Dorji described the CII Partnership Summit as an “example of India’s leadership, its commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and shared prosperity across Asia and the larger world…reports Asian Lite News
Lauding India’s role as a “closest partner,” Bhutan’s Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, praised New Delhi as a pillar of support and inspiration for Thimphu. He said that the trust and shared values between the two nations make India an enabler of Bhutan’s aspirations.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 29th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in Delhi on Monday, Dorji said, “India’s role as Bhutan’s closest partner is not only a pillar of support but also an inspiration. The trust, collaboration and shared values between our two countries making India an enabler of Bhutan’s aspirations. Beyond herself, India enables opportunities, facilitates connections and engagements for us. It is this spirit of collaboration and mutual growth that excites the two countries.”
Dorji described the CII Partnership Summit as an “example of India’s leadership, its commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and shared prosperity across Asia and the larger world.” He also highlighted how, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global leader for nations like Bhutan.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has emerged as a global leader for countries like Bhutan. India stands not only as a trusted neighbour but also as a partner in our journey of growth and transformation, offering both inspiration and…support as we pursue our aspirations,” he said.
“Leveraging this partnership, Bhutan has embarked on a transformative care strategic plan to evolve into a high income, Gross National Happiness, economic central Environment Initiative,” he added.
Encouraging investors to explore opportunities in Bhutan, Dorji said, “My pitch here is this for investors thriving in India or seeking opportunities in the region, the futuristic city project at Bhutan offers unparalleled potential. We invite you to visit Bhutan and explore the possibility opportunity to partner in an initiative that seamlessly aligns profitability with purpose creating an economical design to connect high-value industries.”
The 29th CII Partnership Summit brought together 61 participating countries, 30 global speakers, and 11 international ministers. The summit aims to foster productive partnerships and global cooperation, ensuring a shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Qatar’s Minister of State of Foreign Trade, Ahmed Mohammed Al Sayed, emphasized his country’s strong economic diversification strategy during the summit. “Qatar has positioned itself as a strong avenue for economic diversification with our development strategy with metro and highway projects with industries. Logistics, IT and digital transformation in public and private sectors are our focus,” he said.
He noted Qatar’s “strong partnership” with India and recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Qatar in February this year. “This visit highlights the importance of our bilateral relations and led the a deeper cooperation,” he said.
Al Sayed said that the trade volume between Qatar and India exceeded USD 14 billion in 2023, making India Qatar’s second-largest trading partner. He called Qatar an “attractive destination for global and regional investors, offering annual opportunity for growth in collaboration.”
“The partnership between Qatar and India represents long-term strategic allies that we are committed to advancing and strengthening together, our unique position allows us to energize our collaboration and achieve significant progress in the near future. Together, we can unlock even greater potential driving innovation, trade and investment for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Commerce, Minn Minn, stressed that India and Myanmar have complementary strengths as the latter has rich agricultural assets and the former has technological innovation and manufacturing expertise.
Speaking at the summit, Minn Minn said, “As neighbouring countries and key trading partners, we stand as a testament to the power of strategic partnerships in advancing regional stability and mutual growth. Our economies possess complementary strengths; Myanmar with its rich agricultural assets and India with its technological innovation and manufacturing expertise. By fostering cooperation in these sectors, we can generate substantial economic benefits for our people.”
He expressed gratitude to India for its technical assistance and Capacity Building Initiative, which has significantly boosted Myanmar’s trade development agenda and improved its capabilities of institution and workforce.
He also acknowledged that economic progress cannot occur in isolation.
“As an active member of ASEAN, we continue to prioritize initiatives such as the master plan of the ASEAN Economic Community ASEAN collectivity, which aims to force trade investment and infrastructure development,” he said.
He stressed the importance of diversifying partnerships, exploring untapped opportunities for collaboration, and addressing challenges, including trade barriers and supply chain issues. (ANI)
Last week, during the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh’s interim government to take steps to protect minorities….reports Asian Lite News
India on Monday decided to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and its other diplomatic premises in the country following an incident earlier in the day involving the breach of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable. Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances.”
The MEA added, “Government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country.”
Last week, during the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh’s interim government to take steps to protect minorities.
Expressing concern over the rise of “extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation,” the MEA said on Friday that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government.
On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal had said, “India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities.”
“We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, and increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests,” he had added.
Notably, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in violent attacks against Hindus and other minority groups, prompting calls for greater protection and support.
