Indian Abroad - June 1-15, 2021 by IndianAbroad

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Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

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Govt owes answer to people India records 1.73L new Covid cases, lowest spike since April 13 on vax shortage: Priyanka

Oldest temple in Victoria commences work on new kitchen with government grant Page 6

ongress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the Narendra Modi-led Central government over the Covid vaccine shortage in the country, wondering why India is facing a shortage despite being one of the leading manufacturers of vaccines, adding the government owes an answer to the people on this issue.

placed in January 2021 when the other countries placed theirs in the summer of 2020?” she wondered. Continued on Page 3

In a tweet, she attached a 30-second video in which she can be heard saying why is India, one of the leading manufacturers of vaccines, facing shortage of it? “Why were orders for vaccines

Australian-Indian solar company senior executive succumbs to Covid-19 in India - Page 7

DJJS Australia marks Indian New Year 2021, exhibits support for Covid-hit India

ndia on Saturday reported 1,73,790 fresh Covid-19 cases while 3,617 patients succumbed to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. This is for the third time since April 13 that India has recorded less than two lakh cases of Covid. On May 25, India has recorded 1.96

lakh cases of Covid, and 1,86,364 cases on May 28. The fatalities have also remained below 4,000 for three consecutive days. India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,77,29,247 with 22,28,724 active cases, and 3,22,512 deaths, so far. Continued on Page 4

Tejpal acquittal: Victim’s normalcy inexplicable, says Goa court

T PM Scott Morrison visits the largest Hindu temple in Melbourne Page 9

One minute Modi-Mamata meeting triggers huge controversy Page 22

Miss Universe: India’s Adline Castelino 3rd runner up - Page 30

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ivya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) Australia, a socio-cultural, global non-profit organization as part of its annual celebrations, marked

the Indian New Year 2021 in Brisbane on May 22nd, expressing solidarity for Covid-struck India through its event “Unite for India” Continued on Page 8

he “normalcy” of the victim’s behaviour following the alleged sexual assault as well as alleged untruths regarding the reasons for her staying back in Goa after the Tehelka Thinkfest in November 2013, may have impaired the prosecution’s case in the rape trial against former editor Tarun Tejpal, according to the judgement.

The judgement by Additional District and Sessions judge North Goa Kshama Joshi has also underlined the “glaring contradictions” in the statements by the victim, her mother and brother and stated that “it would be extremely risky to base the conviction of the accused on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix when it does not Continued on Page 13

Denied water approval,

It’s time for PM to become Adani says it doesn’t affect a ‘leader’, stop blame Carmichael coal mine game: Rahul Gandhi

he beleaguered Adani Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland has hit another snag as the Federal court on May 25 overturned the approval for a

ongress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a virtual press conference on Friday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second wave of Covid-19 and said that it is time for the Prime Minister to become a leader and stop the blame game.

pipeline supplying water to the coal mine citing a legal error in assessment by the Federal government. Continued on Page 4

He said the buck stops at the Prime Minister’s door as it was he who exported the vaccine and not the states. Rahul Gandhi said, “It’s time that the Prime Minister should tell the country that I will arrange vaccines and become a leader and should not worry about his image.”

Continued on Page 22

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Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

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LEAD STORIES

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Covid-19 in India

TN govt to recruit 2,100 doctors, 6K nurses to fight Covid

amil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramaniam on Thursday said that the state government will recruit 2,100 doctors, 6,000 nurses and 3,700 technical staff to strengthen its fight against Covid-19 as it battled a brutal surge.

He also said that the M.K Stalin government has directed all the district administrations to report on the exact number of deaths due to Covid-19 and not to hide the deaths as this would help in creating proper awareness among the people on the gravity of the disease. In a media release the government said it will add 500 more oxygenated beds at the Tirunelveli Medical college hospital in addition to the existing 1,600 beds including 940 oxygenated beds.

She further sought to know why the government exported six crore vaccines to other countries. “The government of India owes and answer to people of India and we have to ask the questions and they will have to answer,” she added. The Congress leader has been critical of the government over the vaccine shortage. On Wednesday, she asked the government about the shortage of vaccines in the country in her series of “Jimmedar Kaun” (who is responsible) posts. She has asked three specific

Due to the micro-level arrangements made by the state government, today, out of the total 20,092 villages in Chhattisgarh, about 9,462 are free from Corona infection.

The statement said that 756 people were affected with mucormycosis (black fungus) infection in the state till Wednesday.

tuted by the government to study the spread of mucormycosis will meet on Friday, the statement read.

The Union government has sent 600 vials of injection to treat the black fungus, it added.

Tamil Nadu, according to the minister, has already vaccinated 75 lakh people in the state and will continue with the vaccination process to the whole populace.

The 10 member committee consti-

questions from the government on her Facebook page -- “When the Prime Minister is saying that they were ready with the plan of vaccination, then why did the government only order 1.60 crore vaccines and why did the government export vaccines at the cost of Indians, and when India is the largest manufacturer of the vaccine, why did it have to import?” She said these are the questions people of India want to ask the government.

India has been hit hard by Covid in the second wave. On Monday, India crossed a grim milestone of three-lakh deaths due to the coro-

The supplied vaccines include both the free of cost category and direct state procurement category, Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 20,80,09,397 doses, reveals the Ministry’s data available at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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More than 1.82 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses (1,82,21,403) are still available with the States and UTs to be administered, it said, adding “furthermore, more than 4 lakh (4,86,180) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States/UTs within the next three days.”

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Central government has been supporting the states and the UTs by providing them Covid vaccines free of cost. In addition, the Centre has also been facilitating direct procurement of

This includes 183 villages out of 704 in Balod district, 402 out of 957 in Baloda Bazar district, 102 out of 636 in Balrampur district, 252 out of 589 in Bastar district, 311 out of 702 in Bemetara district, 491 out of 579 in Bijapur district, 96 out of 708 villages in Bilaspur district, 158 out of 229 in Dantewada, 176 out of 633 in Dhamtari, 377 out of 385 in Durg, 39 out of 222 in Gorella-Pendra-Marwahi, 342 out of 722 in Gariyaband are infection free.

Similarly, 150 villages out of 887 in Janjgir-Champa district, 319 out of 766 in Jashpur, 792 out of 1084 in Kanker, 832 out of 1035 in Kabirdham, 407 out of 569 in Kondagaon, 280 out of 716 in Korba, 352 out of 638 in Koriya, 532 out of 1,153 in Mahasamund, 338 out of 711 in Mungeli, 362 out of 422 in Narayanpur, 173 out of 1,435 in Raigadh, 261 out of 478 in Raipur, 1,204 out of 1,599 in Rajnandgaon, 194 out of 406 in Sukma, 140 out of 544 villages in Surajpur and 197 out of 583 villages in Surguja district are infection free. With the outbreak of second wave of Corona in the urban areas of the state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had directed that all necessary steps should be taken to prevent infection from reaching rural areas. Quarantine centers set up in villages during the first wave were again made operational with stronger arrangements than before. Check-up, stay and treatment arrangements were made in these centers for persons and families returning to villages from other states or urban areas.

Covid vax trials on children in India to begin soon: Govt

he Central government on Thursday announced that Covid-19 vaccine trials on children in the country would begin soon.

Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and the chair of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), Dr Vinod K. Paul, made the announcement on behalf of the government while clearing several myths on India’s Covid-19 vaccination programme doing the rounds. navirus infections, thus becoming world’s third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths.

Over 22.77 cr Covid vax provided to States/Uts, 4L in pipeline

he Centre has so far provided 22,77,62,450 Covid-19 vaccine doses to States and Union Territories (UTs), and 4,86,180 doses are still in the pipeline and will be received by them within next three days.

he Chhattisgarh government has said that over 10,000 villages in the state are completely Covid free as the virus has either not been able to reach there or those infected have already recovered. At present there is not a single Covid-19 case in theses villages, due to the prompt measures initiated by the Chhattisgarh government to prevent infection from reaching these villages, it said.

Govt owes answer to people on vax shortage: Priyanka Continued from Page 1

Over 10K villages in Chhattisgarh are corona-free

vaccines by the states and the UTs. Vaccination is an integral pillar of the comprehensive strategy of the Centre for containment and management of the deadly pandemic, along with Test, Track, Treat and Covid appropriate behaviour as the disease has so far infected 2,77,29,247 people with 22,28,724 active cases and 3,22,512 deaths. India began Covid-19 vaccination drive from January 16 and implemented the Liberalized and Accelerated Phase-3 strategy of the world’s largest vaccination exercise from May 1.

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Clarifying one such myth that “Centre is not taking any step to vaccinate children”, Paul said: “As of now, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children. Also, WHO has no recommendation on vaccinating children.” Paul, however, said that there have been studies about safety of vaccines in children, which have been encouraging. “Trials in children in India are also going to begin soon. However, vaccinating children should not be decided on the basis of panic in WhatsApp groups and because some politicians want to play politics,” Paul said. Paul further said that the decision in this regard is taken by our scientists after adequate data is available based on trials. He also made it clear that the Centre is allotting enough vaccines to the states in a transparent manner as per agreed guidelines

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and they are also being informed in advance of the vaccine availability. Paul also announced that Vaccine availability is going to increase in near future and much more supply would be possible. “In the non-Government of India channel, states are getting 25 per cent of the doses and private hospitals are getting 25 per cent doses. However, the hiccups and issues faced by the people in the administration of these 25 per cent doses by the states leave a lot to be desired. The behaviour of some of our leaders, who in spite of full knowledge of the facts on vaccine supply, appear on TV daily and create panic among the people is very unfortunate. This is not the time to play politics. We need everyone to unite in this fight.”

LEAD STORIES

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Covid-19 in India

HCL to vaccinate all its employees by June 30 H CL, a leading global conglomerate, announced that it has planned vaccinating 100 per cent of its India-based, eligible employees and their families with the first dose of the Covid vaccine before June 30.

According to an official release, HCL (including group companies HCL Technologies, HCL Infosystems and HCL Healthcare, and Shiv Nadar Foundation and its institutions) has already vaccinated more than 25 per cent of its eligible workforce with at least one dose. HCL is investing over Rs 100 crore to ensure free vaccination services for employees and their families, as well as the third-party vendor personnel working with the organization. HCL plans to have administered approximately 700,000 doses (including two doses per person) by the end of the drive. HCL is in discussions with vaccine manufacturers and top-tier hospitals, to provide COVID-19 vaccination support for its India-based employees. To encourage vaccination adoption and raise

awareness about the program, it is running comprehensive communication campaigns targeted at employees. To provide its employees a safe and convenient process for receiving the vaccination, HCL has enabled on-premises vaccination centres. It has been conducting vaccination drives since March 24, offering employees the opportunity to get inoculated at clinics managed by HCL Healthcare and at HCL’s campuses in Noida, Lucknow and Chennai. It is also in the process of making more centres operational in a phased manner. Apparao VV, Chief Human Resources Officer, HCL Technologies said, “At HCL we are taking all necessary initiatives to ensure the safe vaccination of employees and their family members as well as third party vendor personnel who have supported us in keeping our business running in these difficult times. We are working round the clock to provide the best support to our employees and

their families at every stage. Our top-most priority is to vaccinate all our employees and their families as quickly as possible and we have planned to achieve this goal by end of June.” To encourage vaccination adoption and raise awareness about the program, it is running comprehensive communication campaigns targeted at employees. Additionally, it is also working with partner NGOs to support communities where it operates with vaccine registration process, along with providing relevant information regarding COVID-19, as approved by government authorities.

India records 1.73L new Covid cases, lowest spike since April 13

Continued from Page 1

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 2,84,601 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, with 2,51,78,011 being cured from Covid till date. The Health Ministry said that a total of 20,89,02,445 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 30,62,747 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 34,11,19,909

samples have been tested up to May 28 for Covid-19. Of these 20,80,048 samples were tested on Friday.

In the last 18 days, India has recorded over 68,000 deaths. On May 24, India crossed a grim milestone of three-lakh deaths due to the coronavirus infections, thus becoming world’s third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths. India registered record deaths due to Covid exactly a week back with 4,529 deaths -- the highest

number of fatalities from Covid infection in any country since the coronavirus outbreak was reported in China’s Wuhan in December 2019.

It surpassed 4,468 deaths in the US on January 12, and earlier 4,211 in Brazil on April 6. After battling a brutal second wave for weeks, fresh Covid cases came down below the three lakh-mark for the first time on May 17 after touching record high of 4,14,188 on May 7.

Denied water approval, Adani says it doesn’t affect Carmichael coal mine Continued from Page 1

A legal blunder

The North Galiee Water Scheme which would have allowed the Carmichael mine to channelize and store 12.5 billion litres of water from the Suttor River, had previously been examined by a delegate of the federal environment minister, Sussan Ley and it was approved on the grounds that the water scheme itself was not a coalmining activity and therefore

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Ford India workers boycott lunch, press for early action on Covid measures

the mandatory assessment as per Australian environmental laws of the impact of all major coal mining projects on the local water supply was not applicable to it. However, the government’s decision was opposed by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) which appealed to the Federal court to overturn the decision claiming that a major assessment delineating the impact

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bout 900 workers of Ford India Private Ltd on Thursday boycotted lunch demanding an early settlement of their Covid-19 related demands, said a Union official.

infected with coronavirus and two persons died,” a worker preferring anonymity had told IANS.

“About 900 workers boycotted lunch today (Thursday) at the plant. We want the company management to complete the talks early. We felt the management is delaying the talks,” a Union official told IANS.

Prior to that the plant was closed between May 1 and 5 to break the infection chain, they said.

He said only one shift is operated at the factory. The workers have requested Ford India to treat them as frontline Covid warriors as they are risking their lives during the pandemic period to roll out cars. If they die due to Covid-19 their families should be paid a compensation of Rs.50 lakh. “The company can take out a life insurance policy or pay out of its pocket,” a Ford India Union Official told IANS. “At Ford India Private Ltd’s car plant near here over 200 workers out of about 2,700 workers have been of the project on water resources in the region had been erroneously overlooked. The Federal court has recently ruled in ACF’s favour and the whole issue has once again been directed back to the environment minister. The ACF had earlier also won a lawsuit on the same matter based on the argument that the government’s approval had been finalized without substantial consideration of public submissions against the proposal. ACF affirms faith in environmental laws Following the court’s decision, ACF has acknowledged that it is a momentous decision which conforms to the legitimacy of Australia’s environmental laws. ACF’s chief executive officer, Kelly O’Shanassy has stated that it is a huge victory for the regional communities and farmers who rely on the river water for supply of water for essential purposes in the arid area. The group has also expressed its satisfaction with the court’s decision and feels that this has indeed put

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According to workers, the factory started operations on May 24 after being closed from May 11.

A Ford India worker said, requests have been made to the management to implement social distancing norms like 50 per cent occupancy in factory buses, four metre gap between tables in canteen, sensor based taps and others. Ford India’s plant near here rolls out models like EcoSport and Endeavour. “The management has been responsive to our requests. In turn they have asked us to support one shift operation,” a Ford India Union Official had said earlier. The company provides two masks daily for its workers unlike many other automobile units that provide cloth masks once in a couple of months. a spanner in the works of the Carmichael project which has been courting controversies right since its inception due to its alleged potential damaging effects on the ancestral lands, water resources and the Indigenous people-without whose consent the project had been initiated No discernible impact on project continuity With the water pipeline project being deferred for the foreseeable future, questions are being raised on the viability of the project since there are plausible reasons to doubt whether it would have sufficient supply for its water intensive mining and construction work. Nevertheless, the authorities concerned at Adani Mining have stated that this latest obstacle does not affect its ongoing project and potential developments in any way. They have already begun to look into alternatives and do not have any major worries regarding issues that might disrupt the project.

DESI ACHIEVERS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Exemplifying excellence in multiple fields-make way for Anu Samra Multiculturalism in Australia today, for me, is a beautiful mosaic. There is great strength in our diversity and this is what I hope to bring forward through my cultural performances. Why did you choose acting and modelling as your career? I have a full time job where I work with my husband in our family business which ranges from retail to childcare. Acting and modelling are my passion and when you enthusiastically pursue your passion, it becomes your career. What inspires and motivates you? Who is your role model? It is rightly said that contemporary women have the capability to don several hats with great fervour. Well! Today we have a woman who epitomises this as she is not only a full-time homemaker but also a model, actor, businesswoman, wife, mom, and much more. And she handles all this single-handedly. From Jalandhar, Punjab to Australia, she has come a long way. Restarting her career after marriage is never an easy task for any woman but she succeeded in doing so because of her supporting husband and family. From Miss Punjaban at Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, to Mrs Punjaban QLD 2017, she has achieved a lot but given her fervent to excel even more, she is still to reach many more milestones. Let’s see what she has to say about her journey so far and plans ahead. Tell us something about yourself. To be more precise, how would you define yourself? I’m a fashion model, actor, businesswoman, wife and above all else, a mother of a 14 year old. I was born and raised in Jalandhar, Punjab in Northern India. I’ve loved the stage ever since childhood. During my school and university days, I always participated in cultural events such as Giddha, Bhangra and drama. This led me to compete at youth festivals as part of the Giddha team. I was fortunate enough to win Miss Punjaban at Lyallpur Khalsa college. After meeting my husband, I moved to Australia where I started my journey again by reconnecting with my culture through participating in various community events. This led to winning the Mrs Punjaban QLD 2017 title and then going on to a national competition and winning the Mrs Punjaban Australian 2017/2018 title. Australia, being a multicultural society, has given me plenty of opportunities to showcase Indian/Punjabi culture.

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I’m a very family orientated person. My inspiration comes from my family and friends, who have supported me throughout my journey. Especially my husband and son, who always support and encourage me in my endeavours. I come from a small family unit, comprising my mother and my elder brother. I lost my father when I was one. My mother raised us on her own, under very difficult circumstances. Without experiencing her sacrifices, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My role model is my mother. Recently, you were featured in Marquis fashion magazine. How was your experience? It’s always a pleasure to work with creative people. The makeup artists, the photographers and designers are placing their faith in me to display their concept, their brand in a way that does justice to what they are trying to convey. It’s a humbling experience and I’m always attentive to their concept/ brand sensibilities. A quote from Alber Elbaz sums it up, when he states; “Style is the only thing you can’t buy. It’s not in a shopping bag, a label, or a price tag. It’s something reflected from our soul to the outside world, an emotion”. What do you enjoy more? Modelling or acting? It’s a great question, difficult to answer. I can’t choose one over the other as they have both given me fascinating insights into an industry that’s always evolving. I’ve learnt from both and am still learning and continue to do so and I’m very much looking forward to the path ahead. How have the past three years been like for you after winning the pageant in 2018? How has the pageant win changed your life? Over the last three years, I’ve been involved in numerous photo shoots, fashion shows and international and national advertising campaigns. From the Red carpet

events held at the Parliament house, Lakme fashion show, working with Australian designers who have been on the cutting edge of the Australian fashion industry for the last 30 years to shooting commercials for JEEPIndia, EMAAR Property group in Dubai and, the Regional Australia institute TV campaign, I have had a wide array of enriching experiences. Since winning the pageant, I’ve grown in a professional sense through each collaborative experience. So much so, that it was an honour to be chosen to sit on as a panel judge for the Miss & Mrs Punjaban Qld and also the Miss & Mrs Punjaban Perth. However, the greatest gift that I’ve been presented with is that my family continues to provide me with every opportunity to pursue my future goals. Do you think life changes after marriage? If yes, how do you manage your work and home? Yes, absolutely life changes after marriage but in a positive way. Having left my loved ones and moving entire countries, the changes were significant. However, having a supportive family, especially support from my husband, it was made a lot easier to adapt to my new environment. It was a good change for me, as it has made me grow in confidence and strength to further realise my passions. I feel that I have only begun my journey. Coming from Jalandhar to Australia 15 years ago, how do you stay in touch with Punjabi culture? Also do you think that your son may be losing touch with this culture? On Australia day, which also happens to be the Indian Republic day, I performed alongside my son, a cultural dance, for the Gold Coast City Council sponsored event. In that moment my son felt proud to be performing in front of the

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Australian, Aboriginal, and Indian flags. We both felt strength in our diversity. It was a pure celebration of multiculturalism. In this modern age of social media and some politicians espousing populist negative narratives, the popular message has been to assimilate and that you must forget your identity. Participation in these cultural events has shown me and my son that we don’t have to do that. As Indian Australians, we should all be proud of our cultural background and this is what I would like to continue to bring forward into the wider community. I’m often reminded of the Audre Lorde quote, who was an American Civil rights activist and she stated, “It is not our differences that divide us, it is our inability to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences”. So, going forward what are your future plans? There are a few projects in the pipeline; however, in these unique times, we all have to play a waiting game in terms of international projects. My dream would be to feature in a “period piece” Punjabi movie that espouses the wholesome values of a bygone era. No matter where we live, as a Punjaban abroad, I like to think that we take our culture forward by encouraging projects like these so that the new generation can see the benefits and virtues of their beautiful culture.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Oldest temple in Victoria commences work on new kitchen with government grant

ri Vakrathunda Vinayagar Temple in Melbourne which was renovated in January 2021 recently commenced work on upgrading its kitchen with the help of the Victorian government fund which was granted in December last year.

The temple which is revered by the Indian Hindu community and is especially popular among the South Indian community in Australia has begun its work on renovating its kitchen with the help of the $ 500,000 fund approved by the Victorian Government out of the $ 21 million funds which the state government had last year allocated to the development and maintenance of the multicultural community activities. Victoria’s

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence had herself paid a visit to the temple in December 2020 to announce the grant of the funding. Fostering vegetarian diet The temple where Hindus come to pay obeisance to the primary presiding deity Lord Ganesha (elephant god) is dedicated to fostering vegetarian food which the community members believe to be an integral part of the Hindu culture. The temple’s project director Babu Akula is also planning to conduct cookery classes in the new kitchen in order to make vegetarian dishes more popular. Genesis of the temple and growing popularity In August 1989, a ‘breakaway’

group from the Hindu Society of Victoria decided to build a Vinayagar temple which was inaugurated in 1992. The temple secretary Shan Pillai and his wife Parameswary Pillai were among the founding group of members at that time. The 2020 redevelopment project costing $ 4 million which was half financed by a bank loan while the other half was funded through generous donations from the members of the temple, was also carried out under the auspices of this couple. Not surprisingly, the popularity of the temple has coincided with the increasing number of Hindus in Australia over the years. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, in the decade between 1996 and 2016, the num-

ber of people following Hinduism jumped from 150,000 to more than 440,000; so by 2016, Hindus accounted for nearly 1.9 per cent of the total population. An architectural marvel

The temple has not only drawn devout worshippers of Lord Ganesha from India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Singapore and Malaysia over the years but also it has undoubtedly been the cynosure of all eyes because of its extraordinary architectural structure and design. The temple is renovated and reconsecrated after every 12 years as a part of ancient Hindu conventions. Keeping alive this tradition, the temple was refurbished and consecrated anew this year in January. This time around the new

addition was a 17-layer, 350-tonne granite shrine to the elephant god Ganesha. Weighing approximately six tonnes, a single granite piece was utilized to give shape to the dome of the shrine which sits atop the temple roof. The centre shrine is surrounded by ten other shrines covered with manually carved lotuses, peacocks, lions and elephants. Purushothanam Jayaraman, the pioneer of the temple’s original architectural layout has successfully replicated the thousands of years old Dravidian design of temples in Southern India and Sri Lanka. The granite used for the renovation project is from Tamil Nadu and it entailed the work of more than 100 Indian artists.

Victoria’s Minister for Multicutural Affairs Ros Spence had herself paid a visit to the temple in December 2020 to announce the grant of the funding

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

7-year-old Sydney-based Indian-origin Australian citizen, Govind Kant, who had gone to India in April to attend his mother’s funeral, became one of the latest tragic victims of Covid-19. “I am so sorry Mommy-I was not with you.” These were the last words written by Govind Kant on March 31 along with an obituary post announcing his mother’s demise and the virtual meeting to mourn her death on his Facebook profile. Though his mother did not die due to Covid-19, his father had contracted the virus recently and died when the family could not procure an oxygen bed for him. It goes without saying that when Govind made this announcement, he must have been utterly despondent, but little did he know that he himself would fall prey to the deadly virus and tragically succumb to it leaving behind his wife and two daughters. Kant, who is often hailed as the stalwart of Australia’s solar energy industry, had gone to India in April to perform his mother, Rekha Gupta’s last rites but himself con-

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tracted the virus in late April and so, despite being able to secure a flight for Australia on 24th April, he was not allowed to board it. His condition deteriorated further and he was among the thousands of Australian citizens who got stuck in India as the Australian government imposed a stringent ban on flights from India, going to the extent of threatening those who tried to return, with imprisonment of up to five years and heavy fines of more than $60,000. Even though the ban was lifted after May 15 and repatriation flights were resumed following vehement protests by the Indian community, it was too late for the assistant director of Tina Solar Australia who breathed his last on May 16 in a hospital in Delhi.

