All English Editorial 14.08.2022

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THE HINDU
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
DELHI
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 17

SNAPSHOTS
Walking a tightrope in messaging transmission routes
Public health communication about different routes of transmission of monkeypox virus is critical, especially as demographics can change
R. Prasad parts of the body couple of ministry has been quite for all three. A Mumbai
days later. This person, too, straight on this. It clearly based doctor, Dr. Ishwar Gi
Researchers at the National had denied any sexual or states that anyone can get in lada, told Bloomberg that
Institute of Virology, Pune, physical contact with anyone fected,” says Dr. Scaria. two people with suspected
had recently posted the case with suspected or confirmed Globally, the virus has al monkeypox infection re
Urban settlements
report of the first two im monkeypox infection. ready spread beyond the fused to get tested about two
The southwest corner of the
ported monkeypox cases As per the global updat MSM networks. Among the months before the first case
Amazon Basin was once the
site of complex urban
that were detected in Kerala. e by WHO, as of August 10, people for whom the route of was reported in Kerala.
settlements built by ancient But the people who tested 98.7% of 18,940 people with transmission is known, 8.5% The importance of timely
civilisations. Researchers used positive for monkeypox virus confirmed infection were of cases are outside the MSM testing and isolation of cases
a laser remotesensing had returned from the Unit men. Among cases with networks. So even though to limit virus spread cannot
technology called lidar to map ed Arab Emirates just days known data on sexual orien the majority of cases are be be overemphasised. Equally,
land inhabited by the Casarabe before they were detected tation, 97.2% (8,224 of ing reported in men who sequencing the genomes and
culture, which existed around with monkeypox infectio 8,462) identified as men who have sex with men, anyone posting the data on global da
AD 500 to 1400, in what is n. In a preprint (which is yet have sex with men (MSM). Of who comes in direct contact tabases is imperative. NIV
now known as Bolivia. to be peerreviewed), the re the 5,473 cases where the with an infected person or Pune has so far shared only
searchers have detailed the route of transmission was re even with towels and bed two genome sequences on
clinical presentation of the ported, 91.5% was through a sheets used by an infected GISAID. Besides NIV Pune, 15
infection in these people, sexual encounter. This person can get infected. Viral Research and Diagnos
and based on genome se would mean that in about “While the majority of cas tic Laboratories (VRDL) of
quencing data have designat 8.5% of cases the route of es are in the MSM communi ICMR have been testing for
ed them as belonging to the transmission was not sexual. ty globally, anyone can get the virus. All 15 VRDL labs
A.2 clade. infected through other are required to send the pos
The likely mode for trans Route of infection routes. All efforts and at itive samples to NIV for con
mission of monkeypox virus While the first two people in tempts should be directed at firmation.
(MPXV) in both cases has not India who tested positive for ensuring that people who Currently, NIV holds all
been mentioned in the pre the monkeypox virus had de have been infected do not the positive samples only it
Origin of SARS-CoV-2 print. In the first case — a 35 veloped initial symptoms face any stigma and discrimi can sequence the genomes
Two studies published recently
yearold male — the research (rashes/lesions), including in nation. Else, we will end up and share them. A large
traced the SARSCoV2
ers say multiple vesicular the genital area, even before social issue for denying sex quences have been posted the U.S. and many countries driving monkeypox spread number of SARSCoV2 ge
outbreak to a huge market in
Wuhan, China that sold live
rashes were seen in the “oral travelling from the United ual route of transmission,” from India. “So even if they in South America and Eu under the radar,” says Dr. nomes were sequenced and
animals. Now a preprint (which
cavity and lips followed by a Arab Emirates to Kerala, says Dr. Vinod Scaria, a se had declared the route of rope. Despite homosexuality Anant Bhan, a researcher in shared nationally and in glo
is yet to be peerreviewed) single lesion on the genital both had denied sexual con nior scientist at the Institute transmission as sexual, it is being decriminalised in In global health, bioethics and bal databases only when ma
indicates that the virus spilt organ”. The person had re tact with anyone with con of Genomics and Integrative important not to reveal it in dia, the acceptance is not the health policy. ny government labs outside
over from animals — possibly vealed similar lesions in peo firmed or suspected infec Biology (CSIRIGIB). “Homo the study,” says Dr. Scaria. same in India, the reason the ICMR were allowed to
those sold at the market in ple whom he had come in tion. While other routes of sexuality is a crime in UAE why some people may not Nine cases both test and sequence the
Wuhan — into humans at least contact with a week before transmission cannot be and people can get prosecut Multiple routes of spread disclose the sexual route of As of August 11, 184 suspect genomes.
twice in November or the onset of symptoms but ruled out in both cases, it is ed. So, expatriates who deve As per WHO, majority of cas transmission of monkeypox ed cases have been tested an As of August 11,
December 2019. denied any sexual contact. pertinent to note that lesions lop lesions fly back to their es are among men who have virus. d nine monkeypox cases over 33,000 monkeypox cas
In the second case, genital were first seen in the genital respective countries.” sex with men, and sexual en “That is why public health have been detected in India. es have been reported glo
swelling was seen on July 8, and/or oral areas. Since genome sequence counter is the route of trans communication about the All the five cases detected in bally. The U.S., with
2022, and two days later, The reasons for denying data are posted along with mission in 91.5% of cases different routes of transmis Kerala are imported, while nearly 10,400 cases, ac
multiple vesicular rashes de the sexual route of transmis the date and place, it is possi with the known routes of sion is critical. Also, the de all four people detected in counts for onethird of the
veloped on the genital organ sion could be due to fear of ble to identify the infected spread. Both legal and social mographics could change as Delhi have no international total cases, and 41 countries
and on both hands; lesions stigma and discrimination. people and trace them, espe acceptance of men who have we go ahead. The communi travel history and the index in Europe reported over
were seen in a few other “There is both a legal and cially since only two se sex with men is very high in cation from India’s health case has not been identified 17,500 cases.
Methane emissions
A new study has found that
landfills make substantial
How lactose tolerance in humans became widespread
contributions to greenhouse People who did not carry a copy of the lactase persistence gene variant might have died before reaching their reproductive years
gas emissions in four major
cities of the world. Emissions Jacob Koshy shown that only around 18 of Bristol’s School of Chemis lenging the longheld view likely to consume unfer
from Buenos Aires in 25% have it. try, assembled a unique da that the extent of milk use mented highlactose mi
Argentina, Delhi and Mumbai Milk has often been branded Milk drinking, the story tabase of nearly 7,000 or drove lactase persistence lk — exactly when they
in India, and Lahore in Pakistan as a superfood as it is rich in goes, hasn’t been very popu ganic animalfat residues evolution. shouldn’t,” he said in a
were 1.6 to 2.7 times larger
most of the nutrients neces lar in the roughly 3,00,000 from 13,181 fragments of pot An analysis of the UK Bio statement.
than what was reported in
sary for health. However, year history of humanity. tery from 554 archaeological bank data, comprising ge Therefore, the authors ar
commonly used emission
how milk came to be an inte But in the last 5,000 years, a sites to find out where and netic and medical data for gue that as populations and
inventories.
gral part of the human diet genetic mutation enabled when people were consum more than 3,00,000 living settlement sizes grew, hu
has been a conundrum to European pastoralists to ing milk. His findings English, found only minimal man health would have been
scientists because most of produce lactase — an en showed milk was used exten differences in milk drinking increasingly impacted by
the world can’t digest the zyme that breaks down lac sively in European prehisto behaviour between geneti poor sanitation and increas
product. tose into a digestible for ry, dating from the earliest cally lactase persistent and ing diarrheal diseases, espe
Studies on the global pre m — well into adulthood, a farming nearly 9,000 years nonpersistent people. Also, cially those of animal origin.
valence of this mutation sug trait called lactose ago, but increased and de the large majority of people Consuming milk under these
gest that 65% of humanity is persistence. creased in different regions who were genetically lactase conditions would have been
lactoseintolerant, meaning Low risk: Healthy people without lactase persistence may at different times. nonpersistent experienced harmful to those who lacked
they lack the gene to break Genetic variant experience discomfort when consuming milk. GETTY IMAGES *
no short or longterm nega the digestive gene.
down lactose into adult Moreover, the genetic var ‘No connection’ tive health effects when they “This situation would
Cushioning effect hood. Beyond the age of five, iant present in Indians is al and eliminates those that pronged analysis that sug Another team, led by Profes consume milk. have been further exacerbat
A new modelling study lactose, a sugar present in most identical to that found don’t, scientists have long gests drinking milk was ac sor Mark Thomas, of the Un “If you are healthy and ed under famine conditions
suggests sauropod dinosaurs
milk, cannot be naturally in Europeans, meaning that sought to explain why the tually harmful in those who iversity College London, de lactase nonpersistent, and when disease and malnutri
required soft tissue pads on
broken down in the stomach it likely spread into India mutated lactose gene be lacked the genevariant but veloped a statistical model you drink lots of milk, you tion rates are increased. This
the undersides of their feet to
and this remains in the gut from migrant European pop came popular. Was it be only in periods of famine and applied it to a database may experience some dis would lead to individuals
support their enormous
causing flatulence, acidity ulations. Thus, the standard cause European pastoralists, and adverse environmental that showed the presence or comfort, but you are not go who did not carry a copy of
weight. The soft tissue pads
would have substantially
and diarrhoea. story goes that something who herded cows, conti conditions. Thus, the gene absence of the lactase persis ing to die of it. However, if the lactase persistence gene
reduced foot bone stresses in India is among the largest amplified the popularity of nued to drink milk despite flourished because it likely tence genetic variant, using you are severely malnour variant being more likely to
sauropods. The study also producers of milk and, by the genetic variant in Euro the obvious discomfort be killed the Europeans who published ancient DNA se ished and have diarrhoea, die before or during their re
revealed that the soft pads country, the largest consum peans and consequently in cause it was otherwise a via lacked it. quences from more than then you’ve got lifethreaten productive years, which
may have been one of the key er and it stands to reason pockets of other continents. ble source of nutrition? Professor Richard 1,700 prehistoric European ing problems. When their would push the population
adaptations that enabled most Indians possess it. Ho Because evolution favours A recent study in the jour Evershed, the study’s lead and Asian individuals. They crops failed, prehistoric peo prevalence of lactase persis
dinosaurs to evolve. wever, multiple studies have traits that confer benefits nal Nature reports a multi author from the University found no relationship chal ple would have been more tence up,” the authors note.
HIV drugs shortage is a challenge to ending AIDS in India Scientist Barbara

McClintock first
identified “jumping
genes” in the 1940s like
Some people living with HIV have had their regimen changed due to the unavailability of certain ARVs those that can move
around within or
Loon Gangte But the virus can mutate mum “one month’s dose” ment agency, the Central transfer into other
Leena Menghaney into a resistant form if treat from ART centres. Recently, Medical Services Society, res Question Corner species’ genomes.
ment delivery is poor or they have had to make many ponsible for ARVs tenders to To determine if the
In June, PLHIV (People Liv patchy. As treatment acti trips in a month to get their ensure an uninterrupted Fruit fly species bacteria genes were
ing with HIV) networks vists, we have seen firsthand pills, creating a chilling effect supply of lifesaving functional and not just
across the country started when antiretroviral therapy on adherence as poorer pa treatment. What is the largest DNA fossils, the
witnessing an acute shortage treatment is interrupted, pe tients do not have the re Shortages of health pro known researchers sequenced
of certain Antiretroviral ople living with HIV develop sources to travel frequently. ducts in the supply chain of bacteria-to-animal the RNA from fruit flies
(ARV) drugs in AntiRetrovi resistance to their regimen Some have had their regimen health programmes are not transfer of gene? specifically looking for
ral Therapy (ART) centres. and become vulnerable to changed due to the unavaila India’s problem alone and copies of RNA that were
Among them were pediatric lifethreatening bacterial and bility of certain ARVs and are are commonly experienced A fruit fly genome is not created from templates
formulations and dolutegra fungal infections — the prim worried if these changes are in low and middleincome just made up of fruit fly of the inserted bacterial
vir, the backbone of HIV ary causes of hospitalisation based on the World Health settings. However, India has DNA — at least for one DNA. They showed the
treatment. and AIDSrelated deaths in Organization’s guidelines ITenabled and community fruit fly species. New bacteria genes were
In the summer heat, the community. and compromise their future monitoring tools at its dispo research (Current encoded into RNA and
PLHIV have been protesting Governments such as the treatment options. sal. Biology) shows that one were edited and
peacefully for the past 23 Indian government have Some PLHIVs have been fruit fly species contains rearranged into newly
days continuously on the made considerable advances asked to take multiple doses Necessary actions whole genomes of a kind modified sequences.
premises of the National in providing access to testing Peaceful protest: The dharna in the NACO office seeks to get of pediatric formulations in What is urgently needed is of bacteria, making this An analysis of these
AIDS Control Organisation and antiretroviral therapy government attention on the timely tendering and stead of adult formulations. the political will from the Mi finding the largest unique sequences
(NACO). The dharna is call (ART) for people living with procurement of HIV medicines. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
*
As a result, the pill burden in nistry of Health to take ne bacteriatoanimal revealed that the
ing attention to the need for HIV. While there has been a creases, and they worry that cessary measures to ensure transfer of genetic bacteria DNA integrated
emergency procurement of reduction in AIDSrelated Control Organisation (NACO) faced bureaucratic delays they may deprive a child liv that drug shortages, as hap material ever discovered. into the fruit fly genome
ARVs and the unintended deaths since 2004, progress under the Ministry of Health in 2014, 2017, and now again ing with HIV of their doses in pened over the last decade, The researchers used in the last 8,000 years,
consequences of a weak and has stalled in recent years, and Family Welfare is the no in 2022. the near future. And when are not experienced by its genetic longread exclusively within
ineffective supply chain. highlighting the need to ad dal agency responsible for pediatric doses are not avail programmes, such as HIV sequencing technology chromosome 4,
dress health system challeng overlooking and coordinat Lack of treatment able, adult pills are broken or and TB, in the future. to show how genes from expanding the
Suppressing virus es such as disruptions in the ing activities of the National A few days ago, NACO, in its crushed, resulting in uneven If ignored, the conse the bacteria Wolbachia chromosome size by
People living with HIV need medicine supply chain to AIDS Control Programme public communication, dosing and an unpleasant quences impact the right to incorporated themselves making up about 20% of
access to treatment with a end AIDS. (NACP) along with the Cen claimed that 95% of PLHIVs taste that children do not like health and drive drug resis into the fly genome up to chromosome 4. Bacterial
combination of drugs known The disruptions in the life tral Medical Services Society, have not faced any shortag to take, making adherence tance, a significant public 8,000 years ago. The genome integration
as antiretroviral therapy to saving HIV medicine supply which is responsible for cen es. But by its own admission, challenging for caregivers. health challenge for the researchers say their supports a DNAbased
suppress the virus, preserve chain are not new. What tralised tendering and the current shortages affect The peaceful dharna in country. findings show that unlike rather than an
their health, and prevent drives these widespread re pooled procurement of diffe 5% of 14.5 lakh people. Peo the NACO office seeks to get (Loon Gangte is an HIV ac- Darwin’s finches or RNAbased mechanism
transmission of the virus to occurring shortages in the rent HIV products, including ple living with HIV report government attention on the tivist with the International Mendel’s peas, genetic of integration.
an HIVnegative partner. last decade affecting many Antiretroviral drugs. that ART centres are strug timely tendering and pro Treatment Preparedness variation isn’t always
Readers may send their
Staying on antiretroviral the States is the failure of the The tender for pooled pro gling to keep them on curement of HIV medicines Coalition. Leena Menghaney small, incremental, and questions / answers to
rapy continuously is crucial pooled procurement me curement of lifesaving anti treatment. and to hold accountable the is a lawyer who works on predictable. questioncorner@thehindu.co.in
to keep the virus suppressed. chanism. The National AIDS retroviral medicines has PLHIVs receive a mini health ministry’s procure medicines, law and policy.)
CM A ND-NDE
YK
18 FAQ DELHI

THE HINDU
Have coastal ecosystem norms been violated?

What has the CAG reported in an
audit of the conservation process
being followed by Centre and States?
Jacob Koshy
The story so far: This week, the Comptroller and

Auditor General (CAG) of India tabled a report in
Parliament on whether steps taken by the Union
Digital lending Environment Ministry to conserve India’s coastal

ecosystems have been successful. The CAG frequently
undertakes ‘performance audits’ of government
programmes and ministries. This latest report contains
Why has the RBI come out with a the observations from an audit of ‘Conservation of
Coastal Ecosystems from 201520.’
framework to regulate the e-space?
What are the Centre’s obligations on conserving the
Saptaparno Ghosh coastline? Eroding shores: The CAG has a constitutional mandate to investigate publicly funded programmes. *
PAUL NORONHA
The story so far: On August 10, the Reserve Bank of ■ The government has issued notifications under the largescale CRZ violations in the coastal stretches. evaluating environmental impacts of the project, not

India (RBI) instituted a framework for regulating the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to regulate activities Incidences of illegal construction activities (reducing appraising the disasters which the project area was prone
digital lending landscape in the country. It pointed to along India’s coasts particularly regarding construction. coastal space) and effluent discharges from local bodies, to and so forth.
concerns such as unbridled engagement of third parties, The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ) 2019, industries and aquaculture farms had been reported by
misselling, breach of data privacy, unfair business implemented by the Ministry, classifies the coastal area the media and this prompted it to undertake a detailed What problems did the CAG find in the States?
conduct, charging of exorbitant interest rates, and into different zones to manage infrastructure activities investigation.
unethical recovery practices bothering consumer and regulate them. The three institutions responsible for ■ Tamil Nadu didn’t have a strategy in place to conserve
confidence and said that they had to be mitigated. The the implementation of the CRZ are the National Coastal What did the audit find? the Gulf of Mannar Islands. In Goa, there was no system
latest set of regulations are based on recommendations Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) at the Centre, the for monitoring coral reefs and no management plans to
received from its Working Group on ‘Digital Lending State/Union Territory Coastal Zone Management ■ The audit pointed out various categories of violations. conserve turtle nesting sites. In Gujarat, instruments
including lending through online platforms and mobile Authorities (SCZMAs/UTCZMAs) in every coastal State For one, the Environment Ministry hadn’t notified procured to study the physiochemical parameters of soil
apps’ (WGDL) which was constituted last January. and Union Territory and the District Level Committees NCZMA as a permanent body and it was being and water of the inertial area of the Gulf of Kutch weren’t
(DLCs) in every district that has a coastal stretch and reconstituted every few years. In the absence of defined used. Sea patrolling in Gahirmatha Sanctuary, in
What is the digital lending landscape like? where the CRZ notification is applicable. These bodies membership, it was functioning as an adhoc body. There Kendrapara, Odisha did not happen.
examine if CRZ clearances granted by the government are were instances of the Expert Appraisal Committees — a A research laboratory at Dangmal, Kendrapara
■ Digital lending utilises automated technologies and as per procedure, if project developers once given the committee of scientific experts and senior bureaucrats District, Odisha constructed in 2016 has not yet been
algorithms for decision making, customer acquisition, goahead are complying with conditions, and if the who evaluate the feasibility of an infrastructure project made functional. There was no website to disseminate
disbursements and recovery. Not only does it lower costs project development objectives under the Integrated and its environmental consequences — not being present the information related to the NCZMA , the CAG found,
but also ensures speedy disbursal. Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) are during project deliberations. There were also instances of which is a clear violation of the mandated requirements
Lending Service Providers (LSPs) act in partnership successful. They also evaluate the measures taken up by the members of the EAC being fewer than half of the total of the Authority.
with NonBanking Financial Companies (NBFCs) who the government towards achieving the targets under strength during the deliberations.
disburse credit (or a line of credit) to the customer using Sustainable Development Goals, a set of United The SCZMA had not been reconstituted in Karnataka What lies ahead?
the former’s platform, making it a multisided platform. Nationsprescribed targets for countries towards and there was delayed reconstitution in the States of Goa,
In order to cement their presence in a space with eradicating poverty and becoming sustainable societies. Odisha and West Bengal. The DLCs of Tamil Nadu lacked ■ These reports are placed before the Standing
multiple peers, LSPs often resort to reckless lending participation from local traditional communities. In Committees of Parliament, which select those findings
practices by endowing credit beyond a borrower’s Why did the CAG undertake this audit? Andhra Pradesh, DLCs were not even established. and recommendations that they judge to be the most
repayment capacity. The risk is mitigated by spreading it There were instances of projects being approved critical to public interest and arrange hearings on them.
to all users by charging higher interest rates. ■ The CAG has a constitutional mandate to investigate despite inadequacies in the Environment Impact In this case, the Environment Ministry is expected to
The absence of standardised disclosure and regulatory and report on publicly funded programmes. The CAG Assessment (EIA) reports. These included nonaccredited explain omissions pointed out by the CAG and make
norms made it cumbersome to assess a participant’s conducted “preaudit studies” and found that there were consultants preparing the EIA, using outdated data, not amends.
operational legitimacy. Between January and the end of
February last year, there were about 1,100 lending apps
Why will airlines have to share PNR data?

available for Indian android users of which about 600
were illegal. They were either unregulated by the RBI or
had NBFC partners with an asset size of less than ₹1,000
crore.
The space is largely dominated by NBFCs. Its
customers particularly include small borrowers without What are the pros and cons of Customs wanting information on international travellers? How will the process work?
a documented credit history and thus, not served by
traditional financial institutions. Their product mix Jagriti Chandra But PNR information is captured by the airline’s
primarily imbibe on shortterm loans, especially those reservation system from the time a passenger buys a
which have shorter tenures of less than 30 days. The story so far: The Passenger Name Record ticket and offers richer data for risk management such as
Information Regulations, 2022, notified by the Central whether a passenger is travelling alone, or whether s/he
What are the new regulations? Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under the paid in cash and if there were changes in a passenger’s
Ministry of Finance, on August 8, requires airlines to itinerary. These can be shared 24 to 48 hours before
■ The central premise is transparency. Lending must be mandatorily provide details of all international departure allowing intelligence agencies enough time to
carried out by entities that are either regulated by the passengers on flights arriving into and departing from carry out risk analysis.
RBI or possess permission to operate under a relevant India to the Customs department. This is for preventing Industry experts say globally Customs is the lead
law. Considering the largescale outsourcing in the and prosecuting offences under the Customs Act, 1962 agency for collecting PNRrelated information, and is
industry, this would also relating to smuggling of narcotics, gold, arms & better suited than immigration agencies because of the
According to the new help address regulatory ammunition that impact national security. organised nature of crimes and terrorist activities.
regulations, all data arbitrage. Travel surveillance: Globally, Customs is the lead agency
The RBI has mandated What is the process? for collecting PNR-related information. FILE PHOTO * What happens to the privacy of passengers?
collected by the apps
that all loan disbursals and
should be repayments are to be ■ Airlines will have to transfer the “passenger name implementation of the PNR data program for India.” It ■ The CBIC says the format for data exchange between
‘need-based’ and must executed directly between record (PNR) information” from their reservation system adds that this should now “bring an end to the airlines and the Customs systems is a standard electronic
be with prior and the bank accounts of the to the database of the Customs department. This includes nonstandard passenger data requests from the airlines, message format endorsed jointly by the World Customs
explicit consent of the borrower and the entity, details such as PNR, date of reservation, date of travel, by multiple agencies at various airports/stations.” Airlines Organisation (WCO), International Civil Aviation
eliminating the credit card number, seat information as well as changes say the government must hold consultations, frame Organisation (ICAO) and the IATA. Such data will be
borrower. Users can to the PNR. The CBIC will set up a database, the National detailed guidelines and provide a feasible timeline for retained for a maximum period of five years after which it
involvement of LSP’s nodal
also revoke passthrough account. Customs Targeting CentrePassenger, to collect passenger implementation. They also say that since they only pass will be disposed of by depersonalisation or
previously-granted Henceforth, before information for “risk analysis”. Such data can also be on the information submitted by passengers, if data fields anonymisation but can be “repersonalised and
consent executing the contract, sought by other law enforcement agencies or government are missing or if details provided are fake, they should not unmasked when used in connection with an identifiable
lenders would have to departments of India or any other country. The be penalised. case, threat or risk for the specified purposes,” says the
inform the borrower in a information will have to be shared at least 24 hours CBIC. “Collecting data on everyone to then do an
standardised format about before departure and failure to comply will invite a How were Indian agencies collecting passenger undetermined risk analysis, rather than selecting a few
all fees, charges as well as the annual percentage rate penalty of ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 for every act of information earlier? passengers is problematic. Deanonymising data is a big
(APR). The latter refers to the annual rate that is charged noncompliance. area of concern on two grounds — it raises questions
for borrowing a loan and is inclusive of processing fees, ■ Earlier, the Bureau of Immigration collected passenger about the type of anonymisation which can be easily
penalties and all other charges associated with it. This How has it been received by airlines? details under the Advance Passenger Information System reversed; secondly, there needs to be a high barrier for
would also help borrowers make better comparisons (APIS) following an amendment in 2008 by the Ministry permitting deanonymisation and has to be done only on
with industry peers. Further, LSPs cannot raise the ■ The regulations come five years after the Finance Bill, of Home Affairs to the Foreigners Act, 1946. This allowed very serious grounds. Moreover, all of this is happening
credit limit of their customers without prior consent. 2017 proposed amending the Customs Act, 1962 to allow collection of data pertaining to foreigners, but not Indian when there is no line of sight on a data protection law and
Also, to address the need for a dedicated resolution exchange of passenger data. The International Air citizens traveling in and out of the country. The APIS is what happens to passengers if the data is breached,” says
framework, entities would have to appoint a grievance Transport Association (IATA), a trade association contained in the Departure Control System of an airline Prateek Waghre, Policy Director, Internet Freedom
redressal officer. The ecosystem would also fall under the representing 290 airlines globally, says it “welcomes the and captures data when passengers checkin at airports Foundation. The Centre on August 3 withdrew the
purview of the RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme notifying of the PNR regulations by the CBIC, thereby and transfers the details to the destination country 15 Personal Data Protection Bill, three years after it was
(RBIOS) should the complaint not be resolved within 30 establishing a proper legal framework for the minutes before flight departure. tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2019.
days of receipt.
Will data also have to be regulated?
■ Yes, all data collected by the apps should be
“needbased” and must be with prior and explicit
What is the threat from zoonotic diseases?
consent of the borrower. Users can also revoke
previously granted consent. The information to be Is there a standard procedure on checks and genome sequencing for pathogens that pass from animals to humans?
collected must be stated in the privacy policy during
enrolment. Considering the multisided nature of the Ramya Kannan es of China, the communique explains. In all except nine ed positive for LayV in the serostudy), researchers called
business, the RBI has put forth that user consent would patients, LayV was the only pathogen isolated, indicating for further studies to examine all angles thoroughly.
be mandatory for sharing any personal information with The story so far: A new zoonotic virus that has evolved no other infection was present that could have caused the
a thirdparty. This regulation would also address to infect humans was identified in China in August. On Au symptoms. Is there cause for worry in the future?
concerns emanating from TechFin (companies that are gust 4, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) de
primarily techbased service providers, say ecommerce, scribed the virus called Langya (LayV), reported in pa What are the symptoms? ■ An article in Nature quotes evolutionary virologist Ed
and also offer financial services). They are known to tients in Eastern China. ward Holmes, at the University of Sydney, Australia on the
leverage their existing user data from nonfinancial ■ The symptoms were fever, fatigue, cough, anorexia, way ahead. He says that there is no particular need to wor
business to offer more suitable financial services, which What is the nature of Langya? myalgia, nausea, headache, and vomiting, accompanied ry about this, but constant surveillance would be critical.
may involve third parties and viceversa. by thrombocytopenia or low platelet count, and leukope In general, regularly testing humans and animals for
■ In a letter published in NEJM, a team of researchers nia or a low white blood cell count. In some cases, doctors emerging viruses is critical to understand the risk of zoo
What is the outlook for the industry? from China and Singapore led by XiaoAi Zhang, Hao Li, et also noticed impaired liver and kidney functions. notic diseases, he adds. The need for surveillance cannot
al say: “In our study, a newly identified henipavirus of be over stated, certainly not since the COVID19 pandemic
■ The share of digital lending may be small at present, probable animal origin was associated with febrile illness, What are the animal origins of LayV? upended the world without warning.
but given their scalability they may soon become a finding that warrants further investigation to better un The Central News Agency, a governmentcontrolled
significant players. Senior Director and Deputy Chief derstand associated human illness.” ■ To determine the source or animal origin of the infec news outfit in Taiwan, quoted Chuang Jenhsiang, deputy
Ratings Officer at CRISIL, Krishnan Sitaraman, told The The pathogen belongs to the henipavirus family, closely tion, since the patients, mostly farmers, revealed close ex director of Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control saying
Hindu, “We will have to see what kind of changes the associated with Nipah and Hendra viruses, and was not posure to animals before they fell sick, scientists drew they would soon establish a standardised procedure for
digital lenders make to their operating models in light of iced to cause fever, and respiratory symptoms among 35 blood from farm animals and small animals. These sero domestic laboratories to conduct genome sequencing and
the new regulations, how it impacts the fees they charge, people in China since 2018. It was discovered during rou surveys in animals revealed that shrews, a rat like rodent, strengthen surveillance of LayV.
the speed of their disbursements or how they continue tine sentinel surveillance of patients who had fever and re might be a reservoir of the LayV. While LayV as we know it now does not pose a huge
to provide seamless experience to their customers.” On ported a recent history of exposure to animals in eastern The NEJM letter says that contact tracing of nine pa threat, it is apparent that the nature of a connected world
the potential challenges from rising inflation, interest China. It was identified as a phylogenetically distinct heni tients with 15 closecontact family members revealed no facilitates the easy transmission of viruses globally. While
rates and their impact on credit growth in general, he pavirus, indicating its evolution, after being identified in a closecontact LayV transmission, but acknowledges that scientific research and pharmacology development have
said, “With the economic activity reviving at a decent throat swab sample from a patient. The virus was named the sample size was too small to effectively determine the gotten a boost in the arm in the two years since the pan
pace post pandemic and our expectations of a GDP after the town this patient lived in — Langya in the Shan status of humantohuman transmission for LayV. So while demic, prevention continues to be infinitely better than
growth of 7.3% this fiscal, we expect demand for loans dong province in China. concluding, with the available evidence, that the virus cure. Constant, unflagging surveillance, and adequate
across the credit ecosystem to be higher this fiscal Subsequent investigations identified 35 patients with must have been directed transmitted by shrews or any oth sharing of information between nations is essential, ex
despite higher inflation and interest rates.” acute LayV infection in the Shandong and Henan provinc er intermediary animal (goats, dogs, for instance, that test perts underscore.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
THE HINDU
DELHI
PROFILES 19
Illustration: R. rajesh
NITISH KUMAR
The man who mastered
political engineering
The JD(U) leader has used the secularism and anti-corruption cards
deftly to make and break alliances that made him one of the longest
serving Chief Ministers of one of India’s poorest States
Sobhana K. Nair sad’s paths have been intert the two on the foundation of

wined right from the begin antiLalu Prasad sentiments.
N
itish Kumar has a ning. He acted as Mr. While Mr. Kumar is accused
degree in electrical Prasad’s cheerleader and ad of being an opportunist, it is
engineering, a pro vocate, whenever needed. If a fact that his association
fession that he nev Mr. Prasad was a flamboyant with the BJP exceeds any oth
er pursued. Instead, over orator, Mr. Kumar was the er political relationship he
four decades of electoral pol quiet backroom boy who had. In all these years, the
itics, he has mastered politi drafted press notes and lob BJP willingly assisted him on
cal engineering, earning him bied for Mr. Prasad. In March his way to 1 Aney Marg, the
the rare distinction of being 1990, Mr. Kumar played a Chief Minister’s residence in
one of the longest serving crucial role in getting sup Patna. The 2000 Assembly
Chief Ministers of Bihar. On port for Mr. Prasad in a keen election in Bihar is an in
Wednesday, he took oath as ly contested battle within the structive example.
In Focus Chief Minister for the eighth Janata Dal for the Chief Minis In 1997, after the unveiling
B Inspired by time. On six occasions, it was ter’s post. of the fodder scam, Mr. Pra
Ram Manohar with the support of the Bha But within two years, the sad formed the RJD, parting
Lohia’s ratiya Janata Party (BJP) and spell had broken, and Mr. Ku ways with the Janata Dal. He
socialism,
twice, including the latest mar and Mr. Prasad were no was on a sticky wicket and
Nitish took
the political stint, with the support of the longer on talking terms. In the Opposition hoped that he
plunge during Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). part, the disenchantment
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
J.P.’s call for Politics was not a natural grew because of what Mr. Ku and anointed Mr. Kumar, for But he was growing uncom tion camp supporting it. In commanding position.
‘total
revolution’
choice of career for him. mar called Mr. Prasad’s dicta The BJP heaped the first time, as Chief Minis fortable by his growing sta February 2017, Mr. Kumar Announcing the party’s
When he left his home in torial ways. abuses on Nitish ter. He lasted just seven days ture at the national level. Mr. claimed he had to hear the latest split with the BJP, JD(U)
B In 2000, he Bakhtiyarpur for higher edu in the post. Kumar has always nursed voice of his antaratma or president and Mr. Kumar’s
became the cation in Patna in 1966, the Split with Lalu Kumar in 2014 when Opposition parties ap Prime Ministerial ambitions, conscience. He could not loyalist, Rajiv Ranjan Singh,
Chief Minister
aim was to get a wellpaying The final break came in April he took a stand plauded the “secular” according to analysts. But continue to head a govern aka Lalan Singh, claimed that
of Bihar for
the first time and stable job. It was Ram 1994. A group of 14 Janata Dal against Modi, but all change in Bihar. Mr. Kumar with Narendra Modi’s arrival, ment when his deputy was the BJP was trying to repli
in an alliance Manohar Lohia’s acerbic MPs revolted against Mr. Pra this was forgotten has, in the recent years, de there was no vacancy. under the radar of enforce cate the Maharashtra model
with the BJP, writing that ensnared Mr. Ku sad, lining up behind social ployed the “secularism argu His decision to snap ties ment agencies for a host of in Bihar, breaking the JD(U)
but the stint mar. If Lohia’s words se ist stalwart George Fer and forgiven after he ment” to justify his political with the BJP cost him dear. corruption cases. from within. Sources say Mr.
lasted only duced him into politics, Jai nandes and naming the returned to the NDA somersaults. In June 2013, He did not see a proModi In politics, alliances Kumar had made up his
seven days
Prakash Narayan’s call for group Janata Dal (George). in 2017 just a week after then Gujarat wave brewing. In the 2014 change. The BJP heaped mind to leave the NDA
B Of his eight
“total revolution” gave him a While Fernandes was the Chief Minister Narendra Mo Lok Sabha polls, the JD(U) abuses on Mr. Kumar in 2014 months ago, but the RJD, still
terms as CM, space. face of the group, Mr. Kumar
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC di was named the campaign got only two seats, forcing when he took a stand against nursing the 2017 hangover,
he formed the
government Mr. Kumar, like many pre was its creator. On October committee chief of the BJP Mr. Kumar to step down from Mr. Modi. But all this was for could not easily trust him. It
six times with sentday politicians, is a child 19, 1994, this group renamed could be defeated. But they for the 2014 Lok Sabha elec the Chief Minister’s post. He gotten and forgiven after he took the two sides nearly
the BJP and of the JP movement. But un itself the Samata Party with a squabbled and squandered tion, Mr. Kumar snapped his briefly handed over the ba returned to the NDA in 2017. three months to thrash out
twice, like many of his peers, he did ringing call — Bihar Bachao away their chance. Mr. Ku ties with the BJP. For a year, ton to his colleague Jitan Ram However, it was not Vaj an alliance.
including the not immediately hit the lime (save Bihar from Mr. Prasad’s mar, whose Samata Party prior to taking the plunge, he Manjhi. But within months, payee’s BJP that Mr. Kumar The obvious question in
latest stint,
with the RJD
light. His electoral career be clutches). With this began had allied with his former so had been campaigning for a he was hobnobbing with Mr. had returned to. By the time everyone’s mind now is how
gan with a defeat. In 1980, af Mr. Kumar’s 21yearlong cialist colleagues Ram Vilas “secular Prime Minister”. Prasad and the RJD. In June Bihar faced the next Assemb long will the latest Mahagat
ter years of hanging around feud with Mr. Prasad. Howev Paswan and Sharad Yadav’s But his secular outlook 2015, the two, caught in an ly election in November bandhan government last.
on the margins, he finally got er, the road ahead was not Janata Dal (United) just was newfound, as many crit awkward embrace, an 2020, there was no Arun Jait Mr. Kumar’s parting message
ticket to contest the Bihar smooth. As in 1980, Mr. Ku months ago for the Lok Sab ics pointed out that Mr. Ku nounced their alliance for ley to broker peace and put to the BJP is this: you may
elections from Harnaut, his mar, once again, came face ha election, parted ways mar did not flinch during the the coming assembly elec the house in order. The BJP have come to power in 2014
home district of Nalanda. He to face with defeat. The new ahead of the 2000 Assembly 2002 Gujarat riots. The Vaj tions in the state. was no longer satisfied with but will you remain in power
lost the seat. But it was only ly formed Samata Party got polls. payee government lost at playing a supporting role. In beyond 2024? The challenge
the beginning. Even his crit just seven seats in the 1995 The results reflected their least two allies — Ram Vilas Unravelling alliance a Machiavellian move, they also belies his own wish to
ics would appreciate Mr. Ku Bihar Assembly election. differences. The BJP alliance Paswan and Omar Abdullah The alliance started unravell deployed Chirag Paswan of play a larger role in national
mar’s doggedness in the face It was a few months after got 122 seats while the RJD se — as a fallout of the riots but ing within a year. In Novem the Lok Jan Shakti Party, to politics. But will he, in his
of defeat. He stayed on in this ignominious defeat that cured 124. With the BJPled Mr. Kumar, who was the Un ber 2016 when the opposi hurt the JD(U). Mr. Paswan twilight years, leave his fa
Harnaut, wresting the seat in Mr. Kumar met L.K. Advani, National Democratic Alliance ion Agriculture Minister, tion raged against the Modi walked out of the NDA and vourite playground in favour
1985 by a margin of over then president of the BJP, government led by Atal Biha stayed on. He had not openly government’s demonetisa contested against the JD(U). of exploring an uncertain fu
20,000 votes. and in no time an alliance ri Vajpayee at the centre, the repudiated Mr. Modi in the tion, Mr. Kumar’s was the Mr. Kumar, now with just 43 ture in Delhi? The last word
Mr. Kumar and Lalu Pra was consolidated between NDA staked claim in Bihar context of the Gujarat riots. lone voice from the Opposi legislators, was no longer in a has not been spoken.
SALMAN RUSHDIE VARAVARA RAO
The language of truth Different shades of a poet

