News Broadcasting
An India – Bhutan Foundation Initiative in association with SIYAHI
Mumbai, 01st August 2013: The Mountain Echoes Literary Festival, 2013 is a recognition of culture, traditions, art and everything in between; it is in the truest sense a celebration of the rich and giving past, an affirmation of the warmth of the present and a powerful beacon to the future. It is about getting together and celebrating everything that brings one pleasure – books, music, art, photos, drama, movies, sports etc.
The Chief Royal Patron of the festival is Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.
An initiative by the India – Bhutan foundation, Mountain Echoes is produced by Siyahiand presented by USHA. Namita Gokhale and Pramod Kumar KG are the festival directors.
The sessions will be spread between Taj Tashi, Thimphu and Tarayana Center, Thimphu who are the hospitality and venue partners of the festival.
The presenting sponsors of the festival, Usha, known for their products in virtually every Indian household, hope to extend the reach of Usha’s Silai (Sewing) Schools Programme into the countless under-served rural communities, particularly those that suffer from a lack of electric power. This initiative, operated in conjunction with local NGO’s, will provide the entrepreneurial village woman with a sewing machine as well as training in sewing, simple mechanics for repair and the knowledge to transfer sewing skills to the future generations. The aim is for women to generate independent incomes and sustain their families and communities. Usha intends that the schools will give these communities, and the women who keep them alive, their fair share in the region’s future. Presently, over 2500 schools are in operation across all the 28 states of India and the number is growing at a thousand schools per year.
The festival takes off with Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and Namita Gokhale, as they look back on her life as the Queen Mother of this mystic Himalayan nation. We have Dasho Kinley Dorji, Pavan K. Varma, Siok Sian Dorji, Kunga Tenzin Dorji, Ratnottama Sengupta, Bachi Karkaria with Malvika Singh blurring the lines between what is known, what is believed and what is said. Moving forth from the time-wrap of patriarchy and the taboo surrounding the word “Feminism” will be Lily Wangchuk, Aparna Sen, Rahul Bose and Namita Bhandare. Lyonpo Paljor Dorji and Dr. Lam Dorji will get down to the nitty gritty of environmental sustainability with Manju Wakhley.Ani Choying will talk about music that is inspired by and inspires emancipation, Amish Tripathi and Meru Gokhale will discuss the writing of the Shiva Trilogy and Amruta Patilpresents Adi Parva and its re-contextualization in contemporary times. Reading selected parts of their works will be Kezang Uden Penjor, Maria Rosa ‘Bing’ N. Carrion, Chorten Tshering and Jerry Pinto. Tarun Tejpal will talk about his work, ideas and the 'alchemy' that may or may not gild things as we know them now.
Kesang Choden T. Wangchuk and Tshering Tashi will contemplate on the vibrant mural tradition in Bhutan and Christoph Schuler plans to do a delightful presentation of whiteboard animation with Andrea Caprez. Barkha Dutt will speak candidly about her experience as one of leading TV Journalist and anchor with Namgay Zam. Jane De Suzaand Karma Tenzin ‘Yongba’ will bring forward the making of their detective stories withSathya Saran. Omair Ahmad, Lyonpo Om Pradhan and Pavan K. Varma explore the New Bhutan, Sudha Shah and Pramod Kumar KG chronicle history, defining the roots of a nation. Kunzang Choden and Dolma Roderwill revisit the Ogyen Choling manor.Mahesh Dattani will speak about his plays with Kalyan Ray. Outlining the history of the nation-state of Bhutan will be Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Dr. Yoshiro Imaeda, the chronicler of the consolidation of Bhutan talks about his work. Saad Bin Jung will speak about his expeditions and experiences. Kelly Dorji and Dorji Dhradhul read excerpts from their books. Ulap Leki takes on the critical nature of the lighter side of things.
For those interested in the fields of art, photography and history: Bhutan: An Eye to History is a photographic exhibition by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck showcasing the evolution of Photography in Bhutan; and Kalpana: Masterpieces of Figurative Indian Contemporary Paintings will be showcased at theNehru Wangchuck Center. Tarayana Center, Thimphu will host an Art Exhibition: VAST Summer Show 2013.
Also at the Nehru Wangchuck Centre, films from various genres will be screened with the support of the Public Diplomacy Division. We have A la Cart!, Harmony Fest, The Joyful Rhythms of a Kashmiri Wedding, Lords of the Arctic, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Hello India, Six Yards of Grace, Silent Screams and The Great Adventure.
Mahesh Dattani, playwright, director, actor and winner of the Sahitya Academy Award, will conduct the Theatre Workshop open to all those who are interested. Jerry Pinto, journalist, writer and winner of the The Hindu Lit For Life Prize for Fiction in 2013 will lead the Creative Writing Workshop to help all the writers caught in limbo to bring out their latent abilities. The workshops are a step in helping direct the creativity of the youth and to inculcate the atmosphere for a free exchange of knowledge which helps all those involved, grow.
Bandish is an Indian band popular for its Rock, Pop, Indi-Pop, Sufi and Bollywood music. Ace drummer Chris Powell (Founder Member Nirvana, Ex-Euphoria) formed the band comprising Adil Manuel and Desmond Powell (founder Member Nirvana and True Colours) on guitar, Sanam on vocals, Ulrich Gomes on keyboards, Abhishek on bass and Rohit Kumar on Indian percussions. They are all very excited to be a part of the festival for the first time.
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