“We have lost a dear friend and valued colleague. Trina Solar Australia assistant director, Govind Kant, has passed away after contracting the coronavirus in India. Govind, who was based in Sydney for Trina Solar, had returned to India for personal reasons. Unfortunately, Govind contracted the virus in India and has passed away. He was 47 years of age. Words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow that the team at Trina Solar feels for the passing of our exceptional colleague and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Govind and his family, including his wife and two daughters.” the company’s statement posted on LinkedIn said. The company has set up an online memorial on LinkedIn inviting those close to him to share photographs, videos and memories in any other form. His brief biography

Courtesy_Facebook

Govind Kant

Courtesy_Facebook

Australian-Indian solar company senior executive succumbs to Covid-19 in India

Govind Kant with family posted by the company reads as follows, “Govind was a fun-loving person who had a passion for nature. He cherished going on bush walks and exploring new things and new foods, and took joy in listening and dancing to music. He incorporated his passion for the environment into his very successful career, and aimed to inspire the whole country to go solar. He was Employee of the Year for 4 consecutive years. He was the loudest supporter of his daughters’ cricket team. He himself has won many trophies for both tennis and cricket. Most of all, Govind selfless-

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ly gave love to every person he met. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for you. He showered his family with love and joy, and his daughters were the apple of his eye.” The youngest among his three sib-

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lings, Govind had come to Australia in 2001 to do his masters from Macquarie University in Australia but his true passion was always nature and that was primarily why he ventured into marketing for solar power.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

DJJS Australia marks Indian New Year 2021, exhibits support for Covid-hit India

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The event which took place at King George Square, Brisbane CBD from 2 pm to 8 pm was attended by the community members who united for the sole cause of conveying their unequivocal support for Covid-ravaged India as the unprecedented second wave of the pandemic has left the country reeling under the impact of widespread suffering and death. Among the prominent attendees were Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner, Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner, Councillorr Angela Owen, Members of Parliament Mark Robinson, Indian Consulate Archana Singh, GOPIO Queensland Founders Umesh Chandra and Usha Chandra; and other esteemed community leaders.

singing of prayers, meditation sessions and playing of devotional music were the hallmarks of this year’s special celebrations as all these spiritual activities were done with the sole aim of sending positive vibes to heal mother India as well as to assuage the anguish and pain of those who have been the most severely affected by the surge of the pandemic. An exhibition showcasing Indian traditions and rituals was also organised which provided glimpses of social initiatives and Indian cultural heritage. On May 18, DJJS Australia had also conducted a Vishwa Shanti Mahayagya (a supreme yajna for world peace) to combat the currently raging pandemic with Vedic healing formula.

The chanting of Ved mantras,

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Buddha Birthday Festival organised at Chung Tian Temple

ounded by Siddhartha Gautama (popularly referred to as the Buddha), Buddhism is a faith in which the core values comprise of training or disciplining one’s mind (soul) to enable individuals to practice compassion and non-attachment. The title buddha, referred to an enlightened being who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and achieved freedom from suffering. It is believed Maha Maya (Mother of Lord Buddha) dreamt one night that an elephant entered her womb and 10 lunar months later, while taking a stroll through her gardens in Lumbini, her son emerged from under her right arm.

Queensland launches a new online booking system for Covid-19 inoculation

ueensland launched a new online booking system for Covid-19 inoculation as part of the government’s efforts to ramp up the vaccine rollout. The system provides online process for booking and confirming vaccination appointments at community and hospital-based vaccination clinics across the state. The first stage of rollout focuses on vaccinating frontline workers. People aged 40-49 can register for the Pfizer vaccine online. 14

community-based vaccination hubs will be opened by the end of July out of which four community-based vaccination locations have already been stood up across the Wide Bay and Mackay regions. Three community-based vaccination locations in South East Queensland will launch in the coming weeks, with seven more to be progressively opened in other locations. -By Tanishq Ratnakar

Buddhism has spread since then and comprises the third largest religion in Australia growing at 7% since 2011 as per census press release on January 18, 2018, by ABS. On 15th May 2021, people from all walks of life gathered at south bank parklands to commemorate the birth of the Buddha. Red carpet functions have been an active part of this celebration for 6 years now. We recognise with the need to have compassion in all our practices and the importance of giving back to its community. We understand life and work have to co-exist with mother nature and we strive to bringing about the best in everything and everyone. We are the change we want to see in the world today. -Kuenzang Choden

PM Scott Morrison visits the largest Hindu temple in Melbourne

rime Minister Scott Morrison visits Shri Shiva Vishnu temple at Carrum Downs in Melbourne on May 19 to meet Indian community people and thank them for their support during the difficult time. He along with Local MP and Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood organised the event was welcomed with a vibrant reception.

$500,000 grant for the Shiva Vishnu Temple this year. The Temple received the handsome grant from the State Government out of $21 million set aside for upgrading multicultural community facilities,

announced in the state Budget for 2020/21. The funds will go towards a new multipurpose hall to be built on the premises. -Tanishq Ratnakar

He addressed the gathering in the Shiva Vishnu Temple heritage hall with a 10 minute speech in front of some 250 people, most of them were from Indian background, in which he conveyed his generous thanks to the people of Indian community in multiple Indian languages. He also dropped the news that there were 11,000 Australians waiting in India to come home. He not only visited the temple but also took darshan of the dities. He also took the opportunity to cook dosa. The President Rangarajan and the secretary Ratnam spoke about the PMs great support and contribution to the Indian and multicultural communities. According to Indian Link, Mr Wood was instrumental in securing the

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell he New South Wales (NSW) Education minister Sarah Mitchell has imposed a blanket ban on wearing of kirpans (Sikh ceremonial knives) by Sikh students in NSW schools which is being opposed by Sikh community bodies across Australia and India.

The ban comes in the wake of a 14-year-old baptized Sikh boy stabbing another male student

twice in the stomach at Glenwood High School in Sydney on May 6. It is being claimed that the violent act was committed only in defense as the Sikh boy was being bullied by the victim of the stabbing attack. However, the ban has prompted angry and indignant reactions from the Sikh community who are calling it unwarranted and unfair. More than 50 prominent Sikh bodies have written a joint letter to the NSW government demanding that the ban be revoked as it was unfair to resort to such an extreme measure for one isolated incident which too had been prompted because the minor attacker in question was the victim of bullying. The letter also implores that stringent steps need to be initiated to curb the bullying of Sikh incidents. “The Sikh community has been hit hard by the knee-jerk reaction of the NSW government in the blanket banning of the kirpan in

NSW schools. The NSW government’s decision to impose a ban contravenes a statutory right to wear a kirpan for religious reasons. The right is not due to a ‘loophole’ in the law, as referred to by the education minister Sarah Mitchell. The ban has been imposed without taking the Sikh community into confidence, or consultation, in response to an alleged incident involving a 14-year-old Sikh student, who is believed to have been bullied in school,” reads the letter.

Courtesy_Wikipedia

Courtesy_Twitter

Sikh community raises voice against ban on kirpan in NSW schools

Association, is debating this issue with the government. The panel has been assured by the government that the ban is not permanent and that more amicable solutions will be worked upon.

As per NSW law, carrying knives for religious purposes and for preparing food is legal but after the recent incident, the government has said that the law needs to be reviewed. What has hurt and angered the Sikhs is this right being touted as the outcome of a ‘loophole’ in the law by the Education Minister. A panel of Sikh community representatives including those from United Sikhs and the biggest Sikh organization, Australian Sikh

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in India, the apex body responsible for the management of gurdwaras and other Sikh places of worship has sent a letter to the Indian External Affairs Ministry and the High Commissioner of India to Australia asking that immediate and requisite action

be taken to resolve this highly sensitive issue which hurts the religious and cultural sentiments of the Sikhs. The Sikh Federation of the United Kingdom has also conveyed its anger over the ‘unfair’ decision while the World Sikh Organisation of Canada has shot off a letter to Sarah Mitchell, blaming the government of making a hasty decision without completely comprehending the significance of the kirpan as a symbol that represents a Sikh’s duty to combat injustice.

Indians in Australia offer succour in the form of medical supplies to Covid-hit India

The scourge of Covid-19 in India which had reached its peak point from mid-April to mid-May seems to have alleviated to some extent. However, the war against the new Covid variant, which tragically left many gasping for oxygen and claimed their lives cruelly, is far from over. Even as India grappled with the recent unprecedented rise in number of positive cases, the global community joined hands and made concerted efforts by sending essential supplies of ventilators, medicines, oxygen cylinders and concentrators, masks and so on. The Indian community in Australia which is approximately 700,000 strong is also among those offering succour. The various social community bodies, members of community in general and even corporate organisations and groups, have shown praiseworthy solidarity and unity in amassing essential resources for their native brethren back home in the Indian subcontinent. Indians across Australia have been donating money to various groups and community bodies which are

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being used to purchase much needed resources like oxygen cylinders. Volunteers in temples and gurdwaras have also collected money and other essentials. The money amassed is in millions of dollars and the collections are still ongoing. Many medical experts like Sydney-based Dr. Yadu Singh have been providing guidance and consultation through various social media platforms.

Australia India Business Council, the peak functioning body for promoting and enhancing the bilateral trade relations between the two countries, has launched the AIBC India COVID Relief Fundraising Drive to help India fight the second wave of the pandemic. The drive will collect money as well as materials. Community organisations such as Hindu Council of India have also partnered with UNICEF, Red Cross and so on to contribute to the pandemic relief work. Helmed by CEO Dipen Rughani, Sydney-based corporate advisory firm, Newland Global Group is in talks with the Indian Army and Navy to deliver supplies of cryogenic containers manufactured by an Australian organization having manufacturing units in India. The firm is also helping in the materialization of a joint venture between an Australian ventilator company having emergency Covid ventilator technology and an Indian company. Apart from this, the firm

has already been playing an instrumental role in assisting a huge Pressure Swing Absorption oxygen plant manufacturer based in Australia, with manufacturing facilities in India, to provide uninterrupted supplies of oxygen to both public and private hospitals in India.

The Australian government had also announced a relief package to combat the second wave of the pandemic in India. The initial package included 500 non-invasive ventilators, one million surgical masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 pairs of gloves, 100,000 goggles, 20,000 face shields and also oxygen concentrators. Western Australian has also earmarked 2 million dollars to aid Indians directly affected by the Covid-19 crisis while Victoria has announced medical package aid worth 41 million dollars.

Newland Global Group CEO Dipen Rughani

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Courtesy_Twitter

s India battles the devastating onslaught of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, community groups and individuals across Australia are sending their native countrymen much needed essential medical supplies.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Panda Group donates Oxygen concentrators and medicines in India Oxygen is an essential medicine in the treatment of COVID-19, but currently due to the massive need in India, there is an acute shortage of medical oxygen. Sometimes this can be a matter of life and death for patients with Coronavirus.

Recognising the current need for support, Panda Group has initiated emergency support through Heal Australia and donated $100K worth of oxygen concentrators, medical equipment and medicines. The first shipment of medical essentials was dispatched to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh last month. “We are helping in the setting up of oxygen banks in association with Rotary International at Vijayawada and other local organisations throughout South India,” informed Dr Ramana Panda, CEO of Panda Group. There are plans afoot to establish

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oxygen banks in every metropolis in India with help of local voluntary organisations.

With things going as planned, the oxygen banks would loan an oxygen concentrator to the patient in need, and after the urgent requirement has been met, the concentrator would be returned to the oxygen bank of that city. Oxygen concentrators are heavily priced in India currently, and one unit, including shipping and handling, costs roughly AUD$1,300. In future, Panda Group plans to establish and support local medtech industries with modern medical equipment to make India self-reliant in such technologies. Donors who are interested in supporting the charity can contact Heal Australia through their email -- vpanda@healaustralia.com.au.

The first shipment of medical essentials donated by the Panda Group was dispatched to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh last month

Oxygen concentrators are heavily priced in India currently and one unit, including shipping and handling, costs roughly AUD$1,300

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LATA JI’S KITCHEN

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Burfi milk cake slices

ello friends

ello friends, every Indian household will have left over dhal (lentils) at some stage, which most people do not prefer to eat the next day. So, how to make use of that poor left-over dal and how to whip up a great lunch with it, let’s do that today.

We are going to make BURFI MILK CAKE SLICES Ingredients:

We will name it, “Dal Onion Paratha”.

- 2 cup full cream milk powder - 1 cup thickened cream - Three quarters cup of sugar - Chopped almonds and pistachio for garnishing. Method: - We have to use a microwave safe Deep bowl which has a lid. - In the bowl add milk powder, sugar and cream and give it a good mix. (Either use a wooden spoon or just use your hands) - I prefer using my hands to feel the texture. - Cover it with lid and put in in the

Dal Onion Paratha

Today the plan is to make a quick dessert. Which is real yummy and you don’t need too many ingredients. We cook it in the microwave.

microwave on high power for 4 minutes. - Take it out, Do Not Mix it again. - Garnish with nuts. - Put it back in the microwave on medium power without the lid for another 3-4 minutes. - Let it sit for couple of minutes. - Make cuts in it with knife like burfi pieces and serve it on a plate. By Mrs Lata Modi

This paratha tastes best when it’s served hot, straight from the pan to your plate. As always, I have a very sweet childhood memory to share with you. As you know that my mum did not have a fancy kitchen with bench tops, like we do. She actually had a very simple kitchen with lots of stainless steel and sterling silver utensils, but her cooking stove was low on the ground, which ran on charcoal and was built by my dad. So, when mum used to make the parathas, she enjoyed feeding us hot parathas and of course we loved eating them hot with homemade butter on top. Only problem was, it took too long to get my turn as we were 6 siblings and we all used to sit on a blanket in the tiny little kitchen, around Mum. Mum will make hot paratha and serve it hot one by one to each one of us. There was the warmth of the kitchen and the aroma of fresh paratha cooked by mum was so addictive that we used to love to sit there on the blanket and happy to wait for our turn to get hot paratha. What a heart-warming memory to cherish for life and share with family and friends. Hope you all enjoyed it.

flat pan which is used to make rotis) or use the frying pan. - Now take small portions of dough (slightly bigger than golf ball) and with the help of flour roll it. - Once half rolled, spread 1 tea spoon ghee, fold it and roll again to chapati size (photos provided to use as guide lines). - Once you have rolled it cook it on one side and then flip it. - Put one tea spoon oil on one side of the paratha and then cook both sides using a spatula until it’s nice and brown on each side. - Take it off the pan and brush with butter. - Serve hot with fresh natural yoghurt. By Mrs Lata Modi

And now let’s get on with our recipe. Ingredients - Left over dal -2 cup atta - One big onion finely chopped - 2 piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated or fine chopped - 2 fresh green chillies finely chopped - Lots of fresh coriander chopped finely - 2 table spoon ghee - 1/2 cup warm milk - Salt and red chilli powder to taste - 1tea spoon ajwain seeds - 1 tea spoon cumin powder METHOD - Firstly, we have to make the dough. - Take a big mixing bowl, put atta, left over lentils (dal), onion, ginger, green chillies ghee and spices. Mix it all with your hands and make a soft dough using the warm milk. - Once the dough is done. Leave it covered for about 15 minutes. -Now heat your tawa (it’s a special

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INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Tejpal acquittal: Victim’s normalcy inexplicable, says Goa court

WhatsApp sues Indian govt over chat ‘traceability’

aking the user privacy war to the court over new IT rules, Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Delhi High Court, saying that user privacy is in its DNA and requiring messaging apps to “trace” chats undermines people’s right to privacy.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had asked social media platforms to abide by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 by May 25, or face strict action.

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Tejpal was accused by a junior colleague of assaulting her twice in November 2013, following which the former editor was charged with sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (criminal assault), of the Indian Penal Code. Tejpal was acquitted of all charges on May 21, even as the Goa government has appealed against the acquittal in the Bombay High Court. “The prosecutrix has stated about her actions and emotions on the night of November 7, 2013 and November 8, 2013, as also of the next two days at Think (the event where the said rape allegedly occurred), where she claimed to be distraught, in shock and trauma, in fear and anxiety, crying herself to sleep and shattered,” the judgement states. It further states that even if one allows for the fact that the victim sought out three male colleagues “who were not intimate friends” to share details about the alleged incident, while making no mention of it to her roommate Sunaina and her closest friend at Tehelka, Samia Singh or even her mother, “nothing can explain the absolute normalcy of her behaviour and state of mind inside the privacy of her own room given her own avowed state of mind - such that the colleague sharing this small hotel room with her discovers two weeks later that the prosecutrix claims to have been sexually assaulted on those very nights!” In her statement, the victim had said that she had mentioned about the alleged sexual assault to three male colleagues, who were also assisting with the festival after the incident. The judgement notes it crucial, that her roommate “did not hear

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her speak on the phone at any point in even a mildly disturbed state so as to alert her that something was amiss with the prosecutrix when the prosecutrix has stated that she was talking to her husband nearly for more than an hour”. The victim had stated in her deposition that after the incident, she had called her husband who was in Kenya at the time and narrated the harrowing account to him. The court also underlined the inconsistencies in the statements of the victim, her mother and her brother, adding that the victim’s statement did not inspire confidence. “In the instant case, we do not find that the evidence of the Prosecutrix inspires confidence. There are material omissions and glaring contradictions in the evidence of the Prosecutrix and her mother and brother. Each of them have a different story to tell about the commission of the offence of rape on the prosecutrix on three occasions,” the judgement states. “The evidence of the prosecutrix in her examination-in-chief and her cross-examination also differs on material particulars. In these sets of facts, it would be extremely risky to base the conviction of the accused on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix when it does not inspire confidence,” the judgement adds. The judgement also remarked that the victim had lied in her deposition with regards to the reason why she stayed back in Goa after the Tehelka Think event in November, 2013 and that the reason was not to seek peace of mind after the alleged sexual assault. The extended stay in Goa was planned and premeditated, the judgement states, based on Whatsapp chats with the victim’s friends.

A WhatsApp spokesperson told IANS that requiring messaging apps to “trace” chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on WhatsApp. “It would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermines people’s right to privacy. We have consistently joined civil society and experts around the world in opposing requirements that would violate the privacy of our users,” the spokesperson stressed. The company said that in the meantime, “we will also continue to engage with the Government of India on practical solutions aimed at keeping people safe, including responding to valid legal requests for the information available to us”. The Indian government was yet to react to the lawsuit. The tussle between Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook and the Union government has reached its nadir, with cops raiding Twitter offices in the pandemic earlier this week over the ToolKit controversy. WhatsApp has gone to the court as the deadline to comply with the new IT (intermediary) rules meant

for big social media platforms in India ended on Tuesday. WhatsApp said that new rules infringe on users’ privacy. WhatsApp has also gone ahead with implementing its controversial user privacy policy from May 15, clearing stating that “we will maintain this approach until at least the forthcoming PDP (personal data protection) law comes into effect”. When the concept of “traceability” was first proposed in early 2019, dozens of organisations wrote to the Indian government about how such a provision would violate the privacy of Indian users. The IT rules published earlier this year, in addition to calling for “traceability” risk criminal penalties for non-compliance. WhatsApp has consistently opposed legal action that would break end-to-end encryption. The company is currently fighting the same before the Supreme Court of Brazil on a similar matter. “We also do not believe traceability can be imposed in a way that cannot be spoofed or modified, leading to new ways for people to be framed for things they did not say or do. Such massive data collection also makes messaging

platforms inherently less secure by opening up more avenues for hacking,” WhatsApp had said earlier. The MeitY had announced its draft new IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules for social media platforms on February 25. As per the new rules, the social media platforms will have to remove offending content within 36 hours after a government directive or a legal order. The new rules mandate that the intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, must establish a grievance redressal mechanism for receiving/resolving complaints from the users or victims. On the user privacy policy, the Facebook-owned platform with over 400 million users in the country has defended its position, saying that it continues to engage with the government to resolve the issue. WhatsApp said it has sent a reply to the notice by MeitY after the ministry directed the Facebook-owned platform to withdraw its controversial user privacy policy.

Man claims police hammered nails into his hand, foot but police denies Baradari police station.

“He did all this drama to save himself from the police. The charges levelled by him were not found to be true in the probe,” the SSP said.

n a shocking incident, a man has alleged that the Bareilly police hammered nails into his hand and foot for violating the Corona curfew. The victim, Ranjit, along with his mother, on Wednesday evening, reached Baradari police station

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with nails drilled in his hand and foot, and blamed the police. However, Bareilly SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan, refuted the allegations and termed them baseless. He said that the injuries were self-inflicted to evade arrest in another case registered against Ranjit at

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He said that an FIR was registered against Ranjit, a resident of Jogi Navada, on May 24 for misbehaving with a police constable who had asked him not to move out without a mask in public. The FIR was registered under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intention to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 332 (voluntarily causing

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021 hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (disobedience to order duty promulgated by public servant) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life). “The accused was absconding after the incident and police were searching for him,” the SSP said. The police went to Ranjit’s house on Tuesday night, but he was not found.

In 2019, Ranjit was arrested by the police for entering a temple in an inebriated state and damaging the idols there.

again,” he alleged.

However, Ranjit refuted these allegations and claimed he has now been framed in eight cases.

“They tied my hands and nailed my hand and feet. I cannot even properly hear from my left ear as it is bleeding. The cop who nailed me lives in our locality. I can recognize him. They have now slapped eight cases against me. I am a poor man and hardly earn 150-200 a day as a ragpicker,” he told reporters.

“This happened on Monday night. I was not wearing mask but had one in my pocket. The cops stopped me and started beating me up. When I told them, I have a mask in my pocket, they started abusing me. They then called 3-4 people and started beating me

Following this, the cops allegedly took him to the local police post and beat him up again.

‘Born Digital’ Indian workers want 4-day week amid pandemic

‘Operation Dastak’ against criminals in Varanasi

aranasi police have launched ‘Operation Dastak’ to keep a check on the activities of criminals having a criminal background. Under this drive, the police will visit the places of each and every criminal to verify their details. The policemen will carry the digital dossier of criminals in their smartphone by downloading the app which is being developed. According to commissioner of police, A. Satish Ganesh, “We have digitalized the records of 157 killers, 51 dacoits, 380 looters, five kidnappers, 518 burglars, 1,164 vehicle lifters, 153 chain snatchers and 338 gangsters. These are the records of those criminals who have remained active in the world of crime in the past five years. Their

entire criminal history and personal details have been uploaded with their latest photographs in digital form.”

The verification of all these criminals has been started by the police stations concerned, by sending police teams at the places of each of the criminals. With the beginning of verification of criminals, the process of developing an app is also in progress. This app will be downloaded by the policemen on their phones with given login ID and password, he added. The police commissioner said that since the criminals are changing their style of operation with technological developments, a new system for tracking them is also being developed accordingly.

This ‘Operation Dastak’, he said, will be conducted in three phases. In initial phase, policemen will reach the place of each criminal for documentation. This move will build psychological pressure on the criminal. It will be followed by effective action against them. He added that with the progress in this operation, further details on more professional criminals will be included and updated on this app.

Buried in Tejpal judgement is a tale of two Bobs

wo Bobs, iconic American Actor Robert De Niro and legendary Irish singer Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof appear to have made more than just cameo appearances in the bulky Tehelka rape case judgement.

The 527-page judgement by Additional District and Sessions judge Kshama Joshi which acquitted former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal on May 21, is liberally peppered with references to the two global celebrities, both of whom were attendees at the highbrow Tehelka THiNK fest’ in Goa. Geldof performed at the event’s 2012 edition, while De Niro was the key attraction the subsequent year, when Tejpal was accused of alleged rape by a junior colleague. Geldof has found mention 28 times in the trial court’s order, while De Niro has been mentioned on 203 occasions. The context of the references to the two Bobs, Geldof and De Niro, both decorated knights by the British and French authorities, however vary in the judgement. In her complaint the victim had alleged that she was sexually assaulted twice by Tejpal, while they were taking an elevator to Robert De Niro’s room in Block 7 of the Grand Hyatt Resort in North Goa. The judgement, which has since acquitted Tejpal giving him the

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“benefit of doubt”, makes mention of Robert De Niro while painstakingly examining the various circumstances and statements by defence and prosecution witnesses about the brief journey of Tejpal and the victim to and from De Niro’s room. De Niro was booked in a suite, along with his daughter Drena. The judgement paraphrases the victim’s comments in her deposition, saying that the first alleged sexual assault occurred in the resort’s elevator when Tejpal wanted to “wake up Bob” after the event’s opening gala concluded on November 7, 2013.

