MAM
Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Arts condemns blogger Avijit Roy’s killing
KOLKATA: Activists, artists, intellectuals and writers staged a protest in Kolkata to condemn the killing of Avijit Roy – a Bangladeshi-American blog writer in Dhaka last week.
Roy was also the founder of Mukto-Mona (Free-mind) blog site, which champions liberal secular writing in Bangladesh.
Organised by Bhasha O Chetona Samiti (Language Awareness Society), a Kolkata-based organisation for promotion of Bengali language and culture, the protest saw people gather at the Academy of Fine Arts to condemn Roy’s killing and called for fighting against fundamentalism.
Roy, a 42-year-old bio-engineer working in the United States, was hacked to death by two attackers wielding machetes in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on 26 February, when he was leaving a book fair with his wife Rafida Ahmed Banna, who was also seriously wounded in the attack.
Religious radicals had been threatening Roy over his active campaign against Islamist extremism and for improving secularism in Bangladesh.
As per reports, it should be noted that India as a county has reacted sharply over gruesome killing of liberal author Roy by suspected terror operatives and warned that such acts of extremism aided by groups like Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) could further fuel terrorism in region, a day ahead of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s visit to Bangladesh.
The United Nations (UN), US State Department, UK and the European Union (EU) have condemned the murder of Roy.
Brands
JK Maxx Paints ropes in Akshay Kumar to boost brand visibility push
Actor’s trust-led appeal set to strengthen connect in décor market
MUMBAI: JK Maxx Paints has signed Akshay Kumar as its brand ambassador, as the company looks to scale up visibility and deepen its connect with consumers in India’s competitive decorative paints market.
The move is part of a broader strategy to position the brand around trust and performance, qualities closely associated with Kumar’s public persona. With a strong connect among Indian households, the actor is expected to help the company strike a more relatable chord with home owners.
Welcoming the partnership, JK Maxx Paints business head white cement and paints Nitish Chopra said, “This partnership marks an important milestone in our journey to scale JK Maxx Paints as a strong, future-ready brand. As we expand our presence across markets, our focus remains on building deeper consumer trust and delivering high-performance solutions. Akshay Kumar’s credibility and widespread appeal make him a powerful partner in amplifying our brand story and strengthening our connect with consumers across India.”
Echoing the sentiment, Akshay Kumar highlighted the brand’s legacy and familiarity among Indian consumers. “Some associations just feel right from the heart. This is one of them. JK Maxx Paints carries a legacy that people already believe in. When a name like JK WallMaxx Wall Putty is so deeply woven into homes, it’s not just familiarity, it’s a sense of comfort and trust,” he said.
Launched in 2023 and backed by the legacy of JK WallMaxx Wall Putty from JK White Cement, the paints business has been steadily expanding its footprint. The company operates a manufacturing facility in Rajasthan and an R and D centre in Navi Mumbai, offering a wide portfolio across interior and exterior paints, textures and waterproofing solutions.
The new partnership will roll out through a multi-platform campaign spanning television, digital, print, outdoor and retail channels.
With a trusted face now fronting its colours, JK Maxx Paints is clearly aiming to paint a bigger picture in India’s home décor market.
