AV 17th August 2024

Muizzu meets Jaishankar, says India a key ally

Anti-racism protests dismiss far-right threats

Carrying placards with messages like “Refugees

D I

Anusha Singh

India, often described as a new country with an ancient civilisation, has undergone remarkable transformations throughout its history It is evident that India has made tremendous strides in various fields such as science and technology, economy, and human development. From its role as a global education hub in ancient times to its current status as a leading IT centre, India has evolved significantly When the British departed in 1947, India was left as a broken, underdeveloped nation struggling with economic instability

“I just don’t think labels

l i ke t h a t a r e r

v a n t o r helpful right now, ” she says “We’re a parliamentar y party of 121 MPs We can’t keep swinging left or right That’s part of why we ’ ve been in the mess we ’ re in ” As six

C o n s e r v a t i v e l e a d e r s h i p contenders vie for support

f r o m t h e i r 1 1 5 c o l l e a g u e s ,

h o w t h e y d e

e t h e mselves and their appeal matters Patel argues that ongoing Tor y inf ighting led the public to stop paying attention

“I t h i n k w e c o u l d g o back to last year, even before that,” she says “They com-

p l e t e l y c h e c ke d o u t a n d stopped listening to us Our conduct had a lot to do with that We had drama after drama I was constantly out

o n t h e d o o r s t e p , v i s i t i n g about 18 constituencies, and people consistently told me, ‘You guys don’t get along W h y w o u l d w e v o t e fo r you?’”

Pe r h a p s w i t h t h a t i n mind, Patel takes an unex-

p e c t e d s t a n c e o n t h e Eu r o p e a n C o n v e n t i o n o n Hu m a n R

Robert Jenrick, advocate for leaving the ECHR to appeal to the party’s right, Patel disagrees Leaving the ECHR, she argues, would be divisive and impractical “We need to learn from our mistakes,” she says “I’m not going to push policies that divide our party when we need to unite a n d r e g a i n t h e p u b l i c ’ s trust ”

ECHR must also present a clear alternative “They need to explain the mechanism

and what will replace it ” Her leadership pitch centres

o

“People know what they’re getting with me I’m consistent, and I have a lot of experience in the party,” she says, recalling her time working for Lord Hague during his opposition leadership

“B

h e opposition is not a walk in the park; it’s a serious role A n d t h e p o s i t i o n o

recent years by the constant changes we ’ ve seen ”

Pa

March 1972 in London to Sushil and Anjana Patel Her paternal grandparents were

Uganda, where they ran

Kampala In the 1960s, her

UK , eventually settling in He

newsagents in London and the South East of England R

Sushil, even ran as a UKIP candidate for Hertfordshire in 2013

P ro-Gaza MPs could surpass Reform party

Pro-Gaza inde pe ndent MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn , are conside ring forming a formal a l l ia n c e t o i n cr e a se t h e ir influence in pa rliament

F i v e M Ps , e l e c t e d l a s t

m o n t h o n p r o -Pa l e s t i n i a n platforms, have so far collaborated informally Last week,

t h e y r e q u e s t e d a n u r g e n t

m e e t i n g w i t h Ho m e Secretar y Yvette Cooper to d i s c u s s c o n c e r n s a b o u t “racist terror” amid nationwide riots Discussions are now under way to establish a formal group, with former Labour leader Corbyn stating, “We are not going away ” If this group materialises, i t w o u l d o u t n u m b e r b o t h Reform UK and the Greens

Starmer urges new Iranian president to de-escalate

Sir Keir Starmer has issued a s ter n w arn i ng to I ra n ag ai nst attacki ng I srael i n his f irst conv ersatio n w ith the Islam ic Republic’s new leader T h

Pezeshkian as Western leaders scrambled to engage in urgent diplomacy to avert a conflict that could push the Middle East to the brink of war Israel is on high alert for a major attack following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in Tehran last month

St a r m e r ’ s c o n v e r s a t i o n with Pezeshkian followed a

joint call with the leaders of the US, Germany, France, and Italy In a statement, the leaders urged Iran to “stand down” and warned of seri-

were to proceed They also called for renewed ceasef ire

negotiations in Gaza, where 93 civilians sheltering in a school in Gaza City were killed in an Israeli airstrike over the weekend

The statement read: “We expressed our full support for ongoing efforts to deescalate tensions and reach a

release deal in Gaza All parties must live up to their responsibilities We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a militar y attack against Israel and dis-

quences for regional securit

Medics reject union’s stance on puberty drugs

Th e B r it is h M e d ic a l

Ass oc iation (BM A) is fac ing b ac kl as h f rom doc tor s an d NHS leaders over its “unethic al” sta nce on puberty bloc kers for c hildren

The BMA announced its o p p o s i t i o n t o D r H i l a r y Cass’s recommendations for overhauling gender ser vices for children, including the suggestion to restrict the prescription of sex hormones

The BMA’s governing council, in what critics call a secret i v e m e e t i n g , p a s s e d a m o t i o n d e m a n d i n g a “ c r itique” of the Cass review The motion argues that stopping the prescription of sex hormones is discriminator y This decision has sparked

anger among medical professionals, including many of the BMA’s 195,000 members, who have organised an open letter expressing their disc o n t e n t T h e l e t t e r, addressed to BMA Chairman

P r o fe s s o r P h i l i p B a n f i e l d , states, “We write as doctors to say, ‘Not in my name ’ We are extremely disappointed t h a t t h e B M A c o u n c i l h a s decided to oppose the Cass review’s recommendations ” It c r i t i c i s e s t h e o p a q u e nature of the decision-making process and the lack of transparency regarding voting f igures, describing it as a failure in accountability T h e l e t t e r a s s e r t s t h a t i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e C a s s

review is crucial for providing appropriate care to children and calls it the “most comp r e h e n s i v e r e v i e w i n t o healthcare for children with gender-related distress ever c o n d u c t e d ” It a c c u s e s t h e BMA of opposing evidencebased medicine and ethical practice by lobbying against the review

The letter has reportedly r e c e i v e d n u m e r o u s s i g n atures from prominent doct o r s ,

o r Si m o n Ke n ny, a p a e d i a t r ic surgeon and national clinical director for children at NHS E n g l a n d T h e c o n t r o v e r s y comes as the NHS plans to revamp its gender ser vices for children

Asylum seekers account for 10 per cent of homelessness claims

Th e number of asylum seekers facing h omelessness has ne ar ly q u ad r u p led , w i th those g ranted the right to stay in Britain now accounting for nearly 10 p er cent o f all hom elessness claims

c o n s t i t u e n

v

i c e s

h e a r d T h i s c o u n t r y d e m a n d s re a l c h a n g e , a n d the more MPs who stand up

A s i x t h i n d e p e n d e n t M P, A le x E a s t o n , wh o le f t t h e DUP in 2021 and won the North Down seat last month, i s n o t i n v o l v e d C o r b y n emphasised his commitment to his constituents, saying, “I w a s e l e c t e d t o s p e a k o u t against the genocide in Gaza, c h i l d p o v e r t y, a n d t h e d e m o n i s a t i o n o f m i g r a n t s and refugees I am proud to w o r k a l o n g s i d e m y fe l l o w independents to ensure our

for international law, defend refugees, and oppose the far right, the better We are a movement for peace and justice, and we are not going away ” S h o c k a t A d a m , w h o defeated senior Labour f igu re Jo

options are open

He added, “We’re just getting to know

together on issues where we

Adam also mentioned to the

would give us more access to the levers of power

In an olive branch

Labour whip suspended for voting to abolish the twochild benef it cap, expressing their desire to “work closely” with them However, it is understood that the former Labour MPs are unlikely to

Recent data reveals that between Januar y and March this year, 6,110 asylum seeker households faced homelessness or were at risk after l e a v i n g Ho m e O f f i c e a c c o m m o d a t i o n A d d i t ionally, a record high of over 150,000 children were living in temporar y accommodation By the end of March, 1 1

England were in temporar y accommodation

Upon being granted asylum, migrants have 28 days t o

accommodation whether a hotel, militar y base, or priv

f ind new housing or seek council assistance Charities have warned that a shortage of available homes has led m

streets The issue has been exacerbated by Rishi Sunak’s decision to clear the asylum b a c k l o g , m o s t o f w h i c h

resulted in granted claims The Labour government will face similar pressures as it aims to speed up decision times

From July 2023 to March 2024, there were 16,660 asyl u m s e e ke r h o u s e h o l d s needing homelessness assistance, representing 7% of all such cases This is up from 4,690 households during the s a m e p e r i o d t h e p r e v i o u s year Between Januar y and March this year, 6,111 households required help, a significant increase from 1,690 in the same period last year

G ene editing to revolutionise blood disorder treatment

M a r

ground break ing gene -edi tin g the rapy that us es Cri spr t e ch n ol o g y aw a r d e d th e Nob el Pr ize for C hemistr y in 2020 to Jen nifer Doudna a n d E mma n ue ll e C harpenti er The National Institute fo r He

a p p r o v

C

v y fo

patients aged 12 and over w i t h T D T, w h i c h a f fe c t s around 800 people in the UK This will also benef it

K i r t h a n a B a l a c h a n d r a n , who has required a blood

mutated gene responsible for the disease, and then transfusing the modif ied cells back into the patient

T h i s p r

l o w s t h

production of normal red b l o o d c

s a n d haemoglobin Patients will f irst undergo chemotherapy and may need to stay in the hospital for up to six weeks to allow the treated cells to integrate into the bone marrow

veins “bruised and scarred ” Her future was uncertain due to the rare blood disorder transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT)

Casgevy involves taking stem cells from a patient s bone marrow, editing the

t r a n s f u s i o n e v e r y t h r e e weeks since infancy to surv i v e No w 2 1 , s h e h a s u n d e r g o n e h u n d r e d s o f t r a n s f u s i o n s , l e a

T h e t r e a t m e n t h a s shown promise as a potential cure for TDT A clinical

Casgevy did not require a transfusion for at least a year, though the long-term effects are still unknown

Dame Priti Patel

Jeremy Corbyn Shockat Adam

Kirthana Balachandran

Keir Starmer

Thought for the week

United we stand, divided we fall

In a dramatic display of heroism, shop security guard Abdullah intervened to save an 11-year-old girl during a knife attack in L e i c e

, Abdullah saw a man in his early 30s assaulting the child Without hesitation, he tackled the attacker, seized the knife from his hand, and restrained him until authorities arrived

This brave act unfolds against a troubling backdrop of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK, which has spiralled into severe civil unrest The country is witnessing its worst rioting in 13 years, fueled by misinformation and xenophobia following the tragic deaths of three young girls in Southport Anti-immigrant protests have escalated into violence, with demonstrators targeting hotels housing asylum seekers and clashing with police in cities like Rotherham and Manchester

The situation has been further inflamed by far-right groups, which have been disseminating the names and locations of over 39 immigration centres and nearly 200 hotels accommodating immigrants The UK government has used hotels to house around 50,000 asylum seekers, often placing them in areas with limited resources, leading to heightened tensions within these communities

Neil Basu, former head of counter-terrorism in Britain, has argued that these recent attacks should be classified as terrorism He condemned the rioters as “bullies and cowards,” emphasising that attempts to set fire to buildings with people inside are racially motivated acts of violence meant to intimidate specific groups such as Muslims or asylum seekers Basu's statement underscores the severity of these acts and the urgent need for appropriate legal responses

Amid rising tensions, ethnic minority communities are living in fear, facing increasing incidents of vandalism, assault, and public attacks Leaders and activists are calling for unity and a reassessment of the rhetoric and policies that have exacerbated this violence They stress the importance of dialogue

and support to counteract these troubling trends

Recent statistics highlight the significant contributions of immigrants to the UK Indian nationals topped the list for skilled worker and student visas issued over the past year According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Indian nationals accounted for 33% of all worker visas and were the leading recipients in both the "Skilled Worker" and "Skilled Worker - Health and Care categories They also represented 41% of students granted visas under the Graduate post-study work route Notably, skilled worker visas for Indians increased by 63%, while healthcare visas saw a dramatic 105% rise

Historical context also underscores the vital role immigrants play in British society Many of England's Jewish immigrants, who were skilled professionals, significantly contributed to the country’s recovery and development post-World War

Association, recently affirmed this solidarity, stating, “We stand together, at this anxious time, with all communities who subscribe to values of tolerance, non-violence, and patriotism ”

Despite Britain's past pride in overcoming racism and religious discrimination, the resurgence of anti-Semitism challenges this belief Authorities and mainstream media have often downplayed or normalised this disturbing trend, raising serious concerns about Britain’s future The reality is clear: discrimination in Britain will not stop at anti-Semitism unless decisive action is taken

Nonetheless, immigrant communities in the UK remain resilient in the face of rising bigotry These attempts to create division will ultimately fail, as immigrants unite against fascism and hatred Their shared experiences and commitment to defending their rights will strengthen their collective resistance Although racism and xenophobia persist, the inherent goodness and solidarity within these communities offer hope for a more inclusive and equitable society

Time to act is now

The recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina have sparked international concern, leading to widespread protests in countries like the US and the UK, including a significant demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament In Bangladesh, rallies were held in multiple cities, highlighting the growing unrest The Hindu community in Bangladesh has faced a wave of violence, with their homes, businesses, and places of worship targeted by mobs, raising serious concerns about their safety and the broader implications for minorities in the region

The Hindu population in Bangladesh, once nearly 30% in 1947, has dwindled to around 8% today They have endured ongoing violence, particularly during major religious celebrations like Durga Puja and Navratri The Bangladeshi government s response has been tepid, marked by empty promises and delayed action Despite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's assurances of strict measures against the perpetrators, the violence continued unabated Even when arrests are made, these actions are often too little and too late to prevent the damage already inflicted Meanwhile, the police and military often stood by as mute spectators

From the historical partition of India to the ongoing marginalisation in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, Hindus have faced relentless discrimination, violence, and forced displacement Hindus and other minorities in many Muslim-majority countries often endure harsh conditions marked by widespread intolerance and systemic discrimination These communities face restrictions on their religious practices, exclusion from social and economic opportunities, and are often

targets of violence and hate crimes In some nations, blasphemy laws and other discriminatory legal frameworks are used to suppress and silence minority voices, leading to fear and insecurity among these populations

The Indian government has formed a committee to closely monitor the situation in Bangladesh and along the 4,096-kilometre India-Bangladesh border, which spans West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram Amid ongoing violence in several areas, desperate Bangladeshis, particularly Hindus, have attempted to flee to India The Border Security Force recently thwarted an attempt by over 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals to cross the fenced land border at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal Following the military coup that ousted the Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in early 2021, India has faced a significant influx of refugees and pro-democracy protesters from Myanmar This has added pressure on the country, raising critical questions about how it will manage not only these new arrivals but also the existing refugee population, including Hindu Bangladeshis seeking refuge

The violence in Bangladesh is not just an internal issue; it endangers millions of innocent lives The international community must urgently investigate the involvement of these nations and hold them accountable We have witnessed too many genocides history cannot be allowed to repeat itself Immediate action is crucial to halt the bloodshed and secure justice for the victims The time to act is now, before another dark chapter in human rights violations is written

India's leadership and resilience

India and especially Modi government, has been struggling with a range of issues, both internally and beyond its borders While the struggle is not new and the country has previously faced such circumstances, the real irony is the neighbours’ commentary and criticism of the same

The irony is they themselves are not without problems India’s neighbours including Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan are all facing their own difficulties as well and China has been leveraging this to expand its influence, often under the pretext of assistance

What these countries need to keep in mind is that the future of a nation depends on its leaders, people, and values The ability and foresight of a leader can make a significant difference and India does have one to guide the country out of any problem The leaders of these countries, on the other hand, just might not be capable of the same This can be understood from India’s stance towards China alone While Pakistan, Maldives and others have been falling pray to China’s “assistance”, India constantly keeps a distance

For instance, the Maldives has recently strengthened its relationship with China, following the pattern of other Pacific island nations China has extended offers to the Maldives, including improved naval facilities, military aid, infrastructure d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r a d v a n t a g e s H o w e v e r , Maldives stands to benefit much more from a positive partnership with India, both geographically and economically A recent marker of it came recently as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar the Maldives with a significant water and sanitation project funded by India, valued at approximately ₹923 crore (USD 110 million) This project will benefit 28 islands and cover seven percent of the population of the archipelagic nation If we talk about Sri Lanka, which is heavily supported by

China, now faces a substantial debt burden due to repayment obligations In contrast, India offered essential guidance and assistance during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis

Another factor that is troubling and one that India cannot stand to silently endure is the fact that despite India's efforts to maintain friendly relations, atrocities against Indian minorities, continue in some neighbouring countries For example, many Sikhs in Afghanistan were forced to leave the country, with some returning to India and others migrate elsewhere

In Pakistan, the Hindu and Sikh populations, once 9% of the country at independence, have now fallen to less than half a percent The nation, now mostly Muslim, faces economic instability and a declining international status, while being heavily in debt to China Bangladesh also presents a recent, fresh example Such countries often relies on China or the USA, which compromises its dignity and sovereignty While foreign aid may provide short-term relief, it weakens the economy and erodes the country’s long-term status

In contrast, India on its part has kept friendly relations with its neighbours, even during their tough times India has allocated over £4,53,000 in this year ’ s budget for foreign aid to advance its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy This funding is designated for central programs and schemes that assist other nations, particularly those in need of humanitarian aid, and also supports international training initiatives through both multilateral and bilateral assistance programs

Under Narendra Modi's leadership since 2014, India has only grown stronger, more capable, and better at protecting its borders and maintaining foreign relations India’s economy has also diversified, achieving all-round development in infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, defence, and IT, all of which have gained international recognition

“Faith

is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark ” Rabindranath Tagore

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

India’s Democracy: A Beacon of Stability in a Troubled World

As I writ e f rom India, I am struck by t he enduring vibrancy and stability of its democr acy, especiall y when compared to its South Asian neighbors, Pakis tan, Banglades h, and Sri Lanka

Let al one that India is s ending a wars hip to London foll owing a tra vel advis ory to Indian national s in the UK

While these countries have grappled with military coups, political instability, and economic crises, India has managed to sustain a democratic system that, despite its imperfections, has remained robust and resilient for over seven decades The reasons behind this remarkable achievement are multifaceted, rooted in historical, institutional, and cultural factors that have collectively nurtured and safeguarded Indian democracy

The Legac y of Col onialism and the Founding V is ion

One of the primary reasons for India's democratic stability lies in its historical experience with British colonialism Unlike Pakistan and Bangladesh, which were carved out of colonial India amidst the chaos of Partition, and unlike Sri Lanka, which inherited a more centralized and fragile political structure, India was bequeathed with a somewhat functioning administrative framework The British left behind not only the physical infrastructure but also the institutional framework necessary for governance bureaucracy, judiciary, and a parliamentary system

Moreover, India's founding leaders, particularly Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and B R Ambedkar, envisioned a democratic and secular state that would embrace diversity rather than suppress it They laid down the foundations of a Constitution that enshrined fundamental rights, a commitment to social justice, and the rule of law This vision, coupled with the institutional legacy, provided a strong starting point for India’s democratic journey

Ins tit utional Strength and Pol itica l Pluralis m

The strength of India's democratic institutions cannot be overstated The Election Commission of India, for example, is one of the most respected bodies in the world, ensuring free and fair elections across the country’s vast and diverse electorate Similarly, the judiciary, despite its occasional shortcomings, has largely acted as a bulwark against authoritarianism, safeguarding civil liberties and upholding constitutional values

Political pluralism has also been a cornerstone of Indian democracy Unlike Pakistan, where military and religious elites have often dominated, or Bangladesh, where political power has oscillated between two dominant parties often leading to political unrest, India’s political landscape is highly pluralistic The presence of numerous regional parties, each representing different ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups, ensures that no single party or ideology can monopolize power This pluralism acts as a check against authoritarian tendencies and ensures that the voices of minorities and regional groups are heard

Soc ial Cohes ion Am ids t Divers ity

India’s social fabric, though strained at times, has largely held together, preventing the kind of ethnic or religious conflicts that have destabilized its neighbors While Pakistan has struggled with sectarian violence and Bangladesh with political violence, India’s democratic process has provided a platform for managing its immense diversity The federal structure of governance allows for regional autonomy, which has helped to address local grievances and reduce the risk of secessionist movements The country’s commitment to secularism, despite the rise of majoritarian tendencies in recent years, has been crucial in maintaining social harmony Secularism in India does not mean the absence of religion in public life; rather, it means equal respect for all religions, which has been essential in managing the religious diversity of the country Ec onomic Growth and Developm ent

India's economic growth has also played a significant role in the stability of its democracy While economic challenges persist, the country’s overall trajectory of development has provided a certain level of legitimacy to the democratic process In contrast, economic mismanagement and stagnation have often been at the root of political instability in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka The ability of the Indian state to deliver on development, albeit unevenly, has bolstered the democratic framework by maintaining public faith in the system

Th e Role of Civ il Society and the M ed ia

Finally, civil society and the media in India have been vital in sustaining democracy A vibrant civil society, with its myriad NGOs, advocacy groups, and grassroots movements, has played a crucial role in holding the government accounta

Meanwhile, the press, despite facing increasing challenges, remains one of the freest in the region, serving as a watchdog and a platform for public debate Sadly in the West, the press is not the source of news An easy to manipulate, not free, fake social media is the primary source of news

UK sees major drop in visa applications for work and study

T h e nu mb er o f o v er s ea s workers and students ap plyi n g fo r UK vi s as h a s

d ro p p ed s i gn i fi c a nt ly f o l -

lowing restri ctio ns imposed

b y t h e p re vi o u s go v er nment

In July, applications for skilled worker, health and care, and study visas fell by over a third to 91,300 compared to the previous year

The drop has been especially pronounced in health and care visa applications, which plummeted by 82% to 2,900 in July Additionally,

s t u d e n t v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n s decreased by 15% to 69,500

These trends indicate a significant potential decline

in overall immigration figures

Net migration reached a record high of 764,000 in 2022, with inflows remaining above historical averages at 685,000 last year

The Conservative government under Rishi Sunak introduced a ban preventing

bringing family members to the UK, and Labour has no intention of reversing this policy

Initial Home Office figures for July indicate a 15% decrease in sponsored student visa applications, con-

beginning of the year

The policies enacted by

may assist Prime Minister Keir Starmer in achieving his goal of reducing "skyhigh" net migration levels

Observatory predicts a sig-

migration over the next five years, estimating it will drop to around 350,000 by 2030 This reduction is expected to be driven by increased

overseas students coming to the UK, and a reduction in private sector job vacancies

Jailed banker’s wife loses golf course and £14mn mansion

Zamira Hajiyeva, the wife of a jailed banker and the subject of th e UK’ s first unex-

p l ai ne d w e al th o r d er ( UWO), h as surrendered a Berkshire golf club and a £14 m il li o n K ni g h ts b

d g e h ome

The decision follows a six-year investigation by the

m

A g

n c y (NCA), which revealed her £16 million spending spree at Harrods over a decade

Mrs Hajiyeva’s husband, Jahangir Hajiyev, served as chairman of the state-controlled International Bank

o f A z e r b a i j a n f r o m 2 0 0 1 until his resignation in 2015 He is currently serving a 16-

Azerbaijan for fraud, embezzlement, and other crimes

The NCA stated that it b

scale fraud, embezzlement, false accounting, and money laundering,” and found “ no

reasonable explanation” for the funds used to purchase them The golf club in question is reportedly Mill Ride Golf Club in Ascot

M r s H a j i y e v a w a s t h e first person to be subject to a UWO, introduced under the 2018 McMafia laws, named after the BBC crime drama and Misha Glenny's book

The NCA sought a property freezing order on the two assets in March 2021 and filed for civil recovery at the High Court in June 2023

On August 1, the court granted the recovery order, leading to the forfeiture of 70% of the value of both properties

Maths degree enrolments stagnant despite

A ne w r e p o r t r ev e al s th at

d es p it e a s u rg e in A- l e ve l

math s p op ularity, the nu mb e r o f s tu d e nt s p u r s u in g math s degrees has rem ained stagnant

Over 100,000 teenagers are expected to receive maths

A

marking a record high and c

status as the most popular Alevel subject

Wealthier male students and those from Chinese and Indian backgrounds are more

degrees, yet overall student numbers in maths are declin-

A-level surge

ing Several universities have reduced or closed their maths departments In response, the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences is launching "Maths

D

£500,000 to support innovative maths teaching and curriculum development

University of York, commissioned by the Campaign for M

found that the number of

has barely increased since 2012-13 While overall uni-

grown by about 25% during this period, maths has seen

report highlights that maths attracts fewer students from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to other subjects,

among those from managerial households at Russell Group universities T

and Yorkshire and Humber have fewer maths students than expected based on the number of school leavers in those regions

Labour must confront immigration issue, says senior figure

A senio r Labour figu re has criticised the party for being “too frig htened” to address imm igration and urged it to take a strong stance on th e i s su e S h e w arn ed th a t i g no r i ng th e u nd e rly in g ang er amo ng so me v o ters could be d etrim ental to th e party’ s future

K e i r S t a r m e r i s u n d e r pressure to develop a new strategy for multiculturali s m a m i d r e c e n t v i o l e n c e and unrest Both within and o u t s i d e t h e g o v e r n m e n t , Labour figures are grappling w i t h h o w t o a d d r e s s t h e broader issues behind the u n r e s t a n d l o w e l e c t i o n t u r n o u t , w h i c h b e n e f i t t e d

Reform UK

Dame Margaret Hodge, t h e f o r m e r L a b o u r M P known for her fight against the far right, urged Labour

t o t a k e a b o l d s t a n c e o n i m m i g r a t i o n S h e p r a i s e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s s w i f t action in response to recent v i o l e n c e b u t c r i t i c i s e d L a b o u r f o r a v o i d i n g t h e t o p i c o f i m m i g r a t i o n Hodge emphasised the need f o r p o l i t i c

n s t o s p e a k openly about immigration s benefits and the importance of border control H o d g e s t r e s s e d t h a t Labour must tackle immigration head-on and adopt

the BNP in East

like Deborah Mattinson and Morgan McSweeney revisiting those strategies

Guard tackles knife attacker in Leicester Square

A sh o p s e cu r it y g u a rd recounted ho w he ov erpowe red a k ni f em an w h o stabbed an 1 1-year-old girl and her 34-year-old mo ther in a "h orrific" and seemingly random attack in London's b u st li ng L ei ce st er S qu ar e, w i tn es s ed by sh oc k ed onlookers

attack Hearing a scream, he saw a man in his 30s stabbing a child Abdullah quickly jumped on the attacker,

police arrived within minutes Abdullah's colleagues provided

• All Ceremonies (Mandvo & Weddings Ceremonies)

• Home Shanti yagya (Hawan)

• Griha Pravesh (house warming)

• Mundan (Baby’s first haircut)

• Annaprashan (First grain feeding for child)

• Satyanarayan puja

• Shradh puja

• Durga puja

The mother and daughter were taken to the hospital by paramedics after the assailant, who is believed to be a stranger to them, was disarmed and subdued until

police arrived Witnesses reported that

the girl was stabbed while being held in a headlock, sustaining serious but nonl i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g i n j u r i e s Her mother suffered minor injuries The Metropolitan Police stated the incident is not believed to be terrorismrelated A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene, and police are not seeking any other suspects Abdullah, a 29-year-old security guard at the TWG T

Square, recounted how

Scots surgeon claims NHS would fail without immigrant workforce

Dr Zubir Ahm

Wes

• Katha & Kirtan with wonderful music... Our Services 07756965091 07438248906 pandit_manohar_das Pandit Manohar Das

h as warned that th e NHS would collapse without its immig rant workforce, wh ich he says is integ ral to th

system

emigrated from Pakistan to Scotland in 1963, has been performing life-saving operations during parliamentary

, "There's no debate that the N H S w o u l d n o t s u r v i v e without immigration The health service was founded in 1948, the same year the Empire Windrush arrived in B

been integral to the NHS f

He continued, "During a recent kidney transplant, my team included myself, a

and the pressures they may place on services However, suggesting that burning

Hindu Priest Manohar Das

Zamira Hajiyeva

Dame Margaret Hodge

n

Harrow resident wins international business competition

AI tech-

alised learning experiences for school students Manojj’s entry stood out in Sky’s The

competition, which invited public submissions of business ideas As the winner, Manojj has received $10,000

U S D (

Pro, and mentorship from

help develop his idea

E

n struggles with choosing A-

Level subjects due to inadequate feedback beyond basic grades His goal is to offer a

educational performance to benefit both students and

tools automate the teaching

including grades and classroom performance, to provide a comprehensive view of their progress This technology aims to help teachers deliver person-

alised feedback, even as class sizes increase and time con-

Learning’s first AI tool, currently in development, will

teachers Teachers can sign up for a free trial of this tool, marking the start of Manojj’s vision to make personalised education widely accessible in the UK

tion, Manojj said, “The goal is to enable teachers to give

every student With growing

Evaluate Learning aims to offer a thorough analysis of performance for each module within a subject ”

GP framed patient by injuring himself

A doctor has managed to

patient for assault

G

staged an incident at his p

London, by throwing himself against a door and hitting his own chest, hoping to falsely accuse the patient

T

o

plinary tribunal found that Kalkat, who was seeking to remove the patient from his

assault to achieve his goal

During the incident, Kalkat w

"stop hitting me" and pressing a panic button while the patient sat calmly in a chair

The police arrived, hand-

Kalkat’s extreme measures included falsely claiming to have terminal blood cancer

£40,000 of his own money for the patient's treatment in a bid to get him to switch

exposed when the patient

false claims, Kalkat denied wrongdoing but was found guilty of serious professional misconduct

K a l k a t h

b e e n s u spended for a year but avoided being struck off the medical register

‘Motherhood penalty’ reduces women’s childbirth rates

Re se arc h in d i ca te s th at wom en in Britain are having fe w er c h i ld ren th an th ey desire due to the " motherhood penalty, which negativ ely impacts their jo b security and financial stability R

birth rates hitting new lows annually The last time the birth rate was high enough

Despite the birth rate dropping to just 1 49 babies per

woman in 2022, women, on average, wish to have two or three children

The study, conducted by the think tank Onward and s

highlights that material factors like insufficient financial support for new moth-

and the housing crisis are major deterrents Among its

research suggests extending higher-rate statutory maternity pay from six to twelve weeks and broadening eligi-

bility for paternity leave It also advocates for reducing

Little from Onward noted, “Many people are delaying or unable to have as many children as they wish due to financial pressures Our tax,

rights systems need to bet-

prospective parents, as children are our future ”

Immigrants now fill more jobs than Britons

Ne w g ov e rn m e n t f i g ur e s r e ve a l

Indians have taken more new jobs in t he UK over the pa st f

demic, the UK economy has created nearly 1 5 million new positions, with the majority filled by workers from outs

Since 2019, Indian workers have filled 488,000 new jobs, a n d N i g e r i a n s h a v e t a k e n 279,000 roles In contrast, UK citizens have secured just 257,000 of the new positions

The data suggests that nonE U m i g r a n t s h a v e l a r g e l y

replaced European workers, a s h i f t l i n k e d t o p o s t - B r e x i t immigration reforms

The figures also show a decline of 242,000 positions held by EU nationals during the same period This highlights the challenges the gove r n m e n t f a c e s i n r

economy

Labour has expressed a goal to cut net migration but has yet to set a specific target Tory MP Neil O’Brien, who r e v e a l e d t h e d a t a , p o i n t e d out that the new immigrat i o n r u l e s a n d p o s t - s t u d y work visa restrictions have

significantly increased nonEU migration He added, “It’s r e m

w j o b s have been filled by people from Nigeria and India than by British workers ” These shifts are largely attributed to changes introd u c e d b y t h e p r e v i o u s Conservative government in 2021 The reforms lowered the general salary threshold for non-EU migrants from £30,000 to £25,600, reduced the required skill level from a degree to A-level or equivalent, and removed the annual cap on certificates of sponsorship

Manojj Mohanaranjan

History and heart intertwine in a captivating debut novel

Ruthvika Rao, an em erging v oice in contemporary liter-

a tu re , i s s et to ca p ti v at e

r ead ers w i th h er d eb u t

n ov el , ‘ Th e F erti le E arth ’

K n o w n f o r h er ev o c at iv e storytelling and rich narrativ e style, Ru thv ika's boo k explo res themes of heritage, id entity, po litics and much m ore

With a background in literature and a passion for

w e a v i n g c o m p e l l i n g t a l e s , Rao brings a fresh perspective to the literary scene

Speaking to Asian Voice, Ruthvika discusses the cen-

t r a l t h e m e o f t h e b o o k , development of the character and much more

Can you tell us about the central theme and inspi-

r a t i o n b e h i n d t h e f e r t i l e earth?

