Port Blair, Sept 11: The former Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has extended his heartiest congratulations to Rev. Thomas of Sawai Village, Car Nicobar, on the momentous occasion of his consecration as the Bishop of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This remarkable milestone reflects his firm commitment to faith, service, and the well-being of people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he added.
The former Member of Parliament mentioned that Rev. Thomas has been a guiding light to many, demonstrating compassion and humility throughout his pastoral work. His dedication to the spiritual and social development of the people, particularly in the Nicobar region, has been exemplary. His leadership will no doubt inspire unity, peace, and progress in the islands as he takes on this important role.
On behalf of the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he offered his best wishes for his future endeavors as Bishop, and he said that he is confident that his tenure will be one of great spiritual enrichment for our Islands.

Saurabh Adhikari & Neeraj
Port Blair, Sept. 8: On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, renowned Andaman and Nicobar Islands chef, Ashwar Singh, has once again made history by crafting a colossal 2144 kg ladoo, surpassing his own record from last year. The massive ladoo was unveiled at Four Seasons on 6th September 2024, drawing hundreds of devotees since the previous day to both witness this grand creation and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha.
On September 7th, a grand roadshow took place, where Chef Ashwar Singh, along with his team, paraded the enormous ladoo through the city. The procession was a spectacle, with loud chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” echoing through the streets, as the vibrant crowd followed the journey of the ladoo.
Speaking at the event, Chef Ashwar shared his pride in the achievement. “We started planning this historic ladoo on the first of September, and it took five days of continuous effort to make it. This is the biggest ladoo ever created in the history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and I am thankful to my team for making it possible,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of Ganesh Chaturthi in the islands, stating, “Every year, we try to do something historic, and this year, we crossed two tons. It’s not just about the size or cost, but about the devotion we have for Lord Ganesha. Our aim is to bring recognition to the islands and make Andaman and Nicobar proud.” The ladoo is now displayed at Netaji Club, where the public is invited to visit and take blessings.

Port Blair, Sep 05: Excitement is building across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Dr. Shobhika Shree, a highly accomplished doctor from the region, is set to appear on the renowned quiz show *Kaun Banega Crorepati* (KBC) on September 6th, 2024. The much-anticipated episode will air at 9 PM on Sony TV.
Dr. Shree, the first doctor from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to clear the UPSC Combined Medical Exam, has made significant strides in her career, serving at the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). Her inspiring journey began as a student in the first batch of ANIMS (Andaman Medical College), and she went on to serve in remote areas such as Rangat, North and Middle Andaman.
Her upcoming appearance on KBC has generated excitement and pride among the residents of her home state, who are eagerly awaiting her turn on the national stage. After passing a tough selection process, which included a written test and video audition, Dr. Shree is now set to compete in the “Fastest Finger First” round, with the opportunity to reach the coveted hot seat.
Her parents, Mr. Binu Kumar, a respected police officer, and Mrs. Sajitha, a dedicated school teacher, are overjoyed by their daughter’s achievements. “Shobhika has always made us proud, and seeing her reach this stage is an incredible moment for our family. We can’t wait to watch her on KBC,” shared Mr. Binu Kumar.
Dr. Shree’s younger sister, Keerthika, has been a constant pillar of support, inspiring her throughout her remarkable journey. The bond between the two sisters is a driving force behind Dr. Shree’s achievements.
Her husband, Dr. Nitin, expressed his pride as well, saying, “Shobhika’s hard work and determination have always been a source of inspiration. Seeing her take on this new challenge on KBC makes us all proud, and I’m confident she’ll perform brilliantly.”
Be sure to tune in to Sony TV on September 6th at 9 PM to witness Dr. Shobhika Shree represent the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the KBC stage!

