All posts tagged: saffron

Theatre artists repaint Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Arts white from saffron

Theatre artists repaint Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Arts white from saffron

Published by Parlour News

Theatre artists of Kolkata painted the old ticket counter at the heritage Academy of Fine Arts white on Tuesday, a month after some Hindutva group members painted the structure saffron and erected a portrait of Bharat Mata -a lion-riding goddess holding a saffron flag – beside it. The ticket counter was originally painted terracotta. Now it is white. (HT Photo) The Academy of Fine Arts was established in 1933 by Lady Ranu Mukherjee and Maharaja Prodyot Kumar Tagore to promote Indian art. The old ticket counter is beside the main gate. “We raised our voice and met Samik Bhattacharya (the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party) after some people painted the room saffron around July 6. He did not support the act and said he would get the room repainted,” prominent theatre personality Chandan Sen said. “The ticket counter was originally painted terracotta. Now it is white. Let there be no colour. We did not wait for Bhattacharya any longer and decided to do the job on our own,” Sen added. Several thespians and playwrights …

Hockey India Secretary calls emergency meeting over saffron jersey row

Hockey India Secretary calls emergency meeting over saffron jersey row

Published by Webster

The controversy within Hockey India over the change in the Indian teams’ jersey colour intensified on Tuesday after Director General Commander RK Srivastava failed to meet president Dilip Tirkey’s deadline to submit documents explaining the decision, while secretary general Bhola Nath Singh sought an emergency meeting of the Executive Board. In a strongly worded email sent to Srivastava for the second consecutive day, Tirkey directed him to furnish all supporting documents by 5 pm, asserting that his earlier directive had not been withdrawn despite a clarification submitted by the Executive Director to the Executive Board. “With reference to the explanation submitted by the Cdr (Srivastava) to the Executive Board in this matter, it is clarified that the directive to respond with documentary evidence remains in effect and has not been withdrawn,” Tirkey said in the email. “In view of the detailed explanation already provided to the Executive Board, it is now necessary that the same be substantiated with all relevant documentary proof. Accordingly Cdr is required to submit the complete supporting documents by 5PM today,” …

Naveen Patnaik lambasts BJP government for changing Indian Hockey jersey colour from blue to saffron

Naveen Patnaik lambasts BJP government for changing Indian Hockey jersey colour from blue to saffron

Published by Parlour News

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the BJP government in Odisha for allegedly politicising a national game like hockey in an emotional post on X. | Photo Credit: ANI Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, considered one of the patrons of Indian Hockey during his rule, expressed deep anguish over the reported change of colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey from blue to saffron. Hailed for being instrumental in making Odisha the sponsor of Indian hockey when it was struggling for support, Mr. Patnaik on Thursday (July 30, 2026) condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha for allegedly politicising a national game like hockey in an emotional post on X. “It has deeply hurt the sentiments of lakhs of sports lovers across the country and the pride with which Odisha has supported the national hockey,” said former Odisha CM. “I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron. The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just …

Opposition slams saffron hockey jersey, says Army uniform could be next

Opposition slams saffron hockey jersey, says Army uniform could be next

Published by Parlour News

The Opposition on Thursday stepped up its attack on the Centre over the Indian hockey team’s new saffron jersey, with several leaders accusing the BJP and the RSS of attempting to “saffronise” public institutions and national symbols. Some leaders even warned that the Indian Army’s uniform could be the next target if such changes continued. The new jersey colour has created a storm in Indian hockey. (Screengrab from HI video) The remarks came a day after Hockey India’s unveiling of a saffron-coloured jersey for the Indian men’s and women’s teams ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup triggered a political row and drew criticism from former India captain Viren Rasquinha. Priyanka Gandhi attacks BJP-RSS over jersey row Speaking in the Parliament complex, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the controversy reflected a broader attempt by the BJP and the RSS to reshape institutions and history. “They may change uniforms and even history through the RSS-influenced education policy, but they must understand what the youth of this country think,” she said. Recalling India’s freedom movement, Gandhi …

Captain Harmanpreet Singh bcaks India’s new saffron Hockey kit

Captain Harmanpreet Singh bcaks India’s new saffron Hockey kit

Published by Webster

Hockey India’s decision to change the colour of India’s official jersey for next month’s FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium is garnering mixed reactions. The men’s and women’s teams will don saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits. Unveiling the new jersey on its social media pages, Hockey India said the design and colour of the jersey is meant to “tell a story” and carry “India’s pride”. While HI said saffron symbolises courage, sacrifice and victory, former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha openly questioned the change and termed it ‘embarrassing’ in a social media post. “I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for Indian hockey. But this is embarrassing. The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?” he wrote. I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for 🇮🇳 🏑. But this is embarrassing. The legacy & identity of …

India’s hockey team goes saffron: ‘It’s tamasha, won’t be inspired to watch team’ | Hockey News

India’s hockey team goes saffron: ‘It’s tamasha, won’t be inspired to watch team’ | Hockey News

