Amita Talwar belongs to a rare breed. A journalist turned publisher turned documentary maker turned photographer, she has enjoyed every role that came her way to the core.

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A photographer with a different focus, Amita Talwar was recently in Chennai for her solo photography exhibition. ‘I love travelling. It is like a spiritual quest for something. Here I experience the creator and I can feel the magic,’ says a beaming Amita as she sits amongst her favorite snaps at Sarala’s Art World, Alwarpet. And these travels have given her unexpected wonders by way of nature and human beings. We begin to look at nature with renewed respect once we see her photographs in the prakrithi category. They seem to evoke some kind of mysticism in our minds. The photographs taken during her innumerable travels around the country tell us that she is a born photographer. Sri Nagar, Dal lake, Jaipur, Prayag mela at Allahabad, Chattisgarh, Leh, Ladakh and Bhutan come alive in her photographs. ‘I can see peace in all these pictures. whether it be a Buddhist or a Hindu or an Islamic symbol, they all mean the same to me,’ says Amita. Interestingly enough temples, rituals and human conditions dominate Amita’s work. ‘I don’t like city temples. They don’t have the beauty of village ones. We need to go to a village to discover the charm of old temples,’ she asserts. Amita inherited the art of photography from her father Dayakrishna Puri. Her childhood in Patiala was amongst thousands of black and white photographs clicked by her father, and thus the love for the medium grew upon her. The editor and publisher of Channel 6 , a monthly magazine published from Hyderabad and Secundarabad Amita has been seriously pursuing photography for the last six years. And now she has thousands of photographs to her credit. ‘ Video shooting demands that we wait for the programme and also needs huge amounts of money. Besides we need to take help of others. But photography is a one person activity and I enjoy it like anything,’ she says. A high mega pixel camera she uses ensures a 300 dpi resolution. Amita believes in upholding the ethics of her profession. She would never invade into other people’s privacy in the name of photography. ‘Prior permission should be obtained before one begins taking pictures. By god’s grace there is no need to take permission for nature photographs,’ she jokes. There is a larger cause behind her photo exhibitions. The funds so raised will finally contribute to building of schools for the handicapped in Hawaali village in Chattisgarh and Ludhiana in Punjab

