United Express

On the face of it, hearing impairment may sound like a disability that can be easily dismissed. Take a closer look and the statistics are staggering. Over 360 million people in the world suffer from disabling hearing loss and the impairment among children is increasing at around 60%. Simply put, 5.3% of the world population has disabling hearing loss of which 32 million are children, according to WHO estimates. In India alone, 63 million people suffer from significant auditory loss and that includes around 50 lakh children. Surveys have estimated hearing loss to be the third leading cause of chronic disability, following arthritis and hypertension.  World Hearing Day is held on  March 3  each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to emphasize on ear and hearing care the world over. This year, with the theme 'Hear the future', World Hearing Day draws attention to the anticipated increase of people wi...

While Akshay Kumar was busy meeting and greeting junta at the Versova Festival, elsewhere his Entertainment lookalike Tiny the Golden Retriever was busy obliging fans with Kunju the Lhasa Apso and Snowy the Pom with Pawtraits, they could cherish for life. The move of getting NGO Pawsitive Farm Sanctuary’s  four-legged Therapy Dogs  that were rescued or adopted and rehabilitated,  to come and meet those walking into the fest was that of ace pet photographer Bhavesh Karia, who believes that “clicking pets is not photography, but an artform.” Says Bhavesh Karia, “pets are like little kids; forever doing something that you want to capture on your camera. But incredible pet photography is when you capture the essence of your furry friend through your pawtraits that look beyond the fur and into the soul of the pet. “I like to capture their honesty and their persona. I simply love the small smirks and poignant expressions – the animal's inner world.” ...

Soul pilgrimage The magical mysticism, the riveting riverbanks, the vast sea of humanity,  Paramesh   Paul  infuse s his works with a volatile energy that sees the City of Light shining bright, both physically and metaphorically. Worshippers taking dip in the river, the multitudes of small temples, the steps, the sadhus, the kamadul, the chhatris, the vatvruksha, the Nandi and the narrow streets teeming with life, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, of Benaras Gharana who have become synonymous with the embodiment of the spirit of Varanasi come to life on his canvas. Painting, for  Paramesh   Paul , is a spiritual practice, an act of conscious, creative alignment with the Supreme. As one delves deeper into the paintings, one experiences a harmonious rhythm of life imbued with the feeling of transcendence, balance, and oneness with the whole of creation. And this feeling was echoed by celebrities Mahima Chaudhary and Gracy Singh ...

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash perform along with Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Sridhar Parthasarathy on the Mridangam, on the eve of Makarsankranti at Hridayesh Festival at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya. Check out the adjacent pictures! 

Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan-Ayaan perform to packed audiences at dawn at The Gateway of India It was a unique spiritual dawn at The Gateway of India when Sarod masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash took to stage accompanied by Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Giridhar Udapa on the Ghatam… From darkness to dawn, a jam-packed historical venue resonated with melody. Soon, the sun rose to greet Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan as he greeted the audiences with Raag Jounpuri, humorously stating that he wasn’t having pedicure but actually filing his nails midway through performance as he needs to play the Sarod with his nails. The grand finale and the third part of the concert was when the father-sons trio took to stage and mesmerized the audiences along with their esteemed accompanists, leaving audiences spellbound. Interestingly, this father-son performed together in Mumbai after five years! The spiritual morn was courtesy,  Panc...

Lend these kids your ears! It was a momentous day for JOSH Foundation when a 100 hearing impaired children from seven schools took to stage,  dancing to songs, choreographed on the diverse culture of India. With parents, Principals, and Dr.Jayant Gandhi and Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal cheering on, the children to danced artistically choreographed numbers in sync. Not one made it evident that he/she is hearing impaired! Hearing impairment aids were also distributed to children on the occasion. ENT Specialist Dr.Jayant Gandhi and Audiologist-Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal are behind many a children learning to overcome their hearing impairment, under their tutelege, as infants, or from the time their hearing impairment has been detected. Says Geeta Shelar, Principal, Sadhana Vidyalaya For Deaf, "Today, each child has emerged a winner as they took to stage and overcame their impairment to emerge victorious.  No...

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum)  resonated to the sound of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod   on Friday  evening. The maestro's performance is part of the celebration of the momentous exhibition, India & The World: A History of Nine Stories, at the CSMVS that celebrates the Indian culture and its interaction with the rest of the world. Ustadji being a leading exponent of Sarod, an instrument that has its roots in Central Asia and a globally celebrated artist was perfect to represent this exchange of India with the world.  The crowd remained mesmerised for over 90 minutes rooted to their seats, clapping as Ustadji with musicians Pandit Vijay Ghate on the tabla and Sridhar Parthasarthy on the mridangam took us on a melodious musical journey, sometimes with soulful ragas and other times with energetic jugalbandis, that made the museum come alive, literally! Glimpses...