“PW1 (the victim) further states that as they were making their way out of the lobby the accused said to her ‘let’s go to wake up Bob’ and that Mr. De Niro was referred to as Bob. PW1 further states that though she was confused and unsure about why the accused wanted to wake up Mr. De Niro since they had just wished him good night,” the judgement states. While the victim had alleged the first sexual assault occurred in the two minutes, which Tejpal and she spent in the elevator, and that she was in a state of shock and trauma and blinking back her tears, the judge observes: “the CCTV footage does not support the statement that she was in shock or trauma and blinking in tears”.

The judgement, paraphrasing the victim’s statement, says the second alleged sexual assault also occurred in an elevator on November 8, when Tejpal asks her to accompany him to De Niro’s room. “’and the accused gestured to her to stop and walked up to her and asked her to accompany him saying that ‘we have to get something from Bob’s room’. PW1 further states that at this point, she wanted to be as calm and profession(al) as possible but she was still afraid of entering the elevator with the accused because she felt that he might try to assault her again,” the judgement reads.

ore than three in four young Indian workers believe that employers should offer the opportunity to work a four-day week to promote employee well-being post-pandemic, a new report said on Wednesday. Made up of millennials (born 1981 to 1996) and Generation Z (born after 1997) workers, the ‘Born Digital’ are the first generation to grow up in an entirely digital world, and now account for most of the global workforce. According to the report by desktop virtualisation leader Citrix, ‘Born Digital’ employees in India (76 per cent) prefer to retain a remote or hybrid work model post-pandemic. Nearly 86 per cent of ‘Born Digital’ employees in India believe that the pandemic has shown that their organisation needs to invest more in digital technology, compared to 16 per cent of business leaders. “These young employees are different from previous generations in that they have only ever known a tech-driven world of work,” said Donna Kimmel, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Citrix. “To shore up their future business success, companies must understand their values, career aspira-

tions and working styles and invest in their development,” Kimmel said in a statement. A striking 90 per cent of ‘Born Digital’ in India expect employers to have a better understanding of family commitments, compared to the global average of 74 per cent. Also, 92 per cent of ‘Born Digital’ workers in India say they would prioritise employee well-being as they advance in their career. “Younger workers in India are most focused on career stability and security (94 per cent), opportunities for additional qualifications, training, or re-skilling (93 per cent), and access to quality workplace technology (92 per cent),” the Citrix findings showed. Leaders in the country, on the other hand, think young workers prioritise a competitive remuneration package and job satisfaction over all other work factors. “Successfully attracting and retaining the Born Digital will require organisations to invest in the work model and tools to create the flexible, efficient and engaged work environment that this next generation of leaders craves and thrives in,” said Tim Minahan, Executive Vice President of Business Strategy, Citrix.

The judgement also documents a conversation laced with sexual overtones between the victim and her female friend, which refers to the two Bobs, De Niro and Geldof, as ‘grandpas’. While De Niro in 77, Geldof is 69-years-old. It is not the first time, that the reference to Geldof has been lassoed into the case. The first public reference was made by Tejpal in his letter of apology to the victim on November 2013, days before police intervention. “The context (of) that ill-fated evening, of our conversation, as you will recall, was heavily loaded. We were playfully and flirtatiously talking about desire, sex; you were telling me the Bob Geldof story in graphic detail, and about XXX (her

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male friend), and the near-impossibility of fidelity,” Tejpal had said after the victim had complained in writing to Tehelka’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. The victim’s alleged sexual encounter with Geldof in 2012 is recounted in the judgement, through the statement of Defence Witness (DW) 4 Nikhil Agarwal.

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“’the prosecutrix had gone up to Bob Geldof’s suite and that Bob Geldof had asked her what do Indian women wear under their sarees, to which she’d replied why don’t you see for yourself, and that she’d lifted her saree and Bob Geldof had picked her up and put her on the table’” the judgement says paraphrasing Agarwal’s deposition.

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Delhi class X student raises Rs Wife of Pulwama attack 6.5L to buy O2 concentrators hero joins Indian Army

t’s amazing how I could raise around Rs 6,65,000 in less than two weeks for the right cause. More than 150 kind supporters including my friends, family, friends’ families, parents’ friends, and numerous anonymous donors came together to help the people in need and raise more than Rs 6 lakh to help me purchase oxygen concentrators for the people of Kuchaman City, Rajasthan suffering from covid-19. I first wanted to target raising Rs 2,00,000 thinking that even that wouldn’t be easy, but my father motivated me to set a target of Rs 5,00,000 so that it’s meaningful and more people can benefit.

In the beginning of April, my family was infected with the coronavirus. It started with my mother followed by my brother before I and my father too tested positive. Fortunately, my family and I weren’t affected severely. This episode, however, made me realise just how hard it can be especially when people do not have access to adequate support. After we all tested negative, I saw my Dad multiple times speaking on the phone to arrange for oxygen cylinders, plasma, beds, and other vital essentials for people. A few days later, I read in the news that 25 people, who were infected with covid had died in one day. The deaths though weren’t due to the coronavirus but because of the lack of oxygen. I was shocked. This prompted me to do something for the community and I

decided to start a fundraiser for people in need to purchase oxygen concentrators and oximeters. Though Delhi and other metros were getting numerous supplies already and have best in the class medical facilities, I realised the situation was much worse in smaller towns.

My father informed me about the situation in our hometown where my grandparents stay saying that the cases were on the rise there every day and support was minimal. Unlike in Delhi, there were no oxygen cylinder refilling facilities and the area had just one government hospital. The only option for any patient for oxygen was to get admitted to the hospital since there were very few oxygen concentrators available in the town. I then started raising fund for my hometown - Kuchaman City, Rajasthan. After getting the fundraiser up and running, I shared the link of the cause with my family, friends, teachers etc. I shared it on various social media platforms and requested everyone else also to share it with their families and friends. At first, the fundraiser wasn’t getting enough donations and was a little worried if I could achieve the target. My parents supported me and asked me to follow through and share it with even more people. Multiple accounts retweeted my tweet of the fundraiser. After the second day, the donations started coming in faster. I called my family members and

friends and requested them to donate and share. My parents, relatives and friends also shared within their network. In less than a week I had raised over my target - Rs 5,00,000 with the help of 153 generous supporters. We have shipped five oxygen concentrators with other multiple necessities such as oximeters and face masks which have already been received by Kuchaman City and are available for use by people. Four more concentrators have been ordered and will be received next week. I feel extremely happy that with the support of over 150 generous donors, we would be able to save few lives. Thanks to all the donors, many of them were anonymous for helping me in this. Thanks to all the motivating messages, I have received from everyone. I am proud to support my hometown during the pandemic. I am thankful to my parents who have supported me at every step of this journey. I wish this pandemic gets over soon and life becomes normal for all of us.

22 dead so far after consuming spurious liquor in Aligarh, 6 arrested

wenty two people have died so far after consuming illicit liquor in Aligarh, with five more persons succumbing on Saturday. However, locals say the number may rise further. Aligarh police have registered three cases and arrested six persons in this case. Several officials including the district excise officer have been suspended.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)’s Public Relations Officer, Krishna Kumar Singh, said the police have registered three cases

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On Saturday, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi pipped the stars on her shoulders. She had passed out of the Officers Training Academy on May 26, this year. On Saturday she was formally commissioned into the Indian Army. She will be joining the force as Lieutenant. Udhampur-based Defence PRO said in a tweet, “#MajVibhutiShankarDhoundiyal, made the Supreme Sacrifice at #Pulwama in 2019, was awarded SC (P). Today his wife @Nitikakaul dons #IndianArmy uniform; paying him a befitting tribute. A proud moment for her as Lt Gen Y K Joshi, #ArmyCdrNC himself pips the Stars on her shoulders!”. In 2019, Major Dhoundiyal posted with 55 Rashtriya Rifles, sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack. He was killed during a gun battle with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists just days after a car

and arrested Anil Chaudhary, an accused in the liquor smuggling racket, and six people. Two main accused are still absconding on whom a reward of Rs 50,000 each has been announced.

Following the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended District Excise Officer Dheeraj Sharma, Excise Inspector Rajesh Yadav, Constable Ashok Kumar, Inspector Chandraprakash Yadav and Constable Ramraj

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bomb attack in Pulwama killed 40 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel. Major Dhoundiyal was married for just nine months before his demise. Thereafter Nikita Kaul made the inspiring decision to join the Indian Army leaving her corporate job. Just six months after her husband’s death, Nikita filled the Short Service Commission (SSC) form. She cleared the exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview as well. She went at Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Chennai for her training. She left her corporate job to join the Indian Army and in 2020 she passed the Short Service Commission (SSC) examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. Back then she had stated, “I took my own time to recover from the major loss and the decision to sit for the Short Service Commission examination happened gradually. Just filling the form in September last year was a big decision. But I had decided that I want to walk on a similar path like my husband.”

Rana on charges of negligence.

spurious alcohol.

A large number of people consumed country liquor on Thursday night across seven villages in Aligarh. As many as 17 people died on Friday while five people died on Saturday morning taking the toll to 22. The toll is likely to increase. The condition of many people admitted to the district hospital remains critical.

District Magistrate Chandrabhushan Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. Four liquor shops have been sealed. Till the investigation is over, all country liquor shops in the district will remain closed. Prima facie investigation reveals sale of spurious liquor from a government shop in which several government contractors are also involved. During a meeting, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the Home and Excise Departments to carry out raids against illegal liquor trade within the next 48 hours.

The people in Lodha, Khair and Jawan blocks of Aligarh bought country liquor from different liquor shops on Thursday evening and consumed it.

The district administration has however said that all deaths are not related to spurious liquor but there are other reasons as well. The matter is under investigation. Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said that there have been a total of 22 deaths so far due to the consumption of illicit alcohol in three police station areas of Aligarh.

ikita Kaul, wife of Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, has donned the olive green to continue the legacy of her husband.

Sunil of Karsua village in Lodha block started vomiting at night. As a result his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the district hospital where he died. Shortly afterwards several other people of the village started vomiting after consuming spurious liquor. The district administration and excise department teams have sealed the liquor shops here. The villagers claim that death occurred due to consumption of

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The Chief Minister said strict action will be taken against all the accused. The National Security Act (NSA) will be used against the accused persons. If spurious liquor is purchased from a government liquor shop it would be immediately sealed. The property of the accused will be confiscated and auctioned and given as compensation for the kin of the deceased.

OPINION

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Maritime militia give China the edge in South China Sea

ccording to reports, China recently warned the United States that it will face defeat if the two superpowers go to war. This warning is a testimony to what China thinks about its military might. The threat to the US has come from China in response to the joint military exercise carried out by the US, Japan, Australia, and France last week amidst tension in the East China Sea. Tension is also mounting in the South China Sea with the Philippines refusing to withdraw vessels from the disputed territory. China’s Maritime Militia are very often a party in these disputes due to its bullying tactics along the maritime boundary with Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan. The People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) of China owes its origin to the Communist Party’s 1950 consolidation of people’s militia groups comprising mainly fishermen and coastal workers of China. Its initial role was confined to keeping a close eye on People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s coastal waters and reporting any suspected activities to the Chinese Army (PLA). These militia were recruited, trained, and equipped by the party’s Bureau of Aquatic Products, which authorize former PLA officers [TS1] to train and direct the militias’ operations. These militia groups operated very close to the maritime boundary till the 1960s. However, their activities started expanding in subsequent years. They started bullying South Vietnamese fishermen in Paracel and Spratly islands in the late 1960s. Their first major victory came in January 1974 when they seized South Vietnam’s Paracel Islands. They engaged the South Vietnam Naval unit with 400 militia troops and captured the islands. This island remained with China ever since.

The PAFMM have been leading the PRC’s bullying in the East and South China Sea from the early 1980s. They threaten the Vietnamese and Filipino fishing ships, which are small, slow, and less robust. The militia threatens these fishing boats with small arms and attacks them with high pressure water cannons, very often sinking them. This is particularly true for Vietnamese fishing vehicles. The Chinese Coast Guards are often seen helping these militia groups in their nefarious activities.

In fact, due to the early gains by this militia unit, China built ‘fishing shelters’ to protect their fishermen in the Spratly islands. Their activities increased further after the US Navy pulled out of the Philippines in 1994. With the help of the PLA, the PAFMM isolated all the neighbouring countries and captured Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal. This compelled the US to follow a proactive strategy and support the Philippines in the South China Sea. Despite all these activities by PAFMM, the Chinese government headed by Chairman Xi Jingping has never accepted any link between PAFMM and China’s military. They claim that they are fishermen. This enables the PRC to deny any involvement of the Chinese government in these scuffles. The PAFMM do not regularly use firearms or other military weapons so their actions cannot be called an ‘act of war’ which might trigger retaliation. It may also compel Manila to seek US support under the US-Philippine Mutual Defence Treaty. That is why the US calls PRC’s actions ‘Grey Zone Operations’, which means they are acts of aggression, but fall short of military actions that would risk triggering a military response. The PAFMM still continues with its activities in the East and South China Sea. For occupying an uninhabited island, the PAFMM does the initial seizure posing as

fishermen. When other countries confront them with their Coast Guards or other law enforcement agencies, they find themselves confronting an armed militia, which is fully backed by China’s Coast Guard or Navy. The situation can escalate into a full-fledged war if the other party insists on vacating the island. Such is the highhandedness of China that when an International Arbitration held the Chinese occupation illegal, it refused to abide by the judgment saying all nations should ‘respect’ international law. At the time of the real war PAFMM may shift to supporting roles like defensive mining. They did this during the PLA Navy exercise in 2014. They would act as one of the many eyes of the fleet, land militia troops in remote areas or covertly land troops before the actual war starts. A unit of the People’s Armed Forces, PAFMM operates under direct military command for carrying out state-sponsored activities. Although they are locally supported but report to the head of China’s military -- Commander-in-Chief Xi Jinping.

The exact number of fishing vessels possessed by PAFMM is not known, but estimates put the figure at around 350, out of which 225 are deployed in the South China Sea. Their vessel hulls are made up of reinforced steel, which are very strong. On the other hand, most of the other fishing vessels in the South China Sea are made of wood or other light materials. The PAFMM vessels are faster, which puts them at an advantageous position in an encounter. They can ‘bump’ the enemy’s vessel at will with little risk of damaging their own strong hull. Most of the fishermen from other countries are unarmed, but PAFMM vessels have small arms and, in some cases, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and machine

Ileana D’Cruz: You just want people to like watching you

ctress Ileana D’Cruz has had a great run down South and has also been doing her share of Bollywood films. She says everything comes down to people and, as an artiste, one just wants the audience to like watching you. Popularity, she explains, is the one thing that balances the fact that the film industry can actually be a very cruel place to survive. “It (the film industry) is brutal, of course, but it comes down to people. If they (people) like you that is all you need. You just want people

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guns. They are rarely used but are available on the vessels. The PAFMM vessels have water cannons mounted above the pilot house. They aim the spray at the other vessels’ pilot house to blind the crew, but sometimes they aim it at the engine exhaust. Cold sea water hitting a hot engine tends to damage the engine, leaving the craft non-functional in the water. The PAFMM vessel can then do what it wants -- bump, ram or just leave. China places greater importance to claims on the South China Sea because of its strategic location. The political and strategic payoff is bigger in the South China Sea compared to the East China Sea and the risks and operational difficulties are less. The South China Sea is easier to dominate. The PAFMM base in Sanya is closer to the disputed territories in the South China Sea than the PAFMM base in Guangzhou to the Senkaku. They must pass through Taiwan to reach Senkaku. The PRC’s military bases and airfields are closer to the disputed territory in the South China Sea than they are from the US bases in Japan. The East China Sea is not strategically located. The US and Chinese bases are equidistant from Senkaku. Also, Japan’s Coast Guard is stronger than those of Vietnam and the Philippines,

China’s main target in the South China Sea. The PAFMM gets greater support in the South China Sea from the Chinese military establishments compared to the East China Sea. China wants to dominate the South China Sea because that would give Beijing strategic advantage against Taiwan and Japan, before risking a conflict over the Senkaku. Xi always goes for an easy target that he believes can be achieved with minimal risk and costs. Traditional thought in Chinese military believes in isolating the enemy and establishing an advantageous geo-political and military superiority before engaging in a war. Also, the best leader is the one who achieves ‘victory’ without fighting. China has secured much of the South China Sea and is using the PAFMM to expand its control without firing a shot. It has worked so far. However, doing that around the Senkaku may prove to be difficult and expensive. (Commissioned out of the NROTC unit at the University of South Carolina in 1974, Captain Schuster served in a variety of US and international posts both at sea and ashore before his retirement in 1999. He was a qualified Joint Staff Officer, Foreign Area Officer and Strategic Planner at retirement).

to like watching you,” she told IANS. Ileana feels the moment an actor is not appreciated they lose the mark.

“It basically goes the same for me. I wouldn’t want to watch a film with an actor I don’t like watching. The minute you are not liked anymore you sort of lose the mark. The industry is brutal in a sense, but it has got so many perks as well,” she says. Acting is a profession that comes with its pros and cons, the actress notes, in this context.

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AUSTRALIA

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Aus varsities issue plea for return of int’l students

New South Wales to reform sexual assault law

niversities in the state of South Australia (SA) have issued a plea to the federal government to allow international students to return to the country.

According to data released on Monday, international enrolments in SA’s universities have dropped by 33 per cent amid the coronavirus pandemic, crippling their budgets, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sebastian Raneskold, Flinders University’s Vice-President and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), said the fall was “deeply concerning” for universities and the broader SA economy, calling for the “urgent activation” of a plan for the arrival of international students.

he Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) will adopt affirmative consent as part of a reform to its sexual assault laws, Attorney General Mark Speakman announced on Tuesday. Speakman said the state government was adopting or adopting in principle 44 recommendations made late last year by a state commission reviewing consent in relation to sexual offences, reports dpa news agency.

“This could include dedicated quarantining facilities for international students to ensure their return doesn’t affect general repatriation efforts,” he told News Corp Australia on Monday. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, international students contributed A$2 billion ($1.54 billion) per year to the SA economy. Enrolments in SA from China, the state’s biggest international education market, have dropped 20 per cent and those from India, its second-biggest market, have fallen 35 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic, according

to News Corp Australia. Projections included in the federal budget for financial year 2021/22 revealed that the federal government does not expect Australia’s international borders to re-open until mid-2022. Jacqueline Lo, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University

of Adelaide, said the news was “disappointing and very worrying” for the institution. Education Minister Alan Tudge said in January that the government was open to “all options” for the return of international students and called for state and territory governments to submit proposals to the federal government.

Victoria makes masks mandatory on public transport

asks became mandatory on public transport in the Australian state of Victoria on Monday after authorities found two “likely positive cases” of Covid-19 in Melbourne city’s northern suburbs.

The state’s Department of Health said that a full investigation was underway into these results, and initial public health actions were being put in place while both individual isolate and were urgently

re-tested.

last Sunday.

“We will communicate any specific public health actions the community needs to undertake as soon as possible when investigations and cases interviews are complete,” the Department said.

As for returned travellers, two new positive cases were recorded.

These two cases may also end the 86-day period of no new locally acquired cases Victoria recorded

The Department of Health reminded residents in the state to observe key Covid safe behaviours, get tested if having any symptoms, check in at venues and always wear masks on public transport including rideshare vehicles.

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The first is that there cannot be consent unless the party has done or said something to communicate it. The second is that for an alleged perpetrator to have a reasonable belief that consent was given, they will have to have taken active steps to obtain it. “You just can’t assume through lack of resistance or lack of protest that consent has been given,” Speakman said.

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“To have a reasonable belief, an accused will have to have taken steps. The accused will have to have done something or said something, reasonable in the circumstances, to ascertain consent. “We want to make it clear a thought process is not such a step, a reasonable step has to be an act or something said to ascertain the complainant’s consent,” he said. The Attorney General added that the reforms will also reaffirm that consent is given voluntarily, can be withdrawn at any time, that consent for one sexual act is not consent for another and that self-intoxication of the accused is not an excuse for failing to form a reasonable belief that consent was given. He said the change was about holding perpetrators to account but also about changing community behaviour so consent is sought.

Australian scientists develop new drugs to fight Covid-19

From Monday, Melbourne commuters who refuse to wear masks on public transport will be find A$200 ($154), in a new police crackdown targeting people disobeying coronavirus restrictions, Xinhua news agency quoted 9News as saying in a report. The two cases, who were understood to be connected, sparked fears the virus might have spread following an outbreak scare two weeks ago.

He also pointed to two key reforms relating to consent that go further.

“It’s very simple, consent has to be communicated by the other party saying or doing something.

cientists from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia’s Queensland have developed two new drugs to both prevent SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19 infection, and also treat people who have been exposed to the virus so they do not develop severe disease.

they mistake for human cells -preventing infection.

The two early intervention drugs target how human cells respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, instead of the virus itself, according to the findings published in the journal Nature Cell Discovery.

Professor Sudha Rao, head of QIMR Berghofer’s Gene Regulation and Translational Medicine Group, said they were able to develop the drugs after discovering that some people have a chemical tag which acts like a padlock on the ACE2 receptor.

The first peptide-based drug would be given pre-exposure to the virus and help boost the efficacy of vaccines, while the second drug would stop the spread of the virus in already infected cells. Laboratory tests show the first peptide-based drug reduces infection by cloaking the ACE2 receptor protein on human cells. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein uses the ACE2 receptor to bind to and invade cells. The virus then latches onto the cloaking peptides, which

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The lab tests have also shown that if the virus finds its way into cells, the second peptide-drug can block how the virus hijacks the host cell and replicates. It also boosts the immune system’s ability to recognise the virus.

“The tag can either keep the receptor locked or open -- controlling infection. This means people who have the ‘padlock-like’ tag on their ACE2 receptors will be less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and those without the tag are more vulnerable to infection,” Rao said. ”Our drugs stop the tag from being removed and also protect the untagged ACE2 receptors from being infected.”

WORLD

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Biden, Putin to hold summit Indian-origin family hailed for returning in Geneva in June

lost $1mn lottery ticket

S President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold their first summit in Geneva, Switzerland on June 16, the White House said on Tuesday.

“The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship,” the White House said in a short statement. It will be Biden’s first in-person meeting with Putin as President. Biden said earlier this month that he expected to meet with Putin during his trip to Europe in June, when he would attend the Group of Seven Summit in Britain and then the NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium, the Xinhua news agency reported. The Kremlin also confirmed the meeting in a separate statement. “We intend to discuss the state of and the prospects for the further development of Russian-US relations, strategic stability issues, as well as topical issues on the international agenda, including interaction in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the settlement of regional conflicts,”

said the Kremlin statement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Iceland last week in a move that was widely perceived as part of the preparation for the summit. The two officials have expressed willingness to cooperate while admitting “serious differences” amid tense relations. On Monday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held consultations with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev in Geneva. The White House said in a joint statement that their meeting was “constructive” despite “outstanding differences.” “The sides agreed that a normal-

isation of US-Russian relations would be in the interest of both countries and contribute to global predictability and stability,” according to the joint statement. Relations between Washington and Moscow have been adversarial in recent years. The two sides have obvious differences on issues related to Ukraine, cybersecurity, human rights, and US election interference. The Biden administration noted it seeks “a more predictable, stable relationship” with Russia. The much-anticipated Russian-US summit in a third country was first proposed by Biden during a telephone conversation with Putin on April 13, according to the Kremlin.

BBC to review editorial practice after Diana interview inquiry

he BBC Board has announced a review of the broadcaster’s editorial and whistle-blowing policies amid mounting pressure following an inquiry into the 1995 interview with the late Princess Diana.

“We accepted Lord Dyson’s findings in full and reiterate the apology we have offered to all those affected by the failings identified,” it said. “We recognise the impact that the events it describes has had on so many people, not least those whose lives were personally affected by what happened. We also acknowledge that audiences had a right to expect better from the BBC.” The report published last week by an independent inquiry led by John Dyson, a retired senior judge, found that former BBC reporter Martin Bashir had acted in a “deceitful” way and faked documents

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“I was a millionaire for a night,” the owner’s son Abhi Shah, who discovered the winning ticket, joked as he recounted his brief Midas touch, WBZ TV reported on Monday.

