The North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja, one of Mumbai’s grandest and oldest star-studded Durga Puja celebration, is set to be held at a new venue this year. The event will now unfold at the SNDT Ground, Juhu, marking a significant shift from its long-standing home at Tulip Star, Juhu. The announcement was made at a press conference addressed and attended by Debu Mukherjee, Sharbani Mukherjee, Samrat Mukerji, Rego B, Jaan Kumar Sanu, Rema Lahiri, Kasturi Banerjjee and Mainak Chakraborty. The celebrations will take place from October 9 to 12. This year's North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja is expected to be a larger-than-life experience, drawing some of Bollywood’s biggest names. Devotees and fans can look forward to celebrating in the presence of their beloved celebrities, including Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and many more, all making their mark on this prestigious occasion. “This momentous move is about honouring our rich heritage while embracing an even grander vision for the future,” said the members of the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee. “Our devotees can expect the same deep-rooted traditions, only now in a venue that allows for an even more lavish celebration. The heart of our Puja will remain the same, but the experience will be bigger, better, and more magnificent than ever,” they added. The Puja will feature a meticulously crafted idol of Maa Durga and spiritual rituals such as the maha aarti and pushpanjali. As goes the tradition at North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja, this year’s edition will also feature cultural performances and bhog, offering a feast of traditional Bengali flavours. The North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja was established in 1948 by Padmashri Sashadhar Mukerji and his wife Satirani Mukerji, making it one of the oldest Durga Puja celebrations in the city. Is is frequented by many stars every year. Durga Puja is a 10-day festival that coincides with Navratri, but the last five days are considered most significant. Although Durga Puja is primarily associated with West Bengal, it is also celebrated in other states like Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Also Read: Durga Puja 2023: How Mumbai pandals prepare delectable Bengali cuisine for bhog
19 September,2024 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The 10-day long festival that was celebrated with grandeur and cultural fervour across Mumbai culminated with the Ganesh Visarjan on September 17, which carried onto September 18 for some idols. Mumbaikars bid an emotional farewell to Bappa, reminiscing memories of the past days and wishing for his soon return. While Anant Chaturdashi saw devotees throng beaches and immersion sites in large numbers, the next day saw only volunteers and BMC workers collect waste at these sites. Ganesh Visarjan holds immense significance for the festival, and it is a cultural phenomenon that the city witnesses every year. However, people often overlook the environmental consequences after immersion. Some Ganesh idols wash ashore in a dilapidated condition, especially those made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). Other waste is also generated in large amounts at beaches and other water bodies. To combat this situation, BMC had encouraged immersing Ganesh idols in artificial ponds this year. Around 2.1 lakh idols were immersed in Mumbai over the 11 days of the Ganeshotsav, including over 37,000 idols on the final day. Out of these, 11,364 idols were immersed into artificial lakes. The Bombay High Court (BHC) even directed the mandals to follow guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board in May 2020 regarding the ban on the use of PoP idols. However, this decision by BHC was issued on the eve of Ganeshotsav and PoP idols were used during the festival. The perils of using PoP idols PoP idols are not only harmful for the water bodies but also the marine life that inhabits these water bodies. Stalin D, director of the NGO Vanashakti that had filed a PIL against immersion of PoP idols, explains, “PoP basically has gypsum, glues and paints, which are toxic to the marine environment and they don't degrade or dissolve easily. It makes the water unfit for life forms to survive. Many times, in water bodies, fish have been found floating dead the next day after immersion. The oxygen levels deplete rapidly when you put PoP into the water bodies.” He expresses hope for implementation of the ban on PoP next year. “I believe by next year we should be eradicating at least 90 per cent production of PoP idols. The last window was this year. By some strange twist of fate, our matter was heard only on the eve of the festival. If it was heard two months earlier, this decision would have come up and we would have had time to implement it. We couldn't get the results we wanted, but surely next year it will not be there. In fact, we are asking for a ban on the sale of PoP. We can't stop people from buying something, which is already in the market. So the process has to begin at the manufacturer level,” he informs. Has the negative environmental impact decreased over the years? “Certainly not,” Stalin is quick to say. “I've spent more than 50 years in Mumbai. I was born here. As teenagers, we used to carry the idols and immerse it. It used to be very spiritual. Now, it has become more about other elements like bigger idols, music, gulal, etc.,” he expresses. “PoP is also a culprit because it gives rise to this never-ending competition of making the idols bigger