Monali Thakur Seen At Kolkata Fashion Fair

Kolkata, March 12: Bollywood singing star, Kolkata’s own Monali Thakur visited COLOURS-Kolkata Fashion Fair suddenly. She visited the stalls and said that, “I have seen such a huge collection of dresses and accessories. Mone hochchhilo kini kintu ami amar sathe purse anini.”

Nagesh Kuknoor and Monali "LAKSHMI" Thakur in Kolkata To Promote Film

Kolkata, March 12: ‘IQBAL’ and ‘DOR’ fame director Nagesh Kuknoor visited Kolkata to promote his upcoming film “LAKSHMI” with debutante actress of the film, Kolkata’s very own sensational singing star, Monali Thakur. “LAKSHMI” is a story of heroism and untold courage. The film deals with the harsh realities of human trafficking and child prostitution, which continue behind close curtains in rural areas of India. “LAKSHMI” already screened at the Palm Spring International Film Festival and won the audience award of best film beating five Oscar nominated film in its category. Film will hit the Indian silver screen on 21^st day of March.

RATNAGARBHA : A Tribute to The Proud Mothers of Bengal

Kolkata, March 08: Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) and Shyam Sundar Co. Jewellers made the International Women’s Day remarkable by conferring respect and appreciation to the proud mothers of Bengal. In a very special programme named ‘RATNAGARBHA’, historical Town Hall witnessed glimpses of glamour and tears all through the evening. Tributes have been paid to Smt. Nirupa Ganguly, Smt. Nandita Sengupta, Smt. Swatilekha Sengupta, and Smt. Kalavati Devi. The first lady Chairperson of State bank of India, Smt. Arundhuti Bhattacharya has been also felicitated in the occasion for her immense achievement in her arena. Eminent actor Rituparna, Sohini and noted Manipuri dancer Bimbavati Devi were present with their mother  while ace cricket and television personality Sourav Ganguly received the award on behalf of his mother. Sourav said, “There are two herculean tasks in the world. One is to convince Maa to click snap with me and other is to convince her to go for a programme.” He added that, “I have seen my mother had done a job of fulltime nurse to my father in his last few years. The word Maa is somehow sounds out of the world. While she looks rude in morning for that I am eating much and this is not good for my health on the other hand she feels panicky in within 2 hours that if I had taken some food. The relation between mother and children is indescribable. All this motherly qualities I also seen on Dona too; who always behaving with me like I have done something wrong but when the Sana comes-Dona is a changed woman!”  Rituparna Sengupta and Sohini Sengupta expressed their feeling by tears for their mother. Swagatalakkhi Dasgupta, who lost her mother a couple of months ago also made the audiences cry through her touching words for her mother. The program was moderated and anchored by eminent vocalist Madhumanti Moitra followed by the recitals by eminent elocutionist Bratati Bandopadhyay and solo performance by renowned singer Tithi Dev Burman. President of BCC&I, Mr. Kallol Dutta; Chairman of Sports Development Committee of BCC&I, Mr. Subrata Dutta along Dircetor of Shyam Sundar Co. Jewellers, Mr. Rupak Saha also graced the program.

Free Eye-Check-Up Camp In NT1 Studio

Kolkata, March 09: Eastern India Cinetel Welfare Trust organized a free eye check-up camp in N.T 1 Studio in collaboration with M P Birla Eye Hospital for the last ten years for the needy actors, technicians and workers of the West Bengal Film and Television Industry. Free spectacles were given to 118 needy personnel and 27 personnel will undergo with free cataract operation in M.P.Birla Eye Hospital. On the occasion founder trustee Soumitra Chatterjee, Indrani Halder and Rituparna Sengupta was present to inaugurate the camp. Actor Kushal Chakraborty, Arindam Ganguly and Shantilal Mukherjeee had also graced the camp.

In the occasion Soumitra Chatterjee said that, “We are several times pledged to the people engaged with the industry that please give your one day income for the trust but we have very few people who did it. In spite of this we have started giving pension to needy and workableness technicians.” Indrani Halder said that, "I am one of the trustee of out trust. It's a great work I think and as a part of Bengali Industry, I thought I should be here so I am here. though I went a bit late but I also had checked-up my blood-pressure and eyes." Rituparna said that, “We have got everything from this industry and we are bound mentally to give some returns for our fellows. Like the past years we will continue the camp in coming years too. ”

Government Is Extreme Serious About Higher Education: Vivek Kumar

Kolkata, March 08: Mr. Vivek Kumar; Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal officially inaugurated the 5^th Annual Convention of Higher Education Forum (HEF) in Kolkata today at Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship And Development (ILEAD) campus. While speaking in the occasion Mr. Kumar said that, “West Bengal Government is extremely serious about the higher education and this year our state had jumped up in national and international stage.” He also added that, “In the last 24 months our state has introduced 32 colleges, 9 government general colleges only in Midnapore, 2 government engineering college. We have introduced 6 universities while in previous 66 years we have only 13. We are going to commence first ever Women University in Diamond Harbour from July this year and 3 new Private University will be on ramp within 2015-2016 academic year. In Presidency University, State had implemented a lot like there are no limits of creating vacancies and they had been given total freedom to create their own syllabus. Presidency already has started the subject Life Science apart from Botany, Zoology and Physiology and this is first time in India. There are scopes for engage six professors from abroad and also they are giving education allowances for abroad student. Government is in a search an internationally acclaimed Vice Chancellor for Presidency through the interference of University Grant Commission (UGC). An Education Commission led by Professor S.K. Brahmachari will lay the blue-print about the steps the state should take to rise. A new scheme ‘Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha Abhiyan’ will allocate huge funds in coming five years. I believe that if you have quantity then you can’t have quality and if you want quality then we have to forget about quantity. There must be autonomy for the organizations but there must be accountability too.” The convention also was graced by the dignitaries like Chairperson of HEF, Mr. A.K. Sengupta; former Principal Adviser of Geneva International Trade Centre, Mr. B.R. Bhandari and Chairman of ILEAD, Mr. Pradip Chopra.