The Indian Panorama

Tag: Mary Kom

  • Embassy of India in Guatemala Organizes Indian Film Festival

    Embassy of India in Guatemala Organizes Indian Film Festival

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): The month-long Indian Film Festival organized by the Embassy of India in Guatemala between October and November 2024 had received an exceptional response, successfully bringing together communities from both urban and rural areas. The festival showcased India’s rich cultural heritage and demonstrated the universal appeal of Indian cinema. The enthusiastic and unprecedented reception from local Guatemalans inspired plans to screen more films in additional parts of the region. As a result, the festival was extended for another two months to reach even more remote areas.

    Screening of Indian movie at Collegio Benito Juarez, Guatemala

    The Indian Film Festival in Guatemala was not merely a cinematic showcase but a strategic cultural diplomacy initiative aimed at strengthening ties between India and Guatemala. By bringing Indian cinema to diverse regions, the festival introduced audiences to the rich tapestry of Indian storytelling while also creating opportunities for collaboration with the Indian film industry. The Embassy of India, in partnership with local producers, had involved local talent in dubbing Indian movies into Spanish. This initiative has already seen success, with hundreds of Indian films effectively dubbed, enhancing accessibility for local audiences.

    Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra at Raxruha, Coban, Alta Verapaz, to inaugurate the Indian Film Festival. Approximately 2000 students from Don Bosco Educational Center were present.

    The festival further enriched these collaborative efforts, as numerous local partners expressed a strong interest in aligning with the Indian film industry. They recognize immense opportunities in India, ranging from advanced post-production techniques to state-of-the-art special effects that could significantly boost the capabilities of Guatemala’s film sector. The screenings not only offered Guatemalans a glimpse into Indian culture but also opened new avenues for business opportunities within the Indian film industry, marking a significant step forward in cultural and economic engagement between the two nations.

    The second phase of the Indian Film Festival commenced in February 2025, featuring the screening of eight Indian movies across various locations in Guatemala. Building on the enthusiastic response from the first phase, local municipalities embraced the initiative wholeheartedly, offering robust support and logistical assistance to ensure its success. The overwhelming success of the festival was particularly evident in Cobán, where the Embassy of India received an extraordinary turnout of 3,500 students. Due to logistical constraints, these students had to be divided into three groups, each attending separate screenings on 25 and 26 February 2025. The local administration in Cobán played a pivotal role in managing the large crowds and coordinating transport. Similar enthusiasm was witnessed in other regions, where municipalities struggled to accommodate eager audiences due to limited space. Several local administrations even requested additional screenings to meet the high demand. A remarkable example of this enthusiasm was seen in San José Pinula, where the screening was organized at the municipality on 4 March 2025 specifically for school children. The impact of the movie was so profound that the Mayor of San José Pinula formally requested the Embassy to organize five more screenings in the region under the municipality’s patronage. This response not only highlighted the wide-reaching appeal of Indian cinema but also underscored its potential as a tool for cultural exchange and community engagement.

    Screening Indian Bollywood movie Queen at Instituto Technologico Juan Carlos Pellecer, San Juan Municipality

    The second phase of the festival also marked a significant shift in the audience demographic. In addition to the previously targeted municipalities, the festival also saw a growing interest from educational institutions. Students and faculty from Collegio Los Verdes in Fraijanes institution expressed an eagerness to engage with Indian cinema, signaling an academic interest in the cultural exchange facilitated by the festival. Liceo Técnico in Quezelpaque also joined the list of educational entities requesting to host Indian film screenings, highlighting the potential for educational outreach through cinema. Collegio Benito Juárez in Guatemala City is another prominent educational institution that reached out to host screenings, further demonstrating the growing popularity of Indian films among young audiences in Guatemala. This shift from municipal screenings to educational institutions underscores the increasing recognition of Indian films as an effective tool for cultural exchange and educational enrichment. Students and faculty are not only enjoying the films but also engaging in discussions about the narratives, themes, and cultural contexts presented in the films. The positive reception and continued requests for screenings indicate a strong desire to continue promoting the rich cultural diversity of India through its cinema. The festival’s outreach into educational institutions is an exciting step forward, reflecting the evolving nature of international cultural collaborations in Guatemala.

    Special screening of Indian film at Colegio Los Verdes, Fraijanes

    In conclusion, the month-long film festival organized by the Embassy of India in Guatemala has been a remarkable celebration of Indian cinema, culture, and creativity. The event successfully fostered greater understanding and appreciation of India’s rich cultural heritage, bringing together diverse audiences and strengthening the bond between India and Guatemala. The Embassy extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the organisers, municipalities, educational institutes, participants, and attendees who made this festival a resounding success. The Embassy remains committed to promoting cultural exchange and looks forward to more such initiatives in the future, continuing to bridge the gap between our nations through the universal language of film.