and bigger. To allow these big idols to pass, many trees are also trimmed,” he adds. Suggesting some possible solutions, he says, “There should be some bar on the size of the idol. It has to be made of clay, essentially, and it should be transported and kept in a manner that it does not break or fall in the journey. After the immersion process, it's very heartbreaking to see the idol split and hands or head falling off just because it is not immersed properly.” He continues, “We managed to stop it from being immersed in natural water bodies. But now we need to understand the second part of it. Once the idols are immersed in the artificial tanks, then what happens?” “It is ideally supposed to go for waste management and treatment at Taloja. It doesn't always go there. Authorities need to show some record. The whole process should be carried out in a more organised manner,” he concludes. The waste that washes ashore Several volunteers from NGOs and educational institutions held post-visarjan beach clean-up drives to ensure that all undissolved idols are respectfully managed and the immersion sites return to normal. According to a release by BMC, 550 tonnes of nirmalya (flowers and other offerings) and 360 tonnes of solid waste was cleared from Ganpati immersion sites. Thousands of idols were immersed across the city in 204 artificial ponds and 69 natural water bodies, including lakes and the ones off the beaches. As many as 7,000 civic employees, school and college students and volunteers from NGOs collected the waste. While the issue of waste generation and management needs more disocurse, Dr. Chinuu Kwatra, founder of Beach Warriors, believes that there has been a reduction in waste generated after visarjan over the past few years. “We conducted clean-up drives at Dadar Beach, Prabhadevi and Juhu Koliwada. Every year, we are seeing 10-20 per cent decrease in the waste on beaches. There has been awareness and a lot of people are switching from PoP to clay idols,” he comments. “Secondly, the number of artificial ponds have increased. In Thane, there was an artificial pond every 1 or 2 kms this time. Thirdly, authorities are also conducting extensive clean-up drives now. This is a positive change I have seen after working on ground for 7 years,” he adds. Giving insights on the kind of waste that is still found, he says, “Plastic waste is always there. Apart from that, we also find Bappa’s crown, clothes, jewellery, other ornaments, etc. Some idols do not melt because they are made of PoP. Because of this, Bappa is in a different state after visarjan. It hurts to see this.” “For 10 days, we celebrate the festival with grandeur and on the eleventh day, we are not bothered at all. Environmental impact aside, because that is something people don’t see to care about, we can at least be the change and bring the change for Bappa, so as not to see him in this condition,” he expresses. Shubh Mehta, founder of Change In Us, an organisation that conducted clean-up dirves at Girgaon Chowpatty, reveals, “Post visarjan, we usually find three things during clean-up drives. First are the PoP idols, second are the wooden or metal structures around those idols and the third is flowers, decoration, etc.” Ask him if he has seen any change in the waste produced over the years and he is quick to say, “I think it has remained fairly same. Smaller murtis are immersed on the second, third or fifth day. We usually conduct clean-up drives after the tenth day, so we only find bigger idols. The previous idols and waste are already cleared by BMC by then.” But, he observes, “We are noticing that more and more waste is being generated by people attending the immersion at these sites. If we find idols, it’s understandable. But people are coming at the beach, leaving their slippers, food packets, bottles, etc. That has increased quite a lot.” Other waste generated during the festival Apart from the what is collected from beaches and immersion sites, other waste is also generated during the festive season. Smita Birkar, founder of Earth5R which conducted waste collection and recycling drives during Ganeshotsav in collaboration with BMC, reveals, “During Ganeshotsav, the thermocol waste generation is extremely high and there are people who have been storing it from ages in their house. So, the idea was to create awareness that thermocol can be recycled. Till now, the waste that we have collected is 50 per cent decoration and the other 50 per cent is new packaging of consumer goods people have bought during festive sales like TV, fridge, etc.” She further states, “BMC gave us all the pickup points of driveway centres in Mumbai. Any other society, who wished to register, could do it individually. The dry waste that we collect is condensed, compressed and sent for making picture frames.” Environmental awareness and waste management are two important pillars that can help reduce the impact of the festival on nature and marine life without compromising on traditions. Also Read: Celebrating across borders: How expats cultivate a strong connection with Ganeshotsav