The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, with temples, being destroyed after the arrest of a former priest Chinmoy Krishna Das over sedition charges and for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25.
Tensions escalated further after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. (ANI)
Banerjee alleged that the Centre had “bypassed” state governments over the matter and criticised the “lack of dialogue” on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024….reports Asian Lite News
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing it of targeting Muslims and expressing doubts on its passage in Parliament.
Touching upon the reduction of the minority Hindu population in Bangladesh and the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country, she questioned the Centre’s alleged inaction in the matter.
The chief minister, during a debate in the West Bengal assembly on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of “fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like Bangladesh’s minorities, the NRC, UCC, and CAA”.
Banerjee alleged that the Centre had “bypassed” state governments over the matter and criticised the “lack of dialogue” on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Centre did not consult us on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, she claimed.
Banerjee also questioned the timing and process of the proposed legislation, stating, “The budget session is in February. Will you not discuss this Bill with the state before that? Is there no time for it? Will you not consult the state? We raised objections after noticing an advertisement.”
Apparently referring to her letter to the Centre on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, she said, “I don’t know if they even acknowledged it.” She accused the Centre of pushing a “divisive agenda” by singling out Muslims.
“Why is a single religion being targeted in the name of this Waqf (Amendment) Bill? Why are Muslims being targeted? Would you dare to do the same with the properties of various Hindu temple trusts or churches? The answer is no. But, targeting a specific community suits your divisive agenda, Banerjee claimed.
Banerjee made the remarks during the first day of a two-day discussion on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, moved under Rule 169 by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. Banerjee criticised what she termed “misleading narratives around Waqf properties”, calling these baseless allegations.
“Religion is personal, but festivals are for everyone. Those who are suddenly changing their stance now used to say one thing yesterday, and today they say something completely different. It’s all misleading and distorting. They’re saying that wherever you touch, it becomes Waqf. They claimed that even our MPs have said this. Such are baseless remarks, she claimed.
The Trinamool Congress chief criticised the BJP for “making opposition members silent” during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) deliberations on the Bill. In the JPC, opposition members are not allowed to speak. That is why they have boycotted it, Banerjee claimed.
She claimed that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed because of public pressure and alleged that her party’s MPs were excluded from discussions. “Their visits were cancelled. They were supposed to come to Kolkata. Why are they afraid of Kolkata? Surely, there’s something fishy about this,” she claimed.
Banerjee emphasised that constitutional norms must be respected. “We cannot interfere with others’ independence. The Constitution does not give us that right. Do you (BJP) have a majority? First, it has to be passed in Lok Sabha, then Rajya Sabha. You will need a two-thirds majority to pass this,” she remarked.
On the situation in Bangladesh, the CM said the Union government should take steps to protect Hindus in the neighbouring country. “If the minority population in Bangladesh has decreased, is that our fault? Why didn’t the central government address this issue? Were they sitting idle? We tried to bring many from there but couldn’t. Many Hindus wanted to come here. We provided food for them, but you don’t know that. Many Muslims also came here,” she claimed.
Banerjee pointed out the alleged communal undertones in political rhetoric by the BJP leaders, saying, “Are Muslims living only in this country? Don’t they live in other countries? Then why do you target Bengal? Whether fortunate or unfortunate, this country got divided into three parts.”
She recounted the Beldanga incident, where communal tensions flared a few weeks back. “During the Kartik Puja, abusive remarks were made against me in lighting displays. In another place, there were abusive remarks about a specific community in the lighting. Despite multiple warnings, they didn’t listen, leading to clashes. I stayed awake the entire night, along with the DGP and the chief secretary.”
Ushakov stated that Putin and PM Modi have an agreement to hold meetings once a year and it is Russia’s turn this time…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to visit India from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the dates for his visit will be set in early 2025, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said.
While addressing a briefing, Ushakov stated that Putin and PM Modi have an agreement to hold meetings once a year and it is Russia’s turn this time, according to Russian Embassy in India.
The diplomat stated, “Our leaders have an agreement to hold meetings once a year. This time, it’s our turn.” He further said, “We received Mr. Modi’s invitation and we will certainly consider it positively.”
Ushakov noted, “We will figure out the tentative dates early next year.”
This will be Putin’s first visit to India since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2022. India has always advocated “peace and diplomacy” for resolving conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Putin and PM Modi remain in regular contact, holding talks over phone-call once every couple of months, according to Russian Embassy in India. The two leaders also hold in-person meetings. This year, the two leaders met twice as PM Modi in July travelled to Moscow to participate in the 22nd Russia-India summit.
