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Cultural icon and Mysore Education Society co-founder Vimala Rangachar passes away

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Cultural icon and Mysore Education Society co-founder Vimala Rangachar passes away


A file photo of Vimala Rangachar, president of MES Institutions (Mysore Education Society), with Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy.
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Vimala Rangachar, 97, a patron of crafts, textiles, theatre personality, builder of several institutions and an educationist associated with the reputed Mysore Education Society (MES) in Bengaluru, passed away in the city on February 25 evening. She was suffering from age-related illnesses.

Her daughter Revathi, a classical dancer based in the United States of America, will reach Bengaluru on February 27 following which the last rites will be held the same day. 

Face of Malleswaram

Vimala Rangachar was the granddaughter of Venkataranga Iyengar, one of the founders of Malleswaram in the late 19th century. The locality was home for Vimala Rangachar all her life. She was one of the founders of Mysore Education Society (MES) in 1956 and was involved in running many education institutions of the MES till her last day. Having chaired MES for many years, she was serving as a member of its management committee at the time of her demine.

She is one of the founders of the Malleswaram Enterprising Women’s Society (MEWS), and a patron of Seva Sadan, which she took over from Lokasundari, Nobel laureate scientist Sir C. V. Raman’s wife who started it in 1936. She lived in an old-style beautiful house at Malleswaram till her last breath. 

Vimala Rangachar, born in 1929, was married to Dr. Rangachar, a doctor and army veteran, when she was just 16 years old, as was the practice in those days. However, it did not deter her. Returning from Italy where he served during World War II, Dr. Rangachar set up practice at Malleswaram. Meanwhile, Vimala Rangachar completed her graduation in English and Psychology, and soon bloomed into a multi-faceted cultural personality at Malleswaram, associating herself with MES, MEWS and Seva Sadan in the 1950s, an association which continued till her demise. 

Craft Council of Karnataka Chairperspon Vimala Rangachar accompanying dancer and actor Vyjayanthimala Bali around the stalls at Vastrabharana Exhibition at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, in Bengaluru on September 30, 2011.

Craft Council of Karnataka Chairperspon Vimala Rangachar accompanying dancer and actor Vyjayanthimala Bali around the stalls at Vastrabharana Exhibition at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, in Bengaluru on September 30, 2011.
| Photo Credit:
File photo

I.M. Vittala Murthy (second left), Secretary, Kannada and Culture, along with Vimala Rangachar (right), Chairperson of Craft Council, visiting a stall at ‘Kuteera-2008’, an exhibition and sale by Crafts Council of Karnataka, held at Chitrakala Parishat in Bengaluru on January 4, 2008.

I.M. Vittala Murthy (second left), Secretary, Kannada and Culture, along with Vimala Rangachar (right), Chairperson of Craft Council, visiting a stall at ‘Kuteera-2008’, an exhibition and sale by Crafts Council of Karnataka, held at Chitrakala Parishat in Bengaluru on January 4, 2008.
| Photo Credit:
File photo

Crafts council of Karnataka Chairperson Vimala Rangachar briefing mediapersons about the eco-Ganesha movement, and to use vegetable-based colours.

Crafts council of Karnataka Chairperson Vimala Rangachar briefing mediapersons about the eco-Ganesha movement, and to use vegetable-based colours.
| Photo Credit:
File photo

Vimala Rangachar was active in promoting performing arts, traditional crafts, mainly textiles, something which she inherited from her mother Ammanni Ammal, who was known to design her own sarees. Through this work, she came in contact with Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and considered Kamaladevi her mentor. She came to head the Karnataka chapter of both Bharatiya Natya Sangh and Crafts Council of India that Kamaladevi set up. She even received the Kamala Sanman, given in Kamaladevi’s memory, in 2004. She was presented the Rajyotsava award in 2003. 

Theatre veteran

She was a passionate theatre person. She was heading a theatre troupe called Kalajyothi. Disappointed with men playing women’s roles on stage, she took to acting, even roping in her husband to act. Their productions of many plays by T. P. Kailasam and Pravatavani were hits. The couple staged Kailasam’s superhit play Ammavra Ganda in Hindi to an audience that included India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

M. S. Sathyu, Vimala Rangachar and Girish Karnad at the inauguration of the Amateur Dramatic Association (A.D.A) Centenary Celebrations at the A. D. A. Rangamandira, in Bengaluru on June 22, 2009.

