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The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Western chamber opera blends Buddhist wisdom and Carnatic improvisation
Published : Jul 06, 2025 08:28 IST - 3 MINS READ 'This is perhaps the first time that Indian classical music, in its improvised, living form, is present in an opera of this scale,' began the noted Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam. She was speaking to Frontline from LUMA Arles, a contemporary arts foundation at the Parc des Ateliers in the city of Arles, France, ahead of the world premiere of the chamber opera The Nine Jewelled Deer, in which she plays the dual roles of a clairvoyant queen and a grandmother. Composed by Sivan Eldar, with visual art by Julie Mehretu and libretto contributions from the novelist Lauren Groff, this opera directed by Peter Sellars features the voices of the singer-librettist Ganavya Doraiswamy and Aruna Sairam alongside a cross-cultural ensemble of soloists on the clarinet, saxophone, violin and cello, and for the first time, the mridangam, played by the percussionist Rajna Swaminathan. The Nine Jewelled Deer was born of an unlikely jugalbandi between two women from vastly different artistic worlds. When Ganavya heard Sivan Eldar's opera-in-progress at an artists' residency in Tuscany in 2021, she told her: 'I listened to your music … and I just thought of my grandmother. And I've had this dream of creating a project that is inspired by the story of my grandmother.' By the end of that residency, Sivan Eldar was aboard Ganavya's dream project. They were joined by Ganavya's long-time collaborator and theatre director Peter Sellars from Los Angeles, and Aruna Sairam from Chennai. The conversations continued across continents and time zones over many months. Slowly, steadily, an oratorio on loss, resilience, and renewal came into being. The Nine Jewelled Deer braids together three distinct strands of story: a Jataka tale of the Ruru deer, the first chapter from the early Buddhist text Vimalakirti Sutra, and the life of the jalatarangam artist Seetha Doraiswamy (1926–2013). The parable of the eponymous deer which embodies a love so vast it embraces even betrayal is surely a parallel for the times we live in, perhaps meant to make one reflect on the long arc of both suffering and healing. Aruna Sairam spoke at length about the rehearsal process, the long weeks of immersion, improvisation, listening and learning. She said: 'As a Carnatic musician I'm improvising all the time—no two versions of my singing are the same. Whereas they [the practitioners of Western classical music and opera] are used to written scores. So we've spent weeks learning how to respond, not with certainty, but with curiosity. And over time, your listening becomes sharper, your vision clearer. It's like zen.' For Ganavya, the opera is also a personal tribute to her grandmother. Jalatarangam means 'waves in water', and Seetha Doraiswamy made waves making music using porcelain bowls filled with varying levels of water. Her kitchen was a safe space, a refuge for countless young female students within a stifling patriarchy and cultural orthodoxy. As Sivan Eldar put it memorably in an interview, for Seetha, her 'kitchen orchestra' was equal to playing in Carnegie Hall. In the same interview, Peter Sellars pointed out that hers was 'a music of refugees. A music of feeding people, both with food and with spiritual replenishment, with courage, with love.' The strands of story in The Nine Jewelled Deer seem to suggest that compassion and care, not conquest, may be the more radical act of resistance. As Sellars reminds us, 'We don't need to go find a deer. We don't have to go get a Buddha.' The Buddha is already amongst us, within us. The Nine Jewelled Deer premieres at LUMA Arles on July 6. The performances will continue at LUMA Arles on July 8 and 9, and then move to the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume in Aix-en-Provence from July 13-16.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Custodial Death of Ajith Kumar in Tamil Nadu: A Chilling Echo of George Floyd's Killing
Published : Jul 04, 2025 15:01 IST - 10 MINS READ The custodial death of 27-year-old B. Ajith Kumar in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu bears chilling similarities to what police officer Derek Chauvin and his three colleagues from the Minneapolis (Minnesota) police department did to George Floyd in 2020. Floyd died of suffocation when the officer forcefully kneeled on his neck, exerting extreme pressure. Ajith Kumar of Madappuram near Thiruppuvanam in the Sivagangai district was subjected to the same kind of cruelty by the personnel of the special crime squad attached to the Manamadurai police sub-division. The post-mortem report submitted to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and available with Frontline reveals the third-degree torture that Ajith Kumar was put through. He