But Fiega had not scratched the squares properly.

Although he had thought of buying a Tesla car, he decided to return the ticket to Leas Rose Fiega, who had bought the ticket from his mother Aruna Shah. “Who does that? They’re great people. I am beyond blessed,” Fiega told Salem News. Maunish Shah, who owns the Lucky Spot store in Springfield, Massachusetts, told WWLP TV that after the ticket was found, “we didn’t sleep two nights”. But they decided to consult his parents in India.

In a statement on Monday, the BBC said it accepted the inquiry report, which said that it fell short of “high standards of integrity and transparency” over the interview, reports Xinhua news agency. The board said in its statement that it hoped to ensure the “mistakes of the past” could not be repeated.

freaked out and cried like a baby. She sat down on the floor right here.”

n Indian-origin family that owns a store in Massachusetts is being hailed for their honesty for returning a $1 million lottery ticket to the woman who had bought it because their elders in India advised them, “we don’t want that money”.

to obtain the interview.

Gallery’s chairman.

The inquiry found Bashir mocked up fake bank statements that falsely suggested individuals were being paid for keeping the princess under surveillance.

Continuing in the role “would be a distraction”, said Hall, who was director of news during the time of the interview, which the boradcaster claims it was the first time a serving British Royal had spoken openly about her life, including her “unhappy marriage” to Prince Charles, their affairs and her bulimia.

He later showed the fake documents to Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, to gain his trust to gain access to Diana and persuade her to agree to give the interview. The BBC carried out its own investigation into the issue in 1996, but it “fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency”, according to the latest inquiry. Bashir has stepped down from his role as the BBC’s religion editor, the corporation has confirmed. Former BBC director general Tony Hall announced on May 22 that he has resigned as the National

The Met Police has said it will assess the contents of the inquiry into the interview to ensure there is no “significant new evidence” to support a criminal investigation. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said the report “reveals damning failings at the heart of the BBC” and he will “consider whether further governance reforms are needed”.

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Abhi Shah told WBZ: “My grandmother said, ‘let’s not keep the ticket. It’s not right. Just give it back to them. If it’s in your luck, you’ll get it anyhow’.” So he went to locate her. “He came to my office and said, ‘my mom and dad would like to see you’. I said, ‘I’m working’, and he said, ‘no you have to come over’. So I went over there and that’s when they told me. I was in total disbelief. I cried, I hugged them,” Fiega told Salem News. Maunish Shah said: “I handed her the $1 million ticket and she

The Massachusetts State Lottery’s Diamond Millions tickets have squares with numbers that are hidden and when the coverings are scratched off they reveal the numbers that could be the winning combination.

“I was in a hurry on lunch break, and just scratched it real quick, and looked at it, and it didn’t look like a winner, so I handed it over to them to throw away,” Fiega, who had purchased the ticket from Abhi Shah’s mother, told Salem News. Abhi Sahh told WWLP: “One evening, I was going through the tickets from the trash and (noticed) that she didn’t scratch the (right) number. I scratched the number and it was $1 million underneath.” Congratulatory messages and praise have flooded the Shah family. A customer told WBZ: “They’re just purely good people. You can tell by just talking to them.” WBZ reported that the family “is fielding congratulatory calls and interview requests from across the country”. Abhi told the station that “i I had kept that million, I wouldn’t have been this famous. So I’m glad I gave it back”. WBZ concluded: “He could have bought a lot of things with that money, but it would have cost him his soul.”

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WORLD

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Anti-Pak sentiments fuel Afghan protesters in London

All Italian regions become Covid-19 low risk

nti-Pakistan sentiments is fuelling anger among the locals in Afghanistan and its nationals living abroad, as killings of innocent people in various incidents in Afghanistan have been blamed on terror infiltration from across the Pakistan border. Expressing their increasing anger against Pakistan, a group of Afghan protesters on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Pakistani High Commission building in London, carrying banners and raising anti-Pakistan slogans.

The protest turned aggressive and violent after some of the protesters attacked the building by pelting stones and throwing water bottles at the Pakistan High Commission premises. Footages of the protest, which went viral on social media, showed protesters throwing objects at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) premises, which is located on the Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge. The police authorities present at the site could also be seen trying to stop the protesters. The Pakistan High Commission, taking notice of the incident, has lodged a complaint with the UK government, asking it to take strict action against the culprits, who damaged the building of the high commission. “The video footage of the dam-

A age has been shared with the authorities and a request for strict security arrangements has been submitted,” confirmed the PHC officials. Pakistan has also reminded the UK government of the protest in 2019, when an ethnic group had vandalised the commission’s building. However, no action was taken against the culprits. It is believed that the protest was led by a group called ‘The Watan’, which had also called for a protest on Sunday outside the Pakistani High Commission in London. The protest was about the killings in Afghanistan, blame for which has been put on Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that The Watan group shared an address with the Afghan Embassy in London, at Princess Gate, SW7. Anti-Pakistan sentiments have been on the rise among the Afghan nationals as the Ashraf Ghani government in Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of continuing to support the terror groups and allowing them to carry out attacks inside Afghanistan, which has resulted in loss of innocent lives. Pakistan, however, has rejected the Afghan accusation and stated that Pakistani soil is not used by any terrorist group to destabilise Afghanistan and the Afghan peace process.

ll Italian regions turned to “yellow” on Monday, indicating a low risk of contagion, and the lowest level of anti-Covid-19 restrictions, according to national health authorities. Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced this last Friday following the latest monitoring report by the National Institute of Health (ISS), the Xinhua news agency reported. During the week from May 10 to May 16, the national Covid-19 reproduction number (R number), an indicator used to determine how fast the Covid-19 is spreading, dropped to 0.78 from 0.86 registered in the previous ISS weekly survey. Overall, the R number below 1 shows the pandemic is in a regressive phase. The coronavirus incidence rate also dropped to 66 cases per

100,000 inhabitants in the week from May 10 to May 16, against 96 in the previous week. All major pandemic indicators kept improving, and especially the number of active infections, of people hospitalised, and of patients in serious conditions admitted to intensive care units, all of which have been dropping steadily in the latest weeks. Italy has registered 4.19 million coronavirus cases, including 125,225 deaths. The positive trend was directly linked to the ongoing vaccination campaign, which has been gaining steam in the latest weeks, according to the health minister. Some 30 million vaccine doses have been administered so far, and over 10 million people have been fully immunized after receiving both doses, according to the Health Ministry.

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi captured in Dominica: Report

ugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is wanted by the CBI and the ED in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has reportedly been taken into custody in Dominica, media reports said.

The Antigua Observer reported that Choksi is in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dominica.

Choksi was reported missing on Sunday from Antigua and Barbuda, where he had taken citizenship, sparking a manhunt for the fugitive businessman.

reported.

On Sunday, the Commissioner of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Atlee Rodney, had said the force is currently following up on the whereabouts of Choksi, who is reportedly missing, local media Antigua News Room had

However, another CBI source said that the agency is yet to get an official confirmation about the capture of Choksi.

CBI sources here said that he was captured on the basis of the red corner notice issued by Interpol earlier.

Choksi, an accused in the over Rs 13,500 crore PNB fraud case along

with his nephew Nirav Modi, has been residing in Antigua and Berbuda since January 4, 2018. The CBI and ED, which have filed separate chargesheets in the case, are trying for the extradition of Choksi.

Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Agarwal, had told IANS that reports of the businessman going missing were true.

Jaishankar meets Blinken, affirms strong US ties

mid the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging India and the rising global tensions, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has capped two days of whirlwind diplomacy in Washington by meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin as they sought to deepen the ties between their countries. His meetings on Friday with the two cabinet officials and earlier with national security officials and Congressional leaders signalled the high priority the two countries

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gave to strategic cooperation.

With those leaders and business groups, Jaishankar also discussed the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the joint efforts to fight it. In a tweet after meeting Jaishankar, Blinken tweeted that they discussed the “India-China border situation”, although Jaishankar and State Department Spokesperson Ned Price made no mention of that topic. India has faced border incursions by China and a clash with fatalities over the last two years, during which Washington backed New Delhi.

“As friends, we will work together to address these areas of shared concern,” Blinken added mentioning also regional security and economic priorities, US Covid-19 relief efforts, and support for Afghanistan, from where the US is scheduled to pull out its troops after a 20-year deployment.

Jaishankar tweeted after their discussions with Blinken, “Today’s talks have further solidified our strategic partnership and enlarged our agenda of cooperation.”

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BUSINESS & INVESTMENT

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Applying Sun Tzu’s strategies Only 30% of firms in US, Europe to embrace to the business world

ased on author/broadcaster David Browns chart-topping “Business Wars” podcast re-imagined using Sun Tzu’s “The Art Of War” as a guide, “The Art Of Business Wars” features stories and lessons from history’s greatest business rivalries revealing why some companies triumph while others crumble. Business is a fight for survival. In business as in war, leaders match their wills in pursuit of opposing outcomes; they devise strategies and marshal resources for victory. Success can turn on the smallest of details; a single tactical blunder can topple an empire. Ultimately, one side triumphs - and victory is all that matters.

Brown masterfully frames some of the biggest business rivalries in history using revered Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu’s insights and pragmatic advice. Each rivalry tells a story of combined wits, strategies, and resources. Brown chronicles the rise of companies as they vanquish rivals, formulate innovative plans, and adapt to

full office return

keep up with shifting needs.

The goal? Stay ahead of the competition and emerge victorious. By compiling powerful insights uncovered over hundreds of podcast episodes and more than a year of in-depth research, Brown has developed a formula for business intrigue rich in popular history. The stories in “The Art of Business Wars” will inspire you, and the lessons you can draw from them - about determination, ingenuity, patience, grit, subtlety, and other traits that contribute to a victorious enterprise - are invaluable, whether you’re a creative freelancer or the CEO of a multinational manufacturer. David Brown is the host of the hit podcasts “Business Wars” and “Business Wars Daily”. He is also the co-creator and host of “Texas Standard”, the Lone Star’s statewide daily news show, and was the former anchor of the Peabody award-winning public radio business program “Marketplace”. He has been a public radio journalist for more than three decades,

winning multiple awards, and is a contributor to “All Things Considered”, “Morning Edition”, and other NPR programs. Brown earned his PhD in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He lives with his wife and two children in Austin.

No IGST on imported Covid relief items till Aug 3, GoM to look at more relief

he GST Council on Friday decided to exempt the import of Covid relief items irrespective of the mode of procurement -- paid or free of cost -- from the payment of integrated GST (IGST).

“As a Covid-19 relief measure, a number of specified Covid-19 related goods, such as medical oxygen, oxygen concentrators and other oxygen storage and transportation equipment, certain diagnostic markers, test kits and vaccines etc., have been recommended for full exemption from IGST, even if imported on payment basis, for donating to the government or on recommendation of state authority to any relief

agency,” said a Finance Ministry statement.

The GOM shall submit its report by June 8.

These goods are already exempted from basic Customs duty.

Meanwhile, in a relaxation to small taxpayers, the council on Friday recommended to come up with an amnesty scheme for reducing late fee.

In another major decision, the council decided to exempt IGST on Amphotericin B, a medicine required to treat black fungus (Mucormycosis) infection. As regards individual items, it was decided to constitute a Group of Ministers (GoM) to go into the need for further relief to Covid related individual items immediately.

As per Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, it will benefit around 89 per cent of GST taxpayers, as they would be able file pending returns, and avail the benefits of the scheme with reduced late fees.

Industry welcomes GST Council’s decisions, says zero rating of Covid-relief items should be explored

ndia Inc. has largely welcomed the decisions taken by the GST Council on Friday to exempt Covid relief items from duty and easing compliance burden for taxpayers but said the measures stopped short of giving complete exemption to taxpayers from late fee payment and also missed out

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director at Forrester.

While many business leaders are drawn to vaccine passports as a solution to bring their workforces back to the office full-time, global market research firm Forrester predicts that 70 per cent of US and European companies will pivot to a hybrid work model post-pandemic.

According to Forrester, 55 per cent of US employees say they hope to work from home more often, even after the pandemic ends.

Microsoft and Google have already laid out detailed plans for a hybrid workplace. “By shifting conversations to focus on the working environments that best suit employees’ needs moving forward, organisations can ensure that their employees feel they are being heard and that they have the autonomy and tools to do their jobs effectively,” said Keith Johnston, VP and group research

The exemption will be valid till August 31, 2021. So far, IGST exemption was applicable only when these goods were imported ‘free of cost’ for free distribution. This exemption too has been extended till August 31.

s offices set to reopen after the pandemic and vaccination drive, only 30 per cent of companies in the US and Europe will embrace a full return-to-office model, according to a new report.

on providing zero rating of Covid supplies.

Industry body FICCI said that the Council’s decision providing relief on import of Covid-related items and Black Fungus drug were a welcome move, and now GoM recommendations would be awaited to see what action is proposed on

GST rate for other medical supplies for Covid including that for vaccines and ventilators. “We welcome the decisions announced by the GST Council. We appreciate the government’s efforts in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and enabling better access to medical products and

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solutions to the country and are happy that some of the key asks from FICCI have been considered,” Uday Shankar, President, FICCI, said. “We eagerly look forward to the report of the Group of Ministers formed for consideration of further reductions in GST rates on Covid-related essentials. A quick decision on this front will help us attain self-sufficiency in this need of hour. At this juncture we cannot afford to lose further time,” he added. The GST Council on Friday extended relief on import of Covid-related relief items, if purchased or meant for donating to government or any other relief agency, by exempting it from the Integrated Goods and Services Tax till Aug. 31, 2021. Also, the drug required for treating Mucormycosis fungal infection, has been included in list of items exempted from IGST. Furthermore, the Council also recommended amnesty scheme to reduce the late fee and provide

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In a hybrid model setup, at least some employees can work anywhere they want for two or more days a week while coming into the office on the remaining workdays.

“Nearly 47 per cent of US workers and 54 per cent of European workers believe vaccines will not completely stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” the findings showed. Only 39 per cent of US workers and 34 per cent of European workers feel that their employers have a plan in place to provide vaccination. “Two-thirds of workers in both regions are not comfortable with employers collecting their personal data specific to the pandemic,” the report showed. some relief to the small taxpayers. However, FICCI recommended a waiver from the late fees and interest to provide maximum benefit to taxpayers hit hard by pandemic disruptions. The decision regarding extension of due dates of various compliances under GST laws for the month of May and June, 2021 will also provide a big relief to the taxpayers during this difficult time. Also, the announcement regarding optional return filing for 2020-21 for taxpayers with a turnover less than Rs 2 crore will provide a further respite to the smaller companies. “FICCI was also hoping to see a decision regarding our long pending demand for zero rating of healthcare services for a period of 24 months during this pandemic period for the healthcare sector. We believe this would further empower the healthcare undertakings to prepare and tackle the ongoing second wave and impending third wave,” Shankar said.

ARTS-CULTURE

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

itled ‘Beyond Borders’, a major posthumous retrospective exhibition of late artist Bharat Dalal will take place in the premises of the Consulate General of India in New York in August 2021, organised by Arth Art International. Featuring a series of six humongous paintings inspired by the works of the Rennaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, the exhibition is slated to be a notable moment for Indian art on the world stage.

‘The Fossilized Passions of Da Vinci’ is about those emotions, expressions and experiences of Leonardo that were trapped in transition, during his pursuit of solving the ‘Universal Equation’. These paintings are a result of the resurrection of those same passions. The paintings are based on the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, not as a homage, but due to visions so persistently haunting, that their full comprehension completely transformed the way I perceived the implausibility’s and negativities that lay within my soul, wrote Bharat Dalal during his lifetime. One of the most intriguing features of his art was the technique. He hung the humongous blank canvases from the ceiling with the help of pulleys and then began working on his brilliant pieces. With sheer skill he would cover the negative spaces around the required portion and drop the desired color on it. Unlike most artists, he let the force of gravity define the flow of the paint, allowing the hues to naturally adopt the pattern. As a final touch, he would rub the paintings with sandpaper, leaving behind a soothing grainy and marble effect. He was so confident about his work that he urged the viewers to touch them and revel in its feel. He zeroed in on long lasting exterior paints so the paintings would last for years to come and the marbleized effect would never deteriorate. A fruit of nearly five years of work in the US, this series of paintings, accompanied by handwritten poems and in-depth manuscripts

Folded Grid set of two by Rana Begum, sold for Rs 4.78 lakhs

by the artist, provide the viewer an opening to partake in the universal metamorphosis so integral to Da Vinci. Simple, direct, and highly introspective, with the realistic, the expressionistic, and the abstract finding a perfect counterpoint, the paintings are underlined with an exceptional originality and a vastly different interpretation of the 15th century master. The handwritten journals titled “The Non-Fictional Manuscripts of Bharat Dalal” provide analysis and exposition for Dalal’s body of work and run into over a hundred pages.

Folded Grid set of two by Rana Begum, sold for Rs 4.78 lakhs

‘

Art Rises for India’, a 24-hour no-reserve, online fundraiser auction has raised over Rs 2 crores to assist on-going COVID-19 relief efforts in the country.

Bharat Dalal

According to Dr Bernadette Escalona-Cooper, Curator, Bharat Dalal was an artist who traversed beyond boundaries.

All the proceeds from the auction, including the reduced Buyer’s Premium, will be donated to nine grassroots non-profit organisations: Goonj, Hemkunt Foundation, YUVA, Dastkar, FICA, Khoj, Street Survivors, Aangan and Charaka. These teams deserve a special recognition for their incredible work on the ground to provide medical support and daily sustenance to those living on the margin, having encountered great loss, and/or in need, said Saffronart.

“He was an international artist of Indian origin, did his magnanimous paintings in the USA, and examined the works of the Italian great Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. He could have been a phenomenal or forgotten artist. But in retrospect, the geniuses behind this ambitious art exhibit project opted to call him phenomenal because of his ingenuity and introspective mind,” Dr Bernadette told Suniti Joshi, Dalal’s apprentice who was with him for 5 years in the US while creating the artworks, shares: “In the summer of 1980 Bharat asked me to join him in his dream project- Metamorphosis, I was completely surprised, and thrilled. We had been discussing the paintings which were going to happen on a massive scale, I didn’t know much about them. So, my role till then was limited to helping him with whatever he needed help with. Sometime sketching some diagrams, sometime sourcing out some material. “The reason I was part of this project were two folds. One, I had a base in the Los Angeles, and second, I was an illustrator, and that

Painting 2- GINEVRA DE BENCI was a skill he was going to require with the paintings. It all made good sense.” “The exhibition of artist Bharat Dalal consisting of six large sized exemplary works completed in six years of time during the 1980’s shall prove to be a visual delight for the spectators. We feel that these works are inspired by the famous renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci’s works, but they possess a unique non-replicable technique used by the artist and the philosophical quest for the universal equivalence,” Vikash Nand Kumar, Co-curator of the exhibition, told IANSlife.

At 16, ruling the violin’s 4 strings and teaching students

t the age of 16, she may have won major honours -- from

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performing in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mahatma

According to the auction house Saffronart, bidding from across the globe resulted in all lots being sold. The sale featured over 120 works of modern and contemporary South Asian art which were generously donated by artists, gallerists, collectors and patrons to support the cause.

Gandhi’s 150th anniversary, winning the Bala Pratibha Award, and

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Saffronart CEO and Co-founder Dinesh Vazirani said, “This auction was made possible thanks to the honours by Kalasagaram, Rasika Ranjana Sabha and Madras Music Academy; but violinist VSP Gayatri Sivani maintains that she she never feels ‘left out’ from what youngsters her age enjoy. Someone who has already started teaching students and helped them participate in competitions, says, “While I enjoy practicing violin everyday, when I am not doing that, I love watching sports, playing and reading. So, I don’t think I am missing out on anything much.” Sivani, who started singing along with her mother, a musician, from the age of three started learning violin from G. Srinivasa Murthy when she turned seven. Making her debut at the age of nine, she went on to give multiple performances across Andhra Pradesh and several other states. “I learned violin from Dr. M. Narmada Gopalakrishnan for a while and have also been learning from Dr. M.

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Untitled by Anjolie Ela Menon, sold for Rs 5.56 lakhs indomitable spirit of the Indian art community that joined hands to raise funds to assist the NGOs doing critical work at the grassroots level during these unprecedented times. We sincerely thank the artists, gallerists, and collectors who have generously donated artworks for this fundraiser auction as well as the members of the art community who have enthusiastically bid on the artworks to contribute”.

Source: Saffronart

Dalal (1955-2018) is the creator of this series called ‘The Fossilized Passions of Da Vinci’ which took him over five years to complete. An exemplary painter of Indian origin who possessed a scientific bent of mind, coupled with a philosophical outlook, Dalal felt an unexplained, yet strong connection with the universal genius of da Vinci.

India’s art fraternity raises two crores for Covid relief

Source: Saffronart

Inspired by da Vinci, late Bharat Dalal’s retrospective to be exhibited in New York

Chandrasekharan.” While her mother recognised her talent as a singer early on, a birth condition -- cleft palate --- which affects speech was diagnosed. “As a result, the words I speak can be hard to understand. And that poses a problem with the lyrics. Violinists perform solo and also accompany artists. Hence, I decided to learn violin alongside learning vocals from my first guru, G. Srinivasa Murthy.” Attributing her success to learning at Ganduri Srinivasa Murthy, who besides teaching also organises monthly concerts at his home where students are encouraged to perform as well as organise performances, she adds, “Not only that, but he also later started a sabha that invited masters in the field to perform on the stage and at the same time gave a chance to his students to perform.”

POLITICS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Priyanka alleges govt One minute Modi-Mamata meeting triggers huge controversy increased export of oxygen by 700% in 2020 for oxygen cylinders and oxygen beds in hospitals throughout India flooded social media and all other mediums of public appeal.

ongress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday once again launched a direct attack on the central government over the oxygen crisis in the country during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, saying the government increased oxygen export by 700 per cent in 2020. In a Facebook post, the Congress leader said that as the second wave of Covid-19 raged, almost every Indian state began reporting a shortage of oxygen. The Uttar Pradesh Congress incharge also said that SOS calls

“Many died gasping for air, while others watched helplessly as their loved ones breathed their last without access to this most basic of medical facilities. Who is responsible for the lack of oxygen in hospitals across India?” she asked. In her post she further stated that India is not an oxygen “deficient” country. The oxygen producing industry in India was incentivised by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s government to supplement the steel industry back in the 1950s and 60s. This laid the foundation for a robust infrastructure that enables India to produce 7,500 MT of oxygen per day. Just to give you an idea of the requirement for medical oxygen in India, let’s look at the oxygen consumption of all Indian hospitals put together at the peak of the second covid wave.

Rahul, Priyanka accuse govt of suppressing data on Covid deaths

iting reports in international media, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the Central government of suppressing the data on Covid related deaths in the country. “We will never know the true number of COVID related deaths as the government has worked harder on suppressing this data than they

did fighting the pandemic,” Priyanka Gandhi tweeted. “Numbers don’t lie... GOI does,” tweeted her brother Rahul Gandhi. As per the latest data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday, India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases stands at 2,71,57,795 with 24,95,591 active cases and 3,11,388 deaths.

It’s time for PM to become a ‘leader’, stop blame game: Rahul Gandhi Continued from Page 1

he Prime Minister’s image has been dented and he should stop blaming the states as this time the Union and stare governments should be in sync. It

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is the duty of the Prime Minister to ensure everybody is on the same page. He said, “They were warned over a year ago. But they ridiculed the

t was a meeting that hardly lasted for a minute but the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee created a huge political controversy. When senior leaders of the BJP claimed that it was the chief minister’s ego that resisted her from staying away from the review meeting with Suvendu Adhikari, Trinamool Congress alleged that the meeting with the Prime Minister personally was pre-scheduled but she was not allowed time as promised by the PMO. The controversy started in the morning when an official from the PMO called Suvendu Adhikari and was asked to stay in the review meeting at Kalaikunda. Adhikari, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state legislative assembly, reached Kalaikunda at 1 p.m. much before the arrival of the Prime Minister.

Interestingly Mamata Banerjee announced from her review meeting in Hingalganj that she won’t be able to stay at the review meeting but she would hand over the estimate of the damage caused by the storm. According to highly placed sources in the state secretariat, chief minister’s announcement comes after chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay confirmed that Prime Minister has given her separate time but when she reached Kalaikunda she was made to sit in a separate room and was informed that as the review meeting has started already, she will have to wait.

