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Prabha Varma Selected For Saraswati Samman For The Year 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam

Prabha Varma, the celebrated poet and litterateur, has been honored with the prestigious Saraswati Samman for 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam and also for his contribution to the literature during the period 2013 to 2022.

About Prabha Varma

Born in Thiruvalla, Kerala, in 1959, Prabha Varma has made significant contributions as a bilingual writer, excelling in both Malayalam and English literature. His work beautifully weaves together tradition and modernity, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary Malayalam literature.

Prabha Varma has authored more than 30 books, including collections of poems, novels in verse, sociopolitical commentaries, and essays. His literary prowess has garnered him over 70 awards, including the National Sahitya Akademi Award and the National Film Award.

About Roudra Sathwikam

His novel “Roudra Sathwikam”, published in 2022, delves into the intricate conflict between power, politics, and individual morality. Written in poetic verse, it transcends time and space, addressing the eternal struggle of dharma (righteousness) versus adharma (wrongdoing) in a creatively philosophical manner.

About Saraswati Samman

The Saraswati Samman, instituted in 1991, recognizes outstanding literary works written in any Indian language by Indian citizens and published within the last 10 years. Prabha Varma’s achievement is marked by a citation, a plaque, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. The selection committee, currently led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, carefully chooses the recipient each year.

Q: What prestigious award was Prabha Varma honored ?

A) Jnanpith Award
B) Saraswati Samman
C) Sahitya Akademi Award
D) Padma Bhushan

Answer: B) Saraswati Samman

Q: Which novel by Prabha Varma received the Saraswati Samman?

A) “Roudra Sathwikam”
B) “Malayalam Musings”
C) “Verse Chronicles”
D) “Eternal Echoes”

Answer: A) “Roudra Sathwikam”

Prabha Varma Selected For Saraswati Samman For The Year 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam Read More »

Oscar Awards: “Oppenheimer” bags six awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director

96th Oscar Awards was held on March 10, 2024 at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

  • Best Picture: “Oppenheimer” won the award.
  • Best Actor: Cillian Murphy received the trophy.
  • Best Director: Christopher Nolan won for his work on “Oppenheimer.”
  • Emma Stone won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Poor Things,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
  • “Oppenheimer” won a total of six awards, including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.
  • The film also won awards for Best Film Editing, Cinematography, and Original Score.
  • “Oppenheimer” had 13 nominations, indicating its significant presence and recognition at the Oscars.

Q: Who won the Best Actor Oscar award at the 96th Academy Awards?

A) Cillian Murphy
B) Robert Downey Jr.
C) Christopher Nolan
D) Emma Stone

Answer: A) Cillian Murphy

Q: Which film received the Best Oscar Picture award?

A) “Oppenheimer”
B) “American Fiction”
C) “How Do You Live?”
D) “Barbie”

Answer: A) “Oppenheimer”

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PM Modi presented first ever “National Creators Award” in New Delhi

The National Creators Award, a prestigious recognition, was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 8 March 2024. This inaugural award aims to celebrate excellence and impact across various domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming. It serves as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change.

The award witnessed remarkable public engagement, with over 1.5 lakh nominations received across twenty categories. In the subsequent voting round, approximately 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators in various award categories. The winners, including three international creators, were selected based on this overwhelming public participation, truly reflecting the people’s choice.

Here are some of the twenty award categories:

  1. Best Storyteller Award
  2. Disruptor of the Year
  3. Celebrity Creator of the Year
  4. Green Champion Award
  5. Best Creator for Social Change
  6. Most Impactful Agri Creator
  7. Cultural Ambassador of the Year
  8. International Creator Award
  9. Best Travel Creator Award
  10. Swachhta Ambassador Award
  11. The New India Champion Award
  12. Tech Creator Award
  13. Heritage Fashion Icon Award
  14. Most Creative Creator (Male & Female)
  15. Best Creator in Food Category
  16. Best Creator in Education Category
  17. Best Creator in Gaming Category
  18. Best Micro Creator
  19. Best Nano Creator
  20. Best Health and Fitness Creator

Q: Which “National Creators Award” category honors creators making a significant contribution to environmental sustainability?

a) Best Storyteller Award
b) Disruptor of the Year
c) Green Champion Award
d) Tech Creator Award

Ans : c) Green Champion Award

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Sahityotsav, the world’s largest literary festival from March 11th to 16th 2024

Sahityotsav, the world’s largest literary festival organized by Sahitya Akademi, will be held from March 11th to 16th 2024.