PM Modi’s official visit to Russia in July marked his first bilateral visit after resuming office for the third time. PM Modi was also conferred with Russia’s highest national award “The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle” for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties.
From a warm hug to driving an electric car for ‘dost’ PM Modi, the chemistry between the leaders hogged the limelight. During his visit to Russia, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting and an informal meeting with Putin. The two leaders also visited the Rosatom Pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow.
In October, PM Modi visited Russia’s Kazan for a two-day visit to attend the BRICS Summit. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia and their government for their hospitality. PM Modi took to X to share glimpses of his visit to Russia. (ANI)
Social activists claim that 337 tonnes of hazardous waste remains in a shed of the now-defunct Union Carbide despite Rs 126 crore being given to the Madhya Pradesh government by the Centre for disposal. …reports Asian Lite news
Haunting memories of the Bhopal gas tragedy are still fresh for an ex-scientist at Union Carbide’s Research Centre even after 40 years, who vividly remembers waiting for a bus ride on December 3, 1984, unaware of the worst industrial disaster in the days of limited sources of information.
The scientist, who requested anonymity, left his home in Arera Colony around 8-8:12 AM and expected his usual bus ride to reach the Union Carbide research centre. However, as minutes ticked by and the bus didn’t arrive by 8:30 am, a sense of unease grew.
In the absence of the Internet, mobile phones or social media, people used to rely on landline phones, telegrams, radio bulletins, newspapers, paan and tea shops to keep them updated about happenings in their city and the country, he said.
“As we waited for the bus, a passerby hurriedly told us that gas had leaked resulting in many deaths. I heard about the gas tragedy at a paan shop. Rumours were spreading like wildfire which left us confused,” the scientist told PTI on Monday.
The scientist said he and others decided to go to the factory in an auto-rickshaw.
We saw people running helter-skelter en route to the office located atop Shyamala Hills overlooking the picturesque Upper Lake, he recalled.
“At the Union Carbide research centre, we saw the deployment of police at the gate who didn’t allow us to go inside,” he said.
The scientist further said he heard that gas had leaked from the plant and bodies piled up in the Government Hamidia Hospital.
“Finally, the company management informed us through a message that the research centre will remain closed for the day and asked us to go home,” he said, adding that they returned home around 9.30-9.45 am.
He learned about the magnitude of the tragedy, which turned out to be the world’s worst industrial disaster, from a colleague told about it by the company management.
After a week, the research centre staff was asked not to leave their houses.
“We were also told to remove our nameplates mentioning that we were working in Carbide for our safety considering the anger among people,” he said.
Senior press photographer Gopal Jain said nobody knew what happened exactly and rumours flew thick and fast.
“Around 2.30 am, a woman relative came to my house in the Teen Shade area with her eyes red. She told us dacoits had attacked the old Bhopal area by burning red chillies in large numbers. She said the entire area is engulfed in smoke,” he told PTI.
Jain immediately rushed out of his house to find several people running in the opposite direction of the Old Bhopal area towards the new Bhopal locality.
“Things became clear on December 3 morning when I went to Hamidia Hospital, which was a scene of chaos. Several bodies were lying at the hospital,” Jain reminisced.
The photographer said he learnt about the gas leak tragedy at the hospital.
“I immediately informed BBC veteran Mark Tully over the phone from the city exchange (Department of Telecommunication). Tully flew to Bhopal the same day in a special plane,” he said.
Senior journalist Virendra Sinha, who was working for Samachar Bharti news agency and residing in Old Bhopal, reminisced that he left the city on December 2 for Delhi via Uttar Pradesh to attend a marriage reception.
“I was getting ready in the Delhi office before leaving for Banda in UP when my brother sent a message on the office telex. ‘We all are fine and don’t worry about anything. Go ahead with your programme’,” Sinha said, adding that he was confused as everything was fine when he boarded the train.
He said the nature and scale of the gas tragedy was initially unclear as the incident occurred in the night. “Initial news reports suggested that 8 to 10 people died and 30 to 40 fell unconscious after gas leaked in Bhopal,” he said. Sinha said when he reached Banda the next day, he sent someone to fetch the newspaper “Aaj”.
“The newspaper edition had a banner headline about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy stating that nearly 10,000 people died and over 2 lakh injured,” he recalled.
Sinha decided to rush back to Bhopal without attending the marriage reception.
