Flamboyant and controversial New York hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, a major political contributor and fundraiser for the Clintons and several high profile Democratic politicians, is elated that he is in line to receive a Padma Bhushan in this year's Republic Day honours list, and rubbished concerns that he is undeserving of the award.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday welcomed the suspension of the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), but said the Sports Ministry should have taken the decision earlier.
The award was conferred to Singh in recognition for his valuable contribution in a capacity as Honorary Consul General of Monaco in Delhi for last 20 years.
'There is a difference between the American defined 'Development' and 'Progress' or Sarvodaya defined by Mahatma Gandhi. Agricultural land should not be used for non-agricultural purposes. A peasant who owns a piece of land and works on it to earn his living is an independent citizen. We should not make him an urban coolie'
"During that time -- June, July and August of 2008 -- I was never in India. I was only here (in the US). I had no communication with the Prime Minister's Office or with anybody including the Akali Dal. It (the WikiLeaks allegation) was the biggest surprise to me," Padma Bhushan awardee Sant Chatwal said
'I don't care about the BJP,' says controversial New York hotelier Sant Chatwal, who has been awarded the Padma Bhushan. 'One thousand percent, I am going to accept the award.'
Shapoorji Pallonji Group's head Pallonji Mistry died at his residence here, company officials said on Tuesday. Mistry, the largest individual shareholder in the Tata Group with a 18.4 per cent holding in the conglomerate, was 93.
Eminent journalist H K Dua and noted entrepreneur and former chairman of Hindustan Lever Limited A K Ganguly have been nominated by the government to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said on Tuesday that the names have been sent to President Pratibha Patil for her assent. Ganguly, who was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian honour, was also a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry.
Athletics Federation of India President and a Padma Bhushan recipient Umrao Singh died on Sunday in Jalandhar after a brief illness.
Even the election of a new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) committee could not restore normalcy as the Sports Ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led panel citing the violation of its own constitution in announcing the national U-15 and U-20 Championships.
Seeking to steer clear of the furore that was triggered by Saina Nehwal's open displeasure at being ignored for the Padma awards, ace Indian shooter Gagan Narang said he would prefer to wait for the government to take a call on such matters.
'Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would write a book one day.'
Yuvraj Singh jokingly said he and Paes could become a good retired doubles partner if the former is looking for one.
Nagarjuna is one of the guests invited.
Dominique Lapierre, author, Indophile and now Padma Bhushan recipient, on the continuing suffering and neglect of the survivors of the Union Carbide gas leak.
Sonu Nigam turned 50 on July 30, and hosted a grand birthday bash in Mumbai on Saturday night.
Sports Ministry requests IOA to constitute ad-hoc committee to manage WFI affairs
A clueless Sahitya Akademi has now called a meeting of its executive council on October 23 to decide the future course of action.
U R Ananthamurthy, the Padma Bhushan and Jnanapith award winner, shared his thoughts about the changing Bengaluru and also the threat of terrorism.
Historian Romila Thapar on why she declined the Padma Bhushan.
The location of the bust of Gandhi has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence.
'We are moving away from the path of democracy and towards Hindu religious dictatorship,' scientist P M Bhargava, who announced his decision to return the Padma Bhushan, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com
Sakshi Malik, one of the prominent faces of the agitation against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, welcomed the WFI's suspension.
Kamleshwar, who was ailing for sometime, died around 8.30 pm following a heart attack, his family sources said.
School dropout Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, famously known as 'MDH Dadaji' for repeated appearance in his spice brand's television ads, started his spices business journey in a nondescript shack in Delhi's Karol Bagh after selling his tonga, and went on, at the age of 94, to becoming the highest-paid CEO in the country's FMCG sector.
Minister of State for Defence B K Handique, Defence Secretary Ajay Vikram Singh, Air Marshall Arjan Singh, Vice-Chief of Army Staff V K Thakur, former prime minister I K Gujral and a host of admirers of the late hero placed wreaths on the body.
Historian Romila Thapar feels the media is only interested in sensationalism.
'When the bombing happened in the Taj Mahal hotel in 2008, that was a very sad moment, but he really took care of the people, took care of everybody and that was when you saw some of his best moments.' 'There are some things which we will never forget. That is when the best of a person comes out.'
Gandhi's meeting with the wrestlers comes against the backdrop of a controversy surrounding the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Born early last century in Dhubri, Assam, Sanyal started the Lahore College of Arts. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1987.
This is a huge honour for Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket eight years ago in 2013
Chandrayaan-2 will explore a region of the moon where no mission has ever set foot. The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover together referred to as "composite body".
Veteran atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Sekhar Basu succumbed to Covid-19 early on Thursday at a private hospital in Koklata, a health department official said. He breathed his last just three days after turning 68.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian industry, he had been honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2002.
Besides being awarded Padma bhushan in 2011, Madavoor had also received the Sangeet Nataka akademi award in 1997, Kerala Kalamandalam award among others and had performed the world over.
Dominique Lapierre, the French author with a passion for India and whose novels sold tens of millions of copies, has died, his wife announced on Sunday.
Bhupinder Singh Bajwa will be the chairman of the panel with hockey Olympian M M Somaya and former international shuttler Manjusha Kanwar being the other two members.
Today's doodle, illustrated by Sudeepti Tucker, shows Sarabhai with her signature parasol while her students are dancing on stage.
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