Juhi Chawlas Ghoonghat Ki Aad Se look was created overnight with vintage mirror work
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 22 (IANS) National Award-winning designer Neeta Lulla shared that Bollywood star Juhi Chawlas glamorous look in the song Ghoonghat Ki Aad Se from the 1993 film Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke became a major fashion trend of its time, but the outfit was actually put together overnight ahead of the Jaipur shoot. Lulla took to Instagram, where she shared a video of herself talking about the look she created. She wrote: Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke , the song Gungad Ki Aar Se Dil Barka one of my most glamorous songs; clothes created overnight. I got a call around six o'clock in the evening about a shoot that was to take place in Jaipur and the team was traveling the next day, and they wanted three outfits Lulla recalled rushing to pick up fabrics; whatever she could lay her hands on. She shared that she created the look and visualized it in her head. I got all these fabrics from a store that was selling kachhi embroidery, kachhi fabrics and created the looks overnight. I used a lot of vintage mirror work. I used a lot of torans, cut them up and put them together, hand-stitched them and created blouses out of it. Lulla recalled using a lot of ganti fabrics, which were converted to skirts and tissue was used to create dupattas as well. The clothes, however, were ready to be delivered in the morning for the team and the crew to go to Jaipur, and they shot and sent me pictures. I was amazed at how beautiful it looked against the backdrop. When the movie was released, that particular song became a trendsetter. The designer shared: College-going students would dress in that same format and wear the same look to college for their special days, special events, or India Day, or whatever they wanted to wear it for, but I remember it was a huge trend at that time for almost a couple of years. Mahesh Bhatt directed Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. Based on the 1958 Hollywood movie Houseboat, it also stars Aamir Khan, Sharokh Bharucha and Kunal Kemmu. The film follows Rahul, who looks after his spoilt nephews, Sunny and Vicky, and niece, Munni. At a funfair, they meet Vyjayanti, who has run away from home, and decide to shelter her without Rahul's consent.
16-hr jungle chase through Hry ends in Congress victory in Tijara
BJP overcomes ward-level poll math to win 6 of 7 mayor posts
Congress retains Bikaner civic body, Anil Kalla wins 50-30
Rajasthan girls team wins silver medal in First Veteran National Shootingball Championship
51st Sub-Junior and Junior National Yogasana Championship to be held in Jaipur from Oct 3 to 6
HC protects Kekri chairperson candidate from arrest ahead of poll
Three councillors allegedly abducted in Sriganganagar
Rescued and cast their votes after high court intervention
Hanumangarh MLA Bansal gets police remand till Sept 25
Ashok Gehlot voices concern over conduct of civic polls in Rajasthan
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sept 21 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed concern over the conduct of the recently concluded Urban Local Body elections, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government relied heavily on administrative and police machinery to secure control of municipal boards. In a statement, Gehlot said the ruling party had gone beyond accepted democratic practices in its efforts to form boards. He described the developments as troubling, noting that they raised questions about fairness in the electoral process. Gehlot alleged that individual councillors were offered inducements, while Congress councillors faced notices, police summons and other forms of pressure. He also claimed that police personnel from neighbouring states were present during the election period and pointed out that the Rajasthan High Court had to hold late-night hearings on petitions related to the polls. The former Chief Minister cautioned that such practices could set a precedent ahead of the Panchayat elections. He said bureaucrats and police officers, who are generally expected to remain neutral, appeared to have acted in ways that favoured the ruling party. He added that accountability would eventually be sought for actions that undermined democratic norms. Gehlot further remarked that the use of money and official machinery risked eroding public trust in institutions. He urged Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to ensure that future elections are conducted in a manner that strengthens confidence in democratic processes. The comments come as the Congress prepares for the Panchayat elections, with the civic poll results already sparking political debate in the state. Gehlots statement indicates that the party intends to highlight concerns about the use of state machinery in the run-up to the next round of elections.