The famed author is battling for his life in a U.S. hospital after a stab attack The Telugu writer and activist has got permanent bail on health grounds
Illustration: sreejith r kumar Illustration: sreejith r kumar
Sudipta Datta made to his son Zafar in Sumit Bhattacharjee 2005 for the first time and
1989 — then, nine years old the ban was lifted in 2006 as
‘I E
am a dead man.’ That’s — that he would one day ven at the ripe age of a judicial panel struck it
what Salman Rushdie write a book he could read. 82 and in fragile condi down. It was banned again
thought on February 14, The result is the delightful tion of health, his day by the Telangana govern
1989, the day Iran’s Ayatol Haroun and the Sea of Sto- starts with a brief morning ment in 2021, but within a
lah Ruhollah Khomeini is ries, a story of a father, Rash walk. Once back in his living month, the order was with
sued the fatwa for his 1988 id, and a son, Haroun, and room at his modest home, drawn. Since he was first ar
novel The Satanic Verses for of Haroun’s determination he picks up a book from one rested in October 1973 un
alleged blasphemy against to rescue his father, the of those numerous ones der MISA (Maintenance of
Islam. Rushdie was in Lon Shah of Blah, and return to sent by his family members Internal Security Act), Mr.
don, and when a BBC repor him his special Gift of the and friends. Reading and Rao was arrested at least 16
ter asked him how he felt Gab, that of telling stories. writing are his two obses times, including the arrest
knowing he’d just been sen In an interview with Rush sions and he continues to do in August, 2018, in the Elgar
tenced to death, he said, “It die, who was still under cov so, while recuperating from Parishad case, and was im
doesn’t feel good,” as re er, after the book was pu bad health and post CO plicated in over 27 cases, in
counted in Joseph Anton, his blished, old friend Martin VID19 complications. cluding the two while he
2012 memoir, alluding to the Amis (Visiting Mrs Nabokov This summarises Varava was in jail in the Elgar case.
name he had adopted while years, under the protection story of twins, through Sa and other Excursions), wrote ra Rao, the revolutionary atrocities of Razakars under rangal to take up a teaching Mr. Rao was acquitted in
going underground soon af of the British government. leem Sinai and the newborn that it appeared that Rush poet, teacher, journalist, ad the Nizam. The idea of so profession, and this was the 13 of the cases and some of
ter the death decree. After he emerged out of nation. Rushdie was a Bom die was condemned to vocate of alternative peo cialism was sowed in him turning point in his life, as them such as the Secundera
The celebrated writer, a seclusion, and moved to the bay boy who had made his “enact his own fictional ple’s movements and deep and his first poem ‘So Warangal was then the bad and Ramnagar Conspi
‘Midnight’s Child’ ( June 19, U.S., he has not for once gi life in London among the themes of exile, ostracism, intellectual. cialistu Chandrudu’ (Social hotbed of the Naxalite racy case took over 15 to 17
1947), is today fighting for ven up his fight against reli English, but often “felt disjuncture, personal rein Arrested on August 28, ist Moon) on the Soviet Un movement. years of trial. The courts had
his life in a U.S. hospital af gious extremism of all types, cursed by a double unbe vention,” occupying a kind 2018 in the Elgar Parishad ion sending the dog Laika to Mr. Rao penned over 17 quashed or discharged
ter being stabbed several and fight for freedom of ex longing”. Wanting to re of “shadowland”, but “for case, he was given medical space, was published in the books of poems and about about three cases and nine
times at a literary event in pression, dissent as being claim the Indian identity he midably alive.” bail on March 6, 2021, and it Telugu magazine Swatantra, 17 books on various other were withdrawn by the pro
New York on Friday. The at critical to democracy, and li had lost, Rushdie felt he had In later years, Rushdie’s was only a few days back, when he was 17 years old. subjects that also dealt with secution. He spent over se
tacker has been identified berty. Now 75, he has been found “an intersection bet novels (The Enchantress of considering his deteriorat the economic situation of ven years in imprisonment,
and is in custody, but the making appearances in pu ween the private [his own Florence, The Golden House, ing health condition, that Peasant movement the country and translated at times in solitary
motive is unknown. Three blic in and around New York life] and the public [India’s Quichotte) may not have the Supreme Court granted He was deeply influenced by two novels. Over 100 of his confinement.
decades later, does the fat without security. Clearly, he birth as a nation] and would touched similar highs, but him permanent bail on the the writings of his brother poems have been translated Mr. Rao also acted as a
wa still hold? Maybe it does. is keen to “live his life” and build his book on that cross his essays, the latest collect same grounds. Love for liter Raghava Rao, Sri Sri and into Malayalam, Kannada, key person in the peace
The day the fatwa was is write what he wants. Out in roads”. He did not want to ed in Languages of Truth ature and writing, irrespec Chalam. Barely in his teens, Hindi and Bengali and En talks between the Naxalites
sued, Rushdie attended the February 2023 is his new write it in “cool Forsterian (2021), are as incisive and tive of the language, had he was attracted towards glish. When he was hospital and the Andhra Pradesh go
funeral service of his close novel, Victory City, a “tran English” or in the fashion of perceptive as those in Ima- come to him quite naturally the Telangana Peasant ized in 2021, his poems were vernment in 2004. The
friend and writer Bruce slation of an ancient epic” Jane Austen. “India was not ginary Homelands and Step in his childhood, as being Movement, in which one of translated into at least 20 Maoist party came out of the
Chatwin who had died of from the Indian south, a cool. It was hot. It was hot Across the Line. “If I had last among the 10 siblings his first cousins was a squad European and other lan talks in January 2006 after
AIDS. Other writer friends book about “power and the and overcrowded and vul stood before you a decade (five sisters and four broth leader, who later became a guages. an encounter, alleging that
gathered at the Greek Or hubris of those in power”. gar and loud and it needed a ago, I might have argued ers), he was surrounded by Member of Parliament. Inspired by the Naxalbari the State had violated the
thodox Church, like Martin language to match that and that religious extremism books and publications. All Probably this was his first movement in 1970, he was ceasefire agreement
Amis, hugged and told him, Writing glory he would try to find that lan was the greatest threat to li his brothers were into some brush with the communist instrumental in the found reached six months earlier.
“We’re worried about you,” Rushdie shot to writing glo guage”. Rushdie found that berty we faced. I did not fo kind of writing. ideology. After completing ing of two writers’ associa Mr. Rao’s love for books
to which Rushdie replied, ry for Midnight’s Children, language, and charted a resee what seems to be a Born on November 3, MA from Osmania Universi tions — ‘Tirugubatu Kavulu’ has never failed him, but
“I’m worried about me.” his 1981 magicrealism no path for other writers in En secularisation of that fanati 1940, at Chinna Pendyala of ty, Mr. Rao taught at a cou (the Association of Rebel what hurts him the most
The American travel writer, vel. Those were the heyday glish in the subcontinent — cism,” he writes in a recent Jangaon district of Telanga ple private colleges before Poets) and the Viplava Ra now is that he is no longer
Paul Theroux, called out, of the genre with Gabriel from Arundhati Roy to Ka piece, a pithy summation of na in a middleclass Brah joining the Ministry of Infor chayitala Sangham, (the Re able to write, as his hands
“Salman, next week, we’ll Garcia Marquez and Gunter mila Shamsie, Mohsin Ha where we are. As Rushdie min family, Mr. Rao, from a mation and Broadcasting of volutionary Writers’ Asso tremble. Known for having a
be back for you!” What fol Grass showing the way. Mid- mid to Kiran Desai. battles for his life, this fight young age, saw his brothers, the Government of India as ciation), which is popularly calligraphic writing skill, he
lowed was that Rushdie night’s Children reimagined While in hiding, Rushdie against extremism is far who were staunch Con a publication assistant. In known as Virasam. misses it the most, say peo
went into hiding for nine India’s independence as a delivered on a promise from over. gressmen, fight against the 1968, he came back to Wa Virasam was banned in ple close to him.
CM A ND-NDE
YK
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CHENNAI/KOCHI
EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | SUNDAY | 14 AUGUST 2022 | NEW DELHI
pg 5
Subhani
14 AUGUST 2022
Krishna Shastri
Devulapalli
Off the beaten track
Carpenter-backed roles
and plumber’s actors
I
f I were in school now and having to explain my current absence, this
is how my leave letter would go: Dear Madam, Kindly permit me to
absent myself for the next three days as I am bedridden, a consequence
of watching several promotional interviews of movie people in quick suc-
cession which have left me with numbness on the left side of my face,
severe pain on the right side of my lower body and some disturbing
changes in my bowel movement…
Honestly, though, film folk, you’ll have to come up with new things to
75 years later, it’s time LETTERS

say in your coming interviews. For far too long, you’ve got away saying —
with great authority, mind you — stuff that makes no sense whatsoever.
RALLY BEHIND NITISH

Author-backed role: Almost every film interview has an actor looking up
at the ceiling, meditatively scratching his chin, and proclaiming he has an
author-backed role. As a struggling author myself, I’ve always wondered
what this meant. Why would the author back only one particular role?
to bury Partition legacy

Isn’t it the author’s duty to back all ‘roles’ equally? Could it then mean the Most pposition leaders
author was stepmotherly with the other roles in the film? Which makes have agreed in principle
me wonder if this particular fictional character created by the writer that in order to oust the
resorted to some unfair trade practices to get himself the author’s back-
ing. Like giving him an interest-free loan, fixing his faulty plumbing,
BJP a Mahagatbandhan
applying tick medicine on his uncertain Rottweiler, or worse still, bad- is imperative. West
mouthing his co-characters in the script, all to ingratiate himself to the Two hundred million main; the Hindus and the Bengal CM Mamata
writer? Or does this character have some incriminating stuff on the Muslims have now Moslems, in India.” Banerjee had tried her
The Lahore Resolution
Manish Tewari
author?
I play a cop: If only I had a lived cheek by jowl March 23, 1940, underscored: best to urge leaders to
buck for every time an actor with Hindus and “Resolved that it is the con- unite, but she received
said this. Or “I play a soft- other communities sidered view of this session a lukewarm response,
for 75 years. It
State of the Union
ware engineer, bubbly girl of the All-India Muslim
especially from the
or professional ear-wax should be reason League that no constitution-
Congress. Now Ms
remover”. I’ve never got al plan would be workable in
enough to bury the
what “playing a cop” meant.
Frankenstein of this
this country or acceptable to Banerjee is beset with
T
Being a policeman is a job. omorrow Inde- and articulated in the six Muslims unless it is nerve-wracking prob-
How can an actor play a job? pendent India decades leading up to the noxious legacy ten designed on the following
I can understand if an actor would be 75 years Partition of India? Did the fathoms deep. basic principle, namely, that lems. It will be in the
were to say “I play a duck- old. If the British sharp inflection points geographically contiguous fitness of things for her
billed platypus in this would not have between the Hindus and units are demarcated into party to support Nitish
movie”. That, for me, is an partitioned India it would Muslims as a consequence of Muslims will have four regions which should be so
accurate description of a have been a civilisational over 70 invasions by Muslim Muslim States: (1) The constituted, with such terri- Kumar in his efforts to
role. You don’t need further continuum from Teknaf on invaders between AD 1000 Pathan Province or the torial readjustments as may unite the Opposition. It
explanation. But when they the Bangladesh-Myanmar and AD 1700 finally find North-West Frontier; (2) be necessary, that the areas cannot be denied that
say they are playing a border to Torkham on the expression when a more cun- Western Punjab (3) Sindh in which the Muslims are
cop/lawyer/journalist, it Pakistan Afghanistan bor- ning but religiously different and (4) Eastern Bengal. If numerically in a majority, as Mr Kumar is ahead of
tells me nothing unless they der. A true subcontinent and imperialist “the firangi” there are compact Muslim in the North-Western and Ms Banerjee in winning
say “I play a cop… who is not a truncated one. Would it became India’s overlord communities in any other Eastern Zones of India, the confidence of the
morbidly obese, has mommy have been a sustainable enti- especially after the failure of part of India, sufficiently should be grouped to consti- Congress and CPI(M).
issues, likes to do yoga wear- ty with two heavy provinces the Mutiny of 1857 or the first large to form a province, tute “Independent States” in
ing nothing but his holster Bengal in the East and war of Independence? they should be similarly con- which the constituent units Arun Gupta
and insists on speaking in Punjab in the West crowned For the narrative that com- stituted. But it should be dis- shall be autonomous and Kolkata
Bhojpuri in romantic situa- of by the wild lands of the menced in 1888 with Sir tinctly understood that this sovereign.
tions”. Then I have some- North West Frontier Prov- Syed’s articulation in is not a united India. It Muhammad Ali Jinnah in
thing to grapple with.
Director’s actress: This
ince bordering Afghanistan,
given that India before
Meerut was finally wrapped
up by Savarkar at Nagpur in
means a clear partition of
India into a Muslim India
his Presidential Address to
the Muslim League in 1940 at
SMARTPHONE HELPS
declaration, too, leaves me Partition was envisaged as a 1943. It provided the intellec- and a non-Muslim India.” Lahore stated: “The Hindus THE USE OF smartphone has its
flummoxed. And I’ve heard
If an actor has been signed up nation with strong states but tual and ideological ballast Sir Muhammad Iqbal’s and Muslims belong to two drawbacks but it has one signifi-
it so often. I mean, as an for a movie, I would think his only a weak Centre? for the two-nation theory 1930 presidential address to different religious philoso- cant advantage that can be of big
actor/actress, who else could job would be to perform, right? Would an un-partitioned that came to part fruition in the 25th Session of the All- phies, social customs, and lit- use in today's world. Had the
you be? The director is the Om Puri did do one of the India have survived the cen- 1947. It would be instructive India Muslim League erature[s]. They neither Omaxe Grand episode of a BJP
guy or gal who, er, directs, best non-performance- trifugal tendencies that a to visit what many of these Allahabad, December 29, intermarry nor interdine neta's goondaism against a mem-
right? So, by default, isn’t oriented roles ever in the movie constitutionally weak Centre ‘eminences’ had opined ad 1930, “Personally, I would go together, and indeed they ber of a housing society not gone
everyone a director’s actor, would have brought along nauseam. farther than the demands belong to two different civili- viral, “Bulldozer Baba” wouldn't
actress, art director, make- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. He played a with it? Would Partition or Sir Syed Ahmed Khan stat- embodied in it. I would like sations which are based have dispensed justice by demol-
up assistant or key grip? Or corpse. balkanisation inevitably ed on March 14, 1888, Meerut, to see the Punjab, North- mainly on conflicting ideas ishing the man's illegal construc-
are there a bunch of have happened if not in 1947 now, suppose that all West Frontier Province, and conceptions. tion. This person isn’t a one-time
plumber’s actors, art director’s light boys, focus puller’s producers and but at a point in time not too English, and the whole Sind and Baluchistan amal- Finally, Savarkar on offender but has been misusing his
financier’s audience operating in the movie industry that I know nothing distant into the future just as English army, were to leave gamated into a single State. August 15, 1943, declared at a political clout for long.
about? To me, director’s actress means you haven’t read the script, don’t East Pakistan seceded from India, taking with them all Self-government within the press conference in Nagpur Surprisingly, the UP police found
know if the movie you’re currently doing is a horror film or a historical, West Pakistan in 1971 after a their cannon and their splen- British Empire, or without on August 15, 1943, “I have no it a challenging task to trace him.
and come to the set with not a thought in your head, and expect the shlub horrific genocide unleashed did weapons and everything, the British Empire, the for- quarrel with Mr Jinnah’s Will he be punished severely or set
who calls himself the director to do everything for you. by the latter’s army and its then who would be rulers of mation of a consolidated two-nation theory. We, free after the media withdraws its
Performance-oriented role: This is the fraternal twin of the author- militias? India? Is it possible that North-West…” Hindus, are a nation by our- attention? That is the question on
backed role. If an actor has been signed up for a movie, I would think his These and many other sim- under these circumstances In his presidential address selves and it is a historical everyone’s minds.
only job would be to perform, right? I’ve never heard, say, a pilot declar- ilar questions that now lie two nations — the to the 19th Session of Hindu fact that Hindus and Syed Abdul Monim
ing her job was flight-oriented. Or the driver of a hearse saying his job was buried in the undulating Mahomedans and the Mahasabha at Karanavati in Muslims are two nations.” Navi Mumbai
funeral-oriented. Why then do actors say this? Does this mean they have wasteland of time are inter- Hindus — could sit on the 1937, Vinayak Damodar Two hundred million
done other roles where their orientation was something other than per-
formance? To be truthful, Om Puri did do one of the best
rogatories that should agi-
tate the collective mind
same throne and remain
equal in power? Most cer-
Savarkar articulated, “The
so-called communal ques-
Muslims have now lived
cheek by jowl with Hindus
PEN MIGHTIER
non-performance-oriented roles ever in the movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. He space of a diverse array of tainly not. tions are but a legacy handed and other communities for 75 THE HORROR unleashed on
played a corpse. scholars across various Bhai Parmanand, a promi- down to us by centuries of a years. It should be reason Mumbai-born British author
Similarly, I beseech film folk not to say these things, too, after the end of fields. For in their answers nent Hindu Mahasabha cultural, religious and enough to bury the Salman Rushdie at a literary event
a shoot. “It was like a picnic.” That really doesn’t augur well for us, the may lie the key that could leader, declared in 1908-09, national antagonism Frankenstein of this noxious in western New York has stunned
paying audience. If you all had a picnic instead of doing your jobs, then still integrate the South “The territory beyond Sind between the Hindus and the legacy ten fathoms deep. those who value and cherish free-
you had it at our expense. Similarly, “we were all like one big family”. Asian landmass, ignite and should be united with Moslems. When time is ripe Why are we trying to vali- dom of expression. Rushdie, whose
Well, then, the movie you are about to show us is going to unleash the collective poten- Afghanistan and the North- you can solve them; but you date the logic of Partition in writings led to death threats from
be as much fun as a sangeet ceremony is to a non-family member forced to tial of two billion restless West Frontier Province into cannot suppress them by India seven-and-a-half Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed mul-
view the video. souls filled with ions of cre- a great Musalman kingdom. merely refusing recognition decades later? Would this not tiple times by an assailant who
And when the movie bombs, and the reviewers troll you, for god’s sake, ative energy. The Hindus of the region of them. It is safer to diag- turn India’s “Amrit Kaal” rushed to the stage as he was about
stop saying “You don’t know how hard we worked on this project for three This brings us to a related should come away, while at nose and treat deep-seated next 25 years leading up to to deliver a lecture. As a result, the
years.” So did my carpenter. For one-and-a-half years, using the finest of question. Did India really the same time Mussalman in disease than to ignore it. Let the Independence centenary author suffered severed nerves in
material, he worked on a bookshelf I’d wanted. When it was done, it didn’t need to be partitioned? Are the rest of India should go us bravely face unpleasant into a Vish Kaal? Think! an arm, damage to his liver and
have a single right angle. Let me assure you, I didn’t give him five stars. Hindus and Muslims really and settle in this territory.” facts as they are. India can- eye, and cannot speak. Our
separate people and nations Lala Lajpat Rai, the great not be assumed today to be a The author is a lawyer, thoughts are with him, and here's
who can not live together as nationalist, wrote in the Unitarian and homogeneous Member of Parliament and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Krishna Shastri Devulapalli is a humour writer, columnist, novelist, scholars and leaders across Tribune on December 14, nation, but on the contrary former Union information N.J. Ravi Chander
playwright and screenwriter the religious divide opined 1924, “Under my scheme the there are two nations in the and broadcasting minister. Bengaluru
I
nstead of August 15, 1947, our In his advance praise for the book, film- ters” (writes Kapoor), “the fuse was reaction was a banner across five In the 1940s-50s, as colonialism was
Independence Day could well have maker Shyam Benegal introduces an ignited on Monday, 18 February”. columns. Aruna Asaf Ali’s call — “I receding, imperialism was being chal-
been June 30, 1948. That was the hur- episode about one Balai Dutt, “barely out Kapoor extracts a quote from historian would rather unite Hindus and Muslims lenged by the Communist expansion in
ried decision of Prime Minister of his teens”, among the mutiny’s lead- Sumit Sarkar’s Modern India: “The at the barricades, than on the constitu- Korea, particularly after the Chinese
Clement Atlee. Hurried, because acute ers. Later, Dutt, a staunch Communist, afternoon of 20 February saw remark- tional front” — invited a rejoinder from crossed the Yalu river in 1950. In 1957,
Saeed Naqvi nervousness descended on Westminster
at the disturbing news from India. A
rose to become an advertising executive
in Lintas, which Benegal joined as a
able scenes of fraternisation, with
crowds bringing food for the striking rat-
Gandhi. Gandhi’s response: “The barri-
cade life has to be followed by the
the first Communist government
through the ballot box was installed in
Wide Angle mutiny had broken out in the Royal
Indian Navy and it was spreading like
copywriter.
The book places something of a damp-
ings at the Gateway of India and shop-
keepers inviting them to take whatever
Constitution.” According to Gandhi,
Aruna “betrays want of foresight in dis-
Kerala. Then came the Communist gov-
ernments in West Bengal and Tripura.
wildfire. The pros and cons of this his- ener on the romantic image many have they needed.” And the Congress opposed believing the British declarations and These events happened much later, but
toric event are in Pramod Kapoor’s nurtured of our national leaders — this? The mutiny spread to 78 ships, 21 precipitating a quarrel in anticipation”. the imperial establishment had sensed
meticulously researched book 1946: The Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel — as “fight- shore establishments and over 20,000 rat- The same page has Maulana Azad, that the wind was blowing in one direc-
Last War of Independence, Royal Indian ers” against the British. All of them ings. “In less than 48 hours, it crippled then Congress president, arguing that tion. As soon as the mutiny expanded,
Navy Mutiny. appear more sympathetic to the British one of the most formidable navies of the “the national spirit must not be sup- Clement Atlee’s government in London
Why freedom The Congress was so gripped by para-

noia that its government in West Bengal,
as late as 1965, tried every trick in the
than to the ratings who ignited a mas-
sive rebellion against discrimination
and poor rations. It was a popular upris-
Second World War. There were pitched
battles. Hundreds were killed.”
It severely impacted the leadership of
pressed”. Sardar Patel, on the other
hand, was worried about “the mass
awakening being exploited” by others.
dispatched the Cabinet Mission,
replaced Lord Wavell as Viceroy by Lord
Mountbatten, and set June 30, 1948, as
came early: In book to stop Utpal Dutt’s Kallol from

being staged. Despite the Congress’
obstructions, the play was staged at
ing against the British. Why was the
Congress opposed to it?
What must have rung alarm bells in
the Congress and Muslim League.
Freedom, they seemed to think, would
come as a reward for good behaviour,
Who are the “others”? That is the crux
of the matter.
That the Royal Indian Navy, the pride
the final date for Independence.
Lord Mountbatten swiftly brought the
date forward to August 15, 1947. He was
August 1947, Minerva theatre to record audiences.

One can understand the British
empire’s desire to suppress the uprising.
The puzzle is the Congress’ conspiracy of
London and conservative Indians like
Gandhi, Patel and Jinnah was the fact
that the uprising’s leadership was with
the Communist Party of India. Leaders
not by scaring the British — such as by
sinking their armada.
On the opposite side was a mesmeris-
ing, vocal galaxy — Prithviraj Kapoor,
of the empire, was so vulnerable was dis-
concerting enough. What set the cat am-
ong the pigeons in Westminster was the
rapid gains being made by the Com-
quick to grasp the message from London:
hand over power to the leaders the
British had cultivated, the leaders who
were “people like us”. Considering the
not June 1948 silence. A riveting part of the book is the
conspiracy before the spark was ignited
by the “privates” (non-commissioned
like S.A. Dange, who later became the
party’s secretary-general, were in the
vanguard as were left-wing Congress
Salil Chowdhry, Balraj Sahni, Zohra
Sehgal, Utpal Dutt, Aruna Asaf Ali,
Minoo Masani, Ashoka Mehta, Khwaja
munists in India and across the world.
Although the Telangana uprising occu-
pied newspaper headlines only in July
Leftist wave sweeping the world since
the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, there was
every danger of the ground being cut
personnel) and sailors. Who were the leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali. Nehru’s Ahmad Abbas, Josh Malihabadi, Sahir 1946, intelligence reports on the massive from under feet of the “moderate” politi-
politicians involved? Where did the con- dilemma was acute. He was anxious Ludhianvi, and a host of others. underground network was available to cians in India with whom the British Raj
spirators meet? How did they escape the about the Congress’ leftists: what if they The Hindustan Standard of February the British much earlier. Beyond India, had struck a rapport.
British intelligence net comprising deserted the party, weakening him? 28 had its front page cluttered with the Mao’s revolution was in its final stages
largely “loyal” Indians? After extensive planning by the “plot- reactions of Congress leaders. Gandhi’s when the mutiny erupted in the Navy. The writer is a senior journalist
EDITOR: KAUSHIK MITTER, PRINTER & PUBLISHER: K. SUDHAKAR; THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: (011) 23211124;
Published and Printed on behalf of and for; Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301;
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CMYK
2
From
AHMEDABAD SUNDAY 14/8/2022
Editorial
Editor’s
Desk
Govt does well to

do away with price
restrictions in the
aviation sector As part of the celebration of
"Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 75 years"
Considering the then economic in the presence of Hon'ble Union Min-
environment, and the
ister Shri Parasottambhai Rupala, a
huge national flag procession took
considerable uncertainty that place in Navsari Municipality area in
which a large number of citizens
the pandemic had injected in joined.
the aviation sector, some
airlines did in fact support the
imposition of these pricing
restrictions.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Union Har Ghar Tiranga:
government had imposed capacity and price restric-
tions on domestic airlines. While restrictions on ca-
pacity were put in place to contain the spread of
Covid, from the government’s point of view, the ra-
NIDF, Chandigarh University create Guinness World
tionale to impose both price floors and ceilings was
two-fold. One, to prevent a price war among the air-
lines so as to protect the financially weaker airlines
Record for largest human image of waving national flag
during an economically turbulent period. And two, Chandigarh, Aug 13 (IANS) Strengthening this great nation, the event will also Dangarikar also handed over a copy of them on the success of the
to prevent consumers from price gouging as airlines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing‘Har Ghar prove to be a great milestone in the GWR certificate to Punjab Gover- event,” said Purohit.
sought to recoup their losses during a period of Tiranga’ campaign and taking it to international achieving Government of India’s tar- nor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Thanking the Union Home
demand and supply mismatches. level to mark the 75th Independence Day of In- get of unfurling tricolour atop 20 crore Purohit and S. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ministry for allowing people to
Over time, the government did do away with the dia, the NID Foundation and Chandigarh Univer- houses. The patriotic fervour and zest Chief Patron, NID Foundation, and unfurl national flags, Lekhi said
restrictions imposed on capacity — in October last sity on Saturday created the Guinness World was visible in the air as more than Chancellor, Chandigarh University and that she was overwhelmed by
year it allowed for 100 per cent capacity utilisation Record for formation of ‘World’s Largest Human 25,000 people gathered at the congratulated them. the respect people have in their
— but the restrictions on pricing were kept in place. Image of a Waving National Flag’ when as many Chandigarh Cricket stadium, where Speaking on the occasion, hearts for the tricolour.“On the
On Wednesday, the civil aviation ministry an- as 5,885 students from Chandigarh University and over 5,885 young boys and girls Banwarilal Purohit said that with the 75th Indepedence Day, I appeal
nounced that the last remaining restrictions on pric- other schools and colleges along with the volun- formed World’s Largest Human Image successful creation of world record the people to resolve for a even
ing will be removed with effect from the end of this teers of the NID Foundation of the UT and other of a Waving National Flag, thus creat- formed by Chandigarh University and better India, and pledge that
month. This is a long overdue corrective. dignitaries gathered for the flag formation at ing a new Guinness World Record, NID Foundation, Chandigarh has given they will contribute in every
The price restrictions, imposed in May 2020, Chandigarh Cricket Stadium and created the his- amidst the loud chants and cheers a great message to the entire world, manner for the next flight of
when the airlines had resumed their operations af- tory in the heart of the ‘City Beautiful’. from the gathering. Along with the on the 75th anniversary of India’s In- India to become the Vishwa
ter the two-month lock-down, were based on the Overall, more than 25,000 people including students, Banwarilal Purohit, dependence Day. “This event has be- Guru, in next 25 years,” she said.
duration of flights. The seven price bands ranged youth and citizens of Chandigarh filled the air with Meenakshi Lekhi, S. Satnam Singh come even greater than what I had Speaking on the occasion, S.
from Rs 2,600 for flights under 40 minutes to Rs patriotism which included Punjab Governor and Sandhu, Dharam Pal and other digni- imagined. I extend my heartfelt con- Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chief
8,700 for flights over three hours. Last year, these Chandigarh UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, taries were also a part of the flag for- gratulation to Chandigarh University Patron, NID Foundation, and
prices were adjusted upwards, though marginally. Union Minister of State for External Affairs, and mation. Swapnil Dangarikar, official Chancellor and NID Foundation Chief Chancellor, Chandigarh Univer-
Considering the then economic environment, Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, NID Chief Patron and Guinness World Records Adjudicator, Patron S. Satnam Singh Sandhu whose sity congratulated all the par-
and the considerable uncertainty that the pandemic Chandigarh University Chancellor S. Satnam Singh who was present at the event verified team has achieved this feat. Not only ticipants and said that historic
had injected in the aviation sector, some airlines did Sandhu, Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administra- the record.“The previous world record their institutions, but they have made formation of the national flag
in fact support the imposition of these pricing re- tor, Chandigarh UT; Vinay Pratap Singh, Deputy for the largest human image of a wav- the entire Chandigarh and entire aptly celebrate the spirit of
strictions. But by intervening in the functioning of Commissioner Chandigarh; Sarabjit Kaur, Mayor ing national flag achieved by GEMS country proud,” said Purohit, who was India’s 75th Independence Day
the market, by making commercial decisions which Chandigarh; Parveer Ranjan, DGP Chandigarh UT, Education in Abu Dhabi, UAE has been the chief guest at the event. under the aegis of Azadi Ka
should be the prerogative of airlines, these price Prof Himani Sood, Founder NID Foundation and broken and a new world record has “The way that the NID Foundation Amrit Mahotsav.“75 years of In-
caps ended up distorting the market, having unin- other top officials of the UT administration. been created by NID Foundation and and Chandigarh University has been dependence, it’s very impor-
tended consequences on both demand and sup- The event was aimed at strengthening the‘Har Chandigarh University in today’s able to bring people together, cel- tant that we continue to cher-
ply. While various justifications have been mar- Ghar Tiranga’ campaign envisioned by honourable event,” he confirmed. ebrating the spirit of patriotism and ish and practise the same ide-
shalled in favour of the imposition of this policy Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of Azadi Ka UAE had achieved the record for paying tributes to those who made als and values our great coun-
during the pandemic, the reality is that price restric- Amrit Mahotsav to mark the 75 years of Indepen- the largest human image of a waving supreme sacrifice for country’s free- trymen held dearly during their
tions by the government are the norm, not the ex- dence of country, and take it to international level national flag with 4130 people, in dom, has been absolutely commend- struggle to build an indepen-
ception. Across a range of sectors, ranging from urea via this world record. Besides igniting the spirit of 2017. However, India has broken the able. This is the first of its kind event in dent India,” said Shahid, an-
to medical devices, price restrictions are prevalent, patriotism and nationalism among the citizens of record comfortably, said the official. the entire India and I congratulate other student from the city.
despite their well-known economic consequences.
Is the world sliding into a Chernobyl-plus nuclear disaster in Ukraine?

