Team from Association of Indian Universities (AIU) visit FTII to consider grant of Master's degree equivalence to FTII courses

A 5-member team from Association of Indian Universities (AIU) visited FTII on 6th and 7th December 2016. The purpose of the visit was to consider grant of equivalence of Master's degree to three and two year full-time post-graduate courses in the Film Wing. The courses under consideration are Diploma in Film with specialization in (1) Direction (2) Cinematography (3) Editing (4) Sound Recording and Sound Design (5) Acting, and (6) Art Direction and Production Design. A Master's Degree holds the potential to present more opportunities, especially in the field of film research and academic, to students passing out from 2016 batch onwards.

The AIU team comprised of Prof. Dr. Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, National Law University, New Delhi as Chairman; Prof. A.S Balasubramanian, Director, EMMRC and Culture and Cultural Relations, University of Mysore; Prof. B.P. Sanjay, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad and former VC, Central University of Tamil Nadu; Shri. Ramesh Sharma, Filmmaker and Shri. Sambhav Srivastava, Member-Secretary of Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

All six Departments made presentations regarding courses, syllabus, credit system, infrastructure etc. before the AIU team. The team went around the campus and visited all the departments of FTII and other facilities including Library and Prabhat Museum to understand the functioning of the Institute.

The team also visited FTII's extension campus where film studios and ready made locations like railway stations, court etc. are planned for shooting of FTII student exercises and outside commercial film productions.

The AIU team will be presenting a report to their headquarters in New Delhi regarding FTII's proposal for Masters Degree equivalence. 

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NBCD SCHOOL MOTOR CAR EXPEDITION TO NORTH EAST RECEIVED BY STATION COMMANDER LONAVLA

A Motor Car Expedition to North East India was organized by NBCD School, INS Shivaji Lonavla to commemorate 45 years of India-Pakistan 1971 War and Navy Day 2016. The expedition covered the distance of 6765 Km from 12 Nov to 02 Dec 16.

The expedition, comprising of two SUVs, was manned by eight personnel from Station Lonavla namely Captain Neelkanth Khond, Commander Satish Kumar, Lieutenant Commander Jithin Jayachandran, Major Akhil Balodi, Vijayinder Sharma POELP, Ravi Singh LME, Sunil Kumar ME-I and RK Pradhan MA-I. The expedition navigated across the mainland India to the Northeast. The expedition commenced from Lonavla and passed through Ahmednagar, Nagpur and Gondia in Maharastra, wherein at Gondia the team conducted a seminar for general public on awareness about Indian Navy. It was followed by series of seminars for students and local population at Balaghat, Seoni and Gotegaon in Madhya Pradesh. The expedition also went to Sainik School Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and conducted seminar and interactive session for students of the school. The team transited through Muzzafarpur in Bihar; Bagdogra in West Bengal; Rangia and Guwahati in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya. The expedition on its way back passed through Lucknow and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The  team also conducted a seminar on awareness about Indian Navy in Bhopal for BHEL School students and interactive sessions in Town Halls at Devas and Sehore before halting at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. Finally, the expedition culminated in Lonavala through Nashik in Maharastra. A total of eight states with diversified culture and traditions were covered by the expedition in 21 days.

Commodore KP Arvindan, Station Commander, Lonavla while receiving the expedition, praised efforts of the NBCD School for planning, organising and conducting such massive successful event. He appreciated expedition team for following safety norms and commended the efforts put by team in educating youth and local populace about Indian Navy. At the end, amidst loud cheers and felicitations the expedition was successfully culminated.

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Sania Mirza Comes Back Home

After two intense legs in Tokyo and Singapore, the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League lands tomorrow in Hyderabad, India, which will be the decisive leg where the final will take place. 

Home superstar Sania Mirza, one of the leaders of the local team, the Indian Aces, is ready to be the main protagonist as she hopes to guide her side to the IPTL crown. 

"I am looking forward to go to Hyderabad", said Mirza. "Actually the city has a very rich culture of sport, with amazing athletes coming from there. People follow the tennis all year round and have a deep knowledge of the sport in general. I really hope they come to support us." Mirza, women's doubles world number one and owner of six Grand Slam titles, grew up in Hyderabad, where she lives when the tour gives her time to do so. It will be the first time since April 2015 that she plays in front of her hometown crowd. 

"It is very special for me to play there. The last time was almost two years ago and before that it was actually in 2005 so it is always special to play back home because it reminds you where you come from, your beginnings, the journey you have had," said Mirza. The 30-year-old is not just the best women's doubles player in the world, she is a global icon. Her near-five million followers on Twitter make her the second most followed female tennis player right behind Serena Williams. 

Playing for the IPTL for the third time, Mirza says she loves the format. "As tennis players we play such an individual sport that it's great to be part of a team. It is a really fun format but also a very competitive one," she added. "Even if you play just one set, you are living every point with them because all the emotions you go through. Actually I think it's tougher to watch than to play, at least in my opinion. Emotionally, when you finish the match, you feel like you have played the five sets. That's what makes the format so special." 

From December 9-11, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, the best tennis stars from past, present and future will be in Hyderabad.

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This is hypocrisy, my lord!

