction over cases concerning national security offences. When adjudicating cases, the judges in Hong Kong remain independent and impartial in discharging their judicial duties, free from any interference.

     The National Security Law has been effective in restoring law and order and safeguarding national security. It has provided the necessary conditions for maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and enables Hong Kong residents to enjoy their rights and freedoms in a safe and peaceful environment.

     The measures are conducive to the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy. This is in the long-term interests of both the country and the two systems. Thank you.

 

Canada – Statement from the Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence 

As I have stated, I take all allegations of misconduct seriously and continue to take strong action on any allegation of misconduct that is brought forward. No matter the rank, no matter the position.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service can confirm an investigation into Admiral Art McDonald.

I was informed that Admiral Art McDonald has voluntarily stepped aside while the investigation is ongoing.

As of February 24th, I have appointed Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre as Acting Chief of the Defence Staff.

I will have no further comment at this time due to the ongoing investigation. 

 

Curtain Raiser for Workshop on “Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic” between Civil Services Commission (CSC), Maldives and National Centre for Good Governance, DARPG

A two-day international virtual workshop on “Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic” between Civil Services Commission (CSC), Maldives and National Centre for Good Governance, DARPG, Government of India is being organized on 23rd and 24th February 2021. In this workshop, more than 1000 officers are going to participate from Maldives side. Packed with sessions ranging from Leadership and Motivation, Health and Education in Maldives in a Pandemic, Health sector in India in a Pandemic, Job Skills and Tourism in a Pandemic, Interpersonal Skills and Communication skills, Digital Practices and Handling of Public Grievances to Problem Analysis and Decision Making, this Workshop plans to provide a platform for information exchange and knowledge dissemination.

This Workshop shall see the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Maldives, Mr. Abdulla Shahid among other esteemed participants from both the countries. Besides these high dignitaries, senior government officials from both the countries shall address the gathering through a virtual interface. The sessions are packed with a wide range of participants including high government officials from both the countries along with renowned academicians and practitioners from the given fields.

Day 1 shall see a day long academic exercise encompassing issues like Leadership, Health and Education sector and Tourism during the current pandemic that hit the world last year. To be moderated by Shri V. Srinivas, Additional Secretary, DARPG and DG, NCGG, the Workshop will be inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Sudhir, High Commissioner of India to Maldives and Mr. Mohammed Nasih, Chairperson, Civil Services Commission of Maldives. This will be followed by country presentation of papers and discussions till 6 p.m.

The concluding session on Day 2 shall see a Valedictory addressed by Dr. K. Shivaji, Secretary, DARPG followed by an address by Shri Sanjay Sudhir, High Commissioner of India to Maldives. The address by Chief Guests shall be delivered by Dr.Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, PG and Pensions and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid. The event shall be concluded with a Vote of Thanks given by Shri V. Srinivas, Additional Secretary, DARPG and DG, NCGG.

Sixth Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog Concludes

The sixth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog was held today under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi via video conferencing. It was attended by 26 Chief Ministers, 3 Lieutenant Governors and 2 Administrators, apart from Union Ministers, who are Ex-Officio Members, and Special Invitees. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Members and CEO,Principal Secretary to the PM & other senior officers from PMO; Cabinet Secretary; and Chief Secretaries of States/ Union Territories also attended the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said that Cooperative Federalism is the foundation of India’s progress. Cooperative and Competitive Federalism should be made more effective and taken to the district level, he said. Thecountry succeeded in managing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic only because the Centre and the States worked together in a spirit of partnership.

As India stands close to completing 75 years of Independence, this Governing Council meeting assumes even more significance as it provides an opportunity to brainstorm and further strengthen Cooperative and Competitive Federalism, which are essential pillars for successful achievement of the national aspirations, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that several concerted steps have been taken to empower the poor and bring about a noticeable change in their lives. Since 2014, more than 2 crore 40 lakh houses have been constructed in both cities and villages. Similarly, over 3.5 lakh rural houses have been provided with piped drinking water within 18 months of the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission. He added that the Bharat Net Scheme for internet connectivity in villages is bringing about transformational change. The Prime Minister said the Centre and States should work more closely on such schemes to improve ease of living for our citizens.