By Sergei Strokan protection and the threat of a "dirty According to the Russian defence territory that has already de facto for their ammunition." regardless of political views and atti-
New Delhi, Aug 13: Tensions bomb" effect is quite real," explained ministry, fire brigades managed to come under the control of the Russian The Ukrainian diplomat also ac- tude to the Ukrainian conflict.
around the Zaporozhye nuclear Alexei Leonkov, editor of the Arsenal eliminate the smoke. To prevent dis- temporary military-civil administra- cused the Russian side of exerting However, the IAEA experts still do
power plant in Ukraine reached a cli- of the Fatherland magazine, in an ex- ruption of the nuclear power plant, the tion established in the areas aban- physical and psychological pressure not go to Energodar and are unlikely
max by the weekend, after three more clusive interview with India Narrative. capacity of the fifth and sixth units was doned by the retreating Ukrainian on the Ukrainian staff of the station. to be there. Why? The answer is given
missiles hit the territory where the The apocalyptic scenario of the reduced to 500 megawatts. troops. This version was actively sup- by Raphael Grossi himself. "Sending
nuclear waste storage facility is lo- emergence of a huge, radiation-in- The Russian Defence Ministry However, Ukrainian nuclear spe- ported by US Secretary of State there is a difficult thing. This is Ukraine
cated. fected dead space on the territory of called the shelling of the Zaporozhye cialists are still working at the nuclear Antony Blinken. "We are deeply con- and a Ukrainian facility, and such a visit
As stated by the head of the pro- several states in the heart of Europe, nuclear power plant "nuclear terror- power plant, which is protected by cerned about the fact that Russia has requires the consent and assistance of
Russian military-civil administration of including the real danger of pollution ism". Russian air defence systems, and it is occupied nuclear facilities in Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities." Thus,
the Zaporozhye region Yevgeny of the Black Sea and the Bosphorus The long echo of the rocket attacks formally managed by the Ukrainian especially the Zap nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine does not want any inspec-
Balitsk, the concrete protection of the Strait, which may become unsuitable on the power plant in the city of company Energoatom. one of the largest in Europe," Antony tions in Energodar, by the way, sus-
storage still withstands the blows. But for navigation, ceases to look like an Energodar reached Japan, where UN The Russian side insists that the Blinken said. pecting the head of the IAEA that he
the situation may change at any exotic media story and a horror story Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nuclear power plant in Energodar is According to him, there is reliable is playing along with Russia. The fact
minute. for the layman. visited at the end of last week, who being shelled by Ukrainian artillery, information that "Russia uses the that Kiev is against such a trip of the
"We find hits 300 meters from the Despite the fact that a nuclear re- took part in memorial events on the carrying out acts of nuclear terrorism. nuclear power plant as a military base IAEA inspectors has been openly
nuclear power plant; we find almost actor is not a window pane capable of occasion of the 77th anniversary of the At regular briefings, the official repre- to fire at Ukrainians, knowing that they stated more than once or twice by the
hit shells 20 meters from the nuclear shattering from a small pebble thrown atomic bombing of the city. sentative of the Russian Ministry of will not respond to avoid a terrible ac- head of the Ukrainian Energoatom,
waste storage facility. If they get into into it, but a monumental structure "Humanity is playing with loaded Defence, General Igor Konashenkov, cident at the nuclear power plant." Pyotr Kotin.
a concrete storage facility accurately made of concrete and iron with thick weapons," Secretary General Guterres cited numerous proofs to determine Antony Blinken described Russia's However, why should Ukraine op-
enough, then it's scary to think. It will walls, having several levels of protec- said, pointing out that at the moment the origin of the missiles and the tra- actions as "the height of irresponsibil- pose the visit?
cause something similar to what hap- tion and a large margin of safety, this "there is a rapid spread of crises with jectory of their flight, which should ity" and stressed: "It is extremely im- It is very symbolic that the authori-
pened in Chernobyl - there will be an circumstance should not be a cause threatening nuclear overtones." have removed all questions and portant that the IAEA has access to the ties of that part of the Zaporozhye re-
outburst, it will be a 'dirty bomb'," for complacency. At a press conference in Tokyo, the doubts that Ukraine is shelling the sta- station in order to understand what is gion, which is already controlled by
Balitsky, said. The is no guarantee the HIMALs or UN Secretary General separately tion. happening there and make sure that Russia, signed an order on August 8 to
He added that there are several 777 howitzers - the pride of the Ameri- touched upon the situation around However, the Ukrainian side insists the station is operated in accordance hold a referendum on joining Russia.
thousand tonnes of nuclear waste at can defence industry supplied to Kiev the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. that it is Russia that is firing at the sta- with all necessary safety standards." It is very likely that the referen-
the station. will not be used to attack the facility. "Attacks on nuclear power plants tion, which Russia itself controls. At the Antony Blinken is right: in fact, the dum will be held in early September.
"We urge you, colleagues, to con- The Multi-Barrel rocket fire can also are a suicidal act. We hope that this will same time, such an interpretation does moment of truth could be a visit to the President Zelensky is inevitably losing
vey to your leaders the need to influ- prove effective. stop. At the same time, we want the not seem at all illogical and absurd to Zaporozhye Nuclear power plant by the country. Apparently, Kiev under-
ence the Kiev regime and force it to On August 7, the Ministry of De- IAEA to have access to the station. And the Ukrainian authorities. experts of the International Atomic stands this, although they don't say it
stop reckless strikes on the fence of Russia, stated the Zaporozhye we hope that it will be able to use its Here's what Deputy Foreign Min- Energy Agency (IAEA). The desire to out loud - so that Western partners
Zaporozhye NPP, which actually make NPP was being shelled from the settle- competencies," Antonio Guterres said. ister of Ukraine Mykola Tochytsky said personally visit Energodar has been and sponsors don't hear it.
hostages of the inhabitants of Euro- ment of Marganetch. As a result of the It is noteworthy that in his state- in New York: "For the first time in his- repeatedly stated by the Director Gen- They should be sentenced to a
pean states. The responsibility for this latest shelling, the Kakhovskaya high- ment, the UN Secretary General tory, civilian nuclear facilities have be- eral of the IAEA, who pointed out that slow execution -- by radiation. Let the
lies also with you," the Russian repre- voltage line, which supplies electricity avoided the key question of who ex- come a factor in the tactics of warfare. "if something happens there, we will Chernobyl accident seem like a good
sentative added. to the Zaporozhye and Kherson re- actly is carrying out the attack. The aggressor State treats the nuclear only have ourselves to blame." fairy tale to them against the back-
"The shells hit the infrastructure gions, was damaged. But this issue remains at the cen- power plant as an ordinary battlefield, It would seem that this is the very ground of Chernobyl plus. And Russia
facilities, as well as in the area of the In connection with the missile at- tre of the information war between it does not try to take care of nuclear rare case when international inspec- will receive as a reward from the dy-
nuclear waste storage. While it is very tack at the Zaporozhye nuclear power Moscow and Kiev. The piquancy of the safety at all.The Russians use Ukrainian tors should be given a green light as ing Ukraine a huge infected territory,
difficult to break through the reactor plant, there was a voltage surge that situation, which gives it additional nuclear facilities as a springboard for the occurrence of the Chernobyl plus the restoration of which will require
itself, the storage may well be de- caused smoke in the open distribution acuteness, is that the station itself is attacks on military and civilian facili- disaster must be avoided at all costs. decades and hundreds of billions of
stroyed. Containers do not have such facility of the station. located in that part of the Ukrainian ties in Ukraine, as well as a warehouse After all, radiation will kill everyone, dollars.
Top JeM financier using FB, Telegram, YouTube

to sow hatred among Muslims in India
New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Logically before it could accrue a sig- tion patterns of the videos on
fied via these channels consists of pro-
fessionally-edited videos with voice
socialism, and minority rights. being a terrorist financier. He fled to
Farhatullah Ghauri, a terrorist recruiter nificant audience peaking with 200- Facebook since January 2022 suggests "While platform officials took Saudi Arabia in 1994 and finally settled
and financier for Pakistan-based terror 400 subscribers across all the ac- overs by Ghauri. Some of the videos down these posts, the time-stamps on in Pakistan in 2015.
a concerted attempt by malicious ac- engage with the rhetoric of Muslim
group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has counts. tors to post the videos in Facebook the posts in these groups and the use "In addition to being a close asso-
been using a network of accounts on During the course of the investiga- minorities allegedly facing human of similarly written captions and de- ciate of Masood Azhar, a United Na-
groups and pages dedicated to social- rights violations by Indian security ser-
Facebook, Telegram and YouTube to tion, the content moderation teams ism, Islam, and minority rights. scriptions accompanying the video tions designated terrorist and the
call on Muslims in India to revolt took down one Telegram channel and vices in Jammu, Kashmir and other suggest the presence of a copy paste founder of JeM, Ghauri is personally
"These groups are frequented by parts of the country," said the report.
against the country, a detailed investi- one Facebook page linked to the larger, more mainstream audiences of campaign by a single entity," said Logi- implicated by Indian intelligence ser-
gation by artificial Intelligence (AI) group. "There are explicit calls by Ghauri to cally. vices for planning and facilitating a
domestic users who are critical of the Indian Muslims to revolt and take up
startup Logically has found. Ghauri is "The terrorist propaganda has cir- BJP-ruled government," said the re- As with its other accounts man- series of terror attacks in the country,"
listed among 38 individuals as a ter- culated across other encrypted mes- arms against the Indian state," the re- aged by the outfit, the extremist re- the report mentioned.
port. Moreover, these coordinated port mentioned. An analysis into the
rorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs saging channels on Telegram, includ- online campaigns coincide with off- cruitment videos amplified on the The report said that Pakistan-
under the Unlawful Activities (Preven- ing those affiliated with Islamabad- spread of the videos on Facebook be- Telegram channels were also accom- backed proxy terror groups will seek
line incidents of communal violence in tween January 1 and July 1, 2022, via
tion) Act, 1967 (amended in 2019). The backed proxy terror groups claiming the country, revealing how malicious panied by targeted hashtags to ex- to capitalise on the clash between
three encrypted Telegram channels, to operate in the Kashmir region, such social media analysis tool pose the content to Indian-Muslim communal groups and these offline
actors abroad are leveraging major CrowdTangle, revealed that videos
two associated Facebook pages, and as the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and social media platforms to exploit do- users frequenting the platform. Also incidents of unrest and incorporate
three YouTube channels, operated by The Resistance Front (TRF)," Logically from Ghauri's network were amplified known as Abu Sufiyan, Ghauri is origi- them into propaganda videos, then
mestic tensions and radicalise the mi- across several mainstream Facebook
the Ghauri group, were all created this said in a statement. The company said nority population. nally from Kurmaguda area of disseminate those across major social
year. The network was identified by that a closer scrutiny of the amplifica- groups and pages devoted to Islam, Hyderabad and primarily known for media platforms.
"The terrorist propaganda ampli-
CMYK
6 READERS’ PULSE DELHI SUNDAY 14 AUGUST 2022
INBOX thehansreader@gmail.com
thehansreader@gmail.com
Don’t demonise ED, give it more teeth

WHAT’S INDIA’S GREATEST imposed expeditiously. Since the
ACHIEVEMENT IN 75 YRS?
enactment of PMLA in 2003, a to-
tal of 5422 cases were registered
by conducting 2833 raids leading
to 401 arrests. ED has recovered
so far more than Rs 1 lakh crore.
W
e are on the threshold of isters who are currently holding Similarly under FEMA, 15000
something truly mo- power across the world. ey in- cases have been cleared out of
mentous. Some things clude Antonio Costa, the Prime 30000 cases by recovering about
come only once in a lifetime. e Minister of Portugal; Pravind Ku- Rs 500 crore.
chance to celebrate the 75th an- mar Jugnauth, the Prime Minister Recently, CBI & ED have
niversary of the country's inde- of Mauritius; Prithviraj Rajsing booked cases on Congress party
pendence. We should all be proud Roopun, the President of Mauri- president Sonia Gandhi and Con-
that we will be taking part in this tius; Chandrika Persad Santokhi, gress MP, Rahul and former FM
joyful occasion. President of Suriname; Mo- P Chidambaram. The Gandhis are
As we sit down and ponder, we
ask ourselves, what has been our
biggest achievement? Some would
hammed Irfaan Ali, President of
Guyana; Wavel Ramkalawan, the
President of Seychelles; Halimah
I t is a common phenomenon to
note that the investigating agen-
cies like CBI & ED keep a strict
tated new legislations to curb il-
legal investments made in foreign
countries, transference of money
accused of amassing thousand
crores of illegal money in "Na-
tional Herald" case. Sonia and
say that too with a snigger that In- Yacob, the President of Singapore; vigil on illegal economic activities illegally made from abroad and Rahul were summoned to face ED
dia will be the most populous and last but not the least, Kamala in the country. The CBI has been evasion of bank loans. Accord- for interrogation.
country in the world by the next on the world. As they say, the world e most significant achieve- Harris, the Vice President of the facing a great deal of opposition ingly, ED has been set in motion Every decision and act made by
year. e large population comes can become your playground. ment that India and Indians have USA. If we are lucky, we might have from various quarters. On the to play a key role mainly in im- ED can be challenged in the High
with huge disadvantages but has e next significant achievement contributed to the world is the the 9th person! other hand, the not-so-familiar plementing Foreign Exchange Court and even reported to CVC
also given a golden opportunity— of the Indian union is that, in spite spread of the Indian Diaspora, It is hard to believe that Rishi agency of ED (Enforcement Di- Management Act (FEMA, 1999), and Lokpal. ED is in fact vulnera-
the opportunity to leverage the ad- of naysayers, we have remained which has become the biggest in Sunak, belonging to a family of In- rectorate) which was constituted Prevention of Money Laundering ble to the harassment made polit-
vantage of the demographic divi- same India that the British le us the world. As of 2020, 1.8 crore In- dian origin, should be making a prior to the CBI and existed as an Act (PMLA, 2002), and Fugitive ically against it . Hence, the role
dend of being the country with the with. We have not broken into 100 dians were living outside their strong and pushy bid to be Prime independent agency since 1956 is Economic Offenders Act (FEOA, of ED as an enforcement agency
highest percentage of its citizens in mini-countries as many have pre- country of birth. e Indian Dias- Minister of Britain. To top it all off, basically meant to deal with eco- 2018) which are stringent laws en- should be given more teeth to
the youth category. dicted. at is the beauty of India, pora has excelled in all areas, and a person of Indian origin could be nomic offences and has become a acted to empower ED and its firmly deal with economic offend-
As many countries age, decay, unity in diversity. Even though we in many cases, they have taken the ruling the country that colonized spoilsport with the offenders. functioning. Among these laws, ers and curb the illegal activities
and experience negative growth, are divided by language, caste, citizenship of those countries India in just 75 years. What a great After economic reforms were PMLA provides ED with limited which are rampant due to the pol-
tremendous opportunities are creed, and many other factors, we where they chose to migrate. example of India turning out to be set in motion in 1991, there has powers to search, arrest and deny icy of economic liberalisation and
opening up for confident, mobile, are united by our identity of being Following are the eight Indian- the biggest so power in the world! been spurt in the number of eco- bail while dealing with offenders non-stringent economic laws.
and smart Indians to make a mark Indians. origin presidents and prime min- Dr M Anil Ramesh, Hyderabad nomic offences. Hence it necessi- on whom punishment could be Bh Indu Sekhar, Hyderabad
English medium Let’s change, to change the nation Recognise athletes who
best for science, I ncome tax is paid by those
whose income exceeds the
spection, accounts and vigi-
lance departments, still scams made us proud at CWG
tech courses tax exemption limits. But GST
is paid by one and all, when-
ever one buys any commodity
are happening. We have food
inspectors, but we find adul-
teration. We have factory in-
S tudying science and technology subjects in local

languages started in 70's itself. I was a victim of it.
When I came to the degree level, teaching of science
or avails service. us, tax-
payers are doubly taxed. Gov-
ernment should spend public
spectors, but pollution is
growing these days. We have
drug inspectors but spurious
subjects in local languages - in my case Telugu - was money judiciously. But it drugs are distributed. We
introduced. It became very difficult for the book writ- never happens. Rs 3,000 crore have Censor Board, but our
ers to find out Telugu equivalent words for technical on a statue, Rs 800 crore on a movies do not seem to be
terms and finally they had remained the same English stadium, Rs 1 lakh crore on censored at all. Violence and
technical word written in Telugu. For the students bullet train seem to be huge. ests are being paid for certificates by a Board created vulgarity is exhibited to a
also it became very difficult for us to study the sub- Mid-day meal may be decades. As borrowings are in 2016 pose dangerous to the great extent. Lack of Ethics is
jects. is affected us in the postgraduate level where
again the courses were in English. I still remember
that my Chemistry professor used to correct the sen-
meaningful, whereas free lap-
tops, free furniture to the
newlywed may not be. Gov-
growing, the interests too are
growing. Frequent interest
waivers and loan waivers of
nation. We have authorities,
bodies, committees, in good
numbers to regulate gover-
troubling us. Honesty is
buried. Unless we change our-
selves, this great nation can-
O ur Indian sportspersons
with a rich haul of 61
medals in the recently concluded
Goswami won silver medal in 10
km walk.
Bronze medals are won by Annu
tence construction mistakes of the students, because ernments (Union and States) huge amounts to corporates nance. But here is a time for not be saved from sinking. Commonwealth Games made In- Rani (javelin throw), Sandeep Ku-
nobody could write the exams in English properly. borrow money. Huge inter- by submission of insolvency introspection. We have in- KL Rao, Visakhapatnam dia proud and we stood at 4th mar (10000 metre race walk) and
There is no need for haste in making educational place in the medals tally, bagging Tejaswani Shanker (high jump). All
materials available in Indian languages. First the 22 gold, 15 silver and 23 bronze individual medal winners should be
approach and methodology should be discussed
threadbare by policy makers and educationists
without political pressure or interference. The use
K arnataka has witnessed
one more communal
clash the other day when a
Stop conversions in choice, irrespective of religion,
caste and creed, is a funda-
mental right guaranteed by the
medals. They truly brought lau-
rels for the country.
ough many medals were won
suitably honoured by both central
and respective state governments.
is is high time for the sports au-
of English wherever desirable should be retained
with no aversion shown on the ground that it is a
foreign language. English is an international lan-
Hindu boy and Muslim girl
proposed to go in for love
marriage. Around 752 com-
name of marriages Indian constitution. If the par-
ties to marriage are adults their
freedom of choice cannot be
by shuttlers, paddlers, boxers,
weight liers, wrestlers, cricketers,
hockey players, we must make a
thorities to search for the talented
athletes in rural areas and give them
necessary training.
guage and let the students learn it apart from the munal clashes occurred in the by certain fundamentalists at Ladakh Buddhist Association throttled. e culprits trying special mention about the achieve- e schools and colleges are the
regional languages. The British did a good thing state, one report says, Kerala the cost of national security. (LBA) expressing anguish and to stop such marriages shall be ments of the athletes who won a few right places for talent hunt and the
for introduction of English medium during those is tagged with highest number A disturbing practice is on in anger against the government. stringently punished. e prestigious medals for us. Eldhose spots must be made mandatory in
days otherwise the present generation possessing of ‘Jihadi Love’ marriages Ladakh state where a certain While the UP government ghastly communal violence Paul and Abdulla Abhoobaker schools and colleges where young
the engineering degrees are asked for profession- leading to communal clashes constitutes 50% of the popu- is acting stringently against over inter-religion persons that earned us gold and silver medals in talent is available or else with the
alism in English while going for jobs. Let the po- between the Hindu and Mus- lation. Now, the Buddhists are conversions with marriage occurred in Karnataka state is triple jump event. Avinash Sable crores of young men and women
litical people not interfere in this subject. lim communities. e coun- crying hoarse about ‘Jihadi proposals, the Karnataka High highly contemptible. won silver medal in 3000 steeple available in India, getting medals in
TSN Rao, Hyderabad try’s scenario is simmering so marriages.’ So far, about 97 Court has said that the right Seetharam Basani, chase, Sree Shankar earned a silver Olympics will remain a pipe dream.
fast with conversion activities marriages took place, says of parties to marry as per their Hanumakonda in long jump and Priyanka Rama Krishna M, Kakinada
To retain freebies or not – That is the question

The recent Supreme Court's decision to set up a body of experts on the question of doling out promises of freebies to woo the waste of money.’ e more fortunate citizens
should empathize with the less fortunate
electorate in the run-up to elections has kindled a raging debate on their legitamacy, or rather tenability, given the diminishing compatriots and be okay with freebies. Pa-
financial resources of the State. Here are varied views of the readers on the pertinence or the incongruity of freebies triotism is not something to profess, but to
practise. e ‘economic wellbeing’ that Chief
as it is a complex issue where poverty is used mal and natural for political parties. ey society, then they should give the people poor need to be considered in a welfare state, Justice NVRamana spoke of should encom-
as way,alibi and means to woo voters by var- are either ill-informed or ignorant that good free education, quality and cheap health poll freebies is a blot on democracy and pass that of people with inherited disadvan-
ious parties. Again a balance can’t be worked these cause severe strain on the country’s care and employment. More and more em- therefore any attempt by the party to com- tages, too. Freebies go to alleviate poverty
Use them as life-savers out that easily, to silence the sincere taxpayer
who has been crying hoarse. e honest
economy. It is observed that the loan bur-
den of many states is growing as a result,
ployment avenues should be created for our
youth to stimulate growth and development.
bine in order to confuse the public is unac-
ceptable. In fact, theApex Court has every
and ensure ‘ease of living’, of course in rela-
tive terms, for anyone to be against them.
T he Election Commission has rightly

opined that freebies can be lifesavers
during crisis periods. e Supreme Court
electorate has only to keep watching as to
what recommendations the committee will
come up with to curb and shun this norm
and the burden will be transferred to peo-
ple by way of new taxes in order to make
up for the loss. e existing practice of PDS
Freebies otherwise in the form of mixies,
grinders, rice, wheat, tv’s cycle and scooters
etc would make people more and more lazy.
right to examine freebies aer parties have
been splurging taxpayers’ money to a worth-
less cause spelling more disaster to the econ-
e state cannot abdicate its responsibility
as the main provider of welfare.
While spending on freebies is considered
has also said that there is a difference be- which has no doubt impacted the economy. and other countless welfare measures are If at the political class want to please the peo- omy. In this context, the contention of Aa- as a huge drain on the country’s resources,
tween freebies and welfare schemes like the N R Raghuram, Hyderabad already a severe strain on the country’s ple, they should do it from their party or mAadmi Party that the SC should not major tax cuts for corporate behemoths are
difference between chalk and cheese.One economy that even advanced countries are own funds. Paying taxpayers’ money to woo intervene in freebies is disagreeable because considered as ‘incentives for growth.’ An
cannot differentiate both from one another not practicing yet. Freebies must not result voters amounts to bribing. It is like robbing aer taking freebie culture to a level of an unequal distribution of wealth or the rev-
without much thought. So, it takes a deep Discuss the issue threadbare in what had happened to Sri Lanka. Peter to pay Paul. art and not welfare, the party appears bent enue foregone as a result of cuts in corporate
understanding and brainstorming among
all stakeholders to formulate proper guide-
lines to curb the inducement culture pre
I t is very correct that the Supreme court of
India has unambiguously stated that free-
bies and welfare measures are quite different
K R Parvathy, Mysuru Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai on causing harm more than improving the
lot of the poor and the downtrodden. Obvi-
ously, its actions nodoubt from the start are
taxes does not attract the same level of de-
bate as ‘revari culture’ does. India has the
largest concentration of impoverished citi-
and post polls period without hurting the and that 'freebies come without any charge, Freebies different They shouldn’t clearly with an ulterior motive and not really zens on Earth; widespread poverty in India
welfare agenda. When ambiguity prevails while 'welfare measures' give an additional welfare of the poor. Analysing the pros and is certainly not due to freebies. e real
in defining such culture itself, it's not pos- financial support to the needy below poverty from welfare burden economy cons, the apex court has correctly said that causes of poverty must be identified and ad-
sible to stop the parties from making un-
realistic promises. As the apex court has
aptly said it's also undemocratic to punish
line people. Both involve finance whether
at the central or state level. e SC has fur-
ther hinted that financial constraints have to
T he observations made by the Supreme
Court on the freebie culture being
practised by political parties and its impact
N o doubt there exists a line of difference
between freebies and welfare schemes,
but it subtlety depends on the viewer. Free-
panacea lies in initiating an important na-
tional debate on this prickly issue.
KRSrinivasan, Secunderabad
dressed. e case for freebies is strong; per-
haps, more freebies are needed to improve
the lives of the aamaadmi. However, certain
the political parties on that grounds. be addressed before announcing unlimited on the country’s economy are unmissable, bies will prove least hazardous if politicians eligibility criteria based on socio-economic
Dr DVG Sankararao, Vizianagaram freebies\welfare measures as it is taxpayers’ and call for course correction in the na- offer them without any ulterior motives and conditions can be set to receive freebies.
money which is being utilized, instead of us- tional interest. e fine line that separates aer making all calculations. ey shouldn't A case for more freebies G David Milton, Maruthancode
It’s akin to bribing voters
ing the funds to build infrastructure for
macro and micro developments in the coun-
welfare measures from economy must be
clearly understood by all. ere are argu-
imbalance the economy of the state/country
at any cost.ere are countries which offer W e are dismayed by the Supreme
Court’s decision to set up an expert
Freebie culture won’t go away
F reebies distributed to woo voters during
elections is nothing but bribing the elec-
torate. It amounts to corruption indulged
try. Any welfare measure beyond health, ed-
ucation, PDS etc., has to be studied in detail
for the requirement of funds. e expert
ments by some political parties like AAP,
Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) that
India is a welfare state.Such freebies as loan
their citizens free healthcare,free education,
interest-free loans and freebies for tourists
and what not, the governments of such na-
panel to look into freebies and their ‘impact
on taxpayers and the economy’ and recom-
mend measures to ‘regulate’ freebies – ‘reg- T he Indian electorate which seems to
have become politically matured should
in by political parties. SC,EC and all political body to be constituted as suggested by the waiver, free water, freeelectricity by them tions are cheered in unison by one and all ulate’ could well be a euphemism for ‘ban’. shun freebies and teach their so-called po-
parties know this. Imagine and think of the Centre involving members of national po- will not hold water, as they are bizarre and across the world but when in our own coun- e phrases such as ‘irrational freebies,’ ‘eco- litical masters (irrespective of their affilia-
corruption indulged in by all these parties litical parties, NITI Aayog, RBI, planning unacceptable. ese political parties fail to try a minister or would be minister an- nomic disaster’ and ‘distortion of the in- tions) that they can’t be appeased with small
over these 75 long years and the enormous commission etc has to discuss the rapid realise the load of freebies ultimately fall nounces dole-outs, he is profusely con- formed decisions of the voters’ used by the gis during election time. is change of
sums of taxpayers’ money wasted. So, the spreading issue of 'freebie culture' in Indian on the shoulders of the Indian taxpayer. demned.It is high time in India the political apex court easily betrayed its thinking on mindset and political awakening is the need
SC &the EC have allowed corruption to con- politics and debate on this issue thoroughly S Lakshmi, Hyderabad leaders purify their intentions and citizens the issue. One fails to understand how the of the hour. Committees comprising differ-
tinue right under their nose. Now, when as to arrive at a reasonable conclusion at least changed their mindset. courts, the Election Commission, the Niti- ent heads of stakeholders can do precious
frequent elections are underway (with some before the ensuing national elections. Dr Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana Aayog, the Finance Commission and the little unless this voluntary change of mindset
states going to mid-term polls), this issue, KaturuDurgaPrasad Rao, Hyderabad Put taxpayers’ money RBI can decide on an issue that is ‘political is realised. Unfortunately, poverty coupled
though no doubt serious,has propped up as and economic in nature.’ It is for the people with illiteracy of the vast majority of Indians
if it's another new-found issue with parties to good use It’s indeed SC’s call and the Parliament to decide whether free- living in far-flung remote villages across Pan
Groaning under
playing blame games. e SC citing domain
restrictions that it can’t de-recognise parties
burden of freebies N o tax payerdoes not wish or like his/her
money to be put to misuse by politi- to fix freebies bies should exist or be done away with.
e case against freebies is primarily
India is used as a happy hunting ground by
selfish Indian politicians to usurp power.
indulging in freebie distribution and the EC
not having done much so far, the issue
would continue to haunt the sincere, con- A propos 'Impact of freebies on economy
huge: SC.' It is a valid observation by
cians for the cause of purchasing votes. ere
could also be no two opinions on helping
the poor and the have nots by the govern-
C hief Justice of India(CJI) terming free-
bies promised by political parties during
elections is a serious matter. at the econ-
made on the ground that the money to give
freebies is sourced from the public excheq-
uer. It must be understood that usually the
is is a sad reflection of India’s democracy
of which we gloat about and are fiercely
proud of. erefore, I, for one, am very sure
scientious taxpayer and voter for a long time the Supreme Court on the freebies prac- ment. Freebies are against democratic norms omy is losing money and in the process get- beneficiaries of what is sometimes called that this freebie culture will be here to stay
to come. e committee of experts set up tised by some political parties to entice vot- and equality. If at all, the politicians want to ting ruined is absolutely correct. He further ‘largesse’ or sops are impoverished people. and political corruption will only thrive.
though belatedly can hardly change matters ers, which they have come to regard as nor- help the masses to banish inequalities in the contended that as welfare measures for the As such, freebies cannot be considered as ‘a N R Raghuram, Hyderabad
DELHI SUNDAY 14 AUGUST 2022 MIRROR 7
Let ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan’ Be A Great Success

DR J VIJAYAKUMARJI
An Indian National Congress
IN the Hindu epics, we find that the grand meeting was held on 31st
Rakshasas were annihilated by most March 1921 at Vijayawada.
powerful weapons such as the Bapuji attended it. He called
Pashupatha astra, the Brahma as- Pingali Venkaiah and suggested
tra to name a few. However, in the to draw the map of a flag for the
modern times where science and free country, that is, India.
technology is advancing at a faster Pingali Venkaiah was working in
pace day by day, India has freed it- the Munagala Samsthanam at
self through peace, non-violence that time. He prepared a draft
and abiding by dharma vis-a-vis flag with three colours Saffron,
the might of the colonial British
White and Green. The prototype
government. e independent In-
got unanimous ratification. The
dia's Tricolor is the driving force for same year Gandhiji gave a clarion e Tricolour was and is a note
all our citizens for the last 75 years. first tri-coloured flag was call for dandi March. on 12th of protest. It inspired both the in-
e radiance of consciousness so introduced on the Telugu soil March several leaders holding the telligentsia and commoners. ere
to say. flags took part in this Satyagraha were many poets who hailed the
at the amritKaal, when 1.3 bil- Venkaiah and suggested to draw the that was a peaceful protest against Flag in many poems. ShyamLal
lion people of India are celebrating map of a flag for the free country, the tax announced on the making wrote "vijayi vishwa Tiranga pyara
with gusto the azadi ka amrit Ma- that is, India. Pingali Venkaiah was of salt by the angrez rulers. e flag jhanda uncha rahe hamara" in
hotsav by participating in the Har working in the Munagala Sam- symbolised the sentiments of nu- Hindi language, which if transliter-
Ghar Tiranga abhiyan, the abhiyan sthanam at that time. He prepared merous protesters in unison. ated in English is equivalent to
symbolises the commemoration of a dra flag with three colours Saf- Now the stage set for the Bharat saying “e Tricolor is the victo-
all those valiant men and women hoisting of this flag was a condition Indian flag was hoisted in a foreign during the times when he worked fron, White and Green. e proto- Chchodo ('Quit India') agitation. It rious flag, let it soar to the skies.”
who sacrificed their lives fighting that during the all India Congress country for the first time by her. a as lecturer in Nation College, Ban- type got unanimous ratification. seemed as the ultimatum. Lakhs of Gurajada Raghava Sharma
for the freedom of Motherland. and conclave too, the flag should appear beginning was made. dar (the now Machilipatnam in e first tri-coloured flag was in- people carried the flags in their penned in Telugu the patriotic song
this is the time to let the rest of the there and every one present must at the time, when Lok Manya andhra troduced on the Telugu soil. Soon hands and stood bravely before the "Jendaa ettaraa Jaatiki muktira;
world know about our Nation's su- salute it! at one Congress plenary Balgangadhar Tilak and annie Be- it attracted the public vision. Later troops, saying aloud “Quit India, Nindugaa shaktira; Nilvara kirtira,"
periority and integrity as well. e held at Culcutta (the present day sant were spearheading the all the national leaders led the marches Quit India!” Many were strangled, which if transliterated in English is
Har Ghar Tiranga abhiyan augurs Kolkata), there, the flag unfurled India Home Rule League to The first Prime Minister of with the flag at different towns. beaten badly on their backs but de- equivalent to “Fy the flag; it is the
well for the next 25 years to reach was of the English rulers. It an- campaign for democracy an aura emerged. fended the flag holding it tight un- emancipation for the people, full of
the milestone of independent In- guished the andhraite Pingali in India, and dominion India, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised the e 'Jhanda Satyagraha' der their chests. Many others were power and a stamp of pride.”
dia's 100 years. Venkaiah much more. He promptly status within the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate commenced in Nagpur and shot at and they had breathed their e present-day fruits of freedom
e people of India endured un- expressed his fury then and there. British Empire in of the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947. A in Jabalpur in the year last but before saw to it that the flag are the end result of so many heroes.
der the British rule for 200 years. a discussion followed. Sister the year 1917, an- 1923 added honour to is alo. e Whites were flabber- In For the ensuing 25 years, we must
ey bore the brunt of the slavery. Nivedita designed a flag between other flag came to woman from Hyderabad added Ashoka's Dharma- the national flag. agi- gasted by the courageous and col- take pledge of ensuring India First.
e fight for attaining freedom and the years 1904 and1906. But it was the fore. e chakra to the Tricolor designed by Pingali Venkaiah. It tationists hoisted the lective fight of Indians and the sur- India enriched on many a front. Let
self-rule is a very long chapter in not well received and ratified. e same year Na- is a fact not known to many. Suraiya Tyabji, born in the Tricolors at both the render time arrived. us all get ready to sing the song that
the world history. ere were many people of Bengal protested the di- tional Canvass- government buildings India got freedom from the evoked the spirit of freedom on the
who did not want to bow their vision of Bengal in 1906. ey took ing association Akbar Haidari clan of Hyderabad, was a renowned and the private com- United Kingdom in 1947. e first Telugu soil, which goes like this..
heads before the alien flag. ey to the streets. e movement got was formed. It painter. On Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s request, she con- plexes as a warning to Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal "Maa jendaa egure egure; en-
wished for a true, own flag for their special mention in the annals of built a structure tributed to the final shape of the flag. Her proposal of the rulers. e move- Nehru, raised the Indian national daavaana unnannallu; pagalu ratri
land which might instil the inspi- freedom struggle. en, Sachindra of local branches, ment to uphold the re- flag above the Lahori Gate of the unnannallu;
ration amongst the common folk. Prasad Bose, Hemachandra came enabling it to mo- adding Ashoka's Dharmachakra to the flag was ap- spect of the national flag Red Fort in delhi on 15 august Maajendaa egure egure" (“Soar
Pingali Venkaiah was one such pa- up with another flag. It consisted of bilise demonstra- proved by all. Thus the twin Telugu states’ rep- filled a new spirit among 1947. a woman from Hyderabad our flag until there is the sun and
triot. the colors Saffron, yellow, Green tions, public meet- resentation in the making of our National the citizens. added ashoka's dharmachakra to the rains, until there is the day and
Before the advent of the English, with 8 dots and the slogan of Vande ings, and agitations. as the movement was the Tricolor designed by Pingali the nights fly our flag fly.."
many kingdoms, empires and the Maataram with the Sun and the e necessity of flag was Flag is a matter of pride to gaining strength, the gGovern- Venkaiah. It is a fact not known to e flag is the symbol of the soul
Princely States like the Mouryas, Cresent beneath the slogan. e flag felt by Pingali Venkaiah. He us Indians ment announced restrictions on many. Suraiya Tyabji, born in the of the India. By hoisting it in every
Moghuls, the Cholas, the Pallavas, was hoisted by the protesters at discussed at length the matter the national flag. Purn Swaraj (full akbar Haidari clan of Hyderabad, home let us recall the free India's
the Kakatiyas, the Sathavahanas , Green Park, Culcutta. Madam with Rabindranath Tagore, Brajen- independence) resolution was was a renowned painter. on Pt. 75 years of independence. Let us
the Nizams had their own dhwajas Bhikaji Cama who played a crucial dranath Sen, J C Bose, ashutosh passed at Lahore Meet. on the 31st Jawaharlal Nehru’s request, she con- build the New India once again with
or the separate flags which denoted part in the free India struggle out- Mukherji et al. Many flags from all Pradesh). e book consists of il- december, 1929, the Tricolor was tributed to the final shape of the the same enthusiasm that brought
their identity. aer the East India side India took the initiative and around the world were reviewed lustrations of 30 model flags with kept alo on the banks of river Ravi. flag. Her proposal of adding us liberty from the colonial rule. Let
Company took the reins of the unfurled the same flag with tiny and in the year 1916, a book was minute details. ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ (Hail the Re- ashoka's dharmachakra to the flag us build it with the renewed pas-
power, these flags were unmasted. changes on 21st august 1907 at published. It's title was "Bharatade- an Indian National Congress bellion) slogans rented the air. e was approved by all. us the twin sion.
Stuttgart, a city in Germany when shaaniki oka jaatiya patakam" grand meeting was held on 31st flag stood forth during the Civil Telugu states’ representation in the
The British Flag unfurled. an International Socialist Confer- (meaning a national flag for India). March 1921 at Vijayawada. Bapuji disobedience Movement that was making of our National Flag is a (Writer works at Central Bureau
ere was the time when the ence was being held at Stuttgart. an Pingali Venkaiah wrote this book attended it. He called Pingali launched in January, 1930. In the matter of pride to us Indians. (Communications), Hyderabad)
IN 75 YRS, ONLY 5 TELUGUS What is Universalisation

