The Kolkata Centre for Creativity hosted ‘Neel Darpan’, a workshop on the history of indigo cultivation in Bengal.

On February 14, while many celebrated love, the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) explored a different kind of passion — the love for textiles, history and the legacy of rebellion. In collaboration with Weavers Studio Resource Centre and The Teacher’s Centre, KCC hosted a unique academic workshop, ‘Neel Darpan’, which shed light on the history of indigo cultivation in Bengal and the Indigo Rebellion of 1859. The event highlighted how indigo, once a symbol of colonial exploitation, became a rallying point for resistance — deeply influencing literature, theatre and the social consciousness of Bengal.

Moderated by history enthusiasts and educators Amita Prasad (director, Manovikas Kendra) and Priyadarshinee Guha (associate VP, KCC), the session brought to life the stories of the indigo cultivators, their struggles and the historic revolt that changed the course of Bengal’s agrarian history. The discussion centered around Neel Darpan, Dinabandhu Mitra’s 1860 play, which exposed the brutal realities of British indigo planters and their exploitation of farmers.

“The exploitation kept happening, but what brought this into the limelight, that everyone got to know about it?” Prasad asked the audience. “Neel Darpan.” She explained that Mitra’s play was revolutionary for its time, as it was the first Indian play to be commercially staged, making the plight of farmers widely accessible. It was translated into English by Michael Madhusudan Dutt and published by Reverend James Long — an act that led to Long’s arrest, though Kaliprasanna Singha later paid a fine of Rs 1,000 to release him. The play struck such a chord with the public that audiences would throw stones at actors playing the exploitative British indigo merchants.

‘The farmers’ confidence was shattered by violent British suppression’

Prasad further elaborated on the economic and social oppression faced by the indigo cultivators, explaining how British landlords and zamindars forced them to grow indigo in exchange for a mere 2.5 per cent of its market value. Caught in a cycle of debt, many farmers became bonded laborers, unable to repay loans imposed upon them by the colonial system. “The Indigo Rebellion began in Nadia in 1859,” Prasad recounted. “Farmers simply refused to cultivate indigo anymore. But their confidence was shattered by violent British suppression.” The British feared another mass uprising, especially in the wake of the Revolt of 1857, and responded by introducing the Dramatic Performances Act in 1876 to curb the growing revolutionary sentiments sparked by Neel Darpan.

To make the historical discussion engaging, the workshop incorporated an interactive quiz, documentary screenings on the indigo-making process, and even a dramatic reading from the original Bengali text of Neel Darpan by Guha and Barsha Choudhury, a freelance theatre practitioner. “Did you know that Tollygunge Club used to be an indigo plantation site under the Johnson family?” Guha asked, surprising the audience with a lesser-known remnant of indigo’s history in Kolkata.

Benjamin Constanty, a research scholar from The University of Manchester, provided further historical insights by presenting vintage newspaper clippings from The Hindoo Patriot and The Friends of India, publications that documented the Indigo Revolt. He emphasised the growing role of the educated Indian middle class in spreading awareness, stating, “A growing trend was the middle class getting educated and then wanting to educate all of India, as they started working as lawyers, playwrights, writers, and so on.” He also drew connections between the Indigo Rebellion and the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, highlighting how the principles of peasant resistance laid the groundwork for Gandhi’s movement.

‘Indigo has become very popular again as people are preferring natural dyes’

The discussion eventually shifted from history to indigo’s present-day significance. Textile artist and social entrepreneur Bappaditya Biswas, who has been working to revive indigo cultivation in Bengal, shared his experience of planting indigo seeds in a small plot of land in Nadia — more than 165 years after the rebellion. “The colour was just so dark! The Gangetic soil and humidity are just perfect. Now I understand why Bengal indigo was so highly prized,” he shared.

Weavers Studio Research Centre also curated an art installation of designer garments in indigo, featuring pieces from prominent designers, including Rohit Bal. Indigo’s resurgence in contemporary fashion, driven by a global shift toward sustainable and natural dyes, underscores its lasting relevance. “Indigo has become very popular again in the past few years as people from all over the world are preferring natural dyes more,” Guha noted. “India has been very sensible about it, as Bappa also mentioned. We at KCC are looking forward to more workshops. There’s so much more to explore.”

Reflecting on the success of the workshop, Prasad added, “I am a history lover and I put together the presentation for today, but it is actually the concept of Weavers Studio that made this possible. We wanted to connect textile and history, and I am glad that people loved it here today. Some even asked me to make this into a six-month course.”

The ‘Neel Darpan’ workshop was more than an academic exercise — it was a reminder of how history, literature and art can intertwine to keep alive the memory of resistance and resilience. Indigo’s past is filled with hardship, but its future shines bright, not just as a textile dye but as a symbol of India’s enduring cultural and historical legacy.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that the temple economy “valued at Rs 6 lakh crore” is the largest economic activity in the country.

Addressing the International Temples Convention & Expo (ITCX), Naidu said that the temple economy is an area where activities take place throughout the year.

