It is an attempt to capture the understanding that both of them make when working in tandem. This possibly makes it an artwork…reports Olivia Sarkar.
The art series, “Paradigm of Oneness,” is the artist, Dr Kalra’s internal dialogue, a journey of art as a personal expression. His art is not about deciphering or finding reasons but simplifying the complexities. The intangible and invisible spirit become a manifestation in this series through the verses that become symbolic of the beauty of nature.
This personal expression of setting text in artworks has been part of Dr Kalra’s style for more than a decade. When his mother left for her eternal journey, it transformed into an interpretation. The artworks have metaphors and signs that not only take forms but also attempt to express the essence through iconography.
The word ‘Sab Tera’ is colloquially also interpreted as ‘terah’, or thirteen, and in keeping with this concept, thirteen Shabads have been taken to create this series of artworks. The Oneness of Humans, Gender, Nature, Universe, Divinity, and the Value of Sharing are all addressed in Shabads by Baba Nanak, Kabirdas, and Sheikh Farid. This series encourages the soul to reflect on itself. Each stroke or piece of artwork is a process of discovering and comprehending the Divine through His creations.
The engagement with the artisan at Sangraha Sacha Sauda Atelier transfers the artist to a state of bliss as the minds and expressions connect. It is an attempt to capture the understanding that both of them make when working in tandem. This possibly makes it an artwork.
Through the words of Dr Kalra, and through the medium of embroidery, I work towards the discovery of spiritual realism and the truthfulness of my soul. Shabads, with their full grace, have been lovingly sketched and embroidered in zardosi and chikankari.”
Dr Kalra’s relationship with the pencil and colours began at a young age. His artistic expression was not restricted to flat surfaces; from the age of fifteen, he began creating three-dimensional artworks for the theatre. He went on to earn a professional degree in design and pursued graduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in the field. Throughout his education and afterwards as an academician, he maintained an interest in art and a passion for workmanship.
Hilton London Croydon is the perfect place to stay if you intend to visit the capital or to explore all the nearby attractions, or to spend time in the Surrey countryside … writes Reza Amirinia
Our stay at Hilton London Croydon gave us the great opportunity to see London from a different perspective. After a day exploring what Croydon has to offer including spending time in Croydon’s large shopping centre (called the Whitgift Centre), and walking in Lloyd Park near the hotel, now it was time to treat ourselves to a romantic and memorable evening. We sat at a reserved table in a quiet corner of the Lounge Bar. There is also the Larder restaurant in the hotel, which offers a different ambience.
The menu was quite comprehensive. We chose red pepper and tomato soup as the starter with nachos. The combination of roasted red pepper and tomato soup served with sourdough bread was delicious. With the nachos came a starter plate of beetroot, linseed, and turmeric tortillas, topped with jalapenos, grated cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream which made a very rich dish. We couldn’t finish it all as we needed to save some space for the main course.
Dining at Hilton London Croydon
For our mains we chose grilled chicken. It was served with a flat mushroom and the plate delicately decorated with roasted vine cherry tomatoes, chunky chips, and came with a pepper sauce.
The restaurant manager, Mr Clifford generously guided us on the selection of dessert. He offered us two of the most popular dessert options from the menu. We chose a cheesecake with blackcurrants. Then the manager surprised us with a complementary dish of their mandarin sorbet dessert. Both dishes were very rich and tasty. We finished off this feast with a mint tea and added lemon to help better digest all those deliciously sweet and sugary desserts.
After a great night’s sleep we woke up feeling great. Our breakfast was a real treat, with a variety of healthy options on the buffet but with table service. The chef, Mr. Von Collantes, gave us a quick tour of the extensive selections. We also looked through the colourful breakfast menu. We ordered an omelette with beans, potato patties, tomato, and vegetable sausages. While waiting for our order, we started our breakfast with oat porridge and a small bowl of fresh fruit. The chef lovingly prepared our omelettes which were neigh-on perfect and the potatoes were lovely and crunchy. The chef made us feel very special being attentive to our every need. Now I was comfortably full and finished off this breakfast feast with a cup of strong coffee.
Hilton London Croydon is the perfect place to stay if you intend to visit the capital or to explore all the nearby attractions, or to spend time in the Surrey countryside. If you are interested why not visit the Croydon Airport visitor centre which is housed in the original terminal building. Unfortunately, we could not visit as it was closed due to the pandemic.
Dining at Hilton London Croydon
There is a quick and frequent train service from Croydon to “Victoria Station” in central London that gets you there in less than a 20 minutes journey on the direct train service. You can drive into central London but be aware of the Congestion Charge Zones. The M25 motorway is just 20 minutes away giving easy access to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports as well as seaside towns like Brighton and Hastings.
I highly recommend staying at Hilton London Croydon as you will not be disappointed. You will certainly experience luxury at an affordable price and lovely friendly staff.
More information
Hilton London Croydon offers Wellness Guest Room from £96 for two adults and Wellness Junior Suite from £141 for two adults.
To find out more about Hilton London Croydon and book your next trip, please visit https://www.hilton.com.
True, a jailbreak cannot be compared with the reconquest of a country but that is not the way Palestinians see it…writes Saeed Naqvi
What could possibly be common between the Taliban brandishing their weapons in Kabul and Palestinians twirling their spoons (yes, teaspoons) with a flourish? Well, the latter were celebrating because six Palestinian prisoners had pulled off a seemingly impossible escape from the high security Gilboa prison in Northern Israel. Clearly an embarrassment for a state which flaunts national security as a marketable commodity. The spoon has become an emblem because the six used it as an implement to dig a hole in the toilet attached to their cell.
Israeli-Prime-Minister-Benjamin-Netanyahu-
The prisoners, according to Israeli authorities, were affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the Times of Israel, the leader of the group, Zakaria Zubeidi, was “a former commander in Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.” That Zubeidi and three others (at the time of writing) have been arrested is a separate chapter. Kabul and Gilboa establish without any shadow of a doubt a reality all too common in history: limits to power. In this instance, the US globally and its ally Israel, regionally — particularly considering its stalemate with Arab militias like Hezbollah.
Massive intelligence failure attended both the events. True, a jailbreak cannot be compared with the reconquest of a country but that is not the way Palestinians see it. The Times of Israel reports: “The escape is considered a highly symbolic success for the terror groups. It is being celebrated with ‘euphoria’ among Palestinians.”
The Taliban, likewise, in the initial flush are folk heroes in Afghanistan and beyond having done a David on Goliath. To bring out the irony in sharp focus on the US debacle in Afghanistan, recall the January 29, 2002, State of the Union address by President George W Bush. The President sketched in bold colours the ‘Axis of Evil.’ Ironies upon ironies attend that speech. Bush welcomes Hamid Karzai as “leader of liberated Afghanistan.” Karzai is now under house arrest. Bush gloats “Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupy cells at Guantanamo Bay.” There is a disconcerting update on this too. Not only have the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, at least five in the new Kabul power structure were released from Guantanamo Bay in 2015.
What does all this portend? Is a phase of Imperialism coming full circle? One cannot expect US President Joe Biden to say it in quite that language, but what else does one make of his promise to end “never ending” wars. American youth, who are now 20 years of age, have never seen “America at peace.” Suicide rate among military veterans as high as 18 per day? Biden clearly abhors this data.
The problem, of course is, that Biden is only the President, not the system. Even so he is proceeding with some sense of the consensus he has forged around him. For him to declassify the secret FBI report which reveals the connection of Saudi Nationals to 9/11, indicates a sharp departure from past practice. Remember the days of George W Bush and his buddy Saudi Ambassador Bandar bin Sultan, or Bandar Bush as he was called because of his chumminess with the President? Those days seem like ancient history, days when Israel and Saudi Arabia were equally sacrosanct. Both had to be protected from bad copy.