of Excellence (UOE)?
COULD MAKE IT TO THE TOP
Dr S Radhakrishnan
V V Giri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy
M SOMASEKHAR PRASAD
free approbation from all par-
ties. Even as a minister in
Today, there are thou- Modi's Cabinet, Naidu
sands of political leaders proved his worth and ad- PROFESSOR B R SANT must strive for excellence.
in both the Telugu ministrative prowess.
States. Many of them are Venkaiah Naidu demit- WHEN my avant-garde article. “Univer- What is excellence then?
educated, knowledge- ted office as the 13th Vice- salisation of Excellence: e Varied dimen- In the simplest terms, excellence is “do-
able, energetic, dynamic President and Chairman of sions” was published in University News ing one’s best.” your output and quality
who have chosen politics the Upper House on 8th au- of November, 2021, many of my friends of talent can be enhanced almost infinitely.
as their full-time profes- gust. He made a mark as a were convinced about its importance, but Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Ravi Shankar,
sion. There are a few leaders seasoned statesman when he they felt that it was not sufficient for stu- Neeraj Chopra “excelled” in their ‘art’ with
who are really visionaries, changed many British practices dents to comprehend. ey wanted a nar- little or no school education. ere are a
charismatic and crowd pullers, of addressing and ways of debating rative in a more popular language. I looked few “human skills” that increase the bench-
and given a chance, they can play in the House. again his dress, food, into Google but found no reference to mark of excellence. We identified FIVE
key roles at the Centre and in chalk- and living style all showcased our UoE. dictionary meanings of the two such “skills” - self-esteem, enthusiasm, hu-
PV Narasimha Rao M Venkaiah Naidu
ing out a road map for all- round de- Telugu Culture and glorified it in the words individually are clear, but their total mility, positive attitude, and communica-
velopment of the country. power corridors of the country's meaning apparently is not. Universalisa- tion skills (all the four).
In the past also, many Telugu Capital. In fact it is said that many tion is involving all people in the world or dr aPJ abdul Kalam considered them
politicians showed their talent, met- We don't know how many more years MPs, their entourage, and officials in a particular group. Excellence is to be (2002) “essence of knowledge acquisition,”
tle and played inspiring roles not from the North India loved to eat the extremely good, outstanding. us to un- and we called our training programmes
only in the Freedom Struggle but also we have to wait to see another Telugu South Indian spread during the an- derstand UoE, one has to understand thor- Excellence-cum-knowledge-acquisition
in building and strengthening a nas- nual luncheon hosted by Naidu every oughly the basic concept and varied usage [ECKa].
cent country after the year 1947. af- person occupying one of these offices. So, year. of excellence.
ter all said and done, here is a perti- Sanjeeva Reddy had become the Pluralistic Nature of Excellence
nent and pointed question – How it is time for the people of both the Telugu President in 1977 and it took 14 years What is great people’s excellence? No one is born excellent. aristotle per-
many Telugu people occupied the for another Telugu person to become abraham Lincoln once said, “I do the ceived it merely as acquired attribute till it
highest political offices in the gov- States to honor Venkaiah Naidu the PM in 1991 and after that it took very best I know how, the very best I can, becomes a habit. one chief characteristic
erning system in 75 years? only 5 another 26 years for Naidu to be- and I mean to keep on doing so until the of excellence is one does not compete with
people – Presidents Radhakrish- terestingly, both of them worked as them impressed all and won friends come the Vice President. We don't end.” Winston Churchill declared, “I am others. one competes with oneself be-
nan,V V Giri and Sanjeeva Reddy, Vice Presidents and were later ele- across all political parties. Venkaiah know how many more years we have a man of simple tastes, easily satisfied with coming better every day, every minute,
Prime Minister P V Narashima Rao, vated to the office of the President. Naidu also shares these qualities with to wait to see another Telugu person the best.” Martin Luther King Jr says beau- every moment. Universalisation is thus
and Vice-president M Venkaiah Sanjeev Reddy and PVNR started them. occupying one of these offices. So it tifully thus: “If a man is called to be a street the ‘ultimate’, whereby one learns and im-
Naidu in that order. of course, there their political career very early and Venkaiah Naidu is also a gifted is time for the people of both the Tel- sweeper, he should sweep streets as proves all the time, “do ones best” [see di-
are a few more Telugu people who from the grassroots levels and gradu- speaker, has lots of political wisdom, ugu States to honor Naidu. Leaders Michaelangelo painted or Beethoven com- agram]. With government’s recent an-
have held other top Constitutional ated themselves as state and Central wit and gumption with which he from Nellore district must take the posed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry”. nouncement (May 2020) of atmanirbhar
posts such as those of Lok Sabha ministers and as CMs. Both of them eased the tensions and anxious mo- initiative and see that all political Bharat (Self-reliant India), structured on
Speaker and Chief Justice of India. proved their worth in all posts and ments in the Upper House and added parties in two States sink their differ- Why excellence? five pillars of economy, infrastructure, sys-
Though Radhakrishnan and V V positions that came their way and left a sense of dignity and decency to the ences and join hands in giving a fit- Because we are looking for success, feel tem, vibrant demography, and demand, the
Giri were born and mostly brought a mark. In addition to all this, San- House Proceedings. Though some of ting and rousing reception to Naidu credible, improve personally. ree major nation is now required, under the fourth
up outside andhra Pradesh, we re- jeeva Reddy and PVNR were great the opposition leaders didn't ap- in recognition of his long political attributes of excellence are: attitude, the pillar (Vibrant demography) to rise and
gard them as Telugu people since orators, had lots of wisdom and witti- prove of Naidu's way of functioning, career and for the sake of our Telugu positive attitude, desire, passion for excel- move forwards with accelerated speed.
they were born to Telugu parents. In- cism, the qualities with which both of on the whole he won encomiums and Pride and glory. lence, and Belief that you can do it. UoE is the answer.
Whether brilliant or mediocre, everyone (Writer is a retired CSIR Scientist)
c m y b
18 REFLECTIONS 123
GURUGRAM | SUNDAY | 14 AUGUST 2022
Looking back, and ahead Divisions that were

anathema to sport
I
T’S time to look into the past. For our gen- ropolitan cities. Medium-scale industry started would be worse. What can the new IITs achieve
eration, it means to look at the dawn of mushrooming in smaller cities and towns and without adequate faculty? Similarly, a universal
Independence when we were children, not quite a few of the engineering and management health system has to be assured.
knowing the full impact of what freedom graduates got absorbed. The hospitality sector So, where do we go from here? The massive movement gaining ground and
meant. We grew up in the aftermath of that was a major attraction. The cities and towns population ceases to be a demographic dividend Mahatma Gandhi launching a
dawn and in its glow. We heard from our par- were still manageable because the exodus from when even the basic staple ‘food’ has to be Satyagraha, there were calls to stop
ents what changes had come in their work- the rural areas had not started. Agriculture was doled out to over 50 per cent of the population. cricket in Bombay. Gandhi told offi-
places and in their lifestyles. The overt and the mainstay and even people with small hold- How do we move to being a middle income cials of the Hindu Gymkhana that
THE INWARD EYE covert discriminations had ended in official ings stuck on because it was the only skill they country? The answer is in education and health. he didn’t like the idea of communal
GURBACHAN JAGAT and social spaces and Indians were in charge of had and it still provided a livelihood. Agriculture We will not be able to raise hundreds of millions teams: “I can understand matches
their own affairs. Democracy, freedom, liberty, supported farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters, out of poverty by increasing the dole, which is GOOD SPORT between colleges and institutions,
equality are best experienced and understood masons and unskilled labour. All of them put the current flavour of the season amongst all ROHIT MAHAJAN but I have never understood the rea-
We grew up in the by people who either didn’t have them to begin together worked as a unit in the village and were political parties. The answer lies in realising the son for having Hindu, Parsi, Muslim
with, or have had them taken away. As school- paid by farmers in cash or kind at the time of full potential of our youth, combined with the and other communal elevens. I
T
aftermath of the dawn children in the late Forties and early Fifties, we sowing and harvesting crops. The barter system experience of our business leaders. Till the HE idea of sport being organ- should have thought that such
of Independence and were brought up on stories of the recently
achieved Independence and Partition. World
still existed. I do not wish to draw a picture of
some kind of utopia, but the extreme disparity
majority of our youth continue to look to foreign
shores, our leadership fails us, the brain drain
ised on the lines of religion or
caste — Christian vs Sikh, for
unsportsmanlike divisions would be
considered taboos in sporting lan-
in its glow. Democracy, War II had just ended and it was the beginning we see in society today didn’t exist. There were continues and we continue to flounder. The instance, or Brahmin vs Shu- guage and sporting manners.”
of the Cold War. Atomic weapons had been used no urban slums and ghettos. There was a sim- modern economies of the G-7 countries have dra — must repulse and disgust us. It Such divisions — based on imag-
freedom, liberty, for the first time and they brought with them plicity to life not driven by consumption and been built on a foundation of the world’s best should be an anathema to all rational- ined gods and imagined pasts — are
equality are best the dread and fearsome might of the American
and Soviet armies. Yet, there was also a sense of
though there were people of different economic
strata, there were no vast inequalities.
educational institutes and in their ability to
attract and retain the best talent. We try to appro-
ists and humanists, even as it might
hold some appeal for the most regres-
indeed unnatural and unsportsman-
like. Gandhi was right.
experienced and freedom as the old colonial powers, their ener- The Green Revolution gave a fresh impetus to priate achievers abroad but fail to understand sive-minded people. But this is the
gies and youth spent in the destruction of war, agriculture but it did not last long as the popu- that it is the educational system, research facili- terrible state of division hockey — Broken bond
understood by people withdrew and one by one the flags of freedom lation growth far outpaced the farm productivi- ties and work environment which have made it the pride of the subcontinental sport, The bonds among teammates tran-
who either didn’t have and democracy went up around the world.
Along with this came the alternative ideology
ty. The fact of reduced farm holdings and
incomes became more apparent by the day. Vil-
possible despite their being immigrants.
Why is it that the young entrepreneur contin-
before 1947 and after it — was
reduced to after Partition.
scend social constructs, but cata-
clysmic events such as the Partition
them to begin with, or of communism, with Russia, China and eastern lagers started seeking jobs in cities, which led to ues to be mired in red tape? Why does he still This is what the British did to India; can sever them.
Europe falling under its spell. What followed is large-scale migration. Unskilled workers were have to wait endlessly for ‘the licence’? The gov- several historians have demonstrat- Grahanandan Singh, better known
have had them taken history, but suffice it to say that the two compet- the first to move out and seek jobs in factories. ernment’s role is meant to be of a facilitator, ed that the colonial masters created as Nandy Singh, was born in
away. The question ing ideologies did lead to most of Europe, the
Commonwealth countries and North America
Semi-skilled workers followed in their wake
and the urban areas were awash with rural folk,
shouldn’t the bureaucracy and political leader-
ship encourage and help build the requisite envi-
Pakistan as a buffer state, between
the communists to the north and the
Lyallpur — now Faisalabad — in
1926. His best friends in college were
before us 75 years on is: following the model of the welfare state. some of whom got jobs while others did not. The ronment? It doesn’t need any budgetary alloca- socialist-minded leadership in India. Keshav Dutt, Amir Kumar and
It was in this backdrop that our age group was numbers increased as rural life became harsh tions, just the will to do good work. Youth is the Jinnah demanded a state for the Muhammad Shahzada Shahrukh.
How do we move to getting educated and subsequently, looking for with the loss of landholdings and the city infra- bedrock on which countries are built and that Muslims, but it was in the authority An inseparable foursome — one
being a middle income employment. We were bred on strong patriotic
feelings and there was a desire to follow in the
structure could no longer cope with the influx.
The combined effect of a booming population
bedrock is built on education, health and encour-
agement. The other day, when the CEO of a
of the British to give it or not — they
opted for division, which suited their
Sikh, two Hindus and one Muslim —
who were brilliant at hockey. They
country? The answer footsteps of our forefathers. As such, the choice and urban migration led to slums coming up, major semiconductor production facility in Tai- interests and the interests of the feu- won all before them — college and
of career was not difficult. After completion of increase in crime, spread of disease and the ugly wan was asked about the secret of their country’s dal lords of west Punjab and Sindh. university tournaments, then the
lies in education and matriculation, those with an armed services face of poverty and de-humanisation appeared. success, his one-word answer was: ‘education’. The blood-soaked separation wound- national championships of India,
health, in realising the background opted for the National Defence
Academy; for those with other backgrounds, the
These folks in turn became hostages to political
parties for purposes of elections and were used
Education from the school upwards. After read-
ing this, go and visit the government schools in
ed India, and left a terrible impres-
sion on sport as well.
playing for Punjab. Partition separat-
ed them, and Nandy, Dutt and
full potential of our choice was between the medical and engineer- as vote banks. The educational infrastructure your vicinity and you will have the answer to the This was a deep gash to the heart of Kumar had to leave their motherland
ing streams, and you got into these colleges on did not keep pace with the requirements, espe- reason for the exodus of the undergraduates. hockey in undivided India. The 1948 and move eastward.
youth, combined with the strength of your marks in the intermediate cially in rural India. Institutions should have GDP, forex reserve figures are empty words Indian team had two Muslims — Dutt never forgot being helped by
the experience of examination. Some of us opted for the humani-
ties and the subsequent career options of the civ-
been built to not only produce skilled profes-
sionals, but also infuse in students the ability to
for the unemployed, educated or illiterate youth.
For a new India, we have to have a new vision of
Akhtar Hussain and Latif-ur-
Rehman — who later moved to Pak-
Shahrukh. ‘The political situation
had turned extremely bad. As the
our business leaders il services or academics. It’s important to men- think. What followed was the creation of cram an educated, healthy and enlightened youth istan and won silver medals for that sun went down, religious chanting
tion here that the number of educational schools and a plethora of below-average institu- that will take us to our rightful place on the world country in 1956. The Indian teams at used to start, slowly getting louder.
institutions was limited, as was the number of tions (there were and are a few exceptions). This stage. We must have detailed plans for education the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics And then, there was firing. Sleeping
people with the background to seek higher edu- holds good today also. For this change to hap- and health, along with an ambitious plan for were composed entirely of Hindus, at night became impossible,” Dutt
cation. The population of the country then was pen, there have to be teachers who can bring out national-level infrastructure which would pro- Sikhs and Christians. The Pakistan said in a documentary, Taangh, made
roughly 34 crore (compared to 140 crore now) this aptitude in children. Our universities vide millions of jobs and a great leap forward on teams were monolithically Muslim. by Nandy’s daughter Bani.
and mostly rural, with access to little or no edu- should have top-rate faculty and research facil- the path of development — something on the In the backdrop of the first war over “Shahrukh stayed with me for a
cation. As a result, almost everybody who had ities. A large number of Nobel winners are from lines of FDR’s ‘New Deal’. Like FDR said: “We Kashmir, matches between multicul- couple of nights because I was fright-
access to a decent education settled down by get- the universities of the developed world, as also can’t always build the future for our youth, but tural, multi-faith Indian teams and ened and couldn’t sleep. Finally he
ting a government job. Early on, the public sec- top executives. When I was in the UPSC (2002- we can build our youth for the future.” the monolithic Pakistani teams excit- brought his uncle’s car, or whatever
tor was not in play but gradually, as it came up, 07), I was informed that there were 30 per cent — The writer is ex-chairman of UPSC, ed tribalistic feelings. he did, I don’t know. And then, he
professional and skilled labour had this option faculty vacancies in the IITs. Today, with the former Manipur Governor Indian society was always terribly took me to Lahore railway station
also. The private sector was limited to a few met- increased number of IITs, I am sure the position and served as J&K DGP divided on the lines of caste and reli- and sent me off. Must have paid for
gion. This suited the British, who did my ticket also,” Dutt said.
nothing to discourage organisation of All four played in the Olympics —
700 in train lay dead, it could’ve been us

the sport on communal or casteist three for India, one for Pakistan.
lines. Cricket in India, for instance, Nandy, Dutt, Kumar won gold for
had its roots in social or regional divi- India in 1948 and 1952; Shahrukh,
sions, evident from the names of the playing for Pakistan, returned home
I
WAS in Class V and very well remember around 500 people. “Kaafiron ko maaro,” they drink. A gentle breeze was blowing. Menfolk clubs established in Bombay in the empty-handed in 1948, having lost
those evenings when 40-50 of us would gath- exhorted. The military personnel fired at them. lay on the platform and were soon fast asleep. 19th century: Kshatriya Cricket Club, the bronze medal playoff to the
er in the streets and raise slogans — They fired back. This went on all night. Mother All of a sudden, there were gunshots. We were Gowd Saraswat Cricket Club, Netherlands.
“Inquilab Zindabad”, “Hindu-Muslim- was so distressed, she would rush to the wash- under attack. The military started retaliatory Maratha Cricket Club, Gujarati Dutt never went back to his beloved
Sikh-Isaai, Aapas Mein Hain Bhai-Bhai”. room every now and then. We were sweating fire. We ran inside and closed the doors of the Union Cricket Club, Telugu Young Lahore. He said the friendship with
Things were fine in Chak 135, our village in profusely, living on water from toilets. At times, train only to realise that my elder brother, Inder- Cricketers, Mangalorian Catholic Shahrukh broke, “not because our
Sillanwali tehsil of Sargodha, but the inevitable goons would attack the train with lances, send- jeet, was still on the platform, sleeping. We shout- Cricket Club, Instituto Luso Indian wish was to break it, but because the
happened. India was partitioned and even as ing shivers down the spine. My mother wanted ed at him, but he wouldn’t listen. I saw my moth- Cricket Club (it had players from Por- political position had become
JASBIR SINGH SAWHNEY we failed to foresee, a month later, we found my father to kill her and my elder sister. er feel helpless. “Inder! Inder!” she kept calling. tuguese-ruled Goa) or the Bombay extremely bad”.
ourselves packing. Father had come home and In the morning, when the firing had stopped, Amid a burst of gunfire, an acquaintance, also Jewish Cricket Club. In 75 years of India-Pakistan, there
declared that we’d be leaving for India by we saw dead men all around — the travelling by our train, ran to the platform to The Parsi, Hindu and Muslim have been some memorable highs,
A mob of around 500 the special train for Sikhs the next day. sugarcane fields a mute witness bring my brother to safety. The firing eventually Gymkhanas were given land by Lord and no lows lower than the religious
attacking our train; all On the morning of September 10, to the madness unleashed. stopped, but no one dared to step out. Harris and ‘charged with supervis- chants during cricket matches in
1947, a tonga from father’s office But it hadn’t ended yet. At 10 am the next day, the train began its jour- ing and developing the numerous Sharjah in the 1980s. Let’s hope that
passengers of a train came to drop us at the railway sta- Many were still hiding in the ney to Attari. On the way lay stranded the train smaller clubs which came under in the 25 years to the centenary of
we were supposed tion. We were barely 100 yards away fields. Around 2 pm, the from Baheda, the 700-odd people travelling in their jurisdiction’, writes historian Independence, there will be only
when we heard screams, and Baloch military came with it now dead — men, women, young, old. It could Ramchandra Guha. highs and no lows.
to board being returned home immediately. Later, machine guns and fired into well have been us. In the last 75 years, I haven’t It is extraordinary — and a sorry
butchered on the we got to know that four-five people
P N
the fields; 60 were shot dead. forgotten that sight. commentary on the state of Indian
had been killed. At 2 pm, we set out ARTITIO We were finally safe, but could- The mood remained solemn until we reached polity — that right until the 1940s,
way; no water to again. The police had arrived and we were n’t move further as the track had Attari where 400 to 500 people were waiting to cricket in Bombay, the nursery of
drink, no food to eat. told it was safe to travel. But train journeys were broken. To reach Lahore, we would have
hardly safe those days. We had heard of all the to walk 1 km and take another train. My father
honour us. A langar had been organised, but we
were advised to eat only a little as we had been
Indian cricket, was organised on
communal lines: matches were held
Seventyfive years on, passengers being butchered. took the family and some belongings to the hungry for far too long. By the evening, many between the Europeans, Parsis,
We were sharing the compartment with one next train. I stayed back to watch the rest of the had heard of the Baheda train massacre. They Hindus, Muslims and, from 1937,
memories from those Bachan Singh and his wife. Their 25-year-old stuff, alone amid the stench of decaying bodies. sought revenge and asked father to join. He the ‘Rest’; the ‘Rest’ seems to be
days are fresh, painful son had been killed two days ago. “Mera We reached Lahore around 10.30 pm. We had refused to be part of that madness, he just want- an inclusive entity, with Indian
bachcha maar ditta,” the woman kept crying. the option of getting on to the train coming from ed to continue with his journey to a new land. Roman Catholics, Protestants and
Night fell and my father was saying the Baheda, but decided to take some rest, exhaust- We went to Jalandhar and Ambala, eventually, Syrian Christians, Eurasians, Sin-
evening prayers before dinner when the train ed as we were by fear and the weather. where we rebuilt our lives. halese Buddhists and Jews repre-
suddenly came to a screeching halt, bringing The Lahore station was empty. Men got down. — The writer is ex-Chandigarh Police officer senting it at different times. Keshav Dutt never forgot being helped by
down all our stuff. We were surrounded by Almost 36 hours later, we had fresh water to (As told to Sarika Sharma) In 1940, with the independence Shahrukh, his friend in Pakistan, in 1947.
A celebration of the August 15 of our collective childhoods

A
S a primary school child, I under- day recovering and unwinding from the would signal to the children to assume uals himself — the unfolding, hoisting and life. As I wake up the children on a holiday
stood that there were four annu- morning’s highs. On Diwali, the grand the same respectful posture. We felt pride, later the folding back for storage till the and make a dash for their school in time
al festivals. Just as every year finale was the lights and crackers in the even if we weren’t yet sure of the full sig- next time. The song, “Ae mere watan ke for the flag-hoisting ceremony, I am pass-
was flanked on two sides by Holi evening, with all of us dressed up in our nificance of the event. logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani”, ing on the baton of both belonging and
and Diwali, so there were the two celebra- sparkling best. January 26 started early Later, there would be sweets distributed written by Kavi Pradeep and first per- responsibility to them. I want them to feel
tory festivals of January 26 and August and involved switching on the television; and kites to choose from. Our parents formed by Lata Mangeshkar in 1963 as a the same connectedness to the freedom
15. All of these had a few commonalities. live classical music performed by India’s would laugh and bond with each other as tribute to the soldiers who fought in the struggle led by those who came two or
IMMORTAL FOR A MOMENT It was always a holiday in the true sense, greatest living musicians, notably Ustad they tried to revive their childhood skills India-China war, would play on radio as three generations before us.
which meant that our father would be Bismillah Khan, would set up a reverential of patang-baazi and attempted to keep well as in the neighbourhood. In our con- An appreciation for the collective that we
NATASHA BADHWAR
home and involved in organising the mood in the home, in anticipation of the their kites in the air. All of us children sciousness, it became linked to the cele- are part of is an integral part of our well-
day’s celebrations. We would wake up grand Republic Day parade. The neigh- would get a chance to jump high with the bration of August 15, never failing to being and mental health. As we seek to
I want next-generation early as a family. Papa would put on bourhood park would become a venue for kite as the first step to releasing it in the remind us that we were part of a larger his- inculcate a sense of pride in one’s identity
music on our Sony cassette recorder. a sports event in the afternoon. air. We would run off to play our own tory and society. as an Indian in the next generation, we
Indians to feel the Mummy would cook a special breakfast Independence Day lands in the middle games, giddy with the excitement of being Inexplicably, as I grew up, August 15 also want to give them the gift of exploring
same connectedness and begin to prepare for the potluck with of the year. It has always been associated in school without the regular structure of mornings began to feature moist eyes as their inheritance and giving it a renewed
our neighbours later in the day. with flag-hoisting and the sound of patri- assembly and classes. the flag would unfurl and “Jana Gana meaning in their life. We cannot demand
to the freedom In my imagination as a child, there were otic songs on radio, TV and the residents’ Through my growing-up years in Mana Adhinayak Jaya Hai” was sung col- gratitude. We have to offer freedom first —
struggle led by those days when we became one with an extend-
ed community around our home. I cannot
association event in the neighbourhood.
It involved early morning trips to our
Ranchi, Calcutta and later Delhi, my father
always hoisted the National Flag on the
lectively. What was this mixture of rever-
ence and pride that I was feeling? Why did
to explore ideas, to defy, disobey and chal-
lenge outdated norms. To dissent. Only
who came two or three say that any one of these days stood out school and standing in attention as teach- roof of our home on both Republic Day it always induce tears? I wasn’t sad. So then can we expect a promise and a resolve
generations before us more than the other. Each had its own
unique features. On Holi, we would find
ers and the school principal gathered to
hoist the Tricolour. As the National
and Independence Day. It was a khadi flag
that moved homes with us. When we were
what was the trigger for tears?
As a parent of next-generation Indians, it
to participate in building a just and equi-
table society going ahead.
ourselves matted and colour-splattered by Anthem was sung, everybody’s erect in a first floor flat for three years, he could has become my role to pass on to them — The writer is a filmmaker & author
afternoon, and then spend the rest of the back and straight hands by their side hoist in on the balcony. Papa did all the rit- what I have received from the elders in my natasha.badhwar@gmail.com
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Parliamentarians on at least seven
different occasions in Parliament for the
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introduction of the Bill. Tobacco products

Drafted by the Union Health Ministry, are the major con-
the long-awaited Bill has provisions such tributors for various
as: cancers and other dis-
eases. In India, tobac-
■ Disallowing retail sale of loose sticks co-related cancers
of cigarettes. contribute nearly half
■ Prohibiting sale of tobacco products to of the total cancers in
persons below 21 years. males and one-fifth in females. Cancers
■ Restricts advertising and promotion of caused by tobacco can affect lungs, mouth,
tobacco products at Point of Sale pharynx (upper throat), nose and sinuses,
(PoS). larynx (voice box), oesophagus (food pipe),
■ Ban on smoking designated zones at liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, ovary,
places like hotels, airports and restau- bladder, cervix, and some types of leukaemia.
rants. It is very disappointing that while
tobacco firms are targeting through various
C85GD1C81<9>9 marketing strategies to children as young as
19?;TPSTaUa^\<PWPaPbWcaP ten years old, some Bollywood celebrities are
“engaged in surrogate advertisements of
There is an urgent health hazardous items like gutka.
and immediate need
for action to eradicate 4B1<?;D81;1B
tobacco menace, ?aÛTbbâÛ>c^[Pah]V^[^Vh7TPS=TRZ
given that in India, BdaVTah088<B=Tf3T[WX
over 13.5 lakh indi-
viduals per year face There has been
death due to the dead- rising oral cancer
ly product. cases due to unabated
This is not a small number. If we want Action Plan target on 30 percent relative smoke-free law that still allow Designated sale and consumption
B20AH 586DA4B
to make India, a world leader we must have reduction in tobacco use prevalence by Smoking Areas in public places like of tobacco products
healthy youth. But I feel that there’s 2025. Country is preparing for the third restaurants, bars, hotels, and airports. like cigarette, beedi,
strong lobby working against the round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey. khaini, tambaku,
Government’s dream of becoming world Having said that, Endgame is still a distant fter China, India has the second C177,341 crore (USD 27.5 billion), as 4B1B381>1481G1>21:1: gutka and zarda. Since
leader. If our youth and kids have ill health,
India can never become a world Guru.
goal. Gaps in COTPA 2003 requires to be
addressed to improve WHO MPOWER
A largest consumers (over 26 crore
adults (15 years and above)) of tobac-
per the WHO. According to the
Global Youth Tobacco
6h]PTR^[^VXbcP]S5TacX[Xch4g_Tac these are yet to be regulated in true sense
and not many people are aware about its ill-
It’s good that smoking is completely score. Best buys for tobacco control co, according to the Global Adult Survey(GYTS)-2019, nearly one-fifth Tobacco-induced effects, it will increase the country’s health
banned in many public places and work- including raising tax on tobacco and Tobacco Survey India, 2016-17. It of students aged 13-15 years are infertility among cou- burden dramatically.
places. The law, however, permits the enforcing bans on tobacco advertising leads not only to loss of lives but also using tobacco products in India. The ples is increasing at a
establishment of smoking areas or spaces especially indirect and surrogate ads need has heavy social and economic costs. nationwide sur vey of students disturbing pace in the 4BB18E<281B71F1
in airports, hotels having 30 or more urgent attention. The total economic costs attributed to revealed that 38% of cigarettes, 47% country. Smoking and 7TPSÛ7TP\^c^[^Vh3T_Pac\T]c5âcXb
rooms, and restaurants having seating tobacco use from all diseases in India of bidi and 52% of smokeless tobac- smoke-less tobacco 7^b_XcP[6dadVaP\7PahP]P
capacity for 30 or more. This gap needs to @B9I1>;;1>??>7? in the year 2017-18 for persons aged co users picked up the habit before use can have a serious
be plugged. 2WPXa_Tab^]=PcX^]P[2^\\XbbX^]Uâ?a^cTRcX^] 35 years and above amounted to their 10th birthday [GYTS-4]. impact on the fertili- As long as tobac-
A total ban on smoking in indoor pub- Û2WX[SAXVWcb=2?2A ty of both men and co products are easi-
C>1022>70B=>14=458CB
lic places will protect men and women women, and consequently the quality of ly available and
from the harms of second-hand smoke, There is a need life in pregnancy as well as negative affordable for poor
help smokers quit and reduce smoking to increase taxes on health on the unborn child, miscarriage, and children, achiev-
among youth. Let's have healthy parents tobacco products as he most prevalent form of and death. If a woman is a regular smoking ‘Tobacco Free
and children for better India.
Over five and a half thousand
well as on films,
OTT platforms and
T tobacco use in India is
smokeless tobacco and com-
er, then it has a double adverse impact on
a woman's fertility. Smoking can harm
India’ mission will
remain a dream. A lot
teenagers in the country are getting other media that dis- monly used products are khai- both the eggs and the uterus. It not only of recent cancer cases
addicted to tobacco products daily. It is play use of such ni, gutkha, betel quid with affects her egg quality, but can also have are from rural India. Cigarettes form just
time to strengthen the COTPA Act to end items in any form. tobacco and zarda. Smoking endometrial effect. Many studies too have one component. The bulk of tobacco
the conspiracies targeting these youth. This will not only forms of tobacco used are shown that smoking can also affect sperm addiction in rural India is due to chewable
make these products bidi, cigarette and hookah. (which reduces fertility) and increase the tobacco also.
4BC81<9>9C9>78 out of bounds, but the additional revenues Smoking can lead to cancer, risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
3XaTRcâ 82<A=PcX^]P[ 8]bcXcdcT Û 2P]RTa earned can be used for the treatment and heart disease, stroke, lung dis- Smoking during pregnancy can put 4BB1=281@1>45I
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tobacco-related diseases. obstructive pulmonary dis- nancy complications, such as preterm >]R^[^VXbc088<B3T[WX
There is a need to Imposition of greater taxation on ease including emphysema labor and delivery. Smoking or passive
spread awareness media that displays use of tobacco will and chronic bronchitis. SLT smoke during pregnancy can also result Women are
about not only tobac- require people to pay more and help dis- also increases risk of tubercu- in negative health outcomes for the increasingly taking up
co related cancers but courage glorification of tobacco products. losis, certain eye conditions, unborn baby. From the male's perspec- tobacco consumption,
also a plethora of dis- There is a psychological warfare by the problems of the immune sys- tive, the carcinogen quality of cigarettes viewing it as a ‘fashion
eases caused by the tobacco companies. They are targeting tem including rheumatoid in general affects the motility of the symbol’. This is a very
harmful carcinogens young children by positioning tobacco- arthritis. sperm and excessive smoking can lead to disturbing trend. The
in the nicotine laden related ads at their eye-level at points of the poor sperm count and other fertili- habit of smoking and
product. The tobacco sale and promoting sale of tobacco prod- ty problems. chewing start at the
lobby is every next day coming up with ucts such as gutkha and beedi, alongside to premature birth. Tobacco companies more than 7,000 chemicals that are known Hence, if the couple is planning to con- age of 10-12 years
new product to lure the youth and kids. sweets, candies, and toys. that make products like cigarettes and to cause premature death and disease in ceive, it's better for them to shun the tobac- among kids, and once they get into the habit,
For instance, now synthetic nicotine is gutkha are specifically targeting teenagers children and adults who do not smoke. co butt as early as possible. it is difficult to shun. We hope that the strin-
being launched, which is as equally addic- @B?64BE=1;E=1B and kids. They prominently display their Our recent study has shown that the gent COTPA amendments having provisions
tive as the nicotine, but does not fall under 7TPSÛAWTd\Pc^[^Vh3T_Pac\T]c advertisements near school and colleges so annual direct economic costs attributable 4BF9C81<B1? such as ban on designated smoking zones
the purview of the COTPA Act. 088<B3T[WX that they are visible to the impressionable to Second-Hand Smoking in India >]R^[^VXbcP]S<T\QTaÛ:Pa]PcPZP will help in cutting down tobacco consump-
Also, there is a need to design gender- minds. These should be completely amounted to Rs 567 billion. This 6êTa]\T]c³b7XVW_^fTaTS2^\\XccTT tion among the public and thus suffering
sensitive cessation centres so that men or The number of banned. Doing away with Designated accounts for 8 per cent of total annual ^]C^QPRR^2^]ca^[ from cancer. People must be told that
women are encouraged to quit the dead- tobacco users is ris- Smoking Areas (DSA) can be a game health care expenditures on top of the tobacco has no single benefit.
ly habit while doctors should take the cud- ing and it is scary to changer in the direction of health of the staggering Rs 1773.4 billion ($27.5 bil- Majority of the
gel on behalf of their patients to save them note that children vulnerable population and making India's lion) in annual economic burden from long-term tobacco 4BB1;5C871B7
from life-threatening products. between 13 and 15 public places 100 per cent smoke-free. tobacco use. users commence 0SSXcX^]P[?aÛTbbâÛ0]PTbcWTbX^[^Vh2aXcXRP[
years of age consti- Against such scary scenario, India tobacco use while 2PaT?PX]P]S?P[[XPcXeT<TSXRX]T088<B3T[WX
4B:1749C8;1EB tute 8.5 per cent of 4BB9:?=:?8> needs to take strong measures to reduce they are adolescents.
ATVX^]P[0SeXbTaC^QPRR^5aTT8]XcXPcXeT them. People gener- ATbTPaRWTaAPYPVXaX2^[[TVTÛB^RXP[BRXT]RTb its large number of smokers and the eco- Every individual has The link between
F7>ATVX^]P[>UUXRTUâB^dcWTPbc0bXP ally think that smok- P]S4R^]^\XbcP]S7TP[cW?^[XRh0]P[hbc nomic burden of treating tobacco-related the right to health tobacco consumption
ing affects lungs only, but the case is dif- diseases. Increasing tobacco taxes is one and the right to and cancer is very
India’s tobacco ferent, it affects every parts and is one of With more than of the most effective ways to reduce smoke-free public clear. There is a need
control journey has the important risk factors for growing 100 million smokers smoking, yet India has not had any signif- places. Article 21 of the Indian to look into the finan-
been long and ardu- numbers cases related to autoimmune dis- in India, non-smok- icant tax increase on any tobacco products Constitution guarantees this. So when a cial toxicity caused by
ous. From enforce- eases. The first-hand smoke and second- ers are exposed to for the past four years. The current tobac- smoker ‘smokes’ in public places, he or she tobacco consumption
ment of CORPA 2003 hand smoke both are equally harmful for second-hand smoke co tax collected in India from all tobacco is not only spoiling his/her health but also resulting in cancer. A
to implementing health. There is a rising smoking habits at home, at work, and products combined is less than the Rs 567 threatening the lives of all those who are multi-pronged strategy focussing on aware-
WHO FCTC strate- among women who think that it is in the in public places. billion in health care costs caused by expo- in that public place. This infringes the right ness, higher taxes and stringent laws is
gies, there have been fashion. But they must know that it may There is no known sure to second-hand smoke. of non-smokers to have a healthy lifestyle. needed to make these killer products
success on several result into infertility, cases of which is also safe level of exposure Second-hand exposure continues to be We have to amend COTPA to make our unaffordable and inaccessible to make India
fronts. India is likely to achieve NCD rising these days. Also, smoking may lead to second-hand smoke, a deadly mix of high in India because of the gaps in India’s public places 100 percent smoke-free. healthy.
A nemia rate among our chil-

