Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, November 27, 2023 i India Today

The Telangana assembly election has some distinct and exciting features to it. It is the only triangular contest among four big state polls. The mighty BJP is not a serious contender for winning this election. The Congress, a national party, is battling it out with a regional party that is hoping to get a third term. The head of that party, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), is no ordinary politician. He was the founder of the state in 2014—K. Chandrashekar Rao, who is commonly known by the acronym KCR. Also, strangely, these leading contenders accuse each other of being the B-team of the BJP, citing examples of specific individuals not being arrested by the central enforcement agencies for alleged crimes. National politics has evolved into a grand bipolarity between the…

“ON HER OWN, MOITRA TALKED ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY AROUND HER PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PERSONAL ISSUES LIKE HER RELATIONSHIP WITH JAI DEHADRAI. WHEN WE SAID WE WERE CONCERNED ONLY ABOUT HER HANDING OVER THE LOGIN TO HIRANANDANI AND NOT HER PERSONAL LIFE, SHE INSISTED SHE NEEDED TO CLARIFY EVERYTHING”RAJDEEP ROY, BJP “We boycotted the deposition proceedings because indecent and irrelevant questions were asked and her right to privacy was violated. Can’t remain a mute spectator to Draupadi’s cheerharan”GIRIDHARI YADAV, JD(U) “THE PANEL’S AGENDA WAS TO PROBE MOITRA’S ALLEGED UNETHICAL CONDUCT. INSTEAD OF COOPERATING, SHE GOT ANGRY, USED ABUSIVE LANGUAGE AGAINST THE COMMITTEE AND WALKED AWAY”VINOD SONKAR, BJP, Ethics Committee chief “THE REPORT WAS ADOPTED WITHIN TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION. BEFORE THE COMPLAINANTS WERE…

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president O.P. Raj bhar is an unhappy man these days. He had returned to the NDA fold in July with the assurance of a ministerial berth. He had even announced he’d take oath before Diwali. But there seems no sign of a cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh. Sources say Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is not too keen and wants to wait till the results of the assembly polls in five states are announced on December 3. That can hardly be reassuring news for Rajbhar.…

The rift between two important members of the Opposition INDIA bloc, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), is assuming the proportions of a running feud. On November 5, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav called the Congress a chaalu (cunning) party and repeated the charge of ‘betrayal’ that he first made during the fracas over seat-sharing for the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. Addressing a rally in the Tikamgarh district of MP, Akhilesh said, “If you are not getting rations, why should you vote for the BJP? Don’t vote for the Congress either; they are a very cunning party.” As a fresh spat ensued, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai accused the SP of disturbing the Congress campaign in MP. Akhilesh had clearly initiated this fresh spell of hostility in full…

↗ EMPOWERING SC-ST STUDENTS: In a significant move, the Yogi government is providing a substantial boost to students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the state. From the current financial year, the government will now give Rs 3,500 per year to the Scheduled Caste and Tribe students of classes 9 and 10 under the Pre-matric Scholarship. Previously, students in this category received an annual scholarship of Rs 3,000. ↗ TALENT SEARCH COMPETITION: Under the initiative of the Yogi government, the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan is conducting a Sanskrit talent search competition. The aim is to promote the Sanskrit language, cultivate students’ interest in Sanskrit, and identify talented young individuals in Sanskrit, offering them financial assistance. This competition unfolds in three stages: district, division, and state levels. ↗ MERIT BEST…

1974 Completes B.A. from Government Degree College, Siddipet, Andhra Pradesh 1980 Cuts his teeth in politics in the Indian Youth Congress’s Hyderabad office, inspired by Sanjay Gandhi and the Emergency 1982 Elected chairman, Raghavapur Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society, Siddipet; appointed Youth Congress vice president of Medak district 1983 Joins the Telugu Desam Party (TDP); loses the first assembly poll from Siddipet to the Congress’s A. Madan Mohan 1985 Wrests the Siddipet seat from the Congress 1987 Serves as the minister for drought relief in chief minister N.T. Rama Rao’s cabinet until 1988 1989 Re-elected MLA from Siddipet; becomes district president of TDP till 1993 1993 Serves as chairman, Committee on Public Undertakings of the state legislature 1994 Elected MLA for a third time from Siddipet; becomes TDP state secretary 1996…