And now even military protection is being withdrawn. In recent weeks the US removed its most advanced missile defense system, and Patriot batteries from the Kingdom which faces attacks from, say, Houthis in Yemen. Troop reductions from Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan have also been confirmed by the Pentagon. Departure from Afghanistan will remain vivid in our minds for years. Despite these stories every American strategist will tell you “the Middle East is not being abandoned.” There is that ‘over the horizon’ capability which includes updated drones. British premier Boris Johnson calls it “outside-in” ability.
Israel, which is busy adjusting to limits on its power as a concept, must place in its calculus the US distancing itself from the Arab theatre. Yes, support for Israel in the US remains durable — Jewish control of banks, media, institutes of learning, election, finance. What is not so well known is what Noam Chomsky describes as much the most powerful support for Israel — Christian Zionism. Former Israeli Ambassador in the US, Ron Dermer, has urged Israel to prioritise maintaining the support of the American evangelical Christian. It must be assiduously wooed. “People must understand that the backbone of support for Israel in the US is the evangelical Christian.” The quote is from The Palestinian Policy Network, Al-Shabaka. Israel can breathe easy because there is no indication of Biden distancing himself from this line of thinking.
US thinning out from the region will accentuate popular perception of Israel’s exclusive support base inside the US. As Israel rolls its eyes around to size up the neighbourhood for subtle adjustments, it will find to its chagrin, Iran undiminished. Houthis in Yemen, Hashd al Shaabi in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, groups supportive of President Assad in Syria and increasing reports of Iranian role in Afghanistan, initiated by the late Quds Commander, Qasem Soleimani — all of these enhance Iran’s position in the region. The cookie in Afghanistan having crumbled the way it has, Iran’s role in this theatre may in the future be of interest to the US.
The launch of AUKUS (Australia, UK and US), an idea borrowed conceptually from ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and US) against the Soviet Union, shows the urgency Biden accords to what Barack Obama called ‘pivot to Asia’. The pivot was of much greater saliency. West Asia, though still important, had placed a disproportionate demand on Washington’s attention. The nuclear deal conferred on Tehran the kind of legitimacy that was to have enabled it to balance power in the region. This would be in concert with Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, Turkey. The regional balance of power would then require less day-to-day attention, freeing Washington to pay greater attention to the pivot. That appears to be the route on Biden’s GPS.”
Karam Malhotra- Partner & Global VP, SHAREit Group
Connecting with offline consumers: The trends and tactics Middle Eastern businesses should consider for successful marketing campaigns…writes Karam Malhotra
In today’s evolving technology-first world, the connected consumer effectively lives on digital platforms, surrounded by connectivity devices and active on real-time communication tools. While connected consumers may range from young digital natives to full-time working professionals and their interests and demands vary – commonalities in their behaviors are also apparent. Mobile devices have propelled them into a new dimension, one where they could be reading on their phones during transit or checking product reviews when face-to-face with store sales representatives. Without question, connectivity is a constant state of being, applicable to many millions of people. However, what’s equally true is that another segment has, to date, remained traditional: the offline consumer.
Karam Malhotra- Partner & Global VP, SHAREit Group
Regional offline consumer outlook
This applies to the Middle East, where there remain markets where connectivity is not seamlessly acquirable. Although approximately 280 million people across the region were connected to mobile internet by the end of 2020 , a further 350 million were still without mobile internet connections – emphasizing the scale of offline consumers even today, as well as the varying level of digital maturity across the region.
With these scenarios in mind, two questions have arisen from a brand standpoint: Firstly, are they looking beyond connected consumers? Secondly, how can they connect with potential offline consumers? While 70 percent of Middle Eastern organizations will have accelerated digital technologies adoption to transform their business processes and outreach capabilities by 2022 , many will still be challenged to successfully reach those who do not fall into the connected consumer category. Although surprising to some, certain communities will continue residing in areas where reliable and uninterrupted connectivity issues persist, with content consumed in native languages.
Fortunately, mobile represents an opportunistic gateway for brands to engage with this target audience, especially considering the challenges COVID-19 has posed. As of January 2021, the Middle East had witnessed a sizeable increase in mobile device activations with 23 percent year-over-year growth and e-commerce sales are expected to reach USD 48.6 billion by 2022 – a USD 21.7 billion increase from 2018 . The mobile phone is a constant companion for the Middle Eastern consumer wherever they are – at home, work, or social gatherings – and many brand marketers are proactively considering new ways to circulate mobile content in communities that lack internet access via offline marketing.
In simple terms, offline marketing is reaching out to audiences without connectivity access by leveraging the power of mobile. Various content sharing and discovery platforms enable users to share files and content even when offline, while in-app advertising can also drive huge volumes of downloads – yielding successful offline marketing results.
Key marketing considerations for businesses
As businesses look ahead and chart a course for interacting with offline audiences, they should be aware of the latest trends and consider the marketing technologies that will be most beneficial to them. Firstly, it is apparent that the pandemic has changed the content consumption playbook for brands. Traditional cable or satellite service cancellations have led to a decrease in TV viewership, with consumers no longer watching TV ads or visiting stores to purchase products. Instead, an omnichannel mobile-oriented shopping experience has taken effect. The Middle East has witnessed exponential growth in over-the-top (OTT) videos and related services in recent times, and this momentum will continue through 2024 as OTT platform subscriptions continue rising.
Consumers, although advertently, also have declining attention spans, which businesses should view as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Short format videos lead to better engagement with consumers, and these should be pursued as a form of engagement with the offline consumer. Furthermore, while there are popular marketing technology tools that businesses use to efficiently drive campaigns, such as Google Analytics and Salesforce, it is worth highlighting a different approach for increasing user numbers from an application standpoint. Partnering with peer-to-peer (P2P) apps that target offline audiences, have an established user base, and boast notable expertise in app marketing can help drive quality downloads for one’s business and solidify successful engagement with offline audiences.
For Middle Eastern businesses, the coming period represents an opportunity to reach out to offline consumers and acquire new customers through the power of mobile. Irrespective of limited internet access, mobile activation, payment, and subscription rates will continue increasing in the years ahead, broadening potential and possibilities. By pursuing OTT services, marketing technologies, and platform partnerships, businesses can interact with offline consumers like never before and build mutually beneficial relationships for the long term.
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) during his exile in Switzerland he came across the massive 647-page book called History of Indian Buddhism (1844) by a well-known Sanskritist and French Indologist Eugene Bernouf (1801-52) after reading the book he was deeply moved by its philosophical concept of renunciation and immediately sketched out a dramatic poem based on the book and called it Die Sieger (The Victors) and it this project that occupied till the very end of his life …. A special report by Dilip Roy
Gautama the Buddha or the Enlightened one was born at a place called Lumbini in (Sixth century BCE) in ancient India. Buddhist philosophy spread from across India to Sri Lanka to the entire South East Asia including Japan and Tibet reaching the West in the 19th century.
In America intellectual thinkers like Albert Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and in Germany it was philosophers of the likes of Arthur Schopenhauer Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Friedrich Schlegel and above all Richard Wagner were influenced by Buddhist philosophy. In India too intellectual giants like Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda were greatly inspired by the philosophy.
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) during his exile in Switzerland he came across the massive 647-page book called History of Indian Buddhism (1844) by a well-known Sanskritist and French Indologist Eugene Bernouf (1801-52) after reading the book he was deeply moved by its philosophical concept of renunciation and immediately sketched out a dramatic poem based on the book and called it Die Sieger (The Victors) and it this project that occupied till the very end of his life.
Wagner in his own diary (1865) wrote a letter to King Ludwig of Bavaria on 31st May 1868 with a proposal of developing the opera and in that he explains the terms Nirvana, Brahman, Samsara and Dhyana are roughly equivalent to eternity, soul and paradise and he goes Brahman becomes desire, as music; the music which is turned towards samsara, poetry; which is the other, the side which is turned away from samsara? Nirvana – untroubled, pure harmony.
Richard Wagner also relates the title “The Victors” to his own individual philosophy and situation. The expression for Buddha and disciples has been from the Buddhist term Jina and does not refer to the archetype of a radiant conqueror, but rather to a person who, in course of moral struggle with himself, overcomes his passion and selfishness through renunciation. On 22nd February 1859, Wagner felt that he had made so much progress himself along the Buddhist path that he could imagine – and indeed yearned for a – a life as a medicant monk outside the social constraints.
However, in spite of all the efforts, Wagner’s dream of staging the Buddhist opera remained unfulfilled for he was too ill to continue the project which only survives in sketches but a lot of found its way into his last opera Parsifal. Wagner was among the very first to appreciate Buddhism and that he was the first major European artist to be inspired by this religion.
( Mr Dilip Roy is an ardent admirer of Richard Wagner’s operas and prose works. Mr Roy is also an elected Fellow of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He considers Wagner as the greatest cultural icon of 19th century and remains unequalled till today.)
I was impressed with the health and safety measures in the hotel from the point of arrival, from the use of hand sanitizer to the compulsory use of masks by staff and guests in all public areas in the hotel. I noticed the blue label “the Hilton CleanStay seal” on the entrance door of every room, indicating that the room not only had been cleaned but also sanitized and disinfected … writes Reza Amirinia
I and my wife live in London and often enjoy exploring this vibrant cosmopolitan city. A city whose heritage extends beyond its city boundaries and flows into its extensive suburbs. We decided to venture beyond those boundaries and try a short staycation in Hilton London Croydon hotel.
Wellness retreat at Hilton London Croydon
The current location of Hilton London Croydon is where once stood London Croydon Airport which opened in 1928 and became the world’s biggest and most advanced airport.
We arrived at Hilton London Croydon and were welcomed by their friendly and attentive staff. Our check-in was very quick and we were shown to our spacious wellness room in no time. I was impressed with the health and safety measures in the hotel from the point of arrival, from the use of hand sanitizer to the compulsory use of masks by staff and guests in all public areas in the hotel. I noticed the blue label “the Hilton CleanStay seal” on the entrance door of every room, indicating that the room not only had been cleaned but also sanitized and disinfected.
We chose King Junior Wellness Suite, a new concept initiated by Hilton London Croydon to offer a more relaxed room option. Whether you are staying for leisure or visiting as a business guest, it is good to have an opportunity to reconnect with one’s self in this way.
Wellness retreat at Hilton London Croydon
The room was very modern, comfortable, and spacious. There was a welcome bowl of fruit and a selection of juices, smoothies and an interesting tea and coffee selection. The sound of birds in the room added a sense of mystery and made us feel as though we had been transported to some tropical paradise. We learned that Hilton London Croydon provides a device to play relaxation sounds by the bedside for meditation as a way to de-stress their guests. The hotel takes the well-being of its guests so seriously that it provides a purifying plant in the wellness guest room to improve natural air quality as you rest or sleep. You can also use a lavender pillow spray to relieve stress and have a calm sleep.
Rarely do you find fitness equipment in a hotel room, but in Hilton London Croydon wellness rooms you will including a yoga mat, resistance bands, yoga blocks, and a yoga ball for physical exercise and mental transformation. If you want to go beyond these gentle exercises you could always visit the hotel’s gym which is accessible 24 hours.
Last but not the least, the creative addition to the room is the focus on the idea of light as a healing measure. I found the Himalayan salt lamp on my bedside a great way to relieve anxiety and help increase my energy levels. There was also another light therapy device available on the table. You could choose three levels of intensity to change the brightness to improve your mood. It is said the light affects the flow of chemicals in the brain, improve mood, and helps to have better sleep and we found it really helped.
The concept of the wellness guest room is an innovative approach to bring guests eight dimensions of Air, Light, Scent, Taste, Hydration, Relaxation, Fitness, and Sound for an ultimate experience of joy and rejuvenation.