The Prime Minister said that the positive response to this year’s Union Budget reflects the mood of the nation. There is an all-round eagerness to push forward with economic development. He added that the private sector is coming forward with enthusiasm in the development journey of the country, and the Government must honour this enthusiasm by ensuring opportunities for the private investors to capitalize on the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan. He added that the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan is a step towards providing opportunities to everyone—to fulfil not only our own needs but also cater to the global demand for goods and services.

The Prime Minister emphasized on strengthening MSMEs and start-ups. Every State, every District, has its unique strengths, he added. He said products should be shortlisted from every District and promoted—this will create healthy competition among all Districts and States, which will help in boosting our exports. He said that the Aspirational Districts Programme implemented in partnership with States holds a unique example in this regard.

In his welcome remarks, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, said that this forum enables the identification of key strategies for cohesive action. He reaffirmed NITI Aayog’s commitment to work tirelessly with States and Union Territories in the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. He added that national progress is contingent on the growth of all States/UTs. He stated that the Sixth Governing Council Meeting was unique as it brought together the country’s highest decision-makers on one platform. The Sixth Governing Council Meeting was preceded by a detailed interaction with senior State officials on 6 February 2021, the feedback for which was duly incorporated while curating the agenda of the meeting.

The Agenda for the Sixth Council Meeting comprised the following items:

1.         Making India a Manufacturing Powerhouse

2.         Reimagining Agriculture

3.         Improving Physical Infrastructure

4.         Accelerating Human Resources Development

5.         Improving Service Delivery at Grassroots Level

6.         Health and Nutrition

The Council deliberated on several steps for making India a manufacturing powerhouse, such as reducing compliance burden, initiating reforms at the State level, improving logistics, promoting exports through district-level competition and creating jobs. For improving physical infrastructure, the Chief Ministers expressed the need to raise public capital investment and completing projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, while enhancing investments in infrastructure through private and Public Private Partnerships, improving last-mile connectivity, reducing energy costs and configuring an enhanced and efficient role of States in project implementation.

States/UTs also mentioned efforts made to improve water accessibility, supply of quality and reliable power, internet connectivity andbandwidth availability, quality healthcare services, sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate the risks of climate change, undertake suitable reforms to build an advanced manufacturing and innovation ecosystem, thereby bolstering exports through the One District One Product initiative, apart from building on futuristic tech and inclusive governance models. The Chief Ministers also noted marked improvement in the development of physical infrastructure, including digital connectivity, across the North-Eastern region, along with a greater thrust on the Act East Policy, with the aim of providing impetus to the economies of the NE States.

Keeping in mind the aspirations of a young country like India, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to build modern infrastructure. He said the youth plays an important role in catalysing change in the country and cited the success of Digital India campaign to emphasise this point. Innovation must be encouraged, and more technology should be used to provide better opportunities for education and skill development.

The Governing Council Meeting seeks to build on the strength of every State so that everyone can learn from each other’s best practices. The Council members deliberated on strengthening institutions for skilling, reskilling, and upskilling of workforce. Focus was also laid on improving service delivery at the grassroots level, by ensuring digital infrastructure for the rural regions. Various Chief Ministers presented best practices from their respective States that can serve as templates for replication across the country.

The Prime Minister said policy frameworks and better coordination between the Centre and States are very important. He said the Centre and States must synchronise their budgets to ensure multiplier effect. Technology and community partnership are equally important.

The Prime Minister said the Central Government has introduced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for various sectors, thus providing an excellent opportunity to increase manufacturing in the country. He urged the States to take full advantage of this scheme and attract maximum global investments and reap the benefits of reduced corporate tax rates.

