Archives August 2023

New Delhi,28th August 2023 India’s first ever Hotel Art Fair, Artix, opened its doors with immense enthusiasm, marking a revolutionary movement in the art and culture landscape of the country. Being inaugurated on August 25 2023, this dynamic event is all set to captivate art and culture enthusiasts during its three-day run. Scheduled till the 27th of August 2023 the fair poised to be an exhilarating global gathering that celebrates art, culture, and aesthetics while serving as a platform for exquisite design collectables.

Hosted at the illustrious Taj Mahal Palace in New Delhi, Artix has transformed the entire second floor, a set of forty-three rooms, into a mesmerizing interactive art district. Every room on this floor has been skillfully converted into art saloons and galleries, offering a captivating blend of Indian and international masterpieces, contemporary and modern art, sculptures, tapestry art, and a treasure trove of collectibles.

With a roster boasting over 20 prestigious galleries, including Dhoomimal Art Gallery, Cultivate Art, Anant Art Gallery, Art Pilgrim, Art Centrix, and Arushi Arts, alongside 10 solo shows including two international artists from the United States and three esteemed private collectors—Ms. Priya Paul, Mrs. Lekha Poddar, and Ms. Saloni Doshi—Artix in its debut season boasts of a stellar lineup of national and international artists and galleries.

Being spearheaded by a dynamic trio Ms. Malvika Poddar, Ms. Payal Kapoor, and Ms. Timsy Anand— Artix is committed to uniting a community of art lovers and collectors in an intimate setting. This pioneering fair also aims to embark on a journey as India’s first-ever traveling art fair, with upcoming destinations in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

Payal Kapoor, Co Founder Artix, articulates her vision: “Artix introduces a truly distinctive concept. Unlike traditional trade shows, where people are herded through big hallways, in a hotel, they can wander in and out of suites, mingle with each other, even take a break, and sit around the pool. It’s relaxed, and yet serious conversations happen. This unique setup allows buyers to envision how the art will complement their own living spaces, and the intimacy of the setting enables art enthusiasts to appreciate it closely.”

Malvika Poddar, Co-Founder Artix, added, “As India embraces the inaugural edition of Artix, a remarkable avenue unfolds for galleries to guide emerging collectors on their art journey. This showcase encompasses a rich tapestry of artistry, from textiles to jewellery, aimed at nurturing a new generation of connoisseurs. We aspire to weave opulence and artistry via Artix seamlessly. Our vision extends beyond horizons, with plans to extend this cultural celebration across India, creating more avenues for galleries and collectors to exhibit their diverse masterpieces. The potential offered during these three days is truly remarkable.”

Timsy Anand, Co-founder Artix, offered her reflections: “Art is extremely personal, and therefore, one’s connection with it has to be intimate and on one’s terms. In my view, Artix is a canvas of self-expression, an avenue where imagination breaks free from constraints and conventions. I envision Artix becoming a cornerstone event in everyone’s calendar, a testament to its immense potential. Artix is a triumphant tribute to the diverse facets of artistic expression, gracefully transcending limits and resonating with the depths of the soul through boundless creativity and emotional resonance.”

The event in its debut season has a strong partnership network on board. DLF Emporio and The Chanakya, Alok Lodha Jewels, Archana Aggarwal, Niaj by Shradha, Heramaneck & Sons, Diacolor, Abha Dalmia, Janavi and Tarina have extended the supporting hand an event of such magnitude requires.

The fair in its debut season has a series of carefully curated knowledge sharing opportunities that will enable art buyers, collectors and connoisseurs to get a first-hand insight into the world of art, design and culture in the most intimate setting.

Hyderabad, 28th August, 2023: Royaloak Furniture, the leading furniture brand of India strengthens its presence in Hyderabad with the launch of its new store in Malakpet. The store was inaugurated amidst a huge fanfare today in the presence of Vijai Subramaniam- Chairman, Royaloak Furniture, Mathan Subramaniam- Managing Director, H.S. Suresh Retail Head, Pradyumna Karanam– State Head- Andhra Pradesh & Telangana State and Prashanth Kotian – Head- Sales & Merchandising.

This store spanning over 18,000 sq ft, offers an extensive collection of furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and much more. The residents of Malakpet now can expect to find a wide range of stylish and functional items, including sofas, beds, dining tables, chairs, recliners, mattresses, interior decors and a comprehensive range of office and outdoor furniture right in their neighborhood. This store marks a total of 19 stores in the Hyderabad region for the brand. The store is expected to attract more than 2 lakh visitors every year.