“With India’s temple economy valued around Rs 6 lakh crore, I can say that compared to any other economic activity, this is the biggest. It happens 365 days a year—temple darshan (visits) or temple town activities. That is the biggest activity. We are all involved in it,” said Naidu.

Noting that devotees are donating money for a particular cause, Naidu said that the money must be spent by their aspirations.

“There is no doubt about it; any government has to abide by and do justice to this,” he said, adding that fulfilling the aspirations of devotees is a must.

Appreciating ITCX, the TDP supremo said the platform emphasises Artificial Intelligence integration, fintech solutions, ethical donations, sustainability, security, crowd control, and financial transparency.

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat–2047 vision, Naidu said ITCX promotes temple governance and economic development while fostering global temple collaboration.

However, Naidu stated that while technology plays an important role, it can never replace God.

“But at the same time, technology is one thing, and God is another. There is no replacement for God. God is God. Any scientist, technology expert, or anyone else has to follow the destiny decided by God. So, we are all instrumental and ultimately, we have to depend on God. At the same time, we must do our duty,” he said.

Lauding Modi as “the right leader for India at the right time”, Naidu highlighted that the country will emerge as the third-largest economy in the world by 2029.

By 2047, he said, India will become either the first or second-largest economy globally and expressed confidence that Indians will become the most influential community.

Further, the CM expressed a desire to build a Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in every state headquarters and every country with a Hindu population.

According to Naidu, the state manages 27,000 temples and sees an annual footfall of 21 crore pilgrims, the highest in the country.

The CM reiterated his concept of Public-Private-People Partnership (PPPP or P4) to eradicate poverty, with the top 10 per cent of society adopting the bottom 20 per cent.

He strongly urged that everyone in society should have a good standard of living.

Moreover, Naidu said he is working toward making the greenfield capital city of Amaravati the “best capital city” among other initiatives.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also attended the ITCX. PTI STH SSK ROH

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

source/content: theprint.in / PTI (headline edited)

Known for its many medicinal properties.

Scientists from the University of Kerala have decoded the genetic make-up of Arogyapacha ( Trichopus zeylanicus ), a highly potent medicinal plant endemic to the Agasthya hills.

This ‘miracle plant’ is known for its traditional use by the Kani tribal community to combat fatigue. Studies have also proved its varied spectrum of pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic.

The project was undertaken in the State Inter University Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics at the Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Kerala.

Lack of reference

The lack of a reference genome that hindered extensive research on Arogyapacha prompted the researchers to sequence the whole genome.

“The project is bound to open up a new window to the plant’s molecular secrets,” says Achuthsankar S. Nair, head of the department.

Led by post-doctoral fellow Biju V.C., the team included Anu Sasi, Veena S. Rajan, Sheethal Vijayan, and Shidhi in the analysis and annotation of the genome. Another researcher from the department, Anoop P.K., a member of the Kani tribe, was also associated with it.

According to Dr. Biju, the genome and annotation data will be a valuable resource to expedite research on Arogyapacha, particularly its secondary metabolism, genetic breeding, and comparative studies.

While this is the first report of draft genome sequencing of a plant species to be brought out by the University of Kerala, two more species are currently being sequenced.

The manuscript has been accepted for publication in G3: Genes, Genomes and Genetics , published by the Genetics Society of America.

Datasets in portal

Besides, the raw sequence data and genome assembly have been deposited in the US-based public database maintained by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The functional annotation datasets can be downloaded from keralauniversity.ac.in/trichopus-zeylanicus.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

“An even stronger embrace of the global clean energy boom will supercharge India’s economic rise,” he said.

U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell has called India a “solar superpower” and urged it to develop an ambitious climate plan covering its entire economy, saying that an even stronger embrace of the global clean energy boom will supercharge its economic rise.

Mr. Stiell, who is in India to attend the ET Global Business Summit, lauded India’s efforts to mitigate climate change, saying that while some governments only talk, “India delivers”.

“India is already a solar superpower, one of only four countries to have installed more than 100 gigawatts of solar… Energy access is on the rise with villages across the country electrified by 2018, well ahead of schedule,” he said.

“Now there is a real opportunity to take the next step and unleash even bigger benefits for India’s 1.4 billion people and economy. India is already headed firmly in this direction, but an even stronger embrace of the global clean energy boom will supercharge India’s economic rise,” he said.

Mr. Stiell said India has an opportunity that only a few countries have: “To realise ambitious plans to deploy hundreds more gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. To lead a new wave of green industrialization, developing, scaling, and exporting vital technologies.”

He said the world’s fifth-largest economy is well-positioned to reap the benefits of ambitious, economy-wide climate plans.

The U.N. climate chief added that India’s leaders have a rare opportunity to deepen whole-of-economy industrial strategies that would make the fast-developing South Asian nation a dominant force in clean energy and industry.

Countries are required to submit their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), or climate plans, for the 2031-2035 period this year.

With many countries, including India, missing the February 10 deadline, Stiell earlier this month urged them to submit their plans by September at the latest.

An official source in the Union Environment Ministry told PTI that India has not yet finalised its new NDCs.

“India’s new NDCs will have targets achievable with the means available. Mitigating climate change requires financial and technological support, along with other enablers. Developed countries are unwilling to provide this support. Why should countries that did not cause climate change continue to suffer?” the source said.