had died of multiple external and internal injuries, especially in the neck, chest, skull and abdomen, where multiple haemorrhages were noted. His body bore 44 'external injuries', of which 18 were major ones. The internal examination showed sub-scalp contusion and subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage on both sides of the parietal and left temporal region. Multiple petechial haemorrhages were noticed on the bi-parietal lobes of the brain. Haemorrhage was also noted over the posterior wall of the left ventricle and pulmonary trunk. There were injuries to the neck, including its vocal cords, pharynx and larynx, causing fatal suffocation and catastrophic internal bleeding. No wonder the court expressed its anguish thus: 'Even an ordinary murderer would not have caused this much injury to a person.' Eyewitnesses, including Vineeth Kumar, brother of the deceased, who vividly recalled that fateful evening of June 28 when Ajit died of his injuries, told the court how he was tortured. One of the witnesses, Saktheeshwaran, a temple employee who took a video of the thrashing and Ajith's wails of pain without the knowledge of the police, has sought protection since he fears for his life. Also Read | Custodial violence incident in Tirunelveli shocks Tamil Nadu Ajith Kumar was not a criminal. A school dropout from a struggling, backward caste Nadar family, he had no police record whatsoever. As the eldest son, he bore the responsibility of caring for his widowed mother and younger brother, Vineeth Kumar, who was desperately searching for a job. Ajith's modest wages, earned as a contractual watchman at the State-run Shri Badra Kaliamman temple in Madappuram, near Thiruppuvanam, were their only means of sustenance. Nonetheless, the family maintained a dignified existence until June 27, when a single accusation of theft shattered their lives. On the morning of June 27, two women from Alampatti, Madurai—Nikita and her mother—arrived at the temple. Nikita sought Ajith's help to get a wheelchair for her mother and to park her car. When the women returned after the darshan, they claimed 9.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery were missing from their vehicle. Miscarriage of justice The bizarre events that followed reflect a shocking miscarriage of justice. Despite the alleged theft happening in the morning, the women waited until late evening to report it at the Thiruppuvanam police station. The inspector carried out a cursory inquiry with Ajith and another temple employee before escalating the matter to senior authorities, but he did not detain them. The case was then handed over to a special investigative team led by Manamadurai DSP Shanmugasundaram (now suspended). Reliable sources told Frontline that the women contacted an IAS officer, who in turn sought a senior police officer's assistance in the case. This officer reportedly asked the Superintendent of Police of Sivagangai district, Aashish Rawath (who has since been placed on the waiting list), to have Shanmugasundaram investigate the matter since it fell under his jurisdiction. The DSP allegedly instructed his six-member special crime squad, led by head constable Kannan of Palayanoor police station, to 'recover the valuables at any cost'. The team identified Ajith as the prime suspect and detained him for questioning, along with his brother Vineeth and two others. While this part of the sequence is not disputed, what follows is based on accounts from family members and other sources. To avoid CCTV surveillance, the police allegedly refrained from conducting the interrogation at the Thiruppuvanam police station. Instead, the suspects were reportedly taken in a van to secluded locations, including a village tank bed and abandoned buildings. There, they were allegedly subjected to beatings and torture. The police also searched Ajith's house. When they failed to find the 'stolen' jewellery, they allegedly grew more violent, torturing Ajith with renewed brutality. On June 28, he was reportedly taken to a cow shed behind a temple, where he was beaten with plastic pipes and wooden rods. Ajith fainted and suffered seizures; family members said he also passed blood in his urine. An unconscious Ajith was hurriedly taken in an auto rickshaw to a private hospital, which refused to admit him. He was taken to Thiruppuvanam Government Hospital, where he was declared 'brought dead'. The body was sent to the Madurai Rajaji Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The Thiruppuvanam police registered an FIR late at night on the same day on the basis of the complaint filed by head constable Kannan, which claimed that Ajith died while trying to escape police custody. If the murder was not shocking enough, the police's blatant disregard for legally mandated protocols and procedures concerning arrests, detentions, and interrogations was even more appalling. The police officers who detained Ajith were in plain clothes