This one-minute incident was enough to attract strong political repercussions. Just after the meeting Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who was also present wrote, “At the Review Meet by PM #CycloneYaas to assess damage caused. CM and officials @MamataOfficial did not participate. Such boycotts both in consonance with the constitution and federalism. Certainly, by such actions neither public interest nor interest of state has been served. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee was quick to respond. In his tweet, Banerjee wrote, “@ jdhankhar1, can you tell us, under what provision Nandigram MLA can be present in the review meeting between the central government headed by @narendramodi and state government headed by @MamataOfficial. Stop doing politics @jdhankhar1 in this situation”. Suvendu Adhikari who was in the centre of the controversy wrote, “When Hon PM Shri @narendramodi stands strong with the citizens of West Bengal in wake of cyclone Yaas, Mamata ji should also set aside her ego for the welfare of people. Her absence from the PM’s meeting is murder of constitutional ethos & the culture of cooperative federalism”.

Sources close to the chief minister said that she insisted for one minute time but she was requested to wait. Mamata Banerjee then walked into the review meeting, handed over the paper and walked out.

“Today is a dark day in India’s long-standing ethos of cooperative federalism, a principle held sacred by PM @narendramodi. If her track record is anything to go by, @MamataOfficial Didi’s administration was unable to manage Amphan relief. Rampant

warnings, focused on tokenism, and declared premature victories. Who is responsible for the loss of lakhs of Indian lives?”

He said that problem is that the government and the Prime Minister were unable to understand the Covid.

Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for the second wave of the Covid pandemic in the country.

He said that last year he told the government to not give space to Covid and close the doors.

Attacking the government over the vaccination shortage he said that India is fighting a war with Covid and vaccination is the only way to stop the pandemic is to vaccinate people. He also accused the government of hiding the real figures of deaths due to Covid. Addressing a press conference, virtually, Rahul Gandhi said, “I had warned the government on number times non stop over the Covid since February last year. And the government made fun of us. Even the Prime Minister announced victory over Covid.”

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loot plagued the relief works. Even now, West Bengal is suffering and the state government is in absent mode,” he added. Union Home Minister on his Twitter handle wrote, “Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that”. Trinamool Congress refuted the allegation. The party’s spokesperson, Kunal Ghosh said, “There is no place for any kind of controversy. It was a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. The chief minister met the Prime Minister and submitted to him the details of the damage caused by the storm. There the matter ends”. State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said, “This cannot be a good example of cooperative federalism. She gave preference to her personal ego more than the pains of the people of the state. Suvendu Adhikari is the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister has invited him to be present. Her absence in the meeting will send a very wrong signal”. TMC General Secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “Those who are speaking of her insensitivity should know that she was in the state secretariat whole might to oversee the pains of the people. She is the one who is personally overseeing the relief operations in the state. I would like to ask where were those people during the storm?” viding vaccines to other countries. And what is the condition today, only three per cent people of the country have been vaccinated. Means 97 per cent people have chance of contracting Covid.”

“Vaccine is the permanent solution. And if you don’t take the vaccine then the virus will keep on mutating itself and there will be second, third, fourth and many other waves of Covid,” he said. The Congress leader said that on the issue of vaccine, “I have written to the Prime Minister saying if the government does not have proper vaccine strategy, then number of people will keep on getting affected. And the virus will keep on adopting”. Rahul Gandhi said, “Foreign Minister (S. Jaishankar) is saying that India has earned names by pro-

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POLITICS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Future of people of Race for new Cong chief in Kerala begins Lakshadweep threatened by administrator’s sweeping changes: Rahul to PM

The Congress leader said that the administrator’s attempt to undermine the ecological sanctity of the island is evident in the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation issued recently.

ormer Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the reforms in Lakshadweep alleging that the future of the people of the island is threatened as the administrator has unilaterally proposed sweeping changes without duly consulting elected representatives. In a three-page letter to Modi on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said, “Lakshadweep’s pristine natural beauty and its unique confluence of cultures have drawn people for generations. The custodians of its heritage seek to safeguard the archipelago for posterity. “However, their future is threatened by the anti-people policies announced by the administrator of Lakshadweep, Praful Khoda Patel. The administrator has unilaterally proposed sweeping changes without duly consulting elected representatives or the public. The people of Lakshadweep are protesting against these arbitrary actions,” he said. Patel was appointed Administrator of Lakshadweep Islands in December 2020. Patel, a former Gujarat Home Minister, first shot into the limelight after Mohan Delkar, the Lok Sabha MP of Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, committed suicide in a Mumbai hotel on February 22. Subsequently, the Maharashtra police had booked the UT Administrator in March.

“The provisions undermine safeguards pertaining to land ownership, dilute environmental regulations for certain activities and severely limit legal recourse available to affected persons. Livelihood security and sustainable development are being sacrificed for short-term commercial gains,” said the Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad. He said that the provision in the draft Panchayat Regulation that disqualifies members with more than two children is blatantly “anti-democratic”. He also said that furthermore, proposed changes to regulations like Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation, the Lakshadweep Animals Preservation Regulation and lifting of restrictions on sale of alcohol are a “deliberate assault” on the “cultural and religious” fabric of the local community. “The attempt to cut ties with Beypore port strikes at the close historical and cultural ties with Kerala,” the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi said that despite the Covid pandemic, the administration demolished structures used by the fisherfolk, fired contractual workers in various government departments, and relaxed quarantine norms that led to a lethal spike in Covid cases. “Under the guise of development and maintaining law and order in a low crime union territory, the draconian regulations penalise dissent and undermine grassroots democracy,” he said. The Congress leader requested the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and ensure that the orders are withdrawn. “The people of Lakshadweep deserve a developmental vision that respects their way of life and reflects their aspirations,” he added.

Kerala RSP (B) leader upset with his party and Congress

an ally of the Left and during the late nineties it split with one faction remaining in the Left and the other in which Shibhu was part, joined the Congress led UDF.

The undivided RSP in Kerala was

After a few more splits, today there is only a small faction which is there in the Congress led UDF and

ust imagine what would have happened in the Congress led UDF had the son-in-law of a Congress Chief Minister or the wife of the convenor appointed as a minister, asked senior RSP (B) leader Shibhu Baby John.

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he grand old party might be going through tough times in Kerala but there is never a dull moment among its top leaders as there is always something on the horizon for them to make their moves on, just like now, when the post of state Congress president is up for grabs.

The party expected to regain power, as per the history of electoral politics in Kerala. However, in an unexpected outcome, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left raced pass the UDF. Following the rout in April 6 elections, State party president Mullapally Ramachandran and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala came under heavy duress, especially in the social media, where party supporters bayed for their blood. The 21 Congress legislators though have decided to pay attention to the job at hand -- deciding on who should be their leader in the assembly. Contrary to all expectations, this time the party high command stepped in bringing V.D. Satheesan into the picture. The one-move that left the seasoned veterans and faction managers -- two times former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and party leader Ramesh Chennithala stunned. A political analyst on condition of anonymity said with the high command having chosen Satheesan, even when Chennithala had the majority support of legislators, in all likelihood the president also would be the high command’s call. Stumped by the high command’s decision, the faction managers have now decided to take the fight into the enemy camp as the in the past two assembly polls, the RSP (B) has no legislator in the 140 member Kerala Assembly and they have only one Lok Sabha member -- N.K. Premachandran. Shibhu is a two time legislator and also a former State Minister in the Oommen Chandy cabinet (2011-16). He is deeply upset after he lost the April 6 assembly polls, to the son of the candidate (Vijayan Pillai) who beat him at the 2016 assembly polls. Pillai passed away last year. Shibhu lost to Sujith Vijayan from the former’s home turf, Chavara in Kollam district by a slender margin of 1,096 votes and since then he has been deeply upset and failed to turn up at the first meeting of the Congress led UDF, held here on Friday. When the media on Saturday came searching why he decided to skip the meet, the answer that was given is that he has applied for leave to his party as he has

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names of aspirants for the post of president, surfaced. It includes Lok Sabha members K. Sudhakaran, K. Muraleedharan and Benny Behanan and senior legislator P.T.Thomas.

challenge of contesting from the Nemom assembly constituency, here. Though he lost, he successfully dashed the hopes of the BJP to retain their only seat which they won in 2016 polls.

“Unlike in the previous years, this time with Rahul Gandhi being an MP from Wayanad, has gained a fair idea over the past two years having a connect with a cross-section of Congress leaders and workers. He knows the way the party faction managers run the party here. By bringing in Satheesan, the new president also can be the high command’s pick,” said the critic.

The arrival of Behanan and Thomas, in a away has surprised many as, not long ago the duo were both close aides of Chandy, but when Thomas felt, Chandy was giving more importance to Behanan, who literally turned out to be his ‘man Friday’ when he was the Chief Minister (2011-16), Thomas went his own way.

Even as the names of hopefuls have started making the rounds, the name of Sudhakaran appears to have come under heavy attack from the now joint Chandy-Chennithala factions as the high command’s email box was jammed with numerous mails demanding that Sudhakaran should not be considered. Muraleedharan, son of late K.Karunakaran is bidding for it too and to a large extent he saved the party, when he took on the some important personal issues to attend. Shibhu John is the son of RSP legend Baby John, a veteran trade union leader and State Minister on a number of occasions and Chavara was his political territory for several decades and following his death. His son Shibhu, an engineer by profession took over and by now he has won twice and lost thrice from Chavara. Shibhu is unhappy the way Congress party is going about things in the state and said there is a lot of delay when it comes to taking important decisions.

Of late, with Chandy’s health failing, Behanan too, has appeared to move out of the Chandy camp and with Muraleedharan, having a good relation with Chandy, it remains to be seen, if he will be able to clinch the post for him. All eyes are now on who is going to be the new president and if here again, the high command decides to act tough, then it could be curtains for once powerhouses like Chandy and Chennithala, who for the past two decades have been the final word in the party. acting CPI-M secretary and the Left convenor A. Vijayaraghavan, both first time legislators are now cabinet ministers. “There has been leakage of votes from the RSP and the Congress party in my constituency. I vow my allegiance to the RSP and would always remain to be one. Now that I have some personal needs I have applied for leave from the party. The party is yet to decide on it and it will meet again next week,” said Shibhu and added that at the moment there is no talk of his party leaving the UDF.

“This is not really good at all. And just imagine what would have happened had the son-in-law of Congress Chief Minister and the wife of the UDF convenor be appointed as a State Minister. All can gauge what would have happened,” said Shibhu. The son-in-law (P.A. Mohammed Riyas) of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the wife (R.Bindhu) of

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SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

The sun finally shines on Indian women’s cricket

omen have been playing cricket since 1745. Unfortunately, the gentlemen of the game never gave women’s cricket prominence and importance, and so it remained a village entertainment. In the late 19th and early 20th century in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, there emerged a movement to establish women’s cricket. In 1926, a women’s cricket association was founded. It was only in 1958 that the International Women’s Cricket Council was formed to coordinate cricket around the world.

In India, the efforts of just one man who selflessly pioneered the formation of the Women’s Cricket Association of India in 1973 has now borne fruit because of his vision and belief. Mahendra Kumar Sharma, a young cricket enthusiast from Lucknow, finally put women’s cricket on the Indian map. He conducted the first ever national tournament amongst only three teams -- Maharashtra, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh -- in Pune. Preceding that his marketing efforts to get 200 spectators to watch the games in Lucknow and also his efforts in popularising women’s cricket should be recognised in the annals of Indian cricket history. With very limited financial resources at his beck and call, he went around the streets of Lucknow in a cycle rickshaw broadcasting the first ever match to be played by women at the Queen’s Anglo Sanskrit College. Sharma’s efforts bore fruit as women from other associations also joined in taking the game to several parts of the country. The first national camp at National Institute of Sports for women was held in Patiala. Legendary cricketer Lala Amarnath took the onus of supervising it. The women could not have had a better coach and mentor than him. Amarnath’s immense knowledge of the game and his strict regime turned the girls into a cricketing unit. He taught them the nuances of the game and the seed that he sowed has now blossomed into a fruitful entity. It was only in 2006, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finally accepted to recognise women’s cricket. Until then they had several ups and downs. Finance was always a constraint and so they depended on the generosity of well-wishers and corporate sponsorships. The Indian Railway, public limited banks, and Indian Airlines played a major

part in encouraging and boosting women’s cricket. The railway, however, is still the major supporter of the women’s game. The sunshine days of women’s cricket have finally come to roost. A tour to England next month followed by a visit to Australia was just a dream come true for them. Having just played 36 Test matches in all these years, playing another in Bristol, England, from June 16 and a day-night Test from September 30 in Sydney will be a challenge. India last played a Test match way back in 2014 against England in Wormsley and beat the host. India were led astutely by Mithali Raj, who is still at the helm when India play England next month. Unfortunately, women’s Test cricket has not been the prime agenda of the ICC. The format is not, according to them, a commercially viable option and so the ODIs and the T20s are what they have focused on. The conventional form of cricket needs to be encouraged. If money is the be-all and end-all of keeping a sport alive, then men’s Test matches may also become unimportant. The Indian women’s team is a bunch of very talented cricketers. They seem to have gone astray more with infighting and jealousy rather than their cricket. There has been more chopping and changing of their coaches rather than the players. One gathers from several articles published that the senior players are warring amongst each other and their unhappiness with a coach is all it takes to replace him. Ramesh Powar, the recently appointed coach, has already had an open tiff with Mithali Raj, who will lead India in the only Test and the three ODIs in England. Both are professionals and so a truce, we hope, will soon be in the offing. However, the past could catch up if things do not go their way. Powar’s first task would be to get the captain and her teammates together believing in the one word that is so important to get harmony -- trust. The Indian women’s team reminds one of the Indian men’s team of the early 2000s. The stylish Smriti

Mandhana is as graceful as Rohit Sharma and a hard hitter like Yuvraj Singh. Young Shafali Verma is in the same mould as Virender Sehwag while Jemimah Rodrigues and Poonam Raut have the ability to play their game in the way Rahul Dravid approached it. Mithali has proven to be the Sachin Tendulkar of women’s cricket. Since she is close to the end of her career, she can be the aspiring star for young women cricketers. The cricketing brilliance of Harmanpreet Kaur puts her as the most destructive batter in the team. The unbeaten 171-run innings that she played in a World Cup semi-final match against Australia in 2017 will be remembered as the best innings ever played by an Indian woman. She along with Deepti Sharma are the all-rounders that India will depend on immensely. Tania Bhatia, back as the wicketkeeper, is a live wire behind the sticks and with the evergreen Jhulam Goswami to spearhead the pace bowling, the duo should complement one another in the pace friendly English conditions that most likely will prevail. Spin bowling is an area that the Indian team needs to take a relook at, especially the leg-spin of Poonam Yadav. Teams have analysed her to a fair degree and, therefore, she will need to mix her deliveries to surprise her opponent. The two weakest links in Indian women’s cricket is the fielding and their mental state when put against the wall. Fitness, agility, and a safe pair of hands are the areas that they can practice in the bio-secure bubble, however, they need to get not just physically fit, but also mentally. With both the men’s and the women’s team in the bubble, some good interaction between the two squads would be extremely helpful, especially to the women, to build and learn how to approach the highs and lows of the game. Embarking on a cricket journey to two of the top playing countries is sunshine for women’s cricket. One can already see a wonderful rainbow at the end of it. All the best to women in blue!

Kohli, Sharma placed 2nd and 3rd in ICC ODI rankings

ndia skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma maintained their second and third positions respectively in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI batting rankings.

With 857 rating points, Kohli is only eight points behind Pakistan’s prolific run-getter Babar Azam, who has enjoyed an extremely successful run against South Africa this year. Only two Indians figure in the top 10 of the ODI batting rankings, with opener Shikhar Dhawan placed 18th behind New Zealand’s Martin Guptill on 706 points. In the ODI bowling rankings, Jasprit Bumrah continues to maintain his fifth position with 690 points. New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Trent Boult leads the charts with 737 points, followed by Bangladesh’s right-arm off-spinner Mehendi Hasan who has 725 points. Only Ravindra Jadeja, at No. 9, figures in the all-rounder’s top After a month or two, I realised he was hitting good shots. We didn’t know much about cricket, so I searched online to learn basics of cricket and imparted them to him. I got him a bat too,” said father Prejith V told IANS from Thrissur in Kerala. Vighnaj would get up at 4.45-5.00 a.m. and would practice batting for three hours in the flat with family at home throwing balls at him. “Unfortunately, one day last year, he broke his bat. He asked me to get it fixed or get a new one but we couldn’t find any shop open in Thrissur. They were all shut due to lockdown. “He insisted he wanted to continue batting with a stump in the absence of a bat. I rejected the request at first but then relented and allowed him to bat with it in our flat. What I saw surprised me. He was hitting the (plastic) ball with the middle of the stump,” recalls father Prejith V. After the lockdown was over, he got a new bat and was admitted to a local cricket academy -Loongs Cricket Academy. “He went there for six months

10 for India. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan top the charts with 396 points while England all-rounder Ben Stokes sits a distant second with 295 points. before lockdown put a stop to his cricket once again, last month (April, 2021). Since then, he has been practicing only at home.” A video of his batting skills, where he is seen hitting his drives with a stump, caught the eye of Rajasthan Royals (RR) talent scout Romi Bhinder, whose academy in Nagpur is contracted with Rajasthan Royals (RR). “I found this boy through a Facebook video. I talked to his dad and told him that the franchise will look after him in future. I told him that we will call him to the academy for further training and do whatever we can to help him,” Bhinder told IANS from Nagpur. The father is elated, no wonder. “RR has told us that they will sponsor him. They said they will help Vighnaj get some lessons from RR skipper Sanju Samson,” said Prejith. Samson too hails from Kerala. Hitting a ball with stump is known to sharpen reflexes. There was another international batsman who used to sharpen his reflexes with a stump and a golf ball as a kid over 100 years ago. That batsman went by the name of Sir Don Bradman.

Bradman in making in this Kerala backyard

he Covid-19 pandemic may have put a stop to outdoor batting net sessions for most cricketers, but for nine-year-old Vighnaj Prejith, whose drives with back and across movement

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are being discussed even in the English media as a sign of India’s batting talent depth, it turned into an opportunity.

after getting hooked to cricket in 2019 a couple of months after watching Indian Premier League (IPL).

The little boy began playing cricket with his grandmother in their flat

“He would bat against my mother (the kid’s grandmother) in the flat.

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SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Wrestler murder case: 4 associates India-Aus women series needs a perpetual of Sushil Kumar arrested

trophy: ICC member

n a major breakthrough in the murder of Sagar Dhankar, Delhi Police has arrested four associates of two time olympic medallist Sushil Kumar. All the arrested are members of Kala Asauda and Neeraj Bawana gang.

A senior police official said that on a tip off, a team of Special Staff of Rohini under Inspector Ishwar Singh and overall supervision of Brahmjeet Singh, ACP of Operation Cell, Rohini District Delhi, has apprehended four active members of Kala Asauda - Neeraj Bawana gang from Kanjhawala area on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The official said that all were found to be the associates of Sushil Kumar in Dhankar murder case at Chhatrasal stadium. The arrested accused have been identified as Bhupender a.k.a. Bhupi, Mohit a.k.a. Bholi, Gulab a.k.a. Pahalwan and Manjeet a.k.a. Chunnil, residents of Haryana’s Jhajjar and Rohtak. They revealed the entire conspiracy and sequence of events of the murder of Sagar. He said that non bailable warrants (NBWs) were pending against them. Giving the details of their arrest, the official said that in the intervening night of May 4 and 5, an information was received at Model Town police station regarding firing inside Chhatrasal Stadium. The official said that the police at Chhatrasal Stadium found five cars including a Maruti Alto, Honda city, Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra Scorpio and Maruti Brezza. The police also recovered one loaded double barrel gun and three rounds were found inside Scorpio Car and two sticks in parking area. “During spot enquiry it was found that Sushil Kumar and his associates had beaten the injured persons. A case was registered under several sections of the IPC and Arms Act. The investigation of the case was later transferred to the Crime Branch. Sushil Kumar and his aide Ajay were arrested on Sunday morning and they are on police remand with Crime Branch. The official said that on Tuesday, an information was received that four members of Kala Asauda

Gang - Neeraj Bawana gang involved in murder of Dhankar at Chhatrasal Stadium, are coming to Ghewra village to meet their associate Kala, also a resident of Jhajjar in Haryana. “Acting upon the information, police laid a trap near Ghewra railway crossing and arrested the four accused,” he said. “During questioning they disclosed that in the intervening night of May 4 and 5, they had gone to Chhatrasal stadium. They reached the stadium at around 12 night in two vehicles, a scorpio car and a Brezza car. Thereafter actively involved themselves in the crime,” he said. The police official also said that the four accused also narrated the sequence of events and details of other persons involved in the crime. “On hearing police siren, they could not escape with their vehicles but left both the cars (Scorpio and Brezza) and their weapons at the spot,” he said. IANS had on Monday reported about the Mahindra Scorpio associated with the persons of Neeraj Bawana gang. Police said that Bhupender, 38, came in contact of Rajeev a.k.a. Kala in 2000, and after committing a robbery he became close associate of Kala and committed a number of robberies and murders till 2011. The official said that in 2011, Bhupender went to jail in a double murder case and remained in jail till February 2021. “In year 2020, his gang leader Kala was murdered by members of rival gang in court premises in Rohtak

and after his release he was reviving his gang to take revenge,” the official said. Bhupender is previously involved in 9 cases. Whereas Mohit’s brother Rohit was close associate of Kala and is presently lodged in jail. In year 2016, the rival gangsters involved Mohit in conspiracy of attempt to murder of one Suresh. In 2019, Mohit was again involved in a murder conspiracy case of rival gang. He was released on bail in May 2020 and joined Bhupender to revive the gang. Gulab joined Kala Asauda gang in 2016 and two years later he was involved in an attempt to murder case and later in year 2019, was arrested for an illegal fire arm. In year 2020, the rival gang members targeted Gulab, wherein his friend Ravinder was killed and he sustained bullet injury. Since then, he left his home and spent his time with members of Kala Asauda gang to take revenge. He was previously involved in two cases. The official said that Manjeet is involved in supplying illegal fire arms. In 2011, he was arrested after a brief encounter and 32 illegal fire arms (7 pistols and 25 country made pistols) were recovered from him. In jail he came in contact with Kala Asauda and thereafter, supplied weapons to his gang members, the police official said. “He was arrested many a times with associates of Kala in various cases. Now he joined Bhupender to strengthen Kala Asauda Gang. He is previously involved in four cases,” the official added.

More Tests will make women cricketers battle-hardened: Raman

laying more Tests in a calendar year will help women cricketers ‘become better in terms of match fitness’ and ‘test them in every respect’ for tougher competitions, said former India

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cricketer and women’s team coach, WV Raman.

The India women cricketers will play a one-off Test against England from June 16 -- their first since 2014. They will also tour Aus-

tralia later this year for a full series that includes a day-night Test in September-October. “What it (playing more Tests) does is that it gives them (women cricketers) the opportunities to play the

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ndia and Australia women’s cricket series should have a perpetual trophy designed and named on past women cricketers just like men’s series has in the form of Border-Gavaskar Trophy, said Mel Jones, former Australia woman cricketer and member of International Cricket Council’s (ICC) women’s committee. “It’s certainly great to have something like the Border-Gavaskar, but that’s the men’s lens of what’s happened in the past. So we should just do it our way for the women’s game, and maybe we can come up with something a little bit different,” Jones told cricket. com.au. India and Australia women played their first Test back in 1977 at Perth which the host won by 147 runs. Over the next 44 years, the teams have played eight more Tests. In all, the Aussies and Indians have played nine Tests, with Australia leading the head-to-head 4-0. Five matches have ended as draw. India will play a one-off Test against Australia in Perth in September-October. Jones feels history of cricket between the two nations needs to be hardest format of the game and once they start doing well, they will be hailed even more than they are today,” Raman said in an interview with espncricinfo.com. “If they play regularly, that also gives them opportunities and tests them in every respect. The other thing is, it also helps them become better in terms of match fitness because playing hard cricket for four or five days is going to be tough if you’re not used to it. Once they start getting used to it, I’m sure they will also start enjoying it,” said the former India batsman who played 11 Tests and 27 Oneday Internationals.

acknowledged. “This is why we love the game of cricket, because of the history attached to it. Both the men’s and women’s games have got these magnificent storylines behind their Ashes trophies, and maybe we can create one just as special that is being talked about in 100 years’ time with the same sort of reverence as the Ashes. “To tell the story of the history of the game between the two countries and who’s involved, that would be magnificent. Jones, a former right-handed batsman, who played five Tests and 61 Women’s ODIs, said that women’s cricket should see more and more Test matches. “It’s been an ongoing conversation across every woman cricketer, across every country for so many years, to play more Test matches. “You speak to the Kiwis and they’re just dying for it, the fact that players like (White Ferns’ stars) Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates have never played one, and we’ve got this wonderful Ashes format that allows us to play one every two years. “commercial side of it”. “How many boards can sustain is my question. Maybe the top threefour can because it does take a lot of money as well. Let’s not forget the commercial side of it. Even if three-four boards are interested in making the girls play Test cricket, it is fine, and we must try and give them back,” said Raman, who has been replaced by Ramesh Powar as the women’s team coach.

