UP village inspired Kalam

For those who wondered what the source of inspiration was for the dominant communal harmony theme of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Ind...

For those who wondered what the source of inspiration was for the dominant communal harmony theme of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Independence Day eve address, here’s the answer. It was his unpublicised trip to a tiny village named Magher where the poet-saint Kabir, revered by Hindus and Muslims alike, spent his last years. Magher is one of the little known islands of communal peace in Uttar Pradesh. It boasts of a dargah, built by the Muslims, as well as a samadhi, constructed by the Hindus, in memory of the saint over whose body the two communities fought. The dargah and samadhi are next to each other and the complex is maintained jointly by trustees from both communities. The legend goes that Kabir’s body mysteriously disappeared during the riots that broke out after his death and was replaced by a heap of flowers. The violence stopped after that and the Hindus and the Muslims shared the flowers and decided to honour the saint together, each in their own way.

Trust Kalam to unearth the place when he was due to visit UP earlier this month. Despite the pouring rain, he insisted on driving to Magher. He paid homage at the dargah as well as the samadhi and spent the evening listening to Kabir’s couplets, sung by Hindu and Muslim devotees. Magher is surely an inspiration in these troubled times.

Goa as the cine capital

The I&B Ministry has ambitions of putting Goa right up there along with Cannes and Venice as one of the top international film festival locales. After a weekend survey of this coastal state, Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is believed to have zeroed in on a picturesque location at the mouth of the River Mandovi for the project, which is aimed at pulling the IFFI out of the dumps. The plans include a multiplex of seven theatres and a main auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,000. The attraction is a clump of heritage buildings in the area, which the state has agreed to renovate without disturbing the historic facade.

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Of course, Goa has a lot going for it. The Mandovi River provides a beautiful promenade for associated functions. Then, the Miramar beach is not far away from the chosen spot. And across the river are the hotels and restaurants. The Ministry has suggested that the state government run a ferry service for the duration of the festival for easy access to Goa’s famed eating houses on the beach. All of which raises the question whether it’s the films that make a festival or the locale.

Sonia not free for China trip

With four crucial state assembly elections coming up in November, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has once again put off her long due visit to China. However, BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu has no such compulsions obviously. He’s off to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai on September 2 for a weeklong visit. His trip is part of the recent bonhomie between the Chinese Communist Party and the BJP, which began when the latter started its national rise in the early 90’s. Naidu’s schedule includes a series of meetings with the international department of the Communist Party. But there’s no confirmation yet of a call on President Hu Jintao. Congress party foreign affairs experts sniffed that those familiar with the Communist culture know that August-September are vacation time in these countries. Sonia will therefore go much later, when her schedule is election-free and the Chinese leadership is available for her to meet.

Weathercock Shukla

Although it happened several months ago, Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla’s exit from the NDA and entry into the Congress was the topic of much speculation during the recently concluded monsoon session. NDA leaders, especially those close to convenor George Fernandes, probed all and sundry to find out Shukla’s reasons. They seemed to be particularly piqued because, according to one leader, the Prime Minister had cleared Shukla’s name for a ministerial post in the last reshuffle. Shukla was annoyingly silent through all the gossip. However, he has the reputation of being a political weathercock. Does his decision indicate which way the wind is blowing then?

‘Why weren’t TVK leaders told it wasn’t right day for a big event’: Cong MP Jothimani

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A stampede at TVK founder Vijay's rally in Karur led to the death of 40 people and injuries to many. Congress's Karur MP Jothimani identifies overcrowding, poor planning, and the timing of the event as possible causes. She recommends setting clear guidelines for political gatherings and consulting all parties to prevent similar tragedies.

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