and did not carry warrants. Ajith and the others were randomly picked up, detained, and interrogated. They neither registered an FIR nor recorded its details in the station case diary. No record of arrest or detention was made. Ajith was unlawfully detained for over 40 hours based solely on the suspicion that he might be the culprit. In a State where hundreds of theft cases remain unresolved with many stolen properties, including jewellery, remaining unrecovered, the swift response of the Sivagangai police in this particular case has raised suspicions. The death sparked widespread outrage in the State, and social media buzzed with opinions and videos condemning and castigating the police and the government. A clutch of petitions demanding a thorough investigation were filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. 'It is an extrajudicial killing. The tragic irony was that there was neither a formal complaint nor an FIR in this case. It has been a flagrant violation of all laws of the country from the day Ajith was illegally detained till his death,' said Henri Tiphagne of People's Watch, a human rights organisation and one of the petitioners. With the Assembly election coming up in 2026, the incident has caused serious embarrassment for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government. The DMK's campaign against the former All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime in the 2021 Assembly election had focussed on two key issues—the custodial deaths of the traders P. Jeyaraj and his son J. Bennix in Sathankulam in June 2020; and the Thoothukudi police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22, 2018, in which 13 people were shot dead. During the 2021 election campaign, the DMK promised action against the perpetrators of these crimes. It is yet another story that none of the police officers held responsible by the Justice Aruna Jegadeesan Commission of Inquiry for the Thoothukudi police firing faced criminal charges. The Sathankulam double murder case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is still in court. Sensing that the issue was providing ammunition to his political opponents, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who holds the Home portfolio, handed over the case to the CBI. He contacted Ajith's family over the phone to express his regret and promised Ajith's mother stringent action against the perpetrators. An interim compensation of Rs 5 lakh was given to the family and a three-cent plot was allotted. Vineeth was given a job at the Aavin office in Karaikkudi. The Chief Minister also placed the SP, Sivagangai, on a waiting list and suspended the DSP, Manamadurai. Five of six policemen, including Kannan of the special team, who were placed under suspension initially, were arrested on murder charges under Section 103 (1) of BNS and remanded in judicial custody. DGP Shankar Jiwal ordered an immediate disbanding of all special units functioning under sub-divisional DSPs across the State. A detailed 'dos and don'ts' on arrests and investigations has been issued to all police stations. As in the case of the Sathankulam custodial deaths, the intervention of the judiciary restored the sanctity of the law in Ajith's case. But for the higher judiciary and activists, the case would have been suppressed. According to Henri Tiphagne, 31 custodial deaths have occurred in Tamil Nadu in the past four years, with not a single officer being punished. 'Every custodial death violates the Supreme Court's guidelines in the D.K. Basu case. The law enforcers breaking the law with impunity betray the very rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution,' he told Frontline. He called for an investigation into the roles of senior IAS and IPS officials involved in the case, as well as the bona fides of the complainant Nikita, who was allegedly involved in a case of financial misappropriation in 2011. The two-member bench of the Madras High Court, Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice A.D. Maria Clete, acting on a batch of public interest litigation (PIL) petitions, came down heavily on the police and the state. Justice Subramaniam wondered how a state could kill its subjects. 'Can it be tolerated?' he asked during the hearings. Passing a common order on July 1, the bench insisted that an 'impartial probe is just and necessary' in the case. The judges pointed out that despite Ajith's mother filing a complaint on June 29 on her missing son, the Thiruppuvanam police did not register an FIR until July 1. Since there was an apprehension that evidence would be tampered with, the judges said material evidence such as CCTV footage from the temple should be safeguarded. They asked Madurai Additional District Judge S. John Sundarlal Suresh to conduct an inquiry and submit his report by July 8. Also Read | Custodial death of Rampurhat massacre accused a loss of face for CBI Before the dust of the Sivagangai case could settle, an earlier incident of custodial violence was reported: it occurred on January 14, 2025, at the Devathanapatti police station in Theni district. After a video showing a man being beaten up in custody went viral, five policemen were transferred to the Armed Reserve Force immediately. 