Speaking at the launch event, *Mr. Vijai Subramaniam, Chairman, Royaloak Furniture said,* “We are thrilled to launch our latest store, which represents Royaloak’s commitment to offering the best furniture at affordable prices to our customers. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that this store provides a truly exceptional shopping experience, with a wide selection of high-quality furniture that is both stylish and functional. We look forward to welcoming customers and helping them find the perfect pieces to complete their dream homes.

We have selected this location for our store since we have observed the ever-growing demand in real estate as a lot of developers are heavily invested in this part of the city. This creates an opportunity for the brand to cater to the customer base at this and adjacent locations.”

The store carries a specially curated & exclusive ‘Country Collection’ which features the finest and the most unique furniture from the United States, Italy, Vietnam, Turkey, Germany, Malaysia and India.

Congratulating the Royaloak team on their newly launched store, *Mathan Subramaniam, Managing Director said,* “The team’s dedication to quality and customer satisfaction is an inspiration, they have worked hard & the results show. Wishing the staff of Malakpet store continued success.”

With its exclusive standalone stores, Royaloak aims to enhance the aesthetics of any home with its modern, luxurious and affordable furniture. The brand has been catering to the lifestyle needs of its 5 million-plus customer base. With more than 200 experiential storefronts across the country, Royaloak currently has a strong foothold in more than 116 locations like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi, and Ahmedabad.

Mumbai: The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has collaborated with Bajaj Finserv Limited to launch a scholarship program of upto Rs 1 lakh targeting disabled students. In an effort to enhance capacity building of disabled students and apprise persons with disabilities (PwDs), parents, and social workers about their rights and the welfare policies designed for their benefit, an awareness workshop was organized on Saturday. Experts from diverse sectors joined and shared their expertise.

The NCPEDP-Bajaj Finserv Scholarship program is designed to financially assist 100 disabled students from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, who are pursuing education at various levels, including Secondary, Senior Secondary, and Higher Education.

Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP said, “We are dedicated to providing quality education as a means of empowerment for every disabled student.”

The Mumbai workshop follows a similar workshop in Lucknow earlier. “This is our sincere initiative to empower the disabled students and we are looking forward to organizing more such workshops in the future,” added Ali.

The workshop, held in partnership with Sol’s ARC at K J Somaiya College of Engineering, featured informative sessions. “Accessibility and Financial Literacy” was led by Amar Jain, Co-founder of Mission Accessibility, while “Getting Job Ready” was presented by Ivasmita Baruah, and Sunil Bankar from V-shesh. These sessions proved highly insightful and benefited the attendees, which included disabled students, social workers, students without disabilities, and parents.

Akshay Jain, Assistant Program Manager for Advocacy at NCPEDP, emphasized the crucial role of the younger generation in shaping the future of people with disabilities. He highlighted the potential of education to raise awareness beyond expectations and emphasized the need for regular workshops like this as catalysts for positive change.

The scholarship program itself will encompass tuition fees, costs related to assistive technology, and other relevant expenses for disabled students, tailored to their individual needs and budgets. This initiative stands as a testament to the joint commitment of NCPEDP and Bajaj Finserv towards promoting education and empowerment among disabled students.

Gurugram, 28th August 2023: The Liberal Arts and Sciences Conference 2023 hosted by Heritage International XperientialSchool at its Heritage Avenue campus brought together eminent education leaders, representatives of the top Indian and International Liberal Arts and Sciences colleges, and parents, students, and school counselors from schools across NCR.

The attendees uncovered opportunities that the Liberal Arts and Sciences educational pathway provides and the unique advantages offered by the best colleges in this space. They also gathered insights on how the relevance of Liberal Arts and Sciences is increasing in the context of the rapidly evolving world of work and the skills and cognitive attributes that would be most valued in the near future. The discussions highlighted how a multidisciplinary education could contribute to successful careers across various industries and also busted myths about a liberal arts education. Some of these myths were that liberal arts colleges only focus on humanities subjects whereas many of the colleges even offer engineering degrees. Also, as many of the American colleges are only at the undergraduate level, they can provide better resources such as direct access to top professors, research opportunities, small classroom size, and better teacher-student ratio.

Designed on the theme “Bridging Education and Career: The Future of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” the conference provided an intensive and interactive platform for each stakeholder to explore the transformative potential of liberal arts and sciences education.

