Philanthropist Dr.Aneel Kashi Murarka and his foundation, Ample Missiion, honoured and felicitated at the IDF Foundation Day celebrations. Dr.ARK Pillai’s book, Hope On The Horizon, was released by Dr.Murarka who was also the Chief Guest at the event.

                    

राहत काझमी यांच्या 'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' चित्रपटाचे वितरण अमेरिकेतील सुप्रसिद्ध वितरण कंपनी 'हाऊस ऑफ फिल्म'ने केले.

अत्यंत स्तुत्य आणि विख्यात चित्रपट दिग्दर्शक-निर्माते राहत काझमी नेहमीच आपल्या उत्तोमोत्तम चित्रपटांच्यादिग्दर्शन व  निर्मितीमुळे प्रेक्षकांच्या मनावर राज्य करीत आले आहेत. 'मंटोस्तान', 'आयडेंटिटी कार्ड', 'लीहाफ' यांसारख्या एका पेक्षा एक सरस चित्रपटांनंतर आता 'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' या इंग्लिश आंतरराष्ट्रीय फीचर फिल्मची निर्मिती 'हाऊस ऑफ फिल्म' या नऊ अकादमी पुरस्कार विजेत्या चित्रपटांसाठी ओळखल्या जाणा-या अव्वल अमेरिकन डिस्ट्रीब्यूशन आणि सेल्स कंपनीजपैकी एका कंपनीच्या साहाय्याने होणार आहे. 

'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' चित्रपटाची कथा आपल्याला चार वेगवेगळ्या देशांमध्ये उलगडत असताना दिसून येते. 'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' ही एका काश्मीरी मेंढपाळाची कथा असून एक दिवस अचानक तो स्वतःला परदेशात लोकप्रिय असल्याचे पाहतो. या चित्रपटात शोएब निकाश शाह, स्पेन मधील अभिनेत्री मेरीटचेल ओर्टेगा, फ्रान्स मधील कॅनल ओप्पे तर भारतातील तारिक खान, जितेश कुमार आणि मुजीब उल हसन फ्रान्सचे पॅट्रिक फेमिओ ऑस्ट्रेलियाचे अॅथेंट गॅविन सारख्या कलाकारांचा समावेश आहे. 

'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' चित्रपट सर्व फेस्टिवल तसेच चित्रपट बाजारपेठांमध्ये जाण्यास तयार झालेला आहे. याबद्दल सांगताना राहत काझमी म्हणतात की, "यावेळी आम्ही जागतिक प्रेक्षकांवर लक्ष्य केंद्रित केले आहे. या चित्रपटाद्वारे आम्ही प्रायोगिक सिनेमा हाताळण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत आहोत, हा अशा प्रकारचा चित्रपट आहे जो केवळ प्रेक्षकांचे मनोरंजन करीत नाहीत तर विविध संस्कृतींना एकत्र आणतो, अशा वेळी विविध प्रश्नांवर प्रकाश टाकणे आवश्यक आहे."

'मिलियन डॉलर नोमॅड' चित्रपटाची निर्मिती राहत काझमी फिल्म्स, तारिक खान प्रॉडक्शन, झेबा साजिद फिल्म्स, बेंचमार्क पिक्चर्स आणि इंडियन फिल्म स्टुडीओद्वारे तर सह-निर्मिती मीडियामार्क इंटरनॅशनल कॉर्पोरेशन लिमिटेड द्वारे होत आहे.

Audiologist and Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal and ENT Surgeon Dr.Jayant Gandhi, through their JOSH Foundation, visited over 25 children from a Nasik school, with high quality digital hearing aids, based on individual requirements. With this, JOSH Foundation has completed the project of donating hearing aids to hundred kids from ATOS in a single month.

RANVIR SHOREY, PARVEZ DAMANIA & ASHOK DHAMANKAR GRACE VISHWA SAHNI AND SONU GUPTA’S SOLO ART SHOWS

Parvez Damania and Vishwa Sahni at Vishwa Sahni & Sonu Gupta's solo art shows at Nehru Centre Art Gallery

The inaugural ceremony of Vishwa Sahni and Sonu Gupta's solo art shows, saw actor Ranvir Shorey, enterprenuer and art enthusiast Parvez Damania, Ashok Dhamankar, Director - Magna Publishing Co. Ltd. and many other artists of the likes of Prithvi Soni, Madhusudan Kumar and Paramesh Paul and singer Mudasir Ali.  