BJP wins Ajmer mayoral poll despite fewer AMC seats
AAP, CPM, RLP spring surprises in Raj civic polls
Smaller Outfits Breach BJP-Cong Urban Duopoly In Pockets
Jaipur mayoral election: Four candidates in fray
BJP wins 12 of 18 civic body chairperson posts in Jaipur dist
HC declines to defer Tijara chairperson poll, says councillors have right to vote
Gehlot, Dotasra allege BJP used police, money power to steal ULB mandate in Rajasthan
NHAI enables online FASTag portability between banks
Govt moves to plug drug supply gaps after violence at PBM hosp in Bikaner
ED searches 2 Jaisalmer premises over alleged misuse of Rs 5.10cr under FEMA
Raj govt unveils 12,500cr breakup for school infra overhaul over next 3 yrs
Jaipur Pink colour on U-turn bays criticised for violating road safety norms
Lokmanthan Yatra 2026 launched in city to promote folk culture
SET re-exam for two Jaipur centres on Sept 27
Rajasthan civic polls: BJP converts narrow vote edge into board control
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) The Rajasthan urban local body elections have produced a political paradox: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress remained separated by less than one percentage point in overall vote share, yet the BJP emerged with a substantially larger number of elected councillors and subsequently converted that advantage into control of several urban bodies. The numbers raise a bigger question: was the difference created at the ballot box or after? The answer appears to lie in a mix of electoral arithmetic, organisational mobilisation, the fragmented independent vote, and parties' ability to negotiate support during the crucial process of forming municipal boards. The Congress, meanwhile, faces questions over internal coordination and its ability to retain the support of its own councillors. The BJP and Congress were separated by only around 0.94 percentage points in vote share. The BJP polled about 35.18 per cent of the vote, compared with 34.24 per cent for the Congress. Yet the BJP won 4,179 wards, compared with 3,613 for the Congress, while independents won 2,273 wards. That gap shows how vote distribution across individual wards can produce a very different result from the statewide vote-share comparison. Ward delimitation in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota showed that Congress received a slightly higher combined vote count than the BJP in those three corporations but won fewer wards. Analysts attributed this partly to the concentration of Congress votes in fewer wards, while BJP votes were more evenly distributed. Congress leaders, however, alleged that the delimitation process disadvantaged the party. The real political battle began after the ward results. The BJPs advantage became more significant in municipal board formation. In several urban bodies, neither major party secured an outright majority, leaving independent councillors in a pivotal position. The BJP was the largest party in several such bodies, while Congress led in places including Ajmer and Pali but remained short of a majority. This is where post-election political management became central. The contest was no longer simply about how many councillors each party had won. Parties had to secure the support of independents and maintain cohesion among their own councillors before the mayoral and chairperson elections. The outcome in Pali provides perhaps the clearest illustration. In Pali, Congress had 29 councillors, but BJP got the mayor. Pali Municipal Corporation has 65 councillors. Congress emerged as the largest group with 29 seats, followed by the BJP with 21 and independents with 15. The majority mark was 33. Yet in Monday's mayoral election, BJPs Namita Bubakia won with 33 votes. Congresss official candidate Sumitra Jain received only three votes, while Congress rebel Rajbala Hingad, contesting as an independent, received 29 votes. All 65 councillors voted. The result dramatically changed the political picture created by the ward election. The BJP entered the mayoral contest with 21 councillors and needed 12 additional votes to reach a majority. The final tally indicates that the party succeeded in attracting sufficient support from outside its elected bloc. Because the mayoral ballot was secret, however, the result alone cannot establish the individual identity of every councillor who supported each candidate. The Pali result therefore raises a pointed political question for Congress: how did a party with 29 elected councillors end up with its official mayoral candidate receiving just three votes? Across the 309 urban local bodies, independents won 2,273 wards, making them a significant force in board formation. In Bharatpur, independents won 36 of 65 wards and crossed the majority mark on their own. In cities such as Pali, Ajmer, Alwar and Jodhpur, their numbers were crucial to determining who would control the civic administration. This changed the traditional BJP-versus-Congress equation. Where neither party had the numbers, the ability to communicate with, negotiate with and retain the support of independent councillors became decisive. Congress raised allegations that the BJP used government power and resources to influence board formation in some places. Those allegations are political claims and should be distinguished from the confirmed election results. At the same time, Congress leaders pointed to other explanations, including delimitation. Rajasthan PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra argued that the delimitation process contributed to the partys losses, despite the narrow vote-share difference. The available numbers also support another explanation: the BJP was more successful in converting its councillor strength and outside support into control of municipal leadership