Educationist Rohit Sharma’s Lunch & Learn Conference The University of the West of England’s Student Outreach Programme

Educationist Rohit Sharma conducted a Lunch & Learn conference at The Lalit, Andheri East, with the representatives of The University of the West of England (UWE), United Kingdom, on courses available, studying in the United Kingdom, Masters programmes with work placement to the United Kingdom, how to apply to the same etc.

“The conference is dedicated towards transforming the way we operate, to continuously improve our abilities in order to be more supportive to everyone and to make sure we achieve our goals. We are also looking at the market change and how adaptive we have been to the new changes I feel we all should be proud of where we are today and excited about where we are headed next,” said Rohit Sharma, Business Development Officer & Consultant, University of the West of England. He also has a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in research, customer service, sales, strategic planning and marketing strategy are some of his fortes. “We shall continue to grow and develop, remaining always adaptable, motivated and responsive,” added Rohit Sharma.

Throughout this conference, students stayed engaged, staying proactive and helping shape the future of UWE, Bristol. “India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Only a truly globalized world will be able boost Indian student participation to universities in the England,” signed off Rohit Sharma.

आपकी आत्मा को छू लेगा अधूरे अधूरे : शक्ति अरोड़ा

Singer Shree D, Director Aslam Khan, Chandini Sharma & Shakti Arora at the song shoot of Adhure Adhure

जल्द रिलीज़‌ किए जानेवाले बेहद सुरीले गाने अधूरे अधूरे की शूटिंग आज मुम्बई के मालाड स्थित अथर्व कॉलेज में की गयी। इस बेहद अलग तरह के गाने में छोटे पर्दे का जाना-माना नाम शक्ति अरोड़ा और जानी-मानी मॉडल चांदनी शर्मा नज़र आएंगी। इस वीडियो को डायरेक्ट किया है अभिनेता से निर्देशक बने अस्लम खान ने जो नई पड़ोसन, वेलकम बैक, कांटें जैसे कई फ़िल्मों में अपने अभिनय का जलवा दिखा चुके हैं। इस गाने को गाया है संगीतकार श्री. डी. ने ,जिन्होने इस गाने की  रचना भी की है । ये एक प्रेमी जोडे की कहानी है जो लिविंग रिलेशनशिप में रहता है, मगर अपने-अपने अहंभाव के चलते दोनों एक-दूसरे से अलग हो जाते हैं। दोनों को जल्द ही इस बात का एहसास हो जाता है कि उनका अधुरापन उनको पुरा करता हैं।

निर्देशक अस्लम खान कहते हैं, "अगर आप इस म्यूज़िक वीडियो को देखेंगे तो आपको पता चलेगा कि ये एक फ़िल्म की तरह है, चार मिनट लम्बी फ़िल्म। इसमें एक शुरुआत है, एक मध्यबिंदू है और एक मुकम्मल अंत है, जिसमें एक अधूरेपन‌ का एहसास भी है। इसमें एक उम्दा कहानी है, मगर एक अधूरे अंत के साथ।" शक्ति अरोड़ा और चांदनी शर्मा के साथ काम करने के अपने अनुभवों को साझा करते हुए अस्लम खान ने कहा कि दोनों ने वीडियो में बेहतरीन काम किया है। अस्लम खान ने कहा, "इस गाने में शक्ति अरोड़ा और चांदनी शर्मा जैसे कलाकारों की ही ज़रूरत थी। दोनों ने वीडियो में उम्दा अभिनय किया है। मेरे लिए दोनों के साथ काम करना एक बढ़िया अनुभव रहा।"

 Shakti Arora

 Shree D

'मेरी आशिक़ी तुमसे ही' और 'सिलसिला बदलते रिश्तों' का जैसे धारावाहिक में काम कर घर घर अपनी पहचान बना चुके शक्ति अरोड़ा
ने कहा कि पहले उन्हें लगा था कि ये किसी भी अन्य गाने की तरह एक आम गाना होगा। उन्होंने कहा, "जब मैंने इस गाने को बार बार, लगातार सुना तो मुझे इस बात का एहसास हुआ कि इस गाने की बात ही कुछ और है और ये सीधे दिल को छूता है। ये एक सूफ़ी किस्म का, फ़ील गुड और लॉन्ग ड्राइव में सुना जानेवाला गाना है।" चांदनी शर्मा भी शक्ति अरोड़ा से इत्तेफ़ाक रखते हुए कहती हैं, "ये आत्मा को छूनेवाला गाना है! इसे सुनने‌ के बाद आप इससे ख़ुद को बेहद जुड़ा हुआ पाएंगे। इस गाने में एक किस्म की मासूमियत है, मगर ये गाना बचकाना किस्म का नहीं है।"

