Visva-Bharati slashes its budget for this year's annual art-and-craft fair

Demonetisation has left its mark on this year's a cut in the budget of its annual art-and-craft fair in Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan to a fifth of last year's figure.
Lat year, the budget was Rs 2.5 lakh last year and, the university has indicated that it will not be able to spend more than Rs 50,000 - this is in view of the cash withdrawal limit set by the Centre which is Rs 24,000 per week. The university has also decided to reduce the prices of the artefacts due to the cash crunch.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 30 November 2016.

The fair usually displays artefacts like paintings, sculptures, jewellery, diaries, calendars and stationery that are made by teachers and students of Kala Bhavana and is held in the art department compound. Known as the Nandan Mela, it started 43 years ago to commemorate the birthday of painter Nandalal Bose. It is held on December 1 and 2 every year.
Nearly 12,000 to 15,000 people visit the fair every day and the university has given the students an advance of Rs 40,000 with a request that thy chip in with some money, if possible.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

1600-year-old treasure trove from Roman-era ship discovered in the sea bed near Israel

The cargo consisting of thousands of coins and fragments of life-size bronze cast statues from a Roman-era ship that sank off the Mediterranean coast 1,600 years ago has been discovered near Israel. This discovery made in the harbour of Caesareahas has been described as the country's most significant discovery of Roman-era artefacts for 30 years.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 16 May 2016.

In the opinion of the Israel Antiques Authority, the finds are in an "amazing state" of preservation because of the coatings of sand. The remains of the ship were "left uncovered on the sea bottom" and were discovered by two divers last month. Then followed successive trips to recover the haul.
The cargo also has animal-shaped objects and bronze lamps and is believed to be a rare archaeological find since metal statues of this types were routinely melted down and recycled during the period. Earlier excavations at the site had uncovered some bronze statues but the current haul is said to be much larger than previous discoveries.
It appears the merchant ship was loaded with the metal cargo and the intention might have been to recycle it. The vessel must have hit a storm as it entered Caesarea and had drifted away before hitting the seawall and rocks. The director of marine archaeology at the IAA feels that some of the objects could be traced back to the fourth century, while other items are from the first and second century.
Incidentally, last year divers had discovered a stash of gold coins inscribed in Arabic and thought to be 1,000 years old on the sea bed off Israel.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Cruise ship Harmony of the Seas can accommodate more than 8,000 passengers and crew

Leopards in search of food on the prowl in streets of Gujarat

Bust the obesity timebomb with grapes and oranges


Monsoons and Didi’s flipflops aka Hawaii chappals (satire)

Chopper scam and Moody’s questions (satire)

Baba Someday, his yoga and Pat & Jolie face cream (satire)


High alert in Cannes for the film festival where 45000 people would attend

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”

Lady Gaga to portray legendary singer Dionne Warwick in 'Dionne'


Bombs rock Baghdad - ISIS car bombs kill at least 89

No buyers for Zimmerman's gun that killed Trayvon Martin in 2012

Australian police arrest five men who planned to go to Syria by boat to join ISIS