posts in several closely contested bodies. The sequence of events shows that the political environment surrounding board formation mattered greatly, particularly where independents held the balance. The civic election results expose a distinction between electoral support and organisational conversion. Congress secured 34.24 per cent of the overall vote, almost matching the BJPs 35.18 per cent. Yet the BJP won substantially more wards and subsequently secured key mayoral and chairperson posts in several places. For Congress, therefore, the issue is not simply whether it retains its voter base. It is also whether it can maintain unity among elected councillors, manage competing local factions, prevent internal rebellions, build relationships with independents, and convert ward-level victories into control of municipal boards. Pali demonstrates the scale of that challenge in particularly stark terms. The BJPs success in securing municipal leadership positions gives the party an organisational advantage at the local-government level. But winning the mayoral post is only the beginning of the political test. BJP leader Madan Rathore said, Regarding organisational strength, consider that Dotasras candidate received zero votes in Sadri (Pali), while the official Congress candidate in Pali secured only three votes; how, then, can I possibly match him? We believe in the organisation. The new municipal boards will now be judged on issues that directly affect everyday life: roads, drainage, sanitation, street lighting, water supply, waste management and other civic services. The political story of Rajasthans 2026 urban elections, therefore, is not simply BJP versus Congress. It is a story of three layers of electoral politics, moving from vote share to ward strength to board formation. The first two stages produced a closely contested picture. The third stage demonstrated the importance of alliances, independent councillors, internal cohesion and post-election political management. And that is perhaps the most important lesson from Pali: winning the most wards and controlling the board are not necessarily the same thing.
Local poll results show peoples confidence in BJP: Madan Rathore
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) BJP Rajasthan president Madan Rathore on Monday said the local body election results reflected people's support and confidence in the BJP, crediting the partys performance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda and the work of the Bhajanlal Sharma government in Rajasthan. Addressing a press conference after the results, Rathore thanked voters across the state and said the BJP had received widespread support in municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipalities. He said the mandate demonstrated public confidence in the partys leadership and its development-oriented approach. Rathore also said the state governments One State, One Election initiative had reduced election-related expenditure and would provide the government with more time to focus on development and public welfare. He noted that of the 10 municipal corporations in Rajasthan, results for seven were declared on Monday, with the BJP securing a majority in six. According to Rathore, BJP mayors were elected in Alwar, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur and Bharatpur. He said the people had endorsed the partys Sankalp Patra (manifesto) and that newly elected BJP representatives would work to fulfil its promises. Rathore added that BJP workers would approach voters with the same commitment during the upcoming Panchayat elections. He attributed the BJPs electoral performance to public faith in Prime Minister Modis development agenda and the work undertaken by the Bhajanlal Sharma government in Rajasthan. Rathore highlighted central government initiatives related to housing, sanitation, and infrastructure, including railway modernisation, doubling and electrification, road development, irrigation projects, and the construction and strengthening of dams. He also cited measures to support farmers, including increases in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Rathore said the Make in India initiative had promoted industrial development and investment, while efforts to attract investors aimed to create employment opportunities. In Rajasthan, he highlighted the state governments work on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), the Yamuna Water Agreement, water supply arrangements from Punjab and efforts to ensure the availability of Narmada water. He said the state government was providing additional financial assistance to farmers and focusing on expanding crop insurance benefits. Rathore also pointed to the Rising Rajasthan initiative, saying it had helped promote investment and industries in the state and contributed to employment generation. He said the government was undertaking recruitment drives to provide employment opportunities to young people. He further said the government had taken strict action against criminals and was working to strengthen healthcare, roads, electricity and other basic amenities. Responding to a question about Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, Rathore launched a personal political attack on his Congress counterpart. Dotasra is a big man; I cannot match him. He can secure benefits for his family, get jobs for family members and avail benefits despite falling under the OBC creamy layer category; I cannot compete with that, Rathore said. He also referred to the Congresss performance in the civic elections, saying the partys candidate in Sadri in Pali received zero votes. In contrast, the official Congress candidate in Pali received only three votes. How can I compare myself to him? We believe in the organisation, he said.