The event was attended by top colleges and universities in the United States, India, and other countries. Colleges from the United States included eminent names such as Pomona College, Swarthmore College, Williams College, Bryn Mawr College, and many more. While those from India included Ashoka University, Korea University, and Flame among others.

Speaking at the event, Amit Jain, former APAC Chief of Uber said “Liberal arts colleges foster a unique blend of creativity and critical thinking, moulding individuals who can navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world. These institutions cultivate not just knowledge, but the capacity to adapt and innovate, essential skills for any leader in today’s dynamic landscape.”

The event was also attended by leaders, students, and parents of some of the top schools in the country such as Mayo College, The Doon School, The British School Delhi, Step by Step School, Heritage Experiential Learning School, and many others. Thus setting the stage for expansive networking and collaboration, enabling educators, industry experts, and students to connect, share ideas, and cultivate potential associations.

‘’The success of The Liberal Arts and Sciences Conference 2023, in collaboration with Heritage International XperientialSchool, reinforces our commitment to building multiple opportunities for our students to discover the meaning of their lives. Some of the top universities from India and abroad were present at our campus and it reinforced our partnership with these world class institutions. We will continue to curate these opportunities where students and parents can explore the various pathways to building successful careers and meaningful lives.” said Vishnu Karthik, Co – founder Heritage International Xperiential School.

Bengaluru, 28th Aug 2023: MMTC-PAMP, India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery gold & silver refinery, hosted the exciting Gold Bar Challenge at their MMTC-PAMP’s exclusive store a.k.a PVC (Purity Verification Centre) in Bengaluru. The event took place on Wednesday, Aug 23rd, at Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

MMTC-PAMP hosted the Gold Bar Challenge, an open event at their exclusive outlet, offering participants the chance to retrieve a 5.7-kilogram gold bar from a glass enclosure within the designated time limit. The event aimed to provide gold enthusiasts with an exciting opportunity to demonstrate their skills and win a coveted prize. Twelve winners, who completed the activity, received MMTC-PAMP’s Banyan Tree 999.9 purity 10 gm silver bar, symbolizing longevity and fulfilment, featuring India’s national tree. Safety and fairness were ensured by following rules and regulations throughout the event.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Vikas Singh, Managing Director and CEO of MMTC-PAMP said, “MMTC-PAMP stores are destination stores which serve unique and distinctively crafted products in purest gold and silver. We’ve now taken this a step further by adding fun and excitement for our customers by providing them with a new distinctive and engaging experience, with our Gold Bar Challenge event. It is a testament to our commitment to add moments of joy for our customers who have always trusted us for their Gold & Silver needs. Our focus on offering cutting-edge products and unique experiences underscore our commitment to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction in a unique and fun manner. By fostering a healthy spirit of competition, we aim to build stronger connection with our customers and create a truly memorable experience for them.”

The success of the Gold Bar Challenge in Ghaziabad, Noida, Chennai, Hyderabad and now Bengaluru has paved the way for MMTC-PAMP to expand this unique event to other cities. Mr Vikas Singh added, “The gold bar challenge is a unique event that has rarely been witnessed in the Indian market and we are happy to announce that we will be bringing this event to the cities of Pune and Chandigarh as well in future”

MMTC-PAMP, known for its commitment to providing high-quality, culturally diverse products to consumers, hosted this event at its one-stop-shop for any gold & silver needs. To ensure the product’s authenticity, each MMTC-PAMP product carries a unique number and comes packaged in a certified signed by an Assayer. Each gold and silver product bought from MMTC-PAMP offers a positive weight & purity balance, which guarantees that every coin or bar you buy weighs more than the listed weight, ensuring customers get the highest value for their investment.

All products come with MMTC-PAMP’s stamp of authenticity and deliver on the promise of 999.9+ purity and are crafted to the highest standards using the latest Swiss technology. There is a wide variety of purest gold and silver products to choose from this season and one can purchase them from MMTC-PAMP’s exclusive stores, leading jeweller partners, online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart or directly from MMTC-PAMP’s website, shop.mmtcpamp.com.

.

Bangalore,28th August 2023 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Glenmark), a research-led, integrated, global pharmaceutical company, has joined forces with The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists (IADVL) to unveil a special commemorative postal stamp aimed at raising awareness and support for individuals living with vitiligo, a skin disorder that affects pigmentation.

Vitiligo, a condition characterized by the loss of skin pigmentation due to the malfunction or destruction of melanin-producing cells, impacts not only physical appearance but also psychological well-being. Despite its prevalence and impact, vitiligo often remains misunderstood, leading to societal stigmatization and prejudice. India is home to the highest rate of vitiligo cases globally, with one in ten individuals being affected by the condition.

