4th International Bloggers Conference to be held in Bhutan from 15 to 18 January, 2015

Gathering of bloggers and litterateur from a number of countries including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Australia

Lucknow (SATNB): Hindi is getting established as a reputed language not only in India but across the world. Apart from movies and literature, blogging which has established itself as a form of new media is also helping in the spread of Hindi. As such, to provide a common stage for bloggers, 'Parikalpana Samay', Hindi monthly magazine published from Lucknow and ‘Parikalpana’ literary organization have been organizing International Blogger’s Conference for the last four years. The main objective of the conference is to create ground for development of blogging in South Asia, promote Hindi literature and culture, and provide opportunities for language harmony, and cultural study and tourism. Chief Editor of Parikalpana Samay and Organizer of ‘International Bloggers Conference’ Mr. Ravindra Prabhat said that after having successfully organized the conference in Delhi, Lucknow and Kathmandu, this time the fourth International Blogger’s Conference will be organized from 15 to 18 January, 2015 in Bhutan. It is worthwhile to mention here that recently during his Bhutan visit Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has emphasized on historical and cultural relation between India and Bhutan, and sought to promote co-operation and harmony between the two countries. This blogger’s conference being organized in Bhutan is an effort in the same direction, said Mr. Ravindra Prabhat.

       Mr. Ravindra Prabhat said that on this occasion celebrities from the field of blogging and literature world will be felicitated. In which ‘Parikalpana SAARC Summit Awards” will be conferred on Mr. Krishna Kumar Yadav, Director Postal Services, Allahabad Region (Allahabad, UP) for reminiscence writings on blog; Mr. Lalit Sharma (Raipur, Chattisgarh) for Archeology related writings, Mrs. Sampat Devi Murarka (Hydrabad, Telangana) for Travel narrative, and Mr. Kumud Adhikari from Nepal for Literary blog Journalism. Under this award all awardees will be felicitated with Rs. 25000/- cash prize, commendation certificate, memento and aṅgavastram.

Whereas, “Parikalpana SAARC Awards” will be conferred upon Mr. Lingchen Dorji (Thimpu, Bhutan), for his famous nouvelle ‘Home Sangrila’, Ms. Rekha Raajvanshi (Sydney, Australia) for her efforts in spreading Hindi in western countries, and Ms. Sunita Prem Yadav (Aurangabad, Maharasta, India) for promotion of translation from other languages to Hindi. In this award, awardees will be felicitated with rupees 5000/- cash prize, Commendation certificate, memento and Aṅgavastram.

More than 50 bloggers and litterateur to be felicitated

During the conference more than 50 bloggers from South Asia will be awarded with ‘Parikalpana Awards’, out of which some important ones are Mrs. Suman Kapoor from New Zealand , Mr. Neelesh Mathur from Guwahati, Assom; Mrs. Shubhadra Pandey from Silchar, Assom; Mr. Randheer Singh Suman from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh; Mr. Ram Bahadur Mishra, from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; Mr. Surjeet Singh Barwaal, Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan; Ms. Saraswati Mathur from Jaipur, Rajasthan; Mr. Gagan Sharma, Raipur, Chattisgarh; Mrs. Tara Singh, from Navi Mumbai; and Mr. Alok Bhardwaj from Mumbai.

Mr. Prabhat said that during the conference, study of Hindi in global perspective especially in SAARC nations, promotion of Hindi literature, various dimensions of blogging as new media and role of Social Media in changing times etc. will be discussed. 

Suicide blast kills dozens in Afghanistan

Officials say bomber targeted volleyball tournament match attended by large crowd in province bordering Pakistan.

A suicide bomber has killed dozens of people in an attack on a volleyball match in Afghanistan's east, officials say.

Mukhles Afghan, spokesman for the governor of Paktika province, bordering Pakistan, said the attack happened late on Sunday afternoon during an inter-district tournament match attended by a large crowd in the Yahya Khel district district.

Officials said at least 49 people were dead and about 50 more were wounded in the attack, adding that most casualties were civilian.

The suicide bomber was on foot in the crowd, Afghan said.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach condemned the "cowardly" attack.

"It is an attack on sport itself and on the positive values it can bring to help build strong communities and foster peace and reconciliation around the world," he said in a statement.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kabul, said the toll was expected to rise as the target was a well-attended match.

No group has claimed responsibility yet, but Paktika has been targeted by the Taliban before, he said.

The Taliban and other fighters have mounted multiple suicide attacks and assassinations in Afghanistan this year, as foreign forces continue to withdraw after 13 years of war.

International troops

Pakistan has condemned the deadly attack. "No cause justifies such acts of terrorism and taking of innocent lives," its foreign ministry said in a statement.

Sunday's attack is one of the deadliest so far this year, a time when attacks are escalating following a controversy-marred election and the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani in September.

Afghanistan's parliament approved agreements on Sunday with the US and NATO allowing international troops to remain in the country past the end of this year.

According to the deals, about 12,000 international troops will remain in Afghanistan next year to train and support Afghanistan's security forces.

Ghani's first act after becoming president was to sign the agreements, which are opposed by the Taliban and other armed groups.

US President Barack Obama wants all American troops to be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016, as his presidency draws to an end.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Shutdown and massive unrest in Nepal town after Narendra Modi's trip reportedly cancelled

Normal life was partially hit on Friday in parts of Nepal as several opposition parties enforced a shutdown against the reported cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed trip to the religious town of Janakpur.

Modi was scheduled to visit Janakpur, said to be the birthplace of Sita, Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and another sacred Hindu pilgrimage site, Muktinath, located in the southern mountainous region during his visit to Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC summit here on November 26-27.

Janakpur, Dhanusha, Mahottari and Sarlani districts were among the affected areas due to the shutdown. Educational institutions and markets were partially closed and transport services also came to a halt. There were also anti-government rallies in parts of the city. "The people of Janakpur have shown spontaneous protest as the news of cancellation of Modi's visit to Janakpur and Lumbini, the important religious sites situated in southern Nepal, was spread," said prominent Madhesi leader Rajendra Mahato, President of Sadbhawana Party.

"We want Modi to visit Janakpur and his felicitation should be held in public at Barhabigha ground, not behind closed doors, as proposed by the ruling parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML," said Mahato talking to PTI. The government was trying to dissociate Modi from the general public on the pretext of providing security to him, which is absurd, he said. The people of Janakpur want to see Modi take part in the public felicitation function and address a mass gathering at Barha Bigha, said Mahato.

The agitators also burnt effigies of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam, who had said recently that Modi would not address public gatherings during the proposed felicitation programme. Mahato alleged that efforts are on to create distance between Modi and the Madhesi people living in the southern plains of Nepal. Earlier on Friday, the Nepal government said that Modi's visit to Janakpur had not yet been officially cancelled despite reports about it being called off. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae also told reporters this morning that the Indian Embassy here did not receive any official communication about the cancellation of Modi's visit to the pilgrimage sites, including Janakpur.

Sourced & Courtsy by PTI