A remarkable piece by the legendary Indian artist, Raja Ravi Varma, is soon to be unveiled. Named ‘Parsi Lady,’ this unfinished painting was the last that Varma created before his demise in 1906. The unique aspect of this artwork is its connection to Dada Saheb Phalke, a major figure in Indian cinema who was in Varma’s employ at that time.
Varma’s generous financial support allowed Phalke to create the first full-length Indian feature film, “Raja Harishchandra.” The Kilimanoor Palace Trust houses ‘Parsi Lady’ and plans to display it on Varma’s 175th birth anniversary along with another portrait hitherto unseen. With the art restorer, S. Madhan’s assistance, the painting was painstakingly restored, removing layers of old varnish and dirt.
Raja Ravi Varma, born on April 29, 1848, made a significant impact on traditional Indian art. He is well-known for giving Western, classical depictions to Hindu gods and goddesses. His mentor, Ramaswamy Naidu, the royal painter, taught him the intricacies of watercolors.
Throughout his lifetime, Varma produced approximately 7,000 paintings. His proficient use of the lithographic press helped disseminate his work extensively. In 1904, the British colonial government honored him with the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal. More recently, in 2013, a crater on Mercury was named after him.
India’s Supreme Court: Calls for Action Against Hate Speech
The Supreme Court of India has issued directives to all states to register FIRs on incidents of hate speech suo motu. Legal action against offenders should be initiated, and a complaint need not be awaited. The court stressed the importance of booking the perpetrators under specific penal provisions, including various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
They emphasized that India’s constitution envisions the nation as secular—one where individual dignity and the country’s unity and integrity must be assured. Therefore, while there must be freedom of speech, hate speech cannot be permitted under this guise.
Government Introduces Star Rating System for Water Fixtures
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Mission Director of AMRUT 2.0 have announced a star-rating system for water fixtures to encourage water efficiency. This system will allot ratings of 3,4 or 5 stars to these fixtures under a program called Bharat Tap, similar to how electric appliances are rated.
The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) and manufacturers have been engaged in adopting and advocating these standards. Preliminary results show that more than 30% of water can be saved using this initiative. The IPA is committed to saving 10,000 crore liters of water this year and has urged the government to prioritize low-flow fixtures in future tenders.
Slow Growth in India’s Core Sectors
Data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries reveals a decline in the growth of India’s eight core sectors. In March 2023, it stood at 3.6%, the lowest in five months. Factors such as higher inflation, base effect, rising interest, easing of pent-up demand, and increased economic uncertainty have negatively impacted domestic demand, resulting in slower growth rates.
The core sectors in the Indian economy—coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity— contribute significantly to overall economic and industrial movements. These sectors have a combined weightage of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which is the measure of growth rate across various industry groups in the economy. The core sector signifies the economy’s capital base and infrastructure. Thus, their performance has a ripple effect on other sectors as well.