In an effort to combat misinformation and promote acceptance, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and IADVL conducted a unique painting competition named “Power of Paint and Brush” on World Vitiligo Day, June 25, 2023. The competition aimed to spotlight the significance of awareness, understanding, and treatment for vitiligo patients. Dermatologists from across the country participated, submitting over 100 entries that creatively portrayed the journey of patients with vitiligo and advocated for the importance of embracing diversity.

Dr. Naushin Ara from Jaipur SMS Medical College crafted the winning painting, titled “Colour of Thoughts.” The winning artwork has been transformed into a captivating commemorative postal stamp that will serve as a constant reminder of the significance of empathy, acceptance, and respect for those affected by vitiligo.

Alok Malik, President and Business Head, India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said, “This initiative echoes Glenmark’s core commitment to inclusivity and positive influence. Beyond medicines, we believe in shaping a better society through collaborations that enhance medical education and well-being. This collaboration underscores our steadfast dedication to fostering empathy and harmony, reaffirming our pledge to create a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

IADVL spokesperson XX said, “We believe in the power of collective efforts to create awareness and acceptance. This commemorative stamp is a small but impactful step towards supporting vitiligo patients and promoting a more inclusive society.”

“As partners in delivering meaningful messages, we are proud to contribute to this event that fosters awareness and compassion. This commemorative stamp carries the spirit of unity and education for vitiligo support, reflecting our dedication to impactful initiatives,” said xx from Indian Postal Services.

A panel of judges, including Mr. Uday Parker, a Gold Medalist from JJ School of Arts, and key representatives from IADVL, meticulously reviewed the submissions to select the winning piece.

Hyderabad 28th August 2023: US-based QualiZeal, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the world’s fastest-growing independent digital quality engineering services companies. QualiZeal completed two remarkable years in the industry, catering to a diverse clientele of over 45 satisfied businesses. Shri C. Shekhar Reddy, Chairman Confederation of Indian Industry, inaugurated the company’s second delivery center in Hyderabad. The new office is 20000 sq feet, which will initially seat 200 more engineers and have a state-of-the-art training center. The plan is to hire 500 more technical employees and make Hyderabad a strategic delivery location before expanding to other cities. In recent times, QualiZeal has been gearing up to serve customers worldwide, and setting up a second office in the Hyderabad GDC will facilitate the process.

QualiZeal, a software testing platform, inspires, sets new benchmarks, and steps up to make a difference in quality. The aim is to fulfil the need for superior-quality products and digital solutions.

Shri C. Shekhar Reddy, said, studies indicate that there is a huge employability gap in the engineering colleges and companies like QualiZeal, Inc., are setting a precedent by establishing Centre of excellence for girl students in engineering colleges and it’s time for other corporates to emulate your initiative. I was part of the committee on Centenary celebrations of Osmania University, other forums and government platforms, where we have been discussing about employability of engineering students. In fact, in CII we have an European model, CII along with Government of Telangana and a multinational manufacturing company is doing a program of which the fifth batch is on, we screen 2nd year polytechnic students and make them attend an internship program after 4 pm and by the time they complete their polytechnic course, they have a degree and certificate from the company, besides an employment opportunity with that company. Similarly girls who are part of the like QualiZeal, Inc., centre of excellence will have a head start and thriving in their careers. QualiZeal, Inc., has identified the skill gap and is bridging that gap through these centres of excellence. Congratulate you on choosing Hyderabad for the 2nd office, a city which has infrastructure on par with the best, but the cost of living is comparatively low, which offers an edge for you over your competition. Hyderabad is the perfect destination for global entrepreneurs, with a proactive government ensuring highest standard of law and order.

Speaking to the media, Madhu Murthy Ronanki, Advisor and lead, India Operations, said, “We are delighted to announce our second office opening in Hyderabad. Committed to providing an ecosystem for growth as a digital-quality engineering company, we plan to increase headcount and augment infrastructure and technology over the next year by investing US $ 3 Million.”

At the occasion, Pradeep Govindasamy, CEO, QualiZeal, said, “Organisations from all over the world are establishing their global delivery center and technology hubs in Hyderabad. This serves as a testament to Hyderabad’s rising stature nationally and internationally. Hyderabad is our strategic delivery location, and we aim to expand to other cities soon. We will add 500 more people to our headcount next year to cater to our growth plans. Employee welfare is our primary agenda to encourage professional advancement and raise productivity. We are focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity.”