dren and adults has gotten
worse in the country, putting a
question mark on the efficacy
Rising Cases of Anemia in Kids a Concern India: A multilevel analysis’
published in journal Clinical
Epidemiology and Clinical
Health, said that “some aspects
of anemia among children,” it
said.
Dr Rahul Bhargava,
Director, Haematology,
“We need a dedicated day to
raise awareness about normal
range of hemoglobin in females,”
Dr Bhargava added.
of the Government's Anemia defines anaemic individuals as This decline, despite a and women of reproductive age of the community influence the Haemato – Oncology and Bone Some of the major interven-
Mukta Abhiyaan or Anemia- children under five with string of measures taken by the 740;C74G?4ACB group (15-49 years) in lifecycle anemia risks of children. For Marrow Transplant, Fortis tions by the Government under
Free Campaign. Latest data haemoglobin levels less than government in last several 70E4A08B43 approach. instance, a 1 percent increase in Memorial Research Institute, AMB, include prophylactic iron
shows that prevalence of ane-
mia among children aged six
11.0 grammes per deciliter
(g/dL) and women in the
years, is a cause of concern.
Responding to a question, 2>=24A=0CC74 In fact, Anemia rate among
youth and women is also not
the proportion of mother edu-
cation in the community
Gurugram called for increasing
awareness about this deficiency
and folic acid supplementation,
deworming, intensified year-
months to five years has reproductive age range with Union Health Minister A8B48=C7420B4B impressive. decreased the likelihood of ane- which can be at times life threat- round behaviour change com-
increased by more than nine haemoglobin levels less than 12 Mansukh Mandaviya in a writ- 68E4=C70C0=4<80 Health experts have raised mia by 9 per cent among chil- ening. munication campaign, testing of
per cent in about five years
from 58.6 per cent in national
g/dL
The Government recently
ten reply in Parliament had said
that the Anaemia Mukt Bharat
70B<0=H concern at the rise in the cases
given that anemia has many
dren.
“Northeast region was the
The doctor pointed out that
no doubt most common caus-
anaemia using digital methods
and point of care treatment,
family health survey (NFHS) 4 revealed this disturbing fact in (AMB) strategy is being 70A<5D;45542CB harmful effects on children's only region at lesser risk of ane- es of anemia include nutrition- addressing non-nutritional caus-
to 67.1 per cent in NFHS-5, Parliament saying that Ladakh launched under POSHAN >=278;3A4=B lives as it reduces learning capac- mia. Higher community level al deficiencies, particularly iron es of anaemia in endemic pock-
conducted during 2019-21.
The HEALTH PIONEER
topped the list with 90 per cent
anemic children followed by
Abhiyaan (Prime Minister's
Overarching Scheme for
;8E4B0B8C ity, attentiveness and intelli-
gence.
ethnic and religious homogene-
ity is associated with decreased
deficiency. But deficiencies in
folate, vitamins B12 and A are
ets with special focus on malar-
ia, hemoglobinopathies and flu-
reports. Gujarat (80 per cent), Dadra Holistic Nutrition) with the tar- A43D24B;40A=8=6 Studies show that education odds of anemia among children. also important causes. Also, orosis. But given that anemia
Anemia is a condition in and Nagar Haveli and Daman get of reducing anaemia in the 20?028CH and ethinicity of the communi- Children aged 12–35 months, diseases like thalassemia or sick- continue to remain a major
which the number of red blood
cells or the haemoglobin con-
and Diu (76 per cent). Situation
was similar in Madhya Pradesh
six population groups - chil-
dren (6-59 months), children
0CC4=C8E4=4BB0=3 ty has played a key role in cut-
ting down anemia rate. For
girl child, children having diar-
rhoea, mothers of age group
le cell disease and aplastic ane-
mia may result in severe anemia
public health problem, its time
for the authorities to re-evaluate
centration within them is lower and Jammu and Kashmir (73 (5-9 years), adolescent girls 8=C4;;864=24 instance, a research ‘Prevalence 15–24, high parity and low or cancer. “Such patients need its strategy for better outcome.
than normal. The World per cent), and Punjab and and boys (10-19 years), preg- and risk factors of anemia exposure to mass-media were regular blood transfusions,” he
Health Organization (WHO) Rajasthan (71 per cent) too. nant women, lactating women among children 6–59 months in the high risk individual factors said.
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he Taliban snatched power from
T the West-backed Ashraf Ghani in
Afghanistan in August last year
after two decades of their ouster by
the US troops. The Islamist group
ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001
under the leadership of Mullah
Omar, but were thrown out from
Kabul in 2001 when the US launched
an onslaught to avenge 9/11 terror
attacks and to smoke out al-Qaeda
terrorists, including Osama Bin CWTUdcdaTÛ
Laden, holed up in the country.
Decimated by the mighty US 0UVWP]XbcP]
Army, the rag-tag Taliban took shel-
ter in the mountains and countryside
Z]^f]PbcWT
to regroup over years during the US VaPeThPaSÛ
occupation, adopting guerrilla war-
fare. And, finally, the radicals tact- T\_XaTbWX]VTb
fully occupied power by mobilising
both physical and diplomatic support
\âT^]fWTcWTa
with years of back-room negotiations cWTCP[XQP]ad[T
with the Americans in Qatar.
And then on August 15, 2020, cWTR^d]cahPbP
the mullahs succeeded in usurping
power from the US-backed legiti-
d]XUXTSUâRTP]S
mate government of President [Tbb^]cWT
Ghani, who ruled the country from
September 2014 till August 2021. aTPRcX^]bÛ
Fearing for life and meeting the
same fate as that of Mohammad TgcTa]P[_^fTab
Najibullah Ahmadzai (former pres- [XZTcWTDB
ident of Afghanistan who the Taliban
executed after seizing power in 1996 2^]eT]cX^]P[
for the first time), Ghani left the war-
torn country, leaving behind embat- fXbS^\XbcWPcXc´b
tled soldiers and residents at the
mercy of the Taliban.
aTP[[hSXUUXRd[cUâ
Though no massive protest rally bdRWcTaaâVa^d_b
came out in Kabul, the fear among
residents, mostly those who had
Afghanistan. It was formed in 1994
as a resistance force against the
officials openly admitted that they
miscalculated the speed at which the
taking place because of a severe food
crisis in the country. Barely two per
of the 1970s. The allies of
Washington in this GWOT in
For sure, Kabul will soon turn
into a war zone. If the Taliban deny c^bdbcPX]Uâ[^]V
sided with the Americans, was such
that there was a mad rush to leave the
invading Soviet forces in the 1980s.
In their heyday of the movement,
Islamists grabbed power.
A year after the Taliban takeover,
cent of the Afghan people have
enough food to survive their daily
Afghanistan went clueless as the US
took its decision to withdraw from
the fundamental rights to its people
and go on abusing the same, the
X]_dQ[XR
country for safety. There was chaos the Taliban promised to impose what the international community lives. the war theatre. international actors could snap ties VêTa]P]RT
at the Kabul airport on August 16 stability and rule of law after four can witness is nothing but chaos. Fifth, the Taliban have barred Many of the British ministers with them, accompanied by sus-
and some seven people, including years of conflict (1992-96) among Some of the areas that draw global girls from attending educational came out openly against Biden’s pension of financial aid.
some who fell from a departing rival Mujahideen groups. It was in attention are worth mentioning here. institutions. It displays their extreme- move in Afghanistan. It was very This could be catastrophic for a
American military transport jet, November 1994 when the Taliban First of all, the Taliban have bro- ly patriarchal mindset that denies clear how the UK and other country that barely has anything to
died. entered Kandahar to pacify the ken multiple global conventions to girls basic right to livelihood. European allies of the US were survive. Again, it is a big challenge
Thousands succeeded in leaving crime-ridden southern city, and by respect women’s rights and human Sixth, the Taliban have refused dependent on Washington. In fact, for the Taliban to maintain cohesion
the country thinking that they might September 1996 they seized the rights. They are hell bent on destroy- to get engaged with international their opinions hardly mattered for among its own military ranks.
have to face the Taliban’s extreme capital, Kabul, from President ing the fundamentals of universal human rights and financial institu- Biden when the latter wanted to take Conventional wisdom is that it’s real-
brutality. However, many Afghans Burhanuddin Rabbani, an ethnic human rights accepted by civil soci- tions. The foreign governments a crucial decision. ly difficult for such terror groups to
chose to stay on as they never want- Tajik whom they viewed as anti- ety. The mullahs in power have should ease restrictions on the coun- Definitely, Beijing and Moscow sustain for long in public governance.
ed to leave their motherland and also, Pashtun and corrupt. imposed the most severe restrictions try’s financial organisations special- are quite content to see the US leav- Therefore, the future of Afghanistan,
they were used to such heinous treat- The Taliban wanted to impose over women rights and media freely the banks so as to facilitate devel- ing a two-decade old war field by known as the graveyard of empires,
ments at the hands of the Taliban in their interpretation of repressive dom. Protest against Taliban rule opment initiatives and daily needs of creating a power void. But how hinges more on whether the Taliban
the past. Islamic rule. They banned television, results in certain death. the people. But at the same time, the long the smiles in Beijing, Moscow rule the country as a unified force
As the chaos was unfolding in imposing ultra-strict rules governing Second, unlawful killing has international actors also must press and lately in Islamabad will contin- and less on the reactions of external
Afghanistan, the US under Joe Biden the conduct of women. These mea- increased manifold. There is the mullahs to allow basic rights and ue is a matter of concern. powers like the US.
simply dumped the democratically sures soon made them an interna- absolutely no control over such bru- punish those responsible for abuses. Simply, the Taliban pose an It’s an uphill task for the Taliban <0:70=BB08:80
elected Ghani Government without tional pariah. Their act of destroy- talities and anarchy. In fact, the Seventh, finally, the Taliban will immediate threat not only to the to keep the pace and peace in a coun-
showing any commitment for the ing the 1,500 years of Buddha stat- Taliban are simply concentrating not be able to move away from their Afghan people but also for the entire try full of problems and with ISIS
future of Afghanistan. Shockingly, ues in Bamiyan province further iso- on holding Kabul and managing to terror tag though they are working central Asian region. Their coming splinter groups fanned out in villages
Washington has never realised that lated them. And sheltering the mas- survive. So they can hardly afford any hard to do so. Recently, al-Qaeda to power has fuelled the ambitions trying to come into power using the
it has handed over the baton to those terminds of 9/11 terror attacks time and resources for controlling chief Aiman-al-Zawahiri was killed and offensives of other Islamic same guerrilla tactics which the
monsters against whom it fought the proved to be the last nail in their cof- mafias across the country. by the US drone attack in Kabul itself. jihadists like al-Qaeda, Islamic State Taliban used to topple the US-led
so-called “War on Global Terrorism” fin as the US destroyed the Taliban. Third, the country is in the grip It clearly shows how the Taliban are and especially, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Ghani Government.
(GWOT). In fact, America’s with- However, the Taliban regrouped of the worst economic downturn covertly sheltering the terror heads Pakistan (TTP), mainly operating in
drawal from Afghanistan was and collected enough strength to with stories like people forced to sell so as to keep their hardcore cadre the Afghan-Pakistan border areas. (Dr Makhan Saikia has taught
planned during the administration of make a comeback. And hence the their children to earn the means to intact and also to spread the terror There is a vast difference political science and international
President Barack Obama. group’s swift move came as the US stay alive. networks as far as possible. between the Taliban 1.0 and 2.0. relations for over a decade in institu-
The Taliban takeover of planned for the final withdrawal of However, this economic break- Biden’s quick exit from Earlier, it was out and out a jihadist tions of national and international
Afghanistan is a grim signal for a troops as per the peace deal signed down has not started right now. For Afghanistan had an international outfit. Today it has transformed repute after specialisation in globali-
country that may not return to in 2020. Although the Afghan a long time, the country has been suf- impact as well. This withdrawal is a itself into an organisation that can sation and governance from Tata
democracy very easily in the near Government forces were well-fund- fering an economic crisis as it could total collapse of the GWOT once equally run diplomacy and terror Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
future. The Taliban is predominant- ed and well-equipped, they could not not properly utilise its massive nat- launched against the Islamic radicals. together. They have learnt their He is the chief editor of the Journal of
ly a Pashtun Islamic fundamentalist put up enough resistance when the ural resources. However, today’s global power equa- lessons in the last two decades of Global Studies, an international
group, operating mainly in Taliban seized power. Also, the US Fourth, large scale deaths are tions are entirely different from that their fighting with the US-led forces. research journal)
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ven after witnessing Is it a corrupt practice? inability to resolve the long- Is it possible to regulate
E respectable economic
growth during the post-reform
There is a section of
diehard ideologues that sees
lasting challenges on these
fronts. Hence, the political
them?
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0aTUaTTQXTbP]h period, India has somehow these freebies as furtherance of class rarely shies away from democracy in India’s econom-
SXUUTaT]cUa^\cWTcPg struggled with the equitable Directive Principles. They playing Robinhood politics. ic growth is something that
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top 10 per cent of India’s pop-
think as long as public funds
splurged on freebies are spent
As a result, the root cause of the
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should never be underestimat-
ed at any cost. It has always
Râ_âPcTT]cXcXTb. ulation hold 74 per cent of the after getting proper clearance For instance, MNREGA as a played a critical role in shaping
BcPcTbPaTfT[[ total national wealth, while
the bottom 90 per cent have to
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ly a sign of failure on the part
and reshaping the undefined
contours of the nation’s polity,
fXcWX]cWTXaaXVWcbc^ manage itself with the rest of corrupt practices. of the Government to create a economy, and society. And
dbT_dQ[XRUd]SbUâ the crumbs.
As a mature democracy, we
However, in our enthusi-
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conducive and long-lasting
ecosystem for widespread job
being an integral part of this
ongoing churning, the political
_dQ[XR_da_^bTb1dc cannot afford to ignore the neglecting an important issue creation. stakeholders can afford to
cWPcS^Tb]ć\TP] existing disparity of this mag- of moral hazard, where the make numerous mistakes as
nitude. Yet, all political parties beneficiaries of these freebies Is it equivalent to revenue long as they are allowed by
cWThRP]ćQT\PST despite their differences in ide- are as guilty as political parties forgone? their voters.
PRR^d]cPQ[TUâcWTXa ologies have historically tried to dispensing these inducements? Are these freebies any dif- The Supreme Court’s deci-
ostensibly tackle this Isn’t this the job of the social ferent from the tax concessions sion to examine this compli-
UXbRP[_aÛ[XVPRh grave issue by doling freebies intelligentsia to help benefi- given to corporate entities? cated issue by taking recom-
and sops to this vulnerable and ciaries make an informed deci- How the revenue forgone on mendations from the body of
marginalised section, sion, where the long-term cost the pretext of concessions given different key stakeholders rais-
especially during election is rationally weighed against to corporates often fails to es an important question of
periods. the immediate gains from free- qualify itself for a mainstream whether it is right to bypass the
For instance, free electric- bies? discussion? legislature while trying to
ity, free water supply, waiver of States are well within their resolve such a politically sen-
agricultural loans, unemploy- Is it a welfare measure? rights to use public funds for sitive issue. Because, all said
ment doles, and giving away There is another section of public purposes. But that does- and done, the issue of pre-poll
gadgets like television, smart- ideologues that fails to see any PM Kisan Samman Nidhi an unprecedented threat to ket) have failed us majorly on n’t mean they can’t be made freebies in the name of unreg-
phones, laptops, and tabs have problem with freebies. For started as freebies in different India’s energy security; where the social sector front. Most accountable for their fiscal ulated populism is essentially a
gained widespread acceptance them, it is another form of wel- States. State discoms are incurring an indicators of health, educa- profligacy. While mechanisms political question that can’t be
among political stakeholders fare measure targeted at the However, that doesn’t annual loss of more than tion, and employment are not to keep populist schemes under outsourced to any other insti-
for making competitive bids for bottom of the pyramid. There mean every freebie has an C75,000 crore. yet strong enough to establish restraint can be implemented tution of democracy.
votes. And the sad part is: This is some grain of truth in their equal chance of becoming a themselves as the keystone of as per recommendation by the
?8HDB7::0<0; indulgence in competitive bid- contention as quite a handful welfare scheme. The distribu- Is it a failure of governance? development. finance commission, it needs to (The writer is a former IRS
ding is rarely done keeping in of national welfare schemes tion of free power is a case in Both eras of the post-inde- Political dispensations ensure that essential public officer & author of the book
mind the financial health of the like Mid-day Meal, National point. In fact, the unabated cul- pendence economic regime (both at the Centre and States) services don’t get affected by ‘Current Perspectives on the
States. Food Security, and ture of free power has created (the planned as well as the mar- are, in fact, aware of their these restraints. Indian Economy’)
II August 14, 2022, Sunday, The Hawk, Saharanpur Analysis www.thehawk.in
epaper.thehawk.in
facebook.com/thehawk
twitter.com/thehawk
The Hawk Save The Elephants… And Then

You Save Yourself
Continued From Page 1
7,000 Invitees, Over....
Lifespring Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit legally in the international market to eventually end
Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police
(Law and Order) said provisions of Section 144 have
"Either chase your dreams or chase someone else's up as ivory trinkets. This trade is mostly driven already been instituted in Delhi. Anyone seen flying
- the choice is yours!" —Unknown World Elephant Day has been created to bring the world by demand for ivory in parts of Asia. kites, balloons or Chinese lanterns from August 13
together to help elephants. Elephants are among the The poaching trade began in earnest in 1971, when to August 15 till the end of the programme at Red
In The 'Medium Human most intelligent of the creatures with whom we share
the planet, with complex consciousnesses that are ca-
pable of strong emotions. Across Africa they have in-
a severe drought killed 9,000 elephants in a Kenyan
game reserve. Neighbours of the park moved in to
collect ivory. In recent years, the number of elephant
Fort will be punished.
"Kite catchers have been deployed with neces-
sary equipment on strategic locations and they will
Development' Bracket-II spired respect from the people that share the landscape
with them, giving them a strong cultural
killings due to poaching has decreased, largely due to
the worldwide ban (since 1990) on the trade of ivory.
prevent any kind of kite, balloon and Chinese lan-
terns from reaching the function area. Radars will be
Too much dependence on data and much less direct significance. India is one of the seventeen megadiverse However, the illegal trade continues, and as long as it
engagement with the poor has been the major cause of deployed at Red Fort to counter any threats from
countries of the world. Elephants have enjoyed a spe- does, poachers will be a part of it. Today, witnessing a sub-conventional aerial platforms and manned or un-
failure for most state-mandated development cial place in India’s culture and tradition. They were
programmes. Development work is dirty, you have to manned flying objects," he said.
used as a means of transport for the royalties and to On Friday, the Delhi Police had recovered over
soil your hands, and you have to cope with crude ele- fight battles, as has been captured by various frescoes.
ments at the lower dregs of society. If you care about 2,200 live cartridges near Anand Vihar Inter State Bus
Most important, however, is the status of the el- Terminal and arrested six people in this connection.
your mission, and your community, then it hurts when ephant as a deity in the form of Lord Ganesha. For
colleagues let you down, your social enterprise Police are also carrying out massive checks for
over 70% of the population, elephants hold religious Improvised Explosive Devices. The personnel is be-
stumbles, funding is denied, or other hurdles materi- importance. It is disappointing to learn that today only
alize. Business schools don’t teach you how to fight ing briefed about adequate security, training and de-
about 27,000 wild elephants remain in India, as op- ployment as per plans, they said.
goons; risk mitigation strategies like sophisticated posed to a million a decade ago as indicated by
metrics and business algorithms can’t hold water in Further, around 1,000 high-specification cam-
research. Human-elephant conflict is a major conser- eras will be installed in the North, Central and New
the face of the mad frenzy of plundering bandits; tech- vation concern in elephant range countries. A variety
nological gadgets can’t speak the language needed to Delhi district units to contain aerial objects. These
of management strategies have been developed and cameras will also help monitor the VVIP route to
navigate this dense thicket of unruly and heterogynous are practiced at different scales for preventing and
groups. One of the discouraging features of Indian the monument, they said.
mitigating human-elephant conflict.The elephant popu- The Delhi Police has also intensified patrol-
democracy is the politicization of rural society. A de- lation has been declining for decades. This is due to
cade back, villages had a very remote link with politi- ling and anti-sabotage checks. Hotels, guest houses,
several factors, such as habitat loss, human conflict, parking lots and restaurants are being checked and
cal parties. Those who contested panchayat elections and hunting.Elephants are considered to be the most
were elected on the strength of their electoral merits, verification of tenants and servants is being carried
intelligent of all animals after humans. They are very out, the officials said.
irrespective of their ideological stripes. social creatures that live in herds led by a ‘matriarch’.
Caste did remain a strong card, but the candi- The police had on July 22 issued an order pro-
The leading female of the herd is called the hibiting the flying of aerial objects such as paragliders,
dates’ character played a critical role. The growing ‘matriarch’. They help maintain the health of forests
tendency of village groups to seek outside political hang gliders and hot air balloons, and this will remain
by distributing seeds by roaming over great distances. in force till August 16, they said.—PTI
support for solutions to local development issues has Elephants have been a part of human society for
ruptured the traditional social structure. Each leader
in a village has a political master in the nearest town.
thousands of years. Humans have been both aiding
and hurting elephants for centuries. In many stories,
herd of elephants is becoming increasingly uncom-
mon; as more and more elephants die prematurely
Har Ghar Tiranga....
All these developments have made the village social Atul Goyal, who heads the United Residents Joint
humans and elephants live in harmony as every year.The illegal trade in ivory is one of the great- Action, a civil society initiative of 2,500 residents'
structure highly complex and confusing. In the com- friends. Humans have always taken advantage of the est threats to elephants today.
ing years, rural assignments for officials of govern- welfare associations, said lakhs of flags will be used
incredible strength and endurance of Elephants are long-lived animals, and their sur- this Independence Day and they should be disposed
ment and banks are going to become hazardous on elephants.Elephants are necessary for the survival of vival depends upon regular migration over large dis-
account of the growing politicization of villages. The appropriately.
forest ecosystems, and indeed many creatures.Asian tances to search for food, water, and social and re- "We dont want flags to be lying in dustbins or on
new roads and highways that provide a fast passage elephant numbers have dropped by at least 50% over productive partners .Too many elephants are getting
not just to towns but also to metros have demolished roads. It is our pride and should be given the respect it
the last three generations, and they’re still in decline killed in conflicts with humans! We simply cannot deserves. The major challenge on authorities and us is
the concept of village republics. In such a dispiriting today. With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the allow them to disappear from the face of this earth.
scenario committed development workers may feel that to ensure that the flags are disposed correctly," he said.
species is classified as endangered.An elephant is Without the proper conservation of elephant survival Goyal said URJA has issued a circular to all RWAs
their position is hopeless, that there is nothing they killed every 15 minutes and now some believe that we will see a drastic shift in the environment.Today
can do. The ‘system’ is too strong for them. members to collect flags from their area and deposit
in 12 years the elephant population will be as our physical world is changing fast, it is impor- them at a designated place. "URJA will then dispose
Perhaps the best antidote to this despair is to study extinct.Poachers kill about 20,000 elephants every tant to take a moment to reflect on and reinvent our
the examples and lives of those who have fought the flags and ensure there is no disrespect," he said.
single year for their tusks, which are then traded il- relationship with elephants. —The Hawk Features B S Vohra, president of East Delhi RWAs joint
against the odds and succeeded. In every country, there
front, shared a similar concern regarding flag disposal.
are some courageous people ~ political and religious
leaders, civil servants, workers in voluntary agencies,
academics, scientists, and others ~ who have refused
Dye Or Die, Choice Is Yours! "To avoid any disrespect to the flag, we are run-
ning a social media campaign and informing people
about the rules to be followed. After the celebration,
to give in, who have stuck by their principles and
whose lives shine as examples to others of what can
One Should Be Proud Of Grey—A Sign Of Maturity we will also visit the localities and ensure there are
be done. For those who side with the poor too, there Harish Monga* papers, highlighting the the small interest amount the dawn will always no flags lying on roads," he said.—PTI
may be unexpected floods of support. But not all can lathi charge on blinds, I is a contribution to man- break through.
expect recognition or become folk heroes. For most During my posting at had reacted in the age the day today affairs Four decades ago is Seepage In MP Dam....
of those who put the last first, the satisfaction and Chandigarh in the 70s, I editor's mail col- of the inmates. Everyone still fresh in my mind. on the right flank of the dam due to which the seepage
rewards are not fame, but knowing that they have had seen a board hanging umn and since then I had has gifts with him that no This happened to one of was continuing. The length of the dam is 590 metres
done what was right and that things are, however outside the cabin of a emotional attachment one else in the world can my senior colleagues – a and the height is 53 metres and at present 15 mcm
slightly, better than they would have been. Their cashier – We live only with this class and was offer. You have skills you technologist and hand- water is stored. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
small deeds may not command attention; but in once, if we live right, blessed to take care of the on’t even know you pos- some too, whose face was said on Saturday that he has informed Prime Minister
merit, they may equal or exceed the greater and more once is enough. visually challenged per- sess and at the same time blackened within a few Narendra Modi twice about the dam's situation.
conspicuous actions of those with more freedom, My concept about sons till date. you have an instinct for days but he was reluctant He said the only option to save the dam and to
pelf and power. For the test is what people do. So- life was very clear from This quote has love within you but you to share as to what has protect lives is to create an alternative passage to
cial change flows from individual actions. the very beginning. Birth helped me to live a very have not experienced yet. happened to him as he has reduce water from the dam.
Small gains well consolidated as part of a se- is not a right and death is peaceful life with dedica- There are songs you have lost the charm to live. "I have spoken to Modi twice to inform him about
quence can mean more than big gains which are uncertain. After birth, you tion to the needy class, yet to sing, dances you are When I asked him the situation and rescue operations. The creation of an
stable and shortlived. Accumulated over time they have certain checks of the especially the visually meant to dance, and sto- about my grey hair in the alternative passage to release water from dam is under-
snowball into giant achievements. By changing what society. The only question challenged persons insti- ries that only you will be early age, he disclosed, way. Due to some hard rock, digging process is little bit
they do, people move societies in new directions and is, as to how you live the tution, to whom the first able to tell. “Dear, you should be slow, but several teams are trying to make a way to
then change. Big simple solutions are tempting but long or short span of life book ‘Akhon Prokhe” – If you’re facing fi- proud of grey, a sign of reduce the water as soon as possible," Chouhan said.
full of risks. For most outsiders, most of the time, the between birth and death. Out of Sight – was dedi- nancial challenges, I maturity. My sincere ad- The construction of Karam Dam, estimated to be Rs
soundest and the best ways forward are through innu- There was a flood of cated – the first ever book promise you they can be vice to you is, don’t dye 304 crore, had started around four years ago. This was
merable small steps that could be just nudges and tiny questions in my mind in Punjabi language. Any solved. If you suffer your hair in your life. the first time that the reservoir of the dam was filled
pushes. Slower and smaller steps also help build up when I had read this from severe depres- My blackened face due to heavy rainfall in the western region of Madhya
people’s adaptability to changes. We should look for quote at a very young sion, find a medical is the outcome of the re- Pradesh, especially Dhar and Indore districts.—IANS
small innovations, not just blockbusters. Several de- age – Why is there a professional to help action of chemicals avail-
velopment successes have occurred in less than opti- fight to live? Why do
people cheat each
you. It may even be
something as simple
able in the dye material
which I used a few days
Guj Campaign Takes....
mal settings and often under appalling conditions of Based on the feedback a new development road map will
weak governance, widespread corruption, minimal other? What do people as a chemical imbal- back. I can’t face myself
gain by dodging oth- ance that can be cor- in front of the mirror be prepared and implemented, said Vyas. There is no
infrastructure, deep-rooted social divisions and a poorly doubt that the election campaign will start with the de-
functioning judicial system. In each case, creative in- ers? Why is there not rected with acupunc- now”. I did not dye but velopment issues, but as the election approaches, the cam-
dividuals saw possibilities where others saw hopeless- a change of mind-set? ture, a change in diet, I got more recognition paign tone will change slowly and turn into polarizing
ness. They imagined a way forward that took into ac- Why don’t people un- or medication. with grey hair and beard the voters on communal lines. Once the nomination of
count local realities, and built on local strengths they derstand the values of If your heart is which has become my dis- candidates is completed, it will reach a peak, observed
were willing to experiment and ignore the skeptics life when we have to broken, it means you similar identity of ‘living Hemant Shah, economist and political analyst. The burn-
until the skeptics became supporters and often part- live only once on this amount above Rs.12, the have the capacity to love without dyeing’. Frankly ing issues of the state are quality education and
ners working to bring about change on a larger scale. planet earth? Ultimately, cost of the book was taken and there is someone spe- speaking, I still don’t for- privatisation, free electricity upto 300 units, contractual
Gandhi’s mantra is the most soothing credo in such these questions changed at as a donation for the cial out there, waiting to get the incident in my life employment, which should be debated in the campaign
moments and endeavours: “First they ignore you, then least my living style and Home for the Blind and meet you. There are also when I overheard the but these are on the backburner, believes Shah.
they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” once on seeing a photo- till date they are enjoying joyous, wonderful expe- words – I die every day Says senior Congress leader Deepak Babaria, the
Some managers have shown personal courage and graph in the various news- the interest from that riences awaiting you, but but he was saying I dye people of the state are suffering from inflation, high
ingenuity in creating safe spaces in which they can amount. No doubt, the you have to be here to re- my hair every day. But the education expenditure, shrinking space for democracy,
pursue development work. Their reward is not an *The writer is a social interest rate has gone ceive them. Yes, it is choice is definitely yo- corruption, Gujarat becoming the hub of landing drugs,
early promotion or early transfer. activist and freelancer. down considerably but darkest before dawn, but urs.—The Hawk Features deteriorating law and order situation, increase in hu-
man trafficking. The BJP would not like to talk about
Careers Options In Genomics these issues, but the Congress campaign will focus on
them, he added. But, he too fears that in the last leg of
conditions (diseased ver- disease epidemiology protocols where newer nosis of such diseases. huge investment. Its pre- the campaign, caste politics and communal polariza-
Vijay Garg sus healthy). It also en- such as SARS COV-2. and cheaper scientific S c i e n t i s t - ventive maintenance, tion will be the front-runners, and the core issues will
compasses the functional Genomics led to the iden- technology is being Bioinformatics/ training, and repair are be overshadowed.—IANS
Genomics has applica- relevance of this alter- tification of variants, es- sought after. It’s a rapidly Bioinformatician/ extremely critical. Field
tions in a variety of fields ation. Genomics relies on pecially of variants of con- expanding field with Bioinformatician and application specialists 'Not Muslim': Caste....
ranging from Next-generation Se- cern (VOC) during the newer sequencers rapidly computational biologist: train the end users on se- The issue of Wankhede’s caste was raised by former
personalised healthcare to quencing (NGS) technol- pandemic and continues replacing old ones. Bioinformaticians de- quencers, follow up on Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik.
agriculture. ogy. Advances in NGS to help clinicians and sci- Booming Career velop tools and ways to their queries and also Applications were filed by the complainants, includ-
As scientists and technologies led to the entists design better vac- prospects store, segregate and maintain the machine. ing political leader Manoj Sansare, Ashok Kamble and
other professionals use birth of an era of cines. Genomics also fos- Scientist-cancer analyse data while com- Sequencer design Sanjay Kamble, against Wankhede.
discoveries in genetics to microbiome studies. The tered ‘Precision medi- genomics: Cancer arises putational biologists use experts/Engineers: Com- Mumbai district caste certificate verification com-
revolutionise the world, human microbiome, ani- cine.’ Herein, due to genome instabil- these tools to render panies offer several se- mittee examined the complaints and passed an order
careers in genetics and mal microbiome, and soil personalised therapy is ity or mutations. Early meaningful biological in- quencers such as Illu- on the same on Friday.
genomics are booming, microbiome are promis- offered to a patient based diagnosis is the key to its formation. mina (MISeq, HISeq), The order says that it was not proven that
given the advances in the ing cures to diseases like on his/her genome. cure. Genomics experts Product Manager: PacBio, Nanopore, and Wankhede and his father Dnyandev Wankhede re-
field of personalised Diabetes, improving Genomics offers can diagnose and predict Given the range of se- Ion Torrent sequencers nounced Hinduism and duly converted to Islam. It is
medicine, DNA sequenc- livestock health, and pro- several career opportu- cancer prognosis. A sci- quencing applications and from Thermo Fischer proven that Wankhede and his father in law belong to
ing technologies and com- moting sustainable agri- nities in areas such as entist working in cancer sequencers per se; each Scientific. An engineer the Scheduled Caste that is Mahar-37, the order stated.
mercial applications of culture by suggesting soil Clinical genomics, Can- genomics can suggest product must reach its in- in alliance with a Complaints filed by Nawab Malik and others regard-
genetics research. improvement/preserva- cer genomics, Genomics immunotherapy for the tended end-user, which is genomics expert can de- ing the caste claim of Wankhede and regarding the
‘Genomics’ stands tion measures. of rare diseases, patients. what a product manager sign a piece of equip- religion of the caste certificate are not substantiated,
for the study of whole The advancement in Genomics and wellness, Rare diseases scien- does. Next-generation se- ment that performs bet- following which complaints are being rejected due to
genomes. While ‘genes’ genomics continues to microbiome-based thera- tist: Rare diseases such as quencing companies of- ter and is more cost-ef- lack of the facts in the complaint, the order said.
are instructions encoded happen on the technology peutics, Bioinformatics, Sickle cell anaemia can be ten hire product manag- fective. Expert, Pharma- Wankhede had come to limelight following the
in molecules called DNA as well as the application and Computational biol- effectively managed if ers to reach their target cogenomics: It is one high-profile October, 2021 raids by the NCB on a
in a cell, ‘Genomics’ is front. It can be applied to ogy. Besides, there is diagnosed early. A rare customers. field of precision medi- Mumbai cruise after which the agency had arrested Aryan
the study of all genes of diseases like cancer, plenty of growth in the disease genomics scientist Field Application cine that tailors drug/ Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, and 19 others and
an organism and or al- sickle cell anaemia, engineering of sequenc- can enable early diagno- specialists: Buying and therapy to patients’ ge- claimed to have seized some narcotics too. The NCB
tered genes in each set of thalassaemia, or infectious ers and of sequencing sis and improve the prog- installing a sequencer is a nomes.—The Hawk Features had later given a clean chit to Aryan Khan.—PTI
10 MUMBAI
SUNDAY
AUGUST 14, 2022
Reflections
{ THE BIG PICTURE }
At 75, let’s take Bharat to

