Konkani music pioneer Eric Alexander Ozario dies at 76
Mangaluru(PTI): Eric Alexander Ozario, a pioneering figure in Konkani music and culture, passed away on Friday at the age of 76, his family said.
Ozario, who had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at Father Muller’s Hospital here, was widely regarded as the "gurkar" of 'Mandd Sobhann', the cultural organisation he founded in 1986 to promote Konkani art and heritage.
Under his leadership, 'Mandd Sobhann' staged over 2,000 performances, produced more than 1,000 musical compositions, and released 26 albums.
His tireless advocacy also led to Konkani being introduced as an optional subject in Karnataka schools, securing its place in the curriculum.
He played a key role in establishing 'Kalaangann', an international Konkani heritage centre in Mangaluru, which became a hub for cultural programmes and research initiatives.
His efforts brought global recognition to Konkani art through festivals such as the World Konkani Music Festival, Mandd Fest, and the Global Konkani Music Awards.
A recipient of the Vishwa Konkani Kala Ratna award, Ozario is survived by his wife, Joyce, daughter Dr Rashmi Kiran, and son Rithesh Kiran.
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Electorate in 9 states, UTs shrink by 1.70 crore after SIR
New Delhi (PTI): Voter base in nine states and Union territories has shrunk by more than 1.70 crore following the publication of final electoral rolls as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to official data.
The data shared by the chief electoral officers of Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Kerala on Saturday showed that their combined voter base stood at over 21.45 crore before the SIR exercise began on October 27 last year.
It shrunk to 19.75 crore after publication of their final electoral rolls this week, a net change of over 1.70 crore electors.
While the exercise, which kept the Election Commission in the spotlight, has been completed in Bihar, it is currently underway in 12 states and Union territories covering nearly 60 crore electors.
The remaining 40 crore electors will be covered in 17 states and five Union territories.
In Assam, a "special revision", instead of SIR, was completed on February 10.
Due to a variety of reasons, the SIR in the nine states and three Union territories have seen frequent tweaking in schedules.
As in Bihar, political parties have approached the Supreme Court challenging the exercise in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