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a 1970 New York

T i m e s c l i p p i n g a b o u t t h e

N a x a l i t e m o v e m e n t T h e s h o c k i n g p h o t o g r a p h o f a landlord executed and displayed by Naxalites was a turning point for me I had heard about the Naxalites often while growing up, and this image made me realise that this era was something I n e e d e d t o e x p l o r e W h a t began as a deep dive into this historical period eventually became the first chapter of m y n o v e l , w h i c h e v o l v e d into a love story set against a broad social canvas

Howdid you develop the characters in the book, and what are some of the key traits or challenges they face?

C h a r a c t e r s , f o r m e , e v o l v e t h r o u g h t h e c h a llenges they face They often develop beyond my control, acting in ways that can complicate the story and make my job harder I’ve found that characters take on a life of their own on the page, r e v e a l i n g t r a i t s a n d behaviours I didn’t anticipate, which pushes me to a d a p t a n d l e a r n A n o t h e r challenge is writing about a place and culture that may be unfamiliar to many readers While I write primarily for myself, I also strive to translate a unique cultural context in a way that feels o r g a n i c a n d n o t o v e r l y didactic Balancing authenticity with engaging storytelling is a key part of maki n g t h e c u l t u r a l e l e m e n t s r

the fiction

Whs take away from the book?

I'm aiming to create an

them to fully engage with the fictional world of the book I hope that the novel

o

y that readers can fall into, and that it remains compelling enough to be revisited in the future This desire stems from my own love of

books, and my hope is that my novel will have the same enduring appeal for others What do you hope to see in the future of South Asian literature and its representation in the UK? And how does your work fit into this vision?

Creating art while being part of a specific heritage

how much harder it must

o came before me My goal is to introduce readers in the UK to a fresh perspective on

familiar with, even if it's set in a different time or corner of the world I hope to show how these experiences res-

thing timeless to the literary

landscape

on contemporary issues like immigration With so many regional languages in South Asia, including India, I hope to contribute to the broader cultural and literary land-

l Telangana village, is a way for me to preserve a world my parents know but I do n

t I

f o r m o f l

i n g memory, capturing a time and place that might be forg o t t e n b y f u t u r e g e n e r at i o n s T h r o u g h f i c t i o n , I strive to provide an immersive, insider's view that preserves and shares this heritage for both myself and my ancestors

VAT on private school fees sparks frenzy for state school spots

Parents of private ly e ducate d c hi l dr e n a r e e n c o un t er i ng diff ic ul ties as they atte mpt to s ecure pl aces in s tate sc hools b ef ore V AT is im pose d on private sc hool f ees

Many are being told that state schools are full or that they can only apply for midy e a r t r a n s f e r s a m o n t h i n advance Some families are even delaying medical treatments or relocating to find

m o r e a f f o r d a b l e p r i v a t e schools or secure a spot in a s t a t

n

January, the government will apply VAT to private school fees, adding 20% to the cost if schools pass it on in full This c o u l d p u s h f e

annually

In Leicester, the council h a s r e p o

increase in applications for m i d - t e r m s c h o o l t r a n s f e r s , causing delays The council has temporarily closed phone l i n e s o n T u e s d a y s a n d Thursdays to allow staff to manage the high volume of

Minister lives in £2mn house of aunt’s ally

A La bour mi ni ste r, T ul ip Siddiq, is living in a £2 million house owned by Abdul Karim, a wealthy businessm an who is cl os ely c onnec ted to her aunt, the form e r B a n gl a de s h P ri m e Mi nister Sheikh H asina Siddiq moved from her own flat to Karim’s fivebedroom home two years ago She is under investiga-

t i o n f o r a l l e g e d l y n o t d e

from her old flat while liv-

Siddiq has apologised, call-

error,

and is cooperating with the investigation

y Siddiq moved due to security concerns and is paying a

reviewed Karim, a close friend of

applications, and has brought i

assist with admissions

In Bromley, London, parents are warned that many schools are oversubscribed, p o t e n t i a l l y p l a c i

applications on waiting lists One school indicated it could not begin processing applications until a month before the requested start date To manage costs, some parents

another cancelled members h i p s a n d c h a r i t a b l e s u bscriptions

B a l l a r d S c h o o l i n N e w Milton, Hampshire, plans to avoid charging VAT in the 2024-25 school year but will g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s e f e e s t o cover VAT in the following years The government estimates that imposing VAT on school fees will generate £1 6 billion, with plans to use part of this revenue to fund 6,500 additional teachers for the state sector

GP strike could push 1mn into emergency care

A documen t publis hed b y the Health Services Journ al reveale d that in a worstcas e scenar io, there could also b e nea rly two milli on extra vis its to pharmaci es E v e n a m o d e s t 1 0 % reduction in GP workload could cost the NHS around £205 million and lead to nearly 250,000 more referrals to urgent care services

T h e d o c u m e n t b r e a k s down the financial impact of various scenarios If GPs reduce their activity by 30% over four months of industrial action, it could result in a £569 million cost, as o t h e r s e r v i c e s l i k e A & E and urgent care centres step in to fill the void in primary care

Testing the tolerance of the British

Nitin Mehta MBE

As w e w itness riots in the cities of Britain we need to p au s e a nd p o nd e r as t o why these events are taking p lace A nd we need to do this by keep ing religion out of it T he au thorities hav e not confirmed if the attack is terror related A few weeks earlier a sold ier was attacked with a knife and nar ro w l y es c ap ed d ea th E v er s i nc e th e arrest of the culp rit there is no further news of him and no o n e k no w s w h a t h i s motivation was

Over the last 20 years, since the fateful 7/7 attack in 2005 there have been many terrorist outrages in the UK All the attacks were carried out by immigrants or their children or refugees

I t o o c a m e t o t h i s country as an immigrant as did tens of thousands of others from Uganda when they were expelled by Idi Amin Despite initial hesit a t i o n s , p e o p l e o f t h i s c o u n t r y l e f t n o s t o n e s unturned in helping us settle down They took care of our elderly, found jobs and provided the best educat i o n t o o u r c h i l d r e n V o l u n t e e r s c a m e t o o u r homes to teach the elders E n g l i s h a n d h e l p e d u s understand the way things worked in this country By 1 9 8 0 s , t h e G o v e r n m e n t s passed laws to stamp out any discrimination against m i n o r i t i e s M i l l i o n s o f p o u n d s w e r e s p e n t i n t r a n s l a t i n g i m p o r t a n t information in foreign languages to help them integrate Bank managers also lent money easily, so that the immigrants could start businesses

We were free to practice our faith, our culture, there were no restrictions The country continues to

absorb tens of thousands of newcomers every year The illegal refugees comi n g b y b o a t s a r e s t i l l a c c o r d e d a w e l c o m e b y ordinary Britons This patt

, Germany and many other countries!

W e h a v e h a d

n Indian-origin and Hindu Prime Minister in Britain a n d

excelled in every field of life Britain has given us a lot of things without any preconditions

The strife we are seeing is because some of the immigrants and refugees are indeed breaking laws

and grooming

Knife crime is the cause of a death almost every week

M a

things that are going terribly wrong because of the fear of being called racist

T h e r e i s a n u r g e n t need for a new dialogue in which the ethos and values of the indigenous people (for lack of a better word) a r e a d h e r e d t o a n d respected Minorities can also be wrong, they can also get unreasonable and u n n e c e s s a r i l y c o n f r o n t ational

And for minorities in the world to prosper anywhere, the goodwill of the majority is crucial!

www nitinmehta co uk

Suicides at ‘prison-like’ mental health units

P h a r m a c i e s c o u l d s e e an increase of 1 8 million v i s i t s , c o s t i n g u p

2 7 m i l l i o n S e c

r l e a d e r s have warned that pharmac i e s w e r e a l r e a d y u n d e r significant strain and "on t h e b r i n k o f c o l l a p s e " before the industrial action began Last week, GPs affil-

i a t e d w i t h t h e B r i t i s h Medical Association (BMA)

v o t e d f o r u n p r e c e d e n t e d i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n , w h i c h could involve "indefinite" w o r k - t o - r u l e m e a s u r e s a c r o s s s u r g e r i e s i n England

T h e p r o t e s t i s i n response to the proposed f u n d i n g f o r s u r g e r i e s i n 2024-25 under the general practice contract

Ov er th e p as t f iv e yea rs , hundred s of patients h av e d i ed by s ui c i d e w h i le o n NHS m ental h ealth ward s Campaigners are particularly alarmed by the rising number of suicides among y o u n g w o m e n a n d g i r l s

Patients frequently describe f e e l i n g “ u n s a

i n u n d e r s t a f f e d , “ t r a u m a t i sing,” and “prison-like” psychiatric wards S i n c e 2 0 1 8 , o v e r 2 3 2 inpatients at NHS mental h e a l t h t r u s t s i n E n g l a n d have taken their own lives, a c c o r d i n g t o f i g u r e s obtained through freedom o f i n f o r m a t i o n r e q u e s t s

With only around half of the 50 mental health trusts in England providing data, the actual number of deaths is likely much higher The highest number of deaths was reported in hosp i t a l s i n E s s e x , w h e r e a statutory public inquiry is c u r r

u n c o v e

d t h o u s a n d s o f incidents where patients on mental health wards were a f f e c t e d b y d e t e r i o r a t i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , i n c l u d i n g s e w a g e l e a k s , f l o o d s , a n d cockroach and rat infestations, with dozens of cases occurring on specialist children’s wards

extends heartfelt

to you and your loved ones on the occasions of Pateti, Raksha Bandhan, and Independence Day.

Ruthvika Rao

Asian Voice

wishes

Nitin Mehta MBE

S T A N D I N G U P

A G A I N S T R A C I S M I N

1960s B R I T A I N

Anusha Singh

Balwinder Singh Rana

arrived in the UK in 1963 at the age of 16 following in the footsteps of his father and older brothers Hailing from a small village in Punjab, he came from a relatively welloff family with a notable background His father, a former army major in the Indian Army under British rule, had fought in the Second World War in Burma

When Balwinder first stepped off the plane, everything was unfamiliar to the young boy who had never seen white or Black people Even more startling was the sight of his father at the airport

Recalling his initial reaction, Balwinder said, “At first, I didn’t recognise him Over the years, he had become a completely different person He had shaved his beard, removed his turban, and cut his hair because he couldn’t get a job with his beard and turban My father had been a strong man who, in his younger days in the 1920s, was a champion sprinter in Punjab But now, he was half his size, shrunken into himself I thought, 'He looks like my father, but I’m not sure if he is '"

C

Anti-racism protests dismiss far-right threats

Continued from page 1

out in force in cities such as

leading to a physical altercation

Balwinder reflected, “The pub staff were visibly intimidated, like frightened chickens, and responded nervously As I turned around to look at the faces of the 50 youths who had joined us, I saw expressions of immense satisfaction and pride It was a rare and memorable moment, witnessing the power of unity and solidarity firsthand They were thrilled, giving thumbs up and patting me on the back, experiencing real empowerment for the first time ” Th e S ou th all rio ts and rising racism

The economic crisis of 1967 hit immigrants particularly hard, as white workers began blaming them for their troubles, leading to increased attacks on their communities

and London to defend their communities against potential far-right aggression In London, around 5,000 people gathered outside Reform

Victoria, in a protest organized by the Stand Up to

“Refugees are welcome here” and condemned Reform UK

spreading what they called “dangerous rhetoric ” Similar scenes played out

n

demonstrations Support for r e f u g e e s a l s o s u r g e d i n

C a r d i f f , E d i n b u r g h , a n d G l a s g o w , w h e r e h u n d r e d s j o i n e d t h e c a u s e , w h i l e approximately 15,000 people attended an anti-racism rally in Belfast, highlighting the widespread rejection of farright ideologies

In anticipation of potential violence, police undertook their largest mobilizat

With concerns that many of the planned far-right gatheri n g s c o u l d t u r n v i o l e n t ,

and supporting those affect-

expected rallies and around 30 counter-protests

Political leaders voiced their concerns as the unrest u n f o l d e d L o n d o n M a y o r

Sadiq Khan, in an interview with The Guardian, revealed his fears for his safety as a Muslim politician, drawing parallels to the racial tensions he experienced during the 1970s and 80s, the era of the National Front and the BNP Scotland’s first Muslim F i r s t M i n i

, H u m z a Y

u

f , a l s o e x p r e s s e d uncertainty about his family’s future in the UK, citing the rise of Islamophobia and the violence targeting ethnic minorities

K i n g C h a r l e s I I I c o mmended those who took to the streets to oppose hatred

In a telephone conversation

w i t h P r i m e M i n i s t e r K e i r

S t a r m e r a n d l

released a statement highlighting the king’s admiration for the community spirit that countered aggression w

resilience

C ) reported that 483 people had

charges brought in connection with the far-right riots since July 30 Many offenders have already been sen-

tracked through the criminal justice system Far-right rallies planned for the weekend were largely cancelled, but a few small gatherings occurred, leading to prompt arrests

bling incident,

mosque in

Down, was targeted with

petrol bomb and racist graf-

At that time, his father lived in Hayes, working at a medical store while saving up to buy a factory in Gravesend Although the plan was to return to India after saving money, Balwinder's father felt guilty about uprooting his children from their homeland “His ambition was for all four of us to work hard, save a lot of money in five years, and then return to India,” Balwinder shared First Encou nter with Racism and Fighting Back Balwinder’s first encounter with racism came when he tried to find employment He was denied entry to a factory and was told outright, "Your people are not allowed to cross the barrier " Undeterred, Balwinder shared the incident with his brother, who advised him not to take it to heart, as such discrimination was common Balwinder also recalled a confrontation with a white employer who arrogantly referred to him as “black boy,”

In the late 1960s, significant events unfolded, including Enoch Powell's infamous speech, which stoked racial tensions across the UK Although the speech sparked widespread debate and condemnation, Balwinder did not experience overt racism during that period

However, as Powell’s rhetoric gained political traction and the National Front launched a massive campaign against migrants, racial violence began to spread across the country

These events galvanised Balwinder to form the Indian Youth Federation, believed to be the country’s first Asian youth movement Their first action was to confront a local pub known for its discriminatory behavior “The pub was initially quiet, with only a few patrons present When we arrived, the staff were visibly shocked and frightened They were not used to such direct confrontation I remained polite, asking for 50 pints of lager, and made it clear that we were standing up for ourselves in a nonviolent way, ” Balwinder recounted

Seeing the impact of their collective action,

Balwinder recalls that the crisis of 1974 was even worse The Labour government’s austerity measures exacerbated the economic downturn, leading to massive unemployment and a resurgence of racism

The National Front gained significant traction during this period, organising large marches targeting Black and Asian areas Racist violence, including murders and street attacks, became more prevalent, with authorities often failing to take action The escalating violence in places like Southall acted as a catalyst for the formation of the Asian Youth Movement, which emerged in response to these threats In 1978, the situation reached a boiling point when fascists rampaged through Brick Lane, smashing shop windows and terrorising the Muslim and Bengali communities The violence grew worse over the years, with peaceful protests being harassed, unjust arrests and killings, before it eventually subsided

Reflecting on those turbulent times, Balwinder shared, “Today, some individuals may downplay the historical significance of these events, suggesting that such fears are exaggerated or irrelevant However, we experienced genuine fear at the time ”

a u t h o r i t i e s t o o k e x t e n s i v e precautions A total of 41 out of the 43 local police force areas in England and Wales w e r e o n h i g h a l e r t a n d

thanks” to the police and emergency workers for their e

attacks occurred in Belfast The police are treating these

crimes

Balwinder Singh Rana

Subhasini Naicker

Sujata Din is a health coach, cancer coach, personal trainer, and meditation teacher who embarked on her wellness journey due to struggles with hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, sinusitis, and fatigue She discovered that true well-being stems from understanding the body s needs and embracing a holistic approach, which includes diet, lifestyle changes, and a positive mindset

In an interview with Asian Voice, she discusses the common misconceptions about traditional I

between food and cultural identity and much more

What are some common misconceptions people have about traditional Indian cuisine and its impact on health?

There are two common misconceptions about Indian food

S

ingredients like turmeric, but the healthiness of a dish depends on portion sizes and cooking meth-

Proper portion control and cooking techniques are essential for a nutritious meal The other misconception is that Indian food is

u n h e a l t h y d u e t o i t s o i l i n

, sugar content, or calorie density

However, with mindful preparat i o n a n d i n g r e d i e n t c h o i c

s , Indian food can be healthy The key is to balance nutrition by focusing on the right ingredients, portions, and cooking methods

For those trying to maintain a balanced diet, what are some essential pantry staples you would suggest for preparing healthy Indian meals?

Vegetables are often the most o v e r l o o k e d f o o d g r o u p W h i l e many focus on protein intake, it's crucial to increase vegetable consumption Ensure you incorporate a variety of vegetables into your meals In the UK, adapt your Indian diet to include local stap

Balancing tradition and health

Prioritise adding more vegetables to both cooked dishes and salads

Focus on protein, especially plant-based options rich in fibre and low in fat Beans, lentils, and dals are familiar and nutritious staples enhanced by herbs and spices Include plant-based proteins like chickpeas or lentils in your daily diet, even if you eat meat If you do, you can also add eggs, yogurt, chicken, or fish, but prioritise plant-based options It is better to include whole grains in your diet, as rice and roti can be healthy when choosing whole grain options You can opt for brown rice or a mix of brown and white rice, and use whole wheat atta for rotis instead of refined flour These small changes will help you maintain a balanced d i e t w h

favourite foods

South Asian Heritage Month

celebrates the rich cultural traditions of the region How do you see the connection between food and cultural identity in the South Asian community?

Food is central to our lives, with every gathering, whether at h o m e o r i n t h e c o m m u n i t y , revolving around it We all love our food, and there’s so much flavour and diversity in South

A s i a n c u i s i n e w h e t h e r i t ’ s Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, or Bangladeshi These are the tradit i o n a l f o o d s w e ’ v e g r o w n u p with, and they’re deeply tied to our cultural identity We often associate certain dishes with specific times of the year or cultural events, making food an integral p a r t o f o u r c e l e b r a t i o n s a n d memories

Family recipes, passed down from grandmothers to mothers, hold a special place in our hearts

Trying these recipes or tasting something new made by someone else often leads us to ask for their secret whether it’s a dal or another dish It’s a way of connecting with others and preserving our cultural heritage through the flavours we love

In what ways can celebrating South Asian Heritage Month inspire people to make healthier choices while still honouring their culinary traditions?

This is an excellent time to celebrate our South Asian heritage, especially here in the UK, w h e r e w e c a n e m b

flavours of our traditional cuisine Alongside this celebration, it’s important to raise awareness about the increased risk of certain diseases within our community and adapt our recipes and lifestyles to mitigate these risks

We can continue to enjoy our

instance, if a traditional recipe calls for two tablespoons of ghee, consider reducing it by 10% or

2

sugar or ghee won’t significantly affect the taste, yet they can contribute to healthier eating habits As we make these adjustments, our palates will adapt, and we’ll discover that we don’t need as much sugar or ghee to enjoy our food

S h a r i n g r e c i p e s a n d

through platforms and websites can be a great way to highlight that our traditional foods can be both delicious and health-cons

niences like air fryers and faster

cient, making it easier to maint a i n h e a

spending excessive time in the kitchen

Sheffield’s Desi Fest Mela revives community spirit

S h ef f i el d’ s f i r st - ev er D es i F es t

S heffield Mela, which recently too k p lace at Firth Park, h as set the stage to become an annual celebratio n o f

S ou th Asian cu lture, according to i ts organisers Running from 1 2:00 to 20:00, th e event featured live musi c, dance perfo rmances, you th worksho ps, information stalls, and

f u nf ai r ri de s, drawi ng a di vers e crowd from across the city

This free event also promoted the ongoing South Asian Heritage M

A taste of Nepal in London

Everest Inn, located in Blackheath, London, is renowned for offering the finest Indian and Nepalese cuisine in the area

With a strong reputation for culinary excellence, Everest Inn Blackheath, along with its sister locations, has received numerous a

consistently recognised for serving high-quality dishes The restaurant artfully blends progressive ideas with traditional integrity, creating a unique dining experience that honours the rich culinary heritage of Nepal and India

founder of the establishment discussed

Whatinspired you to establish Everest Inn?

T h

thing to us It's a family-run venture founded by my brother and I in 2004 We come from a background in the hotel and hospitality industry in Nepal, so it's in our blood During our university years in the UK, after completing our master's degrees, we decided to s t a r t o u

l a u n c h e d E v e r e s t I n n , o f f e r i n g Nepalese cuisine that blends tradit i o n a l f l a v o u r s w i t h a m o d e r n twist

Our goal was to bring a piece of

Foodis such a powerful marker of cultural evolution and identity. How has your culture shaped your life decisions and your choice to share it with others through this restaurant?

Our cuisine plays a central role in showcasing our culture, just as other cuisines do We often host events, such as Diwali celebrat

c o m e o u r guests with traditional items like topis, tikkas, bindis, and scarves D u r i n g

, each paired with carefully selected wines Our guests not only enjoy the food but also experience our

This is how we blend culture with

additional information about the past activities we've organised to

e W h a t

s o u r restaurant unique is our commitment to the local community We don't just operate as a business; we actively contribute through various initiatives, such as supporting local charities, schools, and the NHS This engagement has made us quite popular with the locals The inspiration behind Everest Inn stems from our deep-rooted pass i o n f o r h o s p i t a l i t y , s o m e t h i n g we've grown up with in Nepal What are some unique flavours that you offer that are very inherently Nepali?

promote our cuisine, culture, and

expanded to six branches one in London, three in Kent, one in the Midlands, and one in Scotland W

prominent figures like Shah Rukh K h a n ,

Sharma, Joanna Lumley, and footballer Sol Campbell Additionally, t h

Nepalese dish

As you reflect on your journey with Everest Inn, what accomplishments are you most proud of, and what are you looking forward to in the future?

cultural traditions of the South Asian community

Sultani who previously organised a similar festival in Luton sought to bring people together in the wake of the pandemic and amid the ongoing cost of living crisis "Even though it’s been a few years s

some people still shy away from

Heritage Trust charity, which runs until 17 August The Mela aimed to "revive and rejuvenate community s

bringing people together, fostering

tures, and strengthening community bonds " The Mela showcased a variety of street food, cooking demonstrations, and a diverse lineup of music

Roach Killa, known for his unique

alongside performances by local artists Amjid & Party and Susovan Sarkar, which added to the vibrant atmosphere of the day

We've taken traditional dishes and adapted them slightly to suit different palates, balancing the traditional Nepalese flavours with a mix of spices, herbs, and ingredients For example, in Nepal, river f i s h i s v e r y p o p u l a r , a n d w e ' v e brought that recipe to the UK We have a dish called Lakeside Fish t h a t h a s b e c o m e q u i t e p o p u l a r here We also feature some Gurkha dishes, using a blend of ingredients and spices While about 75-80% of o u r s p i c e s a n d i n g r e d i e n t s a r e sourced from the UK, we import around 20% directly from Nepal These include unique herbs and spices from the Himalayan range, which grow at different altitudes The key is our chef’s ability to blend these spices, creating a distinctive taste that sets our restaurant apart from others

What we are most proud of is how we engage with our regular and local customers, making us a popular choice in the community Our success isn't just about running a restaurant; it's about contributing to the community and showcasing our food, cuisine, culture, and traditions We take pride

where we serve as a vital platform for sharing our heritage Serving nearly 600 to 800 customers a week, including celebrities, foot-

allows us to showcase our culture in a way that few other businesses can Recently, we even had the

The team of Everest Inn at 10 Downing Street

Transforming beauty standards with South Asian flair

C eleb ri ty H ai r & M ake up

A rtist and the found er o f

A nnie S hah Makeup W

beauty, she has built

clients

beauty industry, where she continues to make

by

boundaries

Artistry, I faced numerous challenges typical for a new hair and makeup artist One of the primary hurdles was building a substantial port-

f o l i o t o a t t r a c t c l i e n t s

i t h

Asian Voice, Annie Shah dis-

c u s s e s s t a r t i n g h e r o w n company, South Asian rep-

r e s e n t a t i o n i n t h e b e a u t y industry and much more

1 Can you tell u s about your j ourney into the wo rld of h air and m akeup artistry?

What inspired yo u to start your ow n company, 'A nnie S hah Makeup'?

This brand evolved over a period of time When I first started, I wasn't sure where it was going to end up I just had a hunch that I

w a n t e d t o s t a r t m y o w n

b u s i n e s s I m v e r y

e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l b y n a t u r e and quite artistic as well Makeup was my passion and

h o b b y H o w e v e r , I c o m e from an IT background and had a corporate 9-5 job in central London While my children were very young, I decided to pursue a different career path I wanted something that offered flexibility with young children while satisfying my artistic curiosities Owning my own business provided the freedom and flexibility I needed These factors inspired me to enter the world of hair and m a k e u p a r t i s t r y a n d s t a r t my own brand

2 What were some of the bigg est ch alleng es you faced w h en e st ab li sh i n g yo u r b ra nd , an d h o w d id y ou o vercome th em ?

W h e n I f i r s t s t a r t e d

A n n i e S h a h M a k e u p

Without a robust portfolio, it was difficult to gain trust and build a steady stream of bookings The competition was fierce, with new and upand-coming makeup artists and hair stylists emerging

c o n s t a n t l y I n e e d e d t o ensure my skills were exceptional to stand out

Effective marketing and promotion were vital in a crowded industry I had to m a s t e r v a r i o u s p l a t f o r m s and strategies, stay updated with trends, and continuously learn to stay competitive and showcase my work

M a n a g i n g f i n a n c e s i n v o l v e d l e a r n i n g a b o u t pricing, expenses, and profi t a b i l i t y H a n d l i n g c l i e n t f e e d b a c k a n d b a l a n c i n g work with family life, especially with young children, required careful time management and adaptability

3 A s a S o u th A s i an entrepreneu r, how has your cultu ral heritage influ enced yo ur app ro ach to makeup and beauty?

A s a S o u t h A s i a n e n t r e p r e n e u r , m y c u l t u r a l

h e r i t a g e h a s s i g n i f i c a n t l y influenced my approach to m a k e u p a n d b e a u t y G r o w i n g u p i n a r i c h tapestry of vibrant colours, intricate designs, and timeless traditions, I've always b e e n i n s p i r e d b y t h e e

gance and grace inherent in South Asian culture

In my work, I strive to b

Asian elements with cont

looks that are both modern

enhancing natural features with soft, elegant makeup rather than heavy, dramatic transformations My clients appreciate this balance, as it allows them to look like the best version of themselves while still honouring their cultural roots

4 How do you think So uth A sian representation in the beauty industry has evolved ov er th e years?

South Asian representation in the beauty industry has greatly improved over the years Initially marked by a lack of diversity and understanding, the industry now celebrates South Asian

media, fashion, and advertising representation This

efforts of South Asian influencers, entrepreneurs, and artists advocating for inclu-

diverse beauty standards

Brands have started to recognise the importance of

tones and types, leading to a wider range of products that meet the specific needs of

includes foundations with a broader spectrum of shades, hair care products for different textures, and makeup t

undertones unique to South Asian skin

Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube

Asian beauty influencers to share tips and tutorials, creating a global community that celebrates South Asian beauty Bollywood stars now have a global following, and

recognising and celebrating South Asian features This progress enhances diversity

Asians to embrace their heritage with pride

Masala Podcast breaks

Podcast listeners

(meaning ‘dirty’) to honor ‘

woman who isn’t afraid to

Meera Syal reads CBeebies bedtime story for South Asian Heritage Month

Wo

ress, comedian, and writer Meera S yal read a CBeebies Bed ti me Sto ry to fa mi lies across the U K as part of a special South Asian Heritag e Mo nth celebration

ences with her reading of

Sandhya Parappukaran and

and celebration of cultural heritage

‘Amma’s Sari’ tells the story of 6-year-old Shreya, a second-generation migrant

between her home and the outside world Although her love for her family uplifts her, she is deeply affected by the

Barnet Council honours

South Asian Heritage Month

A s part of Barnet Co uncil's "S umm er of F un" , a liv ely celebration of South Asian Heritage M onth was organised , hig hlig hting the rich cu ltu res and trad iti ons o f the reg ion T h e e v e n t , h e l d o n S a t u r d

u n c i l o f f i c e r s , a n d members of Barnet s South

A s i a n c o m m u n i t i e s , a l o n g

with their friends and families Attendees enjoyed an afternoon filled with cultural performances, music, art, and delicious food Organised by the counc i l i n c o l l

c o m m u n i t y g r o u p s a c r o s s the borough, the event provided a platform to celebrate the diversity of South Asian heritage Visitors were treated to music, dance, and traditional arts, offering them a chance to learn more about

South Asian culture The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Tony Vourou, e x

vibrant culture He emphasised that the events held d u r i n

t h i s m

- l o n

t r i

u t e o f f e r e d v a l u a b l e opportunities to learn about and celebrate the significant c o n t r i b u t i o n s m a d e b y South Asian communities to Barnet

reaches its target audience where they are most likely to gather

Annie Shah

Meera Syal

Wayanad landslides: Save Mother Earth

The recent devastating landslides and floods in Wayanad, Kerala, India, have captured global attention The fact of the matter is that Mother Earth has been prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and floods

First off, our universal globe has been the most beautiful haven, nurturing numerous species and abundant resources such as towering mountains and vast oceans Mother Nature has been humanity's cradle for millennia In the early 1990s, during my school days, massive floods i n u n d a t e d a

d o u

a

a

i k e K o r k a i , Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, India As a schoolboy then, I witnessed enormous craters forming on the roads, leaving the local people in distress

Considering the destructive power of the Wayanad landslides and floods, one can imagine the catastrophic consequences of an earthquake All Asian countries, especially those in the Himalayan region, must take proactive steps like the strategic application of advanced technologies and large-scale afforestation to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters

Such natural disasters have clearly underscored the importance of coexisting with Mother Earth Human activities like overexploitation of natural resources have pushed our planet to its limits, significantly impacting its balance To reverse this trend, mega building structures [meaning skyscrapers] must be banned across the board Comprehensive and proactive measures such as imposing strict regulations on high-rise construction in earthquake-prone regions will go a long way in this connection

More importantly, we should shift our focus from concrete jungles to verdant landscapes My native areas l i k e K o r k a i , T i r u c h e n d u r , T u t i c o r i n , T i r u n e l v e l i , Marthandam, Nagercoil, and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu exemplify the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature By resorting to reforestation and sustainable land use, we can restore ecological balance, thereby creating a resilient future

P Se nt hil Sara vana

Dura i

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is a revered Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus globally This year, Raksha Bandhan will be observed on August 19, 2024 Raksha Bandhan's origins can be traced over 5,000 years back in Hindu mythology One of the earliest stories involves Queen Draupadi, who tied a piece of her saree around Lord Krishna’s wrist to staunch his battle wound Moved by her gesture, Krishna vowed to protect her whenever needed

During Raksha Bandhan, sisters traditionally tie a rakhi (a decorative thread) around their brothers' wrists, symbolising their bond In return, brothers offer gifts and support This relationship is not limited to biological siblings; it extends to cousins, sisters-in-law (bhabhi), fraternal aunts (bua/foi), nephews, and other similar relationships The festival highlights the enduring love in the brother-sister relationship, transcending mere blood ties

Raksha Bandhan’s significance goes beyond the trad i t

broader relationships that provide us protection and support It celebrates the connections we share with parents, grandparents, best friends, soldiers, teachers, neighbours, coworkers, children, and grandchildren each playing a role in our lives and offering their protection and care

On this occasion, sisters often visit their brothers if possible, especially if he is married and living far away If a visit is not feasible, sisters send rakhi with a card by mail Brothers, in turn, send gifts or money as tokens of love and commitment to protect their sisters

S uresh and Bhavna P atel

Need for NHS Mental health reform

I read a recent news about suicides in NHS mental health wards which reveals a serious problem Since 2018, 232 patients have died, and conditions on these wards are often unsafe and poorly maintained

Deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate staffing, reflects systemic failures within our mental health services

Immediate reforms are essential The government must ensure that mental health wards are safe and supportive environments, not places where patients feel neglected and unsafe

Patients deserve compassionate and effective care, not environments that worsen their suffering A thorough overhaul is needed to prevent further tragedies and rebuild trust in our mental health services

Independence Day

throughout the country on the 15th of August every year, holds tremendous ground in the list of national days since it reminds every Indian about the dawn of a new beginning, the beginning of an era of deliverance from the clutches of British colonialism of more than 200 years

It was on the 15th August in the year 1947 that India was declared independent from British colonialism, and the reins of control were handed over to the leaders of the country India's gaining of independence was a tryst with destiny, as the struggle for freedom was a long and tiresome one, witnessing the sacrifices of many freedom fighters, who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country

On this special day, let us remember the brave souls who fought for our freedom and may the colours of our national flag always inspire you to achieve great things

Jubel D'C ruz

Baseless allegations against Adani disrupt India's economic rise

The Indian stock market has taken on a new significance since the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a lifeline for many who lost their jobs It has not only provided an alternative income source but also attracted increased investment from NRIs, contributing to the growth of their funds While concerns about malpractices exist, they are not unique to the stock market; every industry has its challenges

Recently, Hindenburg released a controversial report alleging that Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval, had stakes in offshore entities owned by the Adani Group The couple clarified that the investments referred to in the report were made two years before Madhabi joined SEBI in any capacity Madhabi further emphasised that these investments were made long before her tenure at SEBI began Previous allegations by Hindenburg were dismissed as baseless by the Supreme Court, and now they have surfaced again with another controversial statement Such reports cause unnecessary panic, destabilising the market and causing losses for many investors, which is unfair

The Adani Group, emerging as one of India's most significant companies globally alongside giants like Reliance, plays a pivotal role in the country's development The recent allegations could be part of a broader effort to discredit a successful and influential company, potentially fuelled by political agendas or external motives aimed at weakening India’s economy However, it's important to recognise the substantial contributions Adani has made to India's economic growth, and these accusations should be scrutinised carefully

Krupa P rajap ati

Economy vs Olympics

India being 5th largest economy in the world came to 71st position in Olympics It shows clearly that more funding is required in sports Also there is a need to tackle the allegation that priority is given to certain athletes whether able or not Success in the Olympics is the biggest PR for any country

Suresh Sh ah

Soneri Sangat

In our Soneri Sangat episode on 08 August, we took a deep dive into the extraordinary history of the Sanatan Dharma Mandal & Hindu Community Centre Founded in the 1980s, this Centre has been a vital part of the Hindu community in Wales, serving as a hub for religious, educational, and cultural activities for over 4 decades From its early days without a permanent location to its establishment at the Seaview Building in Cardiff, the centre has been instrumental in nurturing and upholding Hindu traditions and values

The episode featured enlightening discussions with guest speakers Vimala Patel (Secretary), Sudha Bhatt (Assistant Secretary), Harish Patel (Trustee), Amit Patel (

Member) and Vikrant Verma (Committee Member) who shared their experiences and insights into the Centre’s remarkable journey We explored the wide range of initiatives the Centre supports, from lively religious festivals and the Elderly Day Centre to the assistance provided to students and the local community A highlight of the episode was the virtual tour of the Temple, which offered v

cherished space

For those who m iss ed it, catch up on this event and previous episodes by vi sitin g our YouTube channel @abplgroup8772

Stay tun ed for more exc iting c on ten t comin g your w ay!

