Legendary Rabindra sangeet singer Suchitra Mitra passes away

Kolkata, 3 January : Eminent exponent of Tagore's songs Suchitra Mitra died at her south Kolkata residence today after protracted illness, according to her family.
She was 86 and is survived by a son. Mitra's rendition of Tagore's 'Amar Shonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi' during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, won hearts of millions. Mitra took music lessons at the Visva-Bharati where she joined shortly after the demise of Rabindranath Tagore in 1941.
She a received a scholarship to Sangeet Bhavan in Santiniketan, where she had the rare privilege of learning from some of the greatest exponents of Rabindra Sangeet - Indiradevi Chaudhurani, Shantidev Ghosh and Shailajaranjan Mazumdar.
After obtaining her diploma from Santiniketan, Mitra returned to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1945. In 1946, she received her Master's degree in Bengali from the Scottish Church College.
Also read : 'Indian singer Suchitra Mitra dies of cardiac arrest' By BBC's Subir Bhaumik

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congress denies differences between Manmohan & Pranab
PTI, New Delhi, 3 January : The Congress on Monday downplayed reports of disagreement between the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister over Manmohan Singh’s offer to appear before the PAC looking into the 2G Spectrum issue saying Pranab Mukherjee was only underlining the legal position.
“The Finance Minister has himself clarified his statement ...Mukherjee was only underlining the legal position that it was not binding on the Prime Minister to appear before the PAC.
“In fact he was explaining and underlining what Prime Minister himself has conveyed...Prime Minister’s statement was also the same that there was no legal binding on him,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at the AICC briefing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee coins new slogan
Kolkata, 3 January : To counter the 'Ma, Mati, Manush' slogan of the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today coined a new slogan 'Krishi, Silpa, Manush' (agriculture, industry, people), ahead of the coming Assembly elections in the state.
"They say 'Ma, Mati Manush' (mother, land, people)? We say 'Krishi, Silpa, Manush'," Bhattacharjee said at the 44th anniversary of the publication of party daily 'Ganashakti'. Alleging that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress was indulging in disruptive politics, he said, "The flight of Tata Motors from Singur was a gain for Gujarat at the expense of West Bengal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 suspected Manipuri militants nabbed in Shillong by BSF
PTI, Shillong, 3 January : Two suspected activists of Manipuri underground groups, have been apprehended by BSF while trying to cross over to Bangladesh from India.
A suspected People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cadre, Devan Singh was was arrested at Umkiang in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, a BSF statement said today. Another person, Sarkar Sinha was apprehended with a revolver and some Bangladeshi Taka near Bholaganj. He is suspected to be a linkman of PLA.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5-day 17th 'Int’l symposium on social development' begins

UNB, Dhaka, 3 January : Educationists, researchers, students and development workers from 40 countries joined a five-day international symposium that began in the city on Monday to identify the issues, challenges and solutions to social development and good governance.
International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) in association with Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) and North South University arranged the event titled ‘17th Symposium of the
International Consortium for Social Development’ at Sonargaon Hotel.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Monmouth University, USA Thomas S Pearson, Professor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA Dr Mizan Miah, Prof Dr Nazrul Islam of IUB, Dr Golam M Matbor of Monmouth University, USA and ICSD president Barbara Shank addressed in the inaugural session.
A total of 50 sessions will take place during the five-day symposium where participants will make number of presentations on different issues related to social development. န Photo : UNB

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three injured in GLP, hills local people clash in Kalimpong
UNI, Kalimpong, 3 January : Three people, including one Gorkha Land Personnel cadre (GLP), were injured during a clash between GLP men and local people at Upperfagu village under Garubathan police station of Kalimpong sub-division last night.
Cadres of Gorkha Land Personnel (GLP), volunteers' wing of the Gorkha Janamuki Morcha (GJM), were engaged in the clash with local people following an altercation on trivial matters, Circle Inspector of Garubathan, Darjeeling district police, Samaresh Haldar said today. Irate local people ransacked some GLP camps in the area. Three people, including one GLP cadre Pranay Gurung, were injured in the incident, Haldar said adding he was admitted to a nursing home in Siliguri as his condition was critical.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suchitra Mitra, Rabindra Sangeet exponent passes away
Kolkata, 3 January : The passing away of legendary singer Suchitra Mitra in the 150th birth anniversary year of Rabindranath Tagore marks the end of an era in Rabindra Sangeet.
Mitra was one of the brightest stars in Rabindra Sangeet along with singers like Hemanta Mukhopadhayay, Kanika Bandopadhyay, Debabrata Biswas and Dwijen Mukhopadhayay.
Her powerful rendition of 'Shonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi', which became the national anthem of Bangladesh, inspired freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971.
The number remains one of her most popular songs along with 'Krishankoli Ami Tareyi Boli', 'Tobu Mone Rekho' and 'Ekla Chalo Re'.
Mitra was awarded the Padmashree in 1974, besides 'Desikottama' from her alma mater Visva Bharati, the HMV Golden Disc Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986.
The influence of her father Sourindra Mohan Mukhopadhyay and her mother, both avid lovers of Rabindra Sangeet, left an indelible impression on Mitra's life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----