Raman felt that not more than three or four top cricket-playing countries could afford more Test matches for women given the

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SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Multi-day domestic competition for World No.2 tennis star women needs overhaul: Hemlata Naomi earns record $55mn in 12 months T he Indian cricket board needs to strengthen womens multiday domestic competition to prepare a formidable Test side, said former India woman cricketer and chief selector Hemlata Kala. India are set to play two Tests this year, against England in June and a day-night match against Australia in September. “If Tests are to become a permanent fixture in India women’s calendar, the best way to scout and nurture talent would be through the multi-day domestic completion,” said Lata, who was chief selector between from 2015 to 2020. Hemlata felt that the dynamics of playing with the pink ball are quite different from playing with the red or the white ball, and hoped BCCI would do its best to give players opportunity to get some preparatory experience with the pink ball before the Australia tour. “A good way [to prepare for the D/N Test] would be to host

intra-squad matches in India for the core pool of say, 30-35 players who might make the final squad. Once our players return from The Hundred, they could link up with the rest of the squad for the Australia tour in India and play a few warm-ups among them under lights with the pink ball. That way, it might be even easy to pick the best squad for the Test,” Hemla-

ta, who played seven Tests and scored 503 runs, said in an interview with espncricinfo.com. Hemlata said that while the ODI and T20I teams already had some specialist players, with the focus now on Test cricket, “we will see specialists in the longest format also coming up”.

Nadal, Federer, Djokovic in same half of French Open draw

hirteen-time champion Rafael Nadal and his big rivals, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, were on Thursday drawn in the same half of the French Open.

Djokovic and Federer have won the French Open once each. World No.1 Djokovic will begin his run against two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist Tennys Sandgren. If the Serbian wins, he will face former top-10 star Lucas Pouille or Uruguayan shotmaker Pablo Cuevas. Federer, who made the semi-finals on his last Roland Garros appearance in 2019, will play a qualifier

Naomi’s total earnings amounted to $55.2 million, of which just $5.2 million was from prize money, the highest payday ever for a female athlete, according to sports business magazine Sportico. Naomi won the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open to take her total Grand Slam wins to four. Additionally, she has repeatedly spoken publicly in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, sporting names of victims of police brutality on the masks she wore throughout the US Open. Apart from this, Naomi also part-

The Spaniard, who has a 100-2 record at this event, will open against big-hitting Aussie Alexei Popyrin in the main draw starting on Sunday. Players that he could face over the course of the tournament include seventh seed Andrey Rublev, 2021 breakthrough star Aslan Karatsev, Diego Schwartzman, Jannik Sinner and home favourite Gael Monfils before a potential face off with Djokovic in semi-finals.

ennis world No.2 Naomi Osaka of Japan ended the 2020-21 financial year as the highest earning female athlete in the world.

a statement from the BCCI on Saturday. “The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL,” the statement added. The BCCI will also speak to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the first round. The eighth seed could face former world No. 3 Marin Cilic in the second round. In the women’s section, world No.1 Ash Barty will face American world No.70 Bernarda Pera in the top quarter. No.5 seed Elina Svitolina and No.9 seed Karolina Pliskova also landed in the top quarter, with the latter facing former top 20 player Donna Vekic in the opening round. Eighth seed Iga Swiatek, who

nered with two dozen brands that range from HR software (Workday) to watches (Tag Heuer). The Japanese star said that she won’t be interacting with the media in the French Open this year. “I’m writing this to say that I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros. I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,” she has written on Twitter. “We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I am not going to subject myself to people who doubt me,” said Naomi. regarding the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India in October-November. “The BCCI SGM further authorised the Office Bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021,” the statement said further.

stormed to last year’s title without the loss of a set, opens her defence against Kaja Juvan. Two Grand Slam champions lead the bottom quarter -- No.2 seed Naomi Osaka and No.6 seed Bianca Andreescu. Both these major winners are still seeking their first trips into the second week of Roland Garros. Naomi faces world No.63 Patricia Maria Tig of Romania in the first round. Bianca meets world No.85 Tamara Zidansek.

IPL’s remaining matches to be held in UAE in September-October

ndian Premier League’s (IPL) remaining matches this season will be held in United Arab Emirates in the months of September-October, the Indian cricket board

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confirmed on Saturday.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced to complete the remaining matches of VIVO Indian

Premier League 2021 season in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October this year,” said

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TRAVEL

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Accor’s first Raffles Resort in the Middle East

their families during these times or for other personal or family health emergencies Cases reported on air travel spread have been minimal due to which flights are being considered as a safer travelling option, however, it is always good for travellers to be extra cautious and look out for their own safety and practice precautions while boarding a flight. While it is imperative to mask up, regularly sanitise and avoid unnecessary contact with people and surfaces, there are other things as well to keep in mind while taking a flight.

Raffles The Palm Dubai- Aerial Exterior

affles the Palm Dubai will be the first ultra-luxury addition to Accor’s existing diverse portfolio in Dubai. With more than 600 hotels and resorts across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, this hotel on the iconic Palm Jumeirah is set to open in the last quarter of 2021. The group is partnering with Emerald Palace group (EGP), which has been successfully developing and constructing residential projects in Ukraine, UAE and Russia since 1996. Raffles the Palm Dubai will be situated within 100,000 sqm landscape on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island and archipelago. Its privileged location boasts panoramic sea views and vistas of the Dubai’s iconic skyline while offering a tranquil and private escape, just a short drive away from the city’s vibrant attractions. Once open, the resort will offer 389 luxurious rooms - starting from 65sqm, suites and villas, each of them featuring a balcony and terrace showcasing unparalleled sea views. Not only will this new property offer unrivalled hospitality, it will also go beyond expectations by providing the legendary Raffles butler service and offering eight new unique lifestyle food and beverage experiences. Guests looking to relax during their stay will be able to indulge in Cing

Raffles The Palm Dubai - Grand Foyer Mondes Spa, an award winning 3,000sqm Parisian brand with an iconic design, never before seen in Dubai, featuring 23 treatments rooms and two private spa suites, as well as the city’s largest indoor swimming pool. Rising above the cobalt blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, the property is flanked by a 500 meter private white sand beach offering the perfect scene for an ultra-luxurious beach experience! Guests and residents will be introduced to a brand new concept beach club offering which will showcase Mediterranean cuisine, entertainment offerings and much more coming to the shores of the Raffles the Palm Dubai.

Accor to establish the first Raffles resort in the Middle East. Our international expertise in developing and constructing hotel and residential projects combined with Accor’s knowledge, presence and prestigious brand portfolio set the grounds to open the best hotel in town!” mentioned Dr. Nver Mkhitaryan, Owner of EGP Group. “This is a very exciting opportunity for us” says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “There are very few beach resort plots left in Dubai and none on the Palm Jumeirah. The size of the property and its location perfectly lend itself to provide a prestigious address for the Raffles brand”

“We are pleased to partner with

5 precautions to keep in mind for air travel in the times of COVID-19

lmost a year ago, one of the busiest airports in the worldIndira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi had a deserted look brought about by the coronavirus. A year later, the airport has terminated operations on terminal 2

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as a result of the reduced number of flights due to the second wave, which is turning out to be more deadly than the previous one. The air travel industry has witnessed significant changes since the pandemic, even as two things

remain constant - the threat from the virus and the effort to ensure a safer surrounding. While leisure travel has taken a halt, air travel still remains unavoidable for some – many people are returning home amid the second wave-to be with

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baggage is unavoidable, it should be thoroughly cleaned using disinfectant wipes after the journey. Apply sanitizing gel to a tissue and make sure to wipe the handles and bottom of the luggage. Edging towards the window seat:

With the current safety concerns set to stay for the foreseeable future, EaseMyTrip.com shares with IANSlife list of precautions that a passenger should keep in mind while travelling by air.

A window seat could come with an extra jab of protection owing to the less exposure and movement of passengers, and thus avoiding unnecessary contact. A person sitting in the window seat will essentially reduce the number of people within your 6-foot exposure radius by half. An aisle seat should be avoided as travelers tend to visit washrooms, touch surfaces and walk by, increasing one’s exposure to the virus. So make sure that you book your ticket and seat way in advance from a travel portal such as EaseMyTrip.com.

Double Mask up for maximum protection:

Maintaining distance and hygiene over the course of the journey:

With the second wave of coronavirus spreading ferociously, people have realised the importance of doubling up the protection. Is double mask safer than a single mask? Indeed, studies done by Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that double masking can reduce one’s exposure to the virus by up to 95 percent. The CDC recommends layering a cloth mask over a surgical mask. Avoid combinations such as two surgical masks, or a K95/N95 and any other mask.

It is difficult to give up on a sip or two of water throughout the course of the journey. With Covid around, it is advisable to carry your own bottle to minimise contact with people, which is a possibility at the point of sale. While there is very little you can do on the plane to maintain distance, ensure that you keep your distance from people in the terminal. Walk around the terminal while you’re waiting for your flight as the seating area could be a point of infection. It is also advisable to clean and use disinfectant wipes for surfaces such as the tray table or in-flight entertainment systems that you will be using in the flight. Similarly, precautions should be taken while accessing washrooms at airports and on flights, including using elbows to open the doors. It is advisable to stay away from washrooms that are crowded.

Minimal contact clothing: Such testing times require cautious approach even while choosing your outfit for air travel. It is advisable to cover your body as much as possible, so track suits are a good option. Travelers should also avoid wearing open toed shoes to ensure minimal contact. Wearing goggles can also add a protective layer for your eyes. It is also advisable to wear socks so that your bare feet don’t touch the airport floor during security check. Reduce, Disinfect your baggage: The more the merrier? This saying has gone for a toss, at least while travelling during the Covid crisis. Despite safety protocols in place, your bag will pass through several channels and people from checkin to the final destination. It is advisable to check-in fewer bags. In the event that reducing the

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While it may not be possible to avoid all points of contact, the current global crisis merits a heightened sense of caution, and it is important for travelers to be aware of their surroundings and take all possible necessary precautions from their end to ensure a safe journey. It is also advisable to look up state wise air travel guidelines and notifications listed on https:// www.easemytrip.com/covid19help.html to ensure that one is up to date with all necessary travel and airline information.

BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Is there a link between nutrition and skin ageing?

here is a whole gamut of skincare products available right now online and in stores that might give our skin the glow, shine, anti-ageing, smoothness that we all crave. But, what happens when we stop using these products? Many of us have an endless list of skin concerns like pigmentation, others about dryness or oiliness, or pimples, or allergies. However, as you grow older, one of the best ways to take care of your skin is to focus on what you eat, rather than what you apply. Many of us face challenges in deciding what to eat to keep our skin young and healthy, defining a healthy diet, and understanding the role of diet in ageing. Currently, the buzzing topic is finding ways to maintain healthy skin and delay skin aging. According to a study, there is a close association between sugar and some food processing methods (such as grilling, frying, baking, etc) with skin ageing, and their mechanisms are related to skin advanced glycation end products. Skin health is closely linked to nutrition, which is required for all biological processes in the skin, from youth to ageing or disease. Nutritional deficiencies and eating habits can both repair and cause damage to the skin. There are several simple things we don’t follow regularly that can

cause skin ageing: Not drinking enough water, deficiency of vitamin, proteins, trace elements like zinc, copper, iron, iodine, etc. Water deficiency in the body can lead to tissue dehydration and functional issues (such as ageing and inflammation). Skin is no exception, and the state of moisture in the body is reflected in the appearance of the skin on the lips and limbs. It is advisable to at least drink more than two litres of water every day. Almonds are a source of 15 nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, protein, copper, zinc, iodine, etc. A new research suggests that there may be more than one reason to add almonds to your daily skin care routine. The study found that eating almonds daily in place of typical calorie-matched snacks improved measures of both

wrinkle severity and skin pigmentation in postmenopausal women. Almonds are known to be a rich source of antioxidant vitamin E and deliver essential fatty acids and polyphenols, which make them a great addition to one’s daily diet for improved skin health. Lack of Vitamin C can also cause skin disorders. They are available in abundance in oranges, lemons, strawberries and guavas. All of the body’s tissue cells are constantly renewed, and only a sufficient protein intake can keep normal tissue renewal and repair going. The skin is no exception, with a 28-day skin renewal cycle being the norm. Apart from almonds that are rich in protein, you could also consume other protein-rich foods such as yoghurt (dahi), lentils and oats for healthier skin.

Feathered eyebrows? Here’s how you can get them

he 2021 photo-ready brow look of the year is ‘Feathered eyebrows’. Light and fluffy brows that enhance the natural face structure and at the same time give you fuller-looking eyebrows is the beauty trend to watch out for this season. Chandni Goyal, Makeup Artistry, Anastasia Beverly Hills decodes how to achieve the feathered look in 5 simple steps:

• Golden Ratio Method: Map out the perfect shape of your eyebrows using the 3-step patented technique - The Golden Ratio Method from Anastasia Beverly Hills that helps in determining where your eyebrows should begin, end and arch. As per The Golden Ratio Technique, your eyebrows should begin directly above the centre of the nostril, end where the bottom outside corner of the nostril aligns with the outside corner of the eye, and arch from the centre of the tip of the nose aligning through the centre of the iris. • Freeze your brows: Next, try to

set your brows using a spoolie and Brow Gel or Brow Freeze to comb the eyebrow hair upwards. Brow Freeze is an extreme-hold colourless styling wax that lifts and holds brows in place for a feathered effect. You can also use any natural clear soap as a wax to hold the brows. • Fill in the gaps: Use your eyebrow pencil or Brow Powder Duo to fill in any gaps, use a lighter colour in front part and darker shade to fill in the rest of the brows for a natu-

rally textured look. • Stroke it: Next, use a Brow Pen to mimic natural soft hair-like strokes. The super fine-tipped detailing pen helps in creating natural-looking brow hair effortlessly. Brush it again for blending the strokes with natural hair. • Highlight: Finish the look with the Pro Pencil on your brow bone to highlight the feathered texture of your eyebrows and to conceal stray hairs.

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Importance of Nutricosmetics

Health is wealth, and healthy skin could be a self-explanatory display for itself. According to Stephen Defelice, any food or part of a food that provides medical or health benefits could be defined as Nutraceuticals. He coined the term ‘Nutraceuticals’ from the words ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceutical’. This coined term also gave birth to a new derivation known as Nutricosmetics.

our body. These include -- Beta-carotene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Lycopene. Where Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A and can inhibit free radicals and UV damage, Lutein and Zeaxanthin also protect against UV damage, and have antioxidant properties. Lycopene is found in tomatoes and provides some degree of photoprotection, and can reduce UV damage.

As stated by Anunciato and da Rocha Filho in the year 2012 and Pearson, 2018, Nutricosmetics can be described “as the consumption of food or oral supplements to produce an appearance benefits, and are also called “beauty pills”, “beauty from within”, and even “oral cosmetics”.” The beauty industry today has seen a fierce growth which has led to hyper-awareness about aging, pigmentation, and skincare.

Polyphenols include Curcumin, Tea polyphenols, Grape polyphenols, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to protect the skin.

Nutricosmetics are generally available as supplements containing molecules such as collagen, omega fatty acids, peptides, vitamins, proteins, etc. They are usually available as over-the-counter products. Sunlight (UV radiation), Infrared light, and a persons’ cellular metabolism creates ‘reactive oxygen species or ROS’. These ROS in turn lead to oxidation of DNA, proteins, and fats in ones’ body and lead to skin aging. However, the body also produces antioxidants that can combat these ROS. Although results from some studies remain controversial in the literature, the main and generally accepted antioxidants include elements such as -Vitamins, where Vitamin C is found in raw red and green peppers, oranges, acerola, grapefruits, kiwi, strawberries, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, vegetables, corn, soy, and margarine. The consumption of both has shown a reduction in the damage on skin due to UV rays. Carotenoids also provide UV protection. They are obtained from vegetable sources and are usually present in orange, red, and yellow foods, and are not synthesised in

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Minerals like Copper help in skin rejuvenation and involve in the formation of Collagen, whereas Zinc is anti-inflammatory and protects against UV radiation. Selenium on the other hand protects cellular DNA damage Omegas including Omega3 and Omega6 are found in canola oil, cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds. They are anti-inflammatory and help in the structural stability of cells. Collagen has already proven it’s efficiency on skin properties. The most common way to obtain collagen is through nutritional supplements, namely fish collagen hydrolysates. However, the regular consumption of fruit and vegetables, rich in biologically active ingredients has been pointed to as one of the best strategies against skin ageing. Nowadays, beauty can no longer be dissociated from health and consumers consider nutrition an important pillar in skin beauty. A study in Thailand compared the efficacy of a combined nutraceutical (containing the combination of soy isoflavones, chaste berry, black cohosh, and primrose oil) on volunteers. The placebo effect took 12 weeks to start showing effects. The volunteers receiving the nutraceutical significantly improved skin elasticity, skin roughness, and wrinkles; yet no visible effect on pigmentation, skin hydration was noticed.

BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Use gram flour for skin and hair problems

esan or gram flour has long been used in India for its many benefits for skin and hair care. In fact, it is a traditional home remedy used right from the time when one is a baby. Besan in the form of uptans or epilation formula for baby hair, during adulthood in a myriad number of packs and scrubs to take care of beauty issues right from acne to tanning, cleansing and exfoliating. Not surprisingly, the world is now waking up to this must-have beauty essential that is gram flour. Dr. Geeta Grewal, Cosmetic Surgeon and Wellness Expert, 9Muses Wellness Clinic, Gurugram takes you through the various ways to use gram flour and also gives you recipes for packs and treatments you can make and apply at home. Natural Hair Remover

In India, gram flour has been used to remove fine facial hair. In fact, a gram flour scrub is used to remove hair from all over the body for babies. If you are tired of threading and waxing your face, you could try gram flour hair removal as well. Just keep a few things in mind before you start. For starters, steam your face so that the pores open and the hair is easier to remove from the roots; Don’t rub too harshly as that might cause your skin to become inflamed and irritated. Don’t forget to do a patch test first to check if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the home remedy and don’t be

impatient because you will have to repeat the treatment a number of times before you get the results you want.

vides mild exfoliation. Lemon juice acts as a natural bleach that will help to reduce the darkness from your elbows.

Remedy

Make a paste with gram flour and fenugreek powder and yoghurt. Apply this over the areas where you want to remove hair. Allow it to dry. Wet your face with a little water and scrub away the paste.

Add a teaspoonful of lime juice to a teaspoon full of gram flour to make it a paste. You have to balance out the consistency of the paste by carefully adding or reducing the lemon juice to make it little thicker. Apply the mixture and rub in circular motion on your elbows. Allow it to dry and wash it off with cold water.

Brings glow to the skin Gram flour packs work wonders in absorbing the excess oil and cleansing your skin as well. Gram flour has alkalizing properties that keeps the pH levels of your skin balanced. It is also very absorbent and soaks up all the extra oil. Gram flour has been used for brightening one’s skin tone for centuries and its super cleansing properties leave your face looking its best. Remedy Add half a cup besan, a pinch of turmeric powder and quarter cup fresh milk to create a smooth paste. Apply evenly on your face and neck area and leave it on for 20-25 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water to notice the glow. Removes dark patch from the elbow Tanning and darkening of elbows is one of the most difficult and stubborn areas to remove black spots. But there are certain home remedies to help you to get rid of dark and black elbows. Gram flour cleanses the area and also pro-

Cures Dry Skin Are you wondering how we can make such contradictory statements, especially when we have just talked about how gram flour can help deal with oily skin? Well, that is the wonder of gram flour that helps control oiliness and also tackles dry, scaly skin. When besan is mixed with milk cream (malai), it acts as a wonderful moisturiser. You could also add some olive oil or almond oil and get the same results. Remedy Mix gram flour and milk cream to make a paste. Apply this to your face and neck. Wash it off before it dries completely Best for exfoliation Exfoliating should be an essential part of your beauty routine because if you do not scrub away all the dead skin cells, the debris starts to pile up leaving your skin

Deepika Padukone features in ‘Seven Happy Women’ list

looking dull and lifeless. While there are hundreds of scrubs available in the market, there’s nothing like a good, home-made gram flour scrub to get the glow back on your face. And its environment-friendly as well. Remedy Combine 3 teaspoons gram flour with 1 teaspoon ground oats, 2 teaspoons cornflour and milk. Gently rub this on your damp face and leave on for about 10 minutes. Wash off Hair cleanser Has your hair turned dull and lifeless because of all the commercially available shampoos and cleansers? Well, maybe it’s time to try a homemade hair cleanser. Remedy Make a simple thin paste of besan and water. Take as much gram flour and water as you think is necessary to cover your scalp. Apply the paste evenly all over

your scalp. Leave on for 10 minutes and wash off. Tan lightener If you want to go back to your natural colouring, ditch the harsh chemical tan lighteners and try gram flour instead for tan removal. With its multipurpose benefits, there is nothing quite like gram flour and the best part is that it is almost always available in your kitchen. Gram flour has been used for de-tanning and brightening one skin tone for centuries and its super cleansing properties leave your face looking its best ever. Remedy Mix 4 teaspoons gram flour with a pinch of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of curd and the juice of a lemon. The vitamin C in lemon will reduce pigmentation, while dahi will moisturise your skin. Add a pinch of salt for exfoliating benefits. Apply to your skin and face daily and you will see results after prolonged use.

ollywood actress Deepika Padukone has featured in the ‘Seven Happy Women’ list by Chopard under its ‘Happy Diamond’ campaign. The other names in the list include Aja Naomi King, Jung Ryeo-Won, Sadie Sink, Anne Nakamura, Dorra Zarrouk and Yang Zi.

Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele has chosen the names with unparalleled influence to embody Happy Diamonds. “Seven Friends of the Maison who represent, each through in their own way, a strong, free, joyful way of living in the world and of owning the spirit of the era. Deepika Padukone, Aja Naomi King, Jung Ryeo-Won, Sadie Sink, Anne Nakamura, Dorra Zarrouk and Yang Zi have all grasped the codes of their time to blaze their trail in a manner that is both singular and generous.” Theirs are powerful voices that resonate with that of Karin Scheufele – Caroline Scheufele’s mother - who once exclaimed,

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faced with the first sketches of the future Happy Diamonds: “ diamonds are happier when they are free”. The brand quotes: “An indispensable voice, she (Deepika) speaks of the fragility and strength of the human mind, which she describes with great intelligence: ‘To

accept the highs and the lows. To embrace the various emotions that we are challenged with every single day. And to live a life that is fuelled by authenticity and purpose.’ A strong mantra for a free spirit that bears witness to a deep humanity, making her a true global icon.”

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FASHION

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

When it comes to fashion, age is just a number

Taught by their granddaughter the Vermas got the hang of using social media to keep themselves and those who follow them entertained. From quirky dance reels to walking the runway in their backyard -- the duo have cracked the code. Mrs. Verma who is seventy-six is seen trying out many looks from street chic, grunge and even contemporary fusion styles. The couple believe that “age is

They’re not the only ones playing it cool at their age, “the original” @baddiewinkle aka Helen / Miss Baddie always has a few tricks up her sleeve. With over 3.5 million followers, Helen is a social media influencer with clout. She is often spotted trying out beauty and fashion looks which aren’t for the faint hearted. For those who love fashion check out Iris Apfel (@iris.apfel) to learn more than a thing or two in fashion and to get your game face on. A firm believer of “More is more & less is a bore”, Apfel is a stylista worth her salt. So, the next time you are looking for fashion info... take it up a notch and check out these divas instead.

Mrs Verma

Mexico’s Andrea Meza crowned Miss Universe, India’s Adline Castelino 3rd runner up

Photo: Instagram

Don’t take our word for it, check out Mr. and Mrs. Verma’s profile (https://www.instagram.com/mr._ and_mrs._verma/), and see the couple setting major fashion goals.

not a barrier” and are “slaying and spreading smiles” in their seventies. From dance routines to fashion shows, content created by the couple in the form of reels and videos is worth a dekho.