  • Commemorating 70 years of Sahitya Akademi, the festival will feature over a hundred renowned writers and scholars.
  • More than 190 sessions will take place, representing over 175 languages of India.
  • The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2023 presentation ceremony will be a highlight on March 12th in New Delhi, with distinguished Odia writer Pratibha Rai as the Chief Guest.
  • Renowned Urdu writer and lyricist Gulzar will deliver the Samvatsar lecture on March 13th.
  • Key highlights of the festival include multilingual poetry reading, short story reading, panel discussions on various literary topics like Bhakti Literature, Children’s Literature, Tribal Poets’ and Writers’ Meet, etc.
  • Special programs include All India Differently Abled Writers’ Meet, LGBTQ Writers’ Meet, Seminar on the birth centenary of Mir Taqi Mir, and a symposium on Gopichand Narang.
  • Activities for children include painting competitions, literary quizzes, and other competitions expected to involve over a thousand participants from Delhi and NCR.

Q: What is the name of the world’s largest literary festival organized by Sahitya Akademi in March 2024 in New Delhi?

a) Sahitya Mahotsav
b) Kavyotsav
c) Sahityotsav
d) Kathautsav

Correct answer: c) Sahityotsav

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President Droupadi Murmu Conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards To Ninety-Four Eminent Artists

President Droupadi Murmu conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the Years 2022 and 2023 to ninety-four eminent artists in New Delhi on 6 March 2024.

  • Awards were given in various fields such as music, dance, drama, folk and tribal arts, puppetry, and allied theatre art forms.
  • Seven eminent artists were bestowed with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna).
  • Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy hailed the awards as an honor for the entire field of art and praised the Akademi’s efforts in promoting and protecting Indian arts.
  • Notable recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship included Vinayak Khedekar, R Visweswaran, Nitu Kumari Nootan, Shailesh Shrivastava, and Maddali Usha Gayatri.
  • The fellowship is the highest honor in the performing arts field, recognizing exceptional contributions with a purse money of three lakh rupees, while the Akademi Award carries a purse money of one lakh rupees.

Q: What fields were the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards given in?

a) Music only
b) Dance only
c) Multiple fields including music, dance, drama, and folk arts
d) Literature

Ans : c) Multiple fields including music, dance, drama, and folk arts

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Six eminent personalities named Akademi Fellows or Akademi Ratna by Sangeet Natak Akademi

The Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama, confers two prestigious awards to recognize and celebrate excellence in the performing arts:

  • Akademi Ratna (Akademi Fellow): This is the highest honor bestowed by the Akademi, limited to a maximum of 40 living individuals.
  • Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Award): This award recognizes outstanding contributions from artists across various performing arts disciplines.

On February 21-22, 2024, the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi selected six eminent personalities as Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna):

  1. Vinayak Khedekar (Hindustani classical vocalist): A renowned exponent of the Agra gharana of Hindustani classical music, known for his soulful renditions and mastery of intricate taals.
  2. R. Visweswaran (Kathakali exponent): A prolific Kathakali artist and scholar, he has significantly contributed to the preservation and propagation of this classical dance form from Kerala.
  3. Sunayana Hazarilal (Odissi dancer): A leading Odissi dancer and choreographer, known for her grace, innovative interpretations, and dedication to promoting the dance form globally.
  4. Raja & Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi dancers): This husband-and-wife duo are legendary Kuchipudi dancers and teachers who have revolutionized the art form through their innovative choreography and dedication to its propagation.
  5. Dulal Roy (Folk singer and researcher): A renowned Baul singer and researcher from West Bengal, known for his evocative renditions and commitment to preserving and promoting Baul music, a mystical Bengali folk tradition.
  6. D.P. Sinha (Scholar and administrator): A distinguished scholar and administrator who has made significant contributions to the field of Indian theatre and performing arts through research, writing, and leadership roles.

These six individuals have enriched the Indian cultural landscape through their exceptional talent, dedication, and contributions to their respective art forms. They serve as an inspiration to aspiring artists and a testament to the vibrancy and diversity of India’s performing arts tradition.

Q. What is the highest honor bestowed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi?

  • a) Sangeet Natak Ratha
  • b) Akademi Purana
  • c) Akademi Ratna (Akademi Fellow)
  • d) Natya Natak Samman

Ans : c) Akademi Ratna (Akademi Fellow)

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Veteran singer Pankaj Udhas passes away

Veteran singer Pankaj Udhas passed away in Mumbai on February 26, 2024, at the age of 73, following a prolonged illness.