Hyderabad, 28th August 2023 The two-day 2nd Edition of the ‘Kamadhenu Estates Bharath Shah Badminton League’ being hosted for entrepreneurs by BNI – the world’s largest referral networking organization; kick started today at the Game Point, Kondapur. In the doubles only tournament a total of 42 teams were in action in the ‘Beginners’ category’, which saw some exciting matchups and results across two rounds, sixteen of these teams qualified for Round 3, which is Pre-Quarters. The highlight matches in the Beginners’ category were of Karthik and Balaji bulldozed their way to the pre-quarters winning matches in quick succession over their opponents, on the other hand the duo of K. Prethi and Gaurav A., progressed the hard way, going through tiebreakers to earn their spot.

20 teams were in action in the ‘Intermediate category’, and ten of them qualified for Round 2. One match which had the supporters of the respective teams on toes was between Nikhil Y. and Uttam Singh against Madhu Mahankali and Amrish Kumar. The nerve wreaking match went into tiebreaker and ended up having multiple match points.

All the three categories of Beginners; Intermediate and Pro categories will complete the other preliminary Rounds and vie for the finals in the respective categories by 9 pm tomorrow.

Hyderabad, August 26, 2023…….Sri BioAesthetics, a Hyderabad-based Integrated AgribioTech Center set up recently at an investment of INR 30 crore developed three new microbial products for soil health and fertility management at our R&D facility, Hyderabad.

Disclosing this in a press note issued in the city today, Dr KRK Reddy, Managing Director of Sri BitoAesthetics Pvt. Ltd who is also the President of BIPA, a trade body of BioAgri Input Producers in India said the three futuristic products with a future full of promise are a microbial consortium was developed through the technology transfer from ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal to mitigate saline stress in Rice.

ICAR-CSSRI is a Central Soil Salinity Research Institute. It is a premier research institute dedicated to pursuing interdisciplinary research on salinity/alkalinity management and the use of poor-quality irrigation waters in different agroecological zones of the country.

The second product is Prof. Ajith Verma’s (JNU/Amity Univ) discovery, Serendipita Indica, a desert fungus that helps in drought mitigation and nutrient acquisition. Serendipita indica is a fungal species of the order Sebacinales. It is an endophytic root-colonizing species, discovered from orchid plants in the Thar desert in Rajasthan, India by Prof. Ajit Verma and group, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

The third product is the Indigenously developed Root Organ Culture Mycorrhiza for water and nutrient absorption through symbiotic association

The three products will be formally launched in Vijayawada by Dr Janaki Ram, Vice Chancellor, YSR Horticulture University, a state University in Andhra Pradesh; Dr Sarada Jayalakshmi, Vice Chancellor, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) and Scientists from ICAR and Amity University will be gracing the occasion.

Hyderabad, 26th August 2023: Shoppers Stop, India’s leading fashion and beauty destination, is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated beauty festival, ShowStoppers’23 during the festive season. From August 25th to September 10th, 2023, beauty enthusiasts across the nation are invited to immerse themselves in a world of inspiration and celebration of beauty. SSBeauty Showstoppers ’23 not only celebrates beauty but also offers shoppers a daily chance to win the latest iPhone 15. They have also released a concept video to promote the campaign.

This interactive beauty festival brings to you a mix of edutainment content like tutorials, live sessions, and the best of offers from renowned brands such as Lakme, Colour Cosmetics, and Honasa consumers and skincare brands like Aqualogica and BBlunt.

Mr. Biju Kassim, President of Beauty at Shoppers Stop, expressed his excitement about the event during the launch. “Beauty is more than just skin deep,” he says, “It’s a celebration of individuality and self-expression. With #ShowStoppers’23, we are strengthening our dedication to beauty in all its manifestations. Our goal is to encourage inclusivity and embrace the various facets of beauty. We are convinced that ShowStoppers’23 will relate with every beauty buff and motivate them to explore, develop, and celebrate their unique identities.”

One of the most intriguing aspects of ShowStoppers’23 is the daily giveaway of the coveted iPhone 15. This exciting addition adds another layer of expectation and excitement to the festival, making it an unmissable event for beauty enthusiasts.

As Shoppers Stop continues to set new standards in the fashion and beauty industries, #ShowStoppers’23 demonstrates our unwavering dedication to excellence, inclusivity, and innovation.

–