On August 5th Pr im e Minister Sheikh Has ina of Banglades h was ous ted by an int ernal coup that many bel ie ve m ight have been or chestrat ed by Ame ric a The truth of course we ’ll l earn in the f ul lness of time

No sooner had PM Hasina arrived in India as the nearest safe nation, in the same timeframe the potential genocide of Hindus started with Islamists targeting Hindu women, Hindu Mandirs and Hindu businesses There are now countless examples of rapes of Hundreds of Hindu women Hindu business in their hundreds have been torched and many Hindu Mandirs faced the same treatment

The authorities so far have remained absent whilst this systematic abuse of human rights of Hindus is taking place It is interesting to note the absence of the woke western media, institutions, politicians and so-called celebrities whose silence is also deafening

For those of you who may not be aware, this is not the first time Hindus have faced a genocide in Bangladesh In 1971 during the war between India and Pakistan, ‘Operation Searchlight’ was instigated in the then East Pakistan by Pakistan The Pakistani Islamists went on a rampage to eradicate Hindus Most independent authorities believe that Pakistani soldiers and local pro-Pakistan militia killed around 3,000,000 Bengalis (mostly Hindus) and raped at least 400,000 Hindu women in a systematic campaign of mass murder and genocidal sexual violence In the 20th Century this was the biggest genocide since that committed by the Germans against the Jewish community in the 1940 ’ s India won the war against Pakistan and freed the people of East Pakistan to become the free nation of Bangladesh H

Muslims in Bangladesh from the Pakistani occupation is now having to witness Bangladeshis systematically targeting Hindus for mass murder and rape Bangladesh will never be

Bangladeshi should hang their heads in shame Today they are doing exactly what the Pakistanis did in 1971, an attempt for the total eradication of Hindus There is no difference between those Pakistani monsters and the home-grown Islamist monsters in Bangladesh

Did you know that at that time ‘The Concert for Bangladesh’, was organised by former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar on

Bangladesh to support the victims of that time, and since Ironically the money was used and dispersed for feeding the hungry and providing medical help via the administration of

Bangladeshi lives today stands torched – the treachery of the Bangladeshi extremists now shames the whole nation

Hindus across the globe have raised their voices In the UK the Hindu Forum of Britain wrote to the Prime Minister asking for reassurance that the British government will b

Bangladeshis that the Human Rights of Hindus and all other minorities need to be protected More than 40 Hindus organisations, mandirs and community centres have also added their voice by writing individual letters or as a collective

Whilst I accept that nations don’t have a right to interfere in the internal workings of a democratic nation, I do believe that nations do have a right to use all diplomatic, financial, trade and cultural tools to make it clear to Bangladesh, protect all your citizens otherwise get ready to suffer the consequences Trade agreements can be suspended immediately, and it should become mandatory that part of all future agreements will be the protection of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh

Even the office of the United Nations Secretary General said the violence in Bangladesh should be "tamped down", adding that it stands against any racially based attacks or "racially based incitement to violence"

Whilst Keir Starmerexpressed his concern, it is noticeable that neither he, nor his Foreign Secretary David Lammy, made any reference to the plight of Hindus This is disturbing since many people believe that this behaviouris Labour appeasing to the Muslim community toprotect its vote bank in the UK

Whether Bangladesh turns into a crackpot terrorist ridden state like Pakistan is now surely on the cards One wonders if the people in Bangladesh realise and recognise that they stand on the precipice of anarchy In trying to eliminate Hindus, it’s likely Bangladesh will assure its own destruction

I am reminded of the words of Bertolt Brecht, “The first time it was reported that our friends were being butchered there was a cry of horror Then a hundred were butchered But when a thousand were butchered and there was no end to the butchery, a blanket of silence spread When evildoing comes like falling rain, nobody calls out "stop!"When crimes begin to pile up, they become invisible When sufferings become unendurable the cries are no longer heard The cries, too, fall like rain in summer ”

Kapil Dudakia

Honour for Charan Sekhon MBE

Environment in 1997 "

Environment Alumni Award

University in its 78-year history A n n

stated, "We are thrilled to award Charan Kanwal Singh

S e k h o n M B E t h e

D i s t i n g u i s h e d A l u m n i

Award 2024 Charan earned

h

C

gious honours It recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the water, energy, and environment sectors This award highlights their significant achievements, adherence to the highest industry standards, and international visibility, showcasing Cranfield

U

and the recipient’s influence across various sectors and regions

C

Environment Officer at the

environmental and Equality and Diversity projects across East Anglia His exceptional

mental protection and community service has been a hallmark of his career

Born in a rural village in Punjab, India, Charan's limited access to education in

Trust UK, an international NGO As its Founder and Chairman, he has made sub-

education, health, welfare,

tives in both the UK and India

Shiv Katha at Cardiff Sanatan Mandir

T h e ev ent f eat u red r eno w ned K ath ak ar S h ree

B h ar atb h ai B h ag a t f ro m

S urat, who d elivered a capti-

v ati n g k ath a c o v e ri ng a

rang e o f to p ics , inclu d ing S hiv P uran Mahatmaya, the 1 2 J yo ti rl in g as , S h i v L i ng , Rud raksh, Bhasma M ahim a, Ganesh Janmotsav , and tales o f R am , Kr i sh n a, a nd Jalaram bapa

D e v o t e e s e n j o y e d t h e

d i s c o u r s e , a n d t h e S h i v -

Parvati Vivah was celebrated g r a n d l y S m i t a b e n Rhiddhishbhai Ahya served as Yajman for Shree Shiv

GIEO

Bhagwan, while Sandhyaben Pankajbhai Gajjar was the Y a j m a n f o r P a r v a t i j i T h e murtis were beautifully decorated as bride and groom by team, and the mandap,

adorned with flowers, was crafted by volunteers The V i v a h i n c l u d e d w e d d i n g songs, Thal, and Arti, culminating with a Maha Prasad meal

Gita Mahotsav UK concludes with vibrant three-day festival in Manchester

The British H in du diaspora in Manchest er has succe ssf ul l y c on cl ud e d t he G IE O

G it a Mahotsa v UK, a vib rant

t h re e -d a y cu l tu ra l

t i o n h e l d t h

ou g ho ut t he city GIEO GITA UK (Global

o n o f t h e Bhagavad Gita) extends the mission of the International G I E O G I T A o r g a n i s a t i o n headquartered in India The

e v e n t h a s g a r n e r e d w i d e s p r e a d

t h r o u g h o u t M a n c h e s t e r a n d t h e U K ,

including BAPS, HSS, Indian

A s s o c i a t i o n M a n c h e s t e r , I N S I G H T U K , I s h a Foundation, and ISKCON GIEO GITA UK seeks to foster religious unity, universal brotherhood, and collective welfare by uniting peop l e f r o m d i v e r s e b a c kgrounds Through seminars, w o r k s h o p s , a n d c u l t u r a l events, GIEO GITA UK aims to disseminate the teachings of peace, compassion, and s p i r i t u a l e n l i g h t e n m e n t found in the Bhagavad Gita

T h e t h r e e - d a y M a n c h e s t e r Gita Festival started with a l a u n c h e v e n t a t

Wythenshawe Forum, drawing diverse communities and l e a d e r s f r o m G r e a t e r M a n c h e s

day featured guest speakers,

Queen Elizabeth Hall hosted cultural performances, a Gita quiz, and a special discourse b y S w a m i G y a n a n a n d J i Maharaj, founder of GIEO Gita The final day showc

Manchester's largest cultural events, held at Chorlton Park and Gita Bhavan Mandir

Tribute to women filmmakers in London

I n co l lab o rati o n

S a j d a F es ti v al , t h e N eh ru

C ent re i n L o nd o n w i ll sh owcase a sp ecial tribute to d o cu m e nt ary c i nem a f ea -

t ur in g I nd i an- o ri g i n f il mm akers U ma M ag al and Rup Ghosh Roy

The event will include screenings of their impactful films, followed by a Q&A session where the filmmakers will discuss their work and explore the significant themes presented in their documentaries

T h e 4 8 - m i n u t e d o c umentary ‘Other Kohinoors: T h e R o c k s o

Prathana Sabha at Anoopam Mission for Lipsa Nakarja

On 8 Augu st ( Th ursday), a Prath ana Sabha was h eld at Ano opam Mi ssion in memory of Lip sa Nakarja, beloved daughter of Vinubh ai and Soniya Ben Nakarja, and elder sister o f Abh ipsa Nakarja Over 400 friends and family gath ered to ho no ur her memory and offer su ppo rt to the family Lipsa was cherished for her unwavering devotion to Bhagwan and her Guru

The Sant Benos of Gunatit Jyot, to whom she was deeply connected, recalled her selfless service and kind nature Vinubhai Nakarja shared how Lipsa brought immense blessings to their family from a young age, as she and Abhipsa helped

their father in the shop and their mother at home

Before the Ashirwad, Sadhu Manojdasji spoke about the soul’s journey to its next abode Guruhari Sant Bhagwant Sahebji Maharaj bestows his blessings upon the Nakarja family and highlighted Lipsa's dedicated service and devotion During the gathering CB Patel recalled Lipsa’s help during the 2003 USA Murti Parthia event

Building futures and talent through vocational training in India

Whil e hard work , det ermin a t io n a n d r e si l ie n ce a r e k e y t o s uc ce ss , w it h ou t op p or t u n it y n ot h i n g ca n thrive Young people fr om lepr osy col onie s do not have the same oppor tun it ie s a s ot h e r c hi l d r e n i n I n di a Pov erty mea ns t ha t education is ofte n br ok en, and t ho se wh o a r e f or t u n a t e enough to compl ete schooling, cann ot afford col lege or univ ersit y

Prejudice and discrimin a t i o n m e a n i t ’ s h a r d t o secure training, and even harder to get a good job with prospects Even if a young person does not have l e p r o s y t h e m s e l v e s , b e i n g l i n k e d t o f a m i l y m e m b e r with the disease or simply living in a leprosy colony, can limit life opportunities

I f t h i s p r o b l e m i s n ’ t addressed, generations will continue to live in poverty, rather than working their way out of it And as India’s economy and middle classes grow, these young people will be left behind At The Leprosy Mission we ’ re passionate about prov i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r young people to build skills for business Running six vocational training centres

a c r o s s I n d i a , w e o f f e r accredited courses in trades

losses Uma Magal uses this

Hyderabad and its distinctive rock formations It illustrates how these rocks shape the city’s cultural and ecological identity, influencing its art, crafts, literature, and everyday life The film highlights how the rocks are cele b r a t e d i n H y d e r a b a d ’

destruction of these ancient

decades, resulting in significant ecological and cultural

itage, highlighting the deep

city's landscape and its identity

with

Smile’, a 40-minute documentary by Rup Ghosh R

women residing in the UK The film reveals the chall

including issues of bullying, racism, and struggles with cultural identity

f r o m b a n k i n g , i n s u r a n c e , and IT, to sewing technolog y a n d d i e s e l m e c h a n i c s

Developing entrepreneurial and life skills through training and work placements, means over 90% of students go on to employment or set

u p t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s e s post-graduation Many are now employers themselves

It’s a real success story And cost effective too, at around £721 per student!

Last month while visiti n g l e p r o s y c o l o n i e s i n Odisha, Louise met Sasmita (pictured) She has grown

u p i n a l e p r o s y c o l o n y

Thankfully, she has escaped the horrors of this disease herself, but both her mother and her father are badly disabled Desperate to break

f r e e f r o m p o v e r t y a n d improve life for her family, she’s studied as hard as she c a n A n d s h e i s a b r i g h t young woman; successful in both her GCSE and A-level equivalent exams It’s a miracle her parents have been able to pay for her education, as their only income is from begging in the local town

It s not been easy for Sasmita and she’s had to l i v e a d o u b l e l i f e S h e ’ s never had a friend for tea

She’s never shown anyone around her village or been able to sit laughing together by the river where she collects water

shares

starts to

story It’s obvious that keeping this secret has understandably had a big impact on her young

should have to struggle like this

“My mother struggles so much with clawed hands and bad ulcers on her feet, but she still goes to the

“If my school friends found out I lived here, they wouldn’t talk to me anym o r e T h e y ’ d t u r n t h e i r backs on me, and I’d be pushed out So I’ve kept it a secret I’m always so scared s o m e o n e w i l l f i n d o u t

Charan Sekhon MBE

Iam delighted to send my good wishes to all your readers who are celebrating India’s Independence Day this week What a remarkable democracy that has survived for over 75 years and continues to set an example to all the neighbouring countries as to how a good democracy continues to function

I am pleased that unlike most years I am in Gujarat celebrating this event The streets are full of tricolour flags and little children

Iwouldlike to congratulate my fellow Indians settled all over the world, a very happy Independence Day.

Our independence change our destiny and made us equal in the wor As a result, we are now contributing more than any other community in the world

While we are celebrating our freedom, there we must be mindful of those who paid the ultimate sacrifices for our freedom.

Many went to jail and many were hanged for their love to see their fellow citizens free

Some could not see freedom because of their premature martyrdom in the hands of Colonial Masters Thousands were massacred at Jalianwala Bag for having a dream of freedom.

We are grateful to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi Sardar Patel, and Neta Ji Subhash Chander Bose for their vision, commitment and determination to set us free

A free India is now contributing a great deal to the prosperity and development of the world, especially the poorer nations.

The Indian vaccines help millions of citizens of poorer countries who otherwise could not afford the Western vaccines.

India’s IT engineers are

taking pride in waving these to you I shall be present at the unfurling of the flag in a gathering of invited guests followed by listening to a speech made by Shree Narendra Modiji, the Prime Minister of the nation. What a change this would make from the early days of Floods, Famine and Poverty faced by a large section of the community The country is now sound and full of energy building a new India The economy is sound and educationally ahead in what it could achieve. But we must not remain complacent. There are two threats both here and in our adopted homeland Bangladesh’s independence is unsteady and would require a lot of prop ups if it is going to be successful Back home the fears of riots and hatred have subsided We have to ensure that we play a big part in developing our economy in the UK and ensure that we help build Britain that is diverse and plays a full part in the way we all advance there

making the world go faster Our pharmaceutical company are slashing the price of life-saving medicine which was at the time reserved for the rich and elite

Our engineers, scientists, doctors, teachers and businessmen are shaping the modern world

Last week I was invited by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK to a reception on board the Indian Navel Ship, Tabar, which was birthed next to HMS Belfast in the River Thames

It was a matter of pride when the British Defence Minister praised the Indian Navy for their contribution in keeping the shipping lane free from Somali pirates The Indian Navy is helping to keep the flow of world trade

Indian Armed forces have taken maximum peace missions in many dangerous parts of the world to save humanity and maintain peace

India’s space program is helping the poor country put communication satellites in orbit Thus helping them pinpoint weather forecasts to save lives

In all India is a positive force and bringing positive changes to the lives of those who otherwise would be left neglected

The current Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has transformed the economy of India and made India a favourite destination for foreign investment

Indian economy has moved from 10th position to the fourth position in the world

Indian Armed forces are now the third most powerful in the world

India is the cradle of civilisation where every religion, nationality, culture and faith are living side-by-side in perfect harmony Jai Hind

As we commemorate the 78th anniversary of India's Independence, we honour the rich history, cultural diversity, and enduring spirit of a nation that has inspired the world This day marks the triumph of courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of freedom

For the Indian diaspora in the UK, Independence Day is not just a reminder of our roots, but a celebration of the values of democracy, inclusivity, and innovation that India and the UK both cherish. It's a day to reflect on the journey of two great nations who are committed to a shared future of prosperity and peace

Let s celebrate the spirit of India, the land of a billion dreams, and continue to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between our two nations. Wishing everyone a joyous and proud Independence Day!

This Indian Independence Day is a day for reflection and celebration We celebrate the relationship between India and the United Kingdom, which Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated in his visit to New Delhi last month Both India and the United Kingdom are democracies made stronger by our diversity and commitment to human rights

Working together, India and the United Kingdom can help tackle the great challenges of the twenty-first century such as the climate crisis, Artificial Intelligence and new technologies This will help bring growth, security and prosperity to both our nations

As we mark the 78th Indian Independence Day, I want to send my best wishes to the Indian community in the UK and across the world It is remarkable how India has grown into the world's

largest democracy, and a dynamic economy filled with hope, opportunity, entrepreneurs and innovators

We cherish our bilateral relationship - a living bridge between the UK and India I am proud to have played a part in strengthening the strong connection we have, serving as Prime Minister David Cameron s Indian Diaspora Champion and embarking on a bilateral visit to India with the former Prime Minister

On this landmark day, let s celebrate the shared history that our two countries have developed Jai Hind!'

India and reformed multilateralism

Ambassador (Retd ) TS Tirumurti, Former Indian Ambassador, Professor at IIT Madras

Multilateralism is i n cris is, with system s and in tern ati on al organiza tion s i nc re as in gly d eb ili ta ted, of te n to t he d et ri m e n t of th e G l ob a l S o ut h T h e U n i t e d Nations s tan ds paraly zed While i n te r n a t i on al l a w s a n d a g r e ements are adopte d to strengthen the rules- ba sed orde r, the y are sim ultaneously violated without accountabili ty

The situation is deeper than it a p p e a r s , a s m a n y d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s h a v e b e c o m e bystanders in the unravelling of the world order Their universal participation in decision-making is diminishing, replaced by two o p p o s i n g w o r l d v i e w s t h e y a r e pressured to adopt

The issues in organizations

l i k e t h e U N , W T O , I M F , a n d World Bank stem from the multilateral system's failure to adapt to new and emerging powers within the post-World War II architect u r e M u l t i l a t e r a l i s m i s c a u g h t between those who cling to the status quo of 1945 and those who demand reforms to reflect a more multipolar world

I n d i a h a s b e e n a s t a u n c h advocate for strengthening multilateralism However, in today's c h a n g e d w o r l d , i f a p o p u l o u s c o u n t r y w i t h a s t r o n g t r a c k record of democracy and humanity cannot be given its due in global governance, then reform is indeed necessary It was at the 10th BRICS summit in 2018 in J o h a n n e s b u r g t h a t P r i m e M i n i s t e r M o d i f i r s t p r o p o s e d " r e f o r m e d m u l t i l a t e r a l i s m " t o g i v e m a j o r e m e r g i n g p o w e r s a voice in global governance I n d i a ’ s r e c e n t t r a c k r e c o r d , including its two-year stint on the UN Security Council (2021-2022), provides numerous examples of bridging differences to build a more inclusive multilateral world Faced with global challenges like COVID-19, climate change, the digital divide, terrorism, and conf l i c t s t h r e a t e n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace, India has become indispensable in finding solutions During the COVID-19 pand e m i c , w h e n m

n y c o u n t r i e s hoarded vaccines, India produced and distributed them through its Vaccine Maitri initiative, priorit i z i n g s m a l l a n d v u l n e r a b l e nations

In December 2021, India successfully thwarted a move to shift climate change from the inclusive UNFCCC process to the UNSC, which would have put climate action at the mercy of the five p e r m a n e n t m

r s , w h o a r e major historical polluters India’s vote against the draft resolution, alongside Russia’s veto, ensured that the voice of the Global South

change discussions

India’s instrumental role in

member countries, further underscores its commitment to inclusivity and multilateralism

U

(2022-23), India addressed the lack of representation of smaller and

Global South by convening the Voice of Global South Summit, where 125 developing countries participated This summit’s outcomes were integrated into G20

lobbied for the African Union's inclusion in the G20, marking a significant step for the continent

forefront of efforts to reform the UN Security Council The UNSC, established when the UN had 51 members, now faces challenges with 193 member states but only five permanent members This polarization has paralyzed decis

reform crucial for global gover-

enabled other developing countries to voice their dissatisfaction with military solutions, advocating for diplomacy and dialogue This stance highlighted India's commitment to a worldview that favors dialogue over war, inclusivity over polarization, and reformed multilateralism over the status quo

Lord Dolar Popat

Lord Dholakia

Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats, House of Lords

Lord Rami Ranger CBE

Sonia Kumar, Labour MP for Dudley

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP

INS Tabar strengthens Indo-UK Naval ties: High-level reception and strategic discussions in London

T h e I nd i an N av y ' s f ro n tl i ne

frigate, INS Tabar, made a grand e ntry i nto Lo ndon Ha rbo ur on August 7, 2024, fo r a fo ur- day visit, fu rther strengthening the historical ties between the Indian Navy and th e Ro yal Navy

This visit was marked by a picturesque celebration at the iconic Tower Bridge, where members of the Indian diaspora gathered to w e l c o m e t h e s h i p , c r e a t i n g a vibrant display of cultural unity The historic bridge served as a

stunning backdrop as the crowd

c h a n t e d B h a r a t M a t a k i J a i , blending tradition with modernity and symbolising the rich cultural heritage of India merging with London's historic landmarks

The arrival of INS Tabar was met with enthusiastic cheers and a deep sense of pride, reflecting the s t r e n g t h a n d s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e Indian community in the UK The event highlighted their collective support for initiatives that bridge cultural gaps and promote mutual

u n d e r s t a n d i n g , m a k i n g i t m o r e than just a welcome ceremony it was a testament to the thriving p r e s e n c e a n d i n f l u e n c e o f t h e Indian diaspora in London

During its stay, INS Tabar will engage in a series of professional interactions with the Royal Navy to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the maritime domain The crew will also participate in

c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e b y a s s i s t i n g retired Royal Army pensioners at a n O l d A g e H o m e , e m b o d y i n g P r i m e M i n i s t e r S h r i N a r e n d r a Modi's philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family) These engagements offer a unique opportunity to showcase Indian culture and reinforce the

enduring ties between India and the UK I N S T a b a

built in Russia, is commanded by Captain MR Harish and staffed by a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 8 0 p e r s o n n e l

Equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors, the ship is among the earliest stealth frigates in the Indian Navy's fleet It is part o f t h e I n d i a n N a v y ' s W e s t e r n Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command

The event at Tower Bridge will be remembered as a symbol of cultural exchange, community spirit, a n d t h e e n d u r i n g t i e s b e t w e e n India and the UK As INS Tabar passed under Tower Bridge, it was more than just a visual spectacle; it was a heartfelt expression of the d e e p -

o o t e d c o n n

c t i o n s a n d shared identity among the Indian diaspora This memorable occasion underscored the unity and pride of the Indian community, f u r t h e r s o l i d i f y i n g t h e b o n d between the two nations

Before arriving in London, INS T a b a r c o n d u c t e d a M a r i t i m e Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the German Navy off Kiel Canal on A u g u s t 5 , f o l l o w i n g

v i s i t t o Hamburg, Germany, from July 17-

20 This exercise marked a significant milestone in maritime coope r a

Germany, showcasing the Indian

efforts in fostering international naval partnerships H

Harish, Commanding Officer of

alongside HMS Belfast, where they

Hon'ble Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr Luke Pollard, MP, as the Chief Guest Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord & Chief of Naval Staff, Royal Navy, visited INS Tabar during her stay in London, UK Captain MR Harish briefed the First Sea Lord on the ship's capabilities and the goals of its operational deployment, aimed at fostering stronger relations between the Indian Navy

onboard by Captain Harish, where discussions focused on enhancing the maritime partnership between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy

Neighbourhood First policy of India

Pankaj Saran, Member, National Security Advisory Board Former Deputy National Security Adviser Convenor, NatStrat, India

Ind ia’s Neig hbourh ood First policy is a reflection of the truism that neighbours are a prim ary foreign policy priority for any country India has historically committed its largest and best resources to its neighbourhood, be it economic,

India’s Neighbourhood First policy is the foundation of its global outreach

The decision by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invite

countries for his swearing-in ceremony on three successive occasions in 2014, 2019 and 2024 was unprecedented and represented an altogether new way of engaging with neighbours India, by virtue of its size and resource endowments, is the partner of choice for its neighbours India’s aid programmes amounting to billions of dollars at highly concessional terms extend to all walks of life and all sectors These range from hard infrastructure to skilling

millions of beneficiaries and transformed the remotest regions in a sustained manner Over time, the Neighbourhood First Policy has evolved into a well-knit and integrated system

A p a r t f r o m d e v e l o p m e n t , regional integration is a key objective This is achieved by putting in place a symmetric and resilient connectivity involving people to people movement, air, rail, road links, energy pipelines and supply and value chains Neighbours are given the first right of access to the Indian market, Indian educational i

l facilities

Record shows that the economic performance of those who have moved faster with integration h a s b e e n b e t t e r t h a n o t h e r s Conversely, those countries who have integrated more with India h a v e b e t t e r w i t h s t o o d e x t e r n a l shocks India has come to the aid of its neighbours in times of difficulty such as during the Covid crisis or the energy and food price

shocks after the Ukraine conflict, or even in time of natural disasters

Notable examples in the recent past include provision of urgent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, economic bail out of Sri Lanka, supply of vaccines and essential commodities to Bangladesh and budgetary support to the Maldives immediately after the pandemic I n d i a i s t h u s n o t o n l y a f i r s t responder but also a safety net for its neighbours

The Policy is characterised by country specific targeted interventions rather than a one size fits all a p p r o a c h F o c u s o n b u i l d i n

mutually beneficial bilateral partnerships lies at the heart of the Policy Where necessary, mechanisms have been put in place to promote sub-regional cooperation A sub-regional power grid is taking shape between Nepal, Bhutan and B

Indian territory

It is recognised that peace and security are indispensable conditions for progress The Policy is

respect each other’s sovereignty and security concerns The philosophy is that security is mutual and not a zero-sum game, whether it

change

In recent years, the vision of the neighbourhood has extended to regions beyond the sub-conti-

Ocean Region, West Asia and the Gulf States, Central Asia and East Asia These regions are given priority in allocation of resources and attention so as to rebuild the linkages that existed in the pre-colonial era and to shape new ones India’s influence and imprint in this wider geography is growing rapidly

For reasons of its own making, Pakistan has remained an outlier in the sub-continent’s integration process China, which also shares a l o n g b o r d e r w i t h I n d i a , h a s t o come to terms with a rising India and needs to abandon the policy of trying to contain India in its neighbourhood

I n

Policy is ambitious and bold It is neither dogmatic nor doctrinaire It is successful because it is responsive and sensitive to the needs of the times

The global south and the summit of the future

Ambassador (Retd.) Asoke Mukerji

T h e U n it ed Na ti o ns G en era l Assembly (UNGA ) is scheduled to co n v en e fo r a “ S u m m i t o f t h e F u tu re ” i n New Y o rk o n 2 2- 2 3 September 2024

The outcome of this meeting of world leaders will be the adoption of a “Pact for the Future” During the past year, the details of t h e p a c t h a v e b e e n d i s c u s s e d among the 193 UN member-states u n d e r t h e c o - f a c i l i t a t i o n o f Germany (representing the developed countries of the North) and Namibia (representing the developing countries of the South) The objective of the pact is “to safeguard the future for present and coming generations”

India’s approach towards the

UN’s Summit of the Future was a r t i c u l a t e d b y I n d i a n E x t e r n a l

Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in 2023 He emphasized the need to demonstrate “genuine solidarity” to generate “real trust” and integrate the “sentiment of the Global S o u t h ” i n p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e Summit During the discussions in the UNGA in May 2024, India cautioned that if these essential elements were missing from the process, the Summit of the Future would become a “Summit of the P a s t ” , c o n d e m n i n g t h e U n i t e d Nations “to a perilous vicious cycle of fading into irrelevance ” The Global South consists of developing country member-states of the UNGA, many of them former colonies of European powers in 1945 who did not negotiate the

UN Charter Their membership of the United Nations began with the historic process of decolonization that began after India’s independence from British colonial rule in August 1947

