Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, July 17, 2023 i India Today

“The construction of a developed India for the 21st century rests primarily on two pillars — pride in our heritage, and second, every possible effort that is being made towards development. Today, both these pillars are being strengthened by the state of Uttarakhand. This decade surely will be the decade of Uttarakhand.”Narendra ModiPrime Minister “With a focused approach for inclusive growth of the state, the mantra that is being followed is, ‘Reform-Perform-Transform’. Uttarakhand has the potential in diverse fields, and the same is being tapped so that it benefits the hardworking youth of the state seeking employment. To promote and develop a conducive ecosystem, investors and stakeholders have our support in all the endeavours and we are working for the state’s development.”Pushkar Singh DhamiChief Minister, Uttarakhand To make India self-reliant…

The hiring scam unearthed at India’s top IT employer, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has delivered a jolt not only to the parent Tata Group but also to the sector at large, and is likely to make tech firms take a hard look at their hiring processes and put better systems in place. The scandal involves a few employees in TCS’s Resource Management Group (RMG)—which is in charge of mobilising contract staff for various projects—allegedly giving preferential treatment to certain staffing firms in lieu of bribes. Experts believe such instances of scams or governance lapses will hurt the country’s image as an IT services destination, and encourage clients to shift work elsewhere. Tata Group chairman N. Chandrasekaran has said the firm will be reviewing its hiring processes to ensure such events…

The topography of the arid peninsula of Saurashtra has metamorphosed into lush green in the past two decades. Thanks to good monsoons resulting in healthy agriculture and forest cover. However, little did Kathiawar expect that this boon would eventually become a bane of sorts for the region. In the past two years, many regions in the peninsula have been experiencing seismic swarms—several small earthquakes measuring less than 3.4 on the Richter scale keep recurring for an extended period of time. Despite being low-intensity, their strange recurrence has left residents unnerved. A study by the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), Gandhi-nagar, indicates these quakes do not necessarily presage a bigger one. But it underlines that earthquakes cannot be predicted despite the leap in technology. ISR director Dr Sumer Chopra explains that…

On June 23, when Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel attended the joint opposition meeting at Nitish Kumar’s residence along with Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, he tweeted his photographs with RJD leader Lalu Prasad’s family and asserted that Opposition parties will unitedly fight against the BJP. A week later, Patel accompanied Ajit Pawar to the Maharashtra Raj Bhawan as the latter took oath as Deputy Chief Minister after shaking hands with the BJP. Bihar mahagathbandhan leaders are now worried that Patel may have revealed everything discussed in Patna to his new-found saffron allies.…

Devanshi Sood is all of 18 and all set to fly out to the US next month to pursue the course of her dreams. Sood studied PCME (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Economics) at Heritage Xperiential School, Gurugram, and has opted for a four-year bachelor’s in Computational Media at the Georgia Institute of Technology, US. “This degree will offer me room to experiment,” she says, “and help me with my interest in environment technology, a subject for which there is a huge market in the US.” Sood is choosing to go west because the subject she is primarily interested in pursuing is not available in India, and it also allows her to explore her interests in diverse subjects. “I like science and computers,” she says, “but also literature and political science.”…

It’s poll season in Chhattisgarh and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is out to win friends and influence people. So when the Congress central leadership elevated his bête noire, health minister T.S. Singh Deo, as the deputy chief minister, Baghel welcomed the move. The Congress high command had on June 28 convened a meeting in New Delhi to which 16 top leaders from Chhattisgarh, including Baghel, Singh Deo and Pradesh Congress Committee president Mohan Markam, were invited. The stated purpose of the meeting was to strategise for the assembly election in November as also to thrash out any lingering issues among those attending the meeting. The ongoing war between Baghel and Singh Deo and Markam was one such issue. Singh Deo aired his grievances, mainly about being weakened in north Chhattisgarh…

Everyone wants a piece of Gandhi. Even those who think he was responsible for Partition and refuse to demonise the man who took his life cannot deny the place Bapu and his principles occupy in India’s public consciousness. Hence the battle to claim the Mahatma’s legacy or, more specifically, two institutions that are an inalienable part of him. The first is the Sabarmati Ashram—where Gandhi spent 13 years of his life, from 1917 to 1930—for which the Gujarat government has plans for an ambitious makeover. The other is the Gujarat Vidyapith, a university that the Mahatma founded in 1920, where controversy has erupted over appointments, to the top post as well as of the trustees. In Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat, both moves are being seen as attempts to appropriate…