अधूरे अधूरे के ज़रिए अस्लम खान ने 25वीं बार निर्देशन के क्षेत्र में कदम रखा है। जब उनसे पूछा गया कि कैमरे के पीछे और आगे काम करने में उन्हें क्या फ़र्क महसूस हुआ तो उन्होंने कहा, "दोनों तरह से काम करने का अपना ही मज़ा है, मगर दोनों में ख़ासा फ़र्क है। ये मैंने इसलिए महसूस किया क्योंकि अब मैं कैमरे के पीछे काम कर रहा हूं। मैं एक अभिनेता भी रह चुका हूं और इसलिए मुझे पता है एक निर्देशक को कौन-सी छोटी बातों का ख़्याल रखना चाहिए।"

आख़िर में अस्लम खान ने कहा, " एक कहावत है कि 'अंत भला तो सब भला'। मुझे इस बात की ख़ुशी है मैं जिस तरह का गाना चाहता था, ये गाना ठीक उसी तरह का एक बेहतरीन गाना बना है।

Writer-Director-Animal Rights and Gender Activist Anusha Srinivasan Iyer,
Audiologist-Speech Therapist-Philanthropist Devangi Dalal and
Filmmaker Dr. Aleena Khan felicitated with the Garnet & Gold Women of Influence Awards.

जागतिक शांतीसाठी भगवत गीता !

पुण्यामधील विश्वजबाग येथील जगातील सर्वात मोठ्या स्थानिक एमआयटी कॅम्पसमध्ये हिंदू, मुस्लिम, सिख, ख्रिश्चन, यहूदी, बौद्ध यांसारख्या अनेक धर्मांच्या धर्मगुरुंनी एकत्रित येऊन विशेषतः आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या पवित्र यज्ञात सहभाग घेतला आणि श्रीमद भगवत गीता ध्यान भवनाचे उद्घाटन केले.

Inauguration ceremony of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita Dnyan Bhavan, MIT Pune.

पुण्यातील विश्वराजबाग येथे एमआईटी वर्ल्ड पीस युनिव्हर्सिटी, एमआईटी एडीटी युनिव्हर्सिटी कॅम्पस आणि जगातील सर्वांत मोठा डोम-संत श्री ज्ञानेश्वर विश्व शांति प्रार्थना कक्ष स्थापित आहे. याच परिसरात आणखीन एक ऐतिहासिक घटना घडली आहे. येथील श्रीमद भगवत गीता ध्यान भवनाच्या उद्घाटनानंतर विश्वराजबाग पुन्हा एकदा जागतिक शांतता, अध्यात्म आणि विज्ञान यांचा एक अद्वितीय संगम आहे.

एकाम सती विप्र बहाद वेदांतीच्या भारतीय संकल्पनांच्या आधारे याचा अर्थ असा आहे की, जरी ज्ञानी पुरुष वेगवेगळ्या नावांनी बोलत असले तरीही सत्य केवळ एकच आहे. या पवित्र यज्ञासाठी हिंदू, मुसलमान, सिख, ख्रिस्ती, बौद्ध, यहुदी आणि इतर अनेक धर्मांचे धर्मगुरू मानवजातीच्या ऐक्य आणि शांततेत सहभागी झाले.

 

Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad brings together heads of
 different religions  who inaugurate the ceremony of
Shrimad Bhagwad Gita Dnyan Bhavan, MIT Pune.

या खास मुहूर्तावर पद्म विभूषण डॉ. के. एच संचेती, प्रख्यात ऑर्थोपेडिक आरिफ़ मोहम्मद खान, पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉ. फ़िरोज़ बख़्त अहमद, मौलाना अबुल कलाम आज़ाद उर्दू यूनिवर्सिटी (हैदराबाद) चे  कुलगुरू डॉ. बुधाजीराव मुलिक, प्रख्यात कृषि विशेषज्ञ कलम किशोर कदम, महाराष्ट्र चे  पूर्व शिक्षा मंत्री दिलीप देशमुख, पुण्याचे  जॉईंट चॅरिटी कमिश्नर विट्ठलराव जाधव, पूर्व संसद आणि नामवंत  शिक्षाविशेषज्ञ श्रीपाल सबनीस, मराठी साहित्य संमेलनाचे पूर्व अध्यक्ष आणि शिक्षाविशेषज्ञ प्रतापराव बोराडे  हे देखील ह्या  कार्यक्रमात सहभागी झाले. 