19 September,2024 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Raaina JainAfter successful missions to the Moon and Mars, India is now set to explore Venus, with the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approving the development of the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM). The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the mission to Venus for scientific exploration. The mission, expected to launch in March 2028, will help unravel the "Venusian atmosphere, geology and generate large amounts of science data probing into its thick atmosphere", according to a Cabinet communique. The Cabinet has also "approved a fund of Rs 1,236 crore for the VOM, of which Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft". "The cost includes development and realisation of the spacecraft including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support cost for navigation and network as well as the cost of the launch vehicle,” the Cabinet said. Venus is the closest planet to Earth and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth. The probe offers a unique opportunity to understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently, and to find the causes for the transformation of Venus -- believed to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth. The VOM mission will be accomplished by the Department of Space and is envisaged to orbit a scientific spacecraft in the orbit of planet Venus. "ISRO will be responsible for the development of the spacecraft and its launch. The project will be effectively managed and monitored through the established practices prevailing at ISRO. The data generated from the mission would be disseminated to the scientific community through existing mechanisms," the Cabinet communique said. The mission would also enable India for future planetary missions with larger payloads, and optimal orbit insertion approaches. Also Read: Chandrayaan-4: India to send astronauts to moon as cabinet approves new lunar mission This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 September,2024 11:17 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS
A Mumbai-based professional was once told, “you’re a disaster and that your creative stuff is sh*t”. The professional, who pleaded anonymity, says it was one of the first insults they faced at the workplace. "The power of words can really play with your mind and I was down for a long time," he says. The animation producer like many others didn't do much about it because they had bigger fish to fry. Since then, they have got better pay and that works in his favour because more importantly they have a huge loan that needs to be paid. As much as most people choose to be, like the Mumbaikar, who says their work and professional responsibilities are bigger than these insults, toxic work culture is rampant in India and around the globe. Recently, a video of a bank employee shouting and insulting his colleagues on a video call in Kolkata went viral. Facing severe backlash because of the behaviour, the company suspended the employee and said they do not encourage such behaviour. While action has been taken, this points to a larger problem where employees are often at the receiving end of such insults at the workplace. However, nothing is being done about it by the employers who have failed to recognise a larger problem, that affects mental health. Coincidentally, Mpower recently released a survey ‘Mental Health and Wellness Quotient @Workplace 2023’, which revealed that 48 per cent of corporate employees are struggling with mental health issues. Among them, female corporate employees are more prone to high mental health risk at 56 per cent compared to men at 41 per cent. When this journalist reached out to people for their experiences, he was flooded with messages from people working across various industries. However, many of them choose to remain anonymous fearing repercussions. Toxic workplace culture could affect people in many ways. As Nazneen Chunawala, counselling psychologist and senior manager at Mpower Outreach, explains, "Bad language at office would mean raising voice on the floor, blaming in front of all, being disrespectful to the subordinates and denying their concerns without adequate listening." Mpower is a mental health initiative by the Aditya Birla Education Foundation. The animation producer isn't the only one. A media professional shares, "I have been insulted, bullied and even had personal attacks made by a senior at workplace. I am a journalist. I have been made to feel extremely guilty for getting my hands on a big interview maybe because they thought I didn't deserve to interview such a big star or maybe because they were jealous." It didn't end there because the professional was asked to not take any mental health leaves and instead change it to a sick leave. "Things were so toxic that I resorted to anxiety pills. I was given no leave from work whatsoever and many a times I worked 24x7." The journalist’s toxic times didn’t end at office. It followed them since they were expected to work and answer to messages beyond work hours while working with the organisation. "I broke down a number of times and they didn't bother at all. They were extremely indifferent and borderline sadists.” Insults and toxic workplace cultureThe media professional says they tried writing to their super boss about a deeply-scarring particular incident but no actions were taken against the senior. "I was at the receiving end of intense discrimination and partiality. I eventually left that job but the trauma hasn't left me." While the use of insults and bad language is known, one needs to understand why it happens. Chunawala says there are many reasons. She explains, "Pressure of targets, increased dependency on each other, intense competition, high productivity expectations, stressors at work and personal life and hesitation to question authority and reluctance of authority to listen can be some reasons." When one talks about toxic work culture and insults, it is hard to ignore gender-based insults or how work affects mental health. "Gender discrimination and