British envoy draws attention to plastic pollution in oceans
Kolkata: Juxtaposing the naturalness of silk with the artificiality of plastic, British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith on Saturday drew attention to the health of rivers and plastic pollution in the oceans.
"It is incredibly appropriate that we are celebrating rivers at this particular point in time.. They reflect not only health of the country but also, as we have been increasingly reading in the last few days, health of the oceans, particularly relevant here in Asia," Asquith said at the closing ceremony of "Silk River India Walk" at the Victoria Memorial Hall here.
Britain joined nearly 200 countries in signing a United Nations resolution in Nairobi earlier this month to cut plastic in the sea.
"So much of plastic runs down the river into oceans... What I love is we are surrounded by something very different...silk. It is soft, beautiful, natural and valuable in sharp contrast to plastic, which is cheap, hard, artificial and ugly," he said referring to the 20 hand-woven and hand-painted Murshidabad (Bengali) silk flags crafted as part of the Indo-British Silk River partnership.
The Silk River project explores the unique relationship between London and Kolkata.
Working at 20 locations alongside the Hooghly and the Thames to reinterpret a shared heritage, Silk River aims to raise cultural awareness about the Indo-British relationship by engaging diaspora communities.
The 20 scrolls will be exhibited at the Central Hall of Victoria Memorial Hall here from December 19 to December 31.
The project was a collaborative effort -- between Kinetika, UK, and its various Indian partners, including ThinkArts, Murshidabad Heritage Development Society, Crafts Council of India West Bengal and West Bengal Tourism. It is supported by the Arts Council England and the British Council.
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Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemns removal of sacred thread during CET
Bengaluru (PTI): The controversy over the alleged removal of sacred threads and other religious symbols during the KCET examination intensified on Saturday, with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemning the act as "inhuman" and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding strict action, calling it a violation of religious rights.
Reacting to the incident at Krupanidhi College in Madivala, the Minister said the government had taken note of the matter and assured transparent action, even as police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
“The inhuman act of asking students to remove their ear studs, bangles, hijab or sacred thread, and even cutting long sleeves with scissors thereby affecting their morale is unacceptable and condemnable,” Rao said in a post 'X'.
He asserted that examination centres must test students’ knowledge and not undermine their dignity, adding that the government would take stringent steps to prevent recurrence.
The Minister also urged affected students not to lose confidence, saying the government stood firmly with them.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Karnataka South, strongly condemned the incident, alleging that it had hurt the religious rights and self-respect of the Hindu community.
“The incident of students removing and cutting off their Janivaras during the CET examination has violated the religious rights, culture and self-respect of the Hindu community,” the organisation said in a press note.
Calling the sacred thread a symbol of religious heritage and dignity, it said, “Society will not tolerate any act that insults it,” and demanded a thorough probe and stringent action against those responsible.
It also pointed out that similar incidents had been reported in the state last year, terming the recurrence “unfortunate and condemnable.”
The organisation further alleged that such incidents were damaging the well-being of society and claimed that some schools and colleges are promoting hatred against the Hindu society.
The row erupted after students alleged that invigilators at the examination centre asked them to remove religious symbols, including the sacred thread, during the Common Entrance Test (CET).
Following the incident, an invigilator was suspended and police 'secured' three staff members for questioning.
The CET is conducted for admission to professional courses across the state.
