Cook Islands issues commemorative coin of Jainism founder
Kolkata: Reflecting the growing global influence of Jainism, Cook Islands, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, on Sunday launched a special coin commemorating Jain religion’s traditional founder Lord Adinath. Unveiled by Johann Berner of Switzerland’s Coin Invest Trust, who are on an India tour, the silver coin has a colourful portrait of Adinath and is decorated with Swarovski elements. The coin has a face value of 20 dollars. From the limited edition of 1008 coins minted for collectors, only 508 pieces have been allocated for the Indian market, said numismatist Alok Goyal who has the sole selling rights for the coins in India. Weighing 2 oz (62.2 gram), the coin is made of 999 silver with partially colour printing, with Palitana temple facade in high relief as the background. The size of the coin is 50 mm and would be delivered on the occasion of ‘Akshay Tritya’ on April 21, 2015. Lord Adinath or Rishabha Dev is the traditional founder of Jainism and the first of 24 Trithankars who established the Jain teachings. Originating from India, the followers of Jainism are spread across the world. (PTI)
Residents of PoK would love to Join India: Muslim cleric
Jammu: The chairman of Anjuman Minhaj-e- Rasool, an Islamic organisation working for peace and communal harmony, today said that if given a chance the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would love to join the Union of India. “If a plebiscite is held in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, more than 99 per cent people there would vote to become a part of the Union of India,” Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool chairman Maulana Syed Athar Dehlavi told reporters here. Dehlavi, who was in Jammu after a five-day visit to flood affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, said the separatists in Kashmir has lost their grounds and the people in the Valley are talking about good governance and development. “The separatists in Kashmir have lost their ground and the people in the Valley are discussing issues like good governance, development and education. They are not bothered about what a handful of people are saying,” Dehlavi said. Dehlavi said during his visit to Kashmir he found that the flood-affected people were all praise for the relief and rescue operations launched by the army. “The people are praising the army as their savior. The army has done a wonderful job in Kashmir. The people in Kashmir have now realised that the army is their real savior,” he said. Dehlavi also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “people friendly” policies in Jammu and Kashmir and the country. He said his Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool was the only Islamic organisation that raised voice against Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. “When Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir we raised objection in the OIC in Jeddah and we were the one to condemn Osama Bin Laden and now we are strongly condemning Islamic State,” Dehlavi said. (PTI)
Vice President Hamid Ansari inaugurates Mathrubhumi Book Fair
New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari today formally inaugurated a four-day book fair organised by the Mathrubhumi media group here. The fair, hosted by the Kerala-based Mathrubhumi Group of Publications in association with Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi, began yesterday at Rabindra Bhavan near Mandi House. Congratulating the organisers for the initiative, Ansari said that the book publishing industry was flourishing in the country despite many people spending most of their time on computers and social media. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien was also present on the occasion. The book fair is hosting about 10,000 titles in Malayalam and English from various publishers. A series of cultural events followed the inauguration. (PTI)
PIL seeks adequate security for next year‘s Nashik Kumbh Mela
Mumbai: A PIL in Bombay High Court has sought a direction to the authorities to adopt adequate security measures against terror strikes and steps to prevent mishaps like stampede during next year’s Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra’s pilgrimage town of Nashik. The public interest litigation, filed by right wing organisation Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, said during the 2003 Kumbh Mela, 29 people had lost their lives and 118 sustained injuries due to “insufficient infrastructure” and inadequate planning. Coming after 12 years, the next Kumbh Mela would be held at Nashik in July next year. The PIL, expected to come up for hearing after two weeks, has demanded that adequate police force should be deployed and sufficient CCTV cameras be installed in the pilgrimage town to prevent any untoward incidents. Attacks on temples had increased in the past, the PIL alleged. It cited instances, such as the 2002 attack on Raghunath Temple in Jammu in which 25 people were killed and the 2002 attack on Akshardham Temple in Gujarat in which 30 people lost their lives. (PTI)
The PIL further prayed that the authorities be directed to release sufficient funds and acquire land required for holding the 2015 Kumbh Mela, as about one crore devotees are expected to throng Nashik during the event. More than Rs 4,000 crore would be required to hold the festival, the PIL estimated. (PTI)