bias specially against women can make it toxic for her. Mental health concerns of anxiety and depression can reduce the tolerance levels of an individual and increase irritability and aggressiveness. Lack of awareness and lack of support system for the same can lead to toxic work culture," she adds. While some people ignore it, there are others who leave jobs like the media professional. She explains, "It leads to self-doubt for the employees, hurts their honesty and commitment to the organisation, makes them feel devalued and results in increased attrition, decreased productivity, passive aggressive behaviour and deviation or lack of connection to the organisational outcomes." On a more personal level, city-based certified victory and life coach Farzana Suri says it can play on the mental health and well-being of the employee. "It can lead to depression caused by anxiety, anger, anguish, reduced morale absenteeism and isolate them in the team, leading to reduced productivity." However, Chunawala points out that all conflicts or use of disrespectful language do not qualify as toxic work environment. She explains, “It may be toxic for one person but not for all. The affected person should definitely talk to the person concerned and if they find it difficult to deal with, bring it up to the HR." Suri adds to what Chunawala points out. She says that apart from talking one-on-one to those insulting, it is important to be calm and avoid confrontation. "Moreover, do not use similar language to communicate your point. Avoiding these people or keeping quiet is not the answer," she explains. However, the onus isn't only on the employee affected by such behaviour because the managers and bosses also need to take the responsibility to be aware. Chunawala suggests seeking regular feedback from employees, one-on-one discussions to understand their experiences and any concerns related to language or communication. “Be open to listen and act upon the feedback received and make necessary improvements." Yet, these may not always turn out to be helpful like in the case of city-based publicist Megha Nambootiri, who like the animation producer and journalist has also faced such insults. She even reported it to HR. Nambootiri says that she was insulted in front of her colleagues, repeatedly. “It also happened to others in the team when I worked in that organisation." While she did try to engage in a conversation with the person who insulted her, it fell on deaf ears. "When I went to the HR, I was told 'Oh that’s strange, we never received such complaints earlier', which was a lie because everyone I worked with had complained but they were ignoring because the accused had been working in the organisation for a very long time." Nambootiri eventually quit. Since language and culture are inseparable, removing the profane from your work environment can only improve communication and performance and to clean up the culture, it is important for organisations to first clean up the language. Role of organisationsSince the employees are a part of the organisation, the latter needs to make efforts to adopt certain practices that could help in dealing with cases where the language can be an issue. "Organisations need to be proactive by crafting a Profanity or Language Policy," Suri suggests, “Ensure those who wish to complain about the use of offensive language know they are protected.” She says the organisation needs to act to minimise the risk of offensive language. “The policy may also require employees to respect their coworkers' sensitivities. If another employee asks them to not use certain words, then they are required to make every effort to accommodate those wishes. You should prohibit profane language related to body parts and sexual innuendo. Vulgarity, crude jokes, and obscene insults can create a hostile work environment and result in sexual harassment or discrimination." At the end of the day, she says it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that their employees are not exposed to language that they may deem offensive or inappropriate. Posting signs that state "Keep Your Language Clean" in areas such as the employee cafeteria, corridors and restrooms can be helpful. Chunawala seconds Suri's suggestion that there needs to be a strict policy in place. She explains, "Clearly communicate in the office policy and in town hall meetings to all employees that disrespectful language will not be tolerated.” The organisations need to implement regular feedback mechanisms such as anonymous suggestion boxes. Employees and managers with respectful communication should be awarded at the workplace. While policies, feedback and rewards can help, other important aspects of working in the office to learn how to behave is paramount. Chunawala and Suri say. “In fact, Suri some organisations abroad hire a Cuss Control Coach. Just like diversity training, they also have behaviour and language training to help them navigate office communication daily.” The Mpower expert also insists it is an important part of employee training. "Effective communication training – emphasising on active unbiased listening and healthy communication and for being sensitive towards the impact of language choices on others. Team building is also essential. With increase in trust and bond, instances of bad language can be reduced and impact can be less." These sessions need to include all managers, human resource department as well as management, who should be part of such trainings. Additionally, regular sessions for mental wellbeing at the workplace is important and a step in the right direction.
