Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, May 1, 2023 i India Today

Uttar Pradesh has lived through decades of having its aspirations smothered by a deeply compromised system, an edifice built on a nexus of crime, politics and corrupt officialdom. While the leaders at the top waged their battles around slogans of caste and religion, powerful ganglords who operated on both sides of the law brought in much of the capital. The striking thing about UP’s underworld was that it lived so brazenly overground: its leading lights were and are regular faces in the state’s politics and routinely reached the assembly and Parliament. Crime lords consorting with power started with the Congress, and the BJP has had decades of entrenchment in that system too. The state cabinet career of UP’s original don, Hari Shankar Tiwari, is proof enough of the ideology-free nature…

In a tragic incident, a family of four from the Manekpura village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district died while attempting to cross into the US from Canada, when the boat they were in capsized in the St Lawrence river. The bodies of Pravin Chaudhary (50), his wife Daksha (45), their son Meet (20) and daughter Vidhi (24) were found in a river marsh near the US-Canada border, along with the remains of another immigrant Romanian family who were on the same boat. This came less than 15 months after another family from the state—Jagdish Patel (39), his wife Vaishaliben (37) and children Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3)—froze to death while illegally crossing the US-Canada border. Manekpura is just 25 km away from Dingucha, the village in Gandhinagar district where the Patels…

The national high command may be busy with the upcoming Karnataka assembly election, but Gujarat BJP president C.R. Paatil has begun serious preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His primary thrust is to connect with every voter digitally. At a training workshop for party members in Vadodara, he unequivocally stated that BJP workers should open as many social media accounts as possible to spread Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message. He also said that every panna pramukh must have the entire voters’ list in the ward on his cellphone, complete with details of caste, profession, etc. Leaders should have an office that serve as a data centre of the voters in that area. No one covers their base like the BJP, or plans so much in advance.…

On April 16, at the first executive committee meeting after E.K. Palaniswami took over as general secretary of the AIADMK, the mention of the party’s alliance with the BJP was avoided in any of the 15 resolutions. Could it be because the association is seen to be weakening the AIADMK base among Muslims and Christians in Tamil Nadu? The party is peeved that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not meet Palaniswami during his recent visit to Tamil Nadu and considers state BJP chief K. Annamalai’s threat to reveal the AIADMK Files—a slew of corruption allegations against the party—as unfair. Is the alliance on the rocks?…

In the badlands of Uttar Pradesh, Atiq Ahmed was Don No. 1. With as many as 101 cases lodged against him, including under the stringent National Security Act, he evoked intense fear among people in and around Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) for over four decades. So much so that in 2012, 10 judges reportedly recused themselves from hearing his bail plea, which he needed to fight the assembly election from Allahabad West as an Apna Dal candidate. The 11th judge granted him bail, but Ahmed lost the poll to Puja Pal, the widow of BSP MLA Raju Pal who had challenged the gangster’s grip over the constituency in 2005 and was murdered. Ahmed and his younger brother Mohammad Ashraf—who were shot dead on April 15 in Prayagraj by assailants in the…

If you observe a toddler, you will see they often fall as they try to stand up. The same happens as they start to walk and then run. The falls eventually stop as they start walking but it doesn’t mean they never fall again. Taking financial decisions is similar—the risk of making errors are high when you are a novice. However, with time, you start accepting the existing risks when making financial decisions. Here are some essential financial risks to know in your journey. ↘ INFLATION RISK If you wait to buy a car until next year, you accept the possibility that the price may increase. ↘ INTEREST RATE RISK Interest rates can go up or down, which may affect the cost of borrowing, savings or the profits you earn…

The purpose of life insurance is to protect the financial interest of your dependants and provide you with peace of mind. However, life insurance can also be used as collateral in case you have no other option and need money. Certain life policies—those with a savings and investment orientation—are pledged to borrow against. The same is not the case with term policies against which one cannot borrow. Further, insurers and lenders have different criteria on the loan amount and tenure of the loan that one can take when using their life policy as collateral. Often, the reason one considers borrowing against an existing life insurance policy is that no other source of loan is available. And, as the policy against which one is considering borrowing has a history and doesn’t…

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We call this home ‘Ramaniyam’, which means beautiful in Sanskrit. Designed for a family of four, when Senthil Ramani who heads AI at Accenture and his wife Smitha Tumuluru, a documentary photographer, approached us they wanted a space that met their needs and made room for family heirlooms. So, we created a home that meets their requirements and shows their south Indian roots while being a comfortable and cool haven. A few ideas to steal from ‘Ramaniyam’, this summer. Gayathri Padmam H is the principal architect at Aanai Design Studio, a Bangalore-based, multidisciplinary practice that specialises in the residential space  www.aanai.in LIVE LARGE The living room sports summery hues, which are earthy and soothing. It overlooks into a beautiful attached garden balcony. Like other rooms, here too, teak has been…

