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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

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Sushant Divgikar is India's 1st drag artiste in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list
2258 days ago
Art

Sushant Divgikar is India's 1st drag artiste in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list

Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Model-actor Sushant Divgikar has become India's first drag artiste to feature the esteemed Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List, for Class 2020. He features in the list of 'The Arts' honorees as well as in the ‘Celebrities category.## Sushant, possibly the first and only Asian drag artist to be on the list, is also a singer and a video jockey, and was crowned Mr Gay India in 2014. He represented India at Mr. Gay World and is also popularly called Rani Ko-He-Nur.## Talking about his latest achievement, Sushant said: "I'm above and beyond the moon, stars, the entire galaxy right now and cannot contain my excitement! I am elated and feeling proud to be featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list which is of such an International repute. All the struggle and hard work I put in seem to be worth it. I would like to thank the Forbes Asia team for recognizing the 14years of my life that I have given to make the performing arts and arts, in general, more conducive for diverse participation and recognizing one's true authentic self! I hope that my journey and body of work inspires every young and ambitious person out there to spread your wings and fly high!"## In the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, Sushant features among 300 young leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. These young entrepreneurs and change-makers were selected from among over 3500 nominations vetted by an A-list panel of judges who are leaders in their respective fields.## Currently, Sushant is focusing on his singing career and is working on releasing original music in the coming month. The versatile singer is known for singing in male as well as a female voice. He shot to the limelight as a singer when he appeared on the reality show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge" in 2018.## An LGBTQ+ activist and drag queen performer, Sushant mentors, and trains younger drag queens and aims to make drag a more accessible art form in India. In 2019, he made his international debut with the artiste collective Rainbow Riots - House of Wallenberg in Sweden. The same year he released the single "I'm coming out" at Stockholm Pride.## Stay tuned...

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Humanity needs to come together, says Ustad Zakir Hussain
2266 days ago
Art

Humanity needs to come together, says Ustad Zakir Hussain

New Delhi, March 27 (IANSlife) As the global Coronavirus outbreak spelled a series of museum closures and postponed performances and concerts, India's most-celebrated tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain says that the humanity will need to come together to fight the pandemic.## "It is too early to tell what the effect of this disease will be but it is clear that humanity needs to come together and fight this. There needs to be a serious focus on hygiene, like washing hands every 20 minutes, drinking warm water every few minutes, wiping all metal surfaces in the house and of course keeping... the distance with other people around you.## "If and when we survive this, then we can ask the government and big corporations to help restart the support for arts," the doyen told IANSlife when asked how we can sustain the arts in this difficult times.## The Ustaad was part of a concert postponed due to COVID-19, along with Indian classical violinist Kala Ramnath and Carnatic musician Jayanthi Kumaresh - "both top-shelf premier artists representing both North and South Indian music".## Last month, Ustad Zakir Hussain had paid homage to his father and guru Ustad Allarakha on his centenary, in the form of several multi-artist performances that spanned a day.## "We had a multi-layered relationship, I was his son, then his student, then his apprentice, then his colleague and finally his friend. I cherish every moment that I spent with him. He was and is the horizon I still reach for," he said about his father.## He hopes to reinstate the concert, once a virus is contained and eradicated.## "These concerts are a way for us all to connect with each other through music. When we are all cooped at home, this can be a welcome change to everyone and keep their minds diverted to something positive when all one hears is about the virus and everyone is in tenterhooks worried about their respective future.## "We musicians are also worried but there is no point worrying and by doing these concerts we are trying to say what better than music to keep us all positive," Kala Ramnath added.## Stay tuned...

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Madhubani art on masks to spread anti-coronavirus message
2275 days ago
Art

Madhubani art on masks to spread anti-coronavirus message

Madhubani (Bihar), March 17 (IANS) Amid the coronavirus scare in the country, a Bihar couple feted for world-famous Madhubani paintings is leading the efforts to use the art form on face masks to exhort the public to fight the dreaded disease.## Remant Mishra and his wife Usha, who has been felicitated for their contribution to the art form, said that artistes of Madhubani paintings in Jitwarpur village in the district have, through voluntary efforts, painted the face masks along with slogans like 'Save Humanity, Get Rid of Corona', 'Go Corona Go', etc.## Remant said that he would distribute 200 such face masks free of cost to artists and other members of the public.## Usha Mishra said that they purchased these masks with money from their own pocket and roped in local Madhubani artists to paint these. She said that the masks with Madhubani paintings and slogans were their contribution to the efforts to fight the coronavirus, which has so far claimed more than 7,000 human lives across the world.## She said that though the money they spent on the endeavor was not big, the message they intend to send across to the public was.## She said that the painted masks would be distributed among artists who travel far and wide to popularise their art. These masks will not only protect them but also help spread the message, Usha pointed out.## Remant has showcased his Madhubani painting skills in many government buildings and offices, including the government's Circuit House in Madhubani. He recently returned from Mauritius after holding training classes there.## Remant asserted that there was no need for the public to be afraid of coronavirus but to remain aware and alert. He said that he could paint more face masks in case someone purchased these for the purpose.## For more and latest news about Art and Culture, stay tuned with us.

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