18 September,2024 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto
Humiliation at workplace is a culture no company would like to identify with. However, it is a rampant practice that is pushing people into unhealthy working conditions or quitting altogether. Mumbai-based leadership coach and a seasoned HR, Prabir Jha says, “Despite the ongoing toxicity at workplace, people are finally calling it out and seeking a more fulfilling role. With the evolving awareness and job fluidity, people are more empowered to not live with this malaise.” A recent study by MIT Sloan shows that toxic work culture is a primary factor pushing people to quit their jobs. While LinkedIn bleeds with layoffs, Midday Online spoke to employees who finally put in their papers to end the unbearable whims of a foul workplace. For Anila Maqbool, it had been only two weeks as a publicist with a city-based hospitality firm when she felt targeted by her co-workers. “I was the youngest team member and that was my biggest crime. It began when my colleagues started singling me out to keep me out of the loop. Initially, my tasks would be met with obstacles and my execution was slow. Gradually, I found myself running in circles seeking approvals and chasing deadlines. I developed anxiety issues and my self-esteem suffered a blow.” When Anila spoke to her manager about the recurrent issues, she was met with a bitter response. Her manager scorned: “You act like all the wrongs are happening with you only! The world doesn’t revolve around you and you need to work on your inefficiencies.” Right after this episode, Anila decided to quit and left without collecting her due compensation and the relieving letter. In another instance, Mukul Lodha (name changed), shares a mortifying account of what he went through while working with a Delhi-based human rights law firm. He was hired as a cameraman for a month-long contract to shoot visuals in Tripura. In a telephonic conversation, he explains: “My contract stated that I was supposed to shoot the footage and share the dump. So, I delivered what was asked of me. A month later, I get a call from the CEO who offered me a job at the same firm!” Excited as he was to receive the offer, Mukul decided to visit the office. Upon visiting, he was met with a hostile attitude. The founder asked, “Why didn’t you edit the footage you shot?” To which Mukul explained that he was hired only to shoot and not edit. Mukul recalls the moment when the founder began to scream and caught him off guard. “Do you have no passion for the work you do? How unprofessional of you to just dump your footage and move on? You are a disappointment!” It was a blow to Mukul’s work ethic. Before he could even join, he was treated with humiliation and gross misunderstanding at a workplace that supposedly fights for human rights. Two days later, he sent the edited video along with a statement declining the job offer. Mukul was resolved to prove his capability and also call out the undignified attitude of his employer. Mental health researcher Ishan Shivanand is of the opinion that people demean their colleagues/subordinates to be able to feel intelligent. “In psychological sciences, gaslighting is a way of emotionally manipulating someone to make them believe that their thoughts, viewpoints, emotions or imagination are not right. The bullies consistently emphasise on proving you wrong to feel superior to you. It can be done in any order of hierarchy, as long as the individual is allowing themselves to be bullied.” Read More: 7 tips to manage office politics A bad boss can take a good staff & destroy it, causing the best employees to flee and remainder to lose all motivation. In a similar case, Tanya Pathak recounts her final days of working as a communications associate with a city-based non-profit organisation. She mentions that there were no respectful boundaries that were adhered to at her workplace. “My boss would try to get very personal which would make me feel noxious. I would receive unsolicited opinions on my personal life be it my dressing or friendships. It made me doubt myself and question my choices. I felt gaslit by senior employees and it began affecting my health, both physical and emotional. Ultimately, I resigned as I couldn’t deal with the mounting stress.” Psychological impacts of workplace bullying Bullying and humiliation can have a detrimental impact on an employee’s mental wellbeing. It can build work-related stress and lead to burnouts. Employees may also experience frequent episodes of feeling overwhelmed during the day and end up with mental health concerns including anxiety and depression, shares Ishan, who is also a professor of meditative modalities. “It leaves scars that can undermine one’s confidence forever. The person can draw into a shell, choosing not to ideate or collaborate, and in many ways alter the fundamentals of one’s personality. In cases, this emotional expression can lead to acute depression, with potential life risks” added Prabir. This can be prevented by creating healthier and more productive workplaces for all. Bengaluru-based Myah Payel Mitra has been working with organisations to build motivating and engaging environment inside offices. In a conversation with Mid-day, she shares that people will opt to work at an organisation where they feel recognised, included, valued, promoted, and appreciated. “For many people, work-life balance and employment that keeps their mental health positive is a top priority. People don’t necessarily switch jobs for money only; most of them are looking for respect and mental peace. Anything that costs you your peace of mind is too expensive and many people therefore choose peace over paycheck,” shares Myah who is an award-winning employee engagement and career transition coach. Common signs of a toxic workplace: 1 It’s an environment that lacks physical, mental, emotional and psychological safety.2 Employees don’t feel safe to ask questions, share their opinions, or provide honest feedback.3 Disrespect, discrimination, bullying, and harassment, scapegoating becomes a norm.4 Leaders don’t intervene to protect employees or resolve conflicts.5 There is a lack of trust, transparency and equity amongst employees.6 High levels of stress and burnout, leading to higher attrition rates. Why do toxic bosses get away with this behavior?