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], September 21: Lehar Footwears Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of renowned Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao as the Brand Ambassador for its in-house athleisure brand Rannr,
BJP wins 197 Rajasthan civic body posts, Congress bags 94; AAP springs surprise
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) Results for 301 civic bodies in Rajasthan have been declared so far, with the BJP emerging as the dominant force in the mayoral and chairperson elections. BJP candidates have secured 197 posts, while Congress has won 94. Independents have bagged seven posts, while AAP, CPM and RLP have won one post each. The BJP has also secured mayoral posts in six of Rajasthan's seven municipal corporations whose results have been declared. Congress managed to retain the mayor's post in Bikaner. The results have produced several reversals for Congress, including in Ajmer and Pali, where the party initially appeared to have an advantage based on its councillor numbers. In Ajmer, BJP's Anamika Sharma was elected mayor after securing 43 votes, despite the BJP having won 32 councillor seats in the corporation. In Pali, BJP candidate Namita Bubakia won the mayoral election with 33 votes. The BJP secured 21 councillor seats, while Congress won 29. However, Congress candidate Sumitra Jain received only three votes. The BJP also secured the mayoral posts in Udaipur and Alwar. Paras Singhvi won in Udaipur, while Sumanlata Agarwal emerged victorious in Alwar. Agarwal secured 42 votes against Congress candidate Kamlesh Sharma, who received 23 votes. In Bikaner, Congress candidate Anil Kalla was elected mayor. Kalla is the nephew of former minister BD Kalla. Another notable result came from Atru municipality in Baran, where Congress candidate Nisha Nainwal defeated Krishna Murari Dilawar, brother of Education Minister Madan Dilawar, by three votes in the chairperson election. The results also saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) make a surprise entry by winning a civic body chairperson post. CPM and RLP also secured one post each, while independents won seven posts. It may be noted that elections had already been decided unopposed in 32 civic bodies, including the Bhilwara and Bharatpur municipal corporations. The electoral process is not yet complete. Elections for mayoral posts in three municipal corporations, including Jaipur, and one municipality are scheduled for September 25. With the remaining mayoral contests still to be decided, the final political picture of Rajasthan's urban local bodies will emerge only after the September 25 elections.
Rajasthan: Hanuman Beniwal's RLP retains Mundwa Board
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) candidate Alka Kandoi was elected chairperson of the Mundwa Municipal Council in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, securing the post for a second consecutive term. Kandoi polled 13 votes, defeating independent candidate Ghanshyam Sadawat, who secured 12 votes. Sadawat had rebelled against the BJP after being denied the party's ticket and contested the chairperson election as an independent. The most notable feature of the result was the performance of the BJP's official candidate, Geeta, who received no votes. The BJP had emerged as the largest party in the Mundwa municipal council elections, winning 10 councillor seats. Four independent councillors supported by the BJP also won, giving the BJP-backed camp the support of 14 councillors in the 20-member house. A total of 11 votes were required to secure the chairperson's post. The RLP had won seven councillor seats, while Congress had three. The RLP-Congress camp also received the support of a BJP rebel councillor, taking its strength to 11enough to secure the required majority. However, the final voting pattern saw Kandoi receive 13 votes, while Sadawat polled 12. The BJP's official candidate Geeta did not receive a single vote. During the selection of its chairperson candidate, the BJP chose Geeta, a first-time elected councillor, over leaders including Ghanshyam Sadawat and Ramakant Sharma. After being denied the ticket, Sadawat rebelled and entered the contest as an independent. The result allowed Kandoi to retain the chairperson's post for a second consecutive term, while the zero-vote tally for the BJP's official candidate emerged as one of the most striking results of the Mundwa civic election. It may be noted that elections had already been decided unopposed in 32 civic bodies, including the Bhilwara and Bharatpur municipal corporations.