“The magnitude of the tragedy became clear later,” said Sinha, who retired from Bhasha news agency, the Hindi service of PTI.
On the intervening nights of December 2-3, 1984, the highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant, killing 5,474 persons and maiming more than five lakh others.
Leaked MIC gas covered half of Bhopal hours before factory’s siren went off
However, even after 40 years, a sense of closure eludes some survivors who are afflicted by congenital disorders.
Bhopal resident Sharda Yadav’s two sons, in their 20s, are congenitally disabled, a disorder linked to the exposure of their father to the gas that leaked from Union Carbide’s plant.
Like Sharda Yadav, Abdul Saeed Khan, an ex-Union Carbide employee, is also living with his twin sons born with a congenital disability, which a senior doctor attributed to a “genetic mutation” among the victims of the industrial disaster.
Social activists claim that 337 tonnes of hazardous waste remains in a shed of the now-defunct Union Carbide despite Rs 126 crore being given to the Madhya Pradesh government by the Centre for disposal.
The debate on the Constitution will be held on December 13 and 14 in the Lok Sabha, and 16 and 17 in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said
Members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have agreed to hold a debate on the Indian Constitution next week, following a series of disrupted parliamentary sessions. The breakthrough was achieved during an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla, signalling potential resolution to ongoing tensions.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, addressing reporters outside Parliament, confirmed that the debate is scheduled for December 13 and 14 in the Lok Sabha, followed by December 16 and 17 in the Rajya Sabha. “It is not good to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. We appeal to all Opposition leaders to honour the agreement and ensure Parliament functions smoothly from tomorrow,” Rijiju said, urging all members to uphold decorum during the session.
The ongoing winter session, which began on November 25, has been marred by frequent adjournments. The session, set to continue until December 20, is expected to feature the Constitution debate as its key highlight.
Opposition parties had been advocating for discussions in both houses to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly. This demand gained momentum after recent remarks by Union Minister Rijiju on the government’s position on the Constitution.
The Opposition has raised concerns over potential amendments to the Constitution, citing statements from prominent BJP leaders. Speculation about possible changes has intensified with the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed the Opposition’s claims, asserting that the BJP has no intentions of amending the Constitution. “We have had the mandate to change the Constitution for the last 10 years, but we never did. What do you think Rahul Baba and company would say? This country has given us a clear mandate, and people already know that Modi ji had a sufficient majority to change the Constitution, but we never did that,” Shah stated.
His comments, made in May, were aimed at countering the Opposition’s narrative about the BJP’s constitutional ambitions.
Rijiju’s recent comments during the Constitution Day celebrations on November 26 reignited the debate. These remarks prompted renewed demands from the Opposition for a detailed discussion on the Constitution’s future and its protection.
The upcoming debate is expected to focus on these concerns and will likely shape the remaining days of the winter session.
Rijiju said Lok Sabha Speaker told the meeting that if anyone wants to raise an issue, there is a rule for it.
“You can submit a notice for it but creating a ruckus in Parliament and obstructing the functioning is not good. Everyone has accepted this. It is good that everyone has accepted that discussions will be held from tomorrow. We will pass the first Bill tomorrow after discussions in Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha too, Listed Business will be passed. I appeal once again to all Opposition MPs and Leaders that all agreements that have happened today – we should run the Parliament smoothly…Starting tomorrow, the Parliament will function smoothly – such an agreement has been made. I am hopeful that this will happen,” he said.
Those present at the meeting of floor leaders included Congress member Gaurav Gogoi, TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, DMK’s TR Baalu, NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, Janata Dal-United member Dileshwar Kamait, RJD’s Abhay Kushwaha – RJD, TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant and CPI(M) leader K Radhakrisnan.
Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition has been demanding a discussion on the Constitution of India in both the Houses of Parliament to mark 75 years of adoption of Constitution.
Kalyan Banerjee expressed hope that Parliament will resume normal functioning from tomorrow. “Hopefully, the House will begin from tomorrow. We all have agreed on that. There will be a discussion on the Consitution of India on the 13th and 14th of December…The Speaker will allow a discussion on the Sambhal incident and Bangladesh issue tomorrow,” he said.
Parliament proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties. On Monday, the two Houses were adjourned till 12 noon and then for the rest of the day. The winter session of Parliament began on November 25 and will continue till December 20
On the Opposition raising other issues such as Sambhal violence and Manipur, Mr Rijiju said a decision will be taken in accordance with the rules. These issues have led to constant adjournments of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha since the session began on November 25.
