Arts/Books

SRINAGAR, (IANS) - Historically known as "Iran-e-Sagheer" (Small Iran), Kashmir has a glorious and yet forgotten history of being the center of Persian scholarship. During the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin known popularly as the 'Badshah’ Persian received a huge impetus. He

By POOJA BHAGWAT NEW DELHI - Calligraphy is often misconstrued as a fancy type of writing. While it is, I'd like you to know that it is not merely beautiful handwriting, it is more than that. To begin with, our fast-paced

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Gone are the days when witchcraft was considered evil. Rashme Oberoi, a Wiccan by belief and practice, has her most compelling book on Wicca titled, "Wicca a magical journey with spells and rituals". In the book, she

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - It may sound like fiction, and sometimes straight out of the theatre of the absurd, but once you read the whole tweet, well, it is surely reality at its most profound for author Vikram Seth. Seth's younger

MUMBAI - The concept of peace is central to all religions, and the Bible even quotes Jesus Christ as saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers

By TRIPURDAMAN SINGH And ADEEL HUSSAIN (From 'Nehru: The Debates that Defined India', HarperCollins) As Gandhi once described to the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, Jawaharlal Nehru\ had the capacity to argue for days together "with a passion that I [Gandhi] have no words

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Nritya Katha – ‘Dance stories for children,’ published by The National Book Trust of India has nine stories about nine different Indian dance forms. In each story, a child discovers a beautiful Indian classical dance form. This unique

DOHA, (IANS) - Mural and street artists from India and Pakistan breathed life into the walls of Al Mansoura Metro Station in Doha with their truck art for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this month in Qatar. Truck art

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - "They are not biased, their opinion is not based on who I am. Children can be the harshest critics and absolutely unprejudiced, precisely why writing for them is closest to my heart," writer, actor, filmmaker, and

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Singapore-based Sikh researcher and documentary filmmaker Amardeep Singh has been honored with the 'The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize' for the year 2022. Administered by Hofstra University here, the $50,000 prize, which is bestowed every two years,

RAIPUR, (ANI) - African origin Siddi tribe, who came to India 850 years ago, have asserted that their heart is Indian while their culture is African. Siddi folk artist leader Abdul said, "Culture could be African but our heart is Indian.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Spanning nearly four decades of his artistic oeuvre, renowned contemporary artist, Paresh Maity, is holding India's largest solo exhibition ever. It will be showcased in Delhi and around India with drawings, paintings, sculptures, installation and film. The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Veteran bureaucrat Harsh Mahaan Cairae is an avid reader and a student of philosophy and religion. He has studied the scriptures of several religions, of which the Vedas have been of special interest. He says that

WASHINGTON, DC (IANS) - A US court has blocked a $2.2 billion merger between the world's largest book publisher Penguin Random House and its rival Simon & Schuster. In a brief order, US District Judge Florence Pan said the deal could

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Indian American author Amitav Ghosh’s recent book is, 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis.' In it, he acquaints readers with Banda islands, a cluster of islands not even on many maps. He said:

BY SUKANT DEEPAK NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The idea of writing a book with Assam as the locale started soon after she moved from the state to Delhi, and that was when Debapriya Roy was in high school. "Because I experienced

KASAULI, (IANS) - Author Geetanjali Shree, recipient of the International Booker Prize for 'Tomb of Sand' says she did not really have any intentions of writing a novel about a 'major theme' (read Partition). "I always start with curiosity about a

MADRID, (IANS) - Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand after the attack he suffered while preparing to deliver a lecture in New York two months ago, his agent has confirmed. The 75-year-old author,

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Indian author Amish Tripathi, who is known for the 'Shiva Trilogy', has called India the only pre-bronze age culture that is still alive. The author will be seen in the upcoming episode of the hybrid series 'The

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The Indian art market is on course to have its best-performing year ever based on the first six months of FY23. Having a turnover of $75.8 million as of September 30, according to Indian Art Investor's

LONDON, (ANI) - Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka on October 18 won 2022 Booker Prize for his work of fiction, "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida." "We are delighted to announce that the WINNER of the #BookerPrize2022 is 'The Seven Moons

PUNE, (IANS) - The Pune-based Giripremi -- which created history when its 10 climbers unfurled the Indian flag on a single day in May 2019, on Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak -- has brought out the enthralling experience

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan, who is known for his Coke Studio track 'Chaudhary', has released his new album titled 'Desert Rose.' Featuring some of the most revered musicians in the independent space like Purbayan Chatterjee, Taufiq Qureshi,

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore recalled how the legendary singer Kishore Kumar sang the iconic 'Mere sapnon ki rani' from the 1969 hit movie 'Aradhana', on a singing reality show, and how she especially went to the studio

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Rapper Badshah, who separated from his wife Jasmine almost two years ago, is reportedly dating Punjabi actress Isha Rikhi, who has worked in films such as 'Nawaabzaade', 'What the Jatt' and 'Do Dooni Panj'. According to reports, the

By VIKAS DATTA Unlike Hollywood, where musicals are a separate genre, no Hindi film is complete without a full suite of songs -- and they are what keeps a film alive in the minds of the people long after it has