Q You have illustrious and remarkable business career and built a global corporate giant with operations worldwide. How you feel about your journey so far? My journey has been quite eventful, with various turning points that shaped my career. Born in Chavara, a village in Kallam district of Kerala, where my parents were traditionally farmers, I studied in the government school in Chavara and pursued my college education at Sasthamkotta. While farming was the primary occupation in my village, I always knew that it wasn’t the path I wanted to follow. From a young age, I aspired to become a businessman. During my college days, I took the initiative to start a small money lending company, focusing on daily collections. With a borrowed capital of Rs 1500, and with my confidence…

Ten thousand saw I at a glance. Not daffodils like in William Wordsworth’s poem, but beautiful blooms indigenous to India. All of 10 sq. km, 1,200 metres above sea level, the Kaas Plateau Reserved Forest in Maharashtra is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (part of the Western Ghats citation). It comes into its own in late August to October every year, with rain-kissed meadows and 850 varieties of dewy blossoms stretching away to the horizon. Of these, 40 are found only here, while 650 are on the endangered list. Entrance is limited to 3,000 visitors a day. Book a slot online at www.kas.ind.in.…

On June 28, Chandrashekhar Azad, the Bhim Army chief and national president of the Azad Samaj Party (ASP), was visiting Deoband in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district when four assailants in a car opened fire on his sports utility vehicle. Providence was on his side. One of the bullets just grazed past his abdomen, and he was out of the hospital the very next day. The attack on the 37-year-old Dalit lawyer/activist-turned-politician comes at a time when his party is in talks on a possible anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance in UP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He has not only survived the assassination bid, but may have in fact gained from it politically. Azad had co-founded the Bhim Army, a social organisation working for Dalit welfare, in 2014,…

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee doesn’t repeat her poll tricks. After getting hurt during an emergency landing post her whirlwind campaign for the July 8 panchayat polls, the Opposition questioned the coincidence of the timing and wondered if she’d take to the wheel chair again, like she did prior to the 2021 assembly polls, to attract popular sympathy. However, Mamata decided to reach out to the voters virtually from home. She wasn’t on a wheelchair but seemed in pain. Which, the Opposition said, was not so much from the injury as from PM Narendra Modi making public the TMC scam.…

AS political manoeuvres go, this was a masterstroke. Just a year after it broke the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and formed one of its own with Eknath Shinde’s band of 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has struck again, this time weaning away leader of the opposition Ajit Pawar and leaving the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in disarray. On July 2, Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s second deputy chief minister (the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis being the other) along with eight colleagues from the NCP. The move is aimed at shoring up support for the BJP, and comes at a time when Ajit’s uncle and NCP president Sharad Pawar is part of the efforts to forge a nationwide opposition against the saffron party for the 2024…

WHY STUDENTS ARE GOING ABROAD FOR HIGHER STUDIES ↘ Pent-up demand after Covid ↘ Introduction of CUET; increasing competition at home ↘ Better-designed, flexible curriculums; emphasis on experiential rather than textbook learning ↘ Sprawling campuses, world-class facilities and faculty, fantastic opportunities for research ↘ Exposure to foreign cultures, languages and people, integrating students into a global community ↘ Better prospects for a global career, and a life abroad ↘ Growing aspirations of parents who want only the best for their children ↘ Higher disposable incomes, easier education loans, graduate assistance programmes and attractive scholarships and work visa policies ↘ The desire of foreign universities to attract more foreign students to cross-subsidise local students and bring more diversity in their classrooms THE TOP 4 Largely English-speaking nations, with a strong Indian…

With its storied past and rich legacy of built heritage, Delhi has always been a haunt for heritage walks. And, as of May this year, ‘haunted’ heritage walks are on the menu too. Launched by Delhi Tourism, two such walks are currently on offer: ‘Malcha Mahal’ and ‘Feroz Shah Kotla’. The first walk takes in Malcha Mahal, a Tughlaq-era hunting lodge set inside the ridge in Central Delhi. From 1985, the dilapidated building was home to Begum Wilayat Mahal, who claimed to be the great-granddaughter of Wajid Ali Shah, and her two children. In 1993, she committed suicide allegedly by swallowing crushed diamonds. Inevitably, some say her spirit haunts the place. The second walk starts at Khooni Darwaza and takes in Feroz Shah Kotla, said to be the abode of…