M. S. Sathyu, Vimala Rangachar and Girish Karnad at the inauguration of the Amateur Dramatic Association (A.D.A) Centenary Celebrations at the A. D. A. Rangamandira, in Bengaluru on June 22, 2009.
| Photo Credit:
K. Murali Kumar

Much before Ranga Shankar or even Ravindra Kalakshetra came up in Bengaluru, Vimala Rangachar had taken the initiative to build Amateur Dramatic Associates Theater (ADA Rangamandira), along with others, on J. C. Road.

She was among those responsible for setting up the Jawahar Bal Bhavan at Cubbon Park in the early 1970s, where she created space for theatre as well. 

Vimala Rangachar receiving the first copy of the book Attendance, released at the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Ashish Mohan Khokar’s year book of Indian dance, from Chiranjeev Singh, in Bengaluru on May 31, 2008.

Vimala Rangachar receiving the first copy of the book Attendance, released at the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Ashish Mohan Khokar’s year book of Indian dance, from Chiranjeev Singh, in Bengaluru on May 31, 2008.
| Photo Credit:
K. Murali Kumar

“Vimala Rangachar is my cousin. From her college days, she was well-versed in socialism. Being a good friend of Kamaladevi Chattopadhaya, her interest in crafts grew. It is she who introduced me to the late G. Venkatachalam, first generation art historian, who was responsible for me joining art school in Chennai. She had good friends in Pandit Ravishankar and dancer Maya Rao. She travelled to both the USSR and the USA at the invitations of those countries, as a cultural ambassador. She even contested the Legislative Council elections in Karnataka. In many ways, she was way ahead of her times,” recounted noted artist S. G. Vasudev.



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After Pahalgam terror attack, will Seema Haider return to Pakistan? Her love story with Sachin to remain…

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After Pahalgam terror attack, will Seema Haider return to Pakistan? Her love story with Sachin to remain…



After the terror attack in Pahalgam, India has taken strict action against Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team have taken the top 5 decisions taken against Pakistan in the CCS meeting. The Indian government has banned the visas issued to Pakistani citizens. Apart from this, SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) has also been stopped with immediate effect. Visa holders traveling to India under SVES visas have been given an ultimatum to leave India within 48 hours. Other visa holders can return to Pakistan by May 1.

Post this strict decision of the Indian government, Seema Haider, who had come to India from Pakistan, has been in news. She was madly in love with Sachin Meena and the two got married. Sachin and Seema are proud parents to a baby girl. After Modi’s strict decisions, netizens are asking whether Seema Haider will return to Pakistan with her four kids.

Seema had traveled to India via Nepal. She reached Nepal from Sharjah, Pakistan on a tourist visa and spent a few days in the city. She then boarded a bus from Kathmandu to Delhi and reached India with four kids. Seema has been living in India with Sachin and her kids. On Wednesday, after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s press briefing, the internet has been asking whether, “Will Seema Haider be asked to return to Pakistan too?”, “Should she be going back to Pakistan now?”, and others.

Seema Haider, 32, originally from Jacobabad in Sindh Province, Pakistan illegally crossed into India. She met Sachin online and fell for him. Now, social media users are speculating whether she will go back to her country after the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) directive.

One user wrote, “Send Seema Haider back to Pakistan. Also investigate every security agency that allowed her to reach Uttar Pradesh crossing at least 3 national boundaries,” another commented, “When the government has asked all Pakistani nationals to leave India, why has Seema Haider been allowed to stay?” “Isme Seema Haider bhi jayegi ya usko special visa hai?”, said another.

Well, in 2023, Seema Haider — a mother of four and resident of Sindh entered India to be with a man from Uttar Pradesh she met while playing the online game PUBG. She left her husband, Ghulam Haider, in Pakistan and brought her four children and is currently settled in Greater Noida with Sachin.

India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspended the six-decade-old Indus Waters Treaty, and closed the Attari land transit post citing cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Stay tuned to BollywoodLife for the latest scoops and updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, South, TV and Web-Series.