'We have been fighting for a long time to bring officers who violate the rights of ordinary people to justice. Recently, we have managed to force the government to charge those police officers who commit culpable homicide in violation of the law,' said Vincent Kadir of Madurai-based Evidence, a rights organisation. Notwithstanding its progressive image, Tamil Nadu has an odious history of custodial killings. Of the 31 victims of judicial and police custodial violence in the past four years, nearly 38 per cent belong to marginalised and minority Muslim communities. This is because of the higher number of detentions among them. Tamil Nadu had the second-highest number of deaths in custody between 2019 and 2020: it recorded 490 deaths, the highest in southern India. As of December 31, 2022, Tamil Nadu had the dubious distinction of 2,129 detentions—almost half of India's total—with 38.5 per cent being Dalits. The absence of specific laws against custodial violence and a lack of scientific and advanced forensic techniques in crime detection are the major deterrents to prosecution of erring officers. All four Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd's death were convicted of both federal and State murder charges in the US, with sentences ranging from 22 to three years. Does the Indian criminal justice system ever enforce such strong deterrent convictions against rogue officers who brutalise citizens with impunity? Ajith's case and the Sathankulam double murder case raise troubling questions about the systemic malice that seems to mark law enforcement.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Topbreed, SmartHeart, and Superdogs Among Winners at 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition in Vienna
LONDON, July 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition marked its fifth instalment, bringing together leading pet and animal brands from every corner of the globe. These brands were celebrated for their outstanding achievements, earning recognition as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The awards ceremony, held at Vienna's prestigious Hofburg Palace, welcomed winners across diverse categories, including pet food, retail, wellness, pet exhibitions, and aquatic products. Mounia Berrada-Gouzi expertly hosted the evening, which culminated in a grand celebration of brand excellence. "The Animalis Edition of the World Branding Awards recognises brands that have achieved the highest distinction—genuine recognition in the hearts and minds of consumers. Tonight, we honour those whose names resonate globally, whose values inspire loyalty, and whose presence defines excellence in the pet and animal industry," said Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum. Out of over 950 brands nominated by more than 80,000 consumers in a global online survey, only the top 105 brands from 25 countries achieved the coveted title of winner. Earning a World Branding Award is a significant achievement, solidifying their status as industry leaders. Proving their excellence and impeccable branding, the Global tier winners include Frontline (Germany), Kit Cat (Singapore), KONG (UK), Sheba (USA), and Whiskas (USA). Winners from The Philippines include Topbreed, SmartHeart, and Superdogs. Other National tier winners include Bamboodles (UK), CIAO (Japan), Cooper and Gracie (UK), Delibest (Switzerland), Heads Up For Tails (India), Kaniva (Thailand), Kasty (Thailand), Nutriment Natural Treats (UK), Pampered Pets (Singapore), Petio (Japan), Powercat (Malaysia), Pramy (Thailand), and Vancat (Türkiye), to name a few. Regional tier winners include Alps Natural (Malaysia), EHEIM (Germany), and Hikari (Japan). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region. As the 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition concludes, the highly anticipated Global Edition of the World Branding Awards is set to return to the stage this November. For more information, visit ABOUT WORLD BRANDING AWARDS The World Branding Awards is the premier award of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the world's best brands. SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: View source version on Contacts EDITORIAL CONTACT Email: editorial@
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Topbreed, SmartHeart, and Superdogs Among Winners at 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition in Vienna