This uptrend has been especially true of the domestic footfall. The figures since 2022 unambiguously demonstrate that Kerala is the first and the best choice of tourists from all parts of the country. With international air traffic getting back to normal, foreign tourist arrivals too have started gaining momentum. If the last two years have shown the resilience of Kerala Tourism, the current year is going to surpass all past records. A firmly positioned global brand, Kerala Tourism received a clutch of prestigious honours recognizing its remarkable position in the post-pandemic world. India Today ranked Kerala as the Best Performing Big State in tourism in 2022. TIME magazine featured the state as one of the 50 Extraordinary Destinations on the planet. “If you arrive in Kerala from elsewhere in India,…

Innovation with wheels is Samsonite India CEO Jai Krishnan’s go-to term for the luggage brand. When the world traditionally carried horizontal suitcases, Samsonite turned its profile vertical and added wheels to pull the baggage instead of lugging the load. The next step was to add two additional spinning wheels, and the bag moved beside the owner. “Innovation is a tradition we’ve consistently had, and it’s been a solid pillar of support,” Krishnan reflects, talking about how taking risks had also enabled the brand to be a global and domestic market leader in its legacy of 113 years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel was the first thing to come to a grinding halt. To begin with, do throw some light on where Samsonite stands in the market today. Samsonite…

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First came the step into the grey zone, then the hurried back-tracking. On June 29 evening, Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi dismissed the corruption-tainted V. Senthil Balaji—presently under judicial custody—from the state council of ministers. But, late that night, Raj Bhavan told the chief minister’s office that the dismissal order was to be kept in abeyance. Ravi is believed to have communicated that the Union home ministry advised him to first take the attorney general’s advice. Ravi has been taking on the M.K. Stalin-led DMK government ever since he became governor in September 2021 (see graphic) . This time, clearly, the BJP-ruled Centre chose to err on the side of caution and avoid embarrassment on a constitutional matter that has not stood the test of legality. Ravi’s action did focus…

As expected, an orgiastic bout of violence gripped rural West Bengal over the filing of nominations for the three-tier panchayat polls. The nomination process for around 74,000 seats began on June 9, the last date of filing papers was June 15—six days given over to arson, rampant use of bombs and bloodshed. Even after that date, the violence has continued unabated. At least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured. The BJP, Congress and the Left parties have accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of intimidating their candidates to stop them from filing nomination papers and from campaigning. The TMC has denied all charges, claiming that a record number of nominations were filed. It pointed out how several of its members/workers were killed and injured. Bengal now awaits another cycle…

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, it seems, is modelling himself on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at least in posing for photographs. The PM often releases his solo pictures after inaugurating a big infrastructure project. In the past month, Sarma too has been posing solo after inaugurating a bridge and a flyover and while inspecting an under-construction sports complex in Assam. But he, or rather his PR team, has a lot to learn. Like when they released a photo of Sarma walking alone on a flyover in Nalbari while others, including his cabinet colleague, were seen waiting at the start of the flyover. The photo op looked obviously staged.…

PLUSES ↘ The NCP dissidents not only shore up numbers for the ruling alliance, but also put Shinde and his men on the defensive, showing them they are not indispensable ↘ The NCP break-up may weaken the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and also the efforts to build national opposition unity in which Sharad Pawar had emerged as a fulcrum ↘ The BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha prospects in the state get a boost with Ajit Pawar’s faction having a greater grassroots connection than Shinde’s Shiv Sena, especially in west and north Maharashtra ↘ With the BJP netting two major factions of the NCP and Sena, it has mustered a formidable alliance that could help it win a majority both in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in 2024 MINUSES ↘ Shinde’s…

Q. What are the key initiatives of your government on which you are seeking re-election in the upcoming assembly election? Schemes that revolve around the welfare of farmers, the youth, workers (the non-landholding poor in rural areas) and women have been the focus areas of the government. We will go to the people on the basis of the work done for these groups. Q. There is a lot of talk about your government pursuing ‘soft Hindutva’. Do other communities have a place in this plan or is it exclusively for Hindus, and aimed at cutting into BJP votes? All communities are being covered under these initiatives. We have been organising a national tribal dance festival for the last three years, and dev gudis, mata gudis (sacred sites of tribal communities) and…

