Latest news with #BhimraoAmbedkar


Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
LMC's ‘Tiranga Yatra' celebrates city's ranking in cleanliness survey
1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucknow: To mark the city's third rank as Swachh Sehar in the national Swachh Survekshan 2025, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) organized a Tiranga Yatra on Friday. The march was taken out to thank the residents for their participation in cleanliness initiatives. The yatra began from LMC headquarters at 7am and passing through Mayfair and Hazratganj crossings, reached the BJP state headquarters, and culminated at LMC. Mayor Sushma Kharkwal garlanded the statues of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during the march, reaffirming commitment to cleanliness and civic responsibility. The mayor acknowledged the role of citizens and municipal workers in achieving the city's ranking and appreciated their contribution. "This achievement belongs to every citizen, sanitation worker, and municipal employee. Together, you have transformed Lucknow into a model city for cleanliness," she said. Officials and staff from Lucknow Swachhata Abhiyan (LSA) and Lion Enviro (LSG) also participated in the event. Students and teachers from Aminabad Inter College, along with members of the public, joined the yatra. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, additional commissioners Lalit Kumar, Arun Kumar Gupta, and Arvind Kumar Rao, Jalkal GM Kuldeep Singh, senior tax officers, chief engineers, zonal officers, sanitary officials, safai mitras, and others were present.


United News of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Mayawati welcomes assurance on Constitution, hails commitment to secularism
Lucknow, July 25 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati today welcomed the Union government's assurance that there would be no changes to the Constitution, especially the removal of the word "secularism" from its Preamble. In a post on social media platform X, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister commended the statement made in Parliament by the Union Law Minister, who clarified that the government has no plans to alter or remove the term "secularism" and that such proposals are not under consideration. Calling the statement 'appropriate and commendable,' Mayawati said it offers a sense of relief and assurance to all those, both in India and globally, who strongly oppose any tampering with the Constitution authored by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. She said the BSP, along with many others, was concerned about demands being raised to alter the Constitution, and this clarification has helped ease those worries. Highlighting India's diverse religious fabric, Mayawati reiterated that the Constitution reflects the principle of 'unity in diversity,' providing equal respect and rights to all communities, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Parsis. She emphasized that Dr. Ambedkar envisioned an egalitarian society where every citizen is treated with dignity and equality, values deeply embedded in the Constitution. Mayawati concluded by expressing hope that the central government would remain firm on its commitment to uphold the Constitution's secular and inclusive values, regardless of external pressures or political agendas. UNI PRI RKM


India Today
16-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Rethinking Indian sculptural heritage in the modern world
India has always built for the long haul. Temples, forts, paintings, works that travel across centuries, outliving the creators, refusing to be forgotten. Something new has been rising across the subcontinent. Not just temples or memorials, but statues, and not modest ones. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat to Bhimrao Ambedkar in Maharashtra, India's recent sculpture boom seems less about sculpture, and more about memory at statues are no ordinary. Rising hundreds of feet into the air, the arts have become the symbol of inspiration. The Statue of Unity towers at 597 feet, making it the world's tallest. The Statue of Belief, a massive form of Shiva, sits at 351 feet in Rajasthan. And the Statue of Equality, honouring Ramanuja, stands 216 feet high near of bronze, steel, and alloy cores, they are designed for permanence, but also for beyond the measurements, what do these statues actually say?WHEN STONE WAS A MEDIUMIndia's sculptural history is long, rich, and precise. From the earliest Indus Valley terracotta figurines to the Yaksha and Yakshi statues of Mauryan times, the human form was never just a form, it remained a way to convey the message to the next the time the builders of Ellora and Elephanta chiselled gods out of caves, the idea had already taken root, sculpture wasn't just art, it was a way to shape belief. It taught, warned, inspired, and Chola bronzes, especially the iconic Nataraja, were not only religious icons but also expressions of movement, balance, and cosmic rhythm, ideas frozen into gigantic Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola, carved in the 10th century CE, remains a marvel, standing over 57 feet tall, with no structural support, weathering monsoons and centuries Ashoka's stone pillars, scattered across the Gangetic plain, were early uses of sculpture as political broadcast, messages of morality, carved into public tools have changed. Where once hands held chisels, today artists rely on 3D scans, CNC machines, and imported bronze casting is now aided by computer modelling. This isn't a rejection of the old, but a BUILDS, WHO BENEFITS?The questions are not only artistic. They are civic. These statues cost hundreds or thousands of crores. They reshape local economies, land use, and political maps."You don't build a statue five hundred feet tall unless you're trying to shape more than stone, you're trying to shape the story." said Naresh Kumar Kumawat, an Indian builds them? Often, global firms and engineers. Who gains? Politicians claim symbolic victories. Tourists take selfies. Locals get a spike in footfall, for a often missing is the public Statue of Unity drew protests from displaced tribal communities. Others sparked debates about the cost of memory in a country still struggling with healthcare and education PROBLEM WITH SPECTACLEIn earlier times, sculptures were placed inside temples or on town crossroads. People gathered around them. Worshipped. Asked questions. Paid attention."Every monument speaks twice, once through its figure, and again through the silence around why it was built." added attention has a shorter span.A statue is unveiled, drones film it, headlines run, and then, silence. The sheer scale overwhelms the need to the risk with monumental art: it looks impressive, but what does it really mean?Will the next generation stop and feel something in front of these giants?Or just walk past them on the way to something else?India has always carved its values into stone. The question is, what values are we choosing to carve now, and are we ready to live with them?- EndsMust Watch


Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Randeep Hooda's half-bald look sparks speculation: ‘Bhimrao Ambedkar biopic loading?'
Randeep Hooda's new half-bald look has fans speculating about a Bhimrao Ambedkar biopic. Known for drastic transformations in 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' and 'Sarbjit', he recently teased his followers on Instagram. Last seen in Jaat, fans eagerly await confirmation of his next challenging role. Randeep Hooda , celebrated for his remarkable physical transformations in movies like 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' and 'Sarbjit', has sparked curiosity once again. After posting a striking and unusual photo on Instagram, fans are eagerly anticipating another significant change in his appearance. A Bold New Look Teases Fans In a recent close-up, Hooda sports a half-bald look, complete with spectacles and a clean-shaven face, dressed simply in a T-shirt. Teasing his followers, he asked, 'What's the tea for this Tuesday? Coffee isn't the only thing that's brewing!' Though he hasn't confirmed if this new appearance is for a film, fans are already buzzing with guesses—some hinting at a Bhimrao Ambedkar biopic, others wondering if a Gandhi ji portrayal is on the horizon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda) Intense Physical Transformations for Roles Earlier, Randeep made headlines for losing 18 kilograms in just 28 days for his role in 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. As reported in Indian Express, he recalled that initially, the plan was to shoot the Punjab portion involving wrestling scenes, but it was suddenly changed. He pointed out that it wouldn't be believable for a man in jail to be in such good health, so he drastically cut down on food and water, which had a significant impact on his body. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like DOES Your Network Cut It? Boost Mobile Australia Learn More Undo During the filming, he remained underweight for nearly one and a half years. To accelerate his weight loss, he practiced fasting, noting that both Hinduism and Islam incorporate fasting, and he recommended it as well. Continued Commitment to Physical Adaptation In addition to his transformation for 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar', Hooda stunned audiences in 2016 by dropping 20 kilograms for 'Sarbjit'. He has also bulked up significantly, increasing his weight from 77 to 94 kilograms for the movie 'Do Lafzon Ki Kahani', demonstrating his dedication to physically adapting for his roles12. Recent Work and What's Next? On the professional front, Randeep Hooda was most recently seen starring alongside Sunny Deol in the film 'Jaat'.


Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP BJP highlights social engineering at Ambedkar Smriti Sthal
The Bharatiya Janata Party utilised the occasion of the International Yoga Day on Saturday to take forward its social engineering initiative, roping in its scheduled caste and Other Backward Classes (OBC) leaders at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Smriti Sthal in Gomti Nagar. Neeraj, Dharampal and Brijlal (HT Photo) Most of the 5000 participants belonged to the SC and OBC communities at the venue where all BJP leaders wore T-shirts with Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's photo. People from Lucknow slums and nearby areas also participated in hour-long yoga sessions under the guidance of yoga instructor Malvika Bajpai. A large number of people, including youth, social organisations, women and differently abled children also took part in the event. BJP's state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh was the chief guest while party leader Neeraj Singh coordinated the programme. Dharampal Singh is also spearheading the party's OBC outreach programme across the state. Addressing a gathering after the session, Dharampal Singh stated that today, yoga has become a moral and ideological tool in the direction of equality and social justice that Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had envisioned. Due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the International Yoga Day is being organized in more than 171 countries today, he added. 'Yoga is not only a physical exercise, but also a medium of social balance and mental harmony. Yoga also strengthens the unity of the country and the feeling of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' Dharampal Singh added. Neeraj Singh stated that Dr Ambedkar struggled throughout his life to eliminate social inequality and to provide social justice to Dalits, the deprived and backward classes. Assimilating the ideals of Ambedkar, a yoga programme has been organised here today with the message of 'Ek Bharat Samras Bharat', Neeraj Singh added. An exhibition was also organised where Dr Ambedkar's life and vision was highlighted through posters. Prominent BJP leaders present at the event included two former DGPs Brij Lal and Vijay Kumar, Ambedkar Mahasabha chairman and MLC Lalji Nirmal, MLA Mukesh Sharma, state president of the SC Morcha Ramchandra Kanaujia, state vice-president of the SC Morcha Devesh Kori and former IAS officer Dinesh Chandra. Others present on the occasion included Harish Kumar, Pankaj Prasun Jatav, AK Gautam, Gangaram Ambedkar, Ram Avtar Kanaujia, Vipin Sonkar and a large number of people from the Scheduled Caste community.