Some Opposition parties, especially the Trinamool Congress, want parliament to discuss a host of different issues, including unemployment, price rise and the Centre’s alleged discrimination against Opposition-ruled states in fund allocation.
The V&A is showcasing The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence, the first major exhibition to present the monumental artistic achievements of the ‘Golden Age’ of the Mughal court (c. 1560-1660). This landmark exhibition on from 9 November 2024 till 5 May 2025 in Galleries 38 & 39, V&A South Kensington celebrates the extraordinary creative output and internationalist culture of Mughal Hindustan during the age of its greatest emperors. Shining a light on one of the wealthiest courts in the world, it tells the story of an immense early modern empire that is largely untold within the U.K. A feature by columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.
Susan Stronge, Curator of The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence said: “This is the first exhibition to reveal the internationalist art and culture of the Mughal court. Hindustani artists, Iranian masters and even a few Europeans came together in the imperial workshops to create a new, hybrid art. We are pleased to display some of their greatest creations, many of which have never been exhibited before.”
The Mughal dynasty was founded in 1526 by Babur, a Timurid prince and ruler from Central Asia. At its peak it was one of the wealthiest and most progressive empires in the world, and extended from Kabul in present-day Afghanistan, to the borders of the Deccan sultanates in the south of the subcontinent, and from Gujarat in the west to present-day Bangladesh in the east. The exhibition showcases over 200 objects across three sections spanning the reigns of Emperors Akbar (r.1556-1605) Jahangir (r.1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (r.1628-1658) and celebrates the craftsmanship and creativity of their court workshops. Rarely shown paintings and illustrated manuscripts not seen for a generation are displayed alongside delicate textiles, brilliantly coloured carpets and fine objects made of mother of pearl, rock crystal, jade and precious metals.
A particular focus of the exhibition is the extraordinary hybrid art created in the imperial workshops by Iranian and Hindustani artists and craftsmen working in the Persian-speaking court. It explores the influence of European art brought to the court by Christian missionaries, foreign ambassadors, and merchants.
Drawing together famous, rarely seen objects from the V&A collections and significant national and international loans, this exhibition brings to life the unparalleled opulence and mastery of Mughal art. Highlight loans include bejewelled objects and precious stones, on loan from the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait, including a precious deep red engraved spinel owned by Timur’s grandson Ulugh Beg, and later by Jahangir and Shah Jahan; an exceptionally fine Mother of Pearl shield (c. 1580), made in Gujarat, that was in the Medici collections by 1599 and is on loan from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence; and a pair of fine jade objects on loan from The Al Thani Collection: a nephrite jade dagger depicting ostriches inlaid with rubies, emeralds and pearls, and the earliest known dated Mughal jade, a mottled nephrite jade wine cup made by master Sa’da Gilani, the head of the Goldsmiths’ workshop under Jahangir.
About the exhibition:
The first section introduces the reign of Akbar, generally considered one of the greatest emperors in Indian history. Catapulted into power at thirteen in 1556, Akbar embarked on a successful campaign of military expansion and whilst his reign was tumultuous, with rebellions across their territories, it was also an inventive and innovative time creatively. Akbar championed new crafts and established court workshops, including the Goldsmiths workshop and the House of Books.
Precious objects made in these workshops are on display in this section, including two rarely seen folios from the colourfully illustrated volumes of the Hamza-Nama, or ‘Book of Hamza’, commissioned by Akbar in the 1570s, on loan from the Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, which will be reunited with a folio from the Fitzwilliam Museum. The Hamza-Nama is one of the earliest examples of Mughal painting, and assembles folk tales often told orally across the Islamic world of the Muslim hero Hamza and his followers as they battle against demons, giants and supernatural forces. These remarkable paintings demonstrate the new and distinctively Mughal style of painting that combined Safavid Iranian conventions with the very different pictorial traditions of the Hindu and Muslim artists of Hindustan. Another highlight of this section which demonstrates this Mughal style is a pictorial carpet (c. 1590–1600), on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. On display in the U.K for the first time, this two-meter-long carpet combines Iranian conventions with pictorial scenes inspired by Mughal manuscript painting.
The designs compare closely with details in paintings of the period, including the mythical hybrid gajasinha, a winged, lion-bodied, elephant-headed beast under attack by a fantastic flying bird, the simurgh. Decorative arts and metalwork of unparalleled quality also feature in this section,including a Ceremonial Spoon of chased gold and set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. The spoon combines uniquely Indian goldsmithing techniques with Iranian designs and a European form.