the pinnacle of its glory
Along with celebrating, we Due to these comprehensive efforts, we dev Rabindranath Tagore, through his
attained a position to self-govern on August famous poem, “Where the mind is without
must introspect: What is the 15, 1947. After sending the British rulers off, fear and the head is held high”, described his
content of Swa (selfhood) that we took the reins of the country’s adminis- expectations of an independent Bharat.
tration to run it according to our will and Mahatma Gandhi, through Hind-Swaraj,
will fulfill the purpose of our choice, and using our very own people. Given elaborated on his ideas of free Bharat. Veer
Independence? What will be this, the enthusiastic celebratory mood Savarkar in his epic poem dedicated to Swat-
around Amrit Mahotsav is obvious and antrya Devi, the Goddess of Independence,
the nature of our power on the appropriate. envisioned that she would bring excellence,
global stage? How can we This is also an opportunity to revisit nobility and progress. BR Ambedkar, while
known and lesser-known stories of struggles presenting the draft Constitution to the Con-
prepare society for our global and sacrifices made by people from various stituent Assembly articulated the purpose of
sections of society. (Many such events are Independence and our duties to realise the
role? We must remember that mentioned in history and folklore). The char- same.
we have a distinct message for acter, devotion and inspiration of our free- Along with the Amrit Mahotsav celebra-
dom fighters who sacrificed everything to tions, we should introspect on a few ques- Besides social awakening, each of us needs to display exemplary conduct to get rid of the evils that have infected our society over
the world. Time to get to work protect the interests of fellow nationals can tions: What is the content of Swa (selfhood) time – whether they be discrimination based on caste, region, language and sect or petty selfish interests arising out of material or
and should be the guiding force for us. that will fulfill the purpose of our national social aspirations. Only an egalitarian and exploitation-free society can possess the strength to protect its freedom SHUTTERSTOCK
O
n August 15, Bharat will com- At the same time, we should Independence? What will be the
plete 75 years of Independence. remember our objectives and nature of our power on the global that binds us. Our eternal culture gives us the indulging in instigation and division through uals and society being competent. We need to
Amrit Mahotsav programmes responsibilities and equip our- stage? How can we prepare society wisdom of being erudite, benevolent and confusion created in society for their petty follow four principles for the necessary sys-
are already being organised to selves to fulfill them by quickly get- for our global role? We need a compassionate towards each other. It also interests. An alert, organised and powerful temic modifications based on the idea of Swa:
commemorate the occasion. ting into action. churning and absolute clarity on the teaches us how to purify both our minds and society does not give space or shelter to such Clarity about Swa (our selfhood), uncondi-
We are in a festive mood; but Why does a country need Swara- eternal ideals of Bharat and its con- the environment around us. Since time elements. tional patriotism, individual and collective
this does not mean we have resolved all our jya or self-rule? Can good govern- temporary manifestation. This was immemorial, our common, brave and ethical There are certain essential preconditions discipline and unity. Factors such as material
problems. Some old issues are pending and ance under foreign rule ever allow Mohan the driving force behind our free- forefathers guided us to adopt the right path. for the success of a democratic system. One, knowledge, skills, qualifications and a favour-
a few new ones are emerging. Despite this, us to realise our national objec- Bhagwat dom struggle till 1947. We should utilise this treasure, with its own the existence of synergy between national able administrative and political atmosphere
the joy of Amrit Mahotsav celebration is nat- tives? The answer is ‘NO’. The Bharat has a distinctive message peculiarities, but minus narrow selfish and interest, political ideologies, and the merit of can work in the desired direction.
ural and justified. expression of Swa (selfhood) is the to the world based on experiments, divisive interests. We need to consider individual candidates. Two, the basic knowl- This Amrit Mahotsav of our national Inde-
After many centuries, on August 15, 1947, natural aspiration of each individual and experience and truth, reflected in eternal national interest as the sole foundation of all edge and natural habit of following laws, pendence is an occasion for us to resolve to
we regained the right to self-governance. The nation; this becomes the inspiration for Inde- vision, thinking, culture and action, which is our actions. We have no option but to orga- obeying the Constitution, and civic disci- take Bharat to the pinnacle of its glory. It is a
period of colonisation was long and so was pendence. Thus, human beings can experi- comprehensive, integral and inclusive. Here, nise the entire society on these lines. pline. We can see the erosion caused in these juncture to ponder over the relentless hard-
the battle for Swaraj. Bharatiya society ence Su-Rajya (good governance) only where diversity is not seen as differences but as the Besides social awakening, each of us needs fundamental values due to political factors. ship behind this Independence. We need to
fought against foreign rule in a comprehen- there is Swa-Rajya. expression of the same unity. For being one, to display exemplary conduct to get rid of the People are losing control over their tongue make similar efforts to adjust the present
sive, all-pervasive fashion. All sections of As Swami Vivekananda said, each nation one need not be the same. The mindset of evils that have infected our society over time to score brownie points in a debate. On social system as per our Swa.
society contributed to the cause in keeping evolves and exists to make a certain contri- painting everyone in the same colour leads to – whether they be discrimination based on media, such incontinence has become the While continuing with the celebratory
with their ability. bution to the world. This can be done only by uprooting and discord. An unconditional caste, region, language and sect or petty self- norm — and it is also a reason for dishar- enthusiasm, let us accelerate on this path of
Along with various armed and unarmed an independent country. Therefore, being affection, standing firm on our fundamentals ish interests arising out of material or social mony. Every one of us, including leaders, has perseverance, clarity, and determination.
movements, there was also the beginning of independent and capable is a precondition and still respecting the uniqueness of others aspirations. Only an egalitarian and exploita- to create an atmosphere where civic disci-
social awakening about the evils that turned for a country to fulfill its destined role. is the only way to organise our society in one tion-free society can possess the strength to pline and restrictions imposed by the law are Mohan Bhagwat is Sarsanghchalak
out to be obstacles in the path of attaining Several great leaders have also explained thread. protect its freedom. respected and followed. of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
our freedom. the purpose of Bharat’s Independence. Guru- Our motherland is the common factor Some forces, internal and external, are No change is possible without both individ- The views expressed are personal
{ SUNDAY SENTIMENTS }
Karan Thapar
Hindu rate of growth and failed to excite
the entrepreneurial spirit of our people.
Although we claim to be non-violent, 1984
and 2002 show how hollow that boast has
INDIA AT 75 IS A TIME TO
ASSESS OUR SUCCESSES
AND FAILURES, BUT
Pelosi’s trip exposes key
often been.
In 1947, countries like China, South
ALSO TO ASK WHAT
SORT OF COUNTRY HAVE dilemmas on Taiwan
India at 75: Looking Korea and Thailand had economic condi-
tions and national incomes comparable to
ours. Seventy-five years later, we’ve been
WE BECOME. THESE ARE
NOT ISSUES THAT CAN ouse speaker Nancy Pelosi, the citizens of democratic Taiwan to accept the
back to look ahead

left behind. If the reforms of the 1990s had
happened three decades earlier, the story
could have been very different.
Conclusions can be invidious, but if
you’re looking for one, let me hesitantly
YIELD DEFINITIVE
ANSWERS. EACH PERSON
IS LIKELY TO HAVE HIS
H most powerful member of the right of China’s Communist Party to impose
United States (US) Congress, has a police State on them. Washington goes on
now returned from a trip to Asia, pretending that it cares as much about Tai-
which included a stopover in Taiwan. The wan’s future as China does. The US policy is
fallout from that visit has only just begun. to recognise that there is only One China in
omorrow, India will celebrate 75 Literacy has increased over four times. Life offer a suggestion. If we are justified in
OWN AND FOR HIM, IT’S When media reports first appeared that theory, but to leave open the possibility it
T years of Independence. It’s an occa-

sion to assess our successes and
failures as a nation, but also to ask
what sort of country have we become.
These are not issues that can yield defini-
expectancy has more than doubled.
Though there’s a lot more we still need to
do, what we’ve achieved is praiseworthy.
Arguably a greater achievement is that
a food deficit country, which often lived
claiming India has achieved a lot, we
would be unwise to forget how often we’ve
stumbled or simply walked the wrong
path. Frankly, it’s a bit of both.
This brings me to the question: What
THE CORRECT ONE.
silent. That would have been unimaginable
in the 1940s and ’50s. Of this, we can only
be embarrassed, but few choose to even
she wanted to go, the Chinese government will fight a war to prevent Beijing from
began issuing warnings of grave conse- using force to create One China in practice.
quences. The US, Chinese officials insisted, Biden has added to the confusion by
was playing with fire. Joe Biden, the embat- insisting that America would fight China to
tled US president and leader of Pelosi’s protect Taiwan, a statement avoided by past
tive answers. Each person is likely to have ship-to-mouth, is today one of the world’s sort of country are we today? Many of the acknowledge it. Democratic Party, made clear through leaks presidents. Despite this, representatives of
his own and for him, it’s the correct one. In biggest producers of food. We top the old problems continue. Dalits and Adivasis So, what will we emphasise tomorrow? to the media that he thought a his White House have tried to pro-
that spirit, let me share my thoughts. If world in milk, and are second in the pro- were, and remain, among the most No doubt it’s our achievements we will stop in Taiwan was poorly timed. tect America’s strategic ambiguity.
nothing else, they might provoke your own. duction of rice and wheat. We’re also the deprived. We have failed to wipe away remember. That’s understandable. But His administration is trying to Meanwhile, China’s foreign minis-
We have a lot to be proud of. Despite world’s largest exporter of rice. their tears. Though banned by law, even if we don’t speak about it, let’s not for- cool rising tensions with China, ter described Pelosi’s Taiwan visit
divisions of caste, creed, ethnicity, lan- Our space programme, our Indian Insti- untouchability has not been eradicated. get where we went wrong. These were and Biden knew Pelosi’s trip as “manic, irresponsible, and highly
guage, cuisine, and culture, which even in tutes of Technology (IITs) — which taught Starvation and famine may be history, but occasions when we failed to live up to our would do the opposite. irrational” before China responded
the mid-60s prompted western critics to 13 of the world’s top CEOs — as well as our nearly 25% remain below a ludicrously commitments or continued with economic Pelosi went because she knows to it by firing ballistic missiles into
prophecy the end of India, we remain a renowned cricket tournaments and film minimalist poverty line. In fact, the truth is ideologies that should have been discarded she is nearing the end of her Ian the sea.
united country. We have also survived and, industry, make us unique among Third for the last decade, we haven’t bothered to or, worst of all, turned our back on the ide- political career, and wants to be Bremmer The greatest worry is that
despite the Emergency, even flourished as World countries. None can boast of any- find out. als of our Constitution. In short, these were remembered as a leader unafraid Pelosi’s visit has set new prece-
a democracy. Our elections are fair, gov- thing similar. We have also added to our problems. In instances when we let ourselves down. to stand up for a determined dents. China’s live-fire military
ernments change, and public protests can Unfortunately, our errors, lapses, and the last eight years, we’ve become intoler- Tomorrow, we must promise not to repeat democracy trapped in the shadow of a giant exercises in waters that Taiwan considers
check powerful administrations. Unlike wilful mistakes are equally great. Succes- ant of dissent, majoritarian in our attitude, such mistakes. authoritarian bully. to be within its territory will make greater
Pakistan and Bangladesh, military rule is sive governments failed to give education and distinctly prejudiced in our treatment Pelosi’s supporters point out there is provocations in future much more likely. Xi
unknown to India. and health the importance they deserve. of our Muslim fellow citizens. Today, we Karan Thapar is the author of precedent for such a visit. A quarter century is now more likely to use the Party Congress
In terms of literacy and life expectancy, Though we built dams and steel mills, the hear public threats of genocide, whilst the Devil’s Advocate: The Untold Story ago, then-House speaker Newt Gingrich to set new red lines on Taiwan that future
India in 2022 bears no comparison to 1947. stress on socialism kept us mired in the government deliberately chooses to be The views expressed are personal ignored shrill warnings from Beijing and American officials will be tempted to test.
went to Taipei. But much has changed in 25 The US and China are not on the verge of
years. America’s global military power war. Both recognise that in today’s global-
remains unrivalled, but China’s military ised world, there is no Berlin Wall to protect
Taiwan: The primacy of the might is now far greater than it was. In the one side’s security and prosperity from the
1990s, China had to accept that threats to other’s potential turmoil. Both live with the
directly confront the US navy wouldn’t add threat of mutually assured economic
semiconductor ecosystem much muscle to its negotiating leverage. destruction. But Pelosi’s trip allows China’s
Today, the balance of force is far less clear. military to rehearse for a future war,
And the timing is sensitive, because pushes China’s leaders to save face by draw-
China is weeks away from a historic Party ing new Taiwan red lines, and raises new
peaker of the United States (US) ware and hardware. It was the first time an Congress at which President Xi Jinping will doubts about the long-term stability of Tai-
S House of Representatives, Nancy industry leader talked about the China

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has raised challenge and gave a public statement
questions about a potential geopoli- about a possible takeover by China.
tical turmoil in the region. One interesting Indeed, China does not stand to benefit
aspect of Pelosi’s visit was her video meet- from a hostile takeover of Taiwanese semi-
choreograph his coronation for a third wan’s economy. Beijing’s belligerent
term. This is not a time when China’s leader response, in turn, encourages China hawks
will shrug off an American act of assertive- in Washington to continue to push hard on
ness that he’s already denounced. Taiwan — without a credible plan of
The most important thing that Pelosi’s response if push one day comes to shove.
ing with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufac- conductor manufacturing facilities. While stopover in Taiwan has accomplished is to
turing Company (TSMC)’s chairman Mark fabs are an important component of the once again underline the unsustainable Ian Bremmer is the president of Eurasia
Liu, showcasing the primacy of semicon- complex supply chain, China will continue absurdity of the US-China agreement on Group and GZERO Media and
ductors in international relations. to be dependent on importing high-end Taiwan. China’s government continues to author of The Power of Crisis
With the Chinese State show- manufacturing equipment, photo- With the world recovering from a chip shortage and industry ramping up supply pretend it has the right to force 23 million The views expressed are personal
casing aggressive responses to resists and etching gas to complete to pre-pandemic levels, can we afford another supply chain shock to the industry?
the visit, one begins to wonder
whether another Taiwan Strait
crisis is on the horizon. A ques-
the fabrication process. If the Chi-
nese State executes a takeover,
there will be a major pushback
With Taiwan and China being key parts of the global semiconductor ecosystem,
how will increased cross-Strait tensions affect the industry? SHUTTERSTOCK
A
l
tion to address in case of another from the global semiconductor neither will benefit from such actions. focus on using its semiconductor technol- { SUNDAY LETTERS }
crisis is the effect it might have ecosystem, alienating China from A large-scale intervention or blockade ogy to develop chips for defence purposes.
on the global semiconductor and Arjun the supply chain. There are of the Taiwan Straits by the Chinese State Most of its capital and resources in the
electronics supply chain. Gargeyas already significant restrictions, can prevent the export of manufactured semiconductor domain will be directed A holistic approach The world must stand up for the Afghans
With the world recovering such as export controls, on supply- semiconductor chips from the island towards utilising them for improvement in This refers to Sonia This refers to Avinash Paliwal’s A year on, why
from a chip shortage and indus- ing semiconductor equipment to nation. The fabs in Taiwan function on the military systems. Hence, consumer goods Grover and Charu Afghanistan remains a critical global issue (Aug 7). This
try ramping up supply to pre-pandemic China. Taking over Taiwan’s industry will pure-play foundry model, meaning that will take a hit. With Chinese exports being Bhanot’s Why Delhi must past year has seen the Afghan people suffer greatly at
levels, can we afford another supply chain silo its domestic industry. they act only as contract manufacturers for a low-cost alternative for many, this would invest in blue-green the hands of the Taliban. If the world cares about
shock to the industry? With Taiwan and Taiwan, however, will face huge losses all semiconductor design firms that don’t ensure that there is a paucity of goods from infrastructure (Aug 7). women’s freedoms and human rights, it is incumbent
China being key parts of the global semi- in terms of its economic and market have fabrication facilities. Hence, a major- China in case of a conflict. Delhi finds itself at a on leaders to stand up for the Afghans. This is urgent.
conductor ecosystem, how will increased advantage. Currently manufacturing over ity of US and European firms enlist the ser- Supply chain resilience or replacement critical juncture with its Rashi Chopra, via email
cross-Strait tensions affect the industry? 60% of the world’s chips, the industry’s col- vices of Taiwanese foundries to get their has not yet been built, especially for Tai- polluted air and water
If a military offensive is launched, what lapse will see Taiwan’s economy tumble designs manufactured. If there’s a block- wan and its firms. It will take time and cap- bodies destroying the city.
will it look like for the industry? and eventually lose its strategic sway over ade of trade routes, Taiwan may be unable ital investment to reach where Taiwan cur- Since sustainability needs Help women get access to clean energy
Recently, Mark Liu was interviewed by the ecosystem. With their domestic facili- to export or supply finished chips to its cli- rently is. Another chip supply shortage to be holistic, blue-green This refers to Lalita Panicker’s The link between
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. Being candid and ties housing critical IP and expensive ents. Signs of an impending crisis can might be on the cards if this issue escalates infrastructure is the only women’s health and clean energy (Aug 7). Most Indian
upfront, Liu stated that if China were to equipment, the destruction or the takeover make firms pull back on their business in into something bigger. way to reclaim the Capital women spend a lot of time in the kitchen. While this
take over Taiwan, it would find TSMC’s of these facilities will hurt Taiwan Taiwan. This may trigger another chip city and effectively fight unpaid work is hard enough, their lack of access to
facilities unusable, because human capital immensely. Therefore, China’s takeover or shortage. Arjun Gargeyas is a researcher with the the climate crisis. clean energy is even more worrying. They need help.
remains their strength and their progress destruction of Taiwan’s semiconductor It will not be just Taiwan, whose chip High Tech Geopolitics programme, Sweta K, via email Radhika M, via email
rests on international collaboration with facilities will not be a zero-sum game. In exports might decline. Even China, now Takshashila Institution
companies for materials, equipment, soft- the long-run, both will be impacted, and one of the world’s biggest exporters, will The views expressed are personal Write to us at: letters@hindustantimes.com
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log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Sunday August 14, 2022
After �� years of freedom, is our interference. This is typical of politicians here including in the Goan
Football Association (GFA). AFC must be strict including caling for not
Sangh, the predecessor of the BJP involved in this august cause.
And thirdly though the RSS, the mother lode from which the sa�ron Display Arpora Nagoa Panchayat
country truly independent? Ghar progress on p’yat website
holding of the U-17 Women’s World Cup if necessary. All the current parties have all emerged, was existent in some nebulous form at that
IFA members and AIFF must be removed. time, did they do anything to secure our freedom. In fact they worked
Here, the GFA has been controlled by 2 types of people: politicians counter to the e�orts of Mahatma Gandhi and others who were work-
On August 15 we are observing 75 years of India’s independence. But and First Division club members both of which had their own axe to ing to get rid of the British. Concluding we need to put an end to all It is a matter of happiness to have a website of Arpora Nagoa Village
truly there is nothing to celebrate or cheer about. There is a lot to pon- grind. Just like the government we need professional managers to these ‘celebrations’ of Independence in the future that draw us back Panchayat. Congratulations to the panchayat body for that! Now the
der and worry about while our nation is ebbing away from democracy. run the GFA. Temporarily, they must give equal representation to all to the unpalatable fact of physical subjugation and give our youth a website should be very informative. For the last �fteen years, e�orts
The basic fundamentals of our Constitution are being �ddled with and clubs from all over Goa. GFA is a ‘small’ unit not like Goa. There can free head to seek greater laurels for the country with a free heart and have been going on to build the Panchayat Ghar. Only the govern-
even our fundamental rights are sought to be trampled on. We have be full participation. Every year the same activities take place in the mind. ment knows exactly where the procedures of the project are stuck.
a lot to reflect on what has been going wrong with the very guiding same fashion: no change. Without change, quality will not improve. The people of the village are very keen on the panchayat ghar.
principles being flouted with impunity. On November 26, 1949, the Objectives must be given. See how Durand Cup organisers are
BJP clearly losing sight of mandate Panchayat website should be informative so that citizens can get
Constituent Assembly adopted our Constitution which was drafted by for which their leaders were elected information about the project from time to time.
working. Coaches selected for the Nationals must be tasked with the See the shallowness of thinking in our Prime Minister, Narendra
a committee headed by Babasaheb Ambedkar who played a pivotal �nal and semis berth. Village matches must rope in past players to According to the information given in a village meeting, the panchayat
role in its drafting. Perhaps the founding fathers never visualized or Modi, who responded to the black dress protests in Parliament and ghar will be built in an area of 800 square metres. The panchayat
give pointers to the players after every match. Goans were known for elsewhere by the Congress party on the price rise issue with the
anticipated that Money and Muscle Power would one day rule the scoring from di�erent angles. Instead of highest goals scored, reward house would have three floors. The panchayat o�ce would be on
roost in our country’s political arena. So now there is need of urgent charge that they are resorting to negativity and black magic. There the ground floor, the gymnasium and library on the �rst floor, and
innovative goal scorers. Pull up players whose shots land on the goal was no response with any substance in it. The same thing was done
amendments to our Constitution to safeguard those fundamentals line: all shots must bulge the nets. This must be the objective. The the auditorium on the third floor. There was a proposal to build the
while leaving no grey areas for manipulation and towards this the by our Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while answering during panchayat ghar in the same place of old panchayat. Of course, the
former comes about by habit when forwards give the goalies catching the price rise debate in Parliament where she said that she would
legislature, executive and judiciary must look within. The Election practice during warm-ups. This job must be for defenders alone. auditorium has become important for the people. Because gram
Commission, Reserve Bank and some other vital institutions whose make a ‘political’ speech. When the price rise issue is real and hurting sabhas are held in temple halls or church halls. But the website
autonomy also stands blatantly ruptured. The CBI, Enforcement Direc- people what is the rationale for making a ‘political’ speech. It does should be updated from time to time to provide information to the
Is Ladli Laxmi Scheme or similar
torate and the Income Tax Authorities are functioning under political schemes required in State? not give any relief to the common man from the troubles he is facing. people about the progress of Panchayat Ghar construction or pro-
duress. The world’s largest democracy is at crossroads while we are Strange how some me- At the same time Narendra Modi and his team are clearly declaring posed projects. And many congratulations to new VP body for future
witnessing an undeclared state of emergency. And more importantly dia are trying to justify themselves as allied to the rich and the super-rich by withdrawing developments.
there are attempts to even compromise the vital independence of the the freebies o�ered by the windfall tax on petroleum products, writing o� Rs 10 Lakh Crore RAJESH BANAULIKAR, Arpora
judiciary. Let us work dedicatedly towards unitedly ensuring a truly the Trinamool Congress of bad bank loans in the last 5 years and in a lighter vein providing Z+
Our BJP leaders are unable

independent and democratic India. in Goa. The Laxmi Griha security to Adani! The BJP �lled with the pompousness of their huge
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar scheme o�ered by TMC majority in Parliament is also clearly losing sight of the mandate for
which they were elected. One hopes that Nitish Kumar’s severing ties
to understand true patriotism
in Goa was for Rs 5000
Curious case of increasing pm for women having with the BJP will set the ball rolling to work towards a joint Opposition
just a mobile number! to Narendra Modi and the NDA so that we can look towards 2024 with
a hope for a better alternative. PM Narendra Modi after making all the gullible poor people to bang
C-sections in hospitals The Bengal scheme-
called Laxmi Bhandar
Scheme, o�ered Rs 500/- pm for general category and Rs1000/- pm
S KAMAT, Alto Santa Cruz
utensils, light candles standing outside their balconies during the Co-
rona virus crisis has now urged Indians to buy the national flag from
The government should take a strong stance to curtail excessive and post o�ces and to hoist the same atop their houses from August 13 to
unnecessary C-section deliveries in some States. A Caesarean section
or a C-section is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision. The
for SC/ST. Eligibility: Women must be permanent residents of Bengal
aged between 25 to 60. Applicants must be citizens of Bengal-- yes Decisions on some labour cases August 15 as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign of the upcoming
75th Independence Day to somehow distract everyone from his own
nexus of private nursing homes and hospitals making huge money
from C-sections. C-section is a surgery performed to deliver the baby
the site says so. Women having permanent jobs in government or pri-
vate cannot avail the same. For the general category, families having 1
tax paying member or 2 hectares of land are not eligible. In Goa, more
pending with Ministry since �� major failures. Well, leaders like Modi have enough money to buy
opposition MLAs, to construct huge statues, new Central Vista Project
through an incision made on the stomach and the womb. It involves The Central Labour Commissioner is controlling labour tribunals in or Parliament house, to buy di�erent types of expensive out�ts for
expensive medical bills and the possibility of a medical emergency. than 1.5 lakh registered for the scheme before the elections and was India. There are about 50 labour cases decided by the tribunal at himself, to write-o� the bad loans of all his corporate friends but have
While a C-section should be executed only when there is a medical often projected by this media. Mumbai as far back as 2020-21, but so far the decisions or orders/ no money to distribute free tirangas for the people of this country.
emergency or other complications. Otherwise it can put women and Documents required: Aadhar card linked to bank account, Caste cer- awards are not issued by the Labour Ministry and PMO must be Looks like the BJP leaders know nothing about real patriotism and
babies at unnecessary risk of short- and long-term health problems ti�cate, Ration card, Residential certi�cate, Age proof. In Goa we have aware why orders are not issued despite �nality. They also say labour due to which are currently seen shamelessly trying to raise their own
if performed when there is not medical need. The caesarean delivery the Uniform Civil Code. All marriages must be civil registered. So, why issue is under concurrent list of Constitution. party income by even selling our national flags for all the poor people
takes less time and e�ort, and pays more than the normal delivery. the Ladli Lakshmi Scheme? This must be stopped. of this country. I think that PM Modi should �rst tell what steps his
VIKAS SAWKAR, Via email
The private sector health facilities promote caesarean delivery for R FERNANDES, Margao government has really taken to bring about long-term unity amongst
their bene�t of revenues. Deliveries in nursing homes, private and
public hospitals need to be monitored. Currently, there are no audits
Political scenario in Goa to Process becomes punishment fellow citizens. A true patriot will never live to spread communal
hatred against others based on caste/religion but will make all-out
under draconian laws like UAPA

on C-section deliveries in private hospitals, and if the National Family e�orts to spread the message of love/peace and will also �ght to
Health Survey data is any indication, medical practices in gynae-
cology need to be monitored. The National Accreditation Board for
Hospitals & Healthcare needs to be more involved.
turn like that of Maharashtra In granting
uphold the fundamental rights of all free- born citizens of this country
based on humanity. Proud to be a liberal-minded secular Indian.
Happy 75th Independence Day.
Political scenario in Goa will turn like that of Maharashtra where in permanent
KG VILOP, Chorao Goa the Congress is to be whipped out and in Maharashtra the Shiv medical bail to JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
Sena. Once the BJP takes complete control in Goa and Maharash- Varavara Rao,
Aamir Khan ‘remake’ tra,then the next step will be to merge both these states and have the
Gujarat model system.
the Supreme
Court made it Voters need to be lauded for
�lm stirs controversy Today majority of the shops and business in Mumbai are run by Gu-
jarati community and now slowly it is taking its root in Goa.There will
soon be special trains to run from Ahmedabad to Madgaon.Only last
clear that strin-
gent restric-
tions against
bringing in many new faces
After box o�ce hits Taare Zameen par and Dangal, Aamir Khan has Welcome
put himself in controversy by producing Lal Singh Chadda �lm which few years i see the trains are packed. Earlier in the monsoon season bail in laws like UAPA don’t hinder constitutional courts from protect- the new
is not accepted by the Sikhs.The �lm is based on or a remake of one could easily get train tickets but today it’s packed. The legislative ing fundamental rights of citizens. Last year SC had relied on this prin- panchas of
Forrest Gump 1994 US �lm which is based on army recruitment for assembly will soon have migrated politicians in Goa because the non ciple to uphold bail to a UAPA accused arguing that his incarceration Chin-
Vietnam war.The �lm is based on army personnel and Sikhs in army Goans have started settling in Goa. for over 5 years while the trial crawled on was unjusti�ed. But Rao’s chinim
recruitment. Though the actual reason for such portrayal is not clear, SAMEER J, Mumbai bail granted on technical grounds- medical condition, advanced Deussua
as a �lm the Sikh community at large are not ready to accept the way age, adherence to bail conditions, delay in framing charges doesn’t Panchayat.
they are depicted. An Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer the �lm
does not really show the facts but only remake of US �lm which is of Hoist the tricolour at answer any of the larger questions confronting the justice system. Too
many people not yet proven guilty are in jail, bail as norm and jail as
The voters
need to be
Vietnam war based story and army in that situation.The same cannot
be applied in Indian context where army personnel have to undergo
several tests and training. In movies like PK, Aamir has shown Indian
every vantage point exception is defeated by draconian laws like UAPA that require judges
to deny bail if they believe police cases to be prima facie true. This
puts lower court judges in a �x. The Bhima Koregaon case is disturb-
congrat-
ulated for bringing in many new faces rejecting sel�sh aspirants.
Few lady members make a good mix to balance the situation.
Prime Minis-
gods in funny manner in which Shiva runs around stage. His wife ter Narendra ing on many counts. Despite multiple SC rulings on prompt hearing Money power and influence of politicians saw diminishing returns.
Kiran Rao said India is not safe but lives and produces �lms in India Modi in and disposal of bail applications, Stan Swamy died in judicial custody The winners are social crusaders having shown their passion and
on Indians.The fact remains how �lm like Lal Singh Chadda was re- advising our while waiting for the Bombay HC to decide on his bail plea. Many of commitment to social welfare before entering panchayat.They have
leased without censor boards objection on scenes and unacceptable countrymen the accused were arrested in 2018, but forget trial even framing of shown that one need not occupy position to do good and avoid evil.
story and hurting peoples’ sentiments. Everything projected on big to hoist the charges is not over ; also there are claims that some of the ‘ evidence’ They start with a clean slate without the stigma of corruption.They
screen cannot be accepted as a 3-hour �lm but it leaves a mark and tricolour in a was planted on the accused’s electronic devices. These claims can are there for what they can give and not what they can get.They are
sentiments get hurt. The true �lm is one which takes care of every nationwide be substantiated only if the trials begin. Long delays give credence not masters of art of corruption. It is the reason voters have given con-
religions sentiment and respects the faith and belief of their religious campaign of Har Ghar Tiranga, evokes a feeling of true patriotism in to the worries that in laws with draconian bail conditions the process �dence and shown trust. They are capable of dissecting truth from
practices. the country. At the stroke of midnight 1947 the �rst PM declared the / custody becomes the punishment. Undertrials as a percentage of falsehood.They will not have to slavishly depend upon the secretary
RAJU RAMAMURTHY, Vasco nation’s tryst with destiny, unfolding a path of independence to follow the prison population have been steadily increasing and are at 76% to understand and take decisions. A new person must head the body
now 75 years old and continues to be a vibrant democratic nation now. Comprehensive bail laws and other judicial reforms are needed and ladies given representations as last term lady was sarpanch by
We need to remember and in the company of other great democracies of the world.The country to ensure that the process doesn’t become the punishment; for some law. No compromise to share power by rotation.The best among them
has made progressive strides in various �elds whether it be nuclear, the wait for trial / bail becomes a one way ticket to heaven. be chosen by consensus and not by any manipulations of remote
honour our freedom �ghters solar energy harnessing, medicine, engineering, green revolution in Team India has to prepare control. Fortunately the major change in ushering new capable faces
agriculture making us self reliant and net exporter, space technology for tougher Asian games reflects maturity of voters.The panchayat is not an avenue to seek job
and explorations, digital phones, etc. The Common- opportunities for unemployed but utilise their energies to develop by
As we approach the wealth Games strictly monitoring corrupt practices. Hope the panchayat becomes
75th anniversary of our We as a nation salute our martyrs and freedom �ghters for all their
sacri�ces to gain independence.The Har Ghar Tiranga is a symbol of have been people-oriented and resources are used for betterment of the village.
country’s independ- a veritable
ence day on August patriotism of every citizen of this country when we hoist these flags NELSON LOPES, Chinchinim
on every vintage point like our houses, business establishments, hos- El Dorado, a
15, we are called to
celebrate this grand
historical event by
pitals, army navy camps, schools and colleges etc. Let each one of us
hoist the tricolour flag on every vantage point on August 13, 14, and 15
happy hunting
ground for
Indians in the
Wasting public money will
wearing our patriotism
and nationalism on our sleeve. In short it means showcasing our love
in honour of the PM’s call to do so.Various independence exhibitions
are to be held by SBI at the head o�ces both at Panaji and Margao
branches and even in schools and colleges. Long live our independ-
past and this time was no di�erent. With 22 golds, 16 silver and 13
bronze medals it was a rich haul for the country, kudos to all sports
take us on Sri Lanka path
and dedication for our country with a public display of nationalistic persons who made this possible with their blood, toil, sweat and I consume
spirit and pride by hoisting the tricolour (tiranga) on roof tops and in ence and its symbol the tricolour. 100 to 150
tears. Coming up next year are the tougher Asian games being hosted
our homes. As part of the celebrations of ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ it ASHLEY NORONHA, Fatorda units of
by China for the third time, and Indians will �nd the competition
was encouraging to see some of our religious places in the state lit up electricity
Meaningless ‘celebration’
much tougher there especially in our big medal delivering disciplines
with the colours of the tiranga , even as the pride of place and honour like wrestling, boxing and badminton. Therefore it is very important every month
goes to the 17th century church of St Francis of Assisi in the Old Goa to analyze what worked for us at CWG as well as to address the short- with air-con-
heritage site for being one of the 100 monuments in the country to be
chosen to be illuminated for the event. While these are only externals
meant to foster and shore up nationalistic fervour, there is also a need
of nation’s independence comings. On the �rst front, the investment in foreign exposure trips
has de�nitely provided a boost to our sporting prowess. In a telling
ditioners
and usual
electrial
I was born after 1947, so technically I was - born free. Thus I am not example Avinash Sable whose silver made him the �rst non-Kenyan
to remember and honour our past leaders and freedom �ghters who able to appreciate the brouhaha surrounding the ‘celebration’ of to win a medal in steeplechase since 1994 credits his training in the gadgets at
sacri�ced their lives to free us from colonial rule. Let us also pledge Independence every year. Even otherwise we as Indians belong to a US with an enormous impact on his progress and performance . A my home,
to work as one large family for the welfare and prosperity of our of civilisation which is among the oldest in the world, thus there is no crisis of con�dence seems to have sapped our women’s cricket team but Delhi
country. question of anyone subjugating us particularly in the mind. Indians and men’s hockey squad; jangled nerves taking a toll at climactic mo- Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to o�er free electricity to
AF NAZARETH, Alto Porvorim have been free and will be free for all time. What has happened to ments is a weakness demanding special attention, maybe specialist residents consuming upto 300 units per month. What is the need of
our land from historical times is that it has been colonised by various sports psychologists and mental strength coaches need to be drafted squandering public money like this giving freebies to upper middle
Professional managers needed people which are essentially aberrations but Indians have been
intrinsically free. That is why we see the Indian civilisation and culture
in. A larger malaise is also suggested by how India’s �rst ever medal
winner in the men’s high jump could only get to the competition by
class families who can a�ord it? The only explanation is that Kejriwal
wants electoral votes for all that he does; I personally treat it on par
to run Goa Football Association thriving even to this day. going to court, his saga calls for re�nement and transparency in the with bribe. A suitable law should be enacted to prevent such malprac-
Where actually the truth is that �rstly, the BJP was not formed prior selection process. Well done Team India for all the guts and glory and tices by politicians who in order to cling to power give freebies. If every
to Independence and hence could not have participated in our �ght here’s wishing you the very best for your future endeavours. State does this, than we will have to follow the Sri Lanka way of debt.
Praful Patel, a politician continues to interfere in the CoP /SC matters.
Imagine, calling a zoom meeting with 35 member States as outside for freedom, as they call it. Secondly, neither was the erstwhile Jana VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim DIOMEDES PEREIRA, Corlim
Printed and Published by: Pramod Acharya on behalf of Fomento Media. Editor: Joel Afonso (Responsible for selection of News under PRB Act). Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above, all columns and letters represent the views of the
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Swaraj is my
birthright and Bal Gangadhar
I shall have it Tilak
06 HYDERABAD SUNDAY 14 08 2022