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition marked its fifth instalment, bringing together leading pet and animal brands from every corner of the globe. These brands were celebrated for their outstanding achievements, earning recognition as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The awards ceremony, held at Vienna's prestigious Hofburg Palace, welcomed winners across diverse categories, including pet food, retail, wellness, pet exhibitions, and aquatic products. Mounia Berrada-Gouzi expertly hosted the evening, which culminated in a grand celebration of brand excellence. 'The Animalis Edition of the World Branding Awards recognises brands that have achieved the highest distinction—genuine recognition in the hearts and minds of consumers. Tonight, we honour those whose names resonate globally, whose values inspire loyalty, and whose presence defines excellence in the pet and animal industry,' said Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum. Out of over 950 brands nominated by more than 80,000 consumers in a global online survey, only the top 105 brands from 25 countries achieved the coveted title of winner. Earning a World Branding Award is a significant achievement, solidifying their status as industry leaders. Proving their excellence and impeccable branding, the Global tier winners include Frontline (Germany), Kit Cat (Singapore), KONG (UK), Sheba (USA), and Whiskas (USA). Winners from The Philippines include Topbreed, SmartHeart, and Superdogs. Other National tier winners include Bamboodles (UK), CIAO (Japan), Cooper and Gracie (UK), Delibest (Switzerland), Heads Up For Tails (India), Kaniva (Thailand), Kasty (Thailand), Nutriment Natural Treats (UK), Pampered Pets (Singapore), Petio (Japan), Powercat (Malaysia), Pramy (Thailand), and Vancat (Türkiye), to name a few. Regional tier winners include Alps Natural (Malaysia), EHEIM (Germany), and Hikari (Japan). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region. As the 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition concludes, the highly anticipated Global Edition of the World Branding Awards is set to return to the stage this November. For more information, visit The World Branding Awards is the premier award of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the world's best brands.
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
The 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition Honouring Leading Pet and Animal Brands Globally
Article content Article content LONDON — The 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition marked its fifth instalment, bringing together leading pet and animal brands from all around the world. These brands were celebrated for their outstanding achievements, earning recognition as National, Regional, and Global Winners. Article content Article content The awards ceremony, held at Vienna's prestigious Hofburg Palace, welcomed winners across diverse categories, including pet food, retail, wellness, pet exhibitions, and aquatic products. Mounia Berrada-Gouzi expertly hosted the evening, which culminated in a grand celebration of brand excellence. Article content 'The Animalis Edition of the World Branding Awards recognises brands that have achieved the highest distinction—genuine recognition in the hearts and minds of consumers. Tonight, we honour those whose names resonate globally, whose values inspire loyalty, and whose presence defines excellence in the pet and animal industry,' said Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum. Article content Out of over 950 brands nominated by more than 80,000 consumers in a global online survey, only the top 105 brands from 25 countries achieved the coveted title of winner. Earning a World Branding Award is a significant achievement, solidifying their status as industry leaders. Article content Proving their excellence and impeccable branding, the Global tier winners include Frontline (Germany), Kit Cat (Singapore), KONG (UK), Sheba (USA), and Whiskas (USA). Article content National tier winners include Bamboodles (UK), Bok Dok (Thailand), CIAO (Japan), Cooper and Gracie (UK), Delibest (Switzerland), Heads Up For Tails (India), Kaniva (Thailand), Kasty (Thailand), Kelly & Co's (Thailand), Nutriment Natural Treats (UK), OhMyPet! Expo (Malaysia), Pampered Pets (Singapore), Petio (Japan), Powercat (Malaysia), Pramy (Thailand), Topbreed (The Philippines), and Vancat (Türkiye), to name a few. Article content Regional tier winners include Alps Natural (Malaysia), EHEIM (Germany), and Hikari (Japan). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region. Article content As the 2025-2026 World Branding Awards Animalis Edition concludes, the highly anticipated Global Edition of the World Branding Awards is set to return to the stage this November. Article content The World Branding Awards is the premier award of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the world's best brands. Article content SOCIAL MEDIA Article content Facebook: Article content Article content Twitter: Article content Article content Instagram: Article content Article content LinkedIn: Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