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Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni lawsuit: Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman reportedly on subpoena list | – The Times of India

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Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni lawsuit: Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman reportedly on subpoena list | – The Times of India


What began as a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us has now spiraled into a courtroom drama involving some of Hollywood’s biggest names — and it might soon pull Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman into the spotlight.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Swift and ‘Wolverine’ star Jackman, are expected to be issued subpoenas in connection with the ongoing legal battle between actress Blake Lively and her co-star Justin Baldoni. The source claims the subpoenas could be delivered “at any time,” with Casa Cipriani — a New York celebrity hotspot — tipped as the likely scene for this dramatic plot twist.
The Lively and Baldoni drama began in December 2024, when the actress filed a lawsuit citing emotional distress and monetary losses linked to the production of It Ends With Us. In January 2025, Baldoni responded with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, emotional manipulation, and exerting undue influence over the film’s direction by allegedly leveraging their A-list connections.
According to court filings, a rewritten rooftop scene allegedly became a point of contention. Baldoni claimed that Lively used her friendship with Swift to sway creative decisions during a private script session held at the couple’s New York penthouse.
While Swift was not been directly named in the filings, her presence was implied in a message from Baldoni reportedly praising the changes, “I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan or Taylor).”
Sources speaking to Page Six revealed that the pop star felt “used” after being dragged into what was supposed to be a behind-the-scenes creative process, but she has no intention of avoiding the stand. Swift has reportedly received a “genuine and heartfelt” apology from Lively and is “not afraid” to testify if called upon.
Meanwhile, Jackman’s potential involvement remains less clear, though insiders suggest his long-standing friendship with both Blake and Ryan and proximity to certain production meetings could make his testimony relevant.
The high-profile battle is due for a hearing in court on March 9, 2026.





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How Will India Respond To Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack? Modi-Doval Hold Key To…

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How Will India Respond To Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack? Modi-Doval Hold Key To…


Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, one thing is now certain—India will retaliate, and this time, the response is expected to be far more extensive and destructive than the actions taken in 2016 or 2019. According to a detailed analysis by Zee News Managing Editor Rahul Sinha, the Indian government is working in mission mode on three fronts: strategic planning, diplomatic outreach, and military action.

Before delving into the specifics, the country heard a powerful statement from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which is being viewed as a formal announcement of India’s intent to retaliate. Importantly, this was not a political or election-related statement but a serious message directed at Pakistan’s leadership, its army chief General Asim Munir, and terrorist organizations operating from its soil.

In today’s DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, Zee News, analysed the developments related to the Pahalgam terror attack and possible retaliation from India:

Watch Full DNA Episode Here


  • The Indian government will take every necessary and appropriate step.
  • The retaliation will not only target the attackers but also those involved in the planning and conspiracy.
  • India cannot be intimidated by terror attacks.
  • The response will be strong and decisive.

This makes it clear that a countdown to action has begun. Both the terrorists and the Pakistani military, believed to be involved in the planning, are likely targets of India’s upcoming strike.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to return from Saudi Arabia late at night, instead cut short his visit and returned to Delhi around 7 AM after learning of the attack. He canceled a scheduled dinner with the Saudi leadership and held an immediate meeting at the airport with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed him on the entire situation.

Sources confirm that any military response will be carried out either by the Indian Army or the BSF. In light of this, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh convened a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. During this meeting, the Defence Minister was briefed on the current situation and the following key threats:

  • 42 terrorist launchpads are currently active in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
  • 30 to 35 launchpads are operating near Kashmir and other regions.
  • Between 100 and 125 Pakistani terrorists are prepared to infiltrate via the Line of Control or the International Border.
  • 70 to 75 terrorists are believed to already be in the Kashmir Valley.
  • Approximately 115 Pakistani terrorists are currently active in Kashmir and surrounding areas.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s role is seen as crucial. His presence in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting highlights his central involvement in shaping India’s response. Sources suggest that Doval is preparing a distinct and possibly unprecedented action plan for retaliation.

With extensive experience in Pakistan and deep knowledge of the Kashmir region, Doval is credited with overseeing two of the most successful strikes across the border. His mastery in strategic planning and intelligence coordination is likely to play a pivotal role in whatever course of action India takes next.

As the situation develops, all signs point to a meticulously crafted, high-impact response—one that will once again showcase India’s resolve against terrorism and those who harbor it.





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