The collective aim of these climate plans is to limit global temperature rise since the start of the industrial revolution to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the key goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Developed countries, historically responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, were required to deliver a new and ambitious financial package to support climate action in the developing world at the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan last year.

However, they offered a paltry $300 billion by 2035, a mere fraction of at least $1.3 trillion needed annually from 2025.

India had called the sum “too little, too distant”, “paltry” and “an optical illusion”.

The government’s Economic Survey 2024-25 tabled in Parliament in January said the lack of funding from developed countries to mitigate climate change in the Global South may prompt developing countries to “rework” their climate targets.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The project was part of the US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement that was released on February 13 following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US.

Social media major Meta on Saturday tagged India as one of its largest markets to be connected with the company’s world’s longest undersea cable “Project Waterworth” which is expected to be operational by the end of this decade.

Meta has announced “Project Waterworth” which will reach five major continents and span over 50,000 kilometers — longer than the earth’s circumference.

The project was part of the US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement that was released on February 13 following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US.

“Meta is investing in India — one of its largest markets — bringing the world’s longest, highest capacity and most technologically advanced subsea cable project to connect India, the US, and other locations,” Meta spokesperson said on Saturday.

The undersea cables are crucial for internet operations. These cables connect countries with each other. Local telecom operators connect with undersea cables to provide internet access to their customers.

The investment assumes significance as telecom operators have been demanding big techs including Meta to contribute towards building network infrastructure to decongest the data traffic load and improve customer’s experience.

“Driven by India’s growing demand for digital services, this investment reaffirms Meta’s commitment to economic growth, resilient infrastructure, and digital inclusion, supporting India’s thriving digital landscape and fostering technological innovation,” the spokesperson said.

According to the US-India joint statement, India intends to invest in maintenance, repair and financing of undersea cables in the Indian Ocean, using trusted vendors.

Meta in a blog on Project Waterworth said that the company is deploying first-of-its-kind routing, maximizing the cable laid in deep water — at depths up to 7,000 metres — and using enhanced burial techniques in high-risk fault areas, such as shallow waters near the coast, to avoid damage from ship anchors and other hazards.

The company said the new, multi-billion dollar investment will connect five continents, enhancing the scale and reliability of the global digital highways that power Meta’s apps and services, and will be ready for service at the end of the decade.

“This project will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion, and open opportunities for technological development in these regions. For example, in India, where we’ve already seen significant growth and investment in digital infrastructure, Waterworth will help accelerate this progress and support the country’s ambitious plans for its digital economy,” the blog said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The Jerajani family originally hails from Jamkhambhalia, Gujarat, and later migrated to Mumbai’s Colaba area before establishing their first bookstore, ‘Happy Book Stores.’

‘Express Book Service,’ a renowned bookstore offering an extensive collection of Marathi, Hindi, and English books on history, literature, politics, art, biographies, and novels, has been recognized at the national level. The bookstore was honored with the prestigious ‘Best Bookstore 2025’ award at the ‘Indian Reading Olympiad’ festival, held in Hyderabad.

Established in the 1950s, ‘Express Book Service’ has played a vital role in nurturing Pune’s reading culture for over seven decades. The recognition has brought immense pride and joy to store owner Rohit Jerajani, who was visibly emotional upon receiving the award.

The bookstore was founded by Rohit’s grandfather, Jamnadas Jerajani, at a time when the Camp area had very few bookstores. Initially, readers from diverse linguistic backgrounds—English, Hindi, and Marathi—flocked to the shop out of curiosity. Over the years, ‘Express Book Service’ became a trusted name for book enthusiasts, known for its ability to source rare and hard-to-find books, even from international publishers.

The Jerajani family originally hails from Jamkhambhaliya, Gujarat, and later migrated to Mumbai’s Colaba area before establishing their first bookstore, ‘Happy Book Stores.’ The success of this venture led to the launch of ‘Express Book Service’ in Pune.

Beyond Books: A Cultural Hub

Over the years, the bookstore has grown into a cultural hub, hosting literary events, book launches, and interactive sessions with authors. Rohit’s father, Manubhai Jerajani, initiated several literary programs, including children’s workshops and author meet-and-greets, further expanding the bookstore’s influence. To date, more than 4,000 books have been published at the store, with signed copies by renowned authors being a unique attraction.

Despite the rise of online book retailers, ‘Express Book Service’ has sustained its success by building deep, lasting relationships with its customers. The store continues to be a beloved destination for book lovers who value personal interaction and the charm of a physical bookstore.

A Store Frequented by Legends

‘Express Book Service’ has been visited by several distinguished personalities, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ratan Tata, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murthy, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, and the Mangeshkar family. Over the years, the Jerajani family has also built close relationships with many literary and cultural icons.

Expressing his gratitude, Rohit Jerajani said, “My grandfather built ‘Express Book Service’ as a legacy, and it is my responsibility to carry it forward. Serving our customers gives us immense satisfaction, and I am committed to continuing this journey of literary enrichment.”

source/content: thebridgechronicle.com (headline edited)