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International debating fest puts media under scanner
Kolkata: Senior journalists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain and the US will debate on issues ranging from credibility, objectivity of media and social media at a three-day debating festival here beginning Dec 13.
Dubbed as “Kolkata’s festival of the Spoken Word”, the fest will be centred on the theme “Media Under the Scanner”, where the spotlight will be on the role of media and how it was interpreted by the common man today.
“Panel discussions and debates will be very dynamic in format. The focus will be on issues like media ownership, whether paid news is a reality, sensationalism versus substance etc.,” said Kunal Sarkar, cardiac surgeon and president of the Calcutta Debating Circle, the organiser of the debating fest.
“The larger goal is to promote debating and expose people to talented speakers,” he said.
Some of the key speakers from India include journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Indrajit Kundu, Kishore Bhimani, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, entrepreneur Swati Gautam, actor Victor Banerjee and BJP Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra.
Brendan Miller and Jil Robinson from Britain, Javed Umair and Mehmal Sarfraz from Pakistan and Samuel Ward Packard from the US will be the international participants.
To be held at various locations across the city in collaboration with the Calcutta Club, Kolkata Sukriti Foundation, the British Deputy High Commission and the US Consulate General, Victoria Memorial Hall and various educational institutes, the event will witness a jury of youngsters from India judging the veteran scribes.
“Audiences and the jury of youngsters will judge the debaters,” said Sarkar.
Sessions on “Television is long dead, long live social media” and “Justice has been hijacked by media” will be interactive ones with students.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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.