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Bengaluru:  According to Google, English is an official or co-official language in nearly 60 countries worldwide. Additionally, it is spoken as a primary or secondary language in over 75 countries and non-sovereign territories. The total number of people who speak English globally exceeds 1.5 billion.  The reach of English varies significantly by region and usage:  Official Language:  Nearly 60 countries use English for administration, education, and legal systems. This includes major nations like India, Pakistan, Singapore, Nigeria, and South Africa, as well as native-speaking countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.  Highest Number of Speakers:  Countries with the largest absolute number of English speakers include the United States (over 300 million) and India (over 260 million). Other major populations reside in Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines.  European Proficiency:  In many European countries where Engl...

Bengaluru : My journey through Raagas Namaskara to all.  On the 17th of July, 2026, I completed 67 years.  Zeal and passion for singing continued:  With that, I completed 50 years of an active performing career in music. Born into a modest traditional family, my father Rama Rao and mother Ambujabai used to sing traditional devotional bhajans and keerthans, which inspired me to take up singing. They were not trained, nor did my native place have any opportunities for learning formally, but my zeal and passion for singing continued.  Sang popular movie songs based on raagas:  I joined a local orchestra at the age of 17, and would sing very popular movie songs which were based on raagas including very famous songs from Sandhya raaga, and Shankarabharanam. Indian classical music on Spanish guitar:  My initial career in music spanned across different genres, including film songs, devotional songs, bhavageetes, and also playing Indian classical music on Spanish g...

Surat: Pt Prof Sudhir Sureshchandra Yardi  hasn't kept the exact count of the number of programs, he has performed in, so far. Because, he took part in many private concerts, so many Sangeet Natak Academy concerts, so many All India Radio concerts, recordings, private audio cassettes, albums, CDs, then lecture demonstration. A visiting professor at SCOPA:  Prof Sudhir Yardi also became a visiting professor at the Sarvajanik College of Performing Arts(SCOPA) in Surat. He gave lectures at the MS University in Vadodara on harmonium on 22 Shruti Arundhya.  Uncle suggests to meet the legendary musician:  Pt Jayant Bhalodkar, his uncle went to New Zealand with his son. He later expired in Auckland in 2010. In the meantime, he had reminded Prof Sudhir Yardi to contact the legendary personality Pt Dr. Vidyadhar Oke sir. An amazing personality: Says Prof Sudhir Yardi, "Dr Oke sir was a M.B.B.S. graduate to begin with. Then he did his M.D. Pharmacology. After doing MD Pharmaco...

Surat: Prof Sudhir Sureshchandra Yardi is a well-known name in the field of Hindustani classical music. An Engineering college lecturer turned highly acclaimed Hindustani classical harmonium artist, Prof Sudhir Yardi, is equally renowned for his amazing mastery over accompaniment and solo performances across the country and elsewhere around the globe.  Music journey from the family: Prof Sudhir Yardi's big list of accomplishments in the classical music world may not be a big surprise, going by his musical background as a child in the family. His mother taught him a few school prayers, apart from the basic sa re ga ma pa over the harmonium they had at their home. Then he was around seven years old. Thanks to his maternal uncle's encouragement:  Pt Jayant Bhalodkar, a renowned harmonium artist of the then Baroda, who happened to be his maternal uncle, used to visit their home now and then. During one of his visits, he observed Sudhir playing and learning the harmonium; althoug...

Bengaluru: Many people now and then face a peculiar predicament when they need to dispose of old photos kept in the puja room and elsewhere in the house. Some of them are very particular about the hitherto practised traditions, by throwing them in a river or some other form of waterbody. Others are in the practice of placing them clandestinely at the premises of temples or some sacred trees. Irrespective of the methods adopted, no one bothers to think aloud about such environmentally harmful methods that pollute natural sources. Photo frames project:  Kiran Yadav has launched the Bengaluru-based Sampige Foundation to address the challenge posed by irresponsible disciples throwing God's photos wherever they wish. According to Kiran Yadav, Sampige Foundation is the first of its kind Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in the state of Karnataka to think of a photo frames project. A respectful end to the photos: Kiran Yadav informs, "Basically, if you have seen, photo frames will ...