The Global South became a majority in the UNGA, propelled by the Decolonization Resolution of December 1960 The first visible e x p r e

was the successful adoption by a two-third majority vote of UNGA resolutions in December 1963 to a m e n d

amendments resulted in expandi n g

Global South in the UN Security Council (UNSC) that controls decisions on peace and security, and the Economic and Social Council ( E

nomic issues

Since 1960, the process of cons

n d p r i o r i t i z a t i o n o f Global South priorities has been m a r k e d b y s e v e r a l n e g o t i a t i n g landmarks in multilateral institutions This was due to the solidarity and sentiment of the Global

South, based on trust in the effective and equitable functioning of the interlinked post-war multilateral system

The UN’s SDG Summit in 2023 held to assess the implementation o f A g e n d a 2 0 3 0 w a r n e d t h a t “ numerous crises” since 2015 were derailing this vision This is the r

S

s focus during the Summit of the Future must be to seek effective multilateralism on the ground A decision to convene a UN General Conference, as provided f o r i n A r t i c l e 1 0 9 o f t h e U N Charter, to review the UN Charter in September 2025 would be an appropriate way to mark the 80th anniversary of multilateralism by integrating the aspirations of the Global South

Asoke Mukherji

Indian Navy band from INS Tabar delivered a performance at Cathedral Square

INS Tabar passing under the iconic Tower Bridge

High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami (centre) with Indian Naval officers

Fast forward to today, and I n d

l l y changed It is now the fifthl

world, with a GDP of 147 lakh crore INR, representi

largest electricity generator

globally The country's road

n

from 399,000 km in 1951 to

making it the third-largest

wide

Under Prime Minister N

h a v e b e e n i n t r o d u c e d , including the abrogation of Article 370, enhancements to the defence sector, and initiatives to foster a start-

u p - f r i e n d l y e n v i r o n m e n t

Modi's administration has also launched various prog r a m s a i m e d a t b o o s t i n g infrastructure and manufacturing, such as “Make in India,” “Digital India,” and the “Swachh Bharat” campaign

India’s rich tapestry of food, art, and culture has

a c h i e v e d r e m a r k a b l e s u c -

c e s s o n t h e g l o b a l s t a g e , enchanting audiences and t a n t a l i s i n g t a s t e b u d s

a r o u n d t h e w o r l d T h e country’s artistic heritage, with its millennia-old traditions, showcases a deep historical richness and social complexity Among its most influential cultural exports is Bollywood India's film industry, renowned for its vibrant musicals, dramatic

n a r r a t i v e s , a n d e l a b o r a t e dance sequences, has transcended borders and won

t h e h e a r t s o f a u d i e n c e s

g l o b a l l y T o g e t h e r , t h e s e industries mark India as a significant cultural powerhouse

E v e n i n t h e U K , t h e

INDIA’S INCREDIBLE LEAP

country and diaspora community to British society Eco no mic c ontribution of India in the UK

According to latest data by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, total trade in goods and services ( e x p o r t s p l u s i m p o r t s ) between the UK and India was £39 0 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023, an increase of 4 8 per cent or £1 8 billion in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022 India was the UK’s 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023 accounting for 2 2 per cent of total UK trade

In 2023 India was the second largest source market for the UK, bringing in 118 new projects and creating 8,384 jobs A report has been produced jointly by t h e C o n f e d e r a t i o n o f Indian Industry (CII) and t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n o f India in the UK, according to which, India remains the second largest investor in t h e U K C h a nd ra j i t Banerjee, Directo r General, Co nf ed er at i o n o f I n di an In du stry (CI I) on the pre-

s e n t a t i o n o f t h e r e p o r t , said, “The UK-India 2030 Roadmap has made some s i g n i f i c a n t a c h i e v e m e n t s since its launch in 2021 by our leaders These include the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, new visa routes for y o u n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d

Indian diaspora plays a significant role in the country’s economy and beyond Comprising approximately 1 9 million individuals, this

c o m m u n i t y m a k e s u p

a r o u n d 3 1 p e r c e n t o f Britain’s population and is deeply involved in diverse areas including the econom y , c u l t u r e , h e a l t h c a r e , education, and politics

As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, we explore the evolving contrib u t i o n s o f t h i s v i b r a n t

the UK and its regions, promoting job creation, driving investment, and fostering a c u l t u r e o f d i v e r s i t y a n d inclusion

“The India-UK bilateral r e l a t i o n s

t only on economics but also on shared beliefs and values It is our people-to-people and cultural links and o u r c o m m o n d e m o c r a t i c traditions that bind our two nations The strength of the I

i s anchored in the people-topeople connections across the ‘living bridge’ of the 1 8 m i l l i o n s t r o

n Diaspora in the UK ”

Reflecting on how far India has come, Arbi nder Ch atwal, p artner at BDO UK reminisces of the time

difficulties “However, the landscape has shifted dramatically Despite the globa

t u r b u l e n c

, I n d i a n o w stands as a beacon of stability and progress in the global market”, he said

“Just a decade ago, the contrast between India and the rest of the world was

T

i a ' s moment has arrived The

ture, and political stability are impressive and envied

b y m a n y A s a n I n d i a n , whether resident or nonresident, one has every rea-

s o n t o b e p r o u d o f t h i s progress ” , Arbinder added

billions in FDI from both sides

“Today, Indian companies with operations in the UK have integrated themselves into the British economy, making their mark in i n d u s t r i e s r a n g i n g f r o m technology and finance to h e a l t h c a r e a n d m a n u f a ct u r i n g T h e i r a b i l i t y t o adapt, innovate, and forge m e a n i n g f u l p a r t n e r s h i p s has not only propelled their own growth but has also enriched the economy of

F r o m a F r e e T r a d e Agreement (FTA) perspective, Arbinder is of the opinion that it is in the UK's interest to strengthen its r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h I n d i a , especially given the growing investments and opport u n i t i e s H e s t r e s s e s h i s p o i n t , a d d i n g , “ T h e U K needs to move beyond discussing its special relationship with India and actually t a k e c o n c r e t e a c t i o n s While other countries like France, Russia, the US, and parts of the EU are also

vying for closer links with India, the UK must priorit i s e a n d f i n a l i s e t h e s e agreements promptly ”

“In addition to focusing on the FTA, it’s critical to g e t i m m i g r a t i o n p o l i c i e s , e s p e c i a l l y s t u d e n t v i s a s , right This is a significant opportunity for both count r i e s C u r r e n t l y , d e s p i t e having a number of highly s k i l l e d I n d i a n g r a d u a t e s a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l

b e c o m i n g increasingly challenging to bring them over If we fail t o a d d r e s s t h e s e i s s u e s , other markets may gain a competitive edge by attracting this talent ” Making th e NHS stronger Indian healthcare professionals have long been sought after in international markets, and the UK is no exception Statistics highl i g h t t h e i r s i g n i f i c a n t impact on the UK healthc a r e s e c t o r A s o f M a r c h

2 0 2 1 , a m o n g t h e 1 9 0 , 5 7 1

NHS staff with non-British nationality, approximately 32,117 were of Indian origin Furthermore, of the 65,600 non-British nurses, around 14,777 were Indian

A c c o r d i n g t o Ro h it Sagoo, F ounder and directo r of British S ikh Nurses,

s

Indian doctors, nurses, and o t h

a y e d a

i n s t r u m e n t a l r o l e f o r decades He said, “Indian medical professionals have been pivotal in addressing c r i t i c a l h e a l t h c a r e n e e d s , especially in areas such as cardiac care and diabetes m a n a g e m e n t c o n d i t i o n s with high prevalence in the South Asian community

“The rise of community and faith-based nursing initiatives, such as those led by B r i t i s h S i k h N u r s e s , h a s f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d h e a l t hcare delivery by addressing health inequalities and prom o t i n g m e n t a l h e a l t h awareness, organ donation, and cultural humility care within these communities ”

In Rohit’s opinion, over the years, the participation

of the Indian diaspora in the NHS has evolved signifi c a n t l y H e s h a r e d t h a t while initially, many Indian doctors filled crucial gaps in t h e N H S , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n underserved areas , today, the involvement of Indian h e a l t h c a r e p r o f e s s i o n a l s has expanded, with increasing numbers of internationally educated nurses from I n d i a j o i n i n g t h e N H S workforce “This growth is supported by training programs in India that prepare n u r s e s f o r t h e s p e c i f i c d e m a n d s o f t h e N H S , marking a shift towards the i n t e n t i o n a l e x p o r t o f healthcare professionals to the UK”, he added

Aside from the bright an merry, Indian healthcare p r o f e s s i o n a l s f a c e u n i q u e challenges within the NHS as well Rohit shared that adapting to British culture a n d h e a l t h c a r e p r a c t i c e s , i n c l u d i n g u n d e r s t a n d

c

l l o q u i a l l a n g u a g e , a c c e n t s , a n d c u l t u r a l nuances, can be daunting Additionally, the transition

35 per cent and expected to c

only 17 per cent in senior m

e a d e rship (for all ethnicity combined) ” India’s remarkable rise and th e living bridge Lord Karan Bilimoria, who is the co- chair of the n

(APPG), wishing India on its

said, “India is a relatively young country and if you look at how much India has achieved, it has been quite

remarkable how India, in this short period of time, is

country is poised to continue growing in strength on the global stage

often involves overcoming c o m m u n i c a t i o n b a r r i e r s and navigating a healthcare system that may differ significantly from their traini n g “ O r g a n i s a t i o n s l i k e

British Sikh Nurses provide essential pastoral support, helping Indian healthcare

w o r k e r s f e e l a s e n s e o f belonging and connectedness This support is crucial for fostering a more inclusive environment; however, reducing reliance on overs e a s n u r s e s i s c r i t i c a l t o encouraging British South Asians to pursue careers in n u r s i n g a n d m i d w i f e r y , w h i c h w i l l s u s t a i n t h e NHS's multicultural workforce”, he said D e p u t y Me di c al D i re ct o r fo r N o rt h E a st Essex ICB, Dr U A Tanvir Alam also shared how NHS c a n s u p p o r t t h e i r I n d i a n healthcare professionals in t h e i r c a r e e r p r o g r e s s i o n and in overcoming barriers related to race and ethnicity, He said, “The NHS can improve cultural safety in the workplace, improve dign i t y a n d w o r k f o r c e s t a nd a r d s , i m p r o v e t r u e w h i s t l e b l o w i n g w i t h o u t persecution, help keep the GMC and CQC in check which are also institutiona l l y d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a n d break the 'glass ceiling' for d e v e l o p m e n t i n t o s e n i o r roles- present workforce at

gave an insight into the UKIndia relationship and the contributions of the Indian diaspora, stating, “The relationship between the UK and India is incredibly special, and I believe it should be as close as possible

have

living bridge of

origin in the UK, who act as ambassadors for the UK-

Indian community here is not only the largest ethnic minority in the UK but also one of the most successful, excelling in various fields and breaking glass ceilings

Minister to my own experi-

minority President of the

Indian-born Chancellor at

Russell Group University,

Indian diaspora are a source of pride The community contributes significantly to the UK’s population, economy, and culture

“Moreover, I am proud of India’s robust democracy and stability, especially in our current unstable world India’s strong position and democratic values make it

Moving forward, it is essential that we build on this

mutual respect between our two countries

Chandrajit Banerjee

Rohit Sagoo

Team India celebrating their T20 World Cup victory

Chandrayaan-3

'RRR' team winning Oscars

Arbinder Chatwal

The evolving role of Indian professionals in the NHS

Subhasini Naicker

The National Health Service (NHS) has long been supported by the signif icant contributions of the Indian community, w hich has played a cruc ial role in shaping and sustaining the UK s healthcare system

Today, Indian-origin professionals make up a substantial portion of the NHS workforce, from frontline workers to senior consultants and administrators Their dedication and service have been instrumental in ensuring the NHS remains a cornerstone of the UK's public health

As we commemorate the Indian Independence Day, Indian doctors spoke to Asian Voice about the contribution, influencing the diversity and inclusion policies within the NHS and much more NHS has become mor e inclusive over the p ast 20 to 25 year s

often given to those who have trained in the UK and have a deeper understanding of the system Many Indian doctors find themselves in sub-consultant roles, where career progression can be limited While UKtrained graduates also occupy such positions, the proportion of Indian doctors in these roles is higher, highlighting the hurdles they face in advancing their careers as smoothly as their UKborn counterparts ”

New APPG to enhance UK-India relations across sectors

A n e w In d ia A ll Pa r t y P a r l ia me n t a r y G r o up

(APPG ) was la unched in the UK Par lia ment to st re ngt he n bilat era l t ies across var ious se ct ors, includin g t ra de, t echnology, hea lt hca re , a nd e duca tion

The launch was celebrate

n Summer” event, coinciding with South Asian Heritage

M

mentary Association Room in the Houses of Parliament

APPG will be co-chaired by

B

Dr Joy deep Grover, Vice President of BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), highlighted that while Indian doctors' contributions to the NHS are wellrecognised, new arrivals often face challenges adapting to the UK healthcare system He said, “The initial few months to a couple of years can be particularly difficult, as these doctors navigate cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliar protocols

During this phase, some may struggle to fully grasp the system, occasionally leading to difficulties Additionally, the path to becoming an independent practitioner can be more challenging for Indian doctors, as preference is

which represented a seminal moment in the influx of doctors from South Asia This was the health minister Enoch Powell's call to bolster the workforce which was clearly understaffed and struggling at the frontline in primary and secondary care and without them, the Health Service would have collapsed By 1971, 31% of all doctors in the NHS were educated abroad and as per current numbers nearly 61000 Indian healthcare workers in the NHS ”

Profe ssor Mala Ra o CBE, Clinical senior

tionship even more significant for the UK

C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r S o u t h Asia in India, maintaining s t r o n g l i n k s a n d r e g u l a r contact Whenever the UK H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r v i s i t s India, they will engage with t h e A P P G , m e e t i n g

developments The success of our efforts will be evident in the level of engagement we foster A key focus will be assisting with the completion of the UK-India Free T

) , which has been under negotiation since January 2022,

President Speaking to Asian Voice, Lord Karan Bilimoria discusses co-founding APPG India, engaging with stakeh o l d e r s s u c h a s g o v e r nments, businesses and much more

Wha t motiv ate d you to cof ou n d t h e n e w In d i a A ll Pa rt y Pa rliame nt ar y G roup (APPG ), an d wha t ar e your pr im ary goa ls for t his initiat iv e?

A f e w y e a r s a g o , w e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e U K - I n d i a

T r a d e a n d I n v e s t m e n t

APPG However, we recently decided to consolidate these efforts into a single APPG

f o r I n d i a , c o v e r i n g e v e r y aspect of the bilateral relat i o n s h i p , i n c l u d i n g t r a d e ,

b u s i n e s s , i n v e s t m e n t , c u l -

t u r e , m i g r a t i o n , s e c u r i t y , education, and health With India emerging as a global s u p e r p o w e r , t h e w o r l d ' s fastest-growing major econo m y , t h e m o s t p o p u l o u s country, and soon to be the third-largest economy, it is crucial for the UK to priorit i s e i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

India This APPG will play a vital role in fostering and strengthening ties across all these areas, promoting closer collaboration between our p a r l i a m e n t s a n d g o v e r nments In my prediction, by 2 0 6 0 , I n d i a i s p o i s e d t o become the world's largest economy, making this rela-

Speaking about the presence of Indian healthcare professionals influencing the diversity and inclusion policies within the NHS, he said, “The NHS has become more inclusive over the past 20 to 25 years When I first arrived two decades ago, Indian doctors faced barriers to employment and career progression in some hospitals However, significant improvements in the last decade, driven by organisations like BAPIO, have made diversity and inclusion central themes within the NHS Today, every NHS hospital has strong EDI policies and forums for discussing issues related to various faiths and origins Active mentorship programs support diverse backgrounds, and cultural recognition has expanded to include celebrations like Diwali, Eid, Onam, and contributions from other regions ” P erce nta ge of India n w orkf orce in NHS ha ve stea dily grow n Deputy Medical Director for North East Essex ICB, Dr U A T anv ir A lam emphasised that the percentage of Indian workforce grew over the years He said, “The percentage of Indian workforce has steadily grown over the years with incremental growth from the 60s

fellow in the department of primary care at Imperial College London underscored about the role of Indian healthcare professionals evolving within the NHS She said, “Their numbers are likely to increase in the short and longer term With substantial representation in the workforce, perhaps their leadership potential will be better utilised But I also hope that other types of bias and power imbalances do not replace the current situation My hope is that Indian origin leaders put leadership opportunities to best use in enhancing inclusivity and giving everyone, especially the least well represented communities, health issues and staff a voice ”

Speaking about the contributions of Indian healthcare professionals are adequately recognised within the NHS and broader UK society, she said, “They continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles and do not feel as empowered and confident as they should - the experience of Indian origin doctors in the pandemic illustrated this And they are very poorly represented in health research academia ”

How do you plan to e nga ge with st ake hold ers from both g o v e r n me n t s , b u si n e s se s , an d a ca demic instit utions to a chi ev e t he A PPG ’ s obj ectiv es? I refer to governments at both the national and subnational levels In the UK, this i n c l u d e s t h e d e v o l v e d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s a n d t h e mayors of various regions and cities Similarly, in India, it encompasses the governments of all the states and union territories The APPG will host a regular series of events in Parliament, serving as the primary point of contact for every visiting delegat i o n f r o m I n d i a w h e t h e r ministerial, state, or business As a cross-party group w i t h m e m b e r s f r o m t h e House of Commons, House of Lords, and independent c r o s s b e n c h e r s l i k e m y s e l f , the APPG will facilitate these interactions, enabling visiti n g d e l e g a t i o n s t o e n g a g e w i t h p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s i n

W e s t m i n s t e r T h i s w i l l enhance our understanding and engagement with India

A d d i t i o n a l l y , w e w i l l l e a d parliamentary delegations to India

How will the APPG mea sure i t s s ucc e ss a n d im p a ct i n prom ot ing the bilat era l re lat io n sh ip be t we e n t h e t wo countr ies?

W e w i l l w o r k c l o s e l y w i t h t h e I n d i a n H i g h Commissioner in the UK, the Deputy High Commis s i o n e r s , a n d t h e T r a d e

rounds of negotiations, we are now nearing the conclusion of the FTA, and the APPG will actively support its finalisation Beyond that,

ensuring the FTA is fully implemented and utilised by businesses and all sectors of the economy to maximise its benefits Wh at are your hop

for

on U KInd ia relations ov er the next few years?

As the primary parliam

n t a r y o r g

n focused on UK-India relations, the APPG is uniquely positioned to serve as the central point for strengthening ties between our two countries It is crucial for our parliamentarians to be deeply engaged with India, both in Parliament and in their constituencies, where they can promote the UKIndia relationship and highlight the vast opportunities

stands at approximately £39 billion, but we should aim to

The APPG will play

their changing world The story takes a dramatic turn when Naz is promised to a

tailor in Rawalpindi, leading to a profound and challenging crossroads for both T h e p l a y , w r i t t e n b y Guleraana Mir and Afshan D’souza-Lodhi and directed b y M a d e l a i n e M o o r e , explores themes of friends h i p , i d e n t i t y , a n d t h e impact of historical events on personal lives The production contributes to discussions about the postcolonial legacy and offers a fresh

friendship and coming of age ‘

Fringe after winning the Charlie Hartill Fund in 2023 Guleraana Mir, co-writer of the play, commented, “Santi & Naz captures joyous moments while shedding light on a pivotal part o f B r i t i s h h i s t o r y t h a t i s rarely depicted on stage It resonates with anyone who has felt powerless in their circumstances and speaks to friends, lovers, families, and t h o s e

Partition of India ”

Dr Joydeep Grover

Dr U A Tanvir Alam

Professor Mala Rao CBE

Lord Karan Bilimoria

Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific

Dr Mohan Kumar,

Former Indian Ambassador to France, Dean/Professor at O P Jindal Global University

I n 1 8 9 0 , C ap ta i n A lf red

T hayer M ah an, a lecturer in naval histo ry and the presid ent of th e U nited States

N av a l W ar C o l le g e, p u blished ‘ The Influence of S ea P ower upon History, 1660–

1 78 3 ’ M ah a n a rg u e d t h at British contro l of the seas, com bined with th e decline in th e nav al strength of its m ajo r European rivals p av ed the way for Great Britain’s e m erg e nc e a s t h e w o rl d ’ s d ominant military, political, and econom ic p ower

Mahan and some lead-

i n g A m e r i c a n p o l i t i c i a n s believed that these lessons could be applied to US foreign policy, particularly in the quest to expand US markets overseas The United States of America considers itself a maritime power and,

m o r e r e c e n t l y , a n I n d oPacific nation The concept of the Indo-Pacific was first e n u n c i a t e d b y t h e l a t e Japanese leader Shinzo Abe in August 2007 In a speech to the Indian Parliament, he said: "We are now at a point at which the Confluence of the Two Seas is coming into being The Pacific and the I n d i a n O c e a n s a r e n o w bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of prosperity " Building on the informal cooperation

b e t w e e n t h e U S , J a p a n , India, and Australia during the Tsunami that hit Asia in 2004, a quadrilateral security dialogue (Quad) was suggested by Abe

But by 2008, the initial enthusiasm wore off, with b o t h A u s t r a l i a a n d I n d i a e x p r e s s i n g r e l u c t a n c e I t took until March 2018 for the Quad to be institutionalized Geopolitics was evident when, in one of the f i r s t r e a c t i o n s t o t h i s r e n e

M i n i s t e r Wang Yi said it was a “headl i n e - g r a b b i n g ” i d e a t h a t w o u l d “ d i s s i p a t e l i k e s e a foam ” However, the Quad is here to stay and has gone from strength to strength, much to the angst of China

T h e I n d o - P a c i f i c i s i m p o r t a n t f o r d e m o c r a t i c c o u n t r i e s t h a t b e l i e v e i n keeping sea lines of communication open and advocate

a r u l e s - b a s e d m a r i t i m e

order The region is home to more than half the world’s population, accounts for 60 percent of global GDP, and t w o - t h i r d s o f g l o b a l e c onomic growth

Abe’s genius lay in enunciating an integral view of both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, arguing that maritime security is indivisible a n d i n a l i e n a b l e F o r t h e United States, Australia, and Japan, the Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest and deepest, covering more than 30 percent of the Earth’s surface The sheer economic importance of this in the form of minerals, oil & gas, and fishing grounds cannot be overstated It also matters because of climate and food

s e c u r i t y E q u a l l y , f r o m a g e o p o l i t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e , China wants the US out of the Pacific so it can call the shots there

China views the US as an extraneous power that has n o b u s i n e s s b e i n g i n t h e Pacific, which it considers its own backyard The US, on the other hand, considers itself an Indo-Pacific power and recognizes the region as vital to its security and prosp e r i t y T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a s e x p r e s s e d d e t e r m i n ation to strengthen its longterm position in and commitment to the Indo-Pacific With this in mind, the US intends to focus on every corner of the region, from N o r t h e a s t A s i a a n d Southeast Asia to South Asia and Oceania, including the Pacific Islands In a quickly

c h a n g i n g s t r a t e g i c l a n ds c a p e , t h e U n

S t a t e s b

v e s i t s i n

e

s t s c a n only be advanced if it firmly anchors itself in the IndoPacific and strengthens the region alongside its closest allies and partners

I n d i a d e c i d i n g t o j o i n and work with Quad countries is a strategic move of great import It can even be d e s c r i b e d a s t h e m o s t important geopolitical strategy of India since the end of

the Cold War The reason f o r t h i s i m p o r t a n t m o v e must first and foremost be traced to China’s aggressive designs in the region China believes it is entitled to a permanent maritime presence in the Indian Ocean T h i s d a t e s b a c k t o 2 0 0 8

China believes that while it is called the “Indian Ocean,”

i t i s c e r t a i n l y n o t I n d i a ’ s Ocean! However, it does not admit the same logic when it comes to the South China or East China Sea

For India, there is a twin challenge posed by China: one which is maritime and the other which is continen-

t a l I n d i a c a n n o t a l l o w either the Indian Ocean or the Himalayas to be dominated by China India knows t h a t i n t h e H

must bear the cross all by itself In the Indian Ocean, however, India is enlisting help from its partners and friends and has decided on a series of plurilateral or minilateral groupings to counter China This is based on the sober assessment of a signif-

l between China and India

India is aware that the US and its Western allies are more focused on the Pacific This has led India to undertake several initiatives of its own in the Indian Ocean

Symposium, which seeks to enhance maritime coopera-

states of the Indian Ocean region; SAGAR, or Security and Growth for All in the

Security Conclave, involving India, Sri Lanka, Maldives,

Information Fusion CentreIndian Ocean Region, which enhances efforts to combat maritime security threats

Finally, India is part of the Indo-Pacific Partnership

Awareness (IPMDA), a Quad initiative that aims to offer

tive awareness to its members so they can fully moni-

shores

All this is to say that geopolitics will continue to drive the strategy of differ-

region

Flag hoisting vs unfurling: India's independence and Republic Day customs

A s india celebrates ind ep end ence day, a key tradition is the hoisting , not unfurling, o f th e I nd i an f lag te rm s o ften confused , but rep resenting distinct p ractices

The difference between flag hoisting and unfurling lies in their positioning On Independence Day, the tric o l o u r i s r a i s e d f

from colonial rule This

Call for better teaching of Indian independence at British schools

T he teach ing and p erception of Indian Independ ence in British schools present a com plex and ev olv ing narrative Histo rically, th is crucial event has been underrepres ented in the cu rric ulu m , resulting in a limited unders tand in g am o ng st ud ents , es pec ially tho se of Ind i an heritag e A

Indian Independence Day, experts share their insights with Asian Voice on the current approach to teaching

British schools, the import

Partition, and related issues

approach to the teaching of Indian Independence within the broader context of the B r i t i s h E m p i r e S h e s a i d ,

“Indian Independence and the British Empire is a historical topic that schools can choose to teach but it is not a c o m p u l s o r y

are now teaching the British E m p i r e w i t h t h e s t o r y o f

Indian Independence as part of that, but it’s not something that has historically been part of many school h i s t o r y c u r r i c u l a F o r t h e p a s t 1 5 y e a r s , I v e t a u g h t

Indian history starting with Mughal India to give students context before British r u l e U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e

M u g h a l d e c l i n e h e l p s explain the rise of the East India Company I focus on

1 8 5 7 a n d f i g u r e s l i k e t h e Rani of Jhansi to engage stud e n t s i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r freedom ”

Speaking about Indian Independence needs more depth and diverse perspectives in British schools for a balanced understanding, she said, “One of the key reasons w h y m a n y s c h o o l s w o n ’ t teach Indian Independence is because of lack of specific s u b j e c t k n o w l e d g e f r o m teachers about this context This is one of the reasons I wrote about it in my book The History Lessons - this is

part of Britain's shared history with India but is misunderstood and oversimplified often This is why I consulted the textbook ‘The British

E m p i r e ( D e p t h S t u d y ) ’ b y

O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

T h e c h

Independence and Partition helps teachers present this history in a balanced and c o m p r e h e n s i v e w a y I ' m proud that the book's cover, which I designed, features k e y f i g u r e s G a n d h i a n d Sarojini Naidu ”

S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e

Partition Group, Chair of Partition Education Group R aj U ns w o rt h s a i d , “Academies aren't required to follow the national curr i c u l u m , o f t e n f o c u s i n g instead on Ofsted's expectations Also they need to say the majority of schools in England, especially secondaries are academies With B r i d g e t P h i l l i p s o n a s t h e new Secretary of State for E d u c a t i o n , t h e r e ’ s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e v i s e t h e curriculum and potentially include academies This is particularly important for teaching Partition, a crucial y e t o v e r l o o k e d t o p i c M y p e r s o n a l c o n n e c t i o n t o P a r t i t i o n b e g a n w h e n I

a t t e n d e d a H o u s e o f Commons gathering after r e s p o n d i n g t o D r B i

rscored the need for better education on South Asian contributions and history The goal is to influence the n a t i o n a l c u r r i c u l u m t o ensure future generations grasp this vital part of history ” S p e a k i n

“Partition is a crucial part of history that children, young people, and even adults need to understand, especially for a s

n s e o f i d

y a n d belonging The partition of 1947 led to the creation of two separate nations, India and Pakistan, marking the end of British rule in the Indian subcontinent It’s not about changing the past we can't do that but about educating people to better understand how Britain has b

y This understanding should be taught in both primary a n d s e c o n

grasp of its impact ”

“It's important for children to understand the hist o r y o f I n d

how it was established and the key figures involved, like Gandhi and Nehru In secondary school, this can be explored in more detail, but a

focus should be on teaching empathy Children need to learn that no one is superior because of their skin colour or appearance; we are all

respect It s crucial to start this education early, teaching young people that differences in looks or hairstyles, like Afro hair, don’t define a person's worth By instilling these values, we help build

Communities celebrating Indian independence day in the UK

Indian d iaspora and m any c u ltu r al o rg a ni s ati o ns across the UK are g earing up to c el eb rat e I nd ia n Ind ep end ence D ay w ith a series o f v ibrant events and activities

Namaste Village, a family-owned restaurant chain, i s

m t h e bottom of the pole by the P r i m e M i n i s t e r O n Republic Day, it is already positioned at the top, folded, and then unfurled by the President On Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoists the flag from the bottom of t

In contrast, on Republic Day, the President unfurls the flag, which remains tied at the top of the flagpole Without raising it, the flag is

Constitution in 1950 This

includes a military or civilian honour guard raising the flag as the national anthem is played, embodying patriotism and the birth of a new nation

commitment to the princi-

India's transition from colo-

democratic republic

T h e s e c e l e b r a t i o n s , organised by Indian diaspor a g r o u p s , w i l l h i g h l i g h t India's rich heritage and history through cultural performances, flag hoisting cere m o n i e s , a n d c o m m u n i t y gatherings From London to Leicester, the festivities aim to bring together communit i e s , f o s t e r i n g a s e n s e o f pride and unity while commemorating India s journey to independence

i e s across its various locations, i n c l u d i n g N o r w i c h , C a m b r i d g e , L o n d o n ( I s l i n g t o n ) , S o u t h e n d -

Cultural Society Brighton, i n c

High Commission of India, is celebrating the occasion on 24 August at the Navnat Centre In London, the Indian d

Tiranga Yatra from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, featuring

Raj Unsworth Shalina Patel

Dr Mohan Kumar

Indian businesses transforming UK trade and investment

Anusha Singh

Arbinder Ch atwal has over 1 5 years of experience ad vising a d iverse rang e o f organisations, fro m hi-tech startups and spin-outs to larg e m ultinatio nal com panies reporting under IFRS and U S GAA P

With a background in auditing and as a Financial Controller in industry, Arbinder is actively involved with BDO International as a partner and sits on the firm's UK governance board, leading the India Advisory Services team He has guided numerous businesses on their international expansion strategies and has served as an advisor on several Trade Missions, including the 2015 London Mayoral mission to Boston and New York He has provided counsel to Audit Committees of both public and private entities, including international groups His notable clients include Genpact (Delhi), Ashok Leyland (Chennai), and Hero Future Energies (Delhi)

For the newsweekly’s Independence Day feature, Arbinder discusses the impact of Indian businesses in the UK, policies in place to help them and shares his advice for startups

Whatimpact do Indian businesses have on the UK economy, and what do you think is the most promising sector for them to invest in?

The impact of Indian businesses on the UK economy is significant and growing and one key aspect is the collaboration in research and development between the two nations

The UK is home to some of the world’s leading research facilities and educational institutions, and many university spinouts are partnering with Indian companies This collaboration often involves developing technology in the UK and then moving to manufacturing in India, creating a robust pipeline from R&D to production

The technology sector, in particular, presents substantial opportunities Whether it's media tech, health tech, or other areas, the integration of UK and

Indian expertise in technology is highly promising Over the past 20 years, India’s role has evolved from being a lower-cost manufacturing hub to a more advanced player in the global supply chain For instance, in the aerospace and defence sectors, India is now involved in more sophisticated roles than just subassembly

Asbusinesses and international relations evolve rapidly, what advice would you give to Indian startups and businesses trying to make their mark?