Just days after directing the whole nation to paly and respect our dear national anthem, the  Supreme Court has rejected the idea of following the same course. The learned and honorable SC has  refused to entertain a plea that asked  playing of national anthem in all courts before the start of proceedings. This is a classic case of "do what I say and not what I do".

 The plea was made by a probably overenthusiastic BJP leader who happens to be a lawyer also. He had asked directions from the apex court to play the national anthem in all courts before the start of proceedings.The bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy thought otherwise. In their order,  they said the SC's order on national anthem should not be overstretched. The court also sought Attorney General's response on the plea.Just a couple days ago, the Supreme Court had on November 30 directed that the national anthem be played in cinema halls across the country before the screening of a movie. The same court had issued guidelines on the national anthem and people in cinema halls to stand up when the anthem is played and the National Flag be shown on the screen at the time. The SC has, with respect to the order on national anthem in theatres, directed the Centre that its order should be implemented within a week.

 This is an evident hypocrisy. On the hand, you are ordering millions of people to express their respects to the national emblems at a place that has neither sanctity nor the constitutional validity. On the other hand, you are showing aversion to the same principle where the Constitution reigns supreme. Won't people think that they were forced to do something which the authorities are unwilling to do? Are the laws, regulations and procedures meant only for commoners, who have no access to the power and authority? This is not the first time that the court has come up with such double standards.

In the past, Justice Markandeya Katju had adopted similar approach while excusing the justice fraternity from the misuse of the beacons. Why does the judiciary always puts itself a notch above other and admonishes others? One cannot but think the courts have taken a liking to take advantage of people's disliking the politicians and disregarding the system.If the honorable SC is sincere that the playing and singing of national anthem nurtures patriotism and discipline, it cannot recuse itself of having the same in its premise.

 Actually, it is the perfect place for doing so as courts are where people should have their faith and commitment manifested. If it doesn't, it should stop preaching to others what it cannot do itself.

 Else, people will say, "This is hypocrisy, my lord!"

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Afzal Guru is a pretext, Nargota was to happen

The media has widely reported that the terror attack on an army camp in Nagrota on November 29 was meant to be a vengeance for the hanging of Afzal Guru. The attack left seven officers and jawans dead. Two of these martyrs were from Maharashtra.
The media speculation, corroborated by the intelligence sources, stems from the recovery of a note written in Urdu from three slain terrorists. The note had the name of JeM's Afzal Guru Squad (AGS) in Urdu.
According to PTI report, a note, along with three AK-47 rifles, magazines and UBGL grenades, was recovered from the site of attack, points to the involvement of JeM's Afzal Guru Squad. The note, written in Urdu with name bearing at the end of AGS of JeM, says that they have avenged the death of Guru.
Guru's name also cropped up in Pathankot when Rajesh Verma, who was abducted along with Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police told reporters that the militants had told him that they wanted to avenge the death of 2001 Parliament attack convict.
The question is, would the terrorists have spared us all if Afzal Guru was not hanged? Were there no attacks before Guru, the convict in the Parliament attack case in 2001, was sent to gallows?
One thing we have to remember, the terrorists want us to bleed. And as is famous, bleed in thousand ways, as the Pakistan has planned it. They will inflict wounds on us - Afzal Guru or not. They want to hang on to a pretext and create havoc in India. Afzal Guru only serves them to give a sense of satisfaction to themselves. Thus, Nargota was an eventuality that was to happen. It cannot be rationalized by providing revenge angle to it.
Therefore, it is best if don't dwell on this issue and focus on destroying them. If at all, the vengeance should be ours. It is we who should take revenge for our slain martyrs who have laid their lives for us.

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MAEER’s MIT School of Government declares Arya Chanakya Maharashtra Rajya Awards

MAEER’s MIT School of Government, Pune declaring Arya Chanakya Maharashtra Rajya Award in cooperation with DD Sahyadri, UNESCO Chair, World Peace Center (Alandi), MAEER’s MIT, Pune  and with the support of Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad Foundation and National Teachers Congress. The awardees are Adv. Ujjwal Nikam, Eminent Lawer, Shri. Deokisan Sarda, Eminent Journalist, Founder Deshdoot, Shri Kapil Harishchandra Patil, MLC, Mumbai Teachers Constituency, Shri. Nitin Karir, IAS & Pramod Chaudhari, Industrialist.  Citation, Memento, Mahavastra & Shreephal are the contents of the awards.

          The Arya Chanakya Maharashtra Rajya Award  conferring ceremony will be celebrated on Saturday, 3rd Dec. 2016 at 11-00 a.m. in Swami Vivekananda Auditorium, MIT Campus, Kothrud, Pune.

          Hon. Shri. Ramraje Naik –Nimbalkar,  Chairman, Legislative Council of Maharashtra & Hon.Dr. Kodela Shivprasad Rao, President, Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh will be present as honorable guests of the function.

          The function will be presided by Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, Founder Director, MAAER’s MIT, Pune.

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Nikhat Zareen claims Bronze at Senior Nationals

JSW-supported boxer Nikhat Zareen bowed out of the 1stElite Women's Senior Nationals in the semifinal stage, in Haridwar. The 20-year-old had previously beaten Assam's Manju Basumatary with a 5-0 victory in the third round but a superior boxer in Haryana's Neeraja meant a 4-1 loss for Nikhat, who settled for Bronze in the 51-kg fly-weight category.

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