  • India Deepens Connections with Honduras and Guatemala through Ambassador’s Productive Visit

    India Deepens Connections with Honduras and Guatemala through Ambassador’s Productive Visit

    India’s ambassador to Guatemala Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra with the Foreign Minister of Honduras Mr. Enrique Reina (right) and Minister of Presidency, Mr. Rodolfo Pastor (left)

    I.S. Saluja

    Ambassador Mohapatra meets with Mr. Hector Zelaya, Private Secretary of the President of Honduras

         GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): In a productive visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between India and Honduras, Indian Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra visited Honduras from 16-18 March and Puerto Barrios and Petén region of Eastern and Northern Guatemala from 19-22 March. On 17 March, during his visit, Dr. Mohapatra met with Private Secretary of President and key ministers in Honduras, including the Foreign Minister, Minister of Presidency, Culture Minister, Economy Minister, and Health Minister, to discuss issues of mutual interest and explore opportunities for collaboration. He also participated in Holi Festival celebrations in Valle de Angeles on 18 March, Honduras, and Puerto Barrios Guatemala, on 19 March, which marked the vibrant cultural exchange between the nations. Furthermore, Ambassador also participated in the Dr Sanjiv Goyal and Om Foundation organized health camps in the Petén region of Guatemala on 20-21 March and an Indian Film Festival, on 21 March, emphasizing the importance of healthcare cooperation and promoting appreciation for Indian arts in the region.

    The meetings held great importance as both Honduras and India have been striving to fortify their diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations. Dr. Mohapatra’s visit comes at a crucial time when Honduras is looking to diversify its international partnerships. During his meeting with the Honduran Foreign Minister, Mr. Enrique Reina and Minister of Presidency, Mr. Rodolfo Pastor, both sides emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation in various sectors such as commercial, cultural, development cooperation & capacity building under the ITEC programme. The meeting with the Hon’ble Private Secretary of President of Honduras, Mr. Hector Zelaya focused on the areas of mutual interest including India’s development cooperation, capacity building under ITEC and ICCR scholarships and commercial and cultural ties.

    During his visit, Ambassador also met with Mr. Jose Matheu, the Honduran Health Minister, where they discussed the importance of cooperation in the healthcare sector. The conversation centered around sharing best practices, strengthening public health systems, and exploring potential collaborations in pharmaceutical especially related to Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and e-Sanjeevani (telemedicine). The meeting with Ms. Annarella Velez, the Culture Minister, focused on the potential for cultural exchange and collaboration, recognizing the rich heritage of both countries.

    Holi Celebration in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

    Following the series of productive meetings, on 18 March, Ambassador and the Honduran Culture Minister along with members of Indian community and friends of India in Honduras participated in the Holi Celebrations organized by the Embassy in scenic Obrero Park in Valle de Angeles, a picturesque city in Honduras. In addition to the Holi festivities in Valle de Angeles, another celebration took place in eastern Guatemalan port city of Puerto Barrios organized by Indian Embassy and National Youth Council (CONJUVE), Guatemala, where around 500 young people and people of Indian origin gathered to participate in the celebration. The event was also graced by Hon’ble Governor, Mr. Byron Solares, Hon’ble Mayor, Mr. Hugo Sarceño.

    Subsequent to the Holi celebrations, on 20-21 March, Ambassador participated in the health camps organized by Dr. Sanjay Goyal & Om Foundation in San Luis, Poptun, La Libertad & San Benito in Peten region, north Guatemala. Their efforts have brought healthcare closer to those in need & will make a lasting impact on the community. In addition, the Embassy, CONJUVE Guatemala & Flores Municipality jointly organized screening of Indian Film Mary Kom in city of Flores, graced by presence of Ambassador, Mayor Mayra Altan and 500 young people. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Indian culture through magic of cinema.

    The visit by the Indian Ambassador has been well-received by Honduras and Peten and Puerto Barrios region of Guatemala, and it is expected that it will pave the way for fruitful partnerships in the near future.