For Indian businesses entering the UK, it’s essential to be clear about their unique selling proposition (USP) The UK market is saturated, challenging, and expensive, so thorough research is vital before making the move Despite significant challenges like compliance issues and high costs, succeeding in India's vast and diverse market can prepare you for success elsewhere If you identify a niche for your product or technology, assess it carefully Once committed, seek partnerships and financial support Resources like the Indian High Commission and accelerator programs such as FICCI's Tech Exchange can be invaluable Additionally, initiatives like Santander's Navigator Program and the UK’s R&D tax credits offer significant advantages However, thorough research is crucial, and having an exit plan before entering the market is essential to manage regulatory and taxation issues when repatriating funds

AsIndia celebrates its Independence Day, what message do you have for the country and, specifically, for Indian businesses?

We are a very young nation, still experiencing our growing pains, but we have much to be proud of To illustrate, consider the recent Cricket World Cup The euphoria of our victory contrasts sharply with the despair of losing the final against Australia on home soil just a few months earlier Within months, we turned that around with a victory against South Africa This reflects our passion and resilience As a young nation, we should embrace our enthusiasm and not lose our sense of wonder Our diversity from the North to the South of India is a tremendous strength, and nothing epitomises this better than sport While challenges persist our unity and diversity should be celebrated as our greatest assets So, let’s continue to focus on our strengths, celebrate our diversity, and harness that unity as we move forward

Desi values, global impact: Poonam Gupta's business philosophy

between Scotland and India, P o o

e r s T a s

Force to India in 2019 She has been recognised as one of the '100 Most Influential in UK-India Relations' by the India Inc Group and currently serves as Chair of the U K I n d i a M a n u f a c t u r i n g Council, FICCI, the largest a n d o l d e s t a p e x b u s i n e s s organisation in India

F o r t h e A s i a n V o i c e Independence Day feature, she discusses the inspiration behind establishing the firm and Indian businesses in the UK

C o u ld y o u d e s cr i be y ou r v isio n fo r est a blishi ng t he PG Pa per C ompan y? W hat wa s the initia l process lik e, a nd how d id you put eve ryt hin g t oget her in t hose e arly da ys?

Initially, my goal was to c r e a t e a j o b f o r m y s e l f I wanted to establish employm e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r myself and, beyond that, to build an international business I was passionate about w o r k i n g w i t h d i f f e r e n t countries, finding it exciting to meet people from around the world and embrace the challenges that come with it I believed that creating an i n t e r n a t i o n a l b u s i n e s s w o u l d o f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r g r o w t h and expansion

How will you de scr ibe the e v o l ut i o n o f In d ia n b us in esse s in the UK?

I believe the Indian diaspora has always been except i o n a l l y e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l , a trait we seem to carry in our genes I take great pleasure

in seeing not only many succ e s s f u l e n t r e p r e n e u r s a n d startups in this space but also the increasing number o f I n d i a n w o m e n s t a r t i n g their own businesses It truly makes me happy to witness this growth and diversity

Wha t challe nge s do Ind ia n bu s in e ss e s g e n e r a l ly e n coun t er w he n est a blishing t hemselve s in t he UK?

Starting a business in the UK can be challenging, especially if you're new to the c o u n t r y I t ’ s n o t a l w a y s s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d t o s e t u p , and basic tasks, like opening a bank account, can be diffic u l t A d d i t i o n a l l y , u n d e rs t a n d i n g t h e l o c a l c u l t u r e and navigating the complex l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s c a n pose significant challenges

While grasping these rules is crucial for any business, it’s more about understanding than facing bias Overall, I find the UK to be a very i n c l u s i v e s o c i e t y , w h e r e businesses are generally not discriminated against based on their country of origin

Ar e ther e any spe cific policies tha t you find p art icularly helpful?

There are several government incentives and organisations that provide valuable s u p p o r t f o r s t a r t u p s a n d g r o w i n g b u s i n e s s e s F o r i n s t a n c e , i n S c o t l a n d , S c o t t i s h E n t e r p r i s e a n d

Business Gateway are particu l a r l y h e l p f u l B u s i n e s s Gateway assists with the initial stages of a business journ e y , w h i l e S c o t t i s h Enterprise supports expansion and scaling up once certain milestones are achieved

They also provide essential information and resources Additionally, for businesses looking to enter international markets, the Department for Business and Trade offers excellent support and guidance How do you see your he ritage inf luenc ing your work ethic ? Are there specific values or princ iple s that guide your day-t o-day wor k l if e? I carry many "desi" values w i t h m e a n d r e m a i n v e r y connected to my roots For example, I believe in saving and spending less, a principle I inherited from my parents India teaches you not to limit your ambition, and I hold onto that mindset Respect t o w a r d y o u r s u p p l y c h a i n , c u s t o m

even friends and family is crucial Being respectful to t h

c o m m u n i t y a n d t h o s e you work with, along with m a i n t a i n

mental to my approach How do you see the indus try evolving over the next f ew years ?

both exciting and challenging Globally, political tensions are impacting businesses and individuals, which is

, t h e rapid advancement in technology such as

looking forward to businesses leveraging evolving technologies to their advantage

Arbinder Chatwal

Dr Poonam G

Speech by Indian High Commissioner HE Vikram Doraiswami as Councillor Daryl Brown, Subhanu Saxena and Surekha Mehta look on

Bridging tradition and innovation through South Asian arts

K e r a n j e e t Ka u r V ir d e e M BE is t h e

dy na mic C EO an d Ar tistic Dire ctor of Sout h Asian Arts-uk (SAA-uk), a pion eer ing orga nisation de dica te d to prom otin g an d p re ser v ing Sout h A sia n a rts an d cultur e in the U K

Her leadership is marked by a deep commitment to cultural education and inclusivity, ensuring that the richness of South Asian heritage is accessible to diverse audiences

In an interview with Asian Voice, Keranjeet discusses the vision behind South Asian Arts-uk, common misconceptions about art and more C ould y ou s ha r e t he v isi on beh in d Sout h Asian Arts-uk and how it a ims to e n rich p eo ple's live s t hr ough Sout h Asian music an d dan ce ?

F o u n d e d i n 1 9 9 7 b y U s t a d

D h a r a m b i r S i n g h M B E , t h e L e e d s

Center for Indian Music and Dance, now known as SAA-uk, was established to serve the growing South Asian diaspora in Leeds and Yorkshire I joined the organisation in December 1998, drawn by a personal passion for understanding and exploring our cultural arts, including music, dance, and poetry Having grown up in the UK with a Punjabi Sikh heritage, I experienced a dual identity, balancing my cultural background with Western influences

Working at SAA-uk allowed me to merge these worlds and deepen my appreciation for how art can express and preserve culture Through my journey with SAA-uk, I’ve learned the profound role art plays in expressing identity and heritage Initially seen as mere entertainment, art requires significant training and dedication My goal has always been to help each generation from the South

A s i a n d i a s p o r a f e e l c o n f i d e n t a n d proud of their cultural identity SAAuk uses art as a vehicle for self-expression and storytelling, making culturally relevant art accessible to everyone As the South Asian population in Leeds has grown, there’s an increasing need for such art to be available and appreciated by all, reflecting the rich diversity of our community

What ar e some common misconce ptions a bout South A sia n a rts that you encount er , an d how doe s your or gan isa tion a ddre ss th em?

L i k e m a n y a r t f o r m s , c l a s s i

music and dance often face barriers to wider appreciation, especially within the South Asian community These

elitism and the belief that classical arts a r e i

assumption that these forms are "bor-

ing" or "not for us" discourages engagement Social and financial constraints, e s p e c i a l l y

lenged families, further push the arts aside in favour of academic achievements

Parents often prioritise academics over arts education, viewing the latter as secondary To address this, highlighting the holistic benefits of arts

, offering bursaries and discounts to remove financial barriers and encourage participation by connecting arts to cultural heritage

The message to parents is clear: arts education is not just enrichment; it develops vital skills like memory, discipline, and leadership, crucial for academic and professional success We work to dispel the myth that classical arts are elitist or impractical by highlighting diverse career opportunitiesfrom sound engineering to costume design and showcasing role models who have turned their arts education into successful careers Our goal is to ensure the next generation appreciates and sustains these art forms, recognising both their cultural value and the wide range of opportunities they offer Why is it e sse nt ia l for future gen er ation s to con ne ct with an d un der st an d India n classical music a nd dan ce , an d how doe s Sout h Asian Ar ts-UK facilita te t his conn ection?

I believe that classical traditions provide a strong foundation and a sense of identity and belonging Living in the UK, whether we've travelled here or were born here, we have every right to call this place home Historically, the UK is an implosion of colonial-

colonised the world, it’s now drawing people from those very places Our forefathers fought in both World Wars for freedom and against oppression It's vital for young people to find a creative outlet whether writing, visual arts, or performing arts that connects them to their heritage and helps them feel whole I spent years navigating two worlds, but through the arts, I e m b r a c e d m y i

l practices without apology My aim is for the next generation to be confident in who they are and to respect and a c c e p t o t h e r s , s e c u r e i n t h

identity

Nalanda: The earliestknown university

Prof Benoy K Behl, Art Historian, Filmmaker, and Photographer

At the ancient university of Nala nda, t he re was a spirit of vibran t inte ll ect ual t hought, discussion, and debat e The ma ny acharya s, or lea rned pr

dreds of works on philosophy , meta physics, psychol ogy, l ogic, medicin e, astr ol ogy, arts, liter ature, and other subjects

The study focused on life itself and reality, based on u n s h

pursuit of truth, analysing qualities leading to enlightenment through knowledge and creating a logical path to true and lasting awareness

N a l a n d a w a s t h e e a r l i e s tknown great university and was at the apex of a consort i u m o f u n i v e r s i t i e s i n ancient and early medieval South and Southeast Asia

T h e c o n s o r t i u m i n c l u d e d

V i k r a m s h i l a , O d a n t a p u r i ,

S o m a v i h a r a P a h a r p u r , S u m a t r a I n d o n e s i a , Takshashila, and Palkh (now in Afghanistan) It is amazing that such study and sharing of universal knowledge

t o o k p l a c e i n t h e F i r s t Millennium

T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f India is making efforts to r e v i v e t h e r e a l l e g a c y o f N a l a n d a , s h o w c a s i n g t h e value of this tradition and its c o n t r i b u t i o n t o g l o b a l knowledge The comparative study of the Nalanda tradition and modern science can uplift our civilisation

The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the new c a m p u s o f N a l a n d a University, an international u n i v e r s i t y , c l o s e t o t h e ancient ruins in Bihar, on 19 June 2024 Established as an “international institution for pursuit of intellectual, philo-

sophical, historical, and spiritual studies,” the modern Nalanda University was significantly promoted under t h

ancient Nalanda's eminence This international uni-

from 17 nations: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei

Mauritius, Myanmar, New

Singapore, South Korea, Sri

students and provides Post Graduate, Doctoral research courses, and short-term certificate courses It has six

& Comparative

Environmental Studies; the

Management; the School of Languages and Literature;

International Relations and Peace Studies (yet to com-

capacity of 300,000 books, serving up to 3,000 users, is scheduled to be completed by September 2024

and Odantpuri, located in

Nalanda was

hub where pilgrims and scholars came from all corners of Asia It was visited by the Buddha

r Ashoka is believed to have made offerings and erected a temple there in the 3rd century BCE

Colonial encounters: Sophia Duleep Singh takes the stage

Li ve perform ances will tak e pla ce daily throughout A ugust to celeb rate the li ves and stori es of notable f igures from the Palace's hi story

This year ’ s program will introduce new stories, including those of Sophia Duleep Singh, Arabella Hunt, and Diego the Circumnavigator One of the highlights is a compelling performance featuring an imagined dialogue between Sophia Duleep Singh and her godmother, Queen Victoria, where Singh, a fervent advocate for women ’ s rights, challenges the Queen on the issue of women ’ s suffrage Satinder, the writer behind this performance, expressed her excitement about joining the project She shared, “I had been working on a play proposal about Jindan Kaur, Duleep Singh, and Sophia, so this opportunity felt like a

perfect fit It allowed me to explore the dramatic aspects of their lives ” Satinder noted, “Initially, I relied on Anita Anand's biography, which is considered the definitive work on Sophia I had already conducted extensive research for another project, so the challenge was to condense this information into a 15minute play I chose to focus on the iconic photograph of Sophia selling Suffragette

newspapers at Hampton Court and decided to incorporate Queen Victoria into the performance due to their intriguing relationship ” She feels that he opportunity to tell these stories in such a significant space is truly special “This space, with its deep historical connections between Britain and India, provides a vital platform for these stories to be told authentically rather than being submerged by

traditional narratives It’s important to confront and discuss these historical conflicts, as they are integral to understanding our shared history”, she said

Director Trina Haldar added, “I first encountered Sophia's story in 2012 and was captivated by the dramatic details of her life The challenge was to present this rich history in a way that resonates with today’s audience within the beautiful setting of

Hampton Court Palace ”

“Our aim was to provide sufficient historical context without overwhelming viewers, especially since many may not be familiar with these stories unless they actively seek them out

Collaborating with a talented team to bring these two remarkable women to life has been truly rewarding ” Suzanne, the Creative Producer at Historic Royal Palaces shared her hopes for what the audience takes away from the performance stating, “There are countless other individuals who were part of the court workers, visitors, and others whose stories are not as well known Our goal is to shed light on these lesserknown figures and allow visitors to connect with them, perhaps finding a piece of themselves in their stories and feeling inspired

to learn more ” Trina, on the other hand, finds it rewarding to observe the diverse reactions of the audience to the performances, which are crafted to engage both knowledgeable viewers and those new to the stories

She is particularly moved by the empathy and reflection these stories evoke, especially regarding women's history The opportunity to imagine lost narratives, like those of Sophia, allows for personal reflection and envisioning a better world and she is excited by the potential impact on young visitors and what they might gain from the experience This engaging performance offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of personal conviction and political struggle through the lens of one of history’s remarkable women

Keranjeet Kaur Virdee with SAA-uk's Founder, Dharambir Singh MBE

Actress playing Sophia Duleep Singh

Actress playing Queen Victoria

held a 24 5% stake in BT,

Mittal purchased the entire stake, valued at £3 2 billion at the closing price, marking his largest investment in the UK and a dramatic reversal in fortunes

From 1997 to 2001, BT owned a 21% stake in Mittal's N e w D e

s e d t

i r m , w h i c h h

s s i n c e evolved into the $100 billion giant Bharti Airtel "It’s a bit of a role reversal," remarked a Bharti executive following

t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t o f t h e recent deal

“ I t ’ s a s i g n i f i c a n t

a c q u i s i t i o n h a d i t b e e n smaller, we wouldn’t have

b e e n i n t e r e s t e d , ” M i t t a l noted, highlighting the long-

investment He mentioned

including every CEO since 2001 Bharti Enterprises, he s

b y Altice “in the past couple of w e e k s ” W i t h t h e F r e n c h

company working to reduce its $60 billion debt, “ we were eager to engage and did so

added

India and Africa, it leverages his existing UK connections B

satellite firm OneWeb and prestigious hotels like The Hoxton and Gleneagles, is also involved in the FTSE

1

telecom business

“It’s a sector he’s familiar

global reach outside of India a

noted a source familiar with

confidence in the company is bolstered by long-standing familiarity

reflects the broader trend of increasing Indian corporate investment in the UK India

direct investment in Britain,

billion in revenue, up from 900 in 2022, according to the UK India Business Council

These investments come as New Delhi and the new

London seek to revive stalled free trade talks UK Foreign

S

visited India last month to resume negotiations, which h

elections in both countries India aims to secure broader market access for its goods,

ease restrictions on Indian workers and students in the UK

acquisitions, such as his 2021 deal to become the largest

rescuing the space-internet

acquire 10% of Altice’s stake,

clearance

Dear

Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

investments, are based The 66-year-old billionaire, with

o m K i n g Charles III earlier this year for his contributions to UKIndia relations

Combined pension funds to boost UK investment

T h e UK g ov e r n m e n t i s

a iming to adopt a " Ca nadian

m o de l " b y c on so l i d a t in g

n u m e r ou s sm a l l e r l o ca l

g o v e r n me n t p e n si on schemes, which col le ctive ly

m a n a g e £ 3 6 0 b i l l i o n , t o

b oo st i nv e s t me n t a n d stimulate e conomic growth

C h a n c e l l o r R a c h e l Reeves met with leaders of Canada’s Maple 8 pension funds some of the largest in the world as she advocates

f o r U K p e n

Like her predecessor Jeremy H

encourage the consolidation

t schemes managed by local authorities

The goal is to pool their resources and invest more effectively in UK companies and infrastructure projects Reeves told a group of Wall Street investors that Labour has "big plans" to revamp the UK’s investment landscape, including planning reforms and leveraging the pension

system to unlock long-term capital for investing in UK equities and infrastructure

The government believes

higher returns for taxpayers

requiring pension funds to invest a specific portion of their resources into riskier UK stocks or assets The size o f C

m t o invest significantly more in productive assets like vital infrastructure than ours do," Reeves stated "I want British schemes to learn from the Canadian model and ignite the UK economy, delivering better returns for savers and unlocking billions of pounds in investment "

British Business Bank returns to deficit

The s tate-owned Br itish Bus ines s Bank re p or t e d a l os s f or th e s e c o nd cons ec ut ive yea r, drive n b y dec lining va luat ions of private companies

T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s e c o n o m i c development agency posted a loss of £ 1 2 2 m i l l i o n f o r t h e y e a r e n d i n g i n March, following a £135 million loss the p r e v i o u s y e a r , r e f l e c t i n g a b r o a d e r downturn in private equity markets

Louis Taylor, the bank’s chief executive, explained that these unrealised losses represented “short-term falls in the book

b o o m T a y l o r n o t e d t h a t t h e d i p i n valuations affecting the venture capital industry appeared to be “tailing off ” He remarked, “If you’d offered us these numbers last year, we would have taken them ” D a v i d H o u r i c a n , t h e b a n

financial officer, emphasised that the bank was “not in the harvesting period” for most of its investments, while Taylor expressed o p t i m i s m t h a t t

v a l u a t i o n o f l o n g - t e r m i n v e s t m e n t s , rather than actual cash losses ” In contrast, the bank had recorded a profit of £453 million in 2022, bolstered by a surge in the value of its portfolio during the pandemic-fuelled tech stock

T he UK g overnment is set to introd uce a law i n 2 0 2 5 a im ed at reg ul at in g p rov iders of Environm ental, Social, and G o v er na nc e ( ES G

finance landscape

Spearheaded by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, this initiative addresses m

transparency and reliability of ESG ratings, which are critical in steering billions of dollars into sustainabilityfocused investments “Rachel Reeves has instructed the Treasury to swiftly respond to an industry consultation on a new regulatory regime for ESG rating p r o v

legislation next year,

announced the

highlighted its positive impact, noting in its report that its work in 2023 is expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs

economy The bank is also considering

support fast-growing private companies Despite the

investor enthusiasm for these plans remains strong

eventually “ more than double our money ” The British Business Bank, which supports debt and equity investments in small and medium-sized enterprises,

UK aims for sustainable finance leadership

UK finance ministry The proposed regulation seeks to align with recommendations from the

ensuring that ESG rating providers are transparent about their methodologies and any potential conflicts of interest U n d e r

supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), marking a significant

integration in investment strategies continues to rise

This move follows the European Union’s earlier decision to place ESG ratings providers under the oversight

of the European markets regulator,

Investment and Finance Association

regulation should help demystify these judgments, not by forcing agreement or consensus, but by illuminating how the underlying data is collected and how ratings are calculated,” said UKSIF CEO James Alexander The forthcoming law is expected to spur growth, contribute to a cleaner economy, and prevent companies in critical sectors like defence from being unfairly penalised by opaque ratings

t

Navi ga ting V olati le Markets: A Gu ide fo r Pe nsio n Fund Inve st ors to S tay Ca lm a nd Sta y th e Cour se

As if readers of this paper didn’t have enough to worry about with race riots, market volatility can be unsettling, especially for pension fund investors who h a v e w

However, staying calm and focused is crucial to protecting your long-term financial future In this article, we’ll explore how you can navigate market turbulence by understanding different types of market declines, controlling your risk appetite, embracing p a t i e n c e , a n

impulsively

Unde rstandi ng Market Vola tili ty

Market fluctuations are a natural part of investing, but it’s important to recognize that not all downturns are created equal Understanding the types of market falls can help you put things into perspective: Corre ction v s Bear Ma rke t: A market correction is typically defined as a decline of 10% or more from recent highs and is often a short-term adjustment In contrast, a bear market involves a more prolonged decline of 20% or more and can last for months or even years Both are normal and expected during the investment cycle

T empora ry v s Str uctu ral De cl ines: It’s also vital to differentiate between temporary dips driven by shortterm events, such as geopolitical tensions or interest rate hikes, and structural declines that may be rooted in deeper economic issues While temporary dips o f t e n

require more time and strategic adjustments

Asse ssing and Controlli ng Your Risk App eti te

In volatile markets, your risk tolerance can be tested However, rather than reacting emotionally, it’s essential to revisit your risk profile and ensure it aligns with your long-term investment strategy:

K now Your Risk To lera nce: Risk tolerance varies from person to person, depending on factors like age, financial situation, and investment goals If you ’ re feeling anxious during market downturns, it might be time to reassess whether your current asset allocation is appropriate for your comfort level

St ay Ali gne d with Your Goa ls: Ensure that your investment strategy matches your risk appetite and long-term goals This might mean holding steady if your portfolio is diversified and built to weather market fluctuations or making gradual adjustments rather than drastic changes

The Power of Pati ence

Patience is one of the most powerful tools in an investor’s toolkit, especially during periods of market volatility:

T hink L ong -T erm: Remember that pension fund investing is a long-term endeavor Historical data shows that markets tend to recover over time, often

keeping your focus on the future, you can avoid the pitfalls of short-term thinking

Avoi d Locking in Losses: Selling during market lows can lock in losses, turning paper losses into real ones By staying invested and giving your portfolio

rebounds

Avo id the Te mptati on to Trad e

In volatile markets, it can be tempting to make changes to your investments in response to daily market movements However, this can often do more harm than good:

T he Danger s o f Emoti onal T rad ing: Emotional decisions driven by fear or greed can lead to impulsive trading, which may result in buying high and selling low the exact opposite of a successful investment strategy Market timing is notoriously difficult, even

opportunities

T rust Your P lan: A well-diversified portfolio is designed to withstand market fluctuations Trust in the investment strategy you ’ ve set up, and resist the u

sometimes the best action is inaction, allowing your investments to work for you over time

My strategy is only to have stocks with high average upside returns and few low downside drops historically and undervalued companies with growth and good cash flows Then I decide if it is a proper bear by looking at longer term momentum of the market and that stock

Sunil Bharti Mittal

India’s forex reserves jump by $7.53 bn to hit record high of $675bn

I nd i a's fo rei g n exc h ang e ( f ore x)

reserv es ju mped by $7 533 billio n to

h it a fresh record h igh of $674 919 billion for the week ended A ugust

2 Reserv e Bank of India (RBI) data sh owed that the overall kitty had

d ro p p ed by $3 4 7 1 b il li o n t o $ 667 3 8 6 billio n in th e prev io us rep orting week end ed July 26 The p revious record hig h was $670 857 billion, reached on J uly 18

The forex reserves have been rising on and off for a long time now So far, in 2024, they have risen by about $45-50 billion on a cumulative basis The buffer of foreign exchange reserves insulates domestic economic activity from global spillovers

For the week ended August 2, foreign currency assets, a major

c o m p o n e n t o f t h

d b y $

$592 039 billion Expressed in dol-

lar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the forex reserves

$2 404 billion to $60 099 billion

Drawing Rights (SDRs) were down by $41 million to $18 161 billion In the reporting week, India's reserve position with the IMF increased by $8 million to $4 62 billion

‘’India’s robust standing

backed by strategic policy measures and vigilant monetary policy stance, have led the forex to reach a record all-time high at the level of $674 billion (as of Aug 2, 2024),'' said Sanjeev Agrawal,

Commerce and Industry

He said this will boost India's economy on a higher growth trajectory, improve its global standing, attract foreign investments, and bolster domestic trade and industry “Given the nation's sig-

reserves, the RBI will have greater flexibility in managing currency

Agrawal

Adani Enterprises plans to raise $1bn from share sale

Adani Enterprises , the fl agship of the Adani Group, pl ans to l aunc h a $1-b il lion share s ale by mid-Sept, reports s aid

The offering of existing shares will mark Adani Enterprises’ return to the capital market after it withdrew a $2 5-billion follow-on offering in Feb last year after US short seller Hindenburg Research accused the conglomerate of improper use

o

group had denied the allegations Separately, Adani Enterprises

said its chairman Gautam Adani hasn’t specified when he will step down from his current role nor when he will hand over control of the group to the next generation A week ago, group company Adani Green Solutions had raised $1 billion through the qualified instit

Adani Enterprises too plans to raise $1 billion through the QIP route In May, the board of Adani Enterprises had approved a proposal to raise £1 66 bn through the QIP route QIP is a less regulated route than a

institutions as banks and funds Through the QIP, promoters will see their stake diluted in the postequity capital of Adani Enterprises Promoters own about 75% in the flagship company of the conglomerate

Adani Energy Solutions QIP last week got bids from utility-focused U S

funds from the UAE and Qatar, and

received bids for six times as many shares as were on offer

Buchs, Sebi and Adani deny Hindenburg allegations

S e b i c ha i r p e r so n M a d ha b i P u r i

B u ch an d he r h us b a nd , D ha v a l , t rashed al legat ions of impropriety l evel le d b y H in denburg and hit out a t the short sell er for “att ack in g ” Se bi’s “ cre dib il ity” an d for att empt -

e d “character a ssassinat ion” of Pur i

B uch whil e it hadn’ t responded to a show-cause notice issue d b y Sebi

T h e m a r k e t w a t c h d o g , t o o , waded in, saying it had acted on the a l l e g a t i o n s m a d e a g a i n s t A d a n i Group, with 23 out of the 24 probes

c o m p l e t e d b y M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 “Investors should be calm and exercise due diligence before reacting to such reports,” Sebi said, adding it was committed to ensuring market integrity

Hindenburg responded on X saying the Sebi chief had admitted to some of the issues raised by it 24 hours ago and demanded that she release the full list of clients and the details of their engagement It also sought to know if there were any l i n k s t h a t s h e h a d w i t h o t h e r investments and businesses with her husband’s name, while pointing

to her email to redeem all units in the offshore fund after Dhaval had w r i t t e n t o t h e t r u s t manager informing that h e w o u l d b e t h e s o l e operator of the account

H i n d e n b u r g ’ s report had alleged Puri Buch and Dhaval had

band from IIT Delhi and before

India’s 3 richest families together are worth Singapore GDP

At $4 60 billion, business interests of India's th ree wealth iest famili es ’ pu t tog ether are w o rth as much as S ing apo re ’ s GDP

With £258 bn, Ambani family ranks first in the Barclays Private Clients Hurun India most valuable family businesses list They are followed by the Bajaj family, h

comes second with £71 bn, while the Kumar Mangalam Birla-headed Birla family ranks third with £54 bn

u d e Adani family as they are first generation entrepreneurs The firstgeneration entrepreneurs list is l e d b y A d a n

interests are valued at £154 bn, followed by Poonawalla family, who manage the Serum Institute of India, valued at £24 bn The Divi f

v

s Laboratories, stands third with a valuation of £9 12 bn

Business families in the 2024 list control a total value of $1 3 trill i o n , e x c e e d i n g t h

m b i n e d GDP of Switzerland and the UAE To qualify for the list, a family business must have a minimum value of £270 mn In total, 124

families on the list have a net worth of at least $1 billion

In terms of share price growth

s i n c e i n h e r i t a n c

Bangur family leads with a 571-fold increase, followed by the Taparia family with a 387-fold growth, and the Dharmpal Agarwal family with a 316-fold rise Additionally, 75% of the companies on the list are publicly traded

Haldiram Snacks is the most v

India, with a valuation of £6 3 bn

The list also notes that 15 companies are led by women, while 53

CEOs Of the companies featured, 85% sell physical products, with 53% being consumer-facing and 47% focused on B2B services

The Gadgil family, with their six-generation-old jewellery business PN Gadgil & Sons valued at £390 mn, and the Wadia Group, led by Nusli Wadia and valued at £12 89 bn, top the list of longstanding family businesses The Burman family, with their FMCG company Dabur India, and the Shriram family, who established DCM Shriram, have both been in business for five generations

Sensex shrugs off Hindenburg charge, Adani stocks dip

In vo latile trades on M onday, the sensex closed a marg inal 57p oint low er at 79,649 points as investo rs on Dalal S treet m ostly d is c o u nte d U S sh o r t- se ll er Hind enburg Research’s report that alleg ed conflict of interest o n p art o f S ebi chief Madhabi P uri Bu ch while investigating alleged wrong doings by Adani Group W

much impact on the broader market, stock prices of some of Adani Group companies witnessed selling on Monday However, the selling was not as sharp as during Jan Feb 2023, after the publication of Hindenburg’s first report that had alleged serious corporate malfeasance against Adani Group, which it has denied

against the conglomerate Adani dismissed the report saying it was “malicious, mischievous

publicly available information to arrive at pre-determined conclusions”

Giving a point-by-point rebuttal, Puri Buch and Dhaval, who have had long corporate careers, said the investment in the fund was made when they were both private citizens The statement pointed out that the Sebi chief had graduated from IIM Ahmedabad and her hus-

“During this long period, Puri Buch and Dhaval have accrued their savings through their salaries, bonuses

a n d s t o c k o p t i o n s I n s i n u a t i o n s about their net worth and investments referencing Puri Buch’s current government salary is malicious and motivated,” it said seeking to dismiss Hindenburg’s claims of the Indian consulting firm set up by her reported revenue that was 4 4 times her disclosed salary at Sebi Hindenburg’s report had said Ahuja had served as a director on the board of Adani Enterprises, and insinuated irregularities

RBI holds repo rate for 9th time in a row at 6.5%

R es erve Bank of India has decided to keep policy rates on hold for the ninth consecutive time, citing s trong demand and the need to mai ntain inflati on ’ s declining traj ectory The central bank sai d that there is a need to remain vi gilant ami d the backdrop of “large and persistent” supply s ide shocks in food i tems

T

keep the repo rate - the rate at which the central banks lends to banks - at 6 5% and to continue focusing on withdrawing accommodation to align inflation with t h e t a r g e t w h i l e

resilient, inflation has been trending downward and we have made progress in achieving price stability; but we have more distance to cover The progress towards our

goal of price stability has been uneven due to large and persistent supply side shocks, especially in food items We need to remain vigilant to ensure that inflation moves sustainably towards the target, while supporting growth This approach would be net positive for sustained high growth,” RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said in a statement after the meeting of the monetary policy committee

After Hindenburg released its r

that the market may react negatively to the report, just like it had done when the first report was published in Jan 2023 However, as some market veterans had reasoned that Hindenburg’s second report had no surprise element a n d h

investor sentiment, the markets, after a negative start in the new week, recovered quickly O

was the worst hit and closed 4 1%

Investors pull record $15bn out of China economy

Inv estors p ulled a record am ount of cash out of C hina in the second quarter of this year am id concerns about the h ealth of the world’s seco nd- larg est econo m y, o ffici al data showed In the three months to June, outflows of investor capital from China reached $15 billion, according to balance of payments figures

p u b l i s

Exchange last week

Balance of payment data can be used to measure flows of capital

n

m y ’ s financial markets and company profits China’s direct investment liabilities, a proxy for the amount of capital that traders have invested in a country, decreased for only the second time on record over the past three months In the first six

months of this year, liabilities fell by $5 billion C

stepping up outbound investment at a record pace, spending $71 billion overseas in the second quarter, an increase of more than 80 per cent from $39 billion in the same period last year The rise in outbound investment could be a reflection of Chinese firms seeking less risky investments elsewhere as the domestic economy r

