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US Visa: Mission Opens 2.5L More Appointments To Meet Growing Demand

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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PHOTO Credit: in.usembassy.gov
Over 1.2 million (12 lakh) Indians have travelled to the United States to date this year, a 35 percent increase over the same period in 2023

Figures released by the American Embassy in India regarding Indians travelling to the US are astounding and show a one-third increase from last year.

Following better understanding between the leaderships and consequential growing ties between the two countries, the two sides have set ambitious goals to improve and expedite the visa process.

The result, more than 1.2 million (12 lakh) Indians have travelled to the United States to date this year, a 35 percent increase over the same period in 2023.  At least six million (60 lakh) Indians already have a non-immigrant visa to visit the United States, and each day, the US Mission is issuing thousands more.

According to a press release issued by the US Embassy and Consulates in India, the US Mission to India has opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students.

The recently released new slots are expected to help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews, facilitating travel, which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the U.S.-India relationship, the release said.

The US Mission to India has already surpassed one million (10 lakh) non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year.

“During our student visa season this summer, we continued to process record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of our five consular sections around India.  We are now focused on bringing families together, connecting businesses, and facilitating tourism,” it added.

It quoted US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti as recently noting, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and I’m proud to say that we have delivered on that promise.  Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging demand.”

Punjab Art Initiative 3rd Edition: For A Month VR Punjab Mohali Will Become A Showcase Of Art

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Sanjeev Kochhar
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The 3rd annual edition of the month-long Punjab Art Initiative got off to a start at VR Punjab mall on Kharar Road in Mohali on Sunday

 

For a month, starting today (Sunday), the VR Punjab, from its regular art gallery on the upper ground floor, down to the basement walls, and the outdoor landscape, has been converted into an extensive showcase, exhibiting 300-plus art installations, sculptures, paintings, and photographs, by young and talented art students and other artists from the region.

The installations are the works of students from Chandigarh University and Chitkara University, and contributions from the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, Sanskar Bharti Foundation, and other senior individual artists.

The Basement Art Project displays the works of artists from G.A.S.P., a group of visual & graphic artists building art on a platform where it is valued & accessible to all.

Curated under the Punjab Art Initiative, this third annual edition of the Public Art Festival is supported by Yuj Arts Foundation. This year’s theme, ‘Transcending Boundaries,’ inspires artists to create innovative artworks and sculptures that reflect their vision, imagination, and artistic talents, Ms. Sumi Gupta, curator of the Punjab Art Initiative, said on Sunday afternoon while briefing the media.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema inaugurated the festival in the evening with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony and unveiling of the ‘Kala Car’, created in collaboration with the multidisciplinary artist Chitwan Singh Nanda, whose work is inspired by tradition and heritage.

Artist Chitwan Singh Nanda has recently set a world record by creating the largest-ever linguistic and agricultural representation of a state, using indigenous grains to showcase Punjab’s rich cultural heritage.

The formal inauguration was followed by an entertaining folk music performance, a live sand art show titled ‘The Timeless Journey of Art’, by Cannes 2015 nominee and Asia’s Got Talent S1 semi-finalist Nitish Bharti and a musical performance by Anmol Salh of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame.

The inaugural evening also featured a live ‘Raga Mala’ miniature painting session by Anubhav Som, illustrating Indian musical ragas. Complementing this was an interactive live painting workshop by 15 student artists from Chandigarh university.

Over the next month, VR Punjab will transform into a hub of artistic celebration, with installations, fine art, photography, exhibitions, workshops, young artists competition, art cinema screening, and an artisanal bazaar.

Under initiatives, such as the Artist Mentorship Program, emerging talent will be provided opportunities to learn from established professionals.

Sumi Gupta further shared that the festival is a dynamic convergence of diverse artistic expressions, talents, and projects. From Kadambari Misra’s powerful “Iconic Women Project”, that highlights the unsung female icons of history through photography and storytelling, to immersive works in abstract art, the event offers a profound exploration of creativity and heritage.

Additionally, art displays by Padma Shri Shyam Sharma, Prof. Bheem Malhotra, Prof. Ranjan Mallik, Gurmeet Goldie and Prof. Ashima Banker contribute a spectrum of styles and perspectives, enriching the festival with their unique creations.

The Punjab Literature Festival is set to be one of the prominent highlights of the festival, featuring a distinguished lineup of authors for the audience to connect with. Among them are Sahitya Akademi and Mira Award-winning writer Shri Nand Kishore Acharya, Yash Bharti Award-winning author Khushbir Singh Shaad, and celebrated authors like Durjoy Dutta and Dr. Ishinna Sadana, Ms Gupta added.