Also on display are paintings and engravings by Mughal Court artists inspired by European art brought to the court by Jesuit missionaries from Portuguese Goa. Portraits with European sitters are shown here, as well as paintings depicting a European style angels and religious scenes. Finally, this section includes sketches by court artists imitating European works, including studies of Albrecht Durer’s The Crucifixion from ‘The Engraved Passion’ (1511).
The second section explores the arts of the reign of Akbar’s son, Jahangir. Jahangir inherited this well-run and wealthy empire in 1605, which was described by the English ambassador to King Charles I as ‘the treasury of the world’. The splendour of court and palace ritual is explored in this section through the display of paintings and precious objects of great opulence and rarity.
A gold dagger and scabbard set with over two thousand rubies, emeralds and diamonds, on loan from the al-Sabah collection is shown next to a finely crafted jewelled jade pendant and number of imperial wine cups made of imported Chinese jade, including a wine cup on loan from The Al Thani Collection, which is the earliest known dated Mughal jade. The wine cup is inscribed with Jahangir’s titles and Persian verses in praise of wine, and was created by Iranian Master Sa’ida Gilani, the Iranian supervisor of the imperial goldsmiths’ department. These precious objects were often revealed to the court during the opulent celebrations that took place at Nowruz, or New Year, or were exchanged between members of the court at the Birthday Weighing of the Emperor.
A unique Mughal Hunting coat, made in the 1610s, also features in this section. This vibrant coat – a highlight from the V&A collection – is embroidered with animals and plants using sixteen different colours of dyed silk across thirteen panels of fine white satin. With a composition designed by manuscript painters, the coat depicts a variety of birds, hares, spotted leopards and striped tigers ready to pounce, cranes in mid-flight, and naturalistic flowers.
Finally, this section explores Jahangir’s travels across the empire accompanied by court artists and craftsmen in the vast tented encampment. His leading artists painted the animals they saw on their travels or that had been given to the emperor by ambassadors from across the globe.
On display from the V&A archive are two vividly naturalistic paintings – very rarely seen – by Jahangir’s famous artists, depicting exotic animals including a North American Turkey Cock, and an African zebra. The third and final section explores the reign of Shah Jahan, who is perhaps most famous internationally for commissioning the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, whose name means ‘king of the
world’, presented a strong and unified imperial image – that was projected across all the arts of the court. Floral imagery reinforced the notion that the empire was a garden of paradise under Shah Jahan’s just rule, ornamenting architecture, jewellery and the art of the book. On display are tiles and embroidered textiles featuring blossoming plants and flowers, as well as albums decorated in gold, with flowers painted in the borders. A key feature of this section focuses on the Taj Mahal, the tomb built by the emperor for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. 19th century architectural drawings depicting the details of the marble inlaid with semi-precious are on display, as well as a miniature model reproduction of the Queens’s cenotaph.
The internationalism and wealth of court life comes into focus in this section, with vibrant contemporary paintings depicting formal court assemblies and celebrations as well as portraits depicting members of the imperial family. Another key object is the V&A’s famous wine cup crafted from white nephrite jade, made for Shah Jahan in 1657. Shaped with the head of a ram and inscribed with his title, the extremely fine cup is one of the most exquisite surviving objects from his reign.
The finale showcases precious stones from the Imperial Workshops, and the uniquely Mughal cuts of diamonds from Golconda. Eight rare treasures from the al-Sabah Collection are presented here, including the exceptional red royal spinel inscribed with the names of six rulers, engraved by imperial court master Sa’ida, and a 110 carat Colombian emerald pendant bead, carved with a delicate flower motif.
The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence has been supported by the Huo Family Foundation, The Al Thani Collection Foundation, Blavatnik Family Foundation, with further support from Maithili Parekh and Shashank Singh, Santi Jewels and the V&A Americas Foundation
About the V&A
The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity. Our mission is to champion design and creativity in all its forms, advance cultural knowledge, and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere.
V&A South Kensington is a world of extraordinary global creativity, with unmissable exhibitions, experiences and educational programmes for all. One of London’s most iconic buildings, it is home to national collections of art, design, fashion, photography and furniture to theatre, performance, architecture, and ceramics, as well as the UK’s National Art Library. It is a place where everyone can experience a story of creativity that spans 5,000 years and every creative discipline, which brings that story to life through programmes and activities for all ages and specialisms, and world-leading research and conservation.