    Health Camps in Peten, Guatemala organized by Dr Sanjiv Goyal and Om Foundation

    Ambassador Manoj Kumar Mohapatra recently organized a Yoga camp with the participation of 5000 persons , and the wondrous part of it is Guatemala City has just about 50 Indian origin families. And the Holi celebrations earlier drew another 5000 plus participants. Obviously, a lot of effort must have gone into organizing the events. A couple of months ago, I was present at a large Indian Handicrafts exhibition the embassy had organized which was inaugurated by the acting President of Guatemala. The large contingent of artisans and entrepreneurs were extremely happy to find enthusiastic buyers of their products. The embassy also organized during the exhibition , an attractive fashion show which witnessed the presence of a number of dignitaries which included Guatemala ministers and diplomats of many countries. India is surely making its presence felt in this part of the world.

    Screening of Indian FIlm-Mary Kom in Peten, Guatemala. Ambassador Mohapatra is 4th from the left.
  • Roger Federer withdraws from Dubai event after losing 2nd match back on tour

    Roger Federer withdraws from Dubai event after losing 2nd match back on tour

    Men’s world number six tennis player Roger Federer has pulled out of the upcoming ATP 500 event in Dubai after losing in the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Thursday, March 11, his first tournament in more than a year. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who returned to action after two knee operations last year, defeated Briton Dan Evans in three sets in his comeback match in Doha but lost 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the next round.

    “It’s been great to be back on the @atptour, loved every minute playing in Doha once again,” 20-times Grand Slam winner Federer said on social media. “I’ve decided it’s best to go back to training and as a result, I’ve decided to withdraw from Dubai next week.”

    “I’m happy [with] how I played today. I’m happy [with] how I did yesterday,” said Federer. “I’m happy I [am] back on the Tour. I’m pleased I came here to Doha. So it’s really, really a positive return for me. I’m really happy,” Federer had said after his Qatar Open exit. Notably, world number two Rafa Nadal has also pulled out of the Dubai event, which will run from March 14-20.

    Tokyo my Olympics farewell: Mary Kom

    Indian boxing great Mary Kom has said the Tokyo Olympic Games will be her final Olympics.

    Six-time world champion Kom, 38, has been boxing for 20 years but it was only at the London Olympics in 2012 that women were allowed to compete for the first time. That was her first shot at an Olympics medal after she had secured several world crowns, and she came back with a bronze medal from London after losing in the semifinals.

    “Tokyo will be my last Olympics, age matters here. I’m 38 now, going on 39,” Kom told the Olympic Channel. “Four (actually three) more years is a long time. Pretty sure I won’t be allowed to even if I’m willing to carry on till Paris 2024.” The age limit for boxers is set at 40 but was extended to 41 for the Tokyo Games, which were pushed back by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She said she is happy with the fact that her bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics inspired young girls in the country to take up the sport.

  • PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO CO-PRODUCE A FILM

    PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO CO-PRODUCE A FILM

    PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO CO-PRODUCE A FILM

    Priyanka Chopra who turned producer with a number of regional films ranging from Bhojpuri and Marathi to Sikkimese, Goan and Bengali, is now planning to venture into Hindi film production.

    The 34-year-old-actress wants to co-produce a Hindi drama with her ‘Mary Kom’ producers and the studio that is releasing her Hollywood debut, ‘Baywatch’, in India. Ask her if this is business move and PeeCee retorts, “I think with my heart and not my head. I am instinctive but not impulsive. And money is not the end goal. If it was, I wouldn’t be producing regional films whose reach is limited. It’s so much easier to make money as a Hindi film producer. But we are still a small company and new as producers. We still have a lot to learn.”

    Besides co-producing the film, does Pee Cee plan to contribute to the script? “I’m not that talented. I love writing. I’ve worked with the most talented writers in the world – in Hindi cinema and on Quantico. I don’t have enough knowledge yet, but I am overlooking the screenwriting process,” she says. And what about penning her autobiography? “If I could clone myself I would do a lot more. I’m chasing time!” she chuckles.

    Source: TOI

     

  • Dipa, Sakshi conferred with Padma Shri

    Dipa, Sakshi conferred with Padma Shri

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Gymnast Dipa Karmakar and wrestler Sakshi Malik on Thursday received the coveted Padma Shri Award from President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday.

    Gymnast Dipa Karmakar receiving Padma Shri from President Pranab Mukherjee
    Gymnast Dipa Karmakar receiving Padma Shri from President Pranab Mukherjee

    Karmakar, hailing from Agartala, missed the bronze medal by 0.150 points as American gymnast Simone Biles won her third gold medal at the Rio Olympics last year. The 23-year-old had created history when she became the first Indian gymnast to enter the final on her debut at the Olympics after finishing eighth in the qualifying round.

    Sakshi, on the other hand, won the bronze medal in the 58kg category at the Rio Olympics. Sakshi became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympics medal and fourth Indian woman athlete to clinch the coveted medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal.