� � THE NEW SUNDAY EXPRESS
INDIA@75: THREE INDIAN DEMOCRACY IS NOW THE RULE OF

GOALS FOR A FEW, FOR FEWER, BY THE FEWEST
INDIA@80 crisscrossed the streets, waving Con-
gress flags and shouting “Chacha Nehru
dia, India is Indira’. His was the first
perversion of the idea of democracy. Be-
Gowdas in Karnataka, the Badals in
Punjab and the Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh.
T
Zindabad” Then it was the Congress vs tween 1952 and 1984, prime ministers The transition from a guided democracy
HIS week India observes the 75 years of its Independence. none. In 1957, the political tapestry was amassed more power. Parties became to dynastic democracy was total. How-
India has much to celebrate, in particular the preservation tricolour. Children like me would collect just instruments of promotion. History ever, Rajiv lacked his mother’s Machia-
of democracy, with all the faults and warts, in a landscape toy merchandise of the Congress sym- had played a cruel trick on the fathers vellian streak. He was challenged by his
riddled with challenges. There is also much that India and bol—a kisan and two bullocks—from the of the Constitution, persons of emi- Finance Minister, V P Singh, the first
Indians should be troubled about -- particularly in the area party’s office. Then India lacked even a nence who had never imagined that leader with the Congress gene to demo-
of human development. POWER & POLITICS dozen national and local parties in total. their trust in the future system would be cratically dislodge family rule. Unfortu-
India is poised to be the most populated nation in the world PRABHU CHAWLA Only the Republican Party of India misplaced. They had conceived a frame- nately, Rajiv was killed, signalling the
at over 1.4 billion by 2023 – it will add 300 million to the work- prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com sought votes in the name of caste or work of checks and balances guarded by end of the Gandhi’s tragic and adventur-
force by 2030 and will boast of the largest working age popula- Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla community. The Congress ruled both three pillars of democracy; the legisla- ous era. In 1991, a Brahminical cabal
tion way past 2050. This rising young populace has to be nur- the Centre and the states. India began as ture to frame laws, the Executive to im- conspired to anoint Pamulaparthi
tured and skilled to thrive in the future. Here is a three-point a participative democracy where maxi- plement them and the judiciary to up- Venkata Narasimha Rao as AICC Presi-
agenda for India@80.
S
mum leaders and institutions played a hold the rule of law. The media became dent; he was the first non-Gandhi Con-
Primary Education: It is indisputable that India’s primary EVENTY five years ago, the significant role. Though the Congress the fourth pillar, expected to be the gress PM and headed a delicate minority
education system is broken. Funding is an issue – the three- dawn of Indian democracy was enjoyed an over two-thirds majority in watchdog to ensure the other three did government. The Gandhi moxie de-
decade-old promise of allocating 6 per cent of GDP for education baptized in blood, tears and loss Parliament, it allowed the tiny Opposi- their job impartially. Today all four nei- clined as a vote puller. Indian democracy
is yet a promise. What is worrisome is the quality of the out- of lives and livelihoods. It was tion its say. But the Opposition ranks ther balance nor check each other’s accepted other legitimate leaders; single
comes on current spending. Between 2014 and 2020, India’s total also burnished by the hope of a were populated with giants like EMS greed to usurp authority. Nowhere is it party rule gave way to H D Deve Gow-
spending on education rose from Rs new future. The reborn Indian Namboodiripad, Ram Manohar Lohia, written that the prime minister can sus- da’s multi-party coalition in 1996, fol-
3.54 lakh crore to Rs 6.2 lakh crore. revelling in the ecstasy of unit- Acharya Kripalani, Syama Prasad pend fundamental rights and jail the Op- lowed by Atal Behari Vajpayee, who
The 2021 ASER Report shows be- ed identity didn’t realise that the tryst Mukherjee, Piloo Modi, and Nath Pai— position like Indira did by invoking the helmed a government of 22 parties. Half
tween 2014 and 2020, the percentage with destiny was happening at the cross- all leaders with limited geographical National Security Act in 1975 without of India by then was run by other dynas-
of Class III students in government roads. There were roads less taken since influence but occupying equal mind- Cabinet concurrence. The President ties or regional parties. The Coalition
schools in Karnataka who could the journey was yet to begin. As I wrote space as the ruling party leaders. But by signed the Proclamation of Emergency, model lasted for 15 years until Narendra
read class I text dropped from 41 to in one of the special issues of the India the late 1970s, it became an age of pere- ignoring proper procedure. The found- Modi appeared as the nemesis of blood-
24.2 per cent, and the ratio of stu- Today magazine, my own journey began grination. India’s political pin codes had ing vision of democracy didn’t foresee a line politics. He brought back single
THE THIRD EYE dents who could recognise double-
digit numbers slid from 75 to 60 per
with unsolicited displacement. Driven
out with my mother and seven siblings
changed. I had changed residence, mov-
ing from a slum to a slightly better habi-
Prime Minister-led executive supersed-
ing senior judges and appointing a jun-
party rule after three decades. His elec-
toral energy also reduced the Congress
SHANKKAR AIYAR cent. Quality deficiency is not lim- from a comfortable house in Dera Ghazi to just 42 MPs, erasing its eligibility to
Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: ited to Karnataka. Khan, now in Pakistan, I spent my child- be a recognised party in Parliament,
A Biometric History of India’s 12 Digit Learning requires teaching – over hood in a refugee camp in Jalandhar, which it had dominated in 1951.
Revolution, and Accidental India
shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com
one lakh schools are single-teacher then a small town in Punjab. Dismem- Indian democracy has come full cir-
schools. Just one state, Bihar, has berment, discombobulation, distance, cle. Today, India@75 is a global power. A
over 2.48 lakh teacher posts vacant. dislocation and despair were my per- country once begging for food is the
Unsurprisingly four out of ten stu- sonal Partition tropes. It was also my world’s fastest growing economy and a
dents (39.5 per cent) need tuition. crossroad. With no permanent shelter global technology titan. However, genu-
There is no dearth of literature on or vocation, street hawking was perhaps ine democracy is yet to take root in the
what needs to be done – from teacher the family’s best option to survive. A soil of its popular psyche. The Opposi-
training to redesigning of pedagogy good education was a luxury. For a Mid- tion’s growing irrelevance, the judici-
to leveraging technology. Commis- night’s Child like me, a ramshackle, ary’s plummeting credibility, fawning
sions and reports are aplenty. What four-room municipal school laid the tv-terrorists and overpowering Execu-
India needs is champions for the foundation for what I would become 20 tive signal its slow decay. Legislatures
cause at the Centre and in every years later. By the century’s end, India have become ominous operas of vicious-
State. would become a Global Knowledge Em- ness. Two decades ago, it was decided
Access to Water: The magnitude pire with me one of its picayune sub- that state Assemblies and Parliament
of India’s water crisis is visible jects. In the years that followed, I wit- tat. Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial style was ior jurist as the Chief Justice. The con- would meet at least for 100 days in a year.
across rural and urban India. In 2019 nessed the heat and dust of politics, the driving many Congress leaders to seek tours of democracy had transformed This has never been implemented.
the government created the Minis- rise, fall, and rise and fall of the Gan- greener pastures and split the mother- into a single silhouette of unbridled Prime ministers and chief ministers
try of Jal Shakti and signalled in- dhis, and the birth of other political lode. Such departures sowed the seeds power. Indira once said: “The power to have turned their ever-expanding resi-
tent with a parade of programmes, including piped water to all dynasties—some regional and others of caste and community based outfits. question is the basis of all human dential premises into the real estate of
under the Jal Jeevan Mission. In 2019 barely 17 per cent of the national. I recorded the emergence of But the Gandhis rarely lost control. But progress.” Resilient Indian democratic governance. Parties lack internal de-
rural households had access to piped water. In 2022 over 52 per coalition and opportunistic politics and the divisions allowed the valedictorians genes hit back. Her every deed was ques- mocracy, and have junked genuine or-
cent of rural homes have a pipe connection. The provision of nefarious nexuses in big business. As a to become the first real Opposition. Af- tioned. She faced the wrath of the same ganizational elections. Their office bear-
pipe though is no guarantee for access to water. In June 2017, journalist, I noted the financial policy ter Partition, the first wound democracy people who had installed her on her lofty ers are chosen by the privileged few. The
Pune’s residents petitioned the Bombay High Court to direct the tides that shaped India’s economic coast- suffered was in 1958 when Indira, as seat. She is the first Congress PM to lose Election Commission ignores dubious
Pune Municipal Corporation to ensure water supply. In August line and painted on paper with pigments Congress president, persuaded her papa both power and her own election. This electoral conduct. Party meetings are
2022, Pune’s residents and 11 associations are back in court of pan-power political rainbows. As In- premier to dismiss Kerala’s elected birthed the first experimental coalition now colourful circuses held in air-con-
seeking access to water. India’s cities are stranded between tax- dia Today magazine’s editor in 1996, I Communist government. Then, her son of conflicting ideologies and individu- ditioned venues. Leaders rarely meet
paid expectations and predatory private water supply. would often stand on the terrace of our Sanjay advised her to impose the Emer- als, which floated the Janata Party rule their MPs or MLAs. Ministerial offices
A 2018 Niti Aayog states over 600 million face extreme water Connaught Place office to ruminate and gency. Later, her other son Rajiv was in 1977; it collapsed in less than three resemble posh corporate offices with
stress, and 70 per cent of groundwater is contaminated. India recollect. I would run my gaze along party to her decision to dislodge And- years under its own contradictions and armed guards restricting access. De-
has 2.45 per cent of the world’s land and 4 per cent of freshwater New Delhi’s skyline to register the hra’s NTR government. Such transgres- power lust. Elections brought back the mocracy has become a fight between
resources. Annual precipitation, snowfall and rain is 4000 bcm changes in the city and its power centres sions exposed Constitutional infirmi- same person who was denounced as dic- “us” and “them”.
translating into 1869 bcm of water, of which only a third is har- since I came to India as a little boy with ties. During six decades of Congress tator just 30 months ago. After a decade Democracy connects leaders with the
nessed. Global warming threatens to worsen the ratio. India little to my name. From my perch, I rule, over 100 state governments were of dynasty rule, Indira’s assassination people who choose them. Seventy five
needs to rethink its hydrology management, accelerate restora- would watch the ebb and flow of crowds dismissed. Legislatures became subser- gave her party its last hurrah in the years later, the gap between the elector-
tion of water bodies, expand the use of Water ATMs, redraw the through the Metro station, whose entry vient to the Executive led by the all-pow- form of a massive mandate. It was also ate and the elected has widened. From
agricultural crop map, induct conservation, improve storage, and exit were in the same block. My erful Prime Ministers. As they netted the last opportunity to stop or pause dy- “Chacha Nehru Zindabad” to “Indira is
enable recycling and invest in desalination plants. mind would drift to the railway over- massive mandates in their personal nastic succession. But President Giani India” to “Har Ghar Modi”, Indian de-
Primary Health Care: The pandemic brutally exposed the in- bridge under which I had played as a name, the progressive political partici- Zail Singh, led by emotions and personal mocracy is a prisoner of performing per-
convenient truth about India’s public health care system – and child. pation of other institutions diminished. loyalty, appointed Rajiv as the PM even sonalities. Our resurgent yet exclusive
triggered attention and allocation to the sector. India currently As a primary school student, I vague- Parties became vessels to ferry person- before the CWC or the CPP could meet. democracy is a democracy of the few, by
runs the world’s largest publicly-funded health insurance ly remember the first Lok Sabha elec- ality cults along the national main- The Congress model revived other dy- the fewer and for the fewest. It has been
scheme for tertiary care -- Ayushman Bharat, covering 100 mil- tions of 1952. Crowds of youngsters in stream. In the ’70s, Congress president nasties across India—the Abdullahs in grabbed by a tiny prosperous India and
lion households. However, access to primary health care is a spotless white homespun applauded and DK Barooah declared that ‘Indira is In- J&K, the Chautalas in Haryana, the leaving a penurious Bharat out.
mess. It suffers from a lack of funding and insufficient person-
nel and is trapped between promise and performance. Nearly a
billion Indians living in 5.9 lakh villages depend primarily on
1.56 lakh sub-centres – effectively one centre for four villages.
Add 25140 primary health centres, each catering to 26 villages
and 5481 community health centres, each serving 121 villages at From our archives
the next level. Here is the gist of a couple of news clippings published in the run up to Independence Day in 1947
The afflicted must reach the nearest centre and hope they find
someone to treat them. The saga of vacancies (Rural Health to make your reading experience more wholesome
Statistics, 2020-21) is chilling – for instance, at PHCs, 64.2 per
cent of the sanctioned posts of health assistants and 21.8 per GANDHIJI TO STAY IN KOLKATA’S RIOT AREA
HYDERABAD WON’T ACCEDE
cent of the sanctioned posts of Doctors are vacant. At CHCs, as
of March 31, 2021, out of the sanctioned posts, 72.3 per cent of Hyderabad will not accede to the Indian Union for now, its After living for a while at Khadi Pratisthan,
surgeons, 64.2 per cent of obstetricians & gynaecologists, 69.2 Nizam communicated to the Viceroy. “Until the mutual Sodepur, Mahatma Gandhi decided to move to
per cent of physicians and 67.1 per cent of paediatricians are relations of the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Noakhali, one of East Calcutta’s most
vacant. India has 13.01 lakh allopathic doctors – plus 5.65 lakh Pakistan are known, the State cannot contemplate organic communally disturbed areas. He planned to
Ayush doctors -- for 1.4 billion people. The ratio of allopathic union with either Dominion,” Nizam of Hyderabad Mir stay in a vacant house which previously
doctors to the population is sub-par, and the shortage of para- Osman Ali Khan wrote to Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. A occupied by a Muslim. The house itself was
medics and nurses is acute. Clearly, this is not a sustainable report published on August 14, 1947 said the letter warned situated in a locality where many families had
model for development. that if India and Pakistan followed “hostile policies”, evacuated from. Chief Minister H S Suhrawardy
The 75th Anniversary of Independence is a time to Hyderabad would remain neutral. He went on to claim that said he would stay in the house with Gandhi.
celebrate -- and to introspect. The occasion calls on the political Hyderabad would have its own representatives to many The aim was to work towards the restoration
class to exit the ghetto of alibis – for instance the Centre-State countries, including the UK. He, however, offered a treaty to of peace and harmony amid the communal
blame and hide game. This has propelled the rise of paid-for the Dominion of India on a basket of issues including land chaos. Suhrawardy had rushed back from
private solutions, chronicled in my book The Gated Republic. communciation, and sharing troops for defence. He conveyed Delhi after learning about the Mahatma’s
India’s parties need to forge a consensus to fix the faultlines his disappointment at the Dominion of India’s lack of plan to visit Noakhali, hoping to block it.
in governance and which affect the delivery of the most basic willingness to negotiate with Hyderabad unless the latter Suhrawardy sought Gandhiji’s help to usher
of services to the poorest of the poor. As India honours its leg- agreed to join the Indian Union first. in peace in Calcutta as well.
acy, it must recognise the need to enable empowerment of future
generations.
and Panchayat Raj in Karnataka is hoisting the fool them before elections. What happens as a re- has always been a tightrope walk historically. Na-
national flag at 465 water bodies that have been sult is that the line is blurred between freebies and tionalism and totalitarian governments have al-
Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts rejuvenated under various gram panchayats. welfare. It leaves little scope for good schemes to ways sought to silence freedom when it threatens
Gandhi right choice The state has 28,000 water bodies in rural areas. be implemented. Won’t irrational freebies lead to their power. Religion, without the exception of
become your words, Your words become your
Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi is yet to be Of them 2,255 will be developed under the the country’s debt? That certainly is not the con- various faiths, had always captained attempts
actions, Your actions become your habits, Your conferred the Bharat Ratna and the Nobel Peace Amrit Sarovara Scheme by removing the silt, cept of a welfare state. Getting loans and squan- to throttle free speech. Khomeini has always used
habits become your values, Your values become prize. He was nominated five times for the Nobel getting rid of encroachments, building fences, dering it on freebies is nothing but harmful for the violence to silence whistleblowers.
your destiny Peace Prize, in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948 but growing tree parks, and introducing country, its economy and its people. Dr George Jacob, Kochi
Mahatma Gandhi never awarded. I urge the Government of India to boating facilities. R Pichumani, Kumbakonam
take the needed steps to honour the Father of the M S Rao Bengaluru Rushdie stabbing
nation with the Bharat Ratna and work towards Rushdie attacked It is with reference to the news “Salman Rushdie on
We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech and earnestness Freebies harm economy
in action nominating him for the Nobel. This is with reference to Horror as Rushdie ventilator” 7.30 AM August 13 e-paper. He has now
C K Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai This is with reference to the editorial SC takes stabbed in the back at New York talk show (August been stabbed by an American youth when Rushdie
Sarojini Naidu tricky road to reining in freebie culture (August 13). 13). The despicable attack on a writer is an attack was about to deliver a lecture in western New York.
National Flag Chief Justice N V Ramana’s bench undoubtedly on the ‘freedom of expression’. Historically speak- It is unfortunate. As an author he has every right
The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas For the first time ever, to mark the 75th Indepen- made a wise decision. Political parties use freebies ing, freedom of speech and expression has always to express his views.
Bhagat Singh dence Day, the Department of Rural Development as a tool to lure in illiterate voters—the promises been very controversial. Re ‘Freedom of expression’ P Victor Selvaraj, Palayankottai
THE NEW SUNDAY EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
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08 NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST 2022 Vol. CXXXXXVI 33 (S)
With which is incorporated

The Englishman ~ Founded 1821
Beleaguered Judiciary A MEMBER
OF THE
ASIAN VOICES
That all stakeholders have vastly different ethos makes the search for a common meeting
Extra CHIPS point difficult. Most higher court judges are from the English-speaking elite, and more International Day
T he US House of Representatives passed the $280

often than not, from judicial families, while the political executive abhors both elitism of the Worlds
billion CHIPS and Science Act, the most signifi- and dynastism. On the other hand, judges consider the average politician corrupt, crass,
cant government intervention in the industrial
and uncouth. The public view the judiciary with distrust probably because the judiciary Indigenous
economy in decades, in the last week of July. Aimed
primarily at boosting semiconductor manufacturing can be approached only through lawyers, who have their own axes to grind Peoples
“I
in the country, the legislation titled Creating Helpful
Incentives to Produce Semiconductors or CHIPS co- f you enrage nature, it will
consumption of beef have repay you with sufferings
W
mes with a $52 billion provision for the semiconduc-
ith the retirement of brought millions of cases in their and hardships,” said one
tor industry alone, with another $200 billion earmar- elderly Mro woman. Other
Justice NV Ramana, wake.
ked for scientific research in Artificial Intelligence, qu- Chief Justice of The Chief Justice of Patna elders nodded quietly, but their non-
antum computing, and other relevant technologies. India, scheduled on High Court had to write to the verbal affirmation spoke a thousand
The law provides for subsidises to companies buil- 26 August 2022, the judiciary will Chief Minister to point out that words.
ding production plants in the USA and sets aside bil- lose one of its most eloquent stringent prohibition laws had led SungAw, a word in Mro language,
lions of dollars to foster a semiconductor ecosystem champions. One may not sub- to a flood of litigation in lower defines both nature and environment,
with elaborate research and development facilities. scribe to Justice Ramana’s views, courts that left little time to jud- as Mro people do not distinguish bet-
Domestically, CHIPS is being touted by the Joe Biden in fact, his detractors far outnum- ges for deciding more important ween the two. In their own way, Mro
Administration as a milestone for policies to ensure ber his supporters, but he must cases. women explained that all natural ele-
that underrepresented people and places can partici- be thanked for highlighting the An earlier CJI had remarked ments are intrinsically and harmo-
problems facing the judiciary. that an amendment in the Nego- niously linked to each other, and harm-
pate more in the nation’s innovation economy. “It Generally, politicians try to tiable Instruments Act had led to ing one element will eventually have an
affirms social and spatial inclusion as central to Amer- evade their own accountability by a pendency of 60 lakh cases. impact on other elements, initiating a
ican strength,” says analyst Mark Muro of Brookings. holding judges responsible for all Probably, following the Pre-Leg- string of causal effects that are deemed
It is indeed true that the Bill received bipartisan sup- types of malaise ranging from fal- islative Consultation Policy to create an imbalance in the natural
port as there is across-the-board concern in America ling moral standards to increa- (PLCP) before introducing legis- world. Humans, like any other living
about the worrying shortfall in semiconductor pro- sing crime. By tradition, judges lation and assessing the effect of beings, cannot escape the consequ-
duction which could seriously impair the US economy do not engage in public debate, the legislation after a pre-deter- ences. Driven by such experiential
going forward. Business organisations such as the US so such statements often went mined period would help in curb- knowledge passed down from genera-
Chambers of Commerce and the National Associa- unchallenged. But, probably ing the enactment of contentious tion to generation, these communities
aided by his training as a journal- laws (Legislation Reimagined, 14 have been religiously practising sus-
tion of Manufacturers too have been strong sup-
ist, Justice Ramana gave it back December 2021). tainable natural resource management,
porters of the legislation. Covid-19 exposed Ameri- as good as he got. Mincing no Finally, the judiciary needs long before the scientific community
can vulnerabilities to semiconductor supply chains, words, he pointed out that the to set its own house in order. came up with the term. It is now widely
most of which are deeply embedded in Asia. Despite most important reasons for the Lower courts have their own acknowledged around the world that
being the global leader in semiconductor design and huge pendency of cases were momentum; they are often guid- Indigenous traditional knowledge is
R&D, the USA outsources most chip manufacturing to shortage of judicial officers and ed more by convenience and contemporary and dynamic, and is of
Asia. Close to 50 per cent of total semiconductor sales the ramshackle infrastructure of local circumstances rather than equal value to any other form of knowl-
worldwide are in America but the USA accounts for most courts. by jurisprudence, probably edge. However, in Bangladesh, the
only 12 per cent of global production. During the pan- Addressing the Joint Confer- because judges of lower courts, depth of Indigenous women’s under-
demic, US automobile manufacturers were forced to ence of Chief Ministers and Chief who are a demoralised lot with
Justices, which was inaugurated uncertain career prospects, have
cut jobs and some of the biggies including, General and addressed by the Prime to satisfy both public sentiments
Motors and Ford, had to temporarily stop and/or scale Minister, the CJI pointed out that and stand up to the powerful standing of the natural world and the
down production. The US auto industry is estimated non-performance of the various Executive. Consequently, most inherent value of traditional knowledge
to have taken a hit of $210 billion in revenue as a wings of the executive and am- casional transgressions by its a verdict. I have no hesitation to judges rely on technicalities, and traditional practices are yet to be
result. But CHIPS is of vital import for the rest of the biguously worded statutes were members would be papered over; say so. You regret it if you go to rather than facts to decide cases fully learnt, understood and duly recog-
world too. Given the emerging geopolitical situation, at the heart of the increasing c) The Government wants sup- court.” and often leave contentious cases nised by the scientific community,
the CHIPS and Science Act needs to be seen in the caseload of the judiciary; had the port from the judiciary in further- There is no magic wand to undecided. The Civil Procedure development practitioners and policy-
context of China’s aggressive posture on Taiwan. For executive been performing their ing its agenda. Seldom expressed cure the ills of the judiciary. Code and the Criminal Procedure makers alike. “Surviving with nature,” ~
example, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing functions in accordance with law, in so many words, the ‘commit- Ersatz solutions like recruitment Code have a number of provi- as opposed to surviving by “fighting
people would have had no occa- ted judiciary’ that Smt Indira of more judges at the District sions like plea bargaining, com- against nature” ~ essentially defines
Company (TSMC), which has more than 50 per cent of
sion to approach the Court. Gandhi wanted, has Court level sug- promise, trial by summary proce- this community’s way of life. But the
the market share in the global semiconductor indus- On his part, the Prime Minis- been the desire of all gested by the dure etc. to aid quick disposal, question now is, for how long?
try, said in 2020 it was setting up a production plant in ter suggested writing of laws in governing parties, Economic Survey which are seldom applied by Through a series of intergenera-
Arizona, USA. Japan too is in talks with TSMC for a simpler language, use of local and 2018-19 are not courts. Similarly, the timelines tional dialogues between women and
project to hedge against supply-chain worries. Eu- languages in Courts, increased d) Lawyers, who are likely to work. laid down in both Codes for dis- men at three villages of Mro communi-
rope, which has a 10 per cent share in global semicon- use of technology in judicial the link between liti- In his address posal of cases are seldom ties, the richness of Indigenous tradi-
ductor production, is also vulnerable to any crisis. processes, encouraging media- gants and judges, to the Joint Con- observed. To dispense justice tional knowledge and the indispensable
The European Commission has already announced tion as a panacea for the ills of the want many disparate ference of Chief quickly and boldly, more than role that Indigenous women play in the
an allocation of 11 billion euros from public funds to judiciary. things, the bottom Justices and Chief anything else, District Court preservation and transmission of tradi-
study, design, and produce semiconductors. Beijing’s However, despite the pious line being the contin- Ministers the CJI judges require moral support and tional knowledge came to light. So did
intentions expressed by both uation of the present pointed out (tho- reassurance, rather than constant the tough challenges that women in
unhappiness with the US legislation is apparent; a sides, nothing has changed on process-heavy system ugh in another criticism from higher courts. these communities are facing while car-
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said earlier the ground. Rather, waters have which discourages DEVENDRA context) that the Higher courts have failed to rying out this role in a socioeconomic
this month the Act “could derail technological coop- been further muddied by sus- quick justice and SAKSENA sanctioned stren- lead by example; the reluctance and political landscape that has changed
eration between China and the USA”. But then the tained campaigns against judges ensures that no liti- The writer is a retired gth of judicial offi- of higher courts, particularly the drastically over the past two decades.
aim of CHIPS is to regain the technological supremacy in social and electronic media, gant can pursue his Principal Chief
Commissioner of
cers had increased Supreme Court, in deciding cases The latter needs more attention, as the
America has lost to China and other countries in re- brought about by some recent case without a lawyer. Income-Tax from 20,811 in with political connotations have environmental violence that these com-
cent years so that’s par for the course. decisions of the Supreme Court. That all stake- 2016 to 24,112 in sent a wrong message to the sub- munities have long been enduring exac-
Speaking at the National holders have vastly different 2022 (an increase of 16 per cent) ordinate judiciary. erbates disproportionately the hardships
Indian shot-calling University of Study and Research
in Law, the CJI observed: “Of late,
ethos makes the search for a but during the same period pen-
common meeting point even dency of cases in district courts
For example, a number of
cases of disqualification of elect-
and sufferings of Indigenous women.
Environmental violence is perpetrated
T
we see the media running kanga- more difficult. To elucidate, most had gone up from 2.65 crores to ed representatives, as well as by politically influential non-resident
hose who had seen Javed Miandad in his irrep-
roo courts, at times on issues higher court judges are from the 4.11 crores (an increase of 54.64 challenges to controversial Acts entities and goons through the over-
ressible playing prime would've suspected a even experienced judges find dif- English speaking elite, and more per cent). In any case, an increase like the Citizenship Amendment exploitation of forest produces and illegal
sad, ivory-tower isolation from basic reality in ficult to decide. Ill-informed and often than not, from judicial in sanctioned strength has to be Act (CAA) are kept pending extraction of stones from stream basins
his recent boycott-India exhortation addressed to the agenda driven debates on issues families, while the political exec- accompanied by recruitment of for long. Perhaps, it would be in the adjacent forests, causing severe
International Cricket Council on the grounds of polit- involving justice delivery are utive abhors both elitism and judges and their supporting staff, better if the Supreme Court sheds environmental degradation in their
ical conflicts in this land. “Pakistan is safe and India proving to be detrimental to the dynastism. On the other hand, creation of infrastructure, like its coyness and decides con- localities. “They have chopped off all the
isn’t” was the burden of his message. Even Pakistanis health of democracy. Biased judges consider the average additional court rooms, allotment tentious cases quickly, if only to large trees in the forests. The streams
might have chuckled at it as the game was getting on views being propagated by the politician corrupt, crass, and of jurisdiction, etc. ~ all of which show the right path to lower have dried up. Let alone getting fish and
with the ICC reduced to peripheral insignificance. media are affecting the people, uncouth. The public view the are time-consuming processes. courts. According to a 2018 strat- crabs from those streams, we cannot
And should anyone try putting India out of cricket’s weakening democracy, and har- judiciary with distrust probably Only genuine co-operation egy paper of Niti Aayog (New even get sufficient drinking water… We
ming the system. In this process, because the judiciary can be between the three branches of India @75), at the present rate of have to walk half a day worth of distance
scheme of things, they’re likely to see cricket holding justice delivery gets adversely approached only through Government ~ the Executive, the disposal, it would take 324 years just to get water during the dry season.”
India’s hand and moving out too. Twenty20 is the affected.” lawyers, who have their own axes Legislature and the Judiciary to clear the backlog of pending While both women and men are custo-
name of the game, or the currency of it, and it is Indi- Divergent interests of the to grind. Lawyers are the prover- ~can rid Courts of the accumu- cases, so an ordinary litigant can- dians of traditional knowledge, Indige-
an franchises which have given the country a kind of various stakeholders in the judi- bial X factor, a handful render- lated mountain of cases and pre- not expect to get justice in his nous men and women bear specific
beyond-the-border power which is perhaps unparal- cial delivery system have led to a ing yeoman service both to liti- vent accretion of new ones. lifetime. knowledge on the different aspects of
leled in the history of organised, professional sport. chaotic situation where cases gants and the Court, but a signifi- As pointed out by the CJI, the Madan B Lokur, a retired daily activities and various communal
Everyone wants their own Indian Premier League, multiply but justice is seldom cant briefless mass disrupting Executive could help by sticking judge of the Supreme Court was affairs due to the gendered dimension of
complete with Indian owners with unbelievably deep done. The common man, who judicial proceedings at the drop to rules and avoiding actions that constrained to observe: “The roles and responsibilities within these
pockets. When the Proteas announced their own would like all organs of the State of a hat and maligning the fair test the borders of legality and the Chief Justice of India has two communities.
to work in harmony, watches in name of their profession by their Legislature could frame laws in a options before him: (1) Take rev-
tournament, scheduled for a January 2023 start, the
dismay as the Government and unruly behaviour. better fashion. olutionary steps with revolution- IN MEMORIAM
outfits were owned by Indians also in the IPL. West Judiciary slug it out in the open. The net result is a highly Laws circumscribing person- ary fervour to remedy the malaise
Asia’s International League, which a great tempta- To sum-up: deficient judicial system. Justice al choice in matters of food, afflicting our justice delivery sys-
tion for cricketers here, there and everywhere, is a) The common man wants Ranjan Gogoi, a former Chief Jus- drink, marriage and religion, tem, or (2) Be ready to light its ROY SUCHETA (12-08-1947 — 28-01-
going to have Indian tycoons in the driving seat. The cheap and quick justice; tice of India, stated in an inter- enacted by some state legisla- funeral pyre.” 1990) — In remembrance of Tunu on
Caribbean Premier has long had Shah Rukh Khan's b) The judiciary wants to preserve view: “If you have to go to court, tures recently, prescribing long Hopefully, Justice Ramana’s her 75th birthday. Her love, kindness,
team in it, which implies that the Australian Big Bash its entrenched prestige and privi- you will only be washing dirty prison sentences for alcohol con- successor would not have to re- intelligence missed everyday by her
is the only show yet to come under any Indian influ- leges with the assurance that oc- linen in court and you will not get sumption, cow slaughter and sort to the second option. brother, children, grandchildren.
ence but, given the intricate ways Twenty20 cricket
moves its economic miracles to pull off, it's difficult to
tell reality from the illusion of it. We hear of profound, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
suggestive mysteries in stray whiffs and then the new-
spaper report is just a paper packet stuffed with, per-
Raid politics
Maharashtra, Bengal and Political bosses decide the handed to the CBI in the challenges will increase as an
haps, soaps and sanitisers. Jampacked stands love Delhi and by Uddhav Thack- timing too. In Bengal, several middle of June. The ED raid- impression will go around
the good, old heave-ho, players relish the rich pick- eray, Mamata Banerjee and cases allegedly targeting the ed and arrested Partha Chat- that the party’s graph has
ings for lesser labours, television is all for hours and Arvind Kejriwal respectively. TMC top brass (Sharada, cat- terjee after Rs 21.9 crore cash begun to dip, with Nitish
hours of ads on the screen and it all adds up to subs- SIR, In a war, all concerned pursued this and grown by We understand that in cur- tle smuggling, coal smug- was recovered from his aide Kumar in Bihar giving an
tantial takings for everyone in the business. Word is it use deception, force and all defeating its opponents and rent times it would be a stru- gling and post-poll violence) Arpita Mukherjee’s house on indication. With Maharash-
will be a bit of organisational bother in this world of manners of tactical moves. tricking its allies. In its politi- ggle to find politicians with are on for years or months, July 22, within weeks of cen- tra (48 LS seats), Bengal (42),
All manoeuvres are justified. cal battles since 2014, the BJP all their financial dealings with little progress made. tral agencies taking charge of and Delhi+Punjab (20), the
so many mushrooming T20 competitions when some The Bharatiya Janata Party has usually come up trumps, above board. However, polit- The teachers’ recruitment the case. The Sena’s Sanjay parties that the triad of
of them coincide at the beginning of the next year. (BJP), as the last eight years but the party’s top brass met ical bosses decide who gets scam is too fresh compared Raut has been arrested in a Thackeray-Bannerjee-Kejri-
But avenues will indubitably be explored and stones have shown, has ruthlessly its match in three states ~ targeted and who doesn’t. to other cases, as it was more than a decade-old case, wal lead influence over 108
won’t be left unturned in the aggregate interest of and the case for arrest of seats, or a fifth of the Lok
money-making. Whether or not this seismic upheaval AAP’s Satyendra Jain is six Sabha seats. Of these, the BJP
will appeal strongly to Indians’ profound patriotism, years old. The question is and its allies won 73 in 2019.
some immediate problems are being confronted by a why the central agencies The BJP needs to hold on to
few national boards. With players making a beeline have suddenly woken up at least two-thirds of the
for the leagues, teams realise how hard the going is. from their stupor. The ans- number this time to ensure a
wer lies in the arena of poli- majority for it and a rock
Test champions New Zealand have lost their pace
tics. The BJP won an impres- solid number for the NDA.
partnrship with Trent Boult pulling out of his central sive 303 Lok Sabha seats in Thus, in all likelihood, the ED
contract. But that's not all there is to it. The Caribbe- 2019. To keep its record shin- and CBI will intensify their
ans, ahead of a series against New Zealand, didn’t ing, the BJP needs to secure a actions to demoralise and
really know whom they would line up. New world, majority for itself again in destabilise the rivals of the
new problems. Sitting down on a chair pulled away at 2024. Otherwise, even if it BJP in Bengal, Maharashtra
the last minute. On second thoughts, it's just as well comes back to power, it will and Delhi.
that Miandad may be unaware Pakistanis are not not only face impediments Yours. etc.,
being courted for the West Asian gig. Indian team- and uncertainties in running Shovanlal Chakraborty,
owners aren't very keen on them. Or, so they say. the government, political Kolkata, 10 August.
NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST 2022 09
The Moderates bequest
NOW AND AGAIN
Sneakers that spoke