A week before the state goes to the polls, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the ruling Congress seem to have received inputs that their campaign is slipping. The party was ahead, spending profusely to advertise its welfare schemes before the model code of conduct kicked in, but a slide has set in since then. One reason, sources say, is the conflict between campaign strategists Designbox and the state unit. In October, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra had a spat with Designbox chief Naresh Arora, who reportedly refused to share the strategy matrix with him. Later, many candidates put their foot down against the plan to organise local road shows, saying it was disrupting their campaign. “This is not the time to indulge in such things,” a senior leader…

This time last year, Bollywood was going through an existential crisis of sorts. Obituaries were being written on the death of the Hindi cinema as dubbed versions of South Indian films breached what were traditionally Hindi film bastions. Mercifully, 2023 has been Bollywood’s year of redemption. Of the total Indian box office revenue between January and September this year, Hindi films accounted for 42 per cent of the collections, according to Ormax Media’s India Box Office report. The Indian film industry as a whole is projected to gross a record-breaking Rs 11,730 crore this year, banking on Tiger 3 and upcoming releases like Salaar and Dunki, surpassing 2019-20’s high of Rs 10,948 crore. Forget the Rs 300 crore club, the bar for blockbuster success has been set even higher: Rs…

Aditi Veena has spent the past few years exploring the connections between her day job as an urban ecologist and her passion for music. The Berlin-based musician—who performs as Ditty—excels at crafting delicate, intimate tunes that pull at the strings of our relationship with the natural world. Her 2019 debut album Poetry Ceylon, written when she was working as a conservation architect in Sri Lanka, incorporated samples of birdsong, crashing waves and buzzing insects into a raw, organic-sounding record about the island nation, its people and its non-human inhabitants. Four years later, she’s back with ‘Hold Me’, the lead single off her forthcoming EP Skin, scheduled for release in March 2024. “I don’t write many love songs, but this is one,” says Veena. “I fell in love with my current…

LIGHT ARTED There’s no denying this, the festivities continue till the end of the year. So, if you are looking to brighten up your corners then get a hold of Mehraab candleholders. The candleholders are a part of Styliving’s new home decor range called Nazaakat. PRICE ₹2,500 (set of two) AT www.stylivingindia.com ALL FIRED UP Blame it on the nip in the air or the fact you just needed an excuse to celebrate, whatever the reason, now you can enjoy the season with fire pits from Kaniry’s latest collection. Available in different shapes and sizes, you can place them on the table or place furniture around it for a cosy revelry. PRICE ₹6,500 to ₹38,000 AT www.kaniryhomedecor.com READY TO BE FLOORED? Art for the floor has just gotten a new…

Colour adds character. Colour adds charisma. Colour adds splendour. But too much can look carnival-like, while too little can feel clinical. The Crescendo House, follows the middle path—not drenched in heavy hues, nor devoid of them—making the interiors feel homely yet sophisticated. That’s not all. The geometries seen around the house effortlessly blend in with the classical elements, of columns and wooden mouldings. Together, the thoughtful interventions break the dominancy and monotony of mouldings that run through the length of the walls. The furniture pieces that go perfectly well with the walls and the sublime flooring are finished in pastels and brass to effervesce a subtle yet striking matt gold touch. The outcome is a testament to the successful experimentation of design elements and materials, showcasing the potential and role…

DEFENCE | How cruise missile Nirbhay adds muscle to India’s rocket force plan By Pradip R. Sagar The indigenous Nirbhay, capable of hitting targets up to 1,000 km away, could potentially join all three military services and boost deterrence against China https://bit.ly/40V1bVL FROM THE STATES: PM IN JHARKHAND Why PM Modi’s Jharkhand visit on Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is significant By Amitabh Srivastava The PM’s official trip can help create goodwill for the BJP, which is on the backfoot against the Hemant Soren-led ruling alliance https://bit.ly/3SIgNtj ASSEMBLY POLLS: REBELS RISING Will rebels queer the pitch for BJP and Congress in MP, Chhattisgarh polls? By Rahul Noronha Dozens of disgruntled leaders are in the fray as Independents or candidates of smaller parties, threatening to upset the BJP and Congress’s…

