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C o m m u n i t y --E v e n t s &
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From NewYork (USA)

Rare art & antiques from Kashmir on display at New York, USA

''The Arts of Kashmir', “exhibition opened on October 3rd for the general public in the city of New York, USA. Rare Kashmiri art works, including sculptures, paintings and artworks from the 2nd to the 20th century, are on display at a 3 month-long exhibition in New York. The exhibition will run till January next year and comprises the works of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic art, including those loaned from various collecters in the US, Europe and India. This event is organised by the Asia Society,

"This Exhibition is not likely to happen again and it will be a unique occasion for us to see our own heritage. After all this is not just art objects that we will be viewing but instead objects of piety and beauty that our ancestors created." said Rakesh Kaul, Chairman, SPHERENOMICS, from New Jersey.

The Arts of Kashmir comprises works of Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic art, including sculpture, painting, and calligraphy loaned from collections in the U.S., Europe, and India. To provide a sense of the broad artistic contributions of this famously lush and beautiful region, the exhibition includes examples of stone and bronze sculptures and manuscript paintings, in addition to the fine examples of papier-mâché, carpets, shawls, and embroidery for which Kashmir is renowned.

The exhibition is organized chronologically, with works dating from Kashmir's beginnings as an important center for Hindu and Buddhist practice and philosophical development. One of the earliest pieces in the exhibition is a 4th-century terra-cotta tile depicting crouching ascetics and birds from Harwan, a site associated with Buddhism. Most surviving sculptures from ancient Kashmir were created to serve a religious purpose, for both Hindu and Buddhist patrons who included ministers, merchants, and monks. Beginning after the 7th century, a distinct Kashmiri style began to emerge, as evidenced by a spectacular, large-scale, limestone sculpture dated to the 7 th century of the Hindu goddess Indrani. This exceptional loan object from Srinagar has never been seen in the U.S. The distinctive features, elongated body, and typical Kashmiri dress reveala

sophisticated level of artistic production and also point to a unique Kashmiri style.

Later works show further refinement of the Kashmiri sculptural aesthetic, such as a remarkable and elaborately wrought 9th-century bronze Mandala of Vishnu. He is depicted with four goddesses, mounted on Garuda, who is depicted as a man with an eagle's beak and wings. The exhibition also includes a stunning array of bronze Buddhist sculptures, including a 10th-century brass Buddha, on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art, with delicate and nuanced modeling, demonstrating Kashmiri mastery of metal casting. Other metalwork pieces reference the unique Kashmiri art of silver and copper inlay that, like the visual forms of this era, exerted a strong influence outside of Kashmir on neighboring kingdoms in China, Tibet, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Asia Society is presenting a number of lectures by scholars who are involved with The Arts of Kashmir to coincide with the exhibition.

by Shehjar correspondent, USA

From Hollowood (USA)

Music Concert Raises Funds For Ekal Vidyalaya
October, 5 2007

"If the poor boy cannot come to education, the education must go to thim" These words of Swami Vivekananda are being implemented by Ekal Vidyalaya (Single Teacher School) in the remote tribal villages of India still inaccessible to the present day civilization. The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, South Florida chapter organized a fundraising music concert by Penn Masala group at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, Hollywood, FL on 5th october. Over $80,000 were raised for the foundation on this day.

Shehjar brings an exclusive video song 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' presented on this day. Penn Masala, the world's first and premier Hindi a cappella group, was formed in 1996 by a group of students at the University of Pennsylvania. The group's members use their voices to imitate the sound of instruments, including tabla, drums, guitars and pianos etc,

'Maa Tujhe Salaam' Video

The Ekal Vidyalaya movement aims to help eradicate illiteracy from rural and tribal India by 2011. To date, Ekal Vidyalaya is a movement of over 23,189 teachers, 5,000 (Approximately) voluntary workers, 20 field organizations (scattered in 20 Indian states), and 8 support agencies as on 30 June 2007. With this tremendous human force, the Ekal Vidyalaya movement strives to create a network of non-formal schools that will educate and empower children in rural and tribal India. For more information, please visit : www.ekalindia.org

by Shehjar correspondent, USA

From Jammu (India)

'KP Migrant camps filled with diabetic patients'
Court issues notice to Union of India, J&K State

KP's living in migrant camps have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in state high court and the court has asked government to respond to PIL in which they have stated that they are under threat of biological extinction.

Division Bench (DB) of J and K High at Jammu Wing comprising of Justice Virender Singh and Justice Y.P Nargotra in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the threat of biological extinction of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrants, praying for remedial action on the part of the respondents so that, tomorrow KP be saved from the ravages of diabetes after hearing Advocate B.N Pandita appearing for the PIL, issued notices to Union of India through Secretary Health, New-Delhi, Chief Secretary J & K State, Secretary Health J and K State and Relief Commissioner Jammu. Additional Advocate General (AAG), B.S Salathia accepted notices on behalf of the State respondents and sought time to file reply/objections. DB ordered to list this PIL after four weeks.