 

 

Indian 15 For Bangla T20Is: Speedster Mayank Yadav Gets Maiden Call-up

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Indian pace tearaway Mayank Yadav gets maiden call-up for T20Is against Bangaldesh
All Test players rested; Sanju Samson retained; Seamer all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy & pacer Harshit Rana may get cap; Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy returns to squad
Abhishek Sharma only specialist opener in the side; Exclusion of in-form openers Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan huge surprise

 

The national men’s cricket selection committee has picked India’s 15-member squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, for the upcoming three-match IDFC FIRST Bank T20I series against Bangladesh. The series commences immediately after the ongoing two-Test series. The venues will be Gwalior (Oct 6, Sunday), New Delhi (Oct 9, Wednesday) and Hyderabad (Oct 12, Saturday).

All the Test players have been rested in view of the upcoming 3-match Test home series against New Zealand starting mid-October and apparently to test the bench strength in T20Is.

IPL 2024’s fastest bowler Mayank Yadav has been rewarded with a national call-up for his pace and accuracy. He bowled consistently with 150 kmph-plus speeds in the IPL, his top speed being 156.7 kmph, and earned two player of the match awards before his campaign ended midway through the tournament due to an abdominal injury.

Despite two straight ducks in the last away series against Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has been retained. The other wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma also makes a comeback, though the first choice may still be Samson, basis his impressive performances in the Duleep Trophy in which he scored 196 runs at an average of 49 in his four innings.

The squad announcement also marks the return of so-called mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who last played for India in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Big-hitting top order batsman Abhishek Sharma, who missed the Sri Lanka T20Is, also finds a place in the squad, along with Rinku Singh. He is the only specialist opening batsman in the squad with Yashaswi Jaiswal and Shubhman Gill, doing Test duty, being rested.

The exclusion from the squad of two other specialist in-form opening batsmen available for selection, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan, comes as a huge surprise and could leave the selectors and the team management open to criticism. Both put on an impressive show in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy campaign earlier this month and could have been deserving fits in the line-up.

Gaikwad, who scored 77* and 49 in the T20I series in Zimbabwe in July, smashed 232 runs in the Duleep Trophy for India C, laced with two fifties.

Ishan, who last donned the Indian jersey in December 2023 and later lost his BCCI central contract over not following a board mandate, returned to red-ball cricket with a century in the Buchi Babu tournament last month, before hammering 111 for India C in Duleep Trophy.

Among others in the squad who could make their international debut during the series are seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana.

The squad is packed with allrounders, the others being Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar.

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also features in the 15-member squad. Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace bowling attack with Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana.

In 2nd Rare Case Globally Within A Year, China Woman Delivers ‘Twins’ From Twin Uteruses

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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The 'twin' baby girls born to an Alabama woman, one each from her rarest of rare twin uteruses. PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.uab.edu/

 

This rare phenomenon happened in Alabama, USA in December 2023, when a woman with two uteruses delivered “twin” baby girls, one each from the two wombs.

Less than a year later, in a similar pregnancy, classified as truly one in a million, a woman in northwest China gave birth to “twins” from both wombs earlier this month.

South China Morning Post, quoting the China National Radio reported that the woman, surnamed Li, gave birth to a boy and a girl in early September at Xi’an No 4 Hospital in Shaanxi province when she was eight and a half months pregnant.

The newspaper reported that typically, women with two uteruses do not become aware of their rare condition till they get pregnant. During their pregnancies, they are at an increased risk of repeated miscarriages, premature birth, underdevelopment of the foetus, and post-partum haemorrhages.

Li, whose age has not been revealed, had been pregnant before but suffered a miscarriage at 27 weeks due to unidentified factors, the report said.

After Li became pregnant in January, doctors at the Xi’an hospital devised a meticulous plan to ensure her safety.

The babies were born healthy, with the boy weighing 3.3kg and the girl 2.4kg. The doctors performed a caesarean operation during the birth.

However, in the earlier case, for the Alabama woman, Kelsey Hatcher, it was her fourth pregnancy with a single baby being delivered each time. When Kelsey walked into the Birmingham Hospital of the University of Alabama (UAB), she had a pregnancy classified as truly one in a million: She had a rare double uterus and was pregnant with a baby on each side, according to UAB News.

With the help of UAB, she delivered two healthy “twin” girls 10 hours apart — and on separate days.

