Remembering uncle – the man behind Jaipur Foot

31/01/2008 3 Comments read Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

Jaipur, 31.01.2008 (Indo Asian News Service): Each year, when I returned home from Australia for our winter sojourn, spending an evening with “uncle” – as I had come to address Dr Pramod Karan Sethi after our four-decade long association – had become a ritual. Sadly, this year I was too late. A recipient of the Padma Shri and Magasaysay awards, Sethi, who provided new hope to many an amputee with the development of an artificial limb (Jaipur Foot) in association with master artisan Ram Chander Sharma (Masterji), and improved callipers for polio patients, passed away Jan 5, 2008, at the age of 80.

Continue reading →

Women in volatile situations themed films dominate inaugural APSA Awards

16/12/2007 0 Comments read Arts, Entertainment & Lifestyle

Palestinian Filmmaker Mai Masari. Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Gold Coast (Australia), 16.12.2007 (IANS): Films exploring the lives of women in some of the most volatile situations won many an award at the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards. APSA, the region’s highest accolade in film, showcased the immense talent and cinematic diversity of a region covering more than 70 countries, one-third of the earth’s surface, 60 per cent of its total population and half the world’s film output.

APSA brought together films from the classical and traditional to the experimental and cutting edge industries – from the stylised horror genres of Japan, to the allegorical tragedies and comedies of Korea; the extraordinary tapestry of Chinese cinema, the multifaceted industries of India, the poetry and reality of Persian cinema to the visionary narratives of the Middle East.

Continue reading →

Maidens Set for Successful Innings

09/12/2007 0 Comments read Cricket & Sports, Gender

Lisa Sthalekar was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 25th August 2020, becoming the fifth Australian woman to achieve the honour. Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 09.12.2007 (Women’s Feature Service): The gentlemen’s game is catching the fancy of women, who are wielding the willow with élan. Cricket Australia, the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the country and formally known as the Australian Cricket Board, is going all out to change the perception of cricket amongst women as an old fashioned and male-dominated game.

Announcing the first ‘Females in Cricket Strategy’, James Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Australia, said, “We must recognize that engaging women and girls is the key to growing the game.” The strategy provides a framework to evolve cricket to the needs of women and girls and increase their participation in all areas of the game – playing, volunteering and watching.

Continue reading →