The running battle between the Left Front government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan in Kerala has taken a turn for the worse with the state filing two petitions against Khan in the Supreme Court. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government wanted court directions for a “reasonable time-frame” for the governor to take decisions on the eight bills pending in his office. Among these, five are related to university administration and have been awaiting Khan’s nod for over two years; three other bills have been with his office for over a year. The relationship between the Pinarayi government and Raj Bhavan has been strained since the Governor demanded the resignation of nine vice-chancellors last year alleging that rules had been flouted in their appointment. The latest in the series of spats was the…

You can’t ignore the Yadavs, the single largest caste group with over 14 per cent share in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Yadav has a stranglehold on the cohort, but the BJP is not giving up on them without a try. Hence its first Milan Samaroh for Yadavs on November 14 in Patna, where 21,000-plus joined the BJP. And why wouldn’t they gravitate toward PM Narendra Modi, who is from Gujarat, where Lord Krishna took shelter, asked BJP MLC Naval Kishore Yadav. Krishna and Kansa were the original Yadavs, and Krishna’s descendants are natural allies. Who’s Kansa then, Lalu shot back.…

UNPRECEDENTED FACILITIES FOR THE FIRST TIME Dilshad Hussain, a Padmashree-awarded craftsman from Moradabad, showcased his exquisite brass carvings at the trade show. He expressed his appreciation for the “International Trade Show,” highlighting that it provided exhibitors from Uttar Pradesh with a unique opportunity to present their products to a global audience. With heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he emphasized that this event marked the first time exhibitors had access to such exceptional facilities, igniting a newfound enthusiasm among artisans. ELEVATING THE STATUS OF CRAFTSMEN AND ARTISTS Shishram, a Meerut resident and a Padmashree Award recipient, characterized the trade show as an event that would elevate the stature of Uttar Pradesh. After dedicating 40 years to the Indian Army, Shishram has gained woridwide recognition for his exceptional contributions to…

BHARAT RASHTRA SAMITHI KCR Bima Prathi Intiki Dhima Rs 5 lakh life insurance cover for BPL families Sowbhagya Lakshmi: Rs 3,000 a month allowance to women in BPL families KCR Arogya Raksha: Threefold hike in health insurance cover for BPL families—from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. Accredited journalists to be eligible too Rythu Bandhu Investment support for farmers to go up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per year in 2024; Rs 1,000 annual hike thereafter Aasara Rs 1,000 hike in monthly social security pension in 2024; to go up by Rs 500 every following year. At present, it’s Rs 2,016 for the elderly, widows, weavers and other disadvantaged groups; Rs 4,016 for persons with disabilities INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS Mahalakshmi: Rs 2,500 per month for women besides free bus…

At his Civil Lines residence in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sits at the head of the largish dining table, awaiting his brunch. The 62-year-old is flanked by his top advisors—Vinod Verma and Rajesh Tiwari—and a visitor, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla. Minutes later, over local staples such as baati, white butter, chutneys and fruits, Team Baghel discusses plans for the crunch overs—the last four days of campaigning. The second phase of polling for the remaining 70 seats out of the total of 90 is on November 17. “All my life, my breakfast has been what I’m having today. It’s election time, and my schedule has gone for a six. But in my youth, I went to the local lake for a bath, returned home to have breakfast served…

Patriarchy still flows from the muzzle of a hookah, when it comes to Jats. In Rajasthan, Divya Maderna, 39, sitting Congress MLA and Osian hopeful, has been getting it from maverick MP Hanuman Beniwal, founder of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. Why does she not get married, he intoned in avuncular fashion, and said only that would help calm her down. He even promised to get her married for the sake of the community. The twist of the knife? Allusions to the infamous CD of her late father, ex-minister Mahipal Maderna, who spent a decade in jail in the Bhanwari Devi murder case. Divya, no shrinking violet, gives it right back. For all that, Beniwal has fielded no one against her.…