When designing a room, it’s the accessories that add the final layer of drama. Although many people find styling daunting, it simply brings together all the decorative details in an aesthetically pleasing way. At the end of the day, it’s all about creating a space that is considered, inviting, and ultimately an expression of you and the things you love. To simplify the process, I’ve listed five easy ways to style your home. 1 With Textiles Furnishings such as upholstery, cushions, throws, bedding, and rugs can bring in so many different vibes through their colour, textures, and patterns. Whether you pile them up or layer them together, they can make your space look lived in with their comfort, tactility, and craftsmanship. 2 On Surfaces Kitchen countertops, dining, console, coffee and end tables,…

When we were first roped in, to design this project, it was supposed to be a home gym that had to be converted into a bachelor pad. Then the homeowner got engaged, and later married. Now he needed to move into this 1BHK in Khar West, Mumbai, as a newlywed. This is the couple’s first home, their very own tiny paradise, perfect for two. The interiors are a study of contrasts, a mix of cold textures and warm wooden tones. The space defines both our clients’ personality—modern, free-spirited and gorgeous. We divided a hall-gym into a walk in closet inside their bedroom and a foyer entrance. This made the existing bedroom bigger. We also converted the study into a den with a small open pantry for the couple. When designing…

These Seats are Reserved by Abhinav Chandrachud, a lawyer practising at the Bombay High Court, explains the history of the affirmative action provisions in the Indian Constitution and demystifies the complex set of rules and procedures through which these clauses are put into operation. Self-consciously addressing the upper caste reader, it takes on oft-repeated assumptions like the idea that the various reservations are antimerit, or are a product of vote bank politics. The first half traces the history of constitutionalising reservation history, beginning with the activism of Jyotiba Phule and moving through to the enactment of the 103rd amendment of the Constitution which gives 10 per cent reservation to the “economically weaker sections” of upper castes. The latter half offers valuable clarity to the “bewildering complexity” of law governing reservation…

Whatever influence Sachin Pilot may or may not have in Rajasthan, he seems to have become an inspiration in distant Bihar. “If Sachin Pilot can protest against Ashok Gehlot, can Jitan Manjhi not do the same against Nitish Kumar?” asked Hindustani Awam Morcha leader and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in Patna on April 16, while addressing his party colleagues. Manjhi, whose son is a minister in the Nitish Kumar government, set off the rumour mills in Bihar political circles after meeting Union home minister Amit Shahon April 13. Despite all this, though, Manjhi claims his undying commitment to Nitish. Should Pilot take note?…

VIJAY MISHRA Area of operation Bhadohi No. of cases: 83 A four-time MLA from Bhadohi district’s Gyanpur town, Mishra has the second-highest number of cases among the 66 big dons the UP government is keeping an eye on. Mishra started with a petrol pump and a transport business, and then expanded into sand mining and land deals. He was said to be close to then Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is said to have helped Mishra escape in a chopper when the police came to arrest him in 2009. In 2010, Mishra made headlines over the bomb attack on Nand Gopal Gupta, a minister of state in the BSP government then and currently a minister in the Yogi cabinet. Mishra contested the 2012 assembly election from jail and won. In…

Mention commodity investing and chances are one would think of it as risky and complicated. However, unlike stock investing wherein a lot goes into researching on companies, sectors and financials, commodity investing is mostly based on demand and supply concerns. Retail investors with a well-diversified portfolio and stomach for risk can consider commodity investing as a hedging tool. From a portfolio point of view, historically, commodity pricing has been less volatile compared to equity and bonds, providing an efficient portfolio diversification option. In simple terms, a commodity is an essential good used in trade and may be exchanged for other items. Items like cereals, gold, oil and natural gas are classic examples of commodities (see The Commodities Universe). Commodities can be a significant way for investors to diversify their portfolios…

In the foreground of Sushanta Guha’s 2018 lithograph ‘Download from Life’, there are two naked human figures standing before a thousand screens; one of them has their brain hooked up with wires that lead to nowhere. They’re standing atop a network of stairways that evoke the Dutch artist M.C. Escher’s iconic lithograph ‘Relativity’ (1953). And underneath the stairways lies flamboyant, unruly Amazonian foliage, the remnants of what was trampled to create the ‘digital city’ above. Guha’s lithograph, with its impeccable technique and its haunting imagery, is one of several striking prints that make up Of Divergent Practices: The Trajectory of Printmaking, a new exhibition at Delhi’s Dhoomimal Gallery curated by Ina Puri and designed by Reha Sodhi (on till May 10). As Puri writes in her curatorial note, the participating…

If God is in the details, David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore are the high priests of this temple. Their textiles are ode to good design, best described as poetry in motion. This is why, when (over a decade ago) they forayed from fashion into home, it was the next evolutionary step. Then, they stopped their tryst with interiors, focussing more on fashion. Now finally, after years of seemingly calling it quits in the local market, the duