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Over 350 speakers to participate in JLF 2019

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New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) An impressive line-up of 350 artistes and public intellectuals, including the winners of several major literary awards, will participate in the upcoming edition of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival from January 24 to 28, 2019 in the Pink City, the organisers said on Monday.

The list includes Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan, author of ‘Gene Machine: The Race to Decipher the Secrets of the Ribosome’ which unlocks the mysteries of the gene-reading molecule; Ben Okri, writer of Man-Booker-winning ‘The Famished Road’; Colson Whitehead, author of six novels and winner of the 2016 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2017 Pulitzer for ‘Underground Railroad’; and Priyamvada Natarajan, a cosmologist noted for her work in mapping dark matter, dark energy, and black holes, a Professor at Yale.

“JLF has, through the last decade, helped articulate and foster a unique literary and creative culture across the world. Our programme remains determinedly diverse and multilingual, with over 16 Indian languages, 12 international languages, and almost 30 nationalities represented at Jaipur this January,” said author and festival co-director Namita Gokhale.

She emphasized that the 2019 edition will bring to fore the importance of science, genetics, astronomy and astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and what the future holds for the planet.

“We also explore music, poetry and the arts, and delve into fiction, short stories, adaptations and translations. We examine different facets of myth, memory and religion. We interrogate rural distress, think aloud about migration and identity, and reflect on the ongoing struggles for gender equity, from the landmark judgement on section 377 to the tumultuous watershed of the #metoo movement,” added Gokhale.

Diplomat Navtej Sarna in ‘The Post American World’ will elaborate on how the growth of India, China, Brazil, Russia and Africa is generating a new landscape and will soon push the West out of its position of complacence and hegemony to one that recognises this seismic power shift.

Sarna will be joined by Kishwar Desai, author of ‘Jallianwala Bagh, 1919’ to seek the backstory of that fateful day of April 13, 1919 a century after; and Ira Mukhoty, author of ‘Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire’, will discuss Nur Jehan and the other indomitable Mughal women who in many ways defined that era.

The annual festival is organized by Teamwork Arts, which is headed by Sanjoy K. Roy, and produces several such festivals in India and abroad. Acclaimed historian and writer William Dalrymple is co-director of the festival along with Gokhale.

–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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