एच. एच. श्रीकृष्ण कर्वे गुरुजी, पंडित वसंतराव गाडगीळ, स्पाइसर यूनिवर्सिटी चे  डॉ. संजीव अरसुड, भांटे नागा घोष, ज्ञानी अमरजीत सिंह, डॉ. आर. एन. शुक्ला, रामेश्वर शास्त्री,  डॉ. मेहर मास्टर मूस, डॉ. इसाक मालेकर यांनी ह्या कार्यक्रमाचे खास पाहुणे म्हणून उपस्थिती दर्शविली. 

उच्च शिक्षाविशेषज्ञ, यूनेस्को चे सदस्य आणि वर्ल्ड पीस युनिव्हर्सिटी चे अध्यक्ष विश्वनाथ डी. कराड म्हणाले की, "१९व्या शतकात  स्वामी विवेकानंद म्हणाले होते की, २१व्या शतकातात भारत जगभरात विज्ञानाचे प्रमुख केंद्र म्हणून ओळखले जाईल. तसेच शांती आणि आनंदचा मार्ग दाखवत भारताची गणती विश्वगुरूच्या स्वरूपात होईल. अश्या वेळी श्रीमद भगवत गीता ध्यान भवनाचे अनावरण हा कार्यक्रम लोकांना एकत्रित करत पार पडणे म्हणजे हा विवेकानंदांचे स्वप्न‌ साकार करण्याचा एक आगळा-वेगळा प्रयत्न आहे."

डॉ. विजय पी भाटकर  ह्या प्रसंगी म्हणाले , "श्रीमद भगवत गीता ध्यान भवन आपल्या धार्मिक शास्त्रांमध्ये सांगितल्या गेलेल्या अमर सत्याचे एक प्रतीक आहे. हे एक असे शास्त्र आहे जे फक्त आपल्याला जीवनात मार्गर्शनच नाही तर विभिन्न धर्माच्या रूढी-परंपरांबद्दल विस्तारित माहिती देते." सध्या डॉ. भाटकर भारतासाठी  एक्सास्केल सुपर कम्प्युटिंग मिशनाच्या विकासामध्ये  व्यस्त आहेत.

Singer-Performer Lalitya Munshaw makes waves

Lalitya Munshaw

Lalitya Munshaw

Born to connoisseur parents with strong musical beliefs deep in her family, Lalitya Munshaw grew up to become an artiste with clear inclinations towards music. Lalitya is now a seasoned artiste who has performed across the national and international circuits.

                              

Laitya has received extensive formal training in Hindustani classical music which led her to an Alankar (M.A.) in music. Blessed with a melodious and serene voice, she has developed her own expressive and unique style over time. With a strong background in classical training, she forayed into several genres of music such as Fusion, Bollywood, Bhajans, Ghazals, Sufi and Folk.

                                                                                   

As a live performer and recording artiste, Lalitya Munshaw has had the privilege of working with stalwarts like Hariharan, Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, Shaan, Ustd. Rashid Khan, Ustd. Sultan Khan, Anup Jalota, Louis Banks, Ronu Majumdar, Neeladri Kumar, Karsh Kale, Prem Joshua and Abhujit Pohankar.

                                     

As an entrepreneur, Lalitya Munshaw runs a music label of her own called Red Ribbon.

Lalitya Munshaw

Lalitya has to her credit, accolades and awards of the likes of the Pandit Omkarnath Thakur Trophy, the GINFS Nav Shakti Gurjari Award, FICCI Flow Award, GCCI Award (2011), Business & Entertainment Global Award to her label, Red Ribbon; the 6th Gauravvanta Gujarati Award by Gujarat Tourism (2013); and the Gratitude Award among many others.

Education, Empowerment and Environment mark Smita Thackeray’s Women’s Day Pledge

Dr.Vishwanath Prabhu and Smita Thackeray
 at Mukkti Foundation & Personify's #PledgeToRise event

Power Woman and Social Activist Smita Thackeray was the Chief Guest at a women’s day soiree, aptly titled #PlegdeToRise, organized at the Mercedes Benz showroom in Andheri West, by Personify, in association with Mukkti Foundation, of which Smita is the Founder. It was a simple yet powerful event that saw participation by women of all classes and age groups. Highlighting the three facets: Empowerment, Education and the Environment, Smita Thackeray motivated the women to take a pledge to rise in a category of their choice whilst Dr. Vishwanath Prabhu patiently took to answering all their health-related queries.Not just this Women’s Day but Smita Thackeray and her non-profit organization Mukkti have always been in the forefront when it comes to issues relating to women safety and empowerment. The path-breaking initiatives previously undertaken by them in the sphere include, a Yoga workshop for women at the Thane prison; the deployment of Me Mukkti Marshals. Not just this, post the plastic ban by the Indian Government, Mukkti Foundation set up workshops where impoverished women used sewing machines to make cloth bags, cushion covers, sling bags, coasters et al among many other things, thus seeking them employment. The organization has also, relentlessly worked, over the last two decades, achieving global recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO), for their work in the field of HIV-AIDS among other spheres like Healthcare, Education, Women Empowerment et al, thus bringing about positive a change in society. Mukkti Foundation’s battle against HIV/AIDS is known to all - a recent LGBTQ+ freedom parade for HIV awareness, supported by Sunny Leone, the I-Pledge campaign with John Abraham as brand ambassador, road shows, celeb driven fundraising concerts are some of the efforts taken in this space. Having provided financial assistance & donated automation products to Helen Keller’s Institute, Mukkti Foundation has also lent support to the activities of the spastic society. The foundation has also worked towards environment protection and welfare among other things.