Veteran artist Vishwa Sahni, in his 35th show, seeks to explore what is the need of the hour -- women empowerment, using light as the medium. Alongside him is young Sonu Gupta who brings to life on canvas, the blessed lotus. “The lotus blooms in the muck, yet is sought ater. It teaches us that we are all blessed,” avers Sonu who has depicted Buddha as well.

Vishwa who use light to display the emotions says, "In the equation of economics and hunger, women become a dispensable commodity. My works seek to find that light within us, casting aside the shadows."

Scientists, Saints and Philosophers converge at Vishwarajbaug near Pune to herald World Peace Monument!

“May the darkness of ignorance disappear; may the universe see the Sun of self-consciousness.”

Philosopher Saint Shree Dnyaneshwara

 “Union of Science and Religion alone will bring harmony and peace to the humanity.” 

Swami Vivekananda

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” 

Albert Einstein

"The 54 statues that we are installing at the Philosopher Saint Shri Dyaneshwara World Peace Prayer Hall signify the union of science, philosophy and spiritualty and the essence of Indian culture, traditions and philosophy to establish a Culture of Peace."

Dr Vishwanath Karad

Dignitaries at the unveiling of statues at Philosopher Saint Dyaneshwara World Peace Prayer Hall, prior to the inauguration of the world's largest dome.

Circa 1958, Young Vishwanath rode his bicycle with glee, purchased at a princely sum of Rs. 159. The bicycle was nothing less than a Mercedes for the son of an ordinary farmer hailing from Rameshwar-Rui Village in Marathwada, rural Maharashtra. His makeshift classroom was in the tabela (cattle shed) that the boy along with his classmates, swept and cleaned while the cattle were taken for grazing in the jungle.

Cut to today, “The only school bell I knew was the bell around the neck of the cattle as they returned back signifying end of school,” recollects septuagenarian and veteran educationist Dr. Vishwanath Karad. He is also the Founder President & Director General, World Peace Centre (Alandi), MAEER’s MIT, Pune and MIT World Peace University, one of the most prestigious educational institutions of the country. 

It is indeed an amazing moment for Dr. Karad who has, since 2005 -- over the last 13 years, painstakingly created Philosopher Saint Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prayer Hall and Library.  Both will be housed in a 62,500 sq. ft. magnificent monument at the Vishwarajbaug Campus of MIT under the world’s largest dome with a diameter of 160 feet, standing tall over the Vatican Dome, which has a diameter of 139.6 feet. The height of the dome at its apex is 263 feet. Dr. Karad is humility personified, attributing his success to Saint Dnyaneshwara’s blessing. “The world is one family, वसुधैव कुटुंबकम”, which is an ancient Indian concept, he says, “my humble attempt is to create an edifice befitting the glory of Mother India.”

Set in the backdrop of late world renowned actor Raj Kapoor’s heritage farm and memorial, now housing MIT, Karad’s brainchild and one of the best educational institutions of the world, is the magnificent Dome as well as 54 larger-than-life bronze statues of some of the greatest saints, scientists and philosophers of all time, all brought to life by 93-year-old veteran Ram Sutar.  Each of the bronze statues weighs nearly 1500 Kg and the installation by itself is an arduous task.

“It was a chance introduction to Swami Vivekananda and his works when I browsed through the words of Vivekananda, waiting for my Mathematics book at a shop. His words had such an impact on me. I went on to read the works of Saint Dnyaneshwara and Saint Tukaram and realized that they were amazing philosophers of our time. The 54 statues that we are installing at the dome signify the union of science, philosophy and spirituality and the essence of Indian culture, philosophy and tradition and the aspect of world peace,” adding that great saints, sages, seers and scientists of India and the world over, including those like Philosopher Saint Francis of Assisi (Italy), Albert Einstein, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton have made a tremendous impact on his mind and help understand and realize the True Nature of the Self.

The statues will be unveiled by eminent global scientists including Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Dr. Govind Swarup, and eminent personalities of the likes of  Dr. Radha Mohan Singh, Dr. Pramod Kumar, Shree Kisan Maharaj Sakhare, Shree Maruti Maharaj Kurhekar,  Shree Bapu Saheb More, Shree Tulshiram Karad, Dr. Virendra Heggade, Muni Tarun Sagar, Hazrat Shaikh Biyabani, Arif Mohammad Khan, Feroz Bakht Ahmed, Hridaynath Mangeshkar among others, August 15 onwards leading to October 2.   

On Gandhi Jayanti, the imposing monumental dome clad in the finest marble, the vision of Vishwanath of the blend of Science, Spirituality and Philosophical aspects in life for the welfare of mankind, will be open to the world. 

Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS and a man of sophistication and intellect says, “an amazing creation from an amazing man is how I would define the structure. Many people have ideas but to execute it is not easy that too in such a short time. I have always heard the words ‘world peace’ from him and now he has created a unique world peace library and dome that will be there forever, speaking for the cause.”

Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Chairman - Organizing Committee as well as Chancellor - Nalanda University, and a globally renowned Computer Scientist avers, “the World Parliament will witness perhaps one of the largest congregations of recent times of scientists, religious leaders and philosophers from several countries across the world. It will make a clarion call for harmony across religions and philosophies and integration with the contemporary scientific thought of one in many and many in one that is emerging out of the latest explorations in quantum reality.”

And now the saints, scientists and philosophers will stand tall from August 15 at MIT, Vishwarajbaug awaiting the timeless World Peace Monument to open its doors on October 2, marking newer beginnings for Mother India’s quest for World Peace.

Shabana Azmi, Pinaki Misra, Rohit Roy, Sashanka Mohapatra, Lalita Lajmi, Rajendra Patil, Brinda Miller & many others at the Mumbai Declaration of the Odisha Triennial of International Art

The OTIA Mumbai Declaration at NGMA, Mumbai was graced by MP Pinaki Mishra, five times National Award-winning eminent actress and MP Shabana Azmi, actors Rohit Roy and Kavitta Verma, designer Nikita Mohanty, veteran artists Lalita Lajmi, Prabhakar Kolte, Nayanaa Kanodia, Sashanka Mohapatra, artists Brinda Miller, Padmanabh Bendre, Suhas Bahulkar, Dadiba Pundole, Gautam Patole, Sanjukta Barik, Akhilesh Jaiswal, Maushmi Ganguly, Shabari Smita Guha Nath, Mallikarjun Katke, Kuldeep Karegaonkar, Vipta Kapadia, Vishwa Sahni, Sonu Gupta among others. India’s topmost curator and art historian, JohnyML, OTIA’s Curatorial Director, Mumbai based artist and Educationist, Rajendra Patil ‘PaRa’ as Mentor-Director of OTIA and Kshitish Das Program Coordinator were also present.

OTIA will be a 40 day-long mega art event with over 100 Indian artists of the likes of Jatin Das, Sudhir Patwardhan, Prabhakar Kolte, K.S.Radhakrishnan, Ravinder Reddy, Jogen Chowdhury, Laxman Gowd among others.

MP Pinaki Mishra said, “OTIA is a noble venture. It flew out of an idea of very bright and talented youngsters from Raghurajpur that has extraordinary talent per square inch. Every home is home to art and artisans. I would like to invite you back this winter and spend a couple of days to understand how much talent is prevalent and nurtured and is left undiscovered. That is the real motive of OTIA and the Triennial, and anything we can do to make it a success.  It is a challenging and daunting task but young people bring strong energies and exceptionally gifted mentors. Well begun is half done and I am privileged to part of it.”

Added  Shabana Azmi, “My father had inculcated art in me since I was a child. I have been watching plays, going to galleries, since my childhood. It has created a climate of sensitivity sublimely in me. In today’s times, where the entire world is driven by the market, we have to make a special attempt to say that we nurture art that doesn’t apply to market but says something much more important.

Different, but not less!

Out of 120 million population of our country, 6.3% have hearing difficulties and out of that 60% are kids. Out of that, only 5% of the population is getting correct treatment and eventually become self-dependant.

Audiologist-speech therapist Devangi Dalal feels that Instead of treating the rest of the hearing impaired people as a liability to our country, we should work towards creating awareness and with a dedicated approach we should work towards converting them into useful assets of the society.

Says she, “Anyone can have less hearing because of Wax or middle ear problem, cough & cold, sensory neural loss. Wax i.e. outer ear problems and middle ear problems can be treated with medication and surgeries. However sensory neural losses can only be treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants surgeries. These treatments can be given according to the individual requirements and cannot be done across the counter. It is a process one has to go through. Right diagnosis, right technology and proper rehabilitation - right mix of this entire process one can produce wonderful results.”

Adds Dalal, “Hearing and listening are very important for communication. We must know how to take care of it and prevent any damages to it. We take utmost care and due diligence in investing in technologies for TV, Mobiles and other electronics devices but ignore them while investing in right Hearing aids to overcome our hearing disability, which can actually change our lives !!!”

Dalal along with Dr Jayant Gandhi runs the Josh Foundation where she helps thousands of hearing impaired children across India.

Devangi Dalal and Dr.Jayant Gandhi with their award-winning students who have overcome hearing impairment and emerged victorious