After 20 combined hours of labour, she gave birth to two girls, Baby A born December 19 and Baby B born December 20, UAB News added.

DU Students’ Union Elections: Delhi HC Vents Ire On Defacement, ‘Money Laundering’

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Stays counting of votes till all vandalism and defacements reversed
DU to pay all expenses incurred by the civic agencies to fix the damage, with liberty to recover the amount from the candidates
Crores spent on elections; money power “corrupting students”; not a festival of “laundering of money”, court observes

With strict guidelines being enforced by the Election Commission of India to tone down cacophony and display of publicity materials during Lok Sabha and assembly elections, a common man hardly realises that an election is running, till it is over. Gone are the days when the entire populace, willingly or unwillingly, was exposed to the full blast of highly visible and noisy elections.

But such guidelines are generally thrown to the winds in the students’ union elections to universities and colleges across the country with blatant defacement of public properties with banners, posters, pamphlets, graffiti, etc, uncontrolled use of vehicles, hooliganism and an unabashed display of money power.

Signalling that enough is enough, the Delhi high Court has come down heavily on the Delhi University for turning a blind eye to the flagrant violations of the Lyngdoh committee recommendations and orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the conduct of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections on the university campus and affiliated colleges.

The court was responding to an application filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda seeking action against prospective candidates of DUSU elections and student political outfits involved in damaging, defacing, soiling, or destroying public property. The application was filed in a plea disposed of in 2019 seeking complete ban on the defacement of public property of DUSU poll candidates.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice designate Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Thursday while allowing polling, which was held on Friday, barred the counting of the votes on the university campus as well as colleges till the court is “satisfied” that the posters, hoardings, graffiti spray paint are removed, and the (damage to) public property is restored.

It also ordered that all expenses incurred by the civic agencies (to fix the damage) shall be paid by the varsity, and DU will have the liberty to recover it from the candidates.

Widespread defacement of public property has been reported during the DUSU students’ union elections. The Delhi civic bodies, during the hearings, submitted in the high court that more than 16,000 boards, 200,000 posters and pamphlets, and 28,500 banners had been removed during the elections between September 13 and September 25.

Taking the university authorities to task, the bench observed: “It is your failure. It has happened due to lack of supervision by the university. You are not doing anything; you are not monitoring anything. You are supposed to have a system in place, but you do not have anything in place. Private people brought (this issue) to our notice. DU was merrily going around, and not taking a stand. You are allowing standards to fall.”

On the previous day of hearing, on Wednesday, the court had asked the Delhi University to take stringent action against the candidates indulging in vandalism and defacing public property during the ongoing students’ union elections, calling the situation “worse than the general elections.”

The bench observed that prima facie, expenditure in crores has been incurred by the candidates contesting the polls and stated that the use of this amount of money in students’ union elections is corrupting the students “right at the inception.”

“What is the use of having this election? It’s a festival of democracy, not a festival of laundering of money. This is laundering of money which is taking place over here,” the court remarked.

Among other guidelines, the Lyngdoh Committee, set up by the Supreme Court in 2005 to ensure free and fair conduct of university elections, states that the maximum permitted expenditure per candidate in university elections be ₹5,000 and that the election of a candidate not complying with norms be nullified.

The bench further observed: “Your system has not worked. You should have kept an eye on expenses incurred. Your internal mechanism has failed… Certain officials will have to be held accountable. Your VC should have stepped in. You should have formed some committee. There are flagrant violations not on a minuscule scale but on a large scale.”

3 Indigenous PARAM Rudra Super Computers Dedicated To Nation

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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The indigenous PARAM Rudra super computer
Hold out promise for accelerated research in various advanced and futuristic technologies and enhance the country’s competitiveness on a global level
Two high-resolution High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems also launched to significantly enhance the accuracy and lead time of critical weather phenomena

 

In a significant development, which holds out promise for accelerated research in various advanced and futuristic technologies and enhance the country’s competitiveness on a global level, three indigenously developed ‘PARAM Rudra’ super computers were on Thursday dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing.

Built at a cost of ₹130 crore as part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), the supercomputers have been strategically deployed in Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research.

NSM was launched in 2015 to provide the country with supercomputing infrastructure to meet the increasing computational demands of academia, researchers, MSMEs, and startups. It is steered jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated two high-resolution High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems which will significantly enhance the accuracy and lead time of predictions related to tropical cyclones, heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, hailstorms, heat waves, droughts, and other critical weather phenomena.

Involving at an investment of Rs. 850 crore and located at two key sites – the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida – these HPC systems are named ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’.