“I try my best to maintain a consistent and stubborn drive for helping other women with the hopes that it encourages everyone around me to work on ensuring the success in our efforts towards helping the society. This International Women’s Day, I take a pledge to help more women in their journey of empowerment because after fighting alone to stand my ground, I believe equality is the best answer our society has for the hope of progress.”, averred Smita Thackeray.

Interestingly, a young boy, Tanmay Kanthe, backed by Mukkti Foundation, whose mother suffered from arthritis, launched his product that he has conceptualized along with his friend, Shivam Trivedi. The product called HAPPEE is a female urination funnel that allows women, who suffer from acute medical conditions or women who are pregnant, to stand and urinate. Invariably, women can also use the product in stead of opting for dirty public toilets, thus helping them from contracting UTI and skin infections.

Why this event a day after the official International Women’s Day… Tarveen Kaur of Personify, sums up, “Isn’t it Women’s Day every day?”

Kudos to such initiatives! 

Lokatantra Heralds The Age Of Digital Democracy

Tannisha Avarrsekar and Prasad Lad
 at the launch of Lokatantra.in

So you feel like it’s an arduous task to get yourself registered in the voter roll? To find out which constituency you belong to? Or which candidates you can and should vote for? Well, not anymore...

Welcome to Lokatantra, a digital platform available in the App Store and Play Store that connects leaders and citizens, and answers all your voting related how, when, where and who questions. With no affiliations to any party, person or ideology, Lokatantra brings you honest and unbiased information to help you make the most of your right to vote.

This one-stop solution to cater to every Mumbaikars' voting needs this election season, is the brainchild of Tannisha Avarrsekar, an elected Associate of King’s College London with a degree in English and Politics. The platform streamlines the communication process between the governed and their governors by creating an interactive platform where both can learn more about each other. Users can avail a range of services such as a factchecker, interviews and the ability to both rate and ask any candidate a question.

Lokatantra empowers the voters of India- the world’s largest democracy, with extensive and detailed information about their candidates and the voting process, verifies its authenticity and then organises it in a manner which makes it quick and easy to understand. On the flip side, it also collects data on citizens’ opinions on key issues through polls and surveys, and then analyses and publishes the results, to aid in the decision-making process of leaders.

The USP of the platform is a quiz that asks users 25-30 questions, regarding their opinions on political, social and economic topics that affect voting behaviour, and allows them to rate the importance of each issue to them. Based on their answers, an algorithm matches them to the candidates from their constituency whose opinions are most similar to theirs. The same questions are asked to announced candidates, and their answers captured in a video interview, to maintain the transparency and integrity of the process.

“I wanted to create a platform where voters could tell their leaders what they want accomplished, as well as one where the existing accomplishments of politicians, especially independents and young newcomers could be recognised.” says Tannisha Avarrsekar, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Lokatantra.

Suryadeep Malhotra, Head of Marketing at Lokatantra adds “To begin with we will be launching Lokatantra only for Mumbai and its 6 constituencies – Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North West. But we are aiming to roll out our services for all of Maharashtra before the upcoming Vidhan Sabha election.”

Why the need for Lokatantra? “The number of registered voters in the age bracket of 18-25 years in Mumbai city is 5,93,105 only. That is a staggering low, considering the actual number of citizens in that age bracket. The only way we can hold our leaders accountable, is if we are accountable for our own votes. This is a youth initiative to make Mumbaikars more aware and engaged as citizens,” avers Avarrsekar.

Present were politicos and youth leaders of the likes of Jayantrao Patil, Prasad Lad, Satyajeet Tambe Patil, Mohit Bharatiya among others, who lauded Tannisha Avarrsekar and her team’s initiative.

More power to Lokatantra, that heralds the arrival of youth empowerment through digital democracy.

Website: www.lokatantra.in

Instagram: lokatantra.in

Facebook: Lokatantra

Twitter: digilokatantra

(Available on App Store and Play Store)