Wellness retreat at Hilton London Croydon
Hilton London Croydon goes one step further in wellness by providing the luxuries on the wellness tray in the bathroom. You can pamper yourself by using a facial mask, bath salts, and bath bombs with floating bathing flowers. Wrap yourself up in the plush bathrobe and relax in your “Air-conditioned” room. If you need more specialized treatment such as a massage or facial, onsite beauty therapists at this excellent hotel can take care of you.
More information
Hilton London Croydon offers Wellness Guest Room from £96 for two adults and Wellness Junior Suite from £141 for two adults.
To find out more about Hilton London Croydon and book your next trip, please visit https://www.hilton.com.
Fake pictures are in use in social media for a long time ago. So how do we stop ourselves not to fall into the trap of fake pictures? One of the best ways to do this is to use a reverse image search. It means you will be able to know how to interpret information. Another way is to verify it yourself. Here are some tips and tricks.
Fake images are always there, but this term has received a lot of attention lately. First because of President Donald Trump’s phrase. Recently, it has been due to the Facebook-Cambridge analytic data scandal. The news is mainly a source of information, which means fake news is the opposite. According to the dictionaries, this is a false source of deliberately distributed information to fooling people.
1.Use Reverse Image Search
Most often, forged news comes in the form of an image. Photos that try to deliver some information but actually from other incidents that are entirely unrelated are shared on social media. One of the easiest ways to check whether any picture is real is uploading it to reverse image search.
Press the enter button to browse from there and you can get results. It will help you see if the picture is what it was supposed to be or not. Whether it comes from the right incident or whether someone posts a similar image that might match the content you are looking for.
2. Check whether the image has been denied
Many fake images are recirculated and previously denied. Photo search is a simple and effective way to see how previous photos have been used. Unlike typical internet searches where keywords are determined, the reverse image search for pictures can give the same results yet from a broader database.
The reverse picture search engine index in depth from comprehensive content and get data from always changing social media pages as well. Irrespective of whether the picture is located over the internet, this site will find it. In this way, no online content is left untouched so that you get the most valid results.
You can increase the possibility of getting the finest results by cutting pictures containing areas that are in demand. Because this reverse image search requires you to upload pictures which will be compared to thousands of databases.
3. Check Metadata
Digital pictures often contain rich metadata that can provide instructions on their origin and authenticity. Metadata is data about data. Metadata for digital pictures, including making cameras and models; Camera settings such as the size of the aperture and exposure time; date and time when the picture is taken.
The location of the GPS where the picture is captured; and much more. All these procedures are easily possible with reverse image search which is available atreverseimagesearch.com.
4. Get to know what is Fake
When assessing whether a picture is authentic or not, it is essential to know what can be fake. For example, two people’s picture standing shoulder to shoulder is relatively easy to make by connecting two photos. Likewise, the shark picture swims next to the surfer—the concept of two people who embrace more challenges to make because complex interactions are difficult to falsify.
Modern artificial intelligence and reverse image search can produce a difference between fake and real objects. This is mainly limited to changing faces in pictures, not the entire body. So it is possible to create a good fake from someone who says something they have never done but doesn’t have to do anything with physical actions.
5. Help against the wrong information
Fake pictures have led to terrible violence throughout the world, manipulating democratic elections and civil riots. The prevalence of incorrect information also allows anyone to “fake news” in response to any news stories they disagree with.
I believe that it is essential for the technology sector to make a broad and in-depth change in content moderation policies. Reverse image search technology can no longer ignore direct and measurable losses originating from their sources.
Social media. (File Photo: IANS)
Finally, everyone must change the way they consume and spread content online. When reading online stories, diligently consider the source. Always be careful of extraordinary satirical stories that are often misinterpreted for real news.
Conclusion
Check the date of each story. Many fake accounts continue to recirculate the year after their introduction. Know that many primary backups such as reverse image search are designed to attract your attention. Readout of the editorial to ensure that the story is what it seems to be.
The news you read on social media is fed algorithmically to you based on previous consumption that matches your current view. Finally, extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence. The reverse image makes every possible way out to search for the authenticity of pictures within a couple of seconds.
