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To mark International Women’s Day, Indian Railways operates trains with all-women crew, including loco pilots, train managers, ticket checkers and security personnel, highlighting women’s capabilities and promoting gender equality.

Authorities hailed the initiative as a tribute to women’s empowerment in the railways. As part of the celebrations, the Mysuru Division of the South Western Railway (SWR) operated Train No. 12975 Mysuru-Jaipur Express this morning, which departed at 10.30 am from Mysuru City Railway Station with an all-women crew, symbolising empowerment in action.

The all-women Jaipur Express crew comprised Senior Loco Pilot Sijina, Assistant Loco Pilot Krishnaveni, Train Manager Kasi Monicasai, Deputy Station Manager Nagalakshmi Prasad, Traveling Ticket Examiner Smitha Rajeshwari and Station Superintendent A. Vibha.

The train was flagged off by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shilpi Agarwal and Senior Divisional Operations Manager Haritha.

With 22 bogies, the Jaipur Express is scheduled to reach its destination on March 10 at 6 am. To mark the occasion, the platform and the front portion of the train were adorned with festive decorations.

Speaking to Star of Mysore before departure, Sijina and Krishnaveni expressed their excitement at steering a long-distance train connecting Karnataka and Rajasthan. “We have undergone rigorous training and have been mentored well to ensure passenger safety and the train’s timely arrival and departure,” they said, thanking the South Western Railway for the opportunity.

A grand reception was organised for the all-women Jaipur Express in Bengaluru. Additionally, the Bengaluru Division ran Train No. 20624 KSR Bengaluru-Mysuru Malgudi Express with an all-women crew, which departed Bengaluru at 1.50 pm.

Range of activities

The SWR has launched International Women’s Day 2025 celebrations with a range of engaging and empowering events aimed at recognising the contributions of women and fostering an inclusive workplace culture across all its divisions.

This year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action for Gender Equality,’ highlights the ongoing efforts to bridge gender gaps and ensure equal opportunities for women globally. At SWR, this theme holds special significance as women continue to break barriers and make impactful contributions across operational, technical and leadership roles.

From track maintainers, technicians and loco pilots, to senior section engineers and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs), women are playing crucial roles in railway operations, ensuring efficiency, safety and excellence in service delivery.

South Western Railway remains committed to fostering a work environment free from gender discrimination, where women are encouraged to take on challenging roles and leadership positions.

Celebrations at SWR headquarters

The South Western Railway (SWR) Headquarters marked International Women’s Day with a series of activities aimed at celebrating and empowering its women employees.

Sports events such as badminton and throwball competitions were organised to promote fitness, teamwork and camaraderie. A Rangoli competition showcased vibrant designs focusing on themes of women’s empowerment and safety, highlighting  participants’ creativity.

In the culinary display competition, women employees exhibited their culinary talents by preparing diverse cuisines, reflecting their passion for food and culture. Additionally, a flower decoration contest encouraged artistic expression, with participants crafting intricate floral arrangements.

Divisional-level celebrations

The celebrations extended across South Western Railway’s Bengaluru, Hubballi and Mysuru Divisions, where various events were conducted to honour  the occasion.

Sports activities, including badminton, throwball and chess tournaments, encouraged participation and team spirit among women employees. Creative competitions such as rangoli, mehendi and nail art contests provided a platform for artistic expression.

A unique fireless cooking competition also challenged participants to showcase innovative culinary ideas without the use of open flames.

Special initiatives for women’s health

Prioritising women’s health, the Mysuru Division took a proactive approach by organising several wellness initiatives. A bone mineral density test was conducted to assess bone health and detect early signs of osteoporosis.

A breast cancer screening camp was set up to promote awareness and early detection of the disease.

Additionally, a session on obesity and stress management, scheduled for March 8, aims to provide valuable insights into maintaining a healthy lifestyle, stress management techniques and overall well-being.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

The Dean of Behavioural Science, NIMHANS, will describe a 10-year longitudinal study of the mental health of young mothers in Bengaluru at the conference.

The National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), in association with The PARC — a city-based mental health training organisation — is co-hosting the 10th World Congress of Women’s Mental Health, an initiative of the International Association for Women’s Mental Health (IAWMH) in Bengaluru. The congress kicked off with a pre-conference event at NIMHANS on Wednesday and will continue till Saturday.

“This the first time that the IAWHM is holding the World Congress of Women’s Mental Health in a developing country in South Asia, India,” said Dean, Behavioural Science, NIMHANS, Prabha Chandra. She is also president, IAWHM, and organising chairperson, 10th World Congress of WMH.

She will describe a 10-year longitudinal study of the mental health of young mothers in Bengaluru in the scientific programme of the conference.

“The congress will have panel discussions with domain experts for the delegates, book panels and talks across the city and an art workshop for the general public,” said Pavitra Jayaraman, co-founder, The Psychotherapy Advanced Research Centre (PARC) and organising committee of the 10th World Congress.

Over 800 delegates from across the world are likely to participate in the conference, which will include over 90 symposia, case conferences and panel discussions, 350 e-poster presentations by researchers and practitioners on topics including addiction, perinatal trauma, bipolar disorders, psychosis and the lived experience of women as caregivers. There will be skill-based workshops on eating disorders in adolescents, ADHD, sexual dysfunction and perinatal psychopharmacology by leading international experts.