About the Huo Family Foundation
The Huo Family Foundation’s mission is to support education, communities and the pursuit of knowledge. Through its donations, the Foundation hopes to improve the prospects of individuals, and to support the work of organisations seeking to ensure a safe and successful future for all society. The Foundation aims to make art more accessible to all through its support for galleries, museums and centres for the performing arts.
About The Al Thani Collection Foundation
The Al Thani Collection Foundation is a non-profit organisation whose core mission is to advance and promote art and culture. This objective is principally delivered through public art initiatives including sponsorships, museum projects, the staging of exhibitions, an international loans programme and academic publications, honouring artistic achievement across a rich diversity of cultures.
About The Blavatnik Family Foundation
The Blavatnik Family Foundation supports world-renowned educational, scientific, cultural, and charitable institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and across the globe. Led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery, and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to over 250 organizations.
With additional support from Santi Jewels:
About Santi Jewels
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In that time, 6,288 people crossed the Channel, compared with 768 over the same period last year. …reports Asian Lite News
The number of small boat arrivals since Keir Starmer took power has passed 20,000, with the Home Office claiming a record number of calm autumnal days in the Channel was responsible.
A 31-day period in October and November had the highest ratio of so-called “red days” – when weather conditions make crossings likely or very likely – since records began in 2018, according to a leaked analysis.
In that time, 6,288 people crossed the Channel, compared with 768 over the same period last year. The data will be used by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to explain why the number of crossings by small boats carrying people seeking refuge has jumped in recent weeks.
After a fortnight when bad weather prevented any crossings, two dinghies reached UK waters after midnight on Saturday with a combined total of 122 people onboard. This took the number of people who have arrived since 4 July to 20,110.
It comes as Cooper prepares to make a statement to the House of Commons on a deal she signed last week with the Iraqi government on joint cooperation to tackle people-smuggling gangs and increase returns of rejected claimants.
According to Home Office data covering 11 October to 10 November, 26 of the 31 days were classified as “red”, compared with just three over the same dates in 2023. When the Conservative government left office, 2024 was on track to be the busiest ever year for small boat arrivals, with 13,574 people crossing the Channel in the six months leading up to the election.
That was almost 19% more than the 11,433 who crossed in the same period in 2023, 5% more than the 12,900 in the previous record year of 2022, and more than double the 6,594 in 2021. In her statement to the Commons on Monday, Cooper is expected to contrast the government’s strategy with the record of her predecessors, who she will say lost control of every aspect of the immigration and asylum system, from small boat arrivals and asylum hotel costs to the total levels of net migration.
It took about eight and a half months for arrivals to pass 20,000 after Rishi Sunak became prime minister. His tenure began in the autumn, meaning his first few months in power coincided with winter weather conditions when typically fewer crossings take place.
By contrast, Starmer took on the role in the middle of the summer period when crossings are usually at their most numerous amid spells of better weather. It has taken about five months for arrivals to pass 20,000 since he came to power.
A Labour source said: “Robert Jenrick told the truth last week. He said the Tory party’s ‘handling of immigration let the country down badly’ and ‘caused immense and lasting harm’. We will not repeat those same mistakes.”
The government minister Pat McFadden told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that the UK “will always need migration” but that it had to be balanced with training the British workforce so “you’re not over-reliant on immigration”.
He said Labour would not be setting net migration targets but would publish a plan next week to reduce legal and illegal migration.
The Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, admitted on Wednesday that previous Tory governments had failed to keep their promises on immigration, and she pledged to launch a radical review of Tory immigration policies.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics on Thursday showed that net migration ballooned to 906,000 in 2023.
The Home Office has never before removed any nationality in such large numbers on individual deportation charter flights…reports Asian Lite News
More than 600 Brazilians, including 109 children, have been secretly removed from the UK – on the three largest Home Office deportation charter flights in history – since the Labour government came to power, the Observer has learned.
The Home Office has never before removed any nationality in such large numbers on individual deportation charter flights. It is thought that children have never before been removed on these flights.
According to freedom of information data seen by the Observer, the three flights were on 9 August, when 205 people including 43 children were removed; 23 August, when 206 people were removed, including 30 children; and 27 September, when 218 people were removed, including 36 children. All the deported children were part of family units, and many of them would have been settled at school and are likely to have spent most if not all of their lives in the UK.