Port Blair, Sep 04: The South Andaman Area Committee of CPI (M) has begun the programme of Panchayat Visit with a view to interact with the general public and to know the issues and problems of the people in each area of the rural South Andaman. On 01.09.2024, a group of CPI (M) leaders and sympathizers led by State Secretary D. Ayyappan visited various parts of Hope Town Gram Panchayat and interacted with a cross section of the people. Party leaders met a number of old Party Workers and sought their suggestions to revive the party’s activities in the Hope Town Panchayat area. Once a stronghold of the Party, Hope Town now faces a number of issues. Villagers expressed their concern to the CPI (M) Secretary that a large area at Hope Town is likely to be acquired by the Administration for the proposed expansion of LPG bottling plant and other developmental works. Fishermen settlers and others have complained to the CPI (M) leaders that the Administration has not even spoken to the villagers on the proposed acquisition of land and displacement of the villagers. CPI (M) leaders observed that many of the rural roads and footpaths in the Hope Town Gram Panchayat area are in deplorable condition as the Gram Panchayat and Administration failed to undertake repair works. CPI (M) Secretary and other leaders also met Smt VD Leju, social worker of the area and held discussion with her on various issues.
CPI (M) leaders D. Laxman Rao and Dr Gouranga Majhi, Mr. Sudeesh, Panchayat Member and a number of Party sympathizers accompanied the State Secretary during the visit.

Neeraj & Prabhakar
Port Blair, Sept 03: Well-known Chef of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Ashwar Pal Singh from 4 seasons is attempting preparation of an ambitious and a massive 1500 kg laddu this year, which will be offered to Lord Ganesha during the seven-day-long festival.
4 season’s this year’s event known as the Ganesh Bhog Yatra 2024, kicked off with fervor on 01 September 2024 as the team began the laddu-making process. Last year, a similar event of preparing more than 1000 kg laddu garnered widespread recognition, earning 19 world record titles. This year, the team has raised the bar even higher, aiming to surpass their previous achievement with a larger, more impressive offering.
The laddu-making process is set to continue until September 6th, after which the gigantic laddu will be unveiled to the public. Shri Ashwar Pal Singh extended a heartfelt invitation to all residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to witness this historic creation and participate in the festivities.
In addition to the laddu, the event will feature various competitions and cultural programs, including painting, singing, dancing, and a laddu-making competition. These activities are designed to engage the community and allow everyone to contribute to the celebration.
The highlight of the event will be the grand procession on September 7th, when the enormous laddu will be carried from the 4 Season Event Management Office to Netaji Club, beginning at 2 PM on VIP Road. Shri Ashwar Pal Singh urged everyone to join the procession and help make this historic laddu a success.
The entire team is working tirelessly, day and night, to ensure the success of this event. Shri Singh emphasized that the success of this celebration is only possible with the support and participation of the community.

Port Blair, Sep 02: It’s indeed a proud moment for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as seven more chess players from the islands viz ACM Darshan, T Sathiya Moorthy, P Anand Rao, B Lalith, ACM Tanisha Raj, G Disha Meenakshi, and K Venkatesh have achieved their international chess ratings, as per the latest International Rating list published on 31st August 2024 by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
These chess players recently participated in the ‘AICF Chess For Everyone’ 2ndAll-India FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2024 held in Port Blair from 14.08.2024 to 18.08.2024and performed pretty well that led them to open the International Rating.
Achieving a FIDE rating is a significant milestone in a player’s chess career, marking their entry into the global arena of chess.The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA) extends its heartfelt congratulations to these players for their remarkable achievement and wishes them continued success in their future chess endeavors.

Port Blair, Sept. 01: The Hindu Seva Sangh has requested an update from the Andaman & Nicobar Administration regarding the status of the household survey conducted as part of the decadal review of Other Backward Classes (OBC) status.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, the Convenor of Hindu Seva Sangh, Mr. Abhay Kumar, expressed concerns about the progress of the survey, which aims to assess the socio-economic and educational status of various communities, including Pre-1942 settlers such as Local Borns, Bathus, Moplas, and Karens, as well as post-1942 Bengali settlers.
The letter references Public Notice No. 8-3(1) 2017/TW/OBC/747 dated 28th August 2018, which was published in the government run newspaper, indicating the intent to conduct the survey in two phases: house listing and a door-to-door survey of OBC households.
Mr. Abhay Kumar demanded clarity on whether the survey has been conducted, whether any reports or findings have been published, and if there are any future plans for the release of the survey results. The Hindu Seva Sangh has requested a prompt response from the administration, emphasizing the importance of transparency and timely updates on the matter.
The letter concluded with a request for the information to be provided via email, highlighting the Sangh’s commitment to staying informed on issues that impact the OBC communities in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.