'Our coaches were fighting': Rudrankksh Patil on hotel accommodation issues at Asian Games
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Double Asian Games 2026 medallist Rudrankksh Patil opened up on the accommodation issues he and his other shooting contingent faced during their travel to Japan for the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Patil clinched a silver and a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle team and individual event, respectively. Speaking to the media after the win, the fabled shooter highlighted the travel and accommodation issues he and his team had to face. So, while we were going from Bhopal to Delhi and from Delhi to Japan via Hong Kong, it was a long travel for us from Bhopal to Delhi. Our flight had some issues, and we did an emergency landing in Jaipur, Patil told reporters after his twin medals. From there.... we went to Delhi. The next day, we had our flight. In the evening, we took the flight and came to Japan. It was an almost five-hour flight to Hong Kong, then six hours, seven hours halt in Hong Kong. And then again, from Hong Kong to Japan, it was five hours flight. And after reaching here, within five minutes, everything was cleared, he said on the travel. Patil then highlighted that the contingent had to wait for hours for their bus to arrive, and then the coaches had an altercation with the hotel staff after they were not offered the hotel they booked their rooms in. We went to the welcoming centre. It took us three hours to wait for the bus over there. At 2 or 3 am, we started leaving for the hotel and reached there at around 3:30 or 4 am. After reaching the hotel, we realised that the hotel we had booked was not our hotel, we only had a couple of rooms over there, and that was supposed to be the best hotel. And our coaches were fighting over there that if you can give us the confirmation for the best hotel, then how are you shifting us to some other hotel? he highlighted. Patil further stated that the organisers had an accommodation of an apparent village, where the main hotel is connected to the other ones and they were offered much smaller rooms. So, apparently, they had that village thing that one hotel was the main hotel and everything; every other hotel was connected to that hotel. And whatever room was empty, they were supposed to give us in that way. It did not work in the reservation way. So, it was quite disappointing to know that, but we had a hotel beside the main hotel. The rooms are very small. We cannot open our suitcases over here, but our coaches promptly decided that these rooms are too small to have them with double occupancy. So, the coaches gave every shooter single occupancy, and that made us stay much more comfortable. And this room is small, but it's comfortable also. It's cosy also. I love this room now, he added. The 2023 Hangzhou Games gold medallist from the team event, Patil, further stressed another issue the contingent faced, and that was delayed buses, which was later solved by the Indian authorities. Then the second issue was with the bus. Japanese are known for their time efficiency, but it was very difficult to see that the buses were coming on time. It took two hours to reach, rather than the 70 minutes, which they had promised, and it took two and a half hours to reach. So, that was a big problem. The next day, they solved it. The return bus issue was solved by providing us with more buses, but for going (to the competition), we had no guarantee because they did not know how many athletes were coming and how many are going to leave. The bus's capacity was 50. So, our government provided us with private cars. So, every rifle, pistol and shotgun (teams), were given one car, or one car per day. And then whoever has a match will take the car so that no one misses the match, or even if the bus is delayed or due to any circumstance, the car will always be on time. So, again, yesterday was the women's match (rifle women's match); they took the car yesterday, and we had a match today; so, we took the car today. So, I think, you know, even though the things are not that good, but again, I like, you know, how it was handled, promptly handled and looking forward to how Japan is treating us, I would say the atmosphere is really good. The rooms look small, but this is part of their culture; as far as I am aware, they have small rooms, and the room has everything which a player would need. He also heaped praise on how Japan has been working ecologically on providing food so that minimal food is wasted. Other than that, Japan is always the first one to have a sustainable, ecological way of conducting tournaments, and that's what they are doing. They ask us if we are going to have lunch or dinner or breakfast and they create the food items accordingly, he said.
Video: Thar Swerves, Rams Biker In Gurugram-Like Hit-And-Run In Jaipur. He Dies
The black Thar appears from behind, swerves left to hit Sharma and flees the scene without stopping.
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across other cities on September 21
Jaipur to get 5,000-capacity 360-degree immersive dome, here's when it will open to the public
Jaipur is set to get a new kind of event space where a wedding could look completely different from one hour to the next, and a conference could become an immersive visual experience rather than a conventional presentation.