In the PIL it has been submitted that diabetes threat whole of the migrants who are living in the camps and prayed before the Court for issuance of direction to the respondents to treat on war footing the ever increasing prevalence of diabetes in the KP migrants and to take immediate preventive measures to stop the KP from getting biologically extinct from the realm of human species and for organising medical camps for treatment and to educate the KP community with respect to the steps to be taken to keep the malady under check and for commanding the respondents to have a complete data with respect to diabetes in the migrants and also issuance of directions to the respondents to take steps to save the community from extinction

It is a Public Interest Litigation by "Rocky Pandita vs. Union of India through Secretary Health, New-Delhi, Chief Secretary J&K State, Secretary Health J&K State and Relief Commissioner Jammu.

by Shehjar correspondent, Jammu

From Pennsylvania (USA)

Community picnic ar Tyler Park
September, 29, 2007

KPs from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania came together to have a day of fun at Tyler Park in Pennsylvania. Tyler State Park is on 1,711 acres near Newtown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed the get together. Everyone had lots of different things to explore, playground, canoe rental, ball fields, fishing, firepit, horseback riding, and multiple walking trails etc.

Three main habitats dominate Tyler State Park, forests, fields and wetlands. The mixed hardwood forests are composed of oaks, maples and walnuts and are great habitat for forest birds like warblers, tanagers, thrushes and vireos.

Every body men women and children played cricket and other games. Walking around the park and fall foilage was beautiful to look at. KOA Zone 1 and 3 Picnic was organised by Ashtosh Ganjioo Zone-3 Director and Nimmi Kalla Zone-1 Director.

The richest and most diverse habitats of the park are the wetlands. Neshaminy Creek and the land it borders are riparian zones. The creek is home to fish and turtles. The stream north of the Spring Garden Mill Dam is a popular spot for turtles and wood ducks. Children love these get togethers, they get a chance to meet the friends they make. We want to keep doing these get togethers.

by Shehjar correspondent (USA)

From New Delhi (India)

Saluting the great Martyr of Mother India
October, 13 2007

Major K.P. Vinay and Major D.R. Raman, were killed in a 40 hours long gunbattle with Lashker-e-Tayiba militants in the Tangmarg area of Baramula district in Kashmir. The officers were killed while fighting a group of 9 terrorists, who had infiltrated from across Line of Control in the Gulmarg sector.

All nine militants were killed in a three-day long gunbattle, in which deceased officers had led from the front. While Major Vinay, who was scheduled to get married later this month, hailed from Hyderabad, Major Raman belonged to Chennai. Major K P Vinay died on the spot while Major D Raghuraman who had sustained fatal gunshot injuries succumbed to his wounds in the hospital.

"Don't let any militant escape," these were the last words of Major Raghuraman when he was air-lifted from the gun-battle spot

Strangely but not suprisingly, Tangmarg MLA and ex-Housing minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, a founder-member of ruling coalition partner PDP — and once in the running for the Deputy Chief Minister’s job — offered fateh, special prayers, to grant heaven for the slain militants’ at their graves two days after the incident. I offered fateh in the capacity of being a Muslim. I don’t think there is anything wrong in this,” Mir told the press.
A prayer meeting and a candle light vigil was held on October 13th at India Gate in the memory of Major K.P. Vinay and Major Dinesh Raghuraman..

Picture courtesy: Shiv Kumar Bhat.,AIKS, Delhi (India)

From Delhi (India)

KPs organize “Baba Jee Ki Amritwani” in Rohini
October, 14 2007
Jagruti samay and the Archana Memorial organized Baba Ji Ki Amritwani by Saint Shree Baba Ganpati Gosani Thakur Jee in Rohini Delhi

Shri Anurag Ganapati Thakur Baba Ji enlightened himself through the Kundalini Yoga by the grace of his Guru Sh. Mata Nirmala Devi Ji. He started to do the Meditation at the age of 21. He realized the Divine power within himself at an early stage. He started helping the needy and ill in his vicinity. In the year 1992 he started his mission single handedly and within two years he established the method of the JAGRUTI Kriya and Yoga.

“The function in Rohini lasted for several hours for 2 days”, said Rajinder Jad, the circulation manager of the Jagruti Samay (monthly religious magazine). “Bajan- kirtan,parawachan and bhandara was on both the days and a lot of people including the local M.L.A’s and Counselors came to get the blessings of baba” said Dr.Hira.Lal.Saraf ,the doctor of the Archna Memorial Dispensary which provides free medical help to the needy.’There was a great response from the people of the Rohini area for this programme” said Sanjay Raina, a social activist and also one of the organizers.

by Rocky Pandita, Delhi

From Pakistan

Bhutto vows to stay in Pakistan
October, 22 2007
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said -- in an NBC interview that she plans to stay in Pakistan and fight for democracy. Bhutto has urged the Pakistani government to seek foreign assistance in the investigation into last week's bombings. Jon Decker reports.

From Australia

World's largest jumbo jet lands in Sydney
October, 25 2007

The world's largest jumbo jet landed safely in Sydney, successfully completing its first commercial flight. It emerged from low-lying clouds to touch down on time on a damp Sydney afternoon, completing its first flight from Singapore's Changi Airport. Tickets for the flight were auctioned on eBay and the money went to charity. Puja Bharwani reports.

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