ACtress Kerry Washington, known for her role in Scandal, took home a shiny little pudding pot on Thursday, after being feted with a raucous parade through Harvard Square and a roast by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
America's oldest collegiate theatrical organization says it named Washington as 'Woman of the Year' because she's the first black woman to headline a network TV drama since 1974. In a statement, the troupe called her a "talented and socially engaged film, TV and stage actress, who keeps breaking barriers in Hollywood."
Washington told a US-based TV channel that she was "crazy honoured" to join the esteemed list of women who have been honoured by the group, which includes Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. Comedian Amy Poehler won the award last year.
Keeping with tradition, Washington made her way to the theatre in style, riding in the back of a convertible flanked by actors in colourful drag. She even threw pie and wine at an actor dressed like Donald Trump and did a throaty rendition of Tina Turner's 'What's Love Got To Do With It' while she was on stage with the actors. Admitting that she was nervous about the roast, her first, the 38-year old actress told the channel, "It's surreal. I mean, it's so crazy."
Washington has earned Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her role in Scandal.
W DELHI/HYDERABAD: The BJP said on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi's second visit to Hyderabad Central University, to support the agitation over a Dalit scholar's suicide, is an attempt "to buy political brownie points by playing politics over dead bodies".
"Rahul Gandhi should start working in a positive way rather than playing politics on dead bodies. He is trying to shun his own responsibility," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
"Rahul Gandhi should start working in a positive way rather than playing politics on dead bodies. He is trying to shun his own responsibility," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
Rohith Vemula, the dalit scholar, was found hanging inside a hostel room in the university on January 17.
"When a judicial process is on, why does Rahul Gandhi have to act as a judge? Rather than politicizing the issue, Rahul should have shown sensitivity. This is not a dalit vs non-dalit issue. This is a classic example of how Rahul is trying to earn a few political brownie points to further his political career, which isn't taking off," Patra said.
Patra also accused Rahul of being selective in his support. "Everyone knows what the condition in Malda is, has Rahul Gandhi ever visited Malda," he asked, referring to recent incidents of communal violence in the West Bengal district.
The minister said Gandhi's visits to Hyderabad remind him of the "Kalavathi incident" of 2008. Patra said it "was simply a photo-op and the plight of that widowed woman has only worsened" since then.
Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said Rahul Gandhi's protest is a part of the Congress's anti-Modi campaign.
"All this is cheap politics. They are shedding crocodile tears to gain political mileage, polluting atmosphere of universities," Naidu said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi commenced a day-long hunger strike along with agitating students of Hyderabad Central University.
The Congress vice-president spent about two hours after midnight with agitating students and also participated in a candlelight vigil along with 2,000 students to mark the birthday of Rohith, who would have turned 27 today.
Rahul returned to the protest site this morning to begin the hunger strike and express solidarity with the students.
Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, "I am here today at the request of Rohith's friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.
"A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice," he said in another tweet.
Rohith's mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.
In the meanwhile, the recently appointed interim vice-chancellor Vipin Srivastava went on indefinite leave, days after the university vice chancellor did the same.
"When a judicial process is on, why does Rahul Gandhi have to act as a judge? Rather than politicizing the issue, Rahul should have shown sensitivity. This is not a dalit vs non-dalit issue. This is a classic example of how Rahul is trying to earn a few political brownie points to further his political career, which isn't taking off," Patra said.
Patra also accused Rahul of being selective in his support. "Everyone knows what the condition in Malda is, has Rahul Gandhi ever visited Malda," he asked, referring to recent incidents of communal violence in the West Bengal district.
The minister said Gandhi's visits to Hyderabad remind him of the "Kalavathi incident" of 2008. Patra said it "was simply a photo-op and the plight of that widowed woman has only worsened" since then.
Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said Rahul Gandhi's protest is a part of the Congress's anti-Modi campaign.
"All this is cheap politics. They are shedding crocodile tears to gain political mileage, polluting atmosphere of universities," Naidu said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi commenced a day-long hunger strike along with agitating students of Hyderabad Central University.
The Congress vice-president spent about two hours after midnight with agitating students and also participated in a candlelight vigil along with 2,000 students to mark the birthday of Rohith, who would have turned 27 today.
Rahul returned to the protest site this morning to begin the hunger strike and express solidarity with the students.
Congress VP Rahul Gandhi expressing solidarity with
Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, "I am here today at the request of Rohith's friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.
"A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice," he said in another tweet.
Rohith's mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.
In the meanwhile, the recently appointed interim vice-chancellor Vipin Srivastava went on indefinite leave, days after the university vice chancellor did the same.
"The former interim VC has gone on indefinite leave to care for his ailing mother. All of us have parents who are old and we need to tend to their needs," M Periasamy (head of the Chemistry department), the new interim head of the university told reporters.