Jaipur hit-and-run: 57-year-old dies after speeding Thar hits scooter, CCTV emerges
Hanumangarh MLA held on eve of civic chief poll
After mayor pick, BJP faces caste balancing test for deputy post
BJP keeps Udaipur councillors at resort ahead of mayor vote
B D Kalla alleges misuse of govt machinery to influence mayoral polls in Raj
Independents hold the key in Shekhawati civic boards
BJP supporters try to enter Cong councillors camp in Sikar
Ajmer mayor poll: Cong, BJP race to secure magic number of 41
Cong alleges police pressure on councillors ahead of civic chief polls
BJP to review poll results, plans organisational audit
Non-councillor as civic chief goes against representative govt: Constitutional expert
8-year-old case revived on poll eve, HC shields Cong candidate from arrest
RSPCB to use IIT-B tool to assess pollution-control impact
RPSC successfully conducts re-test of SI-2021 exam
3 suspects turn up for SI re-exam, arrested
Jaipur Police arrest man for raping 17-year-old neighbour
Fire partially damages Katra helipad terminal in Jammu & Kashmir
Digital Desk | Jammu, Sep 20 (IANS) A fire partially damaged the helipad terminal, used to ferry pilgrims to the hilltop Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, at Katra in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district early on Sunday. According to local sources, the fire was noticed around 3.15 a.m. The flames were brought under control shortly after by personnel present at the site, with assistance from fire and emergency services. The helipad terminal, an important transit point for pilgrims travelling to the shrine atop the Trikuta Hills, was closed at the time of the incident. No casualties have been reported so far. The extent of the damage is being assessed. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, though a short circuit is suspected. In a similar incident in June, a fire had broken out near the helipad at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya minutes before the scheduled landing of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, officials said. Police had then launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and determine how it broke out close to the helipad designated for the Chief Minister's arrival, according to an NDTV report. The blaze reportedly started near the helipad and quickly spread towards the nearby Saryu Guest House. According to officials, it affected an area of about 15 metres before being brought under control ahead of the chief minister's landing. Security personnel deployed at the site initially attempted to contain the flames before fire brigade teams arrived and extinguished the blaze. No injuries or loss of life were reported. A massive fire broke out at the Sethi Complex Manihari Katla, also known as Purohit Ji Ka Katla, in Jaipur's Tripolia Bazaar in Rajasthan on Thursday morning. More than 20 shops and warehouses, including clothing warehouses, plastic goods shops and bangle stores, were reportedly affected by the blaze. According to initial information, the fire started in goods stored in cartons outside a clothing shop on the second floor.
Kashmir finds its way into my work almost instinctively.
Yourself and your journey as an illustrator and graphic designer: My name is Ghazal Qadri, and I am a Kashmiri-born illustrator and graphic designer. I grew up in Kashmir and later moved away for high school and higher education. I hold a bachelors degree in Accessory Design from NIFT and an MA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, USA. I currently work as a freelance illustrator and am represented by Sara Crowe Literary. My work is inspired by everyday life, childhood, culture, people-watching and birdwatching. I enjoy creating comics, picture books and designs for social causes. My style is expressive, colourful and character-driven, with a special interest in projects related to children, education and community. Your earliest memories of art, and when did you realise illustration was your calling. Some of my earliest memories of art are of sitting in my room surrounded by things most people would call junk. I would spread out a bedsheet, bring out my collection of paper, glue, driftwood and other little finds, and start making something from them. My father would always wait to see what I had created, and he loved displaying my handmade pieces around the house. Many of them are still there today. My familys encouragement made me want to keep creating. Later, when I moved to a boarding school in Jaipur, I was surrounded by creative people and many new opportunities. My teachers and classmates encouraged me to take part in art competitions and activities. That experience gave me confidence and helped me realise that art and illustration were something I wanted to pursue seriously. My father always encouraged creativity at home, and both my brother and I had the freedom to explore our interests. My brother was also artistic, although he eventually chose a different career path and did very well in it. I decided to continue with art. I loved making things out of discarded materials, and that interest led me to study Accessory Design at NIFT Hyderabad. Later, I joined a design studio where I had the opportunity to work on illustration projects. That experience gave me the confidence to pursue illustration more seriously as a career. Your journey from Kashmir to the United States unfold. My journey began when political unrest in Kashmir disrupted education in 2010. My family decided to send me to a boarding school in Jaipur so that my studies would not suffer. It was difficult to leave home, but the experience introduced me to new creative opportunities. I participated in art competitions, received encouragement from teachers and began to understand that art could become a serious career. I later studied product and lifestyle-accessory design at NIFT Hyderabad and then worked as an illustrator at Lollypop