As far as the PARAM Rudra supercomputers are concerned, one of these has been deployed with the The Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune, presently the world’s largest radio telescope operating at meter wavelength, which will use the new system to explore astronomical phenomena such as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs).

Located at Khodad, 80 km north of Pune, the telescope is operated by the National Centre of Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai. It consists of 30 fully- steerable dish type antennas of 45-meter diameter each, spread over a 25-km region.

In Delhi, with the deployment of one of the other super computers, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) will enhance research in material science and atomic physics.

With the last of the super computers, the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata will drive advanced research in areas such as physics, cosmology and earth sciences.

The prime minister was earlier scheduled to travel to Pune for these launches, but the trip is learnt to have been cancelled due to heavy rains in the city.

View of a section of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, Pune, presently the world’s largest radio telescope operating at meter wavelength. It consists of 30 fully- steerable dish type antennas of 45-meter diameter each, spread over a 25-km region.
An accelerator machine at the Inter-University Accelerator Centre in Delhi

 

Park Grecian Hospital’s Dr Harinder S Bedi Says Heart Attacks Among Young Worrisome

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Dr Harinder Singh Bedi (second from right), Director, Cardiac Sciences, Park Grecian Hospital, Mohali, along with others unveiling the poster of 'Run for Heart Health' being organised by the hospital in Mohali on World Heart day (29.09.2024, Sunday)
Attributes cause majorly to stress, offers simple tips
Announces ‘Run For Heart Health’ on World Heart Day on Sunday (29.09.2024) in Mohali

 

It’s called a heart attack, but it is not the heart which is attacking us, but we who are knowingly or unknowingly attacking the fist-sized muscle mass that is our heart. The statement carries weight especially coming from a well-known cardiac surgeon of the region, Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, acknowledged for being among the pioneers of open heart and beating heart surgeries in Punjab.

He was highlighting preventive aspects of heart disease and heart attacks at a press meet in Chandigarh on Wednesday while announcing a ‘Run For Heart Health’ being organized by Park Grecian Hospital Mohali to mark World Heart Day on Sunday (Sept 29).

The theme for this year’s World Heart Day is ‘Use Heart for Action’, with emphasis on empowering individuals, and encouraging them to take responsibility for their heart health.

Dr Bedi, Director, Cardiac Sciences, at the hospital, pointed to the worrisome trend of young persons suddenly falling at workouts, workplaces, parties, dance floors, or just relaxing and documented as dying of heart attack. Some of the victims of death due to heart attack at a very young age in recent times have been showbiz personalities like actor, host and model Sidharth Shukla, who died at age 40, and even doctors, he informed.

Attributing these heart attack deaths significantly to stress, among other factors, Dr Bedi, who has earlier served at Escorts Heart Hospital, New Delhi; and St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia, while admitting that stress is inevitable in the fast-paced and highly competitive environment, emphasized that “we have to get into action mode to beat the stress”.

Sharing the stark reality of our country, where four Indians die of heart attacks every minute, and quoting the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to say that 25 percent of heart attack deaths in the country occur in people below 40 years of age, he however stuck an optimistic note saying 80% of these heart attacks are preventable. “We need to prioritise our heart health while going about our daily routines,” he asserted.

Advising simple ways of keeping the heart young and healthy, Dr Bedi laid stress on eating simple food, preferably home-made, with lots of green leafy and other vegetables of different colours. Twenty minutes of daily brisk walk provides enough exercise for the heart.

For stress-bursting too he had easy solutions like indulging in yoga and meditation, maintaining a good friendship circle, going for outings with family, colleagues and friends especially to quiet places like hills which also offer rarified air, and indulging in home gardening.

Artificial laughter also helps in stress management and so does dance, bhangra being the best, he shared further.

For high-risk persons, who have severely blocked heart arteries, and for heart attack survivors, Dr Bedi informed that minimally invasive endovascular surgery is a good option. Open heart surgery, especially after the development of beating heart surgery, has given consistently good results.

He claimed that Park Grecian Hospital provides the best facilities available for heart surgeries with one of the first Operation Theatre (OT) in the region with a Cath Lab within.

The ‘Run for Heart Health’

The ‘Run for Heart Health’ on Sunday will be flagged off from Park Grecian hospital in Sector 69 (Phase 9) at 5;30 a.m. and end at the hospital following a 5-km long route. A Zumba dance class will also be organized for the participants at the end of the run.

Every participant will be presented a goodie bag worth Rs 3500 by the hospital, including discount coupons, T-shirt, cap and participation certificate, apart from being served refreshments.

