Congress Prez Kharge, Rahul Gandhi laud 'Naatu Naatu', 'The Elephant Whisperer' for wins at Oscars
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday hailed the teams behind the song "Naatu Naatu" and the Tamil documentary "The Elephant Whisperers" for their respective wins at the Oscars, saying the achievement have done India proud.
While "Naatu Naatu", the chartbuster from SS Rajamouli's Telugu period action film "RRR", became the first Indian track to win the Academy Award in the Best Original Song category, "The Elephant Whisperers" created history at awards by becoming the maiden Indian production to win in the Documentary Short Subject category.
"We join millions of Indians in rejoicing at the great news of Naatu Naatu from 'RRR' winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. Thank you for bringing so much joy and happiness to India," Kharge said in a tweet.
Many congratulations to the entire team of "RRR", he added.
Lauding the win of "The Elephant Whisperers", Gandhi said the heartwarming story of India's efforts in elephant conservation from the Madumalai Forest Reserve has brought accolades to the country and made every Indian proud.
"Congratulations @guneetm for winning the Oscars for the Best Documentary, short film. Truly, well deserved," he said.
Gandhi congratulated director Kartiki Gonsalves, producer Guneet Monga and the entire team of "The Elephant Whisperers" for winning the Oscar.
"These two women have made India proud with their heart-warming showcase of the beauty and importance of wildlife conservation," the former Congress chief said.
Hailing the Oscars win for 'Naatu Naatu, Gandhi said the song India danced to has truly gone global.
"Congratulations MM Keeravaani, Chandrabose and the entire RRR team for winning the Best Original Song at the Oscars for Naatu Naatu," he said.
In a tweet, Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said, "Superb win for Naatu Naatu at the Oscars 95 Awards, congratulations to the entire RRR team for this global recognition and for bringing pride and happiness to billions of Indians all over the world! Jai Hind."
"Congratulations to Guneet Monga, Kartiki Gonsalves and the entire team of The Elephant Whisperers for bagging the Best Documentary (Short) award at the 2023 Oscar Awards! You have made the whole country proud!" Venugopal said.
The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, congratulated the entire team of "RRR" for winning the award.
The entire country congratulates the "RRR" team on their momentous victory, the party said.
In another tweet, the party said, "Congratulations to Director Kartiki Gonsalves and producer Guneet Monga on winning the first Oscar for India in the 'Best Documentary Short' category. A befitting honour!"
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Jai Bhim: Slogan that energised Dalits was first given at this central Maharashtra village
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): 'Jai Bhim': These two words have come to symbolise the awakening and empowerment of the Dalit community in independent India, but not many people know how it originated.
The slogan, which also encapsulates the immense reverence in which Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is held, was first raised at the Makranpur Parishad, a conference organised at Makranpur village in Kannad teshil of today's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra.
Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's Constitution, died on December 6, 1956.
Bhausaheb More, the first president of the Scheduled Castes Federation of Marathwada, organised the first Makranpur Parishad on December 30, 1938.
Dr Ambedkar spoke at the conference and asked the people not to support the princely state of Hyderabad under which much of central Maharashtra then fell, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Pravin More, Bhausaheb's son.
"When Bhausaheb stood up to speak, he said every community has its own deity and they greet each other using the name of that deity. Dr Ambedkar showed us the path of progress, and he is like God to us. So henceforth, we should say 'Jai Bhim' while meeting each other. The people responded enthusiastically. A resolution accepting 'Jai Bhim' as the community's slogan was also passed," More told PTI.
"My father came in contact with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in his early years. Bhausaheb was aware of the atrocities the Nizam state committed on Dalits. He told Ambedkar about these atrocities, including the pressure to convert. Dr Ambedkar was strongly against these atrocities, and he decided to attend the 1938 conference," he said.
As Ambedkar was against the princely states, he was banned from giving speeches in the Hyderabad state but was allowed to travel through its territories. The Shivna river formed the border between Hyderabad and British India. Makranpur was chosen as the venue for the first conference because it was on the banks of Shivna but lay in the British territory, ACP More said.
The stage made of bricks, from where Dr Ambedkar addressed the conference, still stands. The conference is organised on December 30 every year to carry forward Ambedkar's thought, and the tradition was not discontinued even in 1972 when Maharashtra experienced one of the worst droughts in it history.
"My grandmother pledged her jewellery for the conference expenses. People from Khandesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada attended it. Despite a ban imposed by the Nizam's police, Ambedkar's followers crossed the river to attend the event," said ACP More.
"This is the 87th year of Makranpur Parishad. We have deliberately retained the venue as it helps spread Ambedkar's thought in rural areas," he added.
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