889 KM Total length of highways 601 KM of the project completed ₹ 11,700 CRORE Estimated project cost 116 bridges 2 tunnels 3 viaducts CHAR DHAM PROJECT The roads connect some of India’s holiest shrines. Some routes also hold strategic value NON-STRATEGIC ROADS Rudraprayag-Gaurikund and Dharasu Bend-Jankichatti STRATEGIC ROADS Rishikesh-Mana, Rishikesh-Gangotri Tanakpur-Pithoragarh INDISCRIMINATE CUTTING Contractors cut the hillsides steeply, beyond the accepted 45 degrees, to widen roads. Tremors generated by the drills and giant earth movers also destabilise the slopes DRAINAGE Heavy rains cause surface water to accumulate on the roads. This water needs to be channelised through drains and culverts to the nearby streams/rivers. For this, drains and chutes are required. Their absence leads to potholes, slope-surface erosion and heavy ‘pore water pressure’, reducing the ‘shear strength’ of the slope DUMPING Soil, construction waste…

In The Buckingham Murders, Kapoor plays a detective and mother who recently lost her child and is assigned the case of the murder of a 10-year-old The year 2023 has been rather eventful for Kareena Kapoor Khan in her newfound pursuit of artistic merit over mere stardom. By her own admission, Kareena wanted a “makeover” for what she was doing. “I am glad to have embarked on a new phase in my career, in which my focus has changed markedly. While I am eager to work, I am keen on stuff that excites me rather than acceding to what people want me to do,” she says. If her recent releases and forthcoming projects are anything to go by, Kareena is on a mission. In an age where following the latest…

In the mid-aughts, Mumbai’s Bandra was still in the process of transitioning to its NRI-and-white-expat-magnet-and-hipster-precinct era, but it was already where restaurants and watering holes came and went with bewildering rapidity. Many of the first wave of discotheques and pubs that launched in Mumbai post-liberalisation had downed their shutters for various reasons. Around then, in 2004, Zenzi opened its doors. And earned a name not for the usual reasons of great cuisine or an exceptional bartender but for the kind of events that happened there. There was music, of course. But no Bollypop or trending chart music: DJs came and did their sets, and soon there was live music too, big names but also experimental acts that went on to be big names, hopeful singer-songwriters standing alone at the microphone,…

Narayanan compiles stories derived from a set of interviews conducted with, and regarding the sexual lives of, a small sample of volunteers In this book, the author—an internationally renowned psychotherapist based in Goa—compiles stories, derived from a set of interviews conducted with, and regarding the sexual lives of, a small sample of volunteers, primarily privileged upper-caste and upper-class women from the northwestern axis of the country, ranging from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra, with a few similar South Indians thrown in. Eastern women are conspicuous by their absence. Indeed, eastern India is the unspoken other in this book, represented only by Rabindranath Tagore’s teenage indiscretions (and a couple of extracts from his work), ‘flying prostitutes’ of Sonagachhi and Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan wearing pantsuits in Parliament. Right away, therefore, the…

Is it the thread count divided by the GSM or is it the material type multiplied by the textures and motifs? For centuries, designers and manufacturers have been trying to crack the code for the ideal furnishings. Thankfully, the perfect bedding is no longer a myth. But what else did you expect when Martha Stewart, bestselling author, DIY queen, domestic doyen, media mogul and businesswoman and Dipali Goenka, MD and CEO, Welspun Living Limited (formerly Welspun India Limited), come together. With this match made in design heaven the possibilities truly are limitless. We caught up with the dynamic duo in Mumbai, when Stewart was visiting Welspun offices and factories. Doubling Profits “We have been associated since 2019 and it has been really great. Martha is an icon and the association…