The chief guest, Major General Mathews Jacob, Commandant, Command Hospital Western Command, Chandimandir, will flag off the run along with Mohali Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain and Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek.

 

PM Modi’s Visit To US: 297 More Stolen Or Trafficked Antiquities Returned To India

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden pose during a symbolic handing over of a select few pieces of stolen or trafficked antiquities, from among the 297 returned by the US side to India, on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware recently. PHOTOs credit: X/@narendramodi
Takes total number returned since 2016 to 579, which marks the maximum number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India

 

The size of the global stolen or illicitly trafficked antiquities market is huge. Various, widely varying estimates have been made at different times, but it is difficult to accurately know its size and monetary value.

According to a report by Aljazeera.com, Roger Atwood’s 2020 book Stealing History estimates that it could be worth anywhere between $300m to $6bn a year. UNESCO, however, reports that the illicit trade in cultural goods, which encompasses antiquities trafficking, is worth $10bn a year.

Among other regions globally, India, Africa and the Middle East have been the worst sufferers of this booming illegal trade.

But now the Indian government is doubling down on its efforts to bring these stolen or illegally trafficked antiquities back to the country from various parts of the world.

In recent years, the government has been most successful in bringing back such piece or art from the United States of America.

According to a joint US-India fact sheet, since 2016, the US Government has facilitated the return of hundreds of trafficked or stolen antiquities. This includes 10 antiquities returned during Indian PM’s visit to USA in June 2016; 157 antiquities during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last year.

The total number of cultural artefacts returned from US to India since 2016 stands at 579. This is the maximum number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India.

Recently the two countries have also signed an agreement to hasten the process. The Cultural Property Agreement was signed in July 2024 between the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India under Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

The agreement marks the fulfilment of commitments made by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage, as reflected in the Joint Statement issued after their meeting in June 2023.

Biden Administration facilitates return of 297 more antiquities to India

During PM Narendra Modi’s latest visit to the US to participate in the QUAD summit and the United Nations General Assembly, the US side facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India. These will shortly be repatriated to India.

In a symbolic handing over, a select few pieces were showcased to Prime Minister Modi and President Biden on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

According to the joint fact sheet, the antiquities belong to 4000-year time period, from 2000 BCE–1900 CE, and have origins in different parts of India. Majority of the antiquities are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, while others are made in stone, metal, wood and ivory and belong to different parts of the country.

Some of the notable antiquities handed over are:

Apsara in sandstone from Central India belonging to 10-11th century CE

Jain Tirthankar in bronze from Central India belonging to 15-16th century CE

Terracotta vase from Eastern India belonging to 3-4th century CE

Stone sculpture from South India belonging to 1st century BCE-1st century CE

Lord Ganesh in Bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE

Standing Lord Buddha in sandstone from North India belonging 15-16th century CE

Lord Vishnu in Bronze from Eastern India belonging to 17-18th century CE

Anthropomorphic figure in copper from North India belonging to 2000-1800 BCE

Lord Krishna in bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE

Lord Karthikeya in granite from South India belonging to 13-14th century CE

 

 

 

Touch: Tweens & Teens, By The Touch Clinic Mohali, Was All About Fun-filled Adolescent Awareness

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Dr Preeti Jindal, Director, The Touch Clinic Mohali, leads a ramp walk for charity as part of a fun-filled adolescent girls awareness programme titled 'Touch: Tweens & Teens' at the Hyatt Regency in Chandigarh on Sunday (22.09.2024)

 

Mothers, who delivered baby girls at The Touch Clinic Mohali, and their tweeny-teeny daughters participated in a unique fun-filled activity-based health and well-being awareness programme for the next generation of women at the Hyatt Regency in Chandigarh on Sunday.

As part of the event, titled ‘Touch: Tweens & Teens’, nearly 100 mothers with their daughters in the 8-24 years age group, interacted with doctors from the clinic and other experts on various topics like cancer prevention, menstrual hygiene, sexual health, reproductive health, career counselling, etc.

Explaining the rationale behind organising the event, Dr Preeti Jindal, Director, The Touch Clinic, said it was aimed at fostering awareness and spark meaningful conversations around health and well-being for the next generation of women. The aim was also to equip the participants with valuable knowledge for their journeys ahead.

“That the participating ‘daughters’ in the age group 8-24 were delivered by gynaecologists of The Touch Clinic made the activity very special and emotional for us,” she added.