Exchange data underscored the challenges facing Chinese policymakers in trying to revive senti-

Madhabi Puri Buch and Gautam Adani

in brief

PM OLI INVITES PM MODI TO VISIT NEPAL

Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli

extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit the Himalayan nation Oli extended the invitation to PM Modi for the visit through visiting Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who paid a courtesy call on Oli, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister s secretariat Oli was sworn in as Nepal s prime minister for a fourth time last month He assumed office after the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives Misri also called on the former prime minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence During the meeting, they discussed various matters relating to mutual interest, according to Deuba's office

INDIAN MAN PUTS 2-FOOT LIVE EEL UP HIS ANUS

An Indian man in Vietnam almost lost his life after putting a live eel up his anus According to reports, the eel chewed through his intestines and had to be removed from his abdomen The 31-year-old man reached Viet Duc Hospital in Hanoi complaining of severe abdominal pain Doctors learnt that the man had slipped a 2foot live eel up his anus earlier in the day The patient was immediately examined and had to undergo several tests During the imaging they found the eel lying inside his abdominal cavity The hospital promptly assembled a team to remove the eel They first tried to reach the eel through the patient s anus However, he had also inserted a large lemon after the eel, and doctors found it blocking the way The expert then opted for emergency surgery to remove the eel On opening the abdomen, they found the live eel approximately 65 cm long and 10 cm in circumference

INDIANS ON FOREIGN TRIPS HIT A NEW HIGH

In the April-June period this year, over 80,00,000 Indians travelled abroad, a new high Last year, this was just 68,90,000, even if you take pre-Covid 2019, the number of people on foreign visits was just 54,10,000, according to figures released by ICRA The reasons aren’t too far to seek The travel bug that bit humanity after cooped up indoors for months during the Covid lockdown has not spared India, as well, with many taking up outbound trips with gusto once limitations were relaxed Indian government's active pursuit for visa concessions from friendly countries has also helped On last count Indians get visa-free access to a total of 62 countries around the world making the Indian passport the 80th most powerful in the world

TRIBUTE TO GURDWARA SHOOTING VICTIMS IN US

Bangladeshi Hindus organise massive protest rallies

staged m assive protest rallies in

and in

nationw ide vand alism that saw atta cks o n te m pl es and th ei

households and businesses

Demanding special tribunals to expedite trials of those who persecute the minorities, allocation of 10% parliamentary seats for the minorities, and enactment of a minority protection law among others, the Hindu

traffic for over three hours at Shahbagh in the central part of Dhaka

T

o

protestors, including students, also joined them here expressing s

minorities, who have faced the

brunt of the violence and devast

r S h e

k h H a s i n a resigned as prime minister and fled to India Several Hindu temples, households and businesses

h

least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Hasina’s Awami League party have been killed in the violence since then

Media reports have flagged

more and more cases of violence against minorities, including the massive vandalism and destruction at popular folk band Joler

Ananda’s residence, prompting the singer and his family to go

Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, a prominent organisa-

Yunus visits temple to meet Hindus, says ‘rights are equal for all’

Tuesday, where h e met with members of the Hindu co mmunity amid st a tense political clim ate The v isit was h ighly an

ted

attacks o n the Hind u m inority since the fall o f the Hasina g overnment A t least 20 5 in ci

reported across 52 d istricts, raising concerns about the safety and security o f the Hind u co mmu nity

During his visit, Yunus urged the Hindu community to exercise patience before passing judgment on the newly formed interim government “Rights are equal for everyone We are all one people with one right Do not make any distinctions among us, ” Yunus emphasized He further stressed that the primary goal of the interim government is to e s t a b l i s h h u m a n r i g h t s a n d f r e e d o m o f speech for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations

“ I n o u r d e m o c r a t i c a s p i r a t i o n s , w e should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, but as human beings,” Yunus said, adding that the root of many problems

lies in the decay of institutional arrangements that need to be fixed Yunus was accompanied by Law Adviser

Asif Nazrul and Religious Affairs Adviser

AFM Khalid Hossain during his visit He met with representatives of the Bangladesh Puja

U d j a p a n P a r i s h a d , t h e M a h a n a g a r Sarbajanin Puja Committee, and the temple management board

In a gesture of solidarity, Yunus encouraged the Hindu community to see themselves as integral members of the nation

“You simply say that you are human, a citizen of Bangladesh, and this is your constitut i o n a l

demand this, nothing more, ” he urged

Protest outside UN HQ over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

NE W YO RK: A larg e crowd g athered outside the United Natio ns h ea d qu a rte rs i n Ne w Y o rk , d em and in g p r o tec ti o n f o r Hind us and other minorities in Banglad esh H i n d u

that people from all walks of life showed up spontaneously The protests also took place at other p

, HinduACTion said

US lawmakers paid tributes to the members of the Sikh community who were killed in a massacre at a Milwaukee gurdwara 12 years ago, underscoring the need to reject bigotry and recommit to fighting hate and racism, as well as ending the gun violence epidemic in America US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield visited the Oak Creek Sikh Temple in the Wisconsin city on the 12th anniversary of the “deadliest massacre of Sikhs on US soil” when a white supremacist claimed the lives of seven members of the community “The Ambassador joined the victims’ families community members and temple leaders to honour those lives lost and lead a conversation on their ongoing efforts to combat hate against marginalised communities the statement said D HA K A : Th ousands of minority H in

The NGO praised several US Representatives for speaking out against the violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh In a post on X, Republican Congressman Pat Fallon had said, “I strongly condemn the ongoing political violence and religious pers e c u t i o n t h a t w

n

s s i n g i n Bangladesh I implore the interim government to act in the shared interest of the Bangladeshi people and put an end to this violence at once ”

“The targeting of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and any other religious minority is reprehensible Those who have instigated

and participated in these acts of violence must be held responsible,” he added Several other leaders spoke up against the violence in Bangladesh I n d i a n - A m e r i c a n C o n g r e s s m a n R a j a Krishnamoorthi wrote to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to assist the Bangladeshi government in ending the violence against Hindus in the country

The Government of India has set up a committee to monitor the current situation on the India-Bangladesh Border (IBB) amid the crisis in the neighbouring country

rights, issued an open letter to c

Yunus, detailing 205 incidents of persecution across 52 districts

k h Hasina government on August 5, according to The Dhaka Tribune newspaper

The protestors put out an eight-point charter of demands, which includes establishing special tribunals to expedite trials for those who have persecuted minorities, compensation to victims and immediate enactment of a minority protection law Hindu councillor killed; templ es , sho ps, hous es ransacked Several temples, houses and shops belonging to the minority H

dalised, women assaulted and a H

League was murdered as mobs went on the rampage in at least 27 districts of Bangladesh since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina

UK protesters demand safety for Bangladeshi Hindus

In a strong show of solidarity, members of the British Hindu diaspora rallied in cities across the UK over the weekend, responding to reports of minority persecution amid violent clashes in Bangladesh Peaceful demonstrations took place in London, Birmingham, and Manchester, where protesters called for the protection of Bangladesh's Hindu community following recent political upheaval that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has sought refuge in India About 1500 people were present

21 Hindus flee Pakistan, enter India

A T TA R I : Tw o ex t en d ed Pa kist a ni Hin d u families ent ered India

the

tari

der nea

Amritsar wit

and tra vell ed onward to Jod hpur and sett

there, coinciding with the fl ight of min or it ie s from Ba nglade sh in the face of a backl ash accompa nying the fa ll of the govt ther e A Jodhpur resident identifying himself as Ashok received 16 Pakistani Hindu relatives of his wife and five members of another family from Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan's Punjab province to escort them to Rajasthan He said his brother-in-law Darshan and father-in-law Birya Ram had decided not to return, but didn’t specify the reason

Yunus urged the Hindu community to exercise patience before passing judgment

Protestors demonstrating against atrocities towards Hindus in Bangladesh

Vinoo Sachania Gajjar and other members of the Hindu community in London holding protest

Kamala Harris leading Trump in 3 key states

o n: S ev e ral p ol ls i n recent days show K amala Harris

g all o p i ng a h ea d i n b o th nationwide and in battleground

an d sw in g states , erasi ng th e lead Do nald Trump h ad over J oe

B i d en Wh i le s o m e o

a ttri bu te d to t h

en tu m Harris is ri ding follow ing

D em o cr ati c P a rty j ett i so n in g Bid en from the ticket and th e selectio n of a “relatable” running m ate in T im Walz, the latest

s u rv eys a ls o i nd i c at e s h e is g aining because of Trump’ s selfd es tru c ti

w

xi s m , inclu ding rep orted ly calling his o pponent a “b**ch”

The Trump campaign for its part sees the polls as a “liberal hoax” aimed at demoralising its base, with the former president

h

m

accusing “fake news ” of slanting coverage to denigrate him The only poll currently showing him ahead is a CNBC/All-America Economic Survey that has Harris

within the margin of error

Trump’s own favoured Fox

N e w s w

7 5 % o

country is behind him In speech after speech Trump insists that

acknowledge this week that the race is close in the seven swing states that will determine the

Although an Ipsos poll it cited showed Harris leading 42-40, it

Astronauts stuck in

Starliner may fly home on SpaceX in 2025: Nasa

Starliner, a Boeing sp ac ecraft that too k tw o as tronauts to th e Internatio nal Sp ace Station in June Nas a off ic ials admitted the iss ues m ight be mo re serio us th an f irs t thou gh t and th at the as tronauts migh t not return o n the Bo eing vehicle, after all The agency is exploring a backup option for the astronauts, Sunita Wiliams and Butch Wilmore, to instead hitch a ride back to Earth on a spacecraft built by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX The astronauts’ stay in orbit, which was to be as short as eight days, could be extended into next year “We could take either p

mission directorate, said at a news conference Nasa and Boeing officials had maintained that t h e c r e

h Starliner were not stranded in space Williams and Wilmore have spent two months aboard the orbital outpost while engineers continue to analyse data about the faulty performance of several of Starliner’s thrusters when it approached for docking, as well as several helium leaks Boeing’s testing so far has shown that four of Starliner’s jets had failed in June because they overheated and automatically turned off

also clung on to the margin of

candidates are in a dead heat But a New York Times-Siena poll brought more bad news for

three crucial battleground states - Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin Although the lead is still within the margin of error of plus or minus 4 2% to 4 8%, it

Biden in these states “ T h e

transformed in little more than two weeks The whirlwind of p o l i

reinvigorated some voters who were approaching the rematch between Biden and Trump with a deep sense of dread,” the paper said in its explanation of the turnaround

The polls show Harris

demographic groups, including white voters without a college

constituency

Respondents also p

temperament to be an effective president (54-45), honesty (52-

, although Trump was ahead 6053 when they were asked who has a clear vision for the US

in brief UNILEVER

FINED RS 60 MN IN PAKISTAN

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has passed an order imposing a fine of Rs 60 million on Unilever Pakistan for airing deceptive claims through television commercials for its hygiene and cleansing products Lifebuoy Soap’ and ‘Lifebuoy Hand Wash’ The commission’s bench has disposed of proceedings pertaining to a show-cause notice issued to Unilever Pakistan for prima facie violations of Section 10 of the Competition Act of 2010 that prevents businesses from engaging in deceptive marketing tactics based on misleading information or false claims Based on a complaint submitted by Reckitt Benckiser about products, the CCP conducted an inquiry into Unilever Pakistan s claims regarding its products, such as Lifebuoy Soap and Lifebuoy Hand Wash

UGANDA LANDSLIDE KILLS 18 PEOPLE

Akshar-Purushottam Darshan presented at World Congress

of Philosophy in Rome

RO M E : With the bles sings and gu idance o f

His Ho liness Mahant Sw ami M ah araj, Aksh ar-

P u r u s h o t t a m D a rs h an – a c l as s ic a l ph ilo so phical sch ool of thou ght and practice o f th e Sw

w a s presented and warml y received at the 25th Worl d C ongres s o f Ph il oso ph y in the h is toric city of Rom e, Ital y The eight-day conference was held from August 1 and 8 at the Sapienza University of Rome It attracted more than 5,000 scholars and students of philosophy from over 120 c o u n t r i e s a n d d

backgrounds

The academic event, organised by the

Societies (FISP), served as a platform for some of the brightest minds from around the world

i g o r o u

philosophical sub-disciplines, they sought to address contemporary global challenges and f o s t e r a d e e p

existence

D u r i n g t h e c o n f

, a n i n s i g h t f u l session was held by the Congress that focused on spiritual ecology and Akshar-Purushottam

D a r s h a n C h a i r e d b y M a h a m a h o p a d h y a y a Bhadreshdas Swami, the session aimed to catalyse a re-examination of our underlying attitudes and beliefs about the environment

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son to run for president

C OL OM BO: A son of Sri Lanka’s form er Presid ent Mahind a Rajapaksa will contest the upcom ing p residential electio n which w ill be h eld as th e country grapp les w ith its worst eco nom ic crisis in decad es

Namal Rajapaksa, 38, announced his candidacy for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party at a Buddhist ceremony in the capital, Colombo

He will challenge incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, whom many analysts see as the frontrunner, in the September 21 polls Elected by Parliament in July 2022, Wickremesinghe has shepherded the Indian Ocean nation through its financial crisis, which triggered widespread protests against corruption and mismanagement that had forced his predecessor and Namal’s uncle, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to resign and flee the country “After careful consideration, the party decided to make Namal Rajapaksa o

Kariyawasam said Namal, who was sports minister in his father’s presidency which ended in January 2015, said circumstances forced him into the fray as it was expected that he would only contest the 2029 presidential election

“Now we have to sit and plan the campaign, because this is something that I didn’t expect,” Namal Rajapaksa said after his candidacy was announced He put his name forward after the expected candidate, businessman Dhammika Perera, dropped out citing “personal reasons ”

t h r o u g h a l e n s o f r e l i g i o u s p h i l o s o p h y , specifically Akshar-Purushottam Darshan Scholars from the UK, USA and India

p r e s e n t e d t h e i r r e s e a r c h o n h o w t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l e x p l o r a t i o n o f A k s h a r -

P u r u s h o t t a m D a r s h a n f i n d s p r a c t i c a l expression through devotion, ethical living, and service to humanity and the natural world

P r o f e s s o r B a l a g a n a p a t h i D e v a r a k o n d a , Professor of Philosophy at Delhi University, remarked, “I was delighted to see AksharP u r u s h o t t a m D a r s h a n s o e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y received at such a large academic event

I n a p e r s o n a l m e e t i n g , P r o f e s s o r Scarantino, President of FISP and the World

C o n g r e s s o f P h i l o s o p h y , a n d B h a d r e s h d a s

S w a m i d i s c u s s e d k e y t a k e a w a y s f r o m t h e

c o n f

r e i t e r a t e d t h e e n d u r i n g r e l e v a n c e o f philosophy in contemporary

and the need for continued dialogue and exploration

Former

chief Faiz Hameed in military custody

A landslide at a rubbish dump in Uganda s capital, Kampala, has killed at least 18 people, authorities have reported as they continue to search for survivors The landslide buried people, livestock and homes as residents slept “The rescue operation is still ongoing until we are sure no one is trapped,” police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said Fourteen people have been rescued as well as several animals, he added, cautioning that more people could still be trapped “In our estimation, about 1,000 people have been displaced by the incident, and [we are] currently working with other agencies of government and the community leadership to see how to help the affected people ” he said

PAK ARMY CHIEF WARNS ANARCHISTS

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir said that the act of spreading anarchy in the country was the “greatest sin” alluding to the turmoil in Bangladesh that led to ex-PM Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country “If anyone tries to spread chaos in Pakistan by God we (army) will stand against them ” General Munir said at a national convention Whoever doesn t adhere to the Shariah (Islamic law) and the Constitution we don t consider them Pakistanis He blamed mostly social media for instances of anarchy in the region suggesting further curbs could be clamped as online campaigns criticising Pakistan s powerful military gain traction

5 US TROOPS HURT IN ROCKET ATTACK AT IRAQ BASE

Rel ations (ISPR), Pakistan army ’ s media wing, said This is the first time in the c

martial has been initiated against a former ISI chief Hameed, who served as ISI chief from June 2019 to Oct 2021, was widely believed to be close to jailed former PM Imran Khan’s govt T h e a

P

, w

s ordered by Supreme Court on a petition filed by the owner of a p

undertaken by Pakistan Army

(Retd),” the military said The management of Top City h

orchestrating

raid on its offices and residence of its owner, Moeez Khan As per the petition, filed in May 2017, Pakistan Rangers and

spymaster of torturing him and his family, and robbing them of t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s a n d v a l u a b l e s Hameed has also been accused of multiple violations of the Pakistan Army Act after retirement “Complying with the orders of S u p r e m

Five US service members and two contractors were injured when two rockets hit a military base in Iraq, US officials said Tuesday, providing a bit more detail about the Monday strike The officials said five of those injured were being treated at the al-Asad airbase and two were evacuated, but all seven are in stable condition They did not provide details on who was evacuated The rocket attack is the latest in what has been an uptick in strikes on US forces by Iranian-backed militias A Pentagon statement on a call between defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant described the rocket fire as an Iran-aligned militia attack on US forces and said the two agreed that it marked a dangerous escalation”

IRAQ MAY REDUCE LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE FOR GIRLS TO 9

A proposed bill in Iraq's parliament has sparked widespread outrage and concern, as it seeks to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls to just 9 years old The controversial legislation, introduced by the Iraq Justice Ministry, aims to amend the country s Personal Status Law, which currently sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 The bill would allow citizens to choose between religious authorities or the civil judiciary to decide on family affairs Critics fear this will lead to a slashing of rights in matters of inheritance, divorce, and child custody

Kamala Harris & Donald Trump

Govt rejects Supreme Court verdict on Dalit creamy layer

M odi govt has rejected the rec ent Supreme Court verdi ct aski ng for e xclusion of ‘ cream y lay er ’ among Dalits f rom the purview of q uotas, s aying that doing so would b e unconsti tutional

“Recently, the Supreme Court gave a judgment on t h e i s s u e o

The SC has made some suggestions about SC/ST reservation in it Today, under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f P M Narendra Modi, wide discussions were held on this i s s u e A n d t h e w e l lt h o u g h t - t h r o u

o n of the cabinet is that NDA govt is committed and dedicated towards the provisions of the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar And a s p e r p r o v i s i o n s o f Ambedkar, there is no provision of creamy layer in S C / S T r e s e r v a t i o n

Cabinet’s decision is that SC/ST reservation should b e a c c o r d i n g t o Babasaheb’s Constitution,” I & B m i n i s t

d

n w h

marked a swift rebuttal of the SC's landmark verdict

Significantly, Modi had signalled govt s intent hours before the cabinet got down t o d i s c u s s t h e i s s u e b y telling SC/ST MPs belonging to BJP that the apex court's verdict was only recommendatory and that govt

was alive to their “genuine” concerns about it

The top court had held that exclusion of creamy layer, a reference to those whose previous generation had benefited from the SC quota, would help reservation benefits reach the truly

a d o f being monopolised by bet-

Dalits

The ruling came from the sole Dalit judge on the bench, Justice B R Gavai, w

bench, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices V

Mithal, Manoj Misra and S C Sharma, concurring

However, the idea that

OBCs, needed to be extended to Dalits as well ran afoul

of the dominant opinion Dalit politicians, intellectuals and activists argued that likening OBCs to Dalits was a folly because of the differences between the two cate

i e s a n d , a l s o , t h a t advancement in economic status of SCs did not erase the stigma or reduce the discrimination - the princip

g i n g them under the cover of protective discrimination “Met a delegation of SC/ S T M P s t o d a y R e i t e r a t e d o u r c o m m i t m e n t a n d resolve for the welfare and e m p o w e r m e n t o f S C / S T communities,” Modi said in a post on X, as his remarks also reflected that the govt was looking into the concerns expressed by community leaders regarding the r e c e n t S u p r e m e C o u r t order

Dhankhar’s spat with Jaya Bachchan sets off clash in RS

R a j y a Sa b h a w i t n e sse d a n upr oar with t he NDA a nd

t h e o pp os it i o n fa ci n g off

o v e r C ha i r m a n Ja g d e e p

D hankhar The trigger was

B JP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari’s

r emarks on l eade r of opposi-

t i o n Ma l l ik a r j u n Kh a r g e , l e ad in g t o an acr imon ious

e xcha nge bet we en Chairman

J a gd e e p D ha n k ha r an d SP MP Jaya Ba chcha n Jaya protested what she c a l l e d t h e “ u n a c c e p t a b l e t o n e ” o f t h e c h a i r m a n ’ s remarks and said he was a “ c o l l e a g u e ” s i t t i n g o n t h e

c h a i r A n i n f u r i a t e d

D h a n k h a r a c c u s e d t h e

o p p o s i t i o n o f w o r k i n g t o d i s r u p t t h e H o u s e a n d d e s t a b i l i s e t h e c o u n t r y Soon, matters had escalated

t o a w i d e r c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t r e a s u r y a n d opposition benches with the former seeing the disruptions as part of a destabilisa-

t i o n p l a n a n d t h e l a t t e r a c c u s i n g t h e c h a i r m a n o f being partisan

D h a n k h a r a r g u e d t h a t

T i w a r i h a d o n l y p r a i s e d Kharge in his remarks but the opposition claimed he was trying to shield the BJP MP As she stood to make a p o i n t i n t h e m i d d l e o f a heated exchange, Jaya said she was an artist and unders t o o d b o d y l a n g u a g e a n d expressions

“ F o r g i v e m e b u t y o u r tone is not acceptable We

are colleagues, sir You may be sitting in the chair, and I remember when I went to school ” she said A visibly angry Dhankhar interrupted h e r a n d s a i d h e “ d i d n o t w a n t t o b e s c h o o l e d ” , repeatedly saying “enough of it”

Jaya had for the last few days felt annoyed over being c a l l e d J a y a A m i t a b h

B a c h c h a n , a n d f e l t t h a t mention of her husband’s name in her introduction was an injustice to her as an

i n d i v i d u a l H o w e v e r , D h a n k

h a v e pointed out that they are bound by the rule that a member would be identified by the name as it was in official records Sources in the

R S s e c r e t a r i a t c o n c u r r e d “We go by the full name mentioned in our records

S o t h o s e w h o s e m i d d l e n a m e s i n c l u d e n a m e s o f their fathers or their villages are addressed by their full n a m e s r a t h e r t h a n t h e i r abridged versions,” a source said, adding that members h a v e t h e o p t i o n o f approaching the RS secretariat for additions, subtractions or changes in spellings

A s t h e o p p o s i t i o n walked out of the House, NDA MPs expressed solidari t y w i t h D h a n k h a r a n d demanded an apology from Jaya

Oppn plans to seek Vice-President Dhankhar’s ouster

The a ntagon is m be tween oppositi on p ar ti e s a n d Ra j y a Sa b ha ch ai r ma n Ja gd e e p D h a n k ha r h a s r e a ch e d a poin t w here the oppos iti on i s con si deri ng b rin gin g a res olution for the removal of the v ice -pres ide nt, who als o serv es a s chairman of the upper House , source s s aid

With the end of monsoon session last week, opposition parties are now planning to work on the modalities for this unprecedented move Sources said 87 members have signed on the proposal to initiate action against Dhankhar

The parties have started collating documentary material of instances in the House where Dhankhar has been “partisan in his actions” “He has also overruled norms and procedures to the advantage of the treasury benches, when the chair should be seen as a neutral umpire who must uphold the dignity of the constitutional post,” a senior opposition member said A source said that about two days ago, leader of the House J P Nadda w a s i n f o r m a l l y i n

opposition may submit a motion for Dhankhar’s removal Asked about the

plan, Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken said, “All options are open, whatever is legal and in the rule book, whatever is in the Constitution, within the procedure of conduct, whatever provisions are there in the law, all options are open for us ” S o u r c e s s a i d o p p o s i t i o n p a r t i e s were concerned that the microphone o f t h e l e a d e r o f o p p o s i t i o n w a s allegedly being turned off repeatedly “The opposition wants the House to be run by rules and conventions, and personal remarks against members are unacceptable,” a source said

Civilian dies, J&K encounter toll rises to 3

between security forces an d

up

er re ach es of J&K’s Anantnag district rose to three, with one of the two civ ilians cau ght in cro ssfire dying of gunshot wounds in the hospital Deceased were identified as Havildar Dipak Kumar Yadav from Bihar and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma from Sirmaur (in Himachal), both attached with 1 Para Special Force, and Abdul Rashid Dar, of Kokernag

Kashmir Zone IGP VK Birdi said presence of the two civilians close to the shootout site is “being investigated” There are reports of locals being coerced or lured by terrorists to help them navigate the terrain Operation to hunt down terrorists, who escaped deep into the jungles, continued despite heavy rain & challenging landscape of Ahlan Gagarmandu

According to officials, three to four “highly trained

Mohammed were involved in the attack on a security search team that was in pursuit of terrorists spotted in Kapran Garol in Kokernag

The terrorists crossed Pir Panjal’s Kishtwar range and entered south Kashmir on Aug 5, escaping a manhunt in Doda district of Jammu division following an attack on July 15 that left four soldiers dead, officials said

Gagarmandu forest of Anantnag As the soldiers approached the location, the hiding terrorists unleashed a barrage of gunfire, wounding six soldiers and two civilians

Congress to push for removal of 50% ceiling on reservation

W i t h t h e q uo t a s pa c e s hri nking at a rapid rate, Congres s is set to ratc het up press ure for removal of 50% cei ling on reservati on an d push for quotas in the bi g projects outs ourc ed by govt The decis ion ca me as the party decided to hold c o n s ul t a ti o n s w i th i n a nd outside on sub- categori sation of Scheduled Ca stes to f i n a li s e i t s s ta n c e in t he wak e of the recen t Supreme Court judgment

A b r a i n s t o r m i n g b y C o n g r e s s b r a s s l e d b y

M a l l i k a r j u n K h a r g e w i t h key leaders decided to hold

e x t e n s i v e d i a l o g u e w i t h p a r t y ’ s s t a t e u n i t s , c h i e f ministers, INDIA bloc allies as also civil society for feedback on the sensitive issue

Sources said the meeting elicited individual views

o f p a r t i c i p a n t s M a n y o f t h e m c r i t i c i s e d t h e j u d gm e n t ’ s e x t e n s i o n o f “ creamy layer” concept to t h e S C s a n d S T s Meanwhile, in Lok Sabha, D M K ’ s A R a j a s l a m m e d “ creamy layer” for SCs/STs and urged govt to introduce safeguards to protect the

Delhi awaiting release of 69 Indians from Russian army

D elhi is awaiting the releas e of 69 India ns who were rec ruited into the R us s ia

M inis ter S Jaishankar said Speaking in t he Lok Sabha, Jaishankar s aid that t here ar e indications that several of t hes e individuals had been m is led The external affairs minister said t h a t t h

about the problems of citizens being recruited into the Russian military a

Indians to South East Asia

“We take this issue very very seriously,” Jaishankar said “I have myself raised it many times with the Russian foreign minister ” Jaishankar told the House that there were 91 cases of

Russian Army Of these, eight persons d

returned, and the release of 69 individuals is pending, he added Prime Minister Narendra Modi

President Vladimir Putin during their

meeting in July, the minister reiterated The problem is that the Russian authorities claim that the Indian citiz

with the Russian Army, the external affairs minister said

“We are not necessarily subscribing to that ” he said “I think in many cases there are reasons to indicate that our nationals were misled, that they were told that they were going for some other job and then they were deployed with the Russian Army ”

Jaishankar stated that Modi had been assured by Putin that Indians still serving in the Russian Army will be discharged and released Russia

World War II After the war broke out, at least 500 Indians, including some veterans, had reportedly submitted applications to volunteer to join the International Legion created to fight Russian forces in Ukraine

rights of the two communities in the light of the court judgment

T h e p a r t i c i p a n t s d i scussed the pros and cons of s u b - c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w h i l e also quoting the views of B S P ’ s M a y a w a t i a n d B J P ally LJP’s Chirag Paswanboth have opposed it The meeting included S o n i a G a n d h i , R a h u l G a n d h i , K C V e n u g o p a l , A b

Tankha, Charanjit Channi,

Surjewala, Udit Raj, Rajesh Lilothia, Nasir Hussain and Jairam Ramesh

shrinking Udit Raj said the party

renew its call that

constitutional amendment Also, Congress will ask govt to fill “backlog vacancies” and institute quotas in outsourced projects - the logic being that outsourcing of govt work is leading

will hold

nationwide bandh against sub-categorisation on Aug 21, and will see the involve-

Jagdeep Dhankhar ans Jaya Bachchan

SOUTH INDIA

In Wayanad, PM Modi promises all help for relief, rehabilitation

W A Y A N A D : P M N a r e n d r a M o d i on

S atur day visited la ndslid es hit W aya na d d ist rict a nd assured tha t t he ce ntr al govt would “ spar e n o effort” in helping Ke rala in r elief a nd re habilita tion, while describin g t he t ra gedy as “ n atur e d isplay in g its furious form ”

Modi, who arrived in the hill district by helicopter from Kannur airport, conducted an aerial survey, walked through disaster stricken Chooralmala to get a first hand view of the destruction caused by the July 30 landslides, walked on the 190-foot long Bailey bridge constructed by the Army after the disaster, visited a relief camps, and i

killed 229 people, and over 130 are missing

The PM was accompanied by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Pinarayi Vijayan during his visit “I would like to assure survivors and victims that they are not alone in this time of distress The nation, Centre, state, everyone, is with them While we cannot replace the lives that have been lost, we should all try to ensure the future and dreams of those who survived are not shattered

“In such times of distress, when we all w o r k t o g e t h e r ,

achieved Everyone’s prayers were with the survivors,” Modi said at a meeting at the district collectorate here to review the situation and work out a plan for the

PUNJAB

rehabilitation of victims Earlier in the

spare no effort in assisting with relief and rehabilitation activities As soon as the

infrastructure and securing the future of s

parents, “there will be full cooperation from our end,” he said, adding, “Centre will stand with Kerala govt I do not believe any work will be stopped due to lack of funds ” Modi said even though his “heart was heavy” on hearing about the disaster, he came to Wayanad now as he did not want to hinder the rescue and relief activities earlier He said he saw everything in detail and that it was easier to make decisions “when you have first-hand information” “So, I assure you again, Govt of India will make all efforts to meet all the requests made by the CM (Vijayan),” Modi said

Dam gate fails in Karnataka, posing flood risk to three states

KOP P A L ( K A RNA T A KA ) : The crest gate of the T ung abhadra Dam in Karnataka was washed aw a y d u e t o a bro k en c h ain li nk, crea tin g sig nificant flood risks fo r Karnataka, A nd hra P radesh , and T elangana Officials rep orted that g ate number 1 9 w as lost to the fo rce of the floodw aters and w arned of po tential further d am ag e to the dam

A f l o o d w a r n i n g h a s b e e n i s s u e d downstream of the Pampa Sagar Dam on the Tungabhadra River in Koppal following the failure of the 19th crust gate, which has caused a substantial release of water

O f f i c i a l s f r o m t h e w a t e r r e s o u r c e s department have indicated that to facilitate r e p a i r s , t h e r e s e r v o i r ’ s w a t e

reduced from its current capacity of 105 TMC to between 65 and 55 TMC To address the issue urgently, the department has opened all but five of the crust gates, with a current discharge rate of 89,000 cusecs

Residents within a two-km radius of the river have been advised to stay alert and avoid approaching the water

"There is an emergency situation, we will n o t a l l o w a n y o n e t o v i s i t h e r e T h e r e i s a technical aspect and this dam is a national property We will work to protect this dam

Sometimes these accidents happen Our first work is to solve this problem," Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said