  • Pankaj Udhas was renowned for his ghazals, including hits like “Chitthi Aayi Hai” from Naam, “Na Kajre Ki Dhar” from Mohra, “Chandi Jaisa Rang”, “Ek Taraf Uska Ghar”, and “Ahista”.
  • Pankaj Udhas is survived by his wife Farida Udhas, daughters Nayaab and Reva Udhas, and brothers Nirmal and Manhar Udhas, both of whom are also singers.

Q: What was Pankaj Udhas famous for?

a) Pop music
b) Bollywood item songs
c) Ghazals
d) Classical music

Ans : c) Ghazals

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Jnanpith Award for Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

The prestigious 58th Jnanpith Award has been conferred upon lyricist and poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. Here are the key details:

Gulzar:

Background: Gulzar, whose real name is Sampooran Singh Kalra, is celebrated for his contributions to Hindi cinema and is recognized as one of the finest Urdu poets of our time.

Previous Honors:

  • Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu (2002)
  • Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2013)
  • Padma Bhushan (2004)
  • Multiple National Film Awards

Notable Works:

  • Gulzar’s poetic and lyrical genius shines through songs like “Jai Ho” from the film “Slumdog Millionaire” (which won an Oscar in 2009 and a Grammy in 2010), as well as compositions for critically acclaimed movies such as “Maachis” (1996), “Omkara” (2006), “Dil Se…” (1998), and “Guru” (2007).
  • He has also directed timeless award-winning classics like “Koshish” (1972), “Parichay” (1972), “Mausam” (1975), “Ijaazat” (1977), and the television serial “Mirza Ghalib” (1988).
  • Gulzar’s poetry includes the innovative genre called “Triveni,” a non-mukaffa poem of three lines.

Jagadguru Rambhadracharya:

Background: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya is a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator, and prolific writer. He is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot.

Literary Contributions:

He has authored over 240 books and texts, including four epics, in various Indian languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili.

Spiritual Leadership:

Rambhadracharya holds the position of one of the present four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect since 1982.

About Jnanpith Award

The Jnanpith Award, established in 1944, is given annually for outstanding contributions to Indian literature. This year, it is being awarded for the second time for Sanskrit language and the fifth time for Urdu language. The award includes a prize money of Rs 21 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi, and a citation

Q: Who has been honored with the 58th Jnanpith Award?

A) Gulzar
B) Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

Ans : C) Both A and B

Q: Which song from the film “Slumdog Millionaire” contributed to Gulzar’s international acclaim?

A) “Jai Ho”
B) “Tere Bina”
C) “Dil Se Re”
D) “Chaiyya Chaiyya”

Ans : A) “Jai Ho”

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PM Modi inaugurates BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi celebrated the consecration of its idols on 14 Feb 2024, led by Mahant Swami Maharaj.

  • The ceremony took place on the auspicious morning of Vasant Panchami, featuring the ritual for the main idol of Parabrahma Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan and other deity figures in different sections of the temple.
  • A grand launch ceremony and public dedication assembly are planned for the evening in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the celebration expected to draw millions of Indians.
  • The temple’s construction was facilitated by the generosity of the UAE rulers, with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Nahyan contributing land for its construction during the “Year of Tolerance.”
  • The temple symbolizes interfaith understanding and cultural exchange between India and the UAE.
  • The BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East.
  • The consecration event coincides with the 159th birth anniversary of Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, established in 1907.
  • The organization had envisioned the temple since 1997.

Q: What is the significance of the BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi?

a) It is the largest Hindu temple in the Middle East.
b) It is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East.
c) It is a modern architectural marvel.
d) It is dedicated to promoting unity in the Indian community.

Ans : b) It is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East.

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New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 from 10th to 18th February 2024

The New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 began on 10 February 2024 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the nine-day event. The theme of the Book Fair is Multi-Lingual India, A Living Tradition. This year, Saudi Arabia will be the guest of honour. 

The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), a significant event in the publishing world, is celebrating 51 years of literary excellence. NDWBF 2024 is scheduled from 10th to 18th February 2024 at the newly constructed Halls 1-5 within the centrally located Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

Q: Where is the New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 being held?

  • A) Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
  • B) India Expo Centre, Greater Noida
  • C) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
  • D) Thyagaraj Sports Complex, New Delhi

Ans : A) Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

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