    Meanwhile, discus thrower Vikas Gowda and Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu were the other notable recipients of the prestigious award.

  • Mary Kom to receive ‘Legends Award’ from AIBA

    Mary Kom to receive ‘Legends Award’ from AIBA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Celebrated Indian boxer MC Mary Kom is all set to add another honor to her glittering career when she receives the ‘Legends Award’ from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) on its 70th anniversary on December 20.

    An Olympic bronze-medallist and a five-time world champion, Mary Kom is also Rajya Sabha MP now.

    “I would like to thank the AIBA President and officials for this prestigious award. This recognition from AIBA will encourage young boxers in our country to work hard. It is a very emotional as well as a motivating day for me,” Mary Kom said reacting to the honour.

    “Even after so many years, if people remember you and your achievements it shows their generosity and love towards me. Thank you once again for this award, it’s a memory I would cherish for my lifetime,” she added.

    AIBA is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on December 20 during which it will present the award to Mary Kom.

    Mary Kom is also a multiple-time Asian champion and was named an AIBA brand ambassador during the World Championships earlier this year. (PTI)

  • Sonia Lather storms into final of World Boxing Championship

    Sonia Lather storms into final of World Boxing Championship

    ASTANA: Sonia Lather (57kg) stood just one win away from ending India’s six-year-old gold medal drought at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship as she advanced to final after outpunching Kazakhstan’s Aizhan Khojabekova in the last-four stage on Thursday.

    The 24-year-old Sonia, who is a 2012 Asian Championships silver-medallist, defeated Khojabekova 3-0 to set up a clash with Italian Alessia Mesiano, who got the better of Bulgaria’s Denitsa Eliseeva by a similar margin.

    The lone Indian left in the fray, Sonia was quick off the blocks against her rather sloppy rival. Combining right hooks with power-packed jabs, Sonia threw Khojabekova off balance on more than one occasion.

    Khojabekova was mostly clueless when it came to defending herself and her feeble attempts at attack were blocked or evaded effortlessly by the quick-thinking Haryana girl.

    In the end, it was hardly a surprise that judges ruled unanimously in Sonia’s favour.

    Sonia’s performance is the lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing show by the Indians in the event, where none from the country, including the celebrated M C Mary Kom, could qualify for Rio Games in the three Olympic categories of 51kg, 60kg and 75 kg.

    India have not won a gold at this event since 2010 when Mary Kom had finished on top in the 48kg category to clinch her fifth world title.

    This year’s performance continues India’s falling stock in the prestigious event. Mary Kom (51kg), who was christened ‘The Magnificent Mary’ by the world body for her feats at the tournament, could only go till as far as the second round this time.

  • Mary Kom, Sarita Devi to skip nationals

    Mary Kom, Sarita Devi to skip nationals

    JAIPUR (TIP): When the senior national women’s boxing championship begins on October 11, after a gap of almost two-and-a-half years, the star quotient will be missing. With the World Championships lined up next month, MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi have decided to skip the tournament. Gold medalist at the recently concluded Asian Games, Mary has decided to rest a minor arm injury, while Sarita wants to spend time with family before getting busy for the World meet.

    The Manipur Amateur Boxing Association had sent the entries of both Sarita and Mary for the event to be held in Raipur, the two star boxers decided to stay away. “Mary is nursing a right arm injury, and it’s not possible for her to participate in the nationals. We have already named her substitute,” Mary’s husband Onlar, who will be travelling with the Manipur team to Raipur, told TOI on Wednesday.

    Even Sarita, who courted controversy by refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games, feels this rest is necessary ahead of the World meet in South Korea. “I wanted to participate initially but am not completely fit now,” Sarita explained. Asian Games participant Pooja Rani is also doubtful for the meet.

    Meanwhile, ahead of their first national meet, the newly elected Boxing India (BI) is in a spot over the selection of the match officials. The federation is yet to form a core group of referees and judges as all of them are still registered under the now unrecognized Indian Amateur Boxing Federation
    (IABF). “It’s just a stop-gap arrangement. We have invited all the match officials for the Nationals. Once we get permanent membership (from the world body, AIBA), we will start the process of selecting the core group,” BI secretary general Jay Kowli said.

    Caught in a tussle between AIBA and IABF, boxing activities had come to a standstill in the country but with 32 units set to participate at the Nationals now, the pugilists are hoping to make every opportunity count.