“Bad bosses are created, nurtured and rewarded by their bosses and organisations. Many deliver a financial number and everything else gets a blind eye. This emboldens them to continue with such behaviour. As a success recipe, this behaviour becomes the template for others and the cancer spreads. Such bosses have rarely had honest feedback, coaching support or reprimands for them to be anything else. In some cases, this may have been a blind spot for long. Worst, poor HR systems make them believe that this behaviour alone delivers business outcomes, a myth they have carefully cultivated”, highlights Prabir who is the CEO of Prabir Jha People Advisory, a boutique platform for retained strategic advisory, talent search & executive coaching. For employees to stand up against such behaviour requires them to personally believe that they must do so. They also need to instil confidence in their organisation that it will stand by them. “Often both are missing. Surely the latter is absent and employees prefer to stay quiet and suffer silently or, if they can, quit at the first opportunity.” Such is the case of Vikrant Mehra, a Mumbai-based creative director working with an ad agency. In a telephonic conversation, he shares how the constant cycle of ideation and rejection has led to his mental burnout. He has been and held back from promotions, his creativity questioned and his ideas quashed as his boss constantly critiqued his credibility. “It’s tough to stand up against my boss. He is seldom receptive to feedback as that makes him far more aggressive, vengeful and wicked. He is selfish to the core. He leans on positional authority and inflicts damage without a second thought. I am seeking other avenues but till then I will not stop calling him out for his toxicity”, shared Vikrant who intends to quit as soon as a better opportunity comes his way. What can employees do to combat humiliation at workplace?Myah shares a guide to deal with workplace inefficiencies. “Firstly, decide if you want to work for the same company or not, given the toxic environment. If you decide to leave, then start working on your exit plan while maintaining the same professionalism at work in your current job. It is best not to gossip about your toxic boss to other co-workers. And if you decide stay on then have a conversation with your boss letting them know how you feel. If the behavior does not change over a period of time and you decide to make a formal complaint to the HR in your organisation, then start keeping a record of the rude behaviors and documenting them before filing a case. Be prepared as the outcome could go either way!” Prabir resonates with Myah and goes one step ahead by saying that the best way is if you could actually speak up to such bosses to their face! Some companies have very effective Ombudsman processes to raise such issues. Some organisations have cultures which look at these situations as unacceptable aberrations. One could speak to the skip level manager or HR in such cases. You could even talk to Employee Assistance Group counsellors that some companies offer. But if none of these are effective, you must explore internal jobs away from this manager or quit altogether. Nothing can be a reason to work with terrible bosses endlessly. The price you pay might be astronomical!
18 September,2024 02:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Ainie RizviThe shortlist for Booker Prize 2024 was announced on Monday, and out of the six books shortlisted, five have been written by women authors. This is the largest ever number of women featured in the shorlist in the 55-year history of the prestigious literary prize. Five women and one man are in the running for prize, from a longlist of 13 authors. They include writers from Australia, the Netherlands, Britain, Canada and the US. The shortlist also features its first Dutch author. The six shortlisted books for Booker Prize 2024 are: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (USA) Orbital by Samantha Harvey (UK) The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands) James by Percival Everett (USA) Held by Anne Michaels (Canada) Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Australia) English pottery-maker, author and chair of the judges Edmund de Waal said the shortlist comprised of "books that made us want to keep on reading, to ring up friends and tell them about them, novels that inspired us to write, to score music, and even – in my case – to go back to my wheel and make pots". About the shortlisted books Creation Lake: Set in a remote outpost in France, the spy novel follows an American secret agent whose mission is to infiltrate a group of radical eco-activists. Orbital: The book follows six astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). The Safekeep: It is family drama set in the Netherlands 15 years after the end of the second world war. James: It is a retelling of ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, written from the perspective of enslaved Jim. Held: The book is a family saga that explores love and loyalty across four generations. Stone Yard Devotional: This is the story of a woman who leaves Sydney to return to the place she grew up in, wherein she encounters different challenges and friendships. The Booker is open to works of fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. The Booker Prize ceremony will take place on November 12. Each of the shortlisted authors will receive £2,500, and the winner will get £50,000. Last year's winner was Irish author Paul Lynch and his dystopian novel Prophet Song. Also Read: Exclusive | I’ve always been interested in telling unusual stories: Tisca Chopra (With inputs from AFP)
17 September,2024 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSky gazers are in for a double treat tonight with two celestial events occurring in a rare coincidence -- a super harvest Moon and partial lunar eclipse -- on Tuesday night. The Super Harvest Moon on Tuesday night will experience a partial lunar eclipse making it appear slightly larger in the night sky. The visual delight will be visible in western Asia, North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Antarctica. It will not be visible from India as during the time of the lunar eclipse, the Moon would be below the horizon in the country. It will appear at 8:04 am in New Delhi. The term "Supermoon" was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 as either a new or full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90 per cent of its closest to Earth. The Old Farmer's Almanac calls the full moon of September as the Harvest moon, referring to when corn harvests traditionally started. The eclipse occurs when the Moon is slightly closer to Earth, which happens because the Moon's orbit is slightly elliptical, or oval-shaped. As per NASA, the Moon will appear full for about three days, from Monday evening through Thursday morning. The Moon will start entering the Earth's partial shadow at 8:41 pm EDT on Tuesday (6:11 am IST, Wednesday). NASA noted that “the slight dimming of the Moon will be difficult to