Design Studio in Bangalore. In 2018, I travelled to Buffalo, New York, for an art fellowship connected with Roswell Park. That was one of my earliest professional experiences in the United States and gave me valuable exposure to the international creative community. I subsequently completed my masters degree in Illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2020. After graduating, I continued working in the United States as a freelance illustrator and visual designer. I have lived in several cities during that journey and am now based in Dallas. How much of Kashmir finds its way into your work, consciously or subconsciously? Kashmir finds its way into my work almost instinctively. Sometimes it appears consciously through the language, humour, clothing, crafts and everyday traditions I illustrate. Projects such as the Kath Baath stickers, for example, grew from my desire to preserve Kashmiri phrases and translate them visually for both Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri audiences. Which artists, writers or illustrators have influenced your style the most? Gemma Correll, Mike Lowery and Huda are some of my favourite artists. Their work is similar to the kind of illustration I enjoy, and they continue to inspire me. My earliest and strongest influence, however, was Alicia Souza. Her work had a very positive impact on the way I observe and illustrate everyday life. I even had a little fan moment when I got the chance to meet her at an event once. Which assignment has been the most meaningful, and why? The most special assignment for me has been Sonth Is Here because it was my debut book as an author-illustrator. My father supported me a lot throughout the process, and the editors and art directors at Pratham Books helped me shape and develop the book. It is still very special to me because it is closely connected to my own feelings, experiences and memories of Kashmir. Books, publications or brands you have illustrated for. I have worked across childrens publishing, comics, editorial illustration, branding and educational communication. I wrote and illustrated Sonth Is Here, published by Pratham Books, which celebrates the arrival of spring in Kashmir. I also illustrated Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!, a middle-grade graphic novel written by Haleh Massey and published by Yellow Jacket. It follows an Iranian girl navigating immigration, family separation, and selective mutism. This was launched this year in January. Another memorable book was Allie and the Albino Squirrel, written by E. K. McCoy and published through Atmosphere Press. For that project, I combined illustrated characters with photographic backgrounds to create a distinctive visual world. I have also worked on projects with UNICEF, Tulika Publishers, SIHA magazine, DreamWorks and Gifts of Love. In the branding space, I have developed packaging, mascots and visual identities for food, education and community-focused organisations. Do you think digital platforms have made it easier for artists from smaller regions to reach international audiences? Absolutely. Digital platforms have significantly reduced geographical limitations. An artist can now share their work from Kashmir and have it seen by publishers, clients, and audiences across the globe. For instance, my Kashmiri illustrations and WhatsApp stickers were initially shared online, reaching Kashmiris living in many different countries. Surprisingly, they also resonated with people who didn't understand the Kashmiri language but still connected with the expressions and humour. At first, my father and I spent hours manually forwarding the stickers one by one to people who sent direct messages on my Instagram, until a friend eventually designed a dedicated app for me. My website and social media platforms have also been instrumental in helping editors, publishers, and collaborators discover my work. However, gaining visibility online is just the beginning; artists still need a distinct voice, a robust portfolio, and consistency to turn that exposure into a sustainable career. Are there any upcoming books, exhibitions or collaborations that you can share with our readers? My middle-grade graphic novel Say Something, Poupeh Babaee! was recently published, and seeing such a large and emotionally layered project finally become a book was very special. I do not have an exhibition announcement at the moment, but I would love to eventually present a body of work centred on Kashmiri memories, humour and everyday culture. You have also made WhatsApp stickers, reflecting Kashmiri emotions, vibe. How did the idea come to you? Are you planning more such stickers? The idea began in the summer of 2018, when I returned home to Kashmir. While attending weddings, going on picnics and visiting villages, I felt deeply nostalgic about our language, humour and everyday expressions. The first illustration in the series came from a personal moment. My mother used the Kashmiri expression Kharizaleeli for me, and I immediately felt inspired to turn it into a character. I posted the illustration on Instagram, and people responded to it with so much excitement and recognition. That reaction encouraged me to create more and the series kept growing. Coincidentally, WhatsApp introduced its sticker feature at the same time, I realised these illustrations could become something people could actually use in their daily conversations. The characters wore pherans and traditional headgear and expressed familiar emotions, phrases and proverbs. My father really helped me share the stickers with his contacts in the beginning, and gradually they reached Kashmiris around the world. Yes! I would love to revisit the series and create a new collection. Kashmiri language and humour continue to evolve, especially among younger generations and the diaspora, so there are many new expressions, emotions and situations that could be explored through stickers.