Centre threatens to cancel more NHAI projects in Punjab

in

wh ic h it termed as “ wors ening”, does not imp rove Union Minister of Road Transp ort and High ways N itin Gadkari has written a demiof ficial letter to Ch ief Minister Bhagwant Mann, rais ing seriou s saf ety conc erns fo r the National H igh w ay s A u t h o r it y o f I nd ia (NHAI) o fficers, contracto rs and th eir s taf f bes ides p ending l and acquisition matters

Reacting to Gadkari’s missive, the CM said: “We are on the job

a n d w i l l r e v i e w t h e p r o j e c t s intensively to ascertain the real

WEST BENGAL

obstacles The government will convince the farmers regarding the importance of these projects t o s e e k t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n F o r other people, the law of land will be enforced ” In a strongly worded twopage letter, Gadkari took up with Mann the issue of recent assault and life threats to NHAI men on

work in the state “The NHAI is developing G

d national highway corridors,

Katra expressway in Punjab I

y concerns for NHAI officers, c

n

r a c t o r s a n d t h e i r s t a f f a s well as issues related to pending l a n d a c q u i s i t i o n m a t t e r s , ” t h e Union Minister wrote He said he had been informed about two u n t o w a r d i n c i d e n t s , w h i c h occurred recently on the DelhiA m r i t s a r - K a t r a e x p r e s s w a y projects, wherein an engineer of t h e c o n t r a c t o r w a s b r u t a l l y

Bengalis attacked, labelled as Bangladeshis in Odisha: Mamata

K o lk at a/ B h u b an e s war : B e ng al ch ief minister Mamata Banerjee

c o n t ac te d h er O di s h a

c o u nt er p ar t M o h a n Ch ar an

M aj h i , u rg in g h i s i nt erv en ti o n f o

lo

ng

ep

s

B

ng al i sp eaking workers being assaulted and labelled as “Bangladeshis” by loc al vigilante grou ps in hi s state

Four videos surfaced on social media over the past 24 hours, p u r p o r t e d l y s h o w i n g a t t a c k s o n Bengali-speaking people in Odisha

Attacks were reported from Jajpur, K e n d r a p a d a , J a g a t s i n g h p u r , a n d Sambalpur districts in Odisha, where l o c a l s c o n f r o n t e d B e n g a l i - s p e a k i n g workers, demanding proof of their Indian citizenship In one video, a hawker from Bengal’s Ranaghat was assaulted in Kendrapara for not having

a p h y s i c a l A a d h a a r c a r d , d

s p i t e showing a digital copy An attacker is h e a r d s a y i n g t h a t h e w a s a Bangladeshi

Another clip shows a man suffer a head injury after being attacked on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi In Sambalpur, over 30 Bengali-speaking

police station but were released after

their Indian citizenship was verified B

ensure the safe return of any workers wishing to leave Odisha In response,

Bengali speaking people suspected of being illegal immigrants

Odisha DGP Arun Sarangi said:

“There was no major violence and police have acted promptly on isolated incidents of Bengali-speaking people being targeted Action will be taken against the guilty as per law ” Bengal Migrant Welfare Board has launched a helpline (18001030009) for those facing such attacks Rajya Sabha

M P

board, urged affected people to seek assistance through the helpline

assaulted in Jalandhar, project c a m p o f t h e c o n t r a c t o r w a s attacked and the engineers were t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d i r e consequences in Ludhiana E x p r e s s i n g d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n over the inaction, Gadkari said: “ A l t h o u g h F I R h a s b e e n registered in the Jalandhar case, strong action is required to be taken against the perpetrators I n L u d h i a n a , w h e r e t h e engineers and the men on work were threatened to be burnt alive along with the project camp, no F I R h a s b e e n f i l e d a n d t h e m i s c r e a n t s h a v e n o t b e e n arrested despite written request by NHAI officers ”

Bengal govt picks DCP probing governor for Aug 15 honour

K OLK ATA : K ol kata Police DCP Indira Mukherjee, who is heading a s pecial inquiry t eam (SIT) pr obing s exual a bus e charges agains t Bengal governor CV Ana nda Bos e b rought b y a forme r Raj Bhavan s taff er, wil l be awarded a pol ic e m edal

C M M a m a t a B a n e r j e e u s u a l l y h a n d s o v e

medals at the annual Independence Day programme held on Red Road in Kolkata Mukherjee is among four IPS officers picked by the Mamata-led TMC govt for the honour

The molestation charges against Bose are one of the several flashpoints over which he has clashed with the state govt, with CM on one occasion declaring she would not visit Raj Bhavan again while expressing willingness to meet the governor “ on the street outside” Bose had earlier demanded that the Union home ministry (MHA) act against Mukherjee and Kolkata p o l i

immunity The MHA, though, had left the issue with the state Bose had claimed that the molestation complaint of May 2 this year was engineered and Kolkata Police had played the role of facilitator But the MHA officers had said the Centre could take any disciplinary action against IPS officers, only the state where they were based could TMC had protested the action by governor in overstepping his constitutional brief Calcutta HC later paused the probe pending an appeal by other Raj Bhavan staffers implicated in the case

MAN OBJECTS TO SPITTING, MURDERED IN KARNATAKA

A 70-year-old man was murdered in rural Bengaluru district allegedly because his advice against spitting on the road didn’t sit well with the killer The septuagenarian Sidappa was found dead behind his residence The accused Puneet Nayak (23) was arrested Police said Nayak and his parents were tenants of Sidappa Investigation revealed that Sidappa had reprimanded Nayak several times in the past for spitting tobacco-mixed paan on the road Following a similar episode, Nayak reacted violently to Sidappa s advice and in a fit of rage hacked him with a machete, striking with such force that the septuagenarian collapsed on the ground Nayak then fled the spot on his bike “Hearing the commotion, Sidappa’s other tenants rushed out and found him lying dead Nayak was caught while riding to his hometown in Tumkur district, an investigating officer said

SETBACK FOR 2 TAMIL NADU MINISTERS

The Madras High Court has set aside the discharge of two Tamil Nadu ministers in disproportionate assets cases and directed a lower court to frame charges against them The lower court has also been asked to conduct trial on a daily basis The cases against Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Revenue Minister KKSSR Ramachandran both senior DMK leaders were filed in 2011 and 2012 - during the AIADMK regime They were discharged by a special court after the DMK came to power Justice Anand Venkatesh took up the case on his own and set aside the discharge orders The two ministers will now have to face trial for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income

‘JAI HIND’ TO REPLACE ‘GOOD MORNING’

From the coming Independence Day, daily greetings in Haryana schools will acquire a patriotic flavour Instead of Good Morning , students will greet each other and their teachers with “Jai Hind The directorate of school education has issued instructions to all education officers at district and block levels principals and headmasters to replace “Good Morning” with “Jai Hind” from Aug 15 State govt has decided to replace the greeting to “inculcate a deep sense of patriotism and national pride” in students “Before the hoisting of the national flag on Independence Day, the instructions should be implemented,” the department emphasised, adding that greeting each other with “Jai Hind” will ensure “the students are inspired every day with the spirit of national unity & respect for the rich history of our country”

FORMER BENGAL CM BUDDHADEB BHATTACHARJEE DIES

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, veteran Left leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister, died at his south Kolkata residence He was 80 He had been unwell for a while and had been suffering from respiratory problems that led to frequent hospitalisations Last year, he had to be put on life support after he contracted pneumonia But the veteran CPM leader made a comeback He is survived by his wife Meera and son Suchetan Known for his simple lifestyle, Bhattacharjee breathed his last at the two-bedroom flat at Palm Avenue from where he once ran the state His organs will be donated for medical research as per his wishes During Bhattacharjee s tenure the Left Front govt adopted a relatively open policy towards business as compared to the Jyoti Basu regime

PM Narendra Modi with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

Nitin Gadkari & Bhagwant Mann

India set to commission its 2nd N-powered submarine

India is all set to comm is-

s i o n i t s s e co n d nu c le ar -

p owered submarine, arm ed

w it h nu c le ar m i ss i le s fo r

s trategic deterrence, wh ile

t h e p ro j ec t to bu i ld tw o

n u cl ea r- p o w ere d at tac k

s u b m ari n es w i th co n v entional w eapons is also headed for final ap prov al amid

C h i na ’ s f as t- e xp an d i ng naval footprint in th e IOR

T h e 6 , 0 0 0 - t o n n e I N S

A r i g h a t , c o n s t r u c t e d a t

V i z a g s h i p b u i l d i n g c e n t r e (SBC), is “fully ready” for formal commissioning after

e x t e n s i v e t r i a l s t h a t s a w some technical issues being i r o n e d o u t w i t h u p g r a d e s over an extended period

“The SSBN (naval parlance for nuclear-propelled

s u b m a r i n e s w i t h n u c l e a r tipped ballistic missiles) will be commissioned within a month or two She will then join her sister INS Arihant, which became fully operational in 2018,” a source said Parallelly, on the conv e n t i o n a l ( n o n - n u c l e a r ) warfare front, the around £4 bn project to indigenously construct two nuclear-powe r e d s u b m a r i n e s , a r m e d w i t h t o r p e d o e s , a n t i

p

and land-attack missiles, is now before the PM-led cabinet committee on security

tions The initial case was f

(called SSNs) under ‘Project77 ’ at the SBC But it was w

d n o w stands at two vessels It will take a decade to build the first two SSNs, which will be a

9

n o u s , while the next four will be approved at a later stage, the source said A s p e r l o n g - s t a n d i n g a p p r o v e d p l a n s , I n d i a requires at least 18 diesele l e c t r i c s u b m a r i n e s , f o u r SSBNs and six SSNs to tackl e t h e t w i n t h

m

China and Pakistan, which is also turning collusive in the maritime domain after the land borders

The country, however, currently has only one SSBN in INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, and 16 diesele l e c t r i c s u b m a r i n e s Moreover, the conventional u n d e r w a t e r c o m b a t f l

t consists of six old Russian Kilo-class and four German H D W

Scorpenes

I n c o n t r a s t , C h i n a already has around 60 submarines, and is fast building m

includes six Jin-class SSBNs,

and six SSNs

Rain fury claims 31 lives in Rajasthan, UP, Himachal and Punjab

Rain fury in th e no rth left 31

p eo p le de ad o n S u n da y across Rajasth an, Himach al, UP and P unjab, where nine f r o m a n ex te nd ed fa mi l y w er e w as h e d aw ay af te r their car sank in a stream At l e as t e i gh t p e o p l e wer e missing in th e fo ur states

R a j a s t h a n , e s p e c i a l l y Jaipur and Bharatpur, bore the brunt of the monsoon misery, with 17 deaths and five people missing The five had gone for a dip at Kanota dam in Jaipur

I n B h a r a t p u r , s e v e n young men posing for reels near the Banganga fell into the river and lost their lives after ground beneath them

c a v e d i n T h r e e y o u t h s drowned in a rain-fed pond in Jhunjhunu after getting stuck in sludge In Karauli district, which witnessed a

f l o o d - l

record rainfall of 380 mm on Sunday, a man and his 10-year-old son were killed when a portion of a neighbour’s house collapsed on their home Jodhpur report-

e d f i v e

that of a 17-year-old who

d r o w n e d i n K

a n a l a k e during trekking

T h e h e a v y r a i n

caused widespread damage throughout Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reviewed the situation and instructed officials to provide timely help to the affected In Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, nine died when their Innova was negotiating a seasonal stream at Jaijon Doaba vill

H

locals, the driver apparently misjudged the depth of the

crossing it A teen was resc u e d b u t t w

missing

“The strong flow swept the Innova away Two-three of us immediately rushed to get a rope and the bulldozer driver tried to reach them, but he had to fall back due to the swift currents Those

teenaged boy was pushed to the side of the stream and

Manoj Kumar Sharma, a villager According to Sharma,

could do nothing In UP’s Jalaun, a woman and her s e v e n - y e

d s o n d i e d after the roof of their house collapsed following rain

Odisha plans India’s first university for the blind

I nd i a ’ s fi rs t i nte rna ti o na l university for th e blind will com e up in Odish a, pro viding ed ucation and tech nical courses, officials said India has over 50,00,000 blind people and Odisha is h o m e t o o v e r 5 , 2 1 , 0 0 0 , including 200,000 young p o p u l a t i o n “ W e n e e d a comprehensive and exclusive university for them to cater to their education and t r a i n i n g n e e d s , ” s a i d

Sannyashai Behera, a blind deputy secretary of Social Security and Empowerment

of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department

N a m e d a f t e r B h i m a

Bhoi, a blind poet and 19th century social reformer, the university will have a centre of excellence on technology, besides schools for higher education

A

Tsukuba, a famous special school for the blind, met S S

“We will soon send

proposal to CM Mohan Charan M

Japan delegation will also meet him,” said Behera

The plan includes acces-

with an advanced digital lab on the varsity campus SSEPD principal secretary Bishnupada Sethi said,

“We are planning to set up a campus to provide education to students from Class IX onwards from India and

SC stays Mumbai college's hijab ban, but no burqa on campus

S up rem e C ourt stayed till Nov 18 a Mumbai colleg e ’ s c i rc u lar b an ni ng s tu d e nts fro m w earing h ijab, cap or bad ge but allow ed the educational institu tion to continue enforcing its circu lar banning wearing of burqa, niqab or stole in its premises A b e n c h o f J u s t i c e s

Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar issued notice to the college on a petition jointly f i l e d b y t h r e e s t u d e n t sZ a i n a b A b d u l Q a y y u m

Choudhary, Nasreen Bano Mohd Tanzim Shaikh and Nazneen Mazhar Ansariappealing against a Bombay HC order upholding the college circular

It said, “In the meanwhile, we stay clause 2 of the circular to the extent that it directs that no hijab, cap or badge will be permitted ” Clause 2 of the circular reads, “You (students) shall follow the dress code of college of formal and decent dress which shall not reveal

anyone ’ s religion such as ‘ no burkha, no niqab, no hijab, no cap, no badge, no stole etc Only full or half shirt and normal trousers

f o r b o y s a n d a n y Indian/western non-revealing dress for girls on the college campus

The Justice Khanna-led bench, however, orally clarified that no burqa can be worn by anyone inside the college or classrooms The interim stay was confined to the ban on wearing hijab, cap or badge

Appearing for ‘Chembur

T r o m b a y E d u c a t i o n a l Society’, under which the c o l

Madhavi Divan said there

w e r e 4 4 1 M u s l i m w o m e n students pursuing various courses in the college and none of them, except the three petitioners, had any objection to the circular

S h e a p p r e h e n d e d t h a t allowing hijab, which is a barrier to female students

Amit Shah objects to Akhilesh’s remarks on rights of Speaker

H o m e m i ni s ter A m it S h a h o bj e ct ed to remarks m ad e by Sam ajw ad i Party chi ef A khilesh Yadav , who claim ed that the rig hts of the Lok Sabha Speaker are being curtailed

A fter Bhojshala, a new con-

t ro v e rs y h a s em e rg e d i n M ad hya P radesh, this time

a ro u nd th e anc i en t V i j ay S u r ya M and ir i n M P ’ s V id isha th at is m anaged by

A rc h aeo l o g

ca l S u r v ey o f India ( ASI) P ictures of this tem ple had g one viral some t im e ag o f or i ts un can ny r es em b la nc e to th e new P arliament bu ild ing

F

religious rituals outside the site on Nag Panchami This y e a r , h o w e v e r , H i n d u groups sought permission to enter the premises and hold

puja on Aug 9 District collector Buddesh Vaishya forwarded their request to ASI, which responded by citing a 1951 gazette notification cate g o r i z i n g t

T

e collector then denied permission for worship, sparking outrage among Hindu groups

They oppose ASI’s classif i c

mosque, asserting that it has been a place of Hindu

mosque

around

10km from Sanchi Stupahas had a tumultuous histor y T h e A S I - B h o p

c l e website says the mosque was constructed on ruins of a Hindu Temple, and one of the inscriptions found on the pillar says it was a temple of Goddess Charchika I t i s b e l i e v e d t o h a v e been built in the 11th-12th Century to honour the Sun God The temple suffered significant damage during M u g h a l

mosque in the17th Century

“This is an insult to the Chair The rights of the Speaker do not belong to the opposition only, but to the whole House Don’t speak in a roundabout way You are not the protector of the Speaker’s rights,” Shah said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also asked Akhilesh Yadav to refrain from commenting about the Chair

Shah’s reaction came in response to Yadav alleging that the rights of the Speaker a r e b e i n g c u r t a i l e d a n d t h e o p p o s i t i o n would have to fight for him The Kannauj MP was addressing LS during the debate on Waqf (Amendment) Bill when he said, “Your rights and our rights are being curtailed I had told you that you are the judge of democracy I have heard that some of your rights are being snatched and we’d have to fight for you ” Birla later told Yadav that he and other members of the House must not comment on the Chair “I expect that no personal remarks are made on the Chair,” he said

getting educated and interacting with others, inside a n e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n would be exploited by vested groups “How will we stop anyone from wearing saffron shawls to the college?” she asked J u s t i c e K h a n n a a s k e d , “Will you stop a student wearing tilak from entering the college?” Going a step f u r t h e r , J u s t i c e K u m a r asked, “Will you stop a student’s entry if she wears a bindi? Should it not be left to the girl to decide what she wants to wear? Where is your initiative to empower women by providing for no dress code? The less said the better ” The bench, while keeping its interim order in force till Nov 18, took note o f D i v a n ’ s a p p r e h e n s i o n s a b o u t t h e i n t e r i m o r d e r being exploited by vested elements and said, “If the interim order is misused, the college will be at liberty to move the SC for appropriate orders ”

At least sev en people, includ ing six wom en, were killed and 16 oth ers inju red in a stampede at Baba Sid dheshwar Nath Tem ple in Bihar’s Jehanabad district

Locals said a clash between a flower vendor and a group of kanwariyas near the S h i v a t e

H i l l s sparked the stampede amid large crowds on Shrawan’s fourth “Somvari (Monday), considered among the most auspicious in the month

“The vendor fled after the stampede P o l i c e h a v e l a u n c h e d a m a n h u n t , ” Jehanabad DM Alankrita Pandey said

According to SP Arvind Pratap Singh, people at the front started moving back after the clash, leading to a stampede on a staircase where many of them fell “Most of the victims were in their 30s and 40s, ” the SP said The DM denied allegations of police lathi-charge “The temple sees a massive turnout of 50,000 to 100,000 devotees on Somvari,” Pandey said

Calcutta HC entrusts rape-murder

order by the Calcutta High Court The court noted

after the doctor was found dead in its seminar hall on

independent body to ensure

tampered with

T h e c o u r t

d o w n heavily on Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the state-run college, saying it was "disheartening" that he

w a s n o t " p r o a c t i v e " T h e court also flagged that the former Principal was given

t h e s a m e r o l e i n a n o t h e r

c o l l e g e h o u r s a f t e r h e resigned and said he must be i m m e d i a t e l y r e l i e v e d o f

duties and sent on leave Dr Ghosh stepped down on Monday, saying that he cannot take the humiliation on social media in the wake of the doctor's rape-murder Hours later, he was given a new role as the Principal of C a l c u t t a N a t i o n a l M e d i

College This sparked

wave o

g doctors questioned the rush behind his new appointment P

l l i n g u p t h e s t a t e government for giving a new role to Dr Ghosh shortly after h

a

authority should have borne in mind the circumstances under which the resignation was given Therefore, even

accepted, the least that can b

department is to release the P

administrative responsibility and not assign him any other duty of equal responsibility This professor has been made Principal of another medical college It is not clear as to w

victim or the family of the victim "The case on hand is a peculiar case There should be no further loss of time There may be possibility of

the court said

Police must complete their p r o b e b y S u n d a y , f a i l i n g which the state government

w o u l d r e c

d a C B I probe if the victims' parents want Opposition parties, led by the BJP, had demanded a c e n t r a l a g e n c y p r o b e , warning against tampering of p r o o f i f s t a t e p o l i c e investigated the case that has sent shockwaves through the nation

O n M o n d a y , g o v t h o s p i t a l s a c r o s s I n d i a

e x p e r i e n c e d s i g n i f i c a n t

d i s r u p t i o n s i n o u t p a t i e n t services and routine surgeries a s r e s i d e n t d o c t o r s s t a g e d widespread protests against the rape and murder of a y o u n g d o c t o r i n K o l k a t q a

The protest highlighted the growing outrage within the medical community over the gruesome incident and the p e r c e i v e d i n a d e q u a c i e s i n probing it Hospitals in Delhi a n d K o l k a t a w e r e m o s t a f f e c t e d a s t h e t w o c i t i e s emerged as the epicentres of the protest

PM Modi releases 109 high yielding crop varieties

P M N arendra Mo di released

1 0 9 h i gh y i e l d i ng , c l i m a te

i l i en t and bi o f o

r e

t i f i e d varieties of 61 crop s, includi ng

3 4 f i el d c ro p s and 2 7 h o r t i c u l tu r al c ro p s , an d s uggested that Kri shi Vigyan

K e nd r as s h o u l d p ro a c ti v el y i nf orm farmers abo ut benefi ts o f new varieties Farmers wi ll

r e ce i v e s e ed s o f a l l ne w varieties withi n th ree years

L a u d i n g

varieties, he said they would lead to value addition, thus boosting farmers’ income PM proposed that experts from

K V K s , I C A R a n d s t a t e

a g r i c u l t u r a l u n i v e r s i t i

engage with farmers one day each month and the goal of

price for their produce either t h r o u g h M S P o r o t h e r interventions

u g h mutual learning

Such an exchange will be h e l p

These crop varieties have been developed for different agro-climatic zones of the country, focusing on short duration, resistance to floods

a n d d r o u g h

Interacting with farmers at the farms of ICAR-IARI, M o d i s a i d t h e s e c l i m a t e resilient varieties of different crops will increase yield as well as farmers’ income in a d d i t i o n t o e n c o u r a g i n g them towards environmentfriendly sustainable farming

p r a c t i c e s T h e P M a l s o

d i s

a l f a r m i n g

h e s a i d p e o p l e h a v e s t a r t e d consuming and demanding organic food and adoption of organic farming will be quite beneficial for farmers

A g r i c u l t u r e m i n i s t e r

ious Wa qf (Ame ndme nt ) Bill, 2024 was re ferr ed t o join t pa rlia men tar y committ ee (JPC), a 31member p ane l includ in g 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 1 0 R ajy a Sabha MPs was con stitute d to look into th e le gislat ion

U n i o n p a r l i a m e n t a r y a f f a i

proposed the names of 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs for the JPC

The 21 MPs from Lok Sabha who will be members of the JPC are Jagdambika Pal, Nishikant Dubey, Tejasvi Surya, A p

Gangopadhyay, DK Aruna, Gaurav Gogoi, Imran Masood, Mohammad Jawed, Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi, Kalyan Banerjee, A Raja, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Dileshwar Kamait, Arvind Sawant, Suresh Gopinath, Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Arun Bharti and Asaduddin Owaisi

In Rajya Sabha, Kiren Rijiju proposed the names of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs - Brij Lal, Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni, G

Hussain, Mohammed Nadeem Ul Haq, V Vijayasai Reddy, M Mohamed Abdulla, Sanjay Singh and Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade

Opposition parties including Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM have strongly opposed the b

constitutional provisions While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that it should be sent to a standing committee The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995

Delhi reaches out to new Dhaka regime, talks of people’s interest

While Indi a has so far, unlike the US, not welcomed the f or m at i on o f a n i n te r i m g ov t i n

B an gl ade s h, Ne w Delhi showed the first clear si gn of re a c hi n g ou t to the new regime in

D h ak a a s i t s a i d t he interes ts of the people of the c oun try are foremost on its mind

This follows remarks by f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r S

S h i v r a j S i n g h C h

g b e t t e r

section of them has been on p

/ h e a t , a n d adaptability to various biotic and abiotic conditions

accompanied Modi to ICARIARI farms

Amit Shah joins Ahmedabad's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' rally

U ni o n H o m e M i ni s ter A m i t S h ah jo ined the 'Har Gh ar Tirang a' rally in A hmedabad

Home Minister Amit Shah stated, "This Tiranga Yatra aims to inspire

p a

h throughout India I urge everyone to ensure that every household in Gujarat flies our national flag on August 15 The next 25 years represent our 'Amrit Kaal,'

a time when the youth must come t o

forefront of the global stage " The yatra featured a 2,151-foot-long T r i c

personnel from various forces "Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, our flag now proudly flies on the Moon a historic achievement unmatched by

leading role in the global fight against Covid-19 with our vaccines," said the Home Minister The yatra is part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative, which

inspire patriotism among citizens

J a i s h a n k a r i n P a r l i a m e n t earlier this week that it had repeatedly advised restraint and urged political forces, without naming the Sheikh Hasina govt, to resolve the situation that caused her d o w n f a l l w i t h d i a l o g u e

The remark was seen as a s t e p t o w a r d s a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f t h e anti-Hasina mood in the country The minister had a l s o s a i d t h a t v a r i o u s a c t i o n s a n d d e c i s i o n s t o d e a l w i t h t h e p u b l i c agitation only exacerbated t h e s i t u a t i o n H a s i n a ’ s e x c e s s i v e u s e o f f o r c e against the protesters was said to have hastened her departure W h i l e d i s c u s s i n g t h e threat to Indian citizens, govt s o u r c e s a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e Indian high commission in Dhaka in coordination with B a n g l a d e s h A r m y w a s facilitating “safe passage ” for I n d i a n n a t i o n a l s t o t h e border In its first remarks on the situation in Dhaka after H a s i n a ’ s e x i t , m i n i s t r y o f e x t e r n a l a f f a i r s ( M E A ) underscored primacy of the p e o p l e ’ s i n t e r e s t s “ T h

‘Dead for a decade’, UP teacher found doing maths at Indo-Bangla border

T he t e n s e In d o- B a n g l a Pe t r a po l e b or der in North 24-Par ganas, where b ot h Ban gladeshi and Indian citizen s ha ve ga th er ed d ue t o the curr en t t urmoil in the ne ighbouring count ry, w a s sc e n e of a n u n usu

t re ce ntly

Last week, locals found a man in his early 40s in ragged clothes solving mathematical problems with a stick

n probe, police found that the man, who seemed disoriented, was one

Amit Kumar Prasad, a mathematics teacher from UP’s Gorakhpur, who has been missing for over a decade

Local police, with the help of Ham radio enthusiasts, reunited Prasad with his family His father, Gama Prasad, came to the Petrapole Police Station with his relatives from Bargo in Gorakhpur, marking an end to years of search for him

Family members said Prasad used to teach maths at a school in their home town for several years before he went missing Gama Prasad said:

school, my son taught mathematics to more than 250 students from poor families in at least five neighbouring villages - free of cost His love for mathematics began during childhood and he started teaching early Later, he suffered from a mental ailment and went missing We looked for him f

expected to see him alive after so many years

operator, said: “Locals found him

equations

When they

asked him for his identity, he didn’t reply and went further away to the

equations He told them to leave him alone, in Hindi, after they persisted in questioning him, at which they informed the police ” Ambarish Nag

Radio Club, said: “Police contacted us to help Online locate Prasad’s family I spoke to the man and circulated his photo in the network of Ham radio

o p e

search for his family Later, we got in touch with his father ”

Muhammad Yunus & Narendra Modi

Video shows diver swimming next to blue whale in Maldives

In an unforgettable underwater adventure, a lucky diver had the privilege of swimming alongside a magnificent blue whale in the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives The heart-stopping moment was captured in a stunning video, which has left the internet mesmerised The footage transports viewers to a magical underwater wonderland, where the diver glides effortlessly beside the whale's massive form As the video unfolds, the diver named Laikko swims daringly close to the whale's majestic fin before pausing, turning, and gazing directly at the camera ''The best moment of my life gliding along with the largest animal on earth blue whale,'' the video was captioned on Instagram The aweinspiring encounter between a human and nature has left internet users stunned Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever existed on Earth, with some reaching lengths of up to 33 meters (108 feet) and weighing up to 180 metric tons (200 tons) A blue whale's heart alone can weigh as much as a car, around 400 pounds (180 kg) Despite their massive size, they can swim at speeds of up to 30 km per hour

Married girl barred from attending class

A 19-year-old student of class XI, was denied permission to attend classes at an inter college in Almora after her marriage, with the school citing “policies against married students” for the decision The school authorities said “allowing a married woman to sit in the classroom would disrupt the school’s environment” and suggested that she continue her education privately Simran, a resident of Niyaz Ganj area, had been studying in Anand Singh Government Girls’ Inter College since class 8 After her wedding on July 28, when she returned to school, she was not allowed to sit in the classroom Despite repeated pleas by her family, the school administration remained steadfast in its decision School principal Vijaya Pant, when asked said, “It’s the first time that a married student wants to attend classes The school’s regulations do not permit admission of married students since it would have an impact on other students However, after considering her request, we told her that if higher authorities grant permission, she would be allowed to attend classes ” Simran wrote a letter to the chief education officer of Almora, Amba Balodi When contacted, Balodi acknowledged there was no rule that prevented a married student from attending classes

Vigyan Ratna award for Govindarajan Padmanabhan

Celebrated biochemist Govindarajan Padmanabhan was selected for the first ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award, the top-most science award in the country, while Isro’s Chandrayaan-3 team was selected for the first ‘Vigyan Team’ award with the govt announcing 33 names for the ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ 2024 under four categories Padma Bhushan awardee Padmanabhan is an honorary professor at IISc, Bengaluru The list of 33 awardees include 18 ‘Vigyan Yuva: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar’ award for young scientists and 13 ‘Vigyan Shri’ awards The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu in Rashtrapati Bhavan on National Space Day August 23 ‘Vigyan Ratna’ will be awarded to recognise lifetime achievements and contributions in a given field of science and technology, whereas ‘Vigyan Shri’ will be given to recognise distinguished contributions ‘Vigyan Yuva’ award is meant to recognise and encourage young scientists while ‘Vigyan Team’ award will be given to a team comprising three or more scientists who have made an exceptional contribution The govt had instituted ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’ in Jan by rationalising all science awards in the country on the lines of Padma awards where the awardees will be given a medallion and ‘sanad’ (citation) Unlike earlier science awards, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar will not have a cash component

Man mistakes cobra for cloth; narrowly escapes snakebite

A technician narrowly escaped being bitten by a baby cobra after mistaking the reptile for a piece of cloth inside a washing machine in Kerala’s Kannur district The shocking encounter occurred at the residence of PV Babu in Taliparamba Janardhanan Kadamberi, the technician, arrived at Babu’s home to repair a malfunctioning washing machine After completing the initial repairs, Kadamberi switched the machine on to test if it was working properly As he peered inside, he noticed something unusual and, believing it to be a piece of cloth, reached for in To his horror, he realized it was a snake and quickly withdrew his hand and immediately informed the house owner, Babu Babu said,”We have no idea how a snake entered it We are still clueless,” as he mentioned that the machine had not been working for the past two weeks and the lid was kept closed Upon being alerted, Babu contacted an animal rescue team A rescuer arrived and carefully captured the baby cobra and subsequently released it into a nearby forest, ensuring the safety of both the reptile and the residents

Broader change in marriage

priorities

Fair Beautiful Thin These attributes once part of matrimonial ads are making way for the new beauty gauge - confidence, intelligence, emotional maturity and a touch of ‘chocolate/caramel skin' - as society is fully primed to shift from long-held, long- unquestioned societal norms Boxed in by narrow beauty standards perpetuated by matrimonial advertisements with trite descriptors, young women and brides-to-be are coming under unralistic expectations and pressure Now, the kids on the marriage block are embracing their authentic selves Brides-to-be are among the worse impacted by societal pressure to meet beauty standards, often feeling the need to conform to certain ideals just to find a suitable partner However, a new generation is pushing back against these narrow definitions of beauty People are looking for traits like smart, financially independent, and politically aware partners, said a matchmaker, indicating a broader change in marriage priorities 13-year-old swallows pin, doctors retrieve it from her lung