  • Top Indian challengers @ 2014 Asian Games

    Top Indian challengers @ 2014 Asian Games

    KILLER PUNCH: Mary Kom (boxing)


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    The Manipuri police officer is now a household name across the country. The five-time World Champion has got little left to prove, after punching her way to the bronze medal in London, but Mary Kom is still determined to add more medals to her collection. At a time when her biopic is raking in the moolah at the box office, Mary will be keen to recapture the golden moments in the ring at the Incheon Games. By topping the trials, after missing the selection for the CWG, the mother-of-three now guns for another triumph. In the 2010 edition, she won the bronze in flyweight.

    FEATHER TOUCH: PV Sindhu (badminton)



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    The teenager goes into the Asiad as a strong contender to end the Chinese dominance, along with her more illustrious teammate Saina Nehwal. PV Sindhu recently became the first Indian to win two medals in consecutive World Championships. Though her World Cup conqueror Carolina Marin won’t be there in Incheon, the Chinese, Chinese Taipei and Thailand shuttlers will be out in full strength to make her job tougher.

    SHARP SHOOTER: Jitu Rai (shooting)


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    The Nepal-born sharp shooter is literally on fire as he has shot down most of the medals that came his way this season. It began with a double at the World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia in June. The 26-year-old pistol shooter from the 11 Gorkha regiment created history when he won medals in both the 10m and 50m events. Then came the Commonwealth Games and Rai easily asserted his supremacy. The World Championships followed and the Indian was again bang on target settling for the silver and a quota place between a Korean and a Japanese who will again challenge him at the Asaid.

    BULL’S EYE: Deepika Kumari (archery)


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    The Tata Academy product is showing signs that she has finally got over the crushing defeat at Lord’s in the 2012 Olympics. Deepika Kumari went into the Games as one of the top medal contenders in recurve competition but went out in the preliminary round itself, crashing under the weight of expectations. The 20-year-old once again starts as a strong medal contender after showing great form in the recent World Cups. The three-time World Cup Finals silver medallist is peaking at the right time and will be keen to make amends after missing out on a bronze at Guangzhou.

    MR HERCULES: Vikas Gowda (athletics)


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    If there is one athlete who should get constant backing from the government then it’s this Mysore-born discus thrower, and that too just for his unwavering dedication. Vikas Gowda has trained his sights on the Rio Olympics and success at the Asian Games will only add to his confidence levels. The recent success at the Glasgow CWG shut out his critics and they are now backing him for the Asiad gold. At Incheon, Vikas, who is topping the Asian list with a throw of 65.62m, will face competition from two Iranians and one Chinese. However, exposure in the Diamond League circuit will surely help him produce the winning throw.

    MUSCLE MAN: Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling)


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    In the absence of Sushil Kumar, London Olympics bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt will be India’s trump card in wrestling. The 31-year-old Haryana wrestler proved his form at the Glasgow CWG powering past his opponents, including in the final, with ease to bag the gold. It will be Yogeshwar’s second attempt at the Asiad after winning a bronze in the Doha Games in 2006. The Asian Championship winner in 2012 knows that Incheon will pose a much tougher competition with grapplers lining up from Iran, Japan and Korea. Yogeshwar has skipped the World Championships to focus on the Asiad gold.

  • Mary Kom had faced molestation attempt

    Mary Kom had faced molestation attempt

    KOLKATA (TIP): Olympic medal-winning boxer MC Mary Kom on January 17 said she had also faced a sexual attack when she was 18, but managed to overpower the assaulter. The boxer expressed concern over women’s safety in India and urged them to go for physical training to fend off attackers. “I would urge them to have some kind of physical training to prevent sex attacks, because you need to be strong and fit to fight attackers. I would also tell them to fight sex offence without fear,” she said.

    “I was going to church on a Sunday. I was wearing a traditional wraparound dress and took a rickshaw as I was a bit late. Suddenly, the rickshaw puller caught my hand and tried to molest me,” she told a stunned audience at an interactive session organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation. Mary Kom said she kicked and punched the man who fell flat. “I managed to flatten him because I was fit and strong. But that incident taught me a lesson that as a woman, I have to be very alert all the time and must have courage (to fight the odds),” she said.

  • President Confers Padma Awards

    President Confers Padma Awards

    NEW DELHI (TIP): President PranabMukherjee on April 5 conferred Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, to 108 personalities. The awards comprise 4 PadmaVibhushan, 24 PadmaBhushan and 80 PadmaShri Awards on Friday. 24 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 11 people in the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and posthumous awardees. Noted physicist Yash Pal and space scientist Roddam Narasimha were chosen the second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan. Batting great Rahul Dravid and Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom and late Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna were named for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, the third highest civilian award of the country. Renowned sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra and painter S Haider Raza were chosen for Padma Vibhushan.

