PM underlines impact of educational reforms for women empowerment

Kozhikode, Dec 20 (IANS) Renowned 91-year-old Jnanpith awardee and one of Kerala’s most celebrated literary figures, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, is critically ill and undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, according to his close friend, M.N. Karissery.

A medical board has been constituted, and a team of specialists is closely monitoring the veteran writer and filmmaker’s condition.

“I visited him this morning. He is in intensive care, and his condition is serious. He has been in and out of the hospital recently. His wife and daughter are by his side,” said Karissery.

Popularly known as MT, Nair has been battling health issues in recent weeks, including breathing difficulties and cardiac complications.

Nair, a Padma Bhushan awardee, has left an indelible mark on Malayalam literature and cinema. He has won four National Film Awards for screenplay and directed seven films while scripting about 54 films. His screenplays, now available in book form, are regarded as essential reading for aspiring filmmakers.

Over the years, Nair has been honoured with numerous accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O.N.V. Literary Award.

In 2013, he was conferred the J.C. Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema. In 2022, he received the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Kerala Government.

Nair was awarded the Jnanpith, India’s highest literary honor, in 1995 for his outstanding contributions to literature. He also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly for several years.

In October this year, Nair made headlines after gold ornaments were stolen from his residence while he and his wife were away. The police later recovered the items, implicating a domestic helper.

–IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 18 (IANS) The Opposition Congress and ruling BJP on Wednesday here in Madhya Pradesh exchanged barbs over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement regarding Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Parliament.

On the third day of the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Congress legislators raised the issue in the House and demanded that the Union Home Minister should tender an apology for his statement.

The Congress legislators led by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar even reached the well of the House and staged a protest raising slogans of “Amit Shah maafi maago”.

The ruling benches countered Singhar, which led to an exchange of heated arguments between the legislators of the BJP and Congress.

The State’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya tried to control the situation, saying the House couldn’t debate on this issue and urged Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar that nothing should be taken on record.

In response, Congress MLAs started shouting slogans more aggressively and reached the well of the House. The members from the ruling party, who were (most of them) silent so far, stood up from their benches and assembled at the front seat (near CM’s bench).

Subsequently, BJP legislators, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and all his cabinet ministers also reached the well of the House. Nonetheless, the Congress MLAs continued their arguments and finally walked out of the House.

It prompted Speaker Tomar to adjourn the House proceedings for 10 minutes.

Earlier in the morning, Congress legislators arrived at the Assembly carrying tea kettles, alleging the BJP government’s failure to deliver on its promise of creating two lakh jobs annually.

“We have brought tea kettles to symbolise the plight of Madhya Pradesh’s youth, who are being forced to open tea stalls under the BJP’s governance. During the elections, the BJP promised to provide two lakh jobs every year, but it has failed to fulfil its commitment,” said Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar from Tarana constituency in Ujjain arrived at the Assembly wearing a garland made of liquor bottles to protest against the ruling BJP.

Security personnel stopped him from entering the House until he removed the garland. Parmar stated that he intended to wear the garland inside the House to highlight the alleged liquor scam in Madhya Pradesh.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) A Bangladeshi delegation is likely to attend Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata on December 16, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.

Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army to mark India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

“A delegation from Bangladesh is likely to attend Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata. There may be Mukti Joddhas in this delegation,” Wg Cdr Himanshu Tiwari, CPRO, MoD, Kolkata, informed on Thursday.

He did not provide details regarding the size of the delegation or the number of Mukti Joddhas likely to be present for the event.

“We will communicate as we receive more details,” Wg Cdr Tiwari said.

A shift in stance by Bangladesh is likely to have occurred after Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s recent visit the neighbouring country. There was no information regarding the possibility of a visit by Mukti Joddhas to the Vijay Diwas celebrations this year during the curtain raiser of the event on December 6. The absence of a Bangladeshi delegation in Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata is unprecedented.

“Delegations, comprising Mukti Joddhas, attended the ceremony even when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was in power in the neighbouring country. The Bangladeshis attended even during the Covid pandemic. This is a matter of sentiment. Indian troops, known as the Mitra Bahini, and the Mukti Bahini shed blood together for the creation of a new country. Nothing of this nature ever happened anywhere else in the world,” a senior official said.

According to records, 1,668 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives for the creation of Bangladesh. The War lasted barely 13 days and ended on December 16, 1971, with the biggest surrender ever, by 90,000 Pakistani troops, since World War II. Indian troops did not stay put in Bangladesh though. The pullout began in January 1972 and was completed within three months.

Bangladesh celebrates the month of December as ‘Bijoya Mash’, or the ‘Month of Victory’. The celebrations are low-key this year due to the situation that has prevailed in Bangladesh over the last six months.

–IANS

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