Kunnakudi takes the final bow

Tue, 09 Sep, 2008,03:42 PM . An ample forehead smeared with sacred ash and scarlet Kumkum right at the centre. Amongst a sea of musicians it was hard to miss Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The man and his music were familiar to the scholars of Carnatic music and the laymen alike. . Kunnakudi (he was readily identified with the name of his native rather than the name given to him to by his parents) did what most musicians of his generations considered almost blasphemous. It was his efforts that took Carnatic music within the reach of the layman. He was a craftsman who simplified Classical music for the common listener and made him appreciate it. The term janaranjagam found true meaning in his music. Born in 1935 at Kunnakudi to Ramaswamy Sastri and Meenakshi, Vaidyanathan evinced keen interest in Carnatic music since his young age. He mastered his music under the tutelage of his father who was a scholar in Sanskrit besides being proficient in Classical music . Even at a young age, he accompanied stalwarts like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer and Maharajapuram Santhanam on the violin. He also performed with nagaswara vidwans like T N Rajarathinam Pillai and Thiruvenkadu Subramania Pillai. Known for his dexterity and subtlety in handling the violin, he catered not only to a scholar of music but also to a layman. His music reflected his own different moods and the demands of his audience with whom he established and enjoyed a good rapport. He dwelt with ease and competence in the high as well as the low octaves. A man of many talents, he ventured into the film industry with Vaa Raja Vaa. In the film Deivam, his composition Marudamalai mamaniyae murugaiyya became an evergreen hit. He had composed music for several films including Agathiyar and Raja Raja Chozhan. He even produced a Tamil musical titled Thodi Ragam featuring Carnatic vocalist T N Seshagopalan. Vaidyanathan made a special appearance in the Tamil blockbuster movie Anniyan directed by Shankar. He appeared for a scene on the Thiruvaiyaar music festival which preluded the song Iyengaaru Veetu in the film. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan stopped accompanying vocal artistes in 1976 so as to concentrate on his solo concerts. He is well known for his experiments on the violin, which he referred as fingering techniques. He was conferred the Padma Shri by the Indian government. He received several honours including Kalaimamani, Sangita Mamani etc. He served as the president of Raaga Research Centre. Kunnakudi had contributed to the cause of theatres too. During his tenure as the president of Tamilnadu Iyal, Isai, Nataka Manram, he encouraged several new talents. The Carnatic music fraternity has expressed its deep shock at the sudden demise of Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on Monday. Kunnakudi, breathed his last at his residence in Mylapore following a cardiac arrest. Expressing shock at his death, violinists duo Ganesh and Kumaresh said, ‘it is a big loss to Carntic music world. He was a guide for many aspiring musicians. He took up intense research in raagas and took Classical music to the common man.’ ‘The annual music festival in Thiruvaiyaru will lose its charm without the presence of Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. His loss is irrevocable’, they added. According to Carnatic vocalist O S Thyagarajan, ‘Vaidyanathan was a popular name, who rendered yeoman service to Carnatic music. His demise is an irrevocable loss’. Says dramatist Raadhu, ‘I shared a good raport with Kunnakudi since 1954. He had a zeal to excel in his chosen field. A great scholar and a philosopher, Kunnakudi encouraged everyone and was generous with his praise for real talents.’ He took music close to the layman and always played to the gallery, he added. ‘Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was a great violinist and had no equal in the field. He brought a status to the violin. His achievements cannot be numbered. He had a helping tendency and was responsible for helping many artistes obtain the recognition they deserved. His research on the healing effects of various ragas, was a great contribution to the medical world. He was a close associate of mine and his demise is a personal loss and a great loss to the music world’, said violinist M S Anantharaman. ‘He was a perfect gentleman, a capable administrator and great violinist. He produced melodious music that could entertain and appeal to all sections of people. He made the violin his very own and gave it a special status. His demise is a great loss to the music world’, said violinist M S Gopalakrishnan.

High alert has been sounded all across Tamilnadu following the serial blasts in Delhi. The blasts in the national capital last night claimed over 20 lives besides injuring 100. The Tamilnadu police have taken up extensive preventive measures across the State. A round-the-clock vigil has been taken up in Chennai and police conducted vehicular checks last night.

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A team of police led by City Police Commissioner Sekar raided lodges and hotels last night. A total of 408 persons have been taken into preventive custody. Security has been beefed up at Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Tuticorin, Vellore, Salem. Police personnel have been deployed at all places of worship including Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, Thanjavur Brahadeeshwarar temple and Nellaiappar temple in Thirunelveli. ‘We are not taking any chance and have increased patrolling’, a senior police official said. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at the Chennai airport, railway stations and bus stands. Cops have been deployed in large numbers at these exit and entry points. The passengers are allowed to enter these places only after thorough frisking by the cops.

Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign announced that it raised USD 66 million in August, marking another record fundraising month for the Democrat. The August total was second to the USD 55 million Obama raised last February during the primary campaign. He reached the USD 66 million mark with help from more than a half million new donors.

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Obama's total for August was almost USD 20 million more than the USD 47 million Republican rival John McCain raised last month. Obama's campaign said that with the latest figures he had more than USD 77 million in cash on hand. More details about the campaigns' finance are expected later this week, when their monthly financial reports are due at the Federal Election Commission. Obama, a prodigious fundraiser, has decided not to accept public financing for the general election, choosing instead to spend as much money as he can raise on his historic bid to put a Democrat back in the White House. Republican candidate John McCain has accepted public financing, which limits his direct spending to the USD 84 million he received after the Republican convention earlier this month. Obama's fundraisers have estimated that he still has to do better in September and October, than the August haul of USD 66 million, to remain on par with McCain and the Republican National Committee.