The Prime Minister said geospatial data was liberalized recently, which would incentivise entrepreneurial endeavour, start-up innovation and the tech sector in general. Focus must be on ease-of-doing business for the international audience and on ease-of-living for our own people, he added.

Even though India is an agricultural economy, it still imports many inputs, the Prime Minister said. He stressed on becoming self-reliant in this area. There are many agricultural products that can be not only produced for the country but also supplied to the rest of the world.For this, he insisted, it is necessary that all States make an agro-climatic regional planning strategy.

The Prime Minister also urged focus on storage and processing of agricultural products to reduce wastage. Reforms are very important for farmers to get the necessary economic resources, better infrastructure and modern technology, he said.

The Prime Minister welcomed the rich discussion and constructive suggestions by the Council members, assuring that they would be carefully considered while taking decisions. He expressed confidence that with collective efforts, the aspirations of the people will be fulfilled.

This Governing Council meeting paved the way for synergies across all tiers of the Government, with substantial collaboration and cooperation in the Agenda items. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the objectives of advancing economic, social and demographic welfare.

About the Governing Council of NITI Aayog

The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with Legislature, Lt Governors of other UTs, Ex-Officio Members and Special Invitees. It is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in shaping the development narrative. Including today, a total of Six meetings have been held so far.

NITI Aayog has been mandated with fostering Cooperative Federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation on the principles of ‘SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. It seeks to design and assist the implementation of strategic, long-term policy frameworks and programme initiatives, while monitoring their progress and efficacy. The Governing Council, which embodies these objectives of cooperative federalism, presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda.

Sharifah Hardie Announces Intent to Run for CA State Senate District 33 in 2024 Primary Election

Business consultant, talk show host, author, and Long Beach, California resident Sharifah Hardie is proud to announce her intent to run for California State Senate District 33 in the 2024 Primary Election. After spending years empowering small businesses, Hardie now plans to use her experience to invest in and improve her community. Specifically, through her candidacy, Hardie will address her plans to create jobs, eradicate homelessness, and achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion in District 33 and across the United States.

Hardie has been a California resident since 1985, spending much of her childhood in South Central Los Angeles. In 2003, Hardie relocated to Long Beach, California, and has lived there since. Though this will be Hardie’s first senate campaign, she has long worked to find solutions to District 33’s many problems, including by running for candidacy in the 2020 Long Beach City Council primaries.

She believes deeply that people can accomplish anything if given the right support, resources, and information, and that diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount when striving to overcome social disparities and issues. For this reason, she has dedicated her career to consulting businesses in District 33 and beyond, helping individuals find a platform to raise their voices and speak out about important issues, and sharing her own experiences and struggles candidly to inspire others to continue charging ahead.

With the Presidential inauguration occurring just a few days ago, Hardie is optimistic that a new President offers hope for a new day and feels inspired to have seen Kamala Harris take office as the first female, African American, and Asian American Vice President. However, Hardie also recognizes that there is still hard work to do and changes to make. With this in mind, Sharifah Hardie is proud to say, “I am going to be the change I want to see in California.”

As a long-time District 33 resident, Hardie understands the community’s problems because she faces them, too. If elected, Hardie would invest in District 33, just as she has invested in so many individuals and small businesses throughout her career.

Sharifah Hardie welcomes all support and invites anyone interested in learning more about her or making a contribution to visit her campaign website and Instagram: https://www.sharifahhardieforsenate.com/

About Sharifah Hardie:
Sharifah Hardie is a business consultant, talk show host, author, diversity and inclusion expert, and influencer. She is resilient, deliberate, and precise, and she uses her wide range of knowledge and experience to help individuals, companies, and communities be the best they can and find the success they deserve. Sharifah has comprehensive plans to help her community, share her best advice, and continue on her journey to become a representative of California’s District 33 in 2024.