Prof Norman Sartorius, former director, Division of Mental Health, WHO, will speak on priorities for mental health in 2025.

The pre-conference event – Empowering Minds, Embracing Gender: Creative Dialogue on Women’s Mental Health – engaged with over 350 university students through slam poetry, poster making and interactive theatre.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

‘Heart Lamp’, a short story collection written by Banu Mushtaq and translated by Deepa Bhasthi, has been longlisted for the International Booker Prize.

For those with even a passing familiarity with Kannada literature of the past few decades, writer Banu Mushtaq needs no introduction. The 76-year-old has been a prominent Kannada writer since the 1970s, but with her latest short story collection Heart Lamp making it to the International Booker Prize longlist, she is now in the spotlight of a global audience.

Heart Lamp, a collection of 12 short stories, has been translated by Deepa Bhasthi.

“On the 24th of February, our agent said in an elated tone that the collection had been longlisted……I was stunned. I was wondering what I was hearing and how to take it. It was an emotional moment,” Mushtaq told The Indian Express .

“When Deepa read the stories, she was moved by some of them and would say that she wanted one story or the other to be included in the collection. She was a major decision-maker….I said that if she was so impressed by those stories, then they could be translated. In that way, we selected 12 stories,” she added.

Bhasthi, herself a writer, said the Kannada written by Mushtaq has some unique characteristics that mirror the way the language is spoken in Karnataka’s Hassan area. “There is a certain balance one hopes to achieve between keeping certain words which are very essential to the Kannada text while also making it so that a reader across the world does not find it too alien,” she said, adding that she would also take into account the sociopolitical perspective that the stories were written from.

A Karnataka Sahitya Academy awardee, Mushtaq was among those who translated Adil Shahi literature in recent years, having worked on 500 pages of Urdu literature archived at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad .

Looking back on influences in her writing career, Mushtaq said, “At an early stage of writing, I used to be angry because of the injustices against women and the poor… how people are marginalised and victimised. I was in social movements like the Dalit and Kisan movements and the Bandaya Sahitya Sangatane…..all these movements we had from the 70s to the 90s. I also served as the state convenor for the Bandaya Sahitya Sangatane. There was a wave of social awareness that provided intellectual equipment to the younger generation.”

She added, “One would read heartbreaking stories about a woman or a farmer or a Dalit in the newspapers. These thoughts grew in my mind and I started writing about them.”

Bhasthi’s journey with translation began with the work of Kodagina Gowramma, who hailed from Kodagu, the same part of Karnataka she is from. “Her birth centenary was in 2012. When I started reading her stories, I wanted them to have a wider readership. Back then, I had no clue about the field of translation so I had to learn on the job. It also brought me closer to Kannada…I realised that when I translated, I was getting closer to my language and culture,” Bhasthi recalled.

For Mushtaq, this latest recognition comes with the hope that it will bring more positive attention to Kannada literature and its heritage. “Kannada has got a history of literature…of more than a 1,000 years…..but it has not come up on a global venue. Now, it is high time it is recognised as a cultural language,” she said.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Beldale Convention Hall at Naubad on the outskirts of Bidar on March 2. The deliberative sessions would be held at Channabasava Pattadevaru Ranga Mandir in Bidar.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said that a three-day State-level traditional medicine conference would be held in Bidar from March 2.

Addressing a media conference in Bidar on February 27, Mr. Khandre said that over 1,500 traditional medicine practitioners would participate in the 15^th State-level conference to share their rich and long-standing experience of healing.

“As many as 11 deliberative sessions would be held at the three-day conference. Traditional healers from across Karnataka and beyond would participate to share their rich healing experiences in these sessions,” Mr. Khandre said.

As per the information provided by the Minister, the event will begin at 11 a.m. at Beldale Convention Hall at Naubad on the outskirts of Bidar on March 2. The deliberative sessions would be held at Channabasava Pattadevaru Ranga Mandir in Bidar.

“Reports on the issues presented in the sessions would be submitted to the Karnataka Biodiversity Board of which I am the chairman. The government will take suitable action on the reports,” Mr. Khandre said.

Speaking on the biodiversity in the State, Mr. Khandre said, “Karnataka is a land of variety of plant and animal species. It has a rich biodiversity with rare kinds of animals, birds and insecticides. The ecological system has created an ideal habitat for these species. It is our responsibility to conserve this ecological system to save these rare flora and fauna.”  

Pointing to the traditional healing system that dominated the ancient Indian landscape, Mr. Khandre said that traditional healers in India had mastered the art of handling any health complexities with the herbs available in their neighbourhood.

“The traditional medicine conference will provide a common platform for all the traditional healers to exchange their rich knowledge. The conference will pave the way for refining and enriching the traditional healing knowledge with mutual exchange of experiences,” Mr. Khandre said.

Municipal Administrative Minister Rahim Khan, City Municipal Council Chairman Mohammad Gaus, Deputy Conservator of Forests A. B. Patil and other senior officials were present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)