Dr Jindal, who is also a Professor in the Department of Clinical Embryology & Reproductive Genetics at Rayat Bahra University, led an engaging session on adolescent health, anti-aging, laser hair removal, and ‘perimenopausal’ health. (‘Perimenopausal’ refers to the time during which a woman’s body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years).

“Perimenopausal health is not just a transition – it’s a journey of self-discovery and resilience, in which knowledge and compassionate care are of pivotal importance,” she added.

Emphasising the importance of imparting knowledge about adolescent health, she said it is crucial for young girls, as it lays the foundation for lifelong well-being. Understanding physical and emotional changes helps them navigate life with confidence, she shared.

To keep the awareness sessions absorbing, these were interspersed with fun-filled activities. So, the young girls participated in singing, painting and dance competitions, besides joining their mothers in a ramp walk contest. A self-defence workshop was also conducted by an expert.

A charitable ramp-walk was also organised, and it was claimed that the proceeds from it will be utilised to help underprivileged girls in treatment of various medical conditions, which they may not otherwise be able to afford. The kind hearts who supported the cause were identified as Ms. Nitika Singla, Ms. Nisha Chug, Ms. Vinita Grover, Ms. Ishika & Mr. Sarabjit Singh.

A lot of effort had apparently gone into professionally organising the charity ramp walk. Noted model, grooming expert and top 10 finalist of Pantaloon Femina Miss India 2011 pageant Aprajita Sharma choreographed the ladies for the charity ramp walk. Shriya Singla from ‘Shevone’ provided the ramp dresses.

Garima Singh, Commissioner of Income Tax (Audit), NW Region, gave tips on empowerment to the young girls. Rashmeet Kapoor, who runs ‘Hairmasters’, conducted a session on makeup tips.

The two generations of participants apparently carried home fond memories of a well-crafted and wholesome event.

A mother-daughter duo participating in a ramp walk contest at the ‘Touch: Tweens & Teens’ event at the Hyatt Regency in Chandigarh on Sunday (22.09.2024)

19-year-old Gujarat Girl Rhea Singha Crowned Miss Universe India 2024

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Rhea Singha being crowned Miss Universe India 2024 in the grand finale of the pageant held at Zee Studios, Jaipur, on Sunday (22.09.2024) evening. PHOTOS credit Insta/missuniverseindiaorg

 

The world stage beckons 19-year-old Gujarat girl Rhea Singha, crowned Miss Universe India 2024 at the grand finale held in the Zee Studios Jaipur on Sunday evening. As contestant #36, she was picked for the crown from among 10 finalists who emerged from a highly competitive field of 51 contestants.

Rhea was crowned by former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela, who was also on the panel of judges for the event, the others being Nikhil Anand, Vietnamese star Nguyen Quynh, fashion photographer Rian Fernandes, and entrepreneur Rajeev Shrivastava.

Sharing her excitement, Rhea has been reported as commenting: “Today I won the title of Miss Universe India 2024. I am so thankful. I have done so much work to get to this level where I can consider myself worthy enough for this crown. I am so inspired by the previous winners.”

Once the celebrations subside, Rhea will have to start preparing in right earnest for the much bigger and tougher stage, the contest for the world title scheduled to be held in November this year at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

Pranjal Priya (contestant #34) was named 1st runner-up, followed by Chhavi Verg (#16), Sushmita Roy (#47) and Rupofuzhano Whiso (#39) as 2nd, 3rd and 4th runner-up in that order.

The pageant was for the first time held under the ownership of the Glamanand Group, India’s biggest up and coming entertainment and pageant organisation, which has added Miss Universe India to its other flagship pageants, including Miss Teen Diva, Mrs. India and Mr. India Universe.

About Rhea Singha

According to Rhea’s Insta bio, she is an artist, actress and TEDx speaker and has around 40K+ followers, surging every minute.

News reports have it that Rhea Singha is a 19-year-old Indian actor, model, and beauty queen from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She is the daughter of Rita Singha and Brijesh Singha, who is an entrepreneur and the director of eStore Factory. The teen model is the ambassador and a student of GLS University Gujarat, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in performing arts.

The reports further share that she began her modelling career in 2020 at the age of 16 and won the title of Diva’s Miss Teen Gujarat. In 2023, Rhea represented India at Miss Teen Universe 2023 in Madrid, Spain, competing against 25 candidates and securing a spot in the Top 6.

Later in 2023 she finished as runner-up in JOY Times Fresh Face Season 14 in Mumbai, competing against 19 contestants

All the winners: Title winner (centre) flanked by the first to fourth runners-up
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