CITIES
Being a comedian has helped me think with intent: Urooj Ashfaq | Bengaluru News – The Times of India
From experimenting with edgy materials to connecting with her audience, Urooj Ashfaq makes sure to deliver an evening of laughter and self-reflection in every city she performs in. ‘I believe that every comedian brings something unique to the table, and that is what makes comedy such an interesting art form’, said Urooj.
‘If I can make people think and laugh, I am doing it right’
Comedy is more than punchlines, it is a tool to challenge societal norms. Comedians can make people look at things from their perspective and make them laugh on topics that are often considered uncomfortable or taboo. It is no surprise that female comedians have been told many times – what they should and shouldn’t – however, when they get on stage and speak their perspective, it changes things which is immensely powerful. If I can make people think and laugh at the same time, then I’m doing my job right.
‘I am just an unapologetic woman doing comedy’
When it comes to breaking stereotypes, I believe it’s less about confronting and more about simply existing as an unapologetic woman doing comedy. I don’t think my goal is to prove women are funny. If I happen to break any stereotypes along the way, that is great. At the end of the day, my focus is on achieving my true potential and being authentic on stage.
‘Experiments keep the art of comedy alive, and that’s what I am doing, too’
My current experiment with a new persona on stage is called a ‘funny, edgy bad girl’ character. Edgy doesn’t mean shocking people – it is about being unafraid to say things that push boundaries in my style.
‘I entered comedy 10 years ago and my world has changed, since’
I started doing comedy when I was twenty years old and in the nearly 10 years of being in the industry, I have grown so much – as an individual as well as a comedian. Being a comedian made me more honest, open-minded, and confident to stand up for things I believe in. Being around so many incredible comedians has shaped my worldview which makes me think about everything with more intent. I feel comedy made me more focused on making positive change – one laugh at a time.
‘Bengaluru has the most generous comedy audience, as compared to anywhere else in India’
Bengaluru stands out for its warm and generous audience which makes performing here much more fulfilling. My top three cities to perform are Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, with Bengaluru being number one. The audience in the city is not very stuck-up and embraces anything from jokes on traffic to a more niche happening of the day. Everything about Bengaluru feels welcoming which makes performing here a real joy.
CITIES
Korean Cultural Centre India Hosts Enriching Event for Underprivileged Children | – The Times of India
As part of its ongoing efforts to bring Korean culture closer to underprivileged children in India, the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) recently hosted a special event for 50 children from Chehel, a Delhi-based NGO. The children, aged between 5 and 15, were treated to a day filled with cultural activities at the KCCI. The experience included trying traditional Korean dishes, wearing the Hanbok (Korean traditional dress), and enjoying Korean games like Jegi, Tuho, and the Stone Tower game. They also visited exhibitions on K-content and webtoons and enjoyed a vibrant Samulnori performance — a Korean percussion music tradition. A Taekwondo demonstration added energy to the event, with children even trying out a few moves themselves.
A major highlight of the programme was a live performance of the Korean folktale Sim Cheong, presented by Indian artists from Theatre I Entertainment Trust. The story, centred on a young girl’s devotion to her blind father, was well received by the children.
Over the past two years, this theatre group has performed Korean folktales at 12 schools across India, reaching more than 2,600 students. They have also staged a musical based on the tale of Queen Heo.
Speaking about their experience of the event, 14-year-old Aradhana said, “This is the first time I’ve witnessed such a cultural performance. Sim Cheong’s courage and love for her father was truly touching.” It was not only the students who enjoyed the performance, but also the volunteers of the Delhi-based NGO. Santosh Kumar, one of the volunteers said, “It is rare for underprivileged children to have the opportunity to gain such holistic experience of a culture that is different from their own. The various activities planned over here made this entire experience very meaningful and diverse.”
Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in India, said, “Rather than offering a one-time material support, we felt our role was to enrich students’ cultural and artistic literacy through education and immersive content. It was truly rewarding to see the joy on the faces of the children and volunteers. I hope this event will provide more opportunities for Indian students to experience Korean culture reimagined through their own lens.”
CITIES
8-year-old dies after falling into pit dug by MMRDA in Mumbai | Mumbai News – The Times of India
MUMBAI: In a tragic incident on Wednesday evening an eight-year-old boy got drowned in a water-filled pit dug for ongoing metro construction work near the Sonapur area, within Mankhurd Police Station limits.
According to the police at around 5:40 PM, the police received an emergency call informing that the boy, Aryan Vishwanath Nishad, reportedly fell into the pit located on the left side of the service road along the Sion Panvel North channel.
With the assistance of the fire brigade, the boy was retrieved from the water. He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in a Mankhurd police vehicle, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Eyewitnesses told police that , Aryan was playing near the area when he accidentally slipped and fell into the pit.
Police have registered a case of accidental death and are probing the case. The police have also stated that further action will be taken based on the findings of their inquiry and related submissions.
This incident raises renewed concerns about safety measures around construction zones, particularly in residential areas where children are known to play.
CITIES
CBI searches 12 places across Odisha over postal recruitment scam | Bhubaneswar News – The Times of India
BHUBANESWAR: CBI on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at 12 locations in the state, including in Bhubaneswar, Kalahandi, Balangir, Sambalpur and Keonjhar, in connection with its probe into irregularities in the Gramin Dak Sevak recruitment during 2023.
“Officers carried out search operations at premises connected to suspects, including intermediaries and individuals involved in producing counterfeit matriculation certificates from the Uttar Pradesh board and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS),” a CBI officer said.
The search operations led to the seizure of crucial documents, digital devices and questionable certificates. The CBI team found evidence suggesting that intermediaries charged substantial sums from aspiring candidates to arrange counterfeit educational certificates. The candidates were from various postal divisions, including Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi and Berhampur.
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In Bhubaneswar, the searches focused on residential premises and offices linked to key suspects. Similar operations in Kalahandi and Balangir yielded important leads about the network’s operations. Searches in Sambalpur and Keonjhar exposed additional connections to the recruitment scam.
The postal department detected the fraud during physical verification of certificates which were submitted by the candidates online. During verification, postal officials found that the candidates failed to write their names in English and Odia even though their marksheets showed they had secured more than 90% marks in all subjects.
The authorities also raised a suspicion after finding Odia as one of the subjects the candidates passed, though the certificate issuing boards were in other states.
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