26 JANUARY 2014

Ø  The world famous yoga guru, B.K.S. Iyengar, and the former chief of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), R.A. Mashelkar, have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Mr. Iyengar (95), who founded the Iyengar school of yoga that has millions of followers across the globe including in China, was once named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world. The 71-year-old Mr. Mashelkar has played a significant role in evolving science and technology policies in post-liberalised India. A chemical engineer, he is also a former head of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Classical singer Begum Parveen Sultana, Justice Dalvir Bhandari, author Ruskin Bond, the former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma, former Comptroller and Auditor General V.N. Kaul and Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu are among the 25 people selected for this year’s Padma Bhushan. Cine stars Paresh Rawal and Vidya Balan, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, theatre artist Bansi Kaul, Chairperson of the Chennai-based Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Mallika Srinivasan, P. Kilemsungla, Union Minister Sharad Pawar’s brother Pratap Govindrao Pawar, owner of Sakal newspaper group, have been chosen for the Padma Shri. Ms Kilemsungla, the first woman from Nagaland to be appointed as member of the Union Public Service Commission, has been awarded Padma Shri for her contribution to the field of literature and education. Former UPSC member Parveen Talha was the first ever Muslim woman to enter any Class-I civil service through the Civil Services examination. She received Padma Shri.

B.K.S. Iyengar

R.A. Mashelkar

Ø  Beginning today (January 26), All India Radio will launch a new programme on India’s relations with other countries. The first programme, to be broadcast on AIR FM Gold at 4.30 p.m., will focus on Japan to coincide with the visit of its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Republic Day celebrations. India 360, as the weekly programme will be known, will be produced by the News Services Division with inputs from the External Publicity (XP) Division of the External Affairs Ministry. It will profile a country each week and its relations with India. The eight-minute programme aims to give listeners a feel of the region with music clips and other aspects of the country in focus. Indian ambassadors to these countries will talk about bilateral trade, people-to-people contact and the Indian diaspora.

Ø  China has overtaken India to become the largest contributor of Foreign Direct Investment to Nepal over the first six months of the current fiscal year, underlining the rising Chinese economic presence — and strategic influence — in the country, according to new figures. Investment from China reached $174 million between July and December, accounting for over 60 per cent of the total FDI commitment

Ø  The summit meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Japan was fruitful. The two countries signed eight pacts, of which half were connected with Japanese aid, thus indicating that soft loans and outright grants will continue to remain an integral component of Tokyo’s strategy of reaching out to New Delhi. Mr. Abe held out the promise of more aid, of which 70 per cent will go for implementing phase-III of the Delhi Metro project. The visiting Japanese Prime Minister spoke on the importance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which has not been put into force mainly due to India’s resistance. But Dr. Singh felt India’s own commitment not to test any more nuclear bombs should suffice to convince Japan into signing a bilateral civil nuclear deal.  Mr. Abe held out the promise of more aid, of which 70 per cent will go for implementing phase-III of the Delhi Metro project.  On the defence side, the two countries decided to make joint naval exercises a permanent feature and India, invited Japan to join the Indo-U.S Malabar series.  The Prime Ministers reviewed the progress made in selling hi-tech US-2 amphibious aircraft to India, with government sources saying final plans envisaged a transfer of a substantial number of such planes. This is the first time Japan is offering to sell a plane which has military uses as well.  With Mr. Abe setting up a National Security Council for the first time in Japan’s history, the Prime Ministers decided to hold politico-security consultations on a regular basis with India’s National Security Advisor, besides stepping up the pace of meetings between the Defence Ministers.

US 2 aircraft

Ø  The Maharajas’ Express: The railways are proposing this novel idea in which a train with five star amenities, can now be chartered for royal event launches primarily during the off season period between April and September. The train has been awarded the coveted World’s Leading Luxury Train Award by World Travel Awards for the last two years running. Launched in 2008 in collaboration with a private player, the Maharajas’ Express is owned and operated by the IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways. The IRCTC promises to customise the entire gamut of rituals associated with an Indian marriage, including the “baraat” procession with excursions and getaways on a trip of one’s choice and duration. Guests will be received royally at every point. It will almost be a romance on wheels for those preferring a big fat marriage for a group of 88 persons, who would have 43 spacious cabins for a merry and relaxing vacation. The 448 sq. ft. Presidential Suite is of five-star quality with a double bedroom and a twin room.

Ø  The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai, has been selected for the National Communal Harmony Award 2013 in the organisation category. Mohinder Singh of Delhi and N Radhakrishnan of Kerala have been selected for the award in the individual category. Established in 1996, CSSS is a Mumbai-based organisation working to promote peace, secularism and communal harmony in the country. It has also been working on human rights issues and for the cause of the marginalised and deprived sections of society. The centre has also been regularly publishing a quarterly journal ‘Indian Journal of Secularism’, which is popular among academics and the masses.

Ø  Social reformer and founder of Sulabh sanitation movement Bindeshwar Pathak was on Saturday awarded the prestigious ‘Banga Moni’ award here by the Michael Madhusudan Academy.