Published by Webster

4 min readMumbaiJul 30, 2026 01:57 PM IST Since 1928, the Indian hockey team has strutted out on the field in different shades of blue or white almost every time at a major tournament. That will change next month. When star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh and Salima Tete lead out the men’s and women’s teams for the World Cup, starting August 15, the players will swap the iconic blue jersey that has defined the national side for decades for a striking saffron strip. The change, confirmed by Hockey India ahead of the Games, marks one of the most significant visual shifts in the team’s history. While the governing body said that the ‘primary consideration was technical’ – the blue uniform blended with the blue turf – the move has received widespread backlash. “I am not inspired when I look at this jersey,” Vasudevan Baskaran, who was India’s captain when the team won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics, told The Indian Express. “Since 1928, great Indian players have worn the blue shirts. Suddenly, what is …

‘Players suggested saffron’: Hockey India defends change in jersey colour | Hockey News

‘Players suggested saffron’: Hockey India defends change in jersey colour | Hockey News

Published by Webster

4 min readUpdated: Jul 30, 2026 03:21 PM IST After former India captain Viren Rasquinha questioned the logic of Hockey India changing the Indian hockey team’s jersey from its traditional blue to saffron, the federation claimed that the change was made due to recommendations from players themselves. In sharp words he posted on social media, Rasquinha had called the decision “embarrassing”. Rasquinha was responding to a clip Hockey India had posted on X where it unveiled the jersey for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. “I must say that Hockey India has done many good things for India. But this is embarrassing. The legacy and identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?” Rasquinha wrote on X. Presenting the new India jersey! 🇮🇳 Every stitch tells a story. Every pattern, every colour carries India’s pride. Our teams are ready to once again do the country proud …

Nabanna building signage changes to saffron; part of maintenance, says official

Nabanna building signage changes to saffron; part of maintenance, says official

Published by Parlour News

The colour of the signage, on the top of the 14-storey state secretariat building Nabanna, was changed from blue to saffron on Monday. The state secretariat’s colour remains the same, the signage colour changed from blue and white to saffron. (HT Photo) “It is a part of maintenance and aesthetic work undertaken in some government establishments. There is no official notification on repainting the entire building,” said an official. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee shifted the seat of power from the iconic Writers’ Buildings in Kolkata to Nabanna in Howrah in October 2013, two years after coming to power. The entire building along with its signage on the terrace adorned the blue and white colour, a shade often associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Also Read:Two more held in Kolkata protest violence over NEET paper leak, police reconstruct crime scene While the state secretariat’s colour remains the same, the signage colour changed from blue and white to saffron. Officials said that there has been no official notification to change the colour of the entire 14-storey building. …

Saffron offshoots: Leaders who quit BJP to start their own parties

Saffron offshoots: Leaders who quit BJP to start their own parties

Published by Parlour News

Capping his seven-year journey with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resignation of the party’s former Tamil Nadu chief K. Annamalai was formally accepted by party chief Nitin Nabin on Friday (June 5, 2026). As efforts to retain him in the saffron folds failed, the IPS-turned-politician is set to launch his own regional party. His exit has been long in the making since he egged BJP to split with AIADMK and contest Lok Sabha polls solo in 2024.  “No one can put a gun to one’s head and force a person to remain in a party. I will stay if I like or I will quit if I do not and continue doing farming,” Mr. Annamalai had proclaimed in November last year as BJP rekindled alliance talks with the AIADMK, seven months after Mr. Annamalai was replaced by Nainar Nagendran as BJP Tamil Nadu president.  The last high-profile exit from the BJP was in November last year when former Union Minister R.K. Singh was suspended after he criticised the BJP’s choice of candidates for Bihar State elections, pointing out their criminal background and corruption. After being handed a six-year suspension, Mr. Singh …

TVK, DMK criticise Guv paying tribute to Thiruvalluvar image in saffron attire

TVK, DMK criticise Guv paying tribute to Thiruvalluvar image in saffron attire

Published by Parlour News

Chennai, Ruling TVK and Opposition DMK criticised the Lok Bhavan depicting Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar in saffron attire, contrary to the officially recognised image in which he is shown in a white cloth. TVK, DMK criticise Guv paying tribute to Thiruvalluvar image in saffron attire The criticisms began after the Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar paid tributes to a portrait of Thiruvalluvar depicted in saffron robes at Lok Bhavan during the celebration of ‘Vaikasi Anusham’ on May 30. Reacting strongly, Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Arunraaj, condemned the presentation of the poet in saffron, stating that any attempt to confine the global philosopher within a narrow identity amounts to belittling his universal vision. “Draping Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes at Lok Bhavan or any government and public space is fundamentally wrong. Thiruvalluvar did not restrict himself to any religion, caste, race, or nation. His ‘Tirukkural’ provides a common code of life for all of humanity,” Dr Arunraaj posted on his official X handle. He pointed out that even in the ‘Kadavul Vazhthu’ chapter, the …