Photo: Instagram

f you thought fashion on social media is just for millennials think again… there are many “mature” individuals and couples in their seventies and eighties who are all the rage on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, proving when it comes fashion, age is just a number!

Mr & Mrs Verma

Mixing western sensibilities with Indian designs

ndrea Meza from Mexico on Monday won the title of Miss Universe 2021. Meza, a software engineer, had to compete with 73 other contestants from all over the world to become the third women from the country to win the title. Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa crowned the Mexican beauty at the event held in Florida, USA.

In the final round, the 26-yearold was asked to speak on the changing beauty standards. She answered: “We live in a society that is more than advanced, and as we advance as a society, we’ve also advanced with stereotypes.” Adding: “Nowadays beauty isn’t only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you’re not valuable.” Brazil’s Julia Gama was named the first runner up while Janick Maceta from Peru was the second runner up at the pageant. India’s Adline Castelino, who earlier won the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2020 title, emerged as the 3rd runner up at the 69th edition of the Miss Universe contest. Castelino, born and raised in Kuwait, had penned down a heartfelt note on her journey through a video clip posted on social media. She had written: “If I could pen down this feeling without getting overwhelmed about how I felt as

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Mexico_s Andrea Meza crowned Miss Universe, India_s Adline Castelino 3rd runner up.. I stood there witnessing people around the world cheering, flags waving high and even if I missed seeing, I felt like I was home. “I thought of you India and what we are going through. The love that people give you when they are hurting themselves is the purest form of love one can experience. I’m grateful to you that at a young age I have experienced that and if I could only show you what I saw that day! I saw hope, a hope that will be ours soon.”

he elegance and appeal of Indian ethnic wear have been maintained since days of yore, and the occidental culture has consistently been interested by the gloriousness of the famous ethnic outfits - saree, salwar suit and the lehenga. Fashion biggies have been mixing the western and ethnic sensibilities together to bring -- the rich patterns, cuts and comfort part of western wear were combined with the conventional luxury and style, and it normally indented up the fame of Indian ethnic wear in the worldwide market. These tips by Anuj Mundra, MD and Chairman of Jaipurkurti.com will help you rock the ‘desi look:

Mexico_s Andrea Meza crowned Miss Universe, India_s Adline Castelino 3rd runner up

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1. While getting an ethnic wear for working environment, consistently look sharp. Stay away from substantial flowy dupattas that are very diverting. All things being equal, choose a dupatta that has hand printed themes. Patiala pants are ideal workwear. Wear a botanical print kurti with fully spread solid Patiala salwar. 2. To break the tedium of ordinary

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western or ethnic wear, you can generally pick an Indo-western combination wear. Wear a short combination kurta and provincial dhoti-style salwar or bottoms embellished well. 3. Another method of pulling off an ethnic look without getting carried away with salwar kameez is to wear flared long dresses. With strong themes, flower prints and wide hemlines, these designs look stylish and are agreeable. 4. Multi-shaded palazzos with block prints matched with a plain kurta can add an alternate appeal to the entire outfit. On the off chance that you are not a kurta fan, these palazzos can be combined with tank tops or short kurtis. 5. Your ethnic wardrobe is incomplete without a few stunning anarkali pieces. From easy going to celebrations, these anarkali kurtas look very lovely and comfortable to wear for a more extended time frame length. The flared hem and the designed neck make these kurtas a top pick for everybody.

LITERATURE

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

A 6-point mantra to achieve a ‘glass’ skin

here are three degrees of flawless skin, leading aesthetic dermatologist Anupriya Goel was told by her hosts during a visit to South Korea, one of the major global centres of innovation and trendsetting in beauty products where skincare is akin to religion. There’s ‘dewy’ skin, the most common and popular category; a step away is ‘honey’ skin or even transparent and radiant skin; and there’s the mother of all skin types - the ‘glass’ skin, says Anupriya Goel, who has evolved a six-point mantra for achieving this ultimate and details this in a new book. When she asked what was meant by glass skin, she was told: “Imagine skin so flawless and translucent that it shines like a crystal -immaculate, perfect and transparent; skin that is so succulent, radiant and clear that it actually reflects light!”

“My trip to South Korea, the Mecca of skincare had a huge impact on me. It is one of the major global centres of innovation and trendsetting in beauty products. For the Koreans, skincare is akin to religion. Glass skin is extremely popular and revered there. And I was amazed to see healthy glowing skin in a majority of the Koreans,” Goel, who in 1987 established the Berkowits Hair and Skin Clinic here that has a pan-Indian presence today, told IANS in an interview. “So, I wondered: How is it that glass skin is so commonplace among them? What are the Koreans doing differently? Is it their genetic make-up? Are they secretly drinking some ancient magic potion that their grandparents have told them about? What are their Eureka skincare products? Is it their diet, so rich in fish and seaweed, that helps them achieve glass skin? “The more I studied and dug deeper into the subject, the clearer the answers became and I thought to myself that every person in the world must know about this,” Goel,

an MSc in aesthetics from University of London, said of her book, “How to Get Glass Skin - Industry Secrets to Getting Flawless. Glowing Skin” (Ebury Press/Penguin). What then, is Goel’s six-point mantra? * Understand your skin type. Using the wrong products, no matter how trendy they are, for a different skin type will cause more trouble for your skin. * Understand your skin condition. The drill is not just about understanding your skin type but also identifying your skin condition and picking your products accordingly. * Arm yourself with knowledge about what skincare ingredients go into the products before you buy them, and understand what they do. * Get the right products for your skin. * Follow a customized skincare routine diligently without missing even a single day. As in most areas of our life, a consistent approach produces the best results. If you suddenly stop a treatment, you won’t achieve the desired results. * Eat a healthy diet and include some form of exercise in your daily

routine. “Before we progress,” Goel cautioned, “I want to make one thing very clear - there is no one magic product or ingredient that will help you get glass skin. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you snake oil. Skincare, just like any other ritual (think dental care - do you ever skip brushing your teeth?) should be part of your daily lifestyle. Only then will you see results.” South Korea has a temperate climate. Given the harsh climatic conditions in different parts of India, dietary preferences and the fact that one size does not fit all, how effective are Goel’s suggestions for women across the spectrum or are they confined to just one part of the country? “It is extremely important to know about your skin type and condition before diving in to follow a skincare routine. Whether you are in the northern part of the country or south, every part will have different seasons throughout the year. Similarly, it is important to know that your skin type changes with every season. This book just does that,” Goel explained.

Agonising journey home in the midst of a pandemic

s the nation marks the first anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown, comes journalist-turned-filmmaker Vinod Kapri’s compelling book, “1232 km: The Long Journey Home” (HarperCollins), a true account of human grief, grit, and gumption. The lockdown left millions of migrant labourers without jobs, food and home. Desperate and helpless, most took to the road, embarking on a long, often fatal journey home. This is the account of one such journey that seven migrants from Bihar - Ritesh, Ashish, Ram Babu, Sonu, Krishna, Sandeep and Mukesh - undertook on their bicycles that lasted for seven days and seven nights. Accompanying

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them was National Award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri. The book records their journey on the road from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh to Saharsa in Bihar, spanning 1,232 kilometres. It is a story of courage as well as the desperation of the seven men braving police batons and insults, battling hunger and exhaustion to reach their destination - their home. A documentary based on this journey, directed by Vinod Kapri, has just been released on Disney+ Hotstar. “When I set out on this journey,” Kapri said, “I had a deep curiosity about what makes the migrant labourers’ bicycle 1,232 kilometres without food or any help in such extreme circumstances. I wanted to know who these people are. I

wanted to see them up close.”

“This is not a journey about courage, willpower or grit. It is about good and bad people in our society. The migrants I filmed were getting unexpected help from strangers, while the authorities, who one would expect cooperation from, were harassing them. “These people built our homes, our cities. Do we care to know their names? About their families? The way I look at them now is entirely different,” he added. Social scientist, poet and author Kamla Bhasin has described the book as “a testament to the resilience and resolve of our working classes and the callousness of our State. It says that people will outlive all rulers, however, powerful”.

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Fiction flourishes in contradiction: Pak author Mira Sethi

n a country where assertive self-expression can be frowned upon, how to be yourself? Maybe through sneaky networks of solidarity, by improvising identities as one navigates life... While many of the characters in author Mira Sethi’s debut story collection ‘Are you Enjoying?’ (Bloomsbury India) are professional performers, even those who are not, can be skillful chameleons. “To live in a society with strong views about what constitutes ‘virtue’ and ‘vice’, means, as a citizen, having to alter and contort one’s authentic self in order to survive. Roshan, the queer chai-boy on the set of ‘Breezy Blessings’ says to Mehak, the actress: ‘About drama, you know nothing.’ She may be the actress, but as a queer person navigating middle-class Pakistani society, he understands everything about drama, and how to communicate effectively via code, innuendo, signal,” Mira Sethi tells IANS. As the characters in the stories strive for personal freedom, the author asserts that they are in fact trying to throw off the straight jacket imposed by society -- how does one negotiate personal freedom in a traditional society? “I wanted to show both the resilience of my characters, but also the vulnerability of people caught between the pull of the past, and the lure of modernity. Family – the imperatives of fathers and mothers – is a major theme in the book; there was a desire to portray how the burdensome pressures of family (the past) interact with (modern) aspirations of young, urban people,” she says. Taking around six years to write the book, ‘Breezy Blessings’ was the first story she wrote. “ I would email myself snippets, thoughts and observations. It was only after I wrote the first draft of ‘Breezy Blessings’ (in my gmail inbox!) that I opened a Word document, and began taking myself seriously as a writer,” the writer-actor smiles. Stressing that she draws from the sights and sounds encountered in life – the power dynamics on the set of a show, the ways in which

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Urdu and English are mixed and her lived experience as an observer and participant in Pakistani life, Sethi works best in the mornings, before she has interacted with anyone, the space when her mind is blank slate. “I sometimes won’t shower until 5 or 6 pm until I’ve had four good hours of writing. Flow-state writing is hard to achieve, but I find I’m able to do it if I start first thing in the morning. Of course, then getting up to make breakfast is an interruption.” Talk to her about the brilliant fiction in English from Pakistani origin writers in the past two decades, and she feels that fiction flourishes in contradiction. Adding that Pakistan is a society in transition, and there is a lot of tension to be harnessed in the space between the laws of the state, not to mention the ways in which they interact with individual desire and autonomy, the author adds, “Young people get their news – and their aspirations – from social media and television. Their desires are secular, but the frameworks into which these people are born are traditionalist.” Ask her the experience of growing up in a progressive family in a religious country, and Sethi, daughter of well-known journalists Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin, who has also been seen in Pakistani serials including ‘Silvatein’ and ‘Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai’, says, “Identity politics play out in unusual ways in a country like Pakistan, where labels like ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ can mean different things depending on their context. I’m happy my book has been able to navigate the dignity of people who often don’t fit in.” But has she felt the ‘burden’ of being born to famous parents? “Not when it comes to writing fiction,” she smiles. For someone who feels that she would be a poorer writer if it weren’t for acting, there is another book brewing, “I believe so, but I’ll find out when there are words, stumbles and fumbles on the page.”

HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Sniffer dogs show 88% accuracy Terrace gardening for healthy living aiding in detecting Covid: UK study immunity booster

niffer dogs can help prevent the spread of Coronavirus by detecting SARS-CoV2, the virus behind Covid-19, according to a study, which found that the canines can be 88 per cent accurate in sniffing the virus, the media reported.

The study, involving scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Durham University, believe the dog screening, followed by swab testing, will pick up 91 per cent of infections, the BBC reported on Monday. While even the quickest Covid tests take 15 minutes to show a result, the dogs can sniff out the disease in seconds. This means that two dogs can together screen 300 people in half an hour, researchers said. This could make the sniff test “a suitable method for mass screening”, Prof Logan at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, was quoted as saying. Mass screening can be done at airports or at busy train stations to help prevent a super-spreading event. A canine screening trial to see whether specialist medical sniffer dogs can detect coronavirus in humans began last year, by the charity Medical Detection Dogs,

where six dogs were trained to recognise the smell produced by people with Covid-19, but undetectable to the human nose. They were given worn socks, face masks and t-shirts of various materials. Some of the people in the negative group had common cold viruses, to make sure the dogs were able to distinguish Covid from other respiratory infections. The dogs were able to sniff out the disease even when it was caused by different variants, and when the person had no symptoms or only had very low levels of the virus in their system, the report said. The results were “further evidence that dogs are one of the most

reliable biosensors for detecting the odour of human disease”, Claire Guest, Chief Scientific Officer at charity Medical Detection Dogs, was quoted as saying. The dogs picked up roughly 88 per cent of positive cases -- meaning, for every 100 cases, the dogs failed to recognise just 12 infected people. But out of 100 people who did not have Covid, the dogs wrongly suggested -- via the sniff test -that 14 of them were infected. The research team thus does not recommend dogs alone to sniff out positive cases, but use them as an additional screening tool alongside more conventional tests.

45% of Covid patients left hospital in worse physical state: Study

s many as 45 per cent of patients hospitalised for Covid-19 experienced a significant functional decline after being discharged, a team of researchers has found.

They analysed patients’ discharge

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The Layout The layout is the first yet most important step while setting up a terrace garden. One can either cover the entire surface with soil or use planters to grow plants. Earthen or cement pots can be used to set up a mini garden; however, if you plan to grow your own veggies on your terrace, use of grow bags or installing grow stations would be a better option. Terrace area should ideally receive proper sunlight, but in order to protect the plants from direct heat during summers, a shed is recommended. Depending upon the space, we can grow all kinds of plant, from organic fruits and vegetables to herbs to shrubs and flowers in the terrace garden. As the pandemic has re-emphasised the importance of health and wellness, one can also consider growing immunity booster plants like Aloe Vera, Giloy and Tulsi. In addition, growing natural air purifiers like-Sansevieri -- Green and Variegated; Money Plant, Areca Palm, Spyder Pant, Jamia and White Pathos is also a popular choice of home gardeners.

“Rehabilitation needs were common for these patients,” said lead author Alecia K. Daunter from the University of Michigan.

For the study, published in PM&R: The Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation, the team reviewed charts of nearly 300 adult patients hospitalised for Covid-19 at Michigan Medicine during the first wave between March and April 2020.

Rajesh, Horticulturist, IFFCO Kisan My Urban Greens, suggests some ideas/ tips to help you set up that perfect terrace garden.

Choose the plants:

Of survivors who experienced a functional decline, 80 per cent were referred for additional therapy after being discharged. Nearly 20 per cent of all patients lost so much ability that they were not able to live independently after their release, indicates the study.

“They survived, but these people left the hospital in worse physical condition than they started. If they needed outpatient therapy or are now walking with a cane, something happened that impacted their discharge plan,” Daunter added.

ork from home may also have some adverse impacts like mental fatigue and anxiety. An effective way to overcome this is engaging oneself in some creative activity, ‘gardening’ being an option. With most people living in apartments, terraces and balconies can be a perfect place for it.

Soil Preparation:

locations, therapy needs at the time of release, and if they needed durable medical equipment or other services.

pandemic’s infancy, as health care providers sought best practices to minimise exposures and manage patient overflow.

“These patients may have needed to move to a subacute facility, or they might have needed to move in with a family member, but they were not able to go home,” Daunter said.

As a result, 40 per cent of patients never had a rehabilitation evaluation while hospitalised. That likely means, Daunter explains, that the number of patients losing ability is underreported.

In general, the soil should be fertile, containing the correct levels of moisture and minerals. Fresh soil from any farm with the right amount of organic manure and vermicompost is good for planters. Organic manure or aged manures are the best ways to prepare the soil for gardening as they supply almost every nutrient to the plant. To avoid infestation of pests some amount of organic pesticides can be mixed in the soil. For home gardening, soil mixes are available online or in nurseries. COCO peat is also a very popular choice for home gardeners as it helps in water retention, aeration for roots and protects the plant from soil fungus. Mix it with soil or apply 1 inch of coco peat layer over in the potter/planter to retain moisture. Watering: Some plants require more water, while others need less. Hence, it is important to monitor the requirement of water frequently. It also depends upon the season. Generally, one needs to water the plants 1-2 times a day in summers and perhaps every alternate day during winters. Depending upon the frequency of rains, the watering interval may go up and down during the rainy season. Check the topsoil if it has dried; it is time to rewater. It is essential to understand the requirement for different plants as over watering may lead to root decay. Other requirements: Weeds disrupt the growth of plants. Removal of weeds on a timely basis is a healthy practice. This may be done once a week or fortnight. Also, for the healthy growth of plants, we can use compost or any other organic manure from time to time.

The study period occurred in the

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HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Novel AI tool to help assess Covid severity

esearchers have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that is capable of assessing the severity of Covid-19 cases with a promising degree of accuracy.

The researchers from the University of Waterloo and Alexander Wong, a systems design engineering professor and co-founder of software company DarwinAI, said the technology could give doctors an important tool to help them manage cases. “Assessing the severity of a patient with Covid-19 is a critical step in the clinical workflow for determining the best course of action for treatment and care, be it admitting the patient to ICU, giving a patient oxygen therapy, or putting

a patient on a mechanical ventilator,” Wong said. For the study published in the journal Scientific Reports, deep-learning AI was trained to analyse the extent and opacity of infection in the lungs of Covid-19 patients based on chest x-rays. Its scores were then compared to assessments of the same x-rays by expert radiologists, the team said.

India’s Covid recovery crosses 90%, active caseload slides to 22L

For both extent and opacity, important indicators of the severity of infections, predictions made by the AI software were in good alignment with scores provided by the human experts. “The promising results in this study show that AI has a strong potential to be an effective tool for supporting frontline healthcare workers in their decisions and improving clinical efficiency,” Wong added.

French Cos pledge support for I India’s health infrastructure

ndia’s Covid-19 recovery rate has gone up to 90.80 per cent and the active caseload slid down to 22,28,724 -- a positive sign amid the second wave of the deadly pandemic.

he Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) has raised over EUR 6.1 million (Rs 55 crore) from French companies based in India to support its ongoing fight against the Covid pandemic.

India’s daily recoveries continued to outnumber the daily new cases for the 16th consecutive day on Friday and 2,84,601 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry’s latest data revealed on Saturday.

As part of the French Solidarity Mission initiated by the French Government and implemented by the Embassy of France in India, majority of these funds have been committed to purchase and install at least 20 French oxygen generator plants in Indian hospitals. Eight of these oxygen plants have already been delivered and installed in Indian hospitals including Military Hospital in Palam, Telengana Institute of Medical Sciences, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, Ambedkar Nagar Hospital among others. The remaining will arrive in India within a few weeks. Each oxygen plant sourced from French company Novair supplies non-stop oxygen to a 250-bed hospital for 10-12 years, ensuring greater healthcare autonomy to hospitals who have been catering to thousands of critical patients, IFCCI said in a statement. In addition, IFCCI has been working with Business France to procure approximately 600 oxygen concentrators from France due to arrive in the next few days. It is also working closely with Capgemini to develop a mobile app and website

A total of 1,10,811 more recoveries were registered during the last 24 hours as compared to the daily new cases.

which would serve as a common resource pool for sharing information about plasma donors, oxygen cylinders and concentrators for IFCCI’s members and extended networks. Donations were received from more than 50 companies including Capgemini, Amundi - SBI Mutual Fund, Saint Gobain, Air Liquide, CMA-CGM, Dassault Aviation, Societe Generale, Accenture, Atos, Pernod Ricard, BNP Paribas, Safran, Sanofi, Moet-Hennessy, L’Oreal, EDF, Airbus, Naval Group, Alstom, Total, Orano, ADP, Renault, Hermes, Roquette, Engie, Credit Agricole, Sopra Steria, Serdia Pharmaceuticals, Thales, Air France, Michelin, Schneider Electric, ARaymond, bioMerieux, Legrand, NRB Bearings, Dassault Systemes, BIC Cello, Amadeus, Emballiso, TNP Consultants, Idemia, Phosphea, Robertet,

Velan, Evolis, Monin, Sonepar, Armor Group, Technique Solaire, Soufflet, Link, Radiall, Precia Molen and Helma. “Grave times call for unprecedented action, and we saw unanimous support and willingness from our member companies in response to our call for help under this initiative by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our member companies have long been committed to India’s story of overcoming challenges and resilient growth. French companies are committed to India as long term investors. Their efforts to help strengthening the healthcare infrastructure across the country shows how deeply they are invested in India as a country as well as safety of their employees, families and peers”, said Sumeet Anand, President, IFCCI.

Of those infected since beginning of the pandemic, 2,51,78,011 people have already recovered from Covid-19 and 2,84,601 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. “This constitutes an overall recovery rate of 90.80 per cent.” India’s active caseload has reduced to 22,28,724 on Friday -- a new landmark since the last peak on May 10 this year. “A net decline of 1,14,428 is witnessed in the last 24 hours and 18 years of age, the principal and accumulated interest to be paid to that child; -preference to be given to such children in admission to government owned homes and hostels; -state government to foot their education, hostel costs till their graduation; -if one of the parent of a child dies due to Covid-19, payment of Rs.3 lakh to the surviving parent;

active cases are now only 8.04 per cent of the country’s total positive cases,” said the Ministry. As part of continued decline in the daily new cases, the country has recorded less than three lakh daily new cases for thirteen consecutive days now. Less than 2 lakh daily new cases are being reported since the last two days. “A total of 1,73,790 daily new cases were registered in the last 24 hours.” Meanwhile, a total of 20,80,048 Covid tests were conducted in the last 24 hours in the country and cumulatively India has conducted 34.11 crore tests so far. While on one side testing has been enhanced across the country, a continued decline in weekly case positivity is noticed, said the Ministry, adding “weekly positivity rate is currently at 9.84 per cent while the daily positivity rate has reduced and was at 8.36 per cent till Friday”. “It has remained less than 10 per cent for five consecutive days now.” -if a child that lost both its parents and living with its relatives and others payment of Rs.3,000 per month till they attain 18 years of age; -Rs.5 lakh fixed deposit for a child who had already lost one of its parent earlier and loses the surviving parent; -a district-wise committee will be formed to oversee the beneficiary children.

Stalin orders Rs. 5 lakh deposit for children who’ve lost parents to Covid

amil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Saturday ordered a fixed deposit of Rs.5 lakh in the names of minor children who had lost their parents to Covid-19.

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Stalin passed the orders after chairing a meeting of senior officials.

According to a statement issued the following orders have been issued to the officials with regards to

children who had lost their parents to Covid-19: -open a fixed deposit for Rs.5 lakh each in the names of each child who had lost its parents to Covid-19. When the child attains

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SCI-TECH

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Apple logs 50% growth as global Twitter Spaces now smartwatch market jumps 35% in Q1 available on desktop,

mobile web browsers

pple maintained its leading position and registered a healthy 50 per cent growth in the global smartwatch market in the first quarter this year, as worldwide shipments in grew 35 per cent (on-year) in Q1 2021, a new report showed on Thursday.

With a surge in demand for its Series 6 models, Apple saw its market share climb by 3 per cent from the year-ago quarter to reach 33.5 per cent in the March quarter this year, according to Counterpoint Research’s ‘Global Smartwatch Model Tracker’.

Samsung’s shipments also rose 27 per cent with the popularity of the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active series. Huawei continued to lose share compared to a strong quarter a year ago. “Apple was able to further solidify its leadership position in the market by widening the portfolio from Watch SE to Series 6 at the right time. This may drive Samsung to launch a mid-price-tier model to boost growth,” said senior analyst Sujeong Lim. In terms of smartwatch OS platforms, Apple’s WatchOS captured more than a third of the market with a growing attach rate to its base of billion iPhone users. Google’s Wear OS has not yet achieved such success in smart-

witter on Thursday announced its live audio conversation app Spaces is now available from desktop and mobile web browsers.

watches. “This is because most of the major smartwatch brands have developed and installed their own proprietary OS (like Fitbit OS, Tizen and Garmin OS), the report showed. Further, Wear OS has been lacking behind in terms of features, battery optimization and chipset support. This has limited its share to a mere 4 per cent of the global smartwatch market. Google’s new Wear platform will be shipping in the next generation of the Galaxy Watch series in late Fall.

Commenting on the Google-Samsung announcement, Vice President Research Neil Shah said that this is a great move by Google to accelerate its ambitions for the wearables space. “It can build a robust portfolio of Wear devices integrating the best of all the three worlds -- Tizen OS, Wear OS and Fitbit OS. The consolidation brings more power to Google’s Wear platform and will attract more developers to build newer experiences for the wrist,” Shah explained.