London, Aug 31: The Olympic torch relay before the 2012 Olympics will be limited to Britain after protests spoiled the worldwide relay ahead of the Beijing Games.

Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, told The Sunday Times that she had "a lot of enthusiasm" for the idea of the torch being taken round the "villages, towns and cities in the UK". Jowell, unveiling plans for four years of lead-up events, starting next month, said in an interview: "There would be no more powerful way of making them feel part of the Olympics, would there?"

Although welcoming the world will be one of the themes of the Cultural Olympiad that begins on the weekend of September 26, the torch relay is set to be restricted to Britain.

China's decision to take the torch around the world turned into a global protest by pro-Tibet campaigners, who tried to wrestle the torch from the hands of runners on stages in Europe.

The Beijing torch was surrounded by tracksuit-wearing security minders on its troubled passage around the globe.

The plans for Britain's Olympics, to be decared this week, show an effort to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

A week ahead of the opening ceremony on July 27, 2012, two days of free performances will take place on five stages along the Thames representing the continents and Olympic rings.

The World River weekend will mark the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad, which begins, with the Open Weekend next month.

Events include the illumination of Windsor Castle and other landmarks in the colours of London 2012.

Highlights over the coming four years will include festivals, free performances and the commissioning of a series of public works of art in each of the nine English regions, and one each in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

These will become national focal points for the Olympic celebrations and new works could include sculptures on the scale of the 65ft-high Angel of the North.

Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst could be among those approached to help the Arts Council choose winners from ideas submitted.

Jowell also disclosed that organisers have shaved 1.5 billion pounds off the cost of the Games by simplifying the design of the main stadium and aquatic centre, and reducing the size of the Olympic Park.

She admitted more money than originally predicted would be needed, but insisted the total cost to taxpayers would not rise above the 9.3 billion pounds budget.

"There's no more money. None from the taxpayer, none from the lottery, none from the government," she said.

Jowell, who has returned from three weeks in Beijing, said there were lessons to be learnt from China's experience.

Although the 2008 Games were acclaimed as the most spectacular ever, there were empty seats at events, security was often overzealous, and the opening and closing shows were considered too long.

Jowell believes there is a "good case" for staging shorter ceremonies and has staked her reputation on ensuring venues are packed.

"My ambition is to see seats filled, every Londoner having the opportunity to see some event, and people being able to come from around the country. It's not simple, but we are determined to crack this," she said

New Delhi/Vienna, Sep 6: US plan to lift a ban on India on the nuclear commerce was stalled from Friday, Sep 5 to Saturday after the revised proposal of India towards nuclear deal failed to get an approval from the NSG member countries, because it did not bind India to refrain from conducting nuclear bomb tests, diplomats said. The 45 member Nuclear supplier Group (NSG) of IAEA will resume their meeting at 2.30 pm on Saturday, Sep 6 to declare India 'clean waiver' after 34 years of long wait towards nuclear deal.

In an attempt to convince the smaller countries opposing NSG waiver for India, US diplomats have been engaged with the diplomats of smaller countries. The waiver document has already gone through two set of changes.

"You are probably aware that the Indian government has released a significant statement today with respect to India's non proliferation commitments. I report that statement has made a substantial impact on the governments of the NSG and that has facilitated the progress that we achieved today. US remains committed to reaching consensus in Vienna at the NSG to allow for nuclear trade with India." US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood said.

"This is an important matter. This is a serious subject that is given a very serious discussion by our colleagues and I remain optimistic that we can achieve our objective to reach a consensus here," Rood said.

There were six countries opposing the NSG waiver for India at the start of the meeting, but at the end of round two that concluded at 2 am on Saturday, Austria and Ireland remained unconvinced. The rejection came stating that the amended language presented to them individually by US officials was 'inadequate'.

The two countries said India must categorically commit to refrain from nuclear tests and the document must spell out what kind of 'automatic reprisal' would follow in the event of transgression.

"Even though the negotiations could take more time, there might be a nod for the NSG waiver," said Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Peter Launsky.