    The list of 108 Padma awardees for this year also includes actress Sridevi, actors Nana Patekar and Malayalam star Madhu of Chemmeen fame and Olympians Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijay Kumar. Nobody was named for Bharat Ratna for this year too. The last awardee was late Bhimsen Joshi in 2008. Satirist Jaspal Bhatti, who died in a road accident last year, film maker D Rama Naidu, noted South Indian playback singer S Janaki, Bharatnatyam dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan, missile scientist Dr A Sivathanu Pillai of BrahMos programme, Industrialist Adi Godrej and R Tyagarajan, former bureaucrat M K Bhan were among the 24 Padma Bhushan awardees. In all four personalities were awarded Padma Vibhushan, 24 for Padma Bhushan and 80 Padma Shri. Of the awardees 24 are women, 11 belong to the category of foreigners, NRI, PIOs and posthumous.

    Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

    PADMA VIBHUSHAN
    Raghunath Mohapatra, Art, Orissa
    S Haider Raza, Art, Delhi
    Prof Yash Pal, Science and Engineering, Uttar Pradesh
    Prof Roddam Narasimha, Science and Engineering,Karnataka

    PADMA BHUSHAN
    Dr Ramanaidu Daggubati, Art, Andhra Pradesh
    Sreeramamurthy Janaki, Art, Tamil Nadu
    Dr (Smt) Kanak Rele, Art, Maharashtra
    Sharmila Tagore, Art, Delhi
    Dr (Smt) Saroja Vaidyanathan, Art, Delhi
    Abdul Rashid Khan, Art, West Bengal
    Late Rajesh Khanna, Art, Maharashtra
    Late Jaspal Singh Bhatti, Art, Punjab
    Shivajirao Girdhar Patil, Public Affairs, Maharashtra
    Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, Science, Engineering,Delhi
    Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Science and Engineering,Delhi
    Dr Ashoke Sen Science and Engineering,Uttar Pradesh
    B N Suresh, Science and Engineering, Karnataka
    Prof Satya N Atluri, Science and Engineering, USA
    Prof Jogesh Chandra Pati, Science and Engineering,USA
    Ramamurthy Thyagarajan, Trade and Industry,Tamil Nadu
    Adi Burjor Godrej, Trade and Industry, Maharashtra
    Dr Nandkishore Shamrao Laud, Medicine,Maharashtra
    Mangesh Padgaonkar, Literature and Education,Maharashtra
    Prof Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Literature & Education USA
    Hemendra Singh Panwar, Civil Service,Madhya Pradesh
    Maharaj Kishan Bhan, Civil Service, Delhi
    Rahul Dravid, Sports, Karnataka
    H Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, Sports, Manipur