A 13-year-old girl from Rajapur in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri, narrowly escaped fatality after accidentally swallowing a pin Doctors retrieved the pin, ensuring its sharp edge doesn’t puncture the lung lobe Kriti Kumar (name changed), a school-going girl, ingested the pin by mistake while holding it in her mouth to wear her scarf She was immediately taken to a hospital in Ratnagiri, where she underwent an endoscopic procedure to check if the pin was in the stomach However, it could not be seen, raising suspicion that the pin was in the lungs Pulmonologist Dr Shahid Patel said, “The child came in an emergency, but she was stable and her X-ray disclosed that the pin was lodged in the lower lobe of the left lung ” The girl was immediately taken up for emergency bronchoscopic removal of a foreign body

Muizzu meets Jaishankar, says India a key ally

A m id si g n s o f a t ha w in India-Maldives ties for pa st f e w mo n t h s, Pr e s id e n t Mohamed Muizzu met visiting Indian foreign minist er S J a i sh a n k a r a n d , a s t he y pre sided over cer emon y for in aug ura tion of w at er a nd s a n it a t i o n pr o je c t s s pr e a d over 28 islan ds, cal led India one of Mal dives’ close st all ies a nd inv aluabl e partn ers

J a i s h a n k a r s a i d I n d i a -

M a l d i v e s d e v e l o p m e n t cooperation embodies “the motto of our partnership –I m a g i n e d b y M a l d i v e s , Delivered by India” “It will be our endeavour to harness this defining feature of our

r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d s c a l e

g r e a t e r h e i g h t s I h o p e

E x c e l l e n c y P r e s i d e n t w i t h your guidance and encouragement, our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision will form an important milestone in the journey of our two nations

together,” the EAM further said

D u r i n g t h e e v

firmed his administration’s f u l l c o

n t t o strengthening the historic

between the Maldives and India, a press release issued by his office said “India has always been one of the clos-

Maldives has needed it,” he

said Muizzu extended deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Indian govt, and the “friendly people” of India for their “ generous and continu

” t o t h e Maldives He also recalled his recent visit to India, to attend the swearing-in cerem o n y o f P M M o d i a n d expressed appreciation for t h

n d t h e opportunity to meet him as well as President Droupadi Murmu

L&T urges govt to use private providers for military deals

In dia ne eds to give more busin ess t o d omest ic priva te compan ies in d efence pr ocureme nt cur ren tly domina te d by st at e-owne d compa nie s and import s, accord ing t o the chief fina ncial officer of on e of t he coun try ’ s lar gest en ginee ring an d con st ruction compan ies

Larsen & Toubro finance chief R Shankar Raman said in an interview that the company ’ s production abilities exceeded the proc u r e m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f f e r e d b y t h e Indian government

T h e c o n g l o m e r a t e , w h i c h g e n e r a t e s about 5 per cent of its $27 bn annual revenues from defence, recently signed deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars to help construct ships for India’s navy and supply the air force with radar equipment It also manufactures weapons delivery and air defence systems

“We’ve been constantly lobbying saying that the government should fast-forward this whole programme, ” said Raman

“Defence infrastructure needs [an] overhaul and I think they need capable people to deliver that,” he added “We do think that the capacity that we have far exceeds the oppor-

tunity we get today

China and Pakistan, is the biggest importer of military hardware in the world for a wide range of kit, including fighter jets, tanks and helicopters Russia is New Delhi’s largest arms supplier I

Narendra Modi’s administration has liberalised defence procurement and raised bidding transparency, allowing more groups to win military contracts

But New Delhi remains reliant on more than a dozen state-owned corporations, such a

Electronics, which have struggled to produce a world class defence industry and which Raman characterised as “not very efficient” M

, including L&T, Adani Group and Tata Sons, have stepped in to the sector as the Modi government attempts to build out its military technology and supplies New Delhi has to “get out of the mindset

d mean profiteering at government expense ” , said Raman

British envoy meets Gujarat CM, discusses industrial, Olympic ambitions

T h e B ri ti s h H i g h C o m m is s i o ner to I nd i a , L i nd y C a m ero n , m et G uj a rat C h i ef M i ni s ter Bhup endra Patel and held ta lk s t o br id g e t h e g a p between th e two cou ntries C ameron was on h er first v isit to Gujarat after assu mi ng o ff i c e S h e w as w e lcom ed to th e state secretariat by the C M C a m e r o n m e n t i o n e d how the Gujarati diaspora and the Indian communities residing in Britain have contributed significantly to the b u s i n e s s i n d u s t r y T h e

British envoy expressed the country’s eagerness towards i n v e s t m e n t f r o m G u j a r a t She also thanked the state government for their coope r a t i o n w i t h t h e B r i t i s h

e n t i t i e s o p e r a t i o n a l i n Gujarat

C M P a t e l e m p h a s i s e d

Gujarat’s contribution as a leading state in the renewable energy sectors includi

world’s largest hybrid energy park under construction in Kutch

move forward

expertise in cyber security to Gujarat and mentioned the

c

National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) CM Patel also brought up Gujarat’s willingness to host the 2036 Olympics and expressed hope in gaining expertise from his British c o u n t e r p a r t s f

p l a n n i n g the event Patel sought consultations for a sustainable infrastructure and logistics for the games, which can be utilised even after completion of the event

Mohamed Muizzu and S Jaishankar

British envoy Linda Cameron and Bhupendra Patel

How To Manage Guilt When Setting Boundaries

Psychologist Mamta Saha

Dear Readers,

How are you all d oing? As we mov e into the late su mmer of 20 24, with the d ays still warm and the evenings beg inning to co ol, I hope you ’ v e found som e tim e to enjoy the season w ith friends and fam ily A mid these mom ents, have you taken a moment to recog nize yourself and say, “I’ ve done w ell despite the ch allenges I’ve faced”? It’ s crucial not to u nd erestimate the impact that life’s stresses can have on o ur m ental health

I

responsibility to the next But how often do we stop to consider the toll this takes on our well-being? When was the last time you gave yourself a moment to pause and reflect?

Many of my clients are still grappling with finding a

disconnected from loved ones, which can stir up feelings of loneliness Others have become so caught up in work that they’ve forgotten to prioritize self-care, leading to anxiety My advice? Don’t suppress your feelings acknowledge them It might feel intimidating, but facing your emotions is the first step toward lightening the load

Some clients are also finding it difficult to build or maintain relationships after long periods of limited social interaction Reconnecting with others can sometimes lead

remember that our experiences shape us, and that can sometimes lead to friction in our interactions

To help you navigate these challenges, I’ve created a Masterclass called *Emotionally Stronger* This class is designed to help you manage emotional heaviness in a productive and straightforward way We’ll focus on tools to cultivate inner peace and long-term happiness, while also building confidence and self-esteem The class will help you create a clear vision for your future and learn how to handle difficult relationships with your own influence This masterclass is about helping you rediscover and strengthen your true self

If you ’ re ready to take this step, please book your place at [www mamtasaha com](http://www mamtasaha com) I look forward to hearing from you

Scientists hail 'smart' insulin

Scientists hav e d ev eloped a “ho ly g rail” insulin that could transform type 1 diabetes treatm ent by responding to blood sugar levels in real-time

This breakthrough insulin, designed to activate only w h e n n e e d e d

n managing the condition Currently, type 1 diabetes patients must inject synthetic insulin up to 10 times a day to maintain stable blood sugar levels This constant fluctuation can lead to both physical and mental health issues The new glucoseresponsive insulins (GRIs) are a game-changer Developed by researchers in the US, Australia, and China, these insulins work by mimicking the body’s natural response to blood sugar changes They activate only when blood sugar is high and become inactive when levels normalise, potentially reducing the need for frequent injections

Unlike standard insulins that stabilise blood sugar but d o n ’ t a d a p t t o f u t u r e f l u c t u a t i o n s , G R I s o f f e r a m o r e dynamic solution Experts believe that with these smart insulins, patients might need injections as infrequently as once a week

This innovation is receiving significant support through g r a n t s f r o m t h e T y p e 1 D i a b e t e s G r a n d C h a l l e n g e , a collaboration between Diabetes UK, JDRF, and the Steve Morgan Foundation, which is investing £50 million into advancing new treatments for type 1 diabetes

Cool it down, heal it up

To manage pain and swelling in the first 48 hours after an injury, apply a bag of frozen peas, a plastic bag of ice, or a wet towel with ice You can also use this method for recurring injuries, but only after physical activity not before. Limit ice application to 20 minutes at a time, and remove it immediately if your skin becomes red

Fit and fab at university: Why exercise rocks

motivation to exercise after

teaming up with a friend A fitness buddy can provide

Explore the sports clubs and societies available at your university, such as football, hockey, rugby, table tennis, or rowing If the idea of g

like jogging for 15 minutes, but remember that fitness is a

pushing yourself too hard in

others at swimming, and some may prefer different

Consider whether you like group activities or prefer w

the importance of balance

Strive for

healthy lifestyle

experiences university life has to offer Balance is key to maintaining both your well-being and a fulfilling university experience

enjoyable Exercising with someone can add

social

making you look forward to workouts and helping you both stay on track J

intimidating, invite a friend to join you Alternatively, start your own sports team to meet new people while

your social life and keep you motivated

Maintain a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable for you

Choose activities you enjoy: Select exercises that y o u e n

comfortable doing Some people excel at running,

Strawberries: A super fruit for summer

The strawberry is em erging as a new sup erfruit, boasting

health benefits of oranges Rich in minerals such as potassium and manganese, strawberries offer numerous reasons to indulge in this vibrant fruit this summer

D

Wimbledon tournament, 1 9

their popularity But

, strawberries are packed with health benefits Few fruits can match the

ingredient in a variety of dishes, drinks, and desserts F

o m

u i t t a r t s a n d s m o o t h i e s t o s t r a w b e r r y

s h o r t c a k e , f l a v o u r e d lemonade, yogurt parfaits, and daiquiris, strawberries are a staple in many recipes

E v e n s t r a w b e r r y - f l a v o u r e d candy, like pink strawberry

S t a r b u r s t s , i s h i g h l y favoured

This is great news for

s t r a w b e r r y f a r m e r s a n d

d i s t r i b u t o r s , b u t i t ' s a l s o

b e n e f i c i a l f o r c o n s u m e r s who enjoy the fruit's health advantages Strawberries are

n u t r i e n t - d e n s e , w i t h e a c h

b e r r y c o n t a i n i n g a r o u n d

2 0 0 s e e d s t h a t p r o v i d e a significant amount of fibre They also contain pectin, a

type of fibre that h e l p s y o u f e e l f u l l e r l o n g e r a n d

s u p p o r t s g u t health by feeding beneficial bacteria

This is one reason

s t r a w b e r r i e s c a n a i d i n a p p e t i t e control

In addition to their fibre and antioxidant

c o n t e n t , s t r a w b e r r i e s a r e

p a c k e d w i t h p r o t e i n , c a l c i u m , v i t a m i n A , i r o n , m a g n e s i u m , p h o s p h o r u s , niacin, and folate They are

a n e x c e l l e n t s o u r c e o f p o t a s s i u m , w h i c h h e l p s regulate blood pressure and reduce stroke risk Low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat, strawberries also have

into your daily routine can b

‘Soup and shakes’ diet on NHS remits diabetes

A d iet program consisting of jus t 80 0 calo ries p er d ay, know n as th e " so up s and sh a ke s" d ie t, c o u ld potentially help tho usand s o f p eo p le w i th typ e 2 diabetes put their co nd ition into remission, according to experts

The program, officially c a l l e d t h e T o t a l D i e t R e p l a c e m e n t ( T D R ) program, involves replacing a patient's regular diet with n u t r i t i o n a l l y c o m p l e t e

A

soups, shakes, and bars for 1 2 w e e k s , f o l l o w e d b y

s u p p o r t t o r e i n t r o d u c e healthy foods and maintain weight loss Participants in t h e N H S p r o g r a m s a w s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s , w i t h a t h i r d o f t h o s e w h o

c o m p l e t e d i t e x p e r i e n c i n g l o w e r b l o o d s u g a r l e v e l s after a year and an average weight loss of nearly 16kg

T h e T D R p r o g r a m restricts participants to 8009 0 0 c a l o r i e s p e r d a y , f a r

b e l o w t h e a v e r a g e d a i l y i n t a k e r e c o m m e n d e d f o r a d u l t s 2 , 5 0 0 c a l o r i e s f o r men and 2,000 for women

In May, the NHS announced a £13 million investment to e x p a n d t h e p r o g r a m n a t i o n w i d e , p o t e n t i a l l y b e n e f i t i n g 5

GP referral

around £1,100 per patient, m a k i

effective for the NHS than

newer weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, which cost about £200 per month and may need to be taken for years to maintain benefits

Adults aged 18 to 65 can enrol in the program if they have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past six years and have a body mass index (BMI) score over 27 if they are white or

New dementia risk factors identified

that addressing these and

childhood and monitoring them throughout life could help prevent or delay the onset of dementia, even in those with a high genetic risk for the condition The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia, led by researchers

o n , U K , f o u n d t h a t approximately nine percent of global dementia cases can be attributed to these newly identified risk factors Specifically, high "bad" cholesterol starting at age 4 0 a c c o u n t s f o r s e v e n p e r c e n t o f c a s e s , w h i l e untreated vision loss in later l i f e c o n t r i b u t e s t o t w o percent Other notable risk factors include lower levels

o f e d u c a t i o n d u r i n g e a r l y life and social isolation in later life, each contributing t o f i v e p e r c e n t o f g l o b a l dementia cases

D e m e n t i a a f f e c t s t h i n k i n g , m e m o r y , a n d decision-making, impacting daily activities Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia The 2020 L a n c e t C o m m i s s i o n h a d previously identified 12 risk factors linked to 40 percent

o f g l o b a l d e m e n t i a c a s e s , including lower education

l e v e l s , a i r p o l l u t i o n , a n d health conditions such as h i g h b l o o d p r e s s u r e , d i a b e t e s , o b e s i t y , a n d depression The number of dementia cases worldwide is expected to nearly triple by 2050, rising from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million In I n d i a a l

John Abraham compares endorsing 'Paan Masala' to 'selling death'

John Abraham, known for his rigorous health and fitness routine, recently criticised actors who endorse 'paan masala' brands during a podcast with Ranveer Allahabadia He compared such endorsements to promoting harmful products that can cause health problems

The ‘Vedaa’ actor emphasised his commitment to being a role model by living honestly and practising what he preaches, stating, “If I’m genuine and live by my principles, I’m a role model But if I present a false image, people will see through it ”

John Abraham further commented, “People promote fitness but also endorse paan masala I respect all my actor friends, but I want to clarify that I’m speaking for myself I refuse to promote something harmful; it’s a matter of principle The paan masala industry’s annual turnover is Rs, 45,000 crore, which indicates government support and explains why it’s not illegal You’re essentially selling death How can you live with that?” This follows criticism of Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar for appearing in paan masala ads, with Akshay recently announcing he would no longer participate in such promotions

Mukesh Rishi regretted

‘Gunda’ role until Saif Ali Khan revealed its cult status

Abhishek Bachchan clears up divorce speculation with Aishwarya

The ongoing rumours about Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan's marriage have been circulating widely on social media, igniting speculation about their relationship The speculation was initially sparked by their social media activity and public appearances, which some interpreted as signs of tension between the couple

Despite the escalating speculation, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan had remained silent, allowing rumours to swirl Recently, however, a viral video featuring Abhishek has brought the issue to the forefront

A

While in Paris for the 2024 Olympics,

claimed he had announced a divorce

speculation

In a clear and direct video statement,

divorce rumours, dismissing them firmly

H

declared that he is “still married” to Aishwarya Rai “I have nothing more to

“You’ve blown it all out of proportion I understand why it’s part of your job to find stories But yes, we ’ re still married

Sorry ” Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai were married in 2007 and welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in November 2011 The couple has appeared together in several films, including ‘Guru’, ‘Dhaai

A k s h a r P r e m K e ’ , ‘ K u c h N a a K a h o ’ , ‘Dhoom 2 ’ , and ‘Umrao Jaan’

Once dismissed as a B-grade film, ‘Gunda’ (1998) has gained cult status, with Mukesh Rishi's character Bulla becoming a fan favourite In a recent interview, Rishi shared that it was Saif Ali Khan who informed him of the film's newfou popularity.

In an interview, Mukesh Rishi sh that he initially accepted the villain in ‘Gunda’ for the pay, but regretted once filming began due to the film's language He noted that while Kant Shah s films were popular, they were considered mainstream Even Shakt Kapoor questioned his decision to ta on the role

Mukesh Rishi recalled when he realised ‘Gunda’ had gained ironic popularity in the internet age He sh that Saif Ali Khan informed him abo the film going viral on social media, which surprised him Reflecting on

lasting appeal, Rishi expressed happiness that the younger generation has found humour in the film, despite his initial concerns about how such roles would affect his image He added that even his daughter now playfully quotes his iconic line, saying, “Bulla, Bulla kya kar raha hai?”

Anand L Rai discusses relationship with Shah Rukh Khan after 'Zero'

Anand L Rai, known for bringing sliceof-life cinema back to Bollywood, recently disc his experience working with Shah Rukh Khan on ‘Zero’ In an interview, he praised Shah Rukh as a "fighter" and noted that their relationship remains strong despite the film's lacklustre box office performance. Asked if his relationship with Shah Rukh Khan changed after ‘Zero’, Raksha Bandhan director Anan Rai responded, "No, ne an actor and star like Shah Rukh, it’s never just about the films Working on ‘Zero’ was one of the best experiences of my life with him, as it was more than filmmaking; it was about understanding life " "He taught us about life over the years

If there's one thing I learned from him, it's how to be a fighter Shah s a true magician, ys bouncing back and rging his own path Our relationship remains unchanged; someone like Shah Rukh Khan doesn’t let hits or flops alter his equation "

Anand L Rai debuted with the thriller ‘Strangers’ (2008) and gained fame with ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ (2011), njhanaa’ (2013), and Weds Manu: Returns’ ( 5) latest directorial is ‘Raksha Bandhan’, featuring Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar Rai recently produced ‘Phir Aayi

a

Hasseen Dillruba’,

romantic-thriller starring Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Sunny Kaushal, directed by Jayprad Desai and written by Kanika Dhillon

Vikram says, “Doctors said I’d never walk again after 23 surgeries”

Fans are excited for the release of Vikram's upcoming film ‘Thangalaan’, where he plays the leader of a tribal community At the film's audio launch, Vikram spoke about the deep connection he felt with his character and how it reflected his own personal experiences

At the audio launch, Vikram became emotional as he shared his physical struggles, revealing, “After an accident, my leg was broken, and doctors told me I would never walk again I spent three years in the hospital and underwent 23 surgeries, but through passion and self-confidence, I made a comeback ” His revelation astonished the other cast members and left them in awe Co-star Parvathy Thiruvothu praised Vikram, expressing that working with him was a dream and calling him the best co-star of her career ‘Thangalaan’, based on true events, delves into how the people of KGF fought to protect their mines from British colonisers and devised strategies to resist exploitation The film is set in the 19th century, before India's independence

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala announce engagement

Actors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are engaged, officially revealing their relationship with photos from the engagement ceremony, which were shared by Chay's father, Nagarjuna Nagarjuna shared on social media, “We are thrilled to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a m We warmly welcome her into our family Congratulations to the couple! Wishing them endless love and happiness God bless! 8 8 8A beginning of infinite love ”

The photos capture Sobhita in a stunning peach silk saree with traditional gold jewellery and peach flowers in her hair, while Chay looks regal in an all-white outfit Sobhita shared unseen engagement pictures on Instagram, including a heartfelt poem about their relationship The images feature them sharing a private moment on a traditional swing, with one shot from behind, another of Sobhita holding Chaitanya’s hand, and a joyful moment of them giggling together The final picture shows Chaitanya holding Sobhita close

Fahadh Faasil, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth on ‘Vettaiyan’ set; ‘Pushpa 2’poster out

Fahadh Faasil, a celebrated figure in Malayalam cinema, recently turned 42 Despite being the son of renowned filmmaker Fazil, his path has not been easy His debut film, ‘Kaiyethum Doorath’, flopped at the box office, but Fahadh has since

evolved into one of the industry’s most acclaimed and versatile actors

On Fahadh Faasil's birthday, the makers of his upcoming Tamil film ‘Vettaiyan’ shared a celebratory photo from the set Posted on Lyca Productions' X (formerly Twitter) account, the image features Fahadh flanked by Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth

“Our Birthday Boy Fahadh Faasil with the two pillars of Indian cinema, Superstar @rajinikanth & Shahenshah @SrBachchan from the sets of #Vettaiyan #HBDFahadhFaasil #FahadhFaasil,” the makers captioned the photo Soon, the comments section of the post was flooded with reactions from fans One user wrote, “Wat a Frame (sic) ” Another commented, “Happy Birthday FaFa (sic) ” “Three Dragons,” read another comment ‘Vettaiyan’ will be Fahadh Faasil's first on-screen collaboration with Rajinikanth and will reunite Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth after three decades The film, set to release on October 10, also stars Rana Daggubati and Manju Warrier

Prashanth reflects : ‘I’ve always made the right script choices’

During a challenging phase of Prashanth's career, when his films were facing delays and poor box-office performance, Prashanth used to send birthday and festive greetings to his Facebook friends One of those messages, received by a young person away from home and at a crossroads in life, had a significant impact Reflecting on this, Prashanth said, “Thank you for sharing your story. It’s moments like these that make us feel we’re doing something right.”

Over the years, Prashanth’s active social media presence led to frequent trolling He finds the uproar amusing, questioning, “Since when did wishing someone become wrong? Isn’t it just basic courtesy?” Currently, he is enjoying the widespread love and support during the promotion of ‘Andhagan’ “I’m forever grateful for the affection from my fans It’s heartwarming to see it grow over time,” he says Prashanth, known as the Top Star, showcases his versatility through a diverse filmography He rarely repeats roles or genres, aiming to push boundaries with each project “The script is always the hero in my films,” he says Films like ‘Shock’, ‘Ponnar Shankar’, and ‘Adaikalam’ highlighted his willingness to explore new genres and themes Despite challenges, Prashanth remains confident in his choices and passion for cinema, believing that everything has finally aligned for ‘Andhagan’

Riteish Deshmukh on OTT challenges: “Platforms have become highly selective”

Actor Riteish Deshmukh believes that OTT platforms have opened up opportunities for actors to explore their craft and take on a variety of roles

However, the 45-year-old, who has starred in several OTT films such as ‘Kakuda’ (2024), ‘Pill’ (2024), and ‘Plan A Plan B’ (2022), notes that actors have become more selective in their choices. He explains, "The digital space offers more diversity in roles, but as actors, no matter how much we want to push our boundaries, we're only as good as the opportunities presented to us "

He adds, “It’s not easy for films to make it onto OTT platforms these days, as they’ve become very selective Platforms need films that will perform well, and understandably so they can’t accept just any film that comes their way ” Deshmukh emphasises that “there are no free lunches in life,” explaining that every film, whether released on OTT or in theatres, involves significant financial considerations "Some platform has to invest that money, and if the film doesn’t attract viewers or fails to perform well, the numbers will dictate how they proceed "

"They might clearly say, ‘I don’t want Riteish; he doesn’t perform well on our platform Cast someone else instead ’ So, it’s not as if this space is any safer," he adds "Additionally, different actors resonate with different platforms "

Vicky Kaushal hails brother Sunny’s performance in ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba’

Vicky Kaushal, celebrating the success of his latest film ‘Bad Newzz’, is lavishing praise on his brother Sunny Kaushal for his role in ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba’ Known for his humility and heartfelt support for his family, Vicky took to Instagram to commend Sunny’s exceptional performance in the film, which also stars Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey

appearance with Sunny at the film's premiere Sharing a picture of them on

“You’ve truly amazed me with your portrayal of such a complex character It’s been done so tastefully I could see

how excited you were to take on this role and how much fun you had bringing it to life I’m

upwards, brother

been steadily carving out a niche with his versatile roles, gaining

and a growing fanbase Although he initially operated in the shadow of his elder brother's success, Sunny has now

promising actor in his own right Sunny Kaushal made his debut in 2016 with ‘Sunshine Music Tours and Travels’ and has since appeared in films such as ‘Gold’ and ‘The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye’

John Cena on Shah Rukh Khan: 'His

words changed my life'

John

Cena, who recently visited India for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s lavish wedding in Mumbai, shared that he was “starstruck” and “emotional” when he met Shah Rukh Khan in person. In a recent interview, the wrestler-turned-actor revealed that SRK’s Ted Talk had a profound im him. "It helped orc a change in my lif said John Cena, w preparing for the release of his film ‘Jackpot’, recentl shared his experience of meeting Shah Rukh Khan in an interview He said, “Shah Rukh gave a Ted Talk that came to me at just the right moment in my life, and his words were incredibly

inspiring They played a key role in orchestrating a change in my life Since then, I’ve been able to recognise the many ‘jackpots’ I’ve been given, and I’ve worked hard to ensure I don’t waste them ” Reflecting on his recent meeting with Shah Rukh Khan, John Cena shared, “It was an emotional moment hand of ho has had ound impact and to xpress what for me ” Cena escribed Shah Rukh Khan as empathetic, kind, and generous He admitted that he was both “awestruck” and “starstruck” after their antastic” and onderful” counter

Sanjay Dutt out of

‘Son of Sardaar

2’ due to UK visa issues

Overa decade after its release, ‘Son of Sardaar’ (2012) is gearing up for a sequel, ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ While the sequel was initially set to feature a showdown between Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt once again, a report by Mid-day reveals that Sanjay Dutt has been replaced by Ravi Kishan.

Sanjay Dutt lost his role in ‘Son of Sardaar 2 ’ , currently being filmed in Scotland and also starring Mrunal Thakur, due to his UK visa application being rejected This issue arose because of his past incarceration A source explained, “Despite travelling to the US since his 1993 arrest, Sanju has repeatedly been denied a UK visa The shoot for ‘Son of Sardaar 2 ’ would have been his first visit to the UK When Ajay Devgn's team learned that

Dutt’s visa request was denied, they decided to replace him with Ravi Kishan ”

The source also noted that Sanjay Dutt's visa issues might affect the shooting of ‘Housefull 5 ’ , which is reportedly scheduled to begin in September in London

When asked if producer Sajid Nadiadwala would need to find a replacement for Sanjay, the source explained, "Sajid has opted for a practical solution While the main shooting takes place in London, all of Sanju’s scenes will be filmed in Mumbai So, there are no concerns on that front "

India end Paris Olympics campaign with 6 medals

The Indian contingent finished their Paris Olympics with 6 medals to their name In what has been a tough watch for the fans, the Indian contingent returns with 5 bronze medals and one silver, falling just short of their best-ever medal tally - which came at the previous Olympics in Tokyo

India s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been marked by a mix of achievements and disappointments The country's athletes have shown resilience and determination, but the overall medal tally has not quite lived up to the expectations set by the Tokyo 2020 Olympics It was expected that India might break the barrier of 10 medals in this Olympics, but with multiple athletes finishing fourth, it did not quite happen

List of medal winners

NEERAJ CHOPRA (javelin)

trophy cabinet It was not one of his best competition days, yet, he won India its first silver medal at the

multiple medals at the Olympics However, his thunder was stolen by

Pakistani construction worker "It was probably the day for a 90m throw It was needed as well I h a v e n ' t t h o u g h t a b o u t i t ( 9 0 m throw) that much But, it is coming to my mind now I gave it my all," Neeraj said after missing the top

step of the podium "When Arshad t h r e w 9 2 9 7 m , I b e l i e v e d i n m y mind that I would be able to do it (90m) today It didn't happen today Let's see when it will happen But the competition was very intense and exciting Winning a medal for my country makes me happy," he added

MANU BHAKER (10m air pistol)

The young shooter from India won two medals in total, becoming independent India's only second female athlete to win two medals Bhaker matched PV Sindhu's feat by winning a bronze in the women's 1

clinching the bronze medal once again in the mixed team event of

Ambani family leads quest for Olympic glory

N ita Amban i, th e wife o f Mukesh who heads Reliance Industri es, has embarked o n a p u

F re nc h c ap

an di n g h erself as the face o f India’s Olymp ic camp aign

A m e m b e r o f t h e

I n t e r n a t i o n a l O l y m p i c

C o m m i t t e e , s h e inaugurated “India House”, a h o s p i

Reliance’s foundation She

a

d

s

c

h

a television adverts and has d e p l o y e d U S p u b l i c relations company Teneo to p r o m o t e h e r i m a g e internationally Ambani’s goals in Paris include lobbying for India -

w h i c h h a s h i s t o r i c a l l y u n d e r p e r f o r m e d a t t h e Olympics - to host the 2036 summer games “India has arrived,” she told a crowd at t h e I n d i a H o u s e o p e n i n g ceremony last month “It is time that the flame, which was first lit in Athens, lights up in our ancient land ” The campaign is already helping the family extend its influence and position R e l i

qualified as one of the favourites to

disappoint She would have won the third medal of this Olympics as

intense shootout at women's 25m pistol event

SARABJOT SINGH (10m air pistol mix team)

Sarabjot Singh secured India's second medal at Paris alongside Manu Bhaker in the 10m air pistol mixed team event The duo won bronze after beating South Korea by just one point Sarabjot Singh was not happy with the result and said that he would try to bring a gold medal from the next Olympics, set to be held at Los Angeles in 2028

SWAPNIL KUSHALE (50m rifle 3P)

S h o o t e r S w a p n i l K u s a l e scripted history, by becoming the first Indian shooter to bag a medal

in the 50m Rifle 3P event Kusale

competition, earning third place with a score of 451 4 points in the final This marked the first time that the Indian shooting contingent have won three medals in a single edition of any Olympics AMAN SEHRAWAT Wrestling)

Sehrawat bagged a bronze medal in

Sehrawat scored a dominating 13-5 win over Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz

t o r e v i v

campaign for Indian wrestlers In the process, Sehrawat became the youngest ever individual Olympic medallist from India at 21 years 0 months and 24 days He betters PV Sindhu’s record, who was 21 years 1 month and 14 days old when she

empty-handed from the Olympics

Sehrawat gave the contingent

to cheer for as he bagged the bronze medal It needs

growth of India’s lucrative s p o r t s s e c t o r I n d i

Group to steelmaker JSW, have all sought to capitalise on their sponsorship of the c

u n t r y ’ s O

y m p i a n s B u t Reliance has in recent years amassed a vast portfolio of sports businesses in a quest to dominate the industry T

Premier League cricket team the Mumbai Indians and a s

Olympics

Many Indians welcome corporate investment as an opportunity to improve the

and

Vinesh Phogat's medal wait

ci a l pr ess relea se tha t it will be furthe r delay in g t he ver dict on the case where Phogat

a n d t h e I n d i a n O ly m pi c A sso ci at ion has cha lle n ge d t h e In t e rn a t io n a l O ly mp ic

Commit tee an d the U nite d Wor ld W restling's decision

"By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration R u l e s f o r t h e O l y m p i c Games, the President of the C A S A d H o c D i v i s i o n extends the time-limit for the Panel to give a decision until 16 August 2024 at 18 h o u r s ( P a r i s t i m e ) , " C A S ' s ad-hoc division has said During the period of the

OG, the Panel shall give a d e c i s i o n w i t h i n 2 4 h o u r s from the conclusion of the hearing or, if no hearing is held, from the conclusion of the evidentiary proceedings, s u b j e c t t o A r t i c l e 2 0 I n exceptional cases, this time limit may be extended by the P r e s i d e n t o r t h e D e p u t y President of the CAS ADD if c i

Outside the period of the OG, the Panel shall give a decision within a reasonable time V i n e s h , i n h e r a p p e a l , had initially requested the ad-hoc bench of the CAS to

another weigh-in and allow her to compete in the final

INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM

India gave PR Sreejesh the perfect farewell as they defeated Spain 2-1 to claim the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics This was the first time India won back-to-back medals for the first time since 1972 Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace after India were behind in the contest to claim the win as they got their record-extending 13th hockey medal at the Olympics

Vinesh Phogat

Nita Ambani