The returns were classed as voluntary and were likely to include people who had overstayed their visas. The Home Office offers incentives for voluntary returnees of up to £3,000 including for babies and children. The sweeteners are provided in the form of pre-loaded cards that can be activated once people touch down in their home country.
The government is keen to trumpet its deportation credentials with figures published on Thursday revealing 8,308 enforced and voluntary returns between July and September 2024, a 16% increase on the same period last year. The majority – 6,247 – were voluntary returns, an increase of 12% on this category of returns during the same period in 2023. While the government is keen to promote the numbers returned they have failed to mention publicly that the destination of these historic deportation flights was Brazil.
Latin American rights organisations have raised concerns about how the Home Office was able to get such large numbers of a single nationality including unprecedented numbers of children likely to be settled at school out of the country completely under the radar.
The organisation Coalition of Latin Americans in the UK expressed alarm about the hundreds of secret deportations: “We are concerned by the sharp increase in voluntary returns of Brazilians in the last year. As the largest Latin American community in the UK, Brazilians face significant barriers to accessing high-quality information and accredited legal advice, particularly in their own language. Many arrived through onward migration from EU countries. However, post-Brexit immigration rule changes have left hundreds of them and their non-EU family members at risk of having their rights denied due to misinformation and harsh eligibility requirements.” The coalition warned that Brazilian women are particularly at risk for the Home Office initiative to remove Brazilians from the UK en masse, particularly those experiencing gender-based violence.
“These women are often trapped by abusive partners who use their British or EU passports as tools of control, leaving them with no viable path to safety or settlement,” they say.
In one case a woman was being supported by Latin American Women’s Aid. She was fleeing violence with her two sons – including a disabled child with special education needs. They were forced to move between three hotels. The woman was refused what is called the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession, which allows migrant domestic violence victims to stay in the UK and had no choice but to return to Brazil.
It is not known how many people on the three flights did not want to return to Brazil due to fears about their safety but felt they had no choice but to board the planes.
The center-left opposition parties Labour and the Social Democrats are seen by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as the most likely junior coalition parties..reports Asian Lite News
The incumbent center-right parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael looked set to retain power in Ireland as vote counting in the European Union member’s general election resumed on Sunday.
With half the seats of the new 174-seat lower chamber of parliament decided since Friday’s vote, the two parties were ahead of the main opposition party, the left-wing nationalist Sinn Fein.
Fianna Fail, led by the experienced Micheal Martin, 64, won the largest vote share with 22 percent. Fine Gael, whose leader Simon Harris, 38, is the outgoing prime minister (taoiseach), was in second place with 21 percent, while Sinn Fein was in third (19 percent).
To form a majority, a party or coalition requires at least 88 seats. At the halfway stage Fianna Fail had secured 23 seats, Fine Gael 22, and Sinn Fein 21. Both center-right parties have repeatedly ruled out entering a coalition with Sinn Fein.
The center-left opposition parties Labour and the Social Democrats are seen by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as the most likely junior coalition parties, according to media reports. The Green Party was the third member of the previous coalition but its support collapsed nationwide, with all but one seat likely to be lost.
At the last general election in 2020, the pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein — the former political wing of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army — was the most popular party but could not find willing coalition partners. That led to weeks of horse-trading, ending up with Fine Gael, which has been in power since 2011, agreeing a deal with Fianna Fail.
During the last parliamentary term, the role of prime minister rotated between the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leaders. The final seat numbers, which will not be confirmed until early next week, will determine whether Harris returns as taoiseach or Martin takes the role under a similar rotation arrangement.
The new parliament is due to sit for the first time on December 18, but with coalition talks likely to drag on a new government might not be formed until the new year. Martin told reporters in Cork that there was “very little point” in discussing government formation until seats were finalized.
“I think there’s capacity to get on,” he said, when asked if there is trust between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Paschal Donohoe, a top Fine Gael minister in the outgoing cabinet, said there was “a chance” a government might still be formed this year.
“But we do have a lot of work to do,” Donohoe told reporters in Dublin after his own re-election to parliament. “Overall the center has held up in Irish politics,” he said.
The three-week campaign, launched after Harris called a snap election on November 8, was dominated by rancour over housing supply and cost-of-living crises, health, public spending and the economy. “It’s all been an anti-climax as far as I’m concerned,” Michael O’Kane, a 76-year-old semi-retired engineer, said in Dublin.
“It’s more of the same. The two parties who dominated the government last time are back again… but with the (fresh coalition partners) it might be a little bit less stable,” he said.