    PADMA SHRI
    Gajam Anjaiah, Art, Andhra Pradesh
    Swami G C D Bharti alias Bharati Bandhu, Art,Chhattisgarh
    B Jayashree, Art, Karnataka
    Sridevi Kapoor, Art, Maharashtra
    Kailash Chandra Meher, Art, Orissa
    Brahmdeo Ram Pandit, Art, Maharashtra
    Vishwanath D Patekar alias Nana Patekar, Art,Maharashtra
    R Nageswara Rao alias Surabhi Babji, Art, Andhra Pradesh
    Lakshmi Narayana Sathiraju, Art, Tamil Nadu
    Jaymala Shiledar, Art, Maharashtra
    Suresh Dattatray Talwalkar, Art, Maharashtra
    P Madhavan Nair alias Madhu, Art, Kerala
    Apurba Kishore Bir, Art, Maharashtra
    Ghanakanta Bora Borbayan, Art, Assam
    Hilda Mit Lepcha, Art, Sikkim
    Sudha Malhotra, Art, Maharashtra
    Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, Art,Jammu and Kashmir
    Ramesh Gopaldas Sippy, Art, Maharashtra
    Mahrukh Tarapor, Art, Maharashtra
    Balwant Thakur, Art, Jammu and Kashmir
    Puran Das Baul, Art, West Bengal
    Rajendra Tikku, Art, Jammu and Kashmir
    Pablo Bartholomew, Art, Delhi
    Shri S Shakir Ali, Art, Rajasthan
    S K M Maeilanandhan, Social Work, Tamil Nadu
    Nileema Mishra, Social Work, Maharashtra
    Reema Nanavati, Social Work, Gujarat
    Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, Social Work, Bangladesh
    Late Dr Ram Krishan, Social Work, Uttar Pradesh
    Late Manju Bharat Ram, Social Work, Delhi
    Prof Mustansir Barma, Science and Engineering,Maharashtra
    Avinash Chander, Science and Engineering, Delhi
    Sanjay Govind Dhande, Science and Engineering,Uttar Pradesh
    Prof (Dr) Sankar Kumar Pal, Science, Engineering,West Bengal
    Deepak B Phatak, Science and Engineering,Maharashtra
    Dr Mudundi Ramakrishna Raju, Science and Engg,Andhra Pradesh
    Prof Ajay K Sood, Science and Engineering, Karnataka
    Prof Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan, Science & Engg,Karnataka
    Dr Manindra Agrawal, Science and Engineering,Uttar Pradesh
    Dr Jayaraman Gowrishankar, Science & Engineering,Andhra Pradesh
    Prof Sharad Pandurang Kale, Science & Engineering,Maharashtra
    Vandana Luthra, Trade and Industry, Delhi
    Rajshree Pathy, Trade and Industry, Tamil Nadu
    Hemendra Prasad Barooah, Trade and Industry,Assam.
    Milind Kamble, Trade and Industry, Maharashtra
    Kalpana Saroj, Trade and Industry, Maharashtra
    Dr Sudarshan K Aggarwal, Medicine, Delhi
    Dr C Venkata S Ram alias Chitta, Venkata Sundara Ram, Medicine, Andhra Pradesh
    Dr Rajendra Achyut Badwe, Medicine, Maharashtra
    Dr Taraprasad Das, Medicine, Orissa
    Prof (Dr) T V Devarajan, Medicine, Tamil Nadu
    Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal, Medicine,Uttar Pradesh
    Dr Pramod Kumar Julka, Medicine, Delhi
    Dr Gulshan Rai Khatri, Medicine, Delhi
    Dr Ganesh Kumar Mani, Medicine, Delhi
    Dr Amit Prabhakar Maydeo, Medicine, Maharashtra
    Dr Sundaram Natarajan, Medicine, Maharashtra
    Prof Krishna Chandra Chunekar, Medicine,Uttar Pradesh
    Dr Vishwa Kumar Gupta, Medicine, Delhi
    Prof (Capt) Dr M Sharaf-eAlam, Literature & Education, Bihar
    Dr Radhika Herzberger, Literature & Education,Andhra Pradesh
    J Malsawma, Literature and Education, Mizoram
    Devendra Patel, Literature & Education, Gujarat
    Dr Rama Kant Shukla, Literature & Education, Delhi
    Prof Akhtarul Wasey, Literature & Education, Delhi
    Prof Anvita Abbi, Literature & Education, Delhi
    Nida Fazli, Literature & Education, Madhya Pradesh
    Surender Kumar Sharma, Literature & Education,Delhi
    Dr Jagdish Prasad Singh, Literature & Education,Bihar
    Late Shaukat Riaz Kapoor Alias Salik Lakhnawi,
    Literature & Education, West Bengal.
    Prof Noboru Karashima, Literature & Education, Japan
    Christopher Pinney, Literature & Education, UK
    Premlata Agrawal, Sports, Jharkhand
    Yogeshwar Dutt, Sports, Haryana
    Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha, Sports,Karnataka
    Subedar Major Vijay Kumar, Sports, Himachal Pradesh
    Ngangom Dingko Singh, Sports, Maharashtra
    Naib Subedar Bajrang Lal Takhar, Sports, Rajasthan
    Ritu Kumar, Fashion Designing, Delhi
    Dr Ravindra Singh Bisht, Archaeology, Uttar Pradesh.

  • Mary Kom may take part in another Olympics: GS Sandhu

    Mary Kom may take part in another Olympics: GS Sandhu

    JAMSHEDPUR (TIP): Chief Boxing Coach of India, GS Sandhu on Thursday said that London Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom still has enough talent to represent the country in at least one more Olympic games. Sandhu, who was in the steel city to take part in a sports seminar, on Thursday said the temperament and confidence level of the 29-year-old boxer from Manipur was excellent. But, he said, Mary Kom would have to maintain her form.

    A Dronacharya awardee, Sandhu said around 50 boxers were attending the camp in Patiala focusing on the next edition of World Championship to be held in October at Almaty, Kazakhstan. On appointing foreign coaches, he said there was no harm in that if that was done for short duration but overlooking Indian coaches would not serve the purpose.

  • India’s Olympic Dreams Quashed

    India’s Olympic Dreams Quashed

    Indian sports received a huge setback and a major embarrassment when the International Olympic Association decided to suspend the Indian Olympic Association due to Government interference. This decision was on the cards after IOA decided to go ahead with the elections under the government`s Sports Code, defying the IOC`s order to hold the polls under the Olympic Charter. The suspension means that the IOA will not receive IOC funding and its officials will be banned from attending Olympic meetings and events. India`s athletes will also be barred from competing in Olympic events under their national flag, but they can participate under the IOC banner. Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said that The Indian Olympic Association is to blame for the current crisis as the ministry had told the IOA many times to amend its constitution and be compliant with the international rules.