JODHPUR, (IANS) - She talks about exploring the layers of her roots, about how different elements of Khasi music offer an inexhaustible insight into diverse socio-cultural aspects of her people's lives. In almost the same breath, singer and music teacher

By SUSMITA DASGUPTA Stars have an innate age like the quizzes that keep appearing on gaming sites like what is your real age? Jaya Bhaduri is 'Guddi' at heart, a teenager who never quite grows up, Nirupa Roy has never been

India-West News Desk NEW YORK, NY – Indian American Sarah Thankam Mathews, has been named among the five National Book Award fiction finalists. The National Book Foundation said in a release that the winner will be announced on November 16. 'All This

LONDON, (IANS) - Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed earlier this year shortly before giving a lecture in the US, is among the favorites to win this year's Nobel prize for literature, according to bookmakers, a media report said. This year's prize

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Gandhiji was one of the subcontinent's most prominent and beloved public figures of all time. He was the man who united a nation, roused a million hearts, and spearheaded one of the greatest marches to freedom

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - India's proudest achievement has been its record as a liberal democracy and while the transition from colony to a functioning republic might not have been perfect, the best is yet to come if its billion-plus citizens

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Renowned Indian author Amish Tripathi, who is known for his 'Shiva' trilogy, is set to unravel the lesser-known stories revolving around the epic 'Ramayana' with the upcoming series 'Legends of the Ramayana with Amish'. The three-part series will

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Punjabi music star Mika Singh, who has belted out hits such as 'Mauja Hi Mauja', 'Dil Mein Baji Guitar' and 'Jugni, has bought a private island that comes with a lake, seven boats, and ten horses. But

MUMBAI, (IANS) - A newly constructed Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya has been opened on September 28, the late singer's 93rd birth anniversary. Lata Chowk has a 40-foot veena, a musical instrument associated with Goddess Saraswati, weighing 14 tons. Ram

KOLKATA (ANI) - One thing that mostly goes unnoticed during festivals is the role songs also play in the celebrations. Here are some Durga puja special tracks: 1. Dhaker tale komor dole Well, this one had to be on the top, considering

SRINAGAR, (IANS) - Lanes and bylanes of Kashmir valley, not long ago filled with smoke and sounds of battle, are now being stirred by lilting tunes and mellifluous voices drifting in from young men and women. Kashmir has a long tradition

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - It's been half a century for her as a dancer. A lifetime with an art form that has changed the way she observes, interacts, and engages with people, and the world around her. But Bharatanatyam dancer

NEW DELHI - A hundred and fifty years ago, Bhawal was a prosperous zamindari in the eastern part of undivided Bengal, in size and income next only to that owned by the Khwajas, the nawab family of Dacca. In the winter

MUMBAI, (IANS) - Punjabi rapper-composer-music producer-lyricist, Wazir Patar has released his latest Extended Play 'Keep It Gangsta'. He is the protege of the slain Punjabi music superstar Sidhu Moose Wala, who was gunned down by gangsters in Punjab. The EP which

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The Delhi High Court on September 20 restrained Sjoerd Marijne, former coach of Indian Women's hockey team, and HarperCollins Publishers India Private Limited from publishing any content on the medical condition of player Gurjit Kaur in

An online exhibition features strikingly vibrant paintings that focus on Kumbakonam, a temple capital, and an artist's other travel expeditions across India with its undocumented culture. Artflute, presents 'Country Beats', a curated collection of the most recent works by the

India-West Staff Reporter HOUSTON, TX – Indian American singer, composer, and writer Shahzeb Tejani has just released his single, ‘Tere Siva.’ Meant to be a homage to the golden era of music in India, it is every bit melodious. Tejani said, "I

NEW YORK, NY - Purbayan Chatterjee, sitar player and composer, is set to release a new album ‘Saath Saath’ with flautist and lifelong friend Rakesh Chaurasia, following the release of his stellar album ‘Unbounded – Abaad’, which featured legendary musicians

MUMBAI, (ANI) - As the festival of Navratri is just around the corner, Garba queen Falguni Pathak has recorded a new track titled 'Vasaladi'. For this Navratri, Pathak has teamed up with Shail Hada who composed and co-sung the track. Bhojak

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Creativity is being stifled and it takes courage to write about what's going on but "the troubles of the present time will inspire tremendous works of literature in the future," says novelist and publisher David Davidar

Comics originated in the US, and it, along with Japan and its manga, still holds the top position as far as their proliferation -- and its adaptation by other media -- goes. But let’s look at another tradition -- the

MUMBAI - Raj Kapoor's naive innocence, as seen in "Mera joota hai Japani" to "Sab kuch seekha hamne", Dilip Kumar's restrained sorrow in "Toote hue khwabon" or "Yeh mera diwanapan hai", Shammi Kapoor's exuberant ebullience in "Chahe koi mujhe jungli

MUMBAI, (IANS) - What used to be a mood elevator for the Kavadiyas in the holy month of Sawan has gone mainstream, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, making pop stars out of singers who were known only

By VEN PARAMESWARAN One of the major American economic engines, the American hospitality industry, generates $1.2 trillion in business sales, 3 million jobs, $395 billion in wages, and $659 billion in GDP. The Gujarati Patels, who have a dominant presence in