BUDDHADEV NANDI
to independent India the misuse of secularism because

About three decades ago, we were exuberant
young men. We had a club in our locality, both
famous and notorious. The club was famous
not only for possessing the best football and
cricket teams but also organizing social activi-
ties like blood donation camps, free eye treat-
ment camps and so on round the year. The res-
they believe that it is worth preserv- idents of the locality did not have to be con-
ing and cherishing? If the answer is cerned about removing patients to the hospital
yes, they ought to call themselves or attending the funeral ground. The club
defenders, not critics or sympathisers extended monetary help from its contingency
with the critics, of secularism. funds to arrange weddings of girls from
A pernicious argument made extremely poor families.
against the doctrine is that it is not But notoriety that never forsook the
applicable to India. Secularism has biggest club with more than 200 members was
never been more relevant to India that it was entangled in fracases with other
than it is today. Such acts as search- clubs and organisations especially during foot-
ing for Hindu idols in mosques and ball and cricket matches. Therefore, very few
monuments, when they are under- clubs dared to be locked in a fracas with our
taken not as scientific, archaeological club. It was a wintry evening. A group of ten
exercises but to fulfil communal and club members including me was asked to look
political agendas, are fraught with after all arrangements for the marriage of a girl
grave danger. Since Aurangzeb can- as the family had no young male members to
not be brought back to life and pros- entertain invitees, especially the groom’s party.
ecuted under modern law, the next Everything was tickety-boo until the groom’s
best thing is to conscientiously party arrived. A few members of the party were
refrain from indulging in activities not only inebriated but also unrestrained. They
that may awaken dormant commu- were so frenzied that they were crossing all lim-
nal animosities. In the challenging its. They targeted mainly a bevy of young girls
task of preventing fanatical mindsets invited by the bride’s family. We were abused
from spreading and poisoning and even shoved when we asked them to be
gullible young minds, secularism and decent and not to spoil the auspicious milieu.
the Fundamental Duties to promote The bride’s mother and other senior members
the spirit of harmony and brother- perceived that we were losing our tempers.
hood and develop scientific temper They requested us to contain our anger as the
are useful principles. rituals had not yet been completed. Perhaps
On this occasion of the 75th they feared our response might put the brakes
anniversary of India’s independence, on the ceremony.
if we look back at the history of inde- We therefore tried to avoid those boister-
pendent India, it should not be diffi- ous elements. But they misinterpreted our self-
cult to imagine how badly the nation restraint for pusillanimity. They became more
would have fared had liberal princi- ferocious and proceeded to harass their targets
ples not been enshrined in the Con- more indecently. A reign of terror descended,
stitution. To the Moderates in India’s and many invitees started leaving without taking
struggle for independence, we owe a dinner. At last, all the matrimonial rites were
debt of gratitude not only for their solemnized. The newly-wed couple retired.
SURESH BALAKRISHNAN more popular in their day, and being losophy they exemplified and on which doctrine, but the misuse by politi- work in their times but also for their Then it was our turn. After exchanging a few hot
the political rivals of the Moderates, they the Constitution is based. Among the cians for electoral gains is not secu- gift to us in the form of the liberal words, we pounced on the wicked trio who were
O
ne of the Fundamental Duties ridiculed their methods. While it is liberal principles enshrined in the Con- larism’s fault. In practice, however, ethos that permeates our Constitu- mainly responsible for the pandemonium. They
in the Constitution of India now generally acknowledged that the stitution, secularism has come under the misuse is often used as an excuse tion. ‘India’s charter of freedom’ it were quite bewildered by our aggression. We
enjoins the citizens to “cher- Moderates’ work in the national strug- severe attack in recent times. to attack the principle itself. was called when the Constitution started slapping and punching them at random.
ish and follow the noble ideals gle was significant, academic focus on Secularism is perhaps the most While dyed-in-the-wool critics was in the making. Respecting that When we were engaged in thrashing one, the
which inspired our struggle for freedom”. the ‘Moderate Era’ continues to be far misunderstood and misused of Con- of the doctrine may never change great charter is to show respect to our other two scooted away. Four of us gave chase. It
On political methods, it leaves open the less bestowed than it is worthy of. stitutional principles, and it has been their minds, less hardened ones and nation’s struggle for independence. was a moonless night and none of our group
question whether the Moderates or Arguably the most important of criticised for reasons not attributable middle-of-the-road sympathisers had torches. To our utter astonishment, the four
Extremists are to be regarded as wor- the Moderates’ contribution to post- to the doctrine itself. Pandering to with the critics may ask themselves The writer is a Chennai-based lawyer and chasers soon came back dragging the two mis-
thy of emulation. The Extremists were independence India is the liberal phi- minorities for votes is a misuse of the this question: Are they anguished by author of Eardley Norton: A Biography. creants. While the matter was settled with the
intervention of elders, I could not understand
POLITICAL DIARY | KALYANI SHANKAR how my friends caught up with the errant two in
the dark. The mystery was soon solved. My
75 years on, Opposition space shrinks

friends spotted the two by following the lumi-
nous sneakers one of them was wearing.
100 YEARS AGO
W
hat is the status of opposi- gency in 1975. Despite a lack of num- ^k�^qjlpmebof`�mebkljbklk�
tion parties in India at the bers, half a dozen Opposition leaders, To The Editor Of The Statesman
time of celebrating the 75th including Indrajit Gupta, Somnath SIR, - Hardly anyone who has lived long
year of India’s Indepen- Chatterjee, and Madhu Dandavate, in Calcutta can have failed to observe the bands
dence?Currently,Indiafaceslackofastrong managed to unseat Rajiv Gandhi in the of light which in "monsoonish" weather are
opposition. Even Supreme Court Chief Bofors scam. sometimes to be seen extending upwards from
Justice NV Ramana recently lamented, P V Narasimha Rao (PM during the sunset. On more than one occasion I have
"There used to be mutual respect between 1991-1996) was bold enough to dis- traced them right through the celestial hemi-
the government and Opposition. Unfor- mantle the command economy and sphere, from the western to the eastern hori-
tunately, the space for Opposition is make a 360-degree turn towards a zon, but seldom to better advantage than on
now diminishing." The ruling BJP is get- right-wing economy despite the strong Friday evening, when, just after sunset, they
ting ready for a third successive term. Some opposition from within his own party were actually clearer in the east than in the
feel that the secret weapon of Prime Min- as well as opposition parties. Succes- west. The bands appeared to be barrel-shaped,
ister Narendra Modi is the divided Oppo- sive governments led by different coali- that is to say, they were wider apart at the zenith
sition. tions continued his economic reform than at either horizon, but I suppose that in fact
As we celebrate the anniversary, it process. they were parallel, and that the converging
is time to look back and look ahead to Atal Behari Vajpayee ran his coali- effect was due to perspective. I shall be grateful
the status of the Opposition, which has tion government well from 1998 to if some of your readers will explain the phe-
had its ups and downs. There was a 2004. Still, the 2004 elections were a nomenon, which I have never seen in any other
time when it played a successful cam- battle between the Vajpayee-led part of the world. Is it the zodiacal light? I think
paign against Nehru's failure on Chi- National Democratic Alliance (NDA) not.
nese aggression, Indira Gandhi's Emer- and the Congress-led United Progres- MAGNETO.
gency, Rajiv Gandhi's Bofors scam, the sive Alliance. Nominating Dr. Manmo- Calcutta.
Mandal agitation, the Mandir move- han Singh as Prime Minister, Sonia
ment, the Citizenship (Amendment) Gandhi ran the government support- qbibmelkb�o^qbp�
Act 2019, the farmers' agitation, etc. ed by Left parties by remote control. To The Editor Of The Statesman
Since the Opposition lacks a bold swept the polls at the Centre and the Alliance (UPA) between 2004 and 2008. gency and autonomy movements, and Since Modi entered the national SIR, - The enhancement by 75 per cent of
plan, a new narrative, as well as leader- States. But by the 1962 elections, the The decline began with the 2009 elec- the emergence of regional parties have scene, the BJP is winning state after the telephone rates seems to me, and probably
ship, it has no answer for Modi versus Communists, socialists, Swatantra tions and continues till now. Register- taken centre-stage since the eighties. state. He represents a strong leadership it may seem to others, an unjustifiable increase.
who. Moreover, emerging regional Party, and Bharatiya Jana Sangh had ing its worst ever poll performance in After the 1990s, Congress had to as well as a hard-line Hindu ideology. Some nine months or so ago, when the increase
satraps like Mamata Banerjee, started making dents. over six decades, the Left Front man- ride piggyback on regional parties as it He promised change and held out hope of the subscription of 25 per cent was made,
Mayawati, or K Chandrasekhar Rao dis- The Communist Party of India aged just five seats in the 2019 polls. lost the upper caste votes to the BJP and to the electorate. the Chamber of Commerce and other public
agree with names other than their own. (CPI) was the main opposition party in At another level, Jayaprakash the backward and Dalit castes to the However, the South, except in Kar- bodies took up the question, and, after discus-
Congress has been steadily losing the immediate post-independence Narain, Ram Manohar Lohia and oth- Samajwadi Party and the BSP. It help- nataka, is eluding the BJP. The superior sion, the Bengal Telephone Company issued
provinces since Modi entered the period. The Communist movement ers, ran a socialist stream since the mid- lessly witnessed 'Mandal' and 'Kaman- organizational capacity of these region- notices that, after consulting their auditors, they
national scene in 2014. Today, a weak- was strong in the erstwhile Madras 1970s. Their Janata movement paved dal' movements in the Hindi belt. al linguistic parties has made them decided that the increase of the subscription
ened Congress is the main opposition presidency, and later, in the linguisti- the way for the emergence of some pre- The Dravidian parties had dug in resistant to BJP encroachment. was not necessary. At this time negotiations
party. It has just 52 seats to match BJP's cally carved out Andhra Pradesh. Even sent-day leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav their heels in Tamil Nadu since 1967. As we mark 75 years of freedom, were proceeding as to terms of an agreement
300-plus seats in the Lok Sabha. Stick- after a split in 1964, the Left parties (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Mulayam Singh The DMK and the AIADMK have alter- the Opposition needs a good leader, a with Government, and now when this agree-
ing to the Gandhis, the party suffers played a significant role over the Yadav (Samajwadi Party), H D Deve nately been ruling Tamil Nadu since good narrative, and cohesion. There is ment has been concluded, greatly to the favour
from a lack of leadership, cadre, ade- decades. Gowda (Janata Dal-Secular), and 1967. The Left and Congress alternate still time to get organized and put up a of the Company, they immediately raise the
quate funding, and strategy to check The Left supported the V P Singh Naveen Patnaik( BJD). in Kerala. Telangana and Andhra spirited fight. The 2024 polls will be rates. Why has no protest been made by our
the BJP. However, Congress is the only government in 1989. They played king- The rise of lower castes, religious Pradesh have new regional satraps. between the BJP and the regional par- commercial representative bodies? It seems
other party with a national footprint. maker roles for the two United Front identities, linguistic groups, the emer- Congress has come a long way ties. strange that for 15 years, or whatever period
Historically, when the first general governments during 1996-98 and the gence of the backward classes, the Hin- from Nehru's days. Indira faced strong the Company has been in existence, the old
elections were held in 1952, Congress Congress-led United Progressive dutva identity politics of the BJP, insur- Opposition after she imposed an Emer- rate gave them a dividend. It is idle to compare
the London service with Calcutta.
CROSSWORD X.Y.Z.
NO 292153
qû^qflk�lc�jlqlofpqp�
To The Editor Of The Statesman
SIR, - The Government of India value the
YESTERDAYS SOLUTION petrol exported from Burma to foreign coun-
ACROSS 13 Part of act speakers 23 Call in agent to over into heart of moved with effort tries at two annas per gallon. On the petrol
1 Go into school to get
observed (5) supply elastic (7) Greece (7) (9) which comes from Burma to India, Govern-
14 Amusing exploit 24 Elaborate play with 3 Privates and sentry 15 Plea in court when
lines (6)
without a purpose (8) ten might be fine (7) occasionally cross (9) match is abandoned
ment imposes a tax of eight annas six pies per
4 Cameras calibrated
16 Reply to gift of 25 Like Dirk the German 5 Mimics job, one for (2,7) gallon equalling an ad valorem duty of well over
to catch villain (6)
8 I hand down clothes
tissue during short astride a horse (6) each play finally (5) 17 Love recording 100 per cent. But the import duty on beer
for sort of play (7)
trip (5,3) 26 It could be plain 6 Osric once (I think) absorbing equals less than 15 per cent, on patent medi-
18 Wraps carbon copies ones naked without displays vanity (7) Beethovens
9 Create cast to tour
(5) one (6) 7 Left city celeb, Fifth (7)
cine 15 per cent, on jewellery and jewels 30 per
north and perform
20 Guys hold this view: American, debauched 19 Game hard going for cent ad valorem. Racehorses of any value, print-
again (2-5)
tablet has been DOWN (9) field worker (7) ed books, precious stones, unset and imported
11 Glum local hymn
played with energy
nicked (4) 1 Somewhere to go in 10 Puzzles turned up to 21 Four rake round top uncut, are imported free of duty. The Govern-
21 Superfluity Kent, say, to find occupy fools (9) of garden (5)
(10)
embarrassed duke in addict (5) 13 Small children 22 Pick up this clue for
ment of India's import duty confiscates three of
12 European certainly
posh French city (10) 2 Trap Poles smuggled jumped, talked and Heller work (5) every ten motor cars imported, and three of
has views (4)
every ten motor tyres. The most sumptuous
horse-drawn carriage pays only 15 per cent
import duty while a Ford car, which Govern-
ment classifies as a luxury, pays 30 per cent
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
import duty plus a tax of 8 and one fourth annas
on every gallon of petrol used.
ORISSA TIMES BHUBANESWAR Sunday 14th August 2022
2
ORISSA TIMES
Career opportunities in Film Director
EDITORIAL Some important
directors who have
reel. Areas of strengths
and weaknesses have
Sunday 14th August 2022 brought their visions to been identified;
light include D. W. individuals willing to pay
China shields terrorist Griffith ( Birth of a

Nation), Orson Welles (
Citizen Kane), Alfred
the hard wages of
growing as filmmakers
will work on their
India and the US wanted Jaish-e-Mohammed deputy Hitchcock ( Rope), and weaknesses. They
chief Abdul Rauf Azhar to be designated as a ‘global Martin Scorsese ( may become
terrorist’ A month after Beijing shielded Pakistan-based Raging Bull). Directing subdirectors with
deputy leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Abdul Rehman will either become larger discrete areas of
Makki, an international terrorist, it has done an en- and more megalithic as authority. Opportunities
core. It has vetoed a similar joint proposal at the a profession, as exist for directors who
United Nations Security Council (UNSC), again by In- suggested by the have made strong
dia and the US, to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) consolidation of major networking connections
deputy chief Abdul Rauf Azhar as a “global terrorist.” film companies. and have distinguished
He is the younger brother of JeM founder Maulana Alternatively, it may themselves through
Masood Azhar, another murderous jihadist. India was lean toward small and good work and
understandably incensed at China, castigating it for its independent projects, a g g r e s s i v e
“double speak” and “double standards” in the war on as the popularity of selfpromotion. People
terror. China’s perfidy is actually long-standing: as The such independent film who are less vocal
Pioneer reported, in the last one decade, it has pro- A Day in the Life of a encourages them to students must festivals as Sundance about their
tected violent jihadists half a dozen times; Masood Film Director “What I perform at a high complete their own short heralds. In the first accomplishments either
Azhar alone got help four times. On its part, China really want to do is level—sometimes by films by graduation; you event, directing remain in assistant
has deployed typical sophistry to justify its action. A direct.” If this applies to gently cajoling and should be prepared to possibilities will be limited positions or leave the
spokesperson for China’s mission to the UN told a you, read on. Directors sometimes by yelling— work under difficult and difficult—extremely profession altogether.
news agency that it needs “more time to study the turn a script into a anything to get the job conditions, share space, difficult—to obtain. In As a matter of fact,
case.” Hiding behind diplomatese and using technical movie; they are done. A director’s and convince actors to the second event, even directors who
points to shield terrorists—which is same as helping responsible for the unique vision of the final work for little or no directing positions will be have good reputations
Pakistan, as it supports terrorists—serve the immedi- quality of the final product and ability to money. Aspiring film more available but much begin to leave the
ate purpose; but it is increasingly exposing China as product and its communicate that directors prove less remunerative. In profession due to the
the biggest rogue state that regularly comes to the success. In most vision effectively and themselves by directing either case, the road to long hours and
rescue of smaller rogue states as Pakistan and North cases, directors work immediately are critical. stage productions, becoming a director is competing offers in
Korea. In fact, China has already emerged as, in the on films far longer than After the film has been doing film lighting long, and the odds are specialty industries for
words of the American historian and policy analyst any actor, technician, or shot, editorial skills are design, or establishing a slim, but the rewards much more certain
Michael A Ledeen, a mature fascist state. This is editor, from the first important. Directors history of assistant or for individuals who pay.TEN YEARS OUTA
arguably the most appropriate description of China.The day of brainstorming to must have a good feel associate directorships. succeed are mere 35 percent who
American scholar argued that Marxism in China has the final release; it is no for pacing and structure This last route is the great.Quality of began with the intention
metamorphosed into fascism. Mao, Ledeen wrote, wonder that directing is and must know how to most common, as LifePRESENT AND of becoming a director
was unlike traditional communist dictators who disliked physically,mentally, and integrate and cut professional experience FUTUREHopeful are still around, and
traditional culture, replacing it with a sterile Marxism- emotionally draining. scenes so they work and networking contacts directors start out doing many of them leave
Leninism. Xi Jinping, the most Maoist of the succes- Directors work with effectively. Issues of can be combined in a production work and the field over the next
sors of the Great Helmsman, has embraced the glo- actors; makeup artists; finance are important in brief but intense period learning how to piece a five years. Directors
ries of China’s long history most enthusiastically. China’s cinematographers; this industry—making of time. There is no film together. Academic who remain have
fascism was never under wraps, but in the last few writers; and film, films is expensive. specific ladder to climb. lessons from film school significant opportunities
years the entire world is realising what catastrophes a sound, and lighting First-time directors find Many aspiring directors are supplemented with available to them, if
fascist state can occasion. Especially when its arsenal technicians. They it difficult to get work develop clips of their practical experience in they have managed to
includes nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles. It determine all the with any large-budget work as a display of the different facets of refine their craft,
is a well-known fact that China today is the most particulars of how house, so many of their talent when making a movie, from communicate their vision
powerful country in the world, save the US and, to scenes are to be shot, them start with small- applying for industrial, choosing locations and clearly,match up a script
some extent, Russia. Equally well-known is the fact from visual budget directing, using television, or commercial getting proper permits with a production
that it is a perpetual, compulsive trouble maker. From requirements to the existing sites and sets directing jobs, which pay to budge ting, company, and land the
brazenly and deliberately spreading the novel placement of the creatively, convincing well and serve as scheduling, and job of directing it. If it
coronavirus all over the world to launching a bloody actors and the technical assistants to working credentials. a r r a n g i n g seems like the success
attack on Indian soldiers at Galwan in Ladakh in June appropriateness of the work for little (or more Individuals entering this transportation. These stories at the 10-year
2020 to terrorising Taiwan to intimidating other na- script. Directors cast often, convincing career should be warned early years are marked mark are qualified by a
tions in the vicinity to ensnaring poor nations across actors who can bring friends to work free), that 20-hour days are by low responsibility, long number of ifs, that’s
continents into a debt trap by means of its notorious their vision to the and using editing and not unusual.Online hours, little pay, and an because they are. The
Belt & Road Initiative to carrying out genocide of reli- screen. Sound cutting rooms during off Nursing Master's enormous amount of success rate in this field
gious and ethnic minorities to defending jihadist ter- judgment and an open hours to save money. programs have learning.FIVE YEARS is abysmal. But
rorists—there is no crime or sin that the Chinese Com- mind are important One director surveyed advantages over on- OUTFive years into the individuals who manage
munist Party is not capable of. India and other de- during these initial funded his first film campus. Find the best profession, young to fight their way to the
mocracies should disabuse themselves—if they phases. A director entirely on his credit programs here.Present directors have had a top reap financial and
haven’t already—of any fond notions or hopes about guides actors to a cards.Paying Your and FutureFilm directors chance to produce at emotional rewards.
China behaving responsibly. They should chalk out greater understanding DuesNearly all film sprang into being with least a short film to Vijay GarG Ex.PES-1
their policies and strategies in recognition of China’s of their characters’ directors are film school the birth of the industry enter in competitions or Retired principal
incorrigibility. motivations and graduates. Film school in the early 1900s. to use as an audition Malout
The effects of the of the epidemic on the poor and employment

Even before Kovid-19, live in extreme poverty for government in the first men and 46.6 per cent etc. are all in decline. With
the growth rate of India's many years, the biggest week of March that of women lost their jobs the decline in people's
economy had slowed meaning of which is that altered forms of Kovid-19 due to the epidemic. It is wages, the demand for
down, but the epidemic their access to education would affect a large to be noted here that goods in the market is
has hit the economy hard. and healthcare will become number of people and even before the epidemic, likely to increase. The
According to a survey almost impossible. The needed to be prepared the unemployment rate in biggest gainers are
conducted by Azim Premji survey also said that for. The key question is the country was the Internet, mobile and
University, the epidemic governments were neither whether the government highest in the last 45 years. pharmaceutical
has pushed 236 million clear about the impact of has acted on the The survey also found companies. In such
people below the poverty the lockout on the information available. that 53 per cent of fixed- cases, the government
line. According to the economy nor were there That information does not wage workers went to should act on the basis of
survey, the poorest specific plans in place to appear to have been work where they were not factual reports. The
households had to borrow help those with less shared with allied paid; 9.8 per cent became Premji University survey
the most. If these loans resources. On the other departments, including the day laborers, 8.5 per cent recommended that the
are viewed in terms of the hand, according to country's central bank, temporary jobs and 34.1 central government should
income of poor families, it Reserve Bank of India strong in rural areas and the economy. In April, the the RBI. Maybe if the RBI per cent self-employment. increase the budget for
is very difficult for them (RBI) Governor increase in urban areas. number of Kovid-19 cases had this information, it Thus, there is no MGNREGA and old age
to repay these loans. Shaktikanta Das, India's The report, released in the increased rapidly and the would not have made correspondence between pensions and provide
Most of the loans were GDP growth rate will first week of April, hoped country's healthcare such claims about the the RBI's claims and the direct financial assistance
taken from the informal average 10.5 per cent in that a reduction in the system was seen to be country's growth rate. facts. The country's to low-income families.
sector with high interest FY 2021-22. An RBI number of Kovid-19 cases crumbling. Health experts, According to a survey by major industries such as The government needs to
rates. In this way, millions report said demand for and an increase in on the other hand, said Azim Premji University, 7 tourism, construction, consider these
of families will be forced to goods would remain vaccination would boost they had warned the per cent of unemployed transport, textiles, steel, recommendations.
www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
Promoted by
Shree Cement Ltd.
PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
06
INDIA OF 2022
IN-DEPTH
DHARMA SANSAD
PRESSES AHEAD
IS SPECTACULARLY DIFFERENT FROM THE WITH HINDU
INDIA OF 1947
RASHTRA AGENDA
the Polish leader of the

movement called, “Solidari-
ty” and future President
T
mentions Gandhiji several he Dharma Sansad is
times in his Autobiography; back with a contro-
“The Struggle and the Tri- versial agenda once
umph”. I met him in Warsaw again. A draft pre-
and in New Delhi, when he pared by a group of
paid a state visit to India. seers who met recently men-
How do I see the future of tions two important points
India. Unlike the chronic which propose Varanasi as the
pessimists and congenital capital of Hindu Rashtra. The
grumblers, I am confident of other is the magnanimity to-
a brighter future for our wards Muslims and Christians
country. India will become a by allowing them to stay like
world power, working in a commoners but without the
balanced way for the estab- right to franchise! Hindus,
lishment of World peace and Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists will
goodwill. Poverty will be- have the right to franchise. The
come a memory and so will Dharma Sansad’s draft will be
joblessness. It goes to the taken up for approval at its
credit of the Modi Govern- meeting in the Sangam City,
ment that not a single seri- Prayagraj, during the Magh
ous communal riot has oc- Mela. A new constitution is also
curred in the past decade. being proposed for the Hindu
I do not have time for Rashtra, the idea of which was
those of our country men mooted last year, which will
and women who rush to the have a parliament of religions.
United States. After com- The draft proposals make the
pleting their education a future of politicians and the
wide awake. A majority of
the members of the Constit-
The Indian Freedom majority accept the status
of second class citizens.
idea of India look bleak. The
proposals may end up hurting
uent Assembly present in Movement under the One or two make it to State the sentiments of minorities but
K NATWAR SINGH the Central Hall of Parlia- unique leadership of Legislatures or House of that’s not relevant for the group
The author is Former ment understood English. Representatives. Some suc- bent on changing the nation’s
Minister of External Affairs of India The applause was thunder- Mahatma Gandhi was ceed in business, but moth- profile. One should not expect
ous. That speech of Nehru one among the er India is no longer a prior- the proposals to be amended.
lives in our hearts and ity. They encounter not so
minds.
historical and subtle racism and put up
I
am eighteen years older India of 2022 is spectacu- unforgettable events with it. Some even acquire SPIRITUAL SPEAK
than Independent India. I re- larly different from the India of the 20th century. various kinds of accents,
which sound phoney and
member vividly keeping of 1947. There is one vital ele-
awake till midnight of 14/15 ment that has remained ac- India’s freedom grating. They have made One moment can
August 1947 to listen to Jawa- tive, unchanged- Democracy. movement inspired other their choice. Good luck, but change a day, one day
harlal Nehru’s never to be That miracle has been en-
countries under British,
no respect from this corner. can change a life, and
forgotten speech. dowed to the nation by the Indian I was born and Indi- one life can change
“Long years ago we made people of India, not by its French, Dutch, an I shall die.
the world.
tryst with destiny, and now elite. The Indian Freedom
the times comes when we Movement under the unique
Portuguese and Spain’s CLIMATE CHANGE —Buddha
shall redeem our pledge, not leadership of Mahatma Gan- imperial/colonial rule The world has ignored cli-
wholly or in full measure, dhi was one among the his- mate change at its peril.
but very substantially. At the torical and unforgettable Look what havoc climate
stroke of the midnight hour, events of the 20th century. memoirs. Kathrada spent 27 change is playing in Europe,
when the World sleeps, India India’s freedom movement years in jail with Mandela. UK, USA. Things are going TOP TWEETS
will awake to life and free- inspired other countries un- He writes, “My own views on to get worse. Glaciers will
dom. A moment comes, der British, French, Dutch, multiculturalism are best melt, on the other hand Dharmendra Pradhan
which comes but rarely in Portuguese and Spain’s im- summed up in a passage by draught could become chro- @dpradhanbjp
I do not have time for those of history, when we step out perial/colonial rule. Gandhiji: I want the culture mic, sea levels will rise with
our country men and women
who rush to the United States. from the old to the new, when In 1947 Africa had three of all lands to be blown about devastating results. The
After completing their an age ends and when the independent countries, my house as freely as possi- wakeup call can no longer be
education a majority accept soul of a nation long sup- South of Sahara, Ethiopia, ble. But I refuse to blown off ignored.
the status of second class pressed finds utterance. It is South Africa- dedicated to my feet by any.”
citizens. One or two make it to
State Legislatures or House of fitting that at this solemn perpetual white rule, even Kwame Nkrumah of Gha- RUSHDIE WOUNDED
Representatives. Some succeed moment we take the pledge though three fourth of the na led the freedom struggle Salman Rushdie is among
in business, but mother India of dedication to the service population was non-white. in his colonised country by the greatest novelists of the Dreams in their eyes, Tiranga in their
is no longer a priority. They of India and her people and The third was Liberia. Sev- following Gandhian meth- 20th century. “Midnight’s hands, India in their hearts! Delighted
encounter not so subtle racism to be joined by torch bearers of
and put up with it. Some even to the larger cause of hu- eral African leaders admired ods, “I described Positive Ac- Children” is a classic. He
India in the Amrit Kaal. These future
acquire various kinds of manity…” Gandhiji, Kenneth Kaunda tion as the legitimate and was grievously wounded by leaders will make India stronger, more
accents, which sound phoney This was great and mov- of Zambia, Kwame Nkrumah constitutional means…. a fanatic Muslim youth and confident and more prosperous.
and grating. They have made ing English, but 80% Indians of Ghana, Chief Lithuli of Non-cooperation based on is fighting for his life. I wish
their choice. Good luck, but Smriti Z Irani
no respect from this corner. did not understand it. Nehru South Africa. Ahmed Kath- the principle of absolute him an early recovery.
Indian I was born and also disregarded the fact rada, a colleague of Mandela, non-violence as used by Gan- THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY @smritiirani
Indian I shall die that half of the world was all mention Gandhiji in their dhi in India.” Lech Walesa, THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
RUSHDIE STABBING A
After attack on Rushdie
cclaimed author the late leader of Iran who
Salman Rushdie found his book blasphemous.
is on a ventilator and murder of two Because the edict was issued Only the free understands the value
of free wings. Widows at Krishna
Hindus in India for
A WORRY FOR NUPUR
and could lose an by the Ayatollah, nobody
Kutir in Vrindavan, victims of human-
eye following a could rescind it as per the Ira-
shocking incident of multiple sharing Nupur Sharma’s nian law. The book was
trafficking, assault & violence at
Swadhar Greh & Ujjawala Homes,
stabbing 33-years after the objectionable remark on banned in several countries, working women at Sakhi Niwas, all join
publication of Satanic Verses. including India, for its anti-
He also suffered a wound to
Twitter, there’s every reason Prophet contents. Besides the
PM @narendramodi Ji’s clarion call for
#HarGharTiranga.
his liver. Poor security at the for Taslima Nasreen, edict, the India-born author
literary event in New York another author who has carried a reward of $3.3 mil- l Vol 4 l Issue No. 69
State was to be blamed for the lion on his head.
assailant getting easy access taken on the hardliner When the Rajiv Gandhi
l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.
Printed and published by
to the target, Rushdie. After mullahs, to be worried government banned Satanic
Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of
attack on Rushdie and mur- Verses he faced strong criti- First Express Publishers. Printed
der of two Hindus in India for cism from the Left liberals at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B.
sharing Nupur Sharma’s ob- cidents show the extent of who viewed it as an attack on Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk
jectionable statement on extremism to which an indoc- freedom of expression. The Road, Jaipur. Published at 304,
Twitter, there’s every reason trinated Muslim can go and right wingers called it ap- 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das
for Taslima Nasreen, another there’s a need for saner ele- peasement of minorities. Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001,
author who has taken on the ments to step forward. Now the BJP finds itself in Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.
hardliner mullahs, to be wor- Salman Rushdie went into an almost similar situation Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra
ried. As for Nupur Sharma, hiding in 1989 after a fatwa with Nupur Sharma. Free- Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan
the security around her needs calling for his death was is- dom of expression is indeed responsible for selection of news
to be vigilant 24x7. These in- sued by Ayatollah Khomeini, contentious. under the PRB Act
This PDF was originally uploade To Teligram channel_ LBS Newspaper platform (https://t.me/LBSNEWSPAPER) Subscribe now to get this edition before anyone else!! Backup channel:@LBSNEWSPAPER

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 17

HIV drugs shortage is a challenge to ending AIDS in India Scientist Barbara

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022

Have coastal ecosystem norms been violated?

The story so far: This week, the Comptroller and

Digital lending Environment Ministry to conserve India’s coastal

The story so far: On August 10, the Reserve Bank of ■ The government has issued notiﬁcations under the large­scale CRZ violations in the coastal stretches. evaluating environmental impacts of the project, not

Why will airlines have to share PNR data?

Sobhana K. Nair sad’s paths have been intert­ the two on the foundation of

SALMAN RUSHDIE VARAVARA RAO

The language of truth Diﬀerent shades of a poet

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75 years later, it’s time LETTERS

RALLY BEHIND NITISH

to bury Partition legacy

Why freedom The Congress was so gripped by para-

came early: In book to stop Utpal Dutt’s Kallol from

August 1947, Minerva theatre to record audiences.

Govt does well to

Is the world sliding into a Chernobyl-plus nuclear disaster in Ukraine?

Top JeM financier using FB, Telegram, YouTube

Don’t demonise ED, give it more teeth

S tudying science and technology subjects in local

To retain freebies or not – That is the question

T he Election Commission has rightly

Let ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan’ Be A Great Success

IN 75 YRS, ONLY 5 TELUGUS What is Universalisation

Looking back, and ahead Divisions that were

700 in train lay dead, it could’ve been us

A celebration of the August 15 of our collective childhoods

T Government’s assurance to many

introduction of the Bill. Tobacco products

A nemia rate among our chil-

The Hawk Save The Elephants… And Then

At 75, let’s take Bharat to

back to look ahead

T years of Independence. It’s an occa-

S House of Representatives, Nancy industry leader talked about the China

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MANHAR KAPOOR

Our BJP leaders are unable

under draconian laws like UAPA

06 HYDERABAD SUNDAY 14 08 2022

INDIA@75: THREE INDIAN DEMOCRACY IS NOW THE RULE OF

THE NEW SUNDAY EXPRESS

With which is incorporated

T he US House of Representatives passed the $280

Sneakers that spoke

to independent India the misuse of secularism because

75 years on, Opposition space shrinks

100 YEARS AGO

China shields terrorist Griffith ( Birth of a

The effects of the of the epidemic on the poor and employment

the Polish leader of the

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