"Austria understands the importance of the nuclear deal for India. Austria appreciates significance of the fact that India is able to meet her energy needs. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the ongoing efforts should strengthen international non-proliferation. The objective of Austria going to the NSG meeting is that the result should reflect a net gain for the international security" he said.

"The participants have shown a constructive spirit. Efforts are on to include some auxiliary measures that would compliment existing draft and thus net gain for international security. There are ways and means of extending the limit of the talks by few hours," he added.

Ruling out any substantive changes, India has rejected any attempt to add a clause on testing to the waiver document. However, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that India was committed to non-proliferation and a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing went a long way in converting sceptic countries over to its side.

Diplomats in vienna are altering the document to make it acceptable from all NSG members.

Even though the negotiations failed to make headway, sources say the fact that the talks haven"t broken down indicate that all the 45 NSG nations hope to evolve a consensus soon. According to the NSG rules, the waiver must be approved unanimously for it to be adopted.

Nagpur, Sep 6: President Pratibha Patil will arrive here on Saturday, Sep 6 on a two-day visit to Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. After reaching Nagpur by a special flight, the President will fly to Achalpur in Amravati District for laying the foundation stone of Finlay Mills.


After reaching Nagpur by a special flight, the President will fly to Achalpur in Amravati District for laying the foundation stone of Finlay Mills.

After an overnight stay at Amravati, the president will flag off a twice-a-week Amravati-Mumbai train on Sunday afternoon and lay the foundation stone for modernization of Amravati Railway Station. Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil are attending the President"s programmes. Patil will fly back to New Delhi the same evening via Nagpur.

New Delhi, Sep 5: Patiala High Court on Friday, Sep 5, sentenced Sanjeev Nanda, the key accused in the 1999 BMW hit and run case for five years. Businessman Rajiv Gupta gets one year rigorous imprisonment. A fine of Rs 10,000 is imposed on him. Six month jail was granted for helpers Bhola Nath and Shyam Singh also Rs 100 each to his two employees who were held guilty under section 201(destruction of evidence) of the IPC.

Sanjeev Nanda, I award you five years jail term and the time earlier spent by you inside the jail would be deducted," said Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar, who had earlier convicted him under a stringent penal provision which carries a maximum punishment of 10

No immediate cut in Deora


New Delhi, Sep 5: The government on Friday, Sep 5 ruled out any immediate reduction in fuel prices, even as global crude oil prices have softened.

''...international prices will have to fall further to trigger a retail price reduction,'' Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters here. Crude oil is being trade at over 106 dollar a barrel which is at the lowest level since April 4. ''Please pray that prices come down further so that we can consider reducing fuel prices,'' he said. The oil marketing companies such as IOC, HPCL and BPCL are are losing about Rs 400 crore per day on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene.

Gujarat Chief Minister is a teacher too... Impressed by Laloo's antics, Narendra Modi is the new politician to join the bandwagon of 'teaching' or shall we say 'preaching'. Students in schools and colleges across Gujarat were made to attend a one-hour Modi sermon. The programme, which was telecast live by Doordarshan Kendra, Gujarat.

A notice well before Teacher's Day was sent to all colleges and schools in Gujarat telling Narendra Modi will address the students. Modi also made it mandatory for students to watch this programme attentively, whether they want it or not. The District education officers made sure there were TV sets with cable connections in schools and colleges. The students were also administered an oath by the CM. A copy of the pledge was dispatched to all schools and the principals were asked to distribute photocopies to their students so that they can read the oath correctly.

Islamabad, Sep 6: Pakistan holds a presidential election on Saturday, Sep 6 to replace Pervez Musharraf, who resigned on August 18 under threat of impeachment by the coalition government led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan's ruling PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari appears set to sweep the presidential poll and would be expected to tackle problems like rising militancy and economic malaise after his election. Security will be tight as voting begins at 10 am on Saturday. Zardari has already moved house due to fears of attempts being made on his life.