notice until the top edge of the Moon starts entering the full shadow”. The peak of the eclipse will be at 10:44 pm (8:14 am IST). As it is a partial eclipse, “only the top 8 per cent of the Moon will be in full shadow”. The Moon will finish exiting the full shadow at 11:16 pm and the partial shadow on Wednesday at 12:47 am. "This will be the second of four consecutive Supermoons, appearing larger than last month's Supermoon and effectively tied with the full Moon in October for the closest full Moon of the year," NASA said. Also Read: SpaceX creates history with first-ever private spacewalk This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 September,2024 11:45 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSTito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, has died at age 70. Tito was the third of nine Jackson children, which include global superstars Michael and sister Janet, part of a music-making family whose songs are still beloved today. “It's with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted on Instagram late Sunday. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family group, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s including "ABC," “I Want You Back” and “I'll Be There.” The Jackson 5 became one of the biggest names in music under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitar player who supported his wife and nine children in Gary, Indiana. As the family's music careers took off, they relocated to California. Born on October 15, 1953, Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was the least-heard member of the group as a background singer who played guitar. His brothers launched solo careers, including Michael, who became one of the world's biggest performers known as The King of Pop. Michael Jackson died at age 50 on June 25, 2009. Speaking to The Associated Press in December 2009, Jackson said his younger brother's death pulled the family closer together. “I would say definitely it brought us a step closer to each other. To recognize that the love we have for each other when one of us is not here, what a great loss,” he said, adding he would personally never “be at peace with it.” “There's still moments when I just can't believe it. So I think that's never going to go away,” he said. In 2014, Jackson said he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson's absence in their shows that continued with international tours. “I don't think we will ever get used to performing without him. He's dearly missed," he said, noting that his spirit "is with us when we are performing. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces." Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Munich, Germany, on September 11, where he visited a memorial to Michael Jackson with his brothers. “Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We're deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive," he wrote. Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time.” He released a song in 2017, “One Way Street,” and told the AP in 2019 that he was working on a sophomore album. Jackson said he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career, because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons: TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their own music group 3T. Jackson's website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled, “Love One Another.” Tito Jackson also is survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and Latoya and their mother, Katherine. Their father died in 2018. Jackson's death was first reported by Entertainment Tonight. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 September,2024 02:57 PM IST | Los Angeles | APNorwegian Grammy-winning electronic music producer Alan Walker has collaborated with Indian music director Pritam for the very first time to create a pop ballad titled ‘Children Of The Sun’. They are joined by Vishal Mishra, who also lends his soulful voice to the track. Releasing on September 26 via Warner Music India, the track is poised to be an anthem that champions culture, camaraderie and community. Serving as a testament to the spirit of collaboration, the track is a celebration of a musical concoction that intertwines the best of Eastern and Western influences and soundscapes. The seeds of this collaboration were sown back in 2019 when Walker met with Pritam during the Mumbai leg of his Aviation World Tour. While it began as a chance encounter, it blossomed into a 5-year long camaraderie fuelled by a shared passion for creating genre-blending music that pushes creative boundaries. Inspired by his regular travel to India, Walker crafted a melody that instantly resonated with Pritam, which eventually led to the creation of the song, ‘Children Of The Sun’. Elaborating on the key takeaway from the track Alan Walker expresses, “I first met Pritam in 2019, and ever since, we've kept in touch and worked on releasing a track together. I’m really pleased with how it turned out – both the message and how it brings together different sounds and languages. The song carries a hopeful message, showing the creativity and strength of today’s youth, blending cultures and sounds that reflect the world they’ll shape. I’m full of admiration for Pritam, his incredible musical ear, and the way he works. Now I'm excited to show this to the world!” The track's 80s synthwave vibe, combined with Walker's signature electronic beats, Pritam’s evocative composition and with it Vishal Mishra’s soulful vocals create a truly immersive listening experience. The song's lyrics, inspired by the sun's universal symbolism, evoke feelings of the enduring power of human connection. With its infectious melody, uplifting lyrics, and a chorus featuring a children's choir, this earworm is a powerful tribute to the next generation, interlaced with powerful messages of hope, resilience, unity, motivation and happiness. Talking about the collaboration, Pritam adds, “Music has the power to heal, inspire, and unite. I hope that 'Children Of The Sun' will touch the hearts of listeners around the world and bring a message of hope and unity. I am extremely elated to work with Alan Walker on such a meaningful project. His innovative approach to making music and keen understanding of the audience’s musical taste has made this project even more special.” To complement the audio release, Walker is set to make his way to India with his 10-city Walkerworld Tour by Sunburn. Kicking off in Kolkata on September 27, he will be visiting cities like Shillong, Delhi NCR, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Pune, Mumbai and culminating in Hyderabad on October 20. This marks one of Walker's largest-ever tours in India.