The allure of a home is not solely defined by its decor or architecture; it’s an amalgamation of all the senses that converge to create an unforgettable experience. Among these sensory elements, fragrances hold a special place in evoking emotions and setting the tone for a space. The art of crafting a welcoming and comforting environment through home scents has become a cherished tradition, elevating the ambiance of any room. It’s important to select the perfect scent for your sanctuary. PERSONALISED OLFACTORY JOURNEY Choosing a scent for your home is an intimate process, akin to curating an olfactory journey that resonates with your personal style and preferences. It’s essential to consider the mood you want to evoke in each room. For the living area, a light, sophisticated, and refreshing fragrance…

A Kannadiga couple brought up in Bangalore, purchased an apartment in a 15-year-old building in Basavanagudi. They had bought the house for the nostalgic value the area held for literature lovers and old-time Bangloreans. They were looking for a home that grounded them, a space where they could slow down. A home that overlooked a lovely park and was surrounded by the most amazing old markets, serving crispy dosas and soft idlis. This apartment met all their requirements. Old is Gold The clients came with a thought, ‘a home reflects everything we are in the given time period that we live in it’. They had lived in several homes in various countries, but despite this, they could not forget the basic, functional and warm homes that they grew up in…

Whether you take the traditional approach and hang it in the centre of the room or place it on the side, letting it brighten up a dull corner, no matter the placement, there’s something absolutely mesmerising about a chandelier. Not only does it elevate the overall look and feel of a home, it also adds generous amounts of drama and luxury. This one, called 72 light chandelier from Luxaddi, draws from the organic beauty of trees and their sprawling branches. It is the result of a fusion of modern aesthetics and timeless charm. Like a tree, the light is narrow at the bottom and spreads out on the top. The best part, you can customise the design and size to suit your needs. The idea was to seamlessly blend contemporary…

There will be no Oscars for A.R. Rahman from West Bengal. The music composer has come in for flak for his rendition of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s song, ‘Karar Oi Louha Kopat’ (The iron gates of the prison) for the film Pippa. Islam’s popularity in Bengal is second only to Rabindranath Tagore’s; he is also the national poet of Bangladesh. Parties of all colours—TMC, Congress, Left and BJP—have demanded that the song be removed from the film. Islam’s family, too, has said that changing the tune was not part of the contract with the producers of the film. For once, Rahman seems out of tune.…

As tributes come flying in from all over the cyber skies, there is a momentary darkness over India. But I am sure that P.R.S. ‘Biki’ Oberoi would have liked it otherwise. When the tomorrow to this sorrow comes, there will be even more light. When his father Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi had fled a virulent plague in Lahore to arrive in Simla, the summer capital of British India, he did not know that he was propelling his destiny to the skies. Starting from a monthly salary of Rs 50 as the front desk clerk at the Cecil Hotel, his success in business—where he turned each challenge into an opportunity—saw this common Punjabi surname metamorphose into a chic, aspirational brand flaunted in the highest echelons of society, one that is…

Politics can be like onions: layers within layers, and plenty tears. For one reason or the other, everyone in Rajasthan is sobbing on stage. The latest to wax lachrymose is Ravi Nayyar, owner of Roshan Dhaba in Jaipur’s Raja Park. Famous for its non-vegetarian delicacies for decades, the dhaba suddenly stopped serving those and turned all satvik as Nayyar angled for a BJP ticket. For his penance, he was rewarded with a boon: the Adarsh Nagar seat. That’s when he decided to really sink his teeth into the role. Two cows and a calf appeared on the scene, posthumously. At a presser, Nayyar boohooed as he accused Rafeek Khan, his opponent and sitting Congress MLA, of culpable bovicide. “Why was I not shot instead?” he asked dramatically, through tears. Khan…

