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India fifty years apart: Photographs by US Ambassador, father on view

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New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS) When American architect Howard J. Juster visited and photographed India in 1966, he never thought that 51 years later, his son Kenneth I. Juster would photograph it too, as the US envoy to India.

Mounted at The American Centre here is a photography exhibition, “Reflections of India”, that captures monuments, temples and people of India, 52 years apart. It opened on Thursday.

A series of photographs by the ambassador, who assumed office in November 2017, recreate those taken by his father.

They capture the Roosevelt House, US Embassy, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung’s Tomb (all in Delhi) and a Jain temple in Kolkata.

“When I was getting ready to leave for India, I saw these slides that my father took of India. In my introductory video here, I included some of these photos, and my public affairs team said you must develop these photos.

“Then they said I needed to go and track the same places, so we could see the changes. So I started to do some of that,” the US Ambassador said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the event.

“The US Embassy was built in 1961-62. As an architect, my father was able to get in. I’m sure he never dreamt that 51 years later, his son would be living here,” he said.

Calling the photographs a work of love, the 63-year-old envoy said his mother, who also visited the country in 1966, is now 91, and saw some of the landscapes, she saw five decades ago.

He said that he has inherited his father’s love and eye for photography.

It is noteworthy that there is a striking visual difference in the quality and the detail of the photographs of the two eras, despite the same subject and framing.

The works, captured in 1966 and 2017-18, also capture the “features, expressions and emotions” of the Indian people.

What is interesting is that in the background of one of the recent photographs, a group poses for a selfie, something that was unimaginable in 1966.

More photographs on view show a marketplace in “Benares” (now Varanasi), a Bengali shopkeeper, Indian paparazzi with their cameras, and Jodhpuri people giving the envoy a “fond farewell”.

Other monuments captured are Agra Fort and Chandigarh’s Palace of Justice.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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