16 September,2024 02:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndian hip-hop music festival Gully Fest is set to make a resounding comeback on October 26-27 in Mumbai at Nesco Center in Goregaon. Spearheaded by multi-platinum hip-hop trailblazer Vivian Fernandes, popularly known as DIVINE, and his music conglomerate Gully Gang, the aspirational festival is popular among the hip hop community after its debut in 2018. This year, the edition promises to be a homecoming celebration spotlighting Indian hip hop’s triumph, originating from the streets to dominating mainstream popular culture. With a tagline of ‘Hip-Hop Mere Gully Mein’ (translating to hip-hop in my street), the two-day festival will pay homage to the evolution and rise of the genre, acknowledging its humble roots and commemorating its undeniable impact as a thriving cultural movement. This year’s theme revolves around the idea of varsity and university culture, and how these influences have shaped the style and standpoint of artists and hip-hop enthusiasts for generations. With a focus on community and diversity, the festival will provide a platform for both established artists and emerging talent, ensuring that the genre's diverse voices are authentically represented. This edition’s line-up will feature international hip-hop icon Pusha T as a headliner, alongside the festival’s founder DIVINE. Joining the iconic heavyweights will be a roster of talented Indian artists, including Gully Gang All Stars, Prabh Deep, Lisa Mishra, Sambata, Yashraj, Gravity, Bombay Bassment, Reble, DJ Proof, DJ Kan-i, OG Shez, and Beatraw x D-Cypher. DIVINE comments, "It really was all a dream -- to see how far we’ve come as a movement, to see so many take up the mic & a pen, to see how our music has travelled so far and wide in India and beyond. Gully Fest is a celebration of that, we want to bring down global rap icons to India, to highlight the best of Indian Hip-Hop and to platform upcoming artists.” Besides the standout music performances, attendees can also look forward to engaging in immersive experiences. The festival venue will feature a variety of installations and experience zones, including a graffiti wall, skate ramp, interactive boombox and year book photo booth at its second edition. While the festival kicks off in Mumbai this year, it's set to expand to various cities across India next year, ensuring the continued momentum of the movement. General sale for the Mumbai edition is live on PayTM Insider with early bird tickets already sold out. The ticket prices for Phase 1 start from Rs 1,299 per person for a GA festival pass, and Rs 3299 per person for a VIP festival pass.
15 September,2024 01:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKeralites have celebrated the harvest festival of Onam with traditional fervour and gaiety across the state on Sunday. Marking the 'Thiruvonam', the most auspicious day of the 10-day-long festival, people wore traditional 'kasavu' sarees and 'mundu' (dhoti) and visited temples in villages and towns early in the morning. The government has already announced that there won't be any official Onam celebration due to the recent devastating landslides in Wayanad. However, the state witnessed traditional celebrations as always with youngsters and children decorating their homes by laying colourful floral carpets and elders gifting 'onakkodi' (new clothes) to other members of the family. "Oonjal', the traditional swing, also graced the courtyards of many homes as part of festivities. A sumptuous 'onasadya' (feast) was prepared by family members comprising various vegetarian dishes and delicious dessert 'payasam'. Reviving the memories of a glorious past, traditional games including Vadamvali (tug of war) and Uriyadi (break the pot) and art forms like Pulikkali, Thiruvathira, Theyyam were organised under the aegis of local clubs. According to folklore, Onam is a festival connected with the return of the mythical demon king Mahabali under whose reign everyone lived in happiness and equality. Legend has it that envious of his popularity, the Devas (Gods) sought the help of Lord Vishnu to get him banished into the netherworld but before going down, Mahabali secured a boon from Vishnu to visit his subjects every year on Thiruvonam Day. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among those who extended their Onam greetings to Malayalis across the world. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 September,2024 11:41 AM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | PTIADVERTISEMENT