Google Cloud unveils 3 services to provide real-time insights

oogle Cloud on Wednesday unveiled three new services to empower customers with unified data cloud strategy, that will provide organisations real-time insights powered by machine learning (ML). The three services -- Dataplex, Analytics Hub and Datastream -will help organisations break free from data silos to securely predict business outcomes, empower users, and make informed, real-time decisions, Google said during the inaugural virtual ‘Data Cloud Summit’.

“Spaces are making their way to Twitter for web! Now you can join a Space to listen in, test out the new transcription design, and set reminders to join a scheduled Space,” The micro-blogging platform said in a tweet. Spaces will be available on https:// Twitter.com (mobile web and desktop web). The focus areas will be infrastructure and listening UI that adapts to screen size, setting reminders for scheduled spaces and accessibility and transcriptions, the company said. Taking on invite-only audio chat app Clubhouse, Twitter earlier this month announced to make Spaces available to users with 600

The company said it is also working on ‘Ticketed Spaces’ feature for hosts to be rewarded for the experiences they create by getting monetary support, while providing listeners with exclusive access to the conversations they care about most. Hosts can set ticket prices and how many are available to sell. A limited group will be able to host Ticketed Spaces in the coming months. Hosts earn the majority of the revenue from ticket sales and Twitter will keep a small amount as well. To make it easy to track what’s happening and when, you’ll also be able to schedule and set reminders for upcoming Spaces in the coming weeks. After first testing Spaces with a small group of people on iOS, Twitter in March expanded the test to Android users in India, to give them a chance to join, listen, and speak in live, host-moderated audio conversations.

Andy Jassy to become Amazon CEO on July 5: Bezos

A to unlock value and actionable, real-time insights, needed to future-proof their business,” Kazmaier added.

“Data must be thought of as an ability that integrates all aspects of working with it. Every industry is accelerating their shift of being digital-first as they recognise data is the essential ingredient for value creation and the key to advancing their digital transformation,” said Gerrit Kazmaier, Vice President and General Manager, Databases, Data Analytics and Looker, Google Cloud.

A recent Gartner survey found that organisations estimate the average cost of poor data quality at $12.8 million per year.

“At Google Cloud, we’re committed to helping customers build the most powerful data cloud solution

Datastream enables customers to replicate data streams in

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Previously, the Clubhouse-like audio meet app, Spaces was only available via iOS and Android apps.

followers or more on both iOS and Android platforms.

By leveraging Google Cloud’s data platform, customers now will have a comprehensive approach to their data cloud that embraces the full data lifecycle, from the systems that run their business to the AI and machine learning tools that predict and automate their future.

real-time, from Oracle and MySQL databases, to Google Cloud services such as BigQuery, Cloud SQL, Google Cloud Storage, and Cloud Spanner. Analytics Hub is a new capability that will allow companies to create, curate, and manage analytics exchanges securely and in real-time. Available in preview, Dataplex is an intelligent data fabric which provides an integrated analytics experience, bringing the best of Google Cloud and open-source together, to enable organisations to rapidly curate, secure, integrate, and analyse their data at scale, Google Cloud said.

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mazon Founder Jeff Bezos has announced that Andy Jassy, the current CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), will take over as the CEO of the e-commerce giant on July 5.

dards, and I guarantee that Andy will never let the universe make us typical,” he added.

The outgoing CEO Bezos said that he chose the date because July 5 is sentimental one for him.

AWS, which is the Cloud arm of Amazon, logged $54 billion annualised run rate -- a 32 per cent year-over-year growth -- in March quarter this year.

“It’s the date that Amazon was incorporated in 1994, exactly 27 years ago,” he said. Dave Lee, a correspondent with the Financial Times who covers Amazon, late on Wednesday tweeted the remarks by Bezos made to reporters. “Andy is well known inside the company, and has been at Amazon almost as long as I have. He’s going to be an outstanding leader, and he has my full confidence,” Bezos said. “He has the highest of high stan-

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It is estimated that about half of the company’s revenue comes from AWS.

Jassy has led AWS since it was founded in 2003 and was named the CEO of the Cloud arm in 2016. Amazon has appointed Salesforce executive Adam Selipsky as new AWS. Bezos, who built an online bookstore into a $1.7 trillion technology empire reaching into space, announced in February he will be stepping down as CEO at the apex of his career to focus on innovations.

INSIGHT

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Indian Navy’s warlike mission in stormy seas

he deadly Cyclone Tauktae had made landfall in Gujarat on May 17. This cyclone has been recorded as the fifth strongest ever to emanate froc sm the Arabian Sea in recent years.

State and local authorities were pressed into action to rehabilitate the affected people, and they are continuing with the process tirelessly. Last Monday onwards, the Indian Navy was called upon to deploy its ships, aircraft and personnel to alleviate the seemingly grim situation. Over the previous week, it deployed eight of its frontline ships, in addition to numerous aircraft and ashore support staff. These brought with them specialised competencies, making a remarkable difference to the situation as the story unfolded. While a lot has been reported about the sequence of events that unfolded following the cyclon, ranging from the capsising of Barge P-305 and Tug Varaprada and urgent assistance provided to Barge GAL Constructor, Barge Support Station 3, Great Ship Aditi, and Drill Ship Sagar Bhushan, the actual difficulty surrounding the entire operation, and the professionalism that went into making a success of it, can only be grasped when one hears the Navy’s side of the story. Vice Admiral M.S. Pawar, the Deputy Chief of Navy, said, “Some phases [of the operation] were un-

dertaken on pitch dark nights with very heavy seas causing violent motion of the ship, requiring precise navigation and deft ship-handling skills to pick up the survivors safely. It was not easy, but our boys did their best. Our divers continue to search for survivors.” Some phases of the rescue operation witnessed wind speeds of 70-120 kmph, waves as high as 6-8 metres, and very low visibility. All these factors hampered the operation of critical equipment such as radars and helicopters and posed a significant threat to the safety of the ships and the crew onboard. Anyone who has been on a ship in the high seas will be aware of the rolling and pitching that a ship experiences during storms. Amid these conditions, the Navy crew carried out all their primary and extraneous duties: Lowering rescue boats, maintaining anti-collision look-outs, tending to survivors, ensuring the optimum performance of ships machinery, and much more. Adding to this, the prospect of searching for and rescuing survivors amid open seas, at times at night, indicates the tip of the iceberg of challenges. In one of the operations, a Naval Seaking helicopter rescued 35 crew members from the Barge GAL Constructor in the Arabian Sea. “Conducting evacuation operations in such weather is fraught with danger. One has to maintain the stability of a rock while hover-

ing in torrential winds. But we were prepared,” said one of the Naval pilots who commandeered these helicopters.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Director General of Naval Operations, said, “Undertaking search and rescue efforts in such cyclonic weather conditions, characterised by high wind speed, tall waves and low visibility, is a challenging task that requires experienced and well-trained crew, platforms that are capable of operating in heavy seas, and surgical coordination between all stakeholders.” Fortunately, the Naval personnel and platforms ticked all these check boxes. It is learned that the entire operation was a comprehensive, coordinated effort between the ships, helicopters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and shore authorities. Across geographies, inputs were relayed, data analysed, orders issued, and decisions taken, which were then seamlessly relayed back to the ships. “It is like a big net that we are all part of,” said one of the senior officials at the Naval Headquarters. However, even with cutting-edge technology on their side, compelling challenges were not far away. For instance, locating adrift personnel in the middle of the sea is like looking for a pin in a haystack. Likewise, the now ubiquitous photograph of a Navy helicopter seen hovering, while its air crew

divers winched-up a survivor amid torrential winds was fraught with danger, and required extraordinary nimbleness on part of the pilot, the air crew diver and medical staff on board the helicopter. On May 22, the Navy deployed INS Makar and INS Tarasa to aid in the recovery of bodies. These vessels are fitted with specialised equipment to detect debris of sunken vessels. The ships were also carrying two specialised diving teams to recover the bodies of personnel who are still missing. “Diving operations in high seas during turbulent weather is immensely challenging and comes with life-threatening risks. The diver has to descend in near-zero visibility, navigate narrow entry points of a sunken barge, the interiors of which are unfamiliar, search for and retrieve bloated bodies, and be careful throughout this time of oxygen pressure and safety of his equipment from being damaged by unseen protrusions in the hull,”

said one of the senior diving officials at the Naval Headquarters. As the situation stands, a total of 188 survivors have been rescued and 70 bodies recovered. Diving operations for the wreck of Brge P-305 and Tug Varaprada have been successful in locating the wreck and intensive search operations are going on to recover any bodies still trapped inside. The previous week threw a litany of challenges for the nation. Even as Naval divers search for survivors or their bodies, adrift personnel, capsised barges, and frantic calls for help constituted the minutiae of unimaginable suffering. Amid all this, the Indian Navy and its personnel -- navigators, pilots, divers, doctors and many others -did what they do best -- keeping their heads down, fighting adversity and lending a nurturing hand to let stranded Indian citizens know that everything will be alright.

Kangana plants trees in Tauktae aftermath; requests BMC, Gujarat govt to follow suit

ctress Kangana Ranaut posted a message on afforestation on Tuesday, saying a lot of trees have been uprooted in the recent cyclone Tauktae and hence we need to plant more trees. Kangana also shared photographs on Instagram where she can be seen planting trees. “Today I planted 20 trees, we only ask what I got, sometimes please ask what I gave back to this planet also !!! In recent cyclone Tauktae

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Mumbai lost more than 70 per cent of its trees and Gujrat lost more than 50 thousands trees, these trees take decades to grow, how can we loose them every year like this, who is compensating for this loss? How are we preventing our cities from becoming concrete jungles? We must ask ourselves did we ask authorities the right questions? What are we giving back to our country?” she wrote. Requesting BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the

government of Gujarat to plant trees having medicinal values, the actress further wrote: “I am requesting concerned Mumbai @ my_bmc and Gujrat @gujarattourism governments to plant Neem, Pipal and bargad trees wherever trees are uprooted... Above mentioned trees have medicinal qualities, not only they clean air nourish the soil they also emit extraordinary amount of oxygen.... let’s save our cities, save our trees our planet that’s the only way to save ourselves.”

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WHAT’S ON

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

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ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Playing a mother comes naturally British-Indian artist launches track as ode to to me: Actor Smita Bansal

Partition, 1984 massacre

opular television and theatre actor Smita Bansal, who plays a doting mother in a new teleplay, says that she tapped into her maternal energy to be able to better understand her character. At a time when keeping families intact is at the core of life, the play highlights the role of caregivers and selflessness. Renowned playwright Jaywant Dalvi’s teleplay, ‘Chanda Hai Tu,’ presented by Zee Theatre, is a poignant tribute to motherhood and parenting. The teleplay screening throughout the week on Dish TV and D2H Rangmanch Active, depicts the challenges of raising a physically challenged child with great empathy and candour. The play’s protagonists Mr. and Mrs. Shukla find ways to make

ends meet while trying to keep their sanity intact as caregivers. They invest endless care into raising their son ‘Bachu’ and take different shifts in the day to make sure that the other stays at home. Even though leading a normal life is difficult for them, their determination to turn a negative situation into a positive one is what gives this story its heart. Bansal, who plays Mrs Shukla, says, “Playing a mother came naturally to me as I have two daughters. I constantly worry about them, cannot bear to see them in any pain, and want to give them the best that life has to offer. I would do anything to make them smile. That is why it wasn’t hard to play Mrs. Shukla. A mother’s instinct is fundamentally similar and so I tuned into this uncondition-

al love and maternal energy to get her portrayal right. She is a strong woman who is managing her family responsibilities as well as professional commitments. While reading the play, I was overwhelmed by the extent of her dedication, sacrifices, courage, and unwavering commitment..” While rehearsing and attending workshops, Smita worked hard to get the emotional graph of her character right. She adds, “The cast spent a lot of time getting the ‘sur’ or the defining note of each character right. Also, once we all began to connect with each other, the chemistry started building from there. Once you know the lines are connected to the correct emotions, and are fully prepared, you let go of who you are and become the character. The rest just flows. By the time we shot the play, we were all note-perfect and ready.” Bansal calls the whole process “magical” and hopes the audiences will tune in to ‘Chanda Hai Tu’ and appreciate all the love and hard work that went into it.

Asim Riaz on Himanshi Khurana: We are lucky for each other

sim Riaz fell in love with Himanshi Khurana while they were housemates on “Bigg Boss 13”. He says they are lucky for each other and recording a track together is a way to take their bond to the next level. Does he like to call Himanshi his lucky charm? “You can call her anything, I don’t mind,” he replies blushing, while speaking to IANS. “We are lucky for each other. We both motivate each other and it is a nice feeling to have a partner to come up with something like ‘this is what is happening right now’ and she comes to me saying ‘this is what is happening right now’. It is a blessing,” he adds. “Himanshi and I have shot four to

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five music videos and we have been killing 100 million-plus views,” Asim says, which probably pves way for their next plan of action. “Right now, we are taking it to the next level by recording a track. Himanshi and I are coming up with a track where she sings and I rap. So,

that is the next level for sure,” says Asim, who recently came out with his debut rap track “Back to start”. “We guys are good. We are just focussing on our career and motivating each other and we are just being happy,” he sums up.

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reeti Kanan Singhania, a British Indian musician popularly known as Bombay the Artist, has come up with a song titled ‘Raaha’, which she wrote during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown last year. The song is based on Bombay’s conversations with her grandmother who spoke poignantly about the 1947 partition and 1984 Riots that she had to go through as a young woman then. The new single by this underground alternative hip hop artist speaks of her lost love, betrayals and the human nature in calamities, which became the bedrock of ‘Raaha’. Bombay channelized this to curate a song that represents lost love, and calamities like COVID-19 and its effect on people. Singhania started her journey after being inspired by her life and experience in Mumbai. While she was brought up in a primarily white neighbourhood in England, her music inspiration had always been the likes of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, S D Burman among others. Every aspect of her life there seemed to have an Indian influence, from her designs at fashion school to her music. She finally decided to come to Mumbai and experience the madness and thrill of the city while imbibing its impact on her. There came Bombay the Artist who uses trap beats, hip hop with the underlying Indianness in her to showcase her moods via each song. While ‘Raaha’ delves into the pain of the Partition for lovers, mothers, children and fathers, it is also emblematic of the current second wave that has raged through India. However, the song shifts from the feeling of relationships leaving people broken to more hope where people eventually find strength to heal and look out for voices of people to listen out for, thereby keeping them close to heart.

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Speaking about launching the song, she said “Raaha is how I dealt with my grief and I want nothing more than my listeners to heal from this as well. These are tough times where people have lost a lot. We need to stay together and be kind to each other. It’s a commonality we share, so let’s not think we are alone.”

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Suniel Shetty: Being in this Sonakshi Sinha: Current industry, balancing family situation makes us think life with work is difficult hard about climate change

ctress Sonakshi Sinha says that it is important to value the environment we live in.

“We end up in the environment we create for ourselves, and we must make sure that it’s beautiful. The current situation around us is making us think hard about climate change, and the kind of effect it has on our planet. As responsible individuals, if we make small sustainable changes to our daily routine then together, we can create a healthier environment to live in,” she says. On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, Sonakshi, along with actress Tara Sharma, will be seen on the digital property “Earth Champions”, which streams on the Sony BBC Earth Instagram page.

ctor Suniel Shetty says that it is tough to take out time for your family when you are part of showbiz. However, he adds that it isn’t impossible.

On screen, Sonakshi is all set to make her web series debut with “Fallen”, where she plays a cop. She is also part of “Bulbul Tarang”, which will have a digital release, and will be seen in the film “Bhuj: The Pride Of India” co-starring Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Nora Fatehi.

The actor, who was present at a recent shoot for the dance-reality show “Super Dancer: Chapter 4”, was treated to a performance depicting his relationship with his wife Mana Shetty, by contestants Amit Kumar and super guru Amardeep.

Mahesh Manjrekar to direct Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar biopic

Appreciating the performance and looking back at his relationship with Mana, Suniel said: “This brings back so many memories, it is unbelievable. Shayad (Perhaps), it’s been nearly 40 years that we have been with each other, nine years of seeing each other and 30 years of marriage this year. Being in this industry, balancing your family life and work is quite difficult and it’s not possible unless you have a partner who is strong and believes

in you 100 per cent. Hats off to her.” Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who is a judge on the show, spoke about how she has known Suniel for many years and how she has always been impressed with the relationship he shares with his wife. “I have known Suniel for many years. I had attended his wedding also, but he wasn’t aware of me back then. I had gone to see ‘the Suniel Shetty’; he was like the new actor and I felt proud because he belonged to our community and he was the first man from the bunt community to become an actor. That was really inspiring for me. Today also when I see Mana and Suniel, it is very inspiring because they still behave like friends. Mana is an incredible person, and I truly believe that you both are soulmates. She truly is the strength behind him. Mana, I love you,” she said on the Sony Entertainment Television show.

Gauahar Khan urges all to help their staff get vaccinated

odel-actress Gauahar Khan took to social media on Friday to inform that she has taken the Covid vaccine, and urged people to not only get the jab but also help their staff get administered with the vaccine.

ilmmaker Mahesh V. Manjrekar will direct the biopic of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar. Titled “Swatantra Veer Savarkar”, the film was announced on the freedom fighter’s 138th birth anniversary on Friday. The biopic will be shot across London, the Andaman Islands and Maharashtra. The cast and other details of the project are yet to be revealed. Veer Savarkar played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle

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and was also a member of the Hindu Mahasabha. Speaking about the project, producer Amit B Wadhwani said: “Veer Savarkar is an important part of India’s history that needs to be told. Unfortunately, the optics have prevented the man from being understood, let alone from being celebrated.” “Veer Savarkar is revered and criticised in equal measure. He has been made into a polarising figure today but I feel that’s because people don’t know enough. No one

can deny that he was an important part of our freedom struggle and our attempt is to present a peek into his life and journey. While many revere Veer Savarkar for his role in the freedom struggle, there are others that decry him for his role in the freedom struggle and the aftermath of that along with the philosophy of Hindutva. But Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s story is one that needs to be told,” added producer Sandeep Singh.

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Sharing a photo with husband Zaid Darbar on Instagram, Gauahar wrote: “A lot of people don’t know that getting vaccinated is being responsible right now! Log on to cowin app n get an appointment, especially for the elderly in your family. Got my driver also an appointment n it was easy n much needed! Don’t forget your staff n people who may not know the procedure.. help one another.” Thanking the hospital staff where she got vaccinated, she added: “@saifeehospital @juzer_kandyy @mustafas52 you guys r doing a great job at making the vaccine

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experience easily understood n carried out in safety measures.” Gauahar, who recently went on a vacation to Darjeeling, West Bengal, shared beautiful photographs of herself posing from her hotel window in an Instagram post on Friday. “Saamne waali khidki mein... ab main iske aage apni taareef kaise karoon .... hahhhha ...is there any other Bollywood khidki song u know??? I can’t think of any. #BestVacations #hillstation #filmyLadki,” she wrote.

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

Suhana posts throwback video with birthday boy AbRam

hah Rukh Khans son AbRam Khan turns eight on Thursday. To mark his special day, elder sister Suhana Khan has shared a picture post for him on social media.

Mika says he’ll make song titled ‘KRK Kutta’ after Salman’s defamation suit against actor-critic

Suhana posted a video clip on Instagram Story where the brother-sister duo are in the pool. Little AbRam crawls up to Suhana to pose with his sister. As the two smile at the camera, she asks him to kiss her. AbRam gives her a peck on the cheek. “Birthday Boy,” Suhana captioned the video that posted on Thursday night. AbRam, son of Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, was born through surrogacy in May, 2013. His elder siblings Suhana and Aryan are currently studying in the US.

Nick Jonas chose Kevin over Joe to break accident news to Priyanka

merican pop star Nick Jonas has shared which brother he chose to break the news of his recent accident to his wife, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Nick, who suffered a cracked rib after the bike accident, chose eldest brother Kevin over Joe to carry out the responsibility, he recalled during an appearance with his brothers on “The Late Late Show With James Corden”.

He added: “I gave it to Kevin. It’s kind of telling.” Sharing details, Nick said: “Basically I was there, and the medics were kind of attending to me. I was about to be put on the gurney to get into the ambulance, and obviously I had to call Priyanka, my wife, to say this has happened. But obviously I wasn’t really in a spot where I could talk to her.”

“I think KRK would be happy about the song. He seeks popularity and I am going to make him super popular. I am going to give him a befitting reply through my song. The song is titled ‘KRK Kutta’ (KRK the dog). The music will be composed by Toshi Sabri,” he added, speaking to the media.

On how he himself reacted to the accident, Kevin said: “I was really calm, collected, I think it has something to do with being a father, seeing children fall all the time.”

“Well, (children) fall on their bikes, it’s a big deal in the moment, but if you get freaked out then they get more freaked out, so I try to stay extremely calm,” Kevin tried to send his point across. Joe added: “You told Nick, ‘Just

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A statement issued by Salman’s lawyers recently said that he was filing a defamation suit against KRK for alleging that the star engages in fraudulent activity and launders funds through his NGO, Being Human. Mika’s announcement comes at a time when KRK has declared that he refuses to apologise to anybody. “KRK is a ‘gadha’ (ass). Salman Khan should have filed the case on him a long time ago. KRK intentionally says nasty stuff to get attention, so that he keeps getting publicity. He makes personal attacks, he starts attacking family members. This is wrong. He talks absolute garbage, starts abusing people, he just says anything to anyone and the entire entertainment industry is silent. Someone needs to give him a proper reply,” claimed Mika, justifying his song.

“It was a test of a lot of things. Trust, I think, is the biggest thing. So, it was a choice between Joe and Kevin. Who (do) you give your phone to call your wife in a time of crisis?” the 28-year-old singer recalled on the show, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Nick quipped: “I love how he’s equated my rib breaking and the whole thing to just me falling.”

inger Mika Singh says he will make a new single titled “KRK Kutta”, claiming the song is meant to be a “befitting reply” to actor-turned-critic Kamaal R. Khan, or KRK, in the context of the latters ongoing tussle with Bollywood star Salman Khan.

walk it off, you’ll be fine’.” Nick then jokingly shared: “And I have the same emotional maturity as his five-year-old.” On what caused the bike accident, Nick said: “Something just got caught, dirt on the bike, and (I) just tumbled. A little spill. A fractured rib and some other bumps and bruises, but I’m feeling really lucky.

It probably could’ve been a little worse. All is good. I’m recovering nicely. I’ve got a lot of support around me and I appreciate everyone’s well wishes. It means a lot.” Nick cracked a rib on the set of “Olympic Dreams Featuring Jonas Brothers” on May 15.

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Asked if Mika himself wasn’t out creating controversy with such a song, the singer replied: “I am not trying to create controversy with my song. It is merely a reply to KRK. I don’t want to say bad stuff on social media and pick-up unnecessary arguments, it wouldn’t look nice. I want to entertain people and make KRK popular, which would make him happy.” “I have been working and living in Mumbai since the last 15 years and I haven’t seen anyone fighting on streets. Leave Bollywood aside,

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I haven’t seen people arguing or fighting. The vibe of this town is such that people mind their work and don’t believe in stooping to low levels, but KRK has crossed all the lines,” Mika declared. “People from Industry should have filed a case on him a long time ago and put him in his place. KRK is hiding in Dubai because he knows the moment he returns he will be bashed up. I am a singer and I am just replying musically, on behalf of everyone,” claimed Mika. Meanwhile, KRK has refused to apologise, saying that he is only doing his job. Incidentally, although the statement by Salman’s legal team had said the defamation suit has nothing to do with the latter’s review of Salman’s new film “Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai”, KRK seems to hint that is the case. In a YouTube video, KRK said he has done nothing wrong and would not apologise. In separate tweets, KRK also claimed he has the support of over 20 people in Bollywood. “More than 20 Bollywood people have called me to give me their support. They said, that they were not able to do that whatever I am doing. Because they were not ready to have direct conflict with him. They were scared to make him their enemy. I say Thank you all so very much!” he tweeted. “Now I don’t care, what will be the result. But I will fight for all those people. I can’t allow so many people to get disappointed. I won’t break their trust,” he further wrote. In a reversal to what he had earlier said, KRK had also recently declared he would definitely continue reviewing Salman’s films. “Normally I don’t review the film if producer director or actor of the film asks me to not review it. But Now if this man will request me, or even touch my feet also, still I will review his each film and each song. Satyamev Jayate! Jai Hind!” KRK had tweeted on May 27.

Vol 1, Issue 8, June 1-15, 2021

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