Authorities begin clearing Mahal Road ahead of U-turn Bay opening
CA kidnap bid: Three accused had tried similar abduction earlier too
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Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 19 ( IANS) The political contest for the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Mayoral post has taken shape, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) naming Sunil Kothari and the Congress fielding Sunita Mahawar. Kothari, a former Jaipur City BJP President and newly elected Councillor from Ward-112, filed his nomination on Saturday. Mahawar, a Congress Councillor from Ward-118, has also entered the political fray. The BJP has 78 Councillors in the 150-member corporation, while the Congress has 57 and Independents hold 15 seats. The Mayoral election is scheduled for September 25, with voting to be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. if the political contest remains contested after the withdrawal process. The BJP finalised Kothari's candidature after consultations within the party. He reached the Jaipur Municipal Corporation headquarters on Saturday afternoon to file his nomination, accompanied by several senior BJP leaders. Kothari has been associated with the BJP organisation for several decades and has previously served as Jaipur City BJP President. He has also held other organisational responsibilities within the BJP. In the upcoming Jaipur municipal corporation election, Kothari contested Ward-112 and defeated the Congress candidate Ashish Sharma by 905 votes, according to reports on the election result. His election affidavit reportedly puts the value of his movable and immovable assets at around Rs 35.87 crore. The Congress has fielded Sunita Mahawar from Ward-118. She is a long-time Congress worker with experience in Jaipur's municipal politics and has previously held responsibilities in the Municipal Corporation. Mahawar is associated with the Adarsh Nagar area and is considered close to Congress MLA Rafeek Khan. The Congress has also indicated that it is seeking support beyond its own Councillor group ahead of the Mayoral election. Khan has publicly claimed that some BJP Councillors are in contact with the Congress, though such claims have not been independently verified. Mahawar's candidature gives the Congress a woman Councillor with experience in local politics as its challenger to the BJP candidate Sunil Kothari. The Jaipur Municipal Corporation has 150 wards. Following the September 17 repoll results, the final party-wise tally stands at BJP: 78, Congress: 57 and Independents: 15. The BJP therefore has a majority in the 150-member corporation. The four wards that went to repoll were all won by Congress, taking its tally from 53 to 57. The 15 Independent Councillors could nevertheless remain politically significant during the Mayoral election, particularly because the Mayor is elected through a vote of the elected Councillors. The Rajasthan State Election Commission has scheduled the Jaipur Mayoral election for September 25. Nominations were accepted on September 18 and 19, scrutiny is scheduled for September 21, and September 22 is the deadline for withdrawal of candidature. With both major parties, BJP and the Congress, now having formally announced candidates, the focus shifts to the nomination scrutiny, withdrawal process and the efforts of the parties to consolidate support ahead of the September 25 vote.
Sunil Kothari named BJPs Jaipur mayoral candidate
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Sep 19 (IANS) The BJP has named Sunil Kothari as its candidate for the Jaipur Municipal Corporation mayoral election. His candidature was finalised following consultations at the Chief Ministers Residence (CMR). Meanwhile, the Congress has asked Sunita Mawar, councillor from Ward 118, and Bharat Meghwal, councillor from Ward 84, to remain prepared to file their nomination papers. On Friday, BJP councillors were asked to indicate their preferences for the mayoral candidate. Each councillor was asked to submit three names in order of preference. Later in the evening, the councillors were shifted to The Surya Golden Palace hotel in Pushkar. Following the finalisation of his candidature, Sunil Kothari was brought back to Jaipur from the group. Earlier, after the BJP had sought the preferences of its Jaipur councillors before finalising its mayoral candidate, among the names discussed within the party were Sunil Kothari, Puneet Karnawat and Subhash Singhi. Kothari represents Ward 112 and has previously served as the BJP's Jaipur city president. He has also held several organisational responsibilities in the party. Puneet Karnawat, the outgoing deputy mayor, represents Ward 76 and was also among the names under consideration. Subhash Singhi, who won from Ward 98, was another contender. The selection process also involved discussions over the community representation of the mayoral candidate. Party leaders and councillors considered several factors, including the views of elected representatives, seniority and organisational experience. There was also discussion within the party about choosing a candidate from the Vaishya community for Jaipur. Kothari emerged as a prominent contender during these deliberations. Some city MLAs were reportedly supporting Subhash Singhi, while Karnawat's name was also being considered. With the BJP having selected a Jain community candidate in Udaipur, and both contenders in Jodhpur reportedly belonging to the Jain community, there was also discussion about choosing a candidate from a different community for Jaipur. Kothari's candidature was ultimately finalised by the BJP following consultations at the Chief Minister's Residence.
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