The Pandavas? Well, not quite…but five sons of former CMs are in the fight in Madhya Pradesh. Each with interesting links to the other, political and personal. Ajay Singh, son of Arjun Singh, is married to the first cousin of Jai Vardhan Singh, son of Digvijaya Singh. Both Ajay and Jai are Congress candidates. Om Prakash Saklecha, scion of the ’70s-vintage CM Virendra Kumar Saklecha, has a BJP ticket to ride. So has Dhruv Narayan Singh, the progeny of the more deeply sepia-tinted Govind Narayan Singh, a Congress émigré who got to be a coalition government’s CM in the ’60s, with the Jan Sanghi Saklecha as his deputy. Deepak Joshi, the ex-MLA and minister whose saffron pedigree also flows from Eastmancolor-era dad Kailash Joshi, is mounted on a Congress steed…

THE MEDICINAL VALUE OF TEA, and the best way to drink it, is something that has exercised aficionados of the beverage for long. However, now it’s the very fate of the Rs 20,000 crore tea industry in India that is in need of some of that attention. Sixteen tea gardens in West Bengal have had to close since September on account of depressed prices in the domestic market and sluggish exports. Eight of these gardens—Ambotia, Moondakotee, Rongmook Cedar, Chongtong, Mullootar, Nagari, Pandom and Peshok—are situated in Darjeeling district, while another three—Kathalguri, Bamandanga-Tondu, Samsing—are in Jalpaiguri district. The remaining five—Kalchini, Raimatang, Dalsing-para, Dalmore and Ramjhora—fall in Alipurduar district. The closure of these gardens has impacted the lives of over 10,000 tea labourers since the start of the festive season in October.…

Angela Saini is an award-winning science journalist. Her earlier books have addressed the flashpoint issues of our times, such as race and gender, and now she turns her telescopic eye onto the patriarchy, the social construct that determines power and entitlement in every culture of the world. Saini’s research is staggering—this book has 52 pages of notes and citations—her sources and resources include sociology, anthropology, the human sciences, politics, philosophy, history, museums, monuments, significant buildings and geographies. Her connected essays are studded with references and quotations, all throwing light on the way the patriarchy developed and was sustained across time and space. She argues, however, that how the patriarchy operates depends on who and where we are. Although this is not news, it bears noticing again that traditional and indigenous…

Q. There is a new Sonu Nigam rising… tell us more about him. Thanks for not labelling this a ‘comeback’! As a performer, I feel there is a cycle of life that has completed and I am on another cycle now. So there are tours, playback, albums, devotional music—but all on my terms. I have always enjoyed spiritual music; in fact, that is what I started singing with. ‘Raam Siya Raam’, for example, is the most recent one, and the verses of Ramcharitmanas that I’ve sung are very soothing. Q. ‘Bitter Betrayals’ is your take on your life? There is no better teacher than experience. While this single was initially my take on the iconic ‘Achha Sila Diya’, while working on it, we added a lot of things. Music and…

Bath and beyond, drama and design, artistry and architecture. For 150 years, Kohler has stood for this and more. And in a completely Kohler-way, the brand celebrated the milestone by launching a KEC (Kohler Experience Centre) in Bangalore, earlier this year. We caught up with David Kohler, who is not only the chair and CEO of the US-based company but also the fourth-generation family member. After 2019, this is the first time David is visiting India. “When I go out to the market it fuels me. It is very inspiring, sometimes exhausting but very inspiring,” he says. In a pre-Covid world, David would often visit as he finds India fascinating with its cultural heritage and rich diversity. “The amount of history, the level of art, strength of the culture, strong…

“Good design should be accessible to everyone” Ricky Sudey, 35 (left) and Vipul Sachdeva, 31 Design Head and Product Development Head EITRI, Gurgaon www.eitri.co Origin story “The brand started in 2019, as it was dream to create beautiful, well-designed products that improve people’s lives,” says Ricky Sudey. Look out for The duo’s aim is to create statement piece that create a sense of exclusivity indoors. “The sort of pieces that are certain to be a head turner as soon as you or your guests enter the room,” adds Vipul Sachdeva. Buyer’s guide You can purchase furniture, lighting, decorative accessories as well as sculptures from them. “It’s important to have a unique aesthetic” Aroosh Mahipal, 32 and Nitush Mahipal, 33 Co-founders, White Domus, Delhi www.whitedomus.com Origin story “When we first embarked…