A newly launched sound-and-light show at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial Hall uses 3D projection mapping to bring the story of Kolkata to life. Titled ‘Kolkata-The City of Joy’, the 40-minute show was inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah on Rabindra Jayanti, which according to the Bengali calendar fell on May 9 this year. From babus of yore to food, culture, literature and history, the show delves into all things Kolkata, past and present, in an engaging and accessible manner. The show runs on all days except Mondays and public holidays and is being projected in English (Wednesday), Bengali (Tuesday/Friday/Sunday) and Hindi (Thursday/Saturday). Timings: 6.30 pm. Ticket: Rs 100 (museum entry ticket extra).…

Today, the very name Kurukashetra conjures up images of the epic war fought between the Kaurvas and the Pandvas – a war that has defuned us culturally. Many of the momentous events leading up to the war also took place at various sites in Haryana. The roots of the dispute lies at Gurugram, Haryana where both the groups studied together in Guru Dronacharya’s gurukul. The kuruksheta war was an event in which kingdoms from the entire country participated. Today, the world recognizes this as the place where Lord Krishna gave the Gita’s eternal message to Arjuna, exhorting him to fight the decisive battle against what was not righteous, else he would fail in his duty as a brave warrior, incurring disgrace for generations to come. Lord Krishna is one of…

Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra The golden grass of summer on this mountain pass in the Western Ghats gets a lush emerald hue with the magical touch of the monsoon. Picture glorious expanses of green, a majestic manmade lake with pink flamingos feeding gracefully on its banks. Seasoned hikers will enjoy many amazing trails and treks, especially the thrilling one from Khireshwar village to the sixth-century fort of Harishchandragad, while bikers and the moderately fit can get their dose of history-laced highs at Shivneri Fort, birthplace of Shivaji, about 30 km away. The Lenyadri Vinayak temple inside ancient Buddhist caves has the Girijatmaj Ganpati, one of the celebrated Ashtavinayakas. DO Waterfalls are the big draw of this destination at this time of the year. You can admire them, splash in them, and even…

On a quiet morning, while Goa sleeps, Shubhra Shankhwalk er wakes up to make the 4 am trek to a manos (sluice gate) to pick up tiny prawns, locally called manshechi sungta. Fish sourced from the manos are tastier and, thus, precious. For Shankhwalker, going this extra mile is par for the course. The graphic designer and home chef is proud of her culinary heritage and the abundance of Goa’s produce, and highlights both through her culinary venture, Aai’s. A curated meal at her farm is a masterclass in the diversity of Goan produce. Goa has always been a compelling culinary destination, but it took the pandemic for others to realise it. Post the 2020 lockdown, people flocked to Goa seeking a better quality of life, an exodus that impacted…

Shadowed by blue skies and enveloped by lush greenery, the Kumaoni village of Ramgarh is a votary of the idyllic life. I visited Ramgarh, about 30 kilometres from Bhimtal, for a well-deserved break after some dreary research work for my next book. Away from the competing traffic headed to Nainital, the village brings the slow-life into action. The quiet is absolute, away from the ambient noise that wraps our urban areas. The mind begins to rest, the shoulders relax, the eyes open wide and a blissful smile takes over. All roads of the village led to my stay—The Ramgarh Bungalows by Neemrana ‘Non-Hotel’ Hotels, 19th-century inspection bungalows overlooking this ‘Fruit Bowl of Kumaon’. In fact, Neemrana has brought within its walls all the flavours of the region. The staff includes…

We can never get enough of the hills. The breathtaking vistas are often enough to merit a getaway; but add to that a dash of luxury and some unique experiences, and an unforgettable vacation is in the making. This summer, find solace in the mountains with these hill retreats that marry indulgent stays with soul-enriching experiences and conscious practices. WESTERN GHATS Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Kerala There’s no dearth of mesmerising landscapes in this nature-forward state down south. Yet, when you arrive at the latest Taj property in Wayanad, you may find yourself awestruck by the sheer beauty of its setting. Set on a 10-acre peninsular hill abutting the Banasura Lake, the resort affords a 270-degree view of the pristine water body and forested hills. Waterfront villas and cottages…