    INDIA AT LONDON OLYMPICS:
    LOWS Despite the fact that India put up a much improved performance in the London Olympics there were also a few major disappointments.
    HOCKEY DEBACLE
    The biggest disappointment came in hockey, a sport that has brought glories to the country in the quadrennial extravaganza like no other event. Led by Bharat Chettri and under the guidance of coach Michael Nobbs, India succumbed to one defeat after another, losing all of their matches at the Olympics. They finished 12th – last among the participating teams, which also happened to be their worst ever performance at the event.

    ARCHERS MISS THE MARK
    On the hallowed turf of Lord’s, Indian archers were expected to script history. The presence of world No. 1 archer Deepika Kumari among the contingent was reason enough to harbour hopes of a rich medal haul. Despite the hype, in stark contrast, both the men and women’s team disappointed us. The story was repeated in the individual events too as they returned empty handed with the biggest casualty being 18-year-old Deepika. She was stunned by Amy Oliver 2-6 in the opening round. She was the last of the six archers to bow out, and with her ended India’s unsuccessful campaign in archery.

    BINDRA FAILS TO DEFEND HIS TITLE
    To say a medal was expected from Abhinav Bindra would be an understatement. In fact, he was the favourite to don the yellow metal again in the 10m Air Rifle event after his historic gold medal in Beijing. As luck would have it, Bindra failed to even qualify for the finals. His score of 594 out of 600 wasn’t enough to merit him a final SAINA NEHWAL Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal added another feather to her cap by winning a bronze medal in the women’s singles category to create history. Nehwal didn’t face any stiff competition on her way to the semi-final. It was there where she met the No. 1 seed Yihan Wang of China. She lost the match 13-21, 13-21. However, she still had a chance to fight for the bronze with Xin Wang of China. Luck was on her side as her opponent withdrew from the contest owing to a knee injury. Saina was trailing by a game and 0-1 in the contest but the injury meant that she would bring home the first medal for India in Olympic badminton.

    MARY KOM
    Women boxing made its debut in the 2012 London Olympics and Indian hopes were resting on MC Mary Kom to bring home a medal. The 23-year-old was a favourite to win gold on the back of her five world championship titles. The Manipuri began her quest in style defeating Karolina Michalczuk of Poland 14-19 and then outclassed Maroua Rahali of Tunisia 15-6 to seal a medal. She made it to the semifinal where she lost to the eventual gold medallist Nicola Adams. However, her semi-final appearance meant that she had already clinched a historic bronze medal. SUSHIL KUMAR AND YOGESHWAR DUTT Within 45 minutes, Yogeshwar Dutt fought three bouts that won him a bronze medal in the Men`s wrestling 60kg freestyle category. The 30-year-old wrestler from Haryana was making his third Olympic appearance and had lost his second round bout to Besik Kudukhov of Russia. He then defeated Franklin, Masoud and Jong Myong Ri to clinch the bronze. On the final day of the Games, Sushil Kumar created history by becoming the first ever Indian to win two individual Olympic medals. He had won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Games and he bettered it by clinching a silver after losing the final to Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu of Japan. berth and he finished a dismal 16th out of the 47 competitors in the qualifying round.

    BOXERS KNOCKED OUT
    The Indian boxing team failed to win any medal save for Mary Kom who secured a historic bronze in the women’s category. Several decisions were marred by controversy with the highlight being Vikas Krishan’s bout. Krishan had won his match against Errol Spence of USA; the referee later overturned the decision to announce the latter as the winner. The poster boy of Indian boxing, Vijender Kumar’s run came to an end in the quarterfinal as he too returned home without a medal.

    INDIA AT OLYMPICS: HIGHS
    The Indian Olympic contingent returned home with its best ever performance at the quadrennial event with six medals. GAGAN NARANG Gagan Narang opened the medal account for India with a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event on the second day. The ace marksman was one of the contenders for the medal and he did not disappoint his fans. He shot 103.1 in the final to take his tally to 701.1 ahead of Chinese rival Wang Tao finishing third.

    VIJAY KUMAR
    Army man Vijay Kumar made his country proud after clinching a silver medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event at the London Olympics. The unknown shooter from Himachal Pradesh shot 32/40 finishing ahead of Chinese rival Feng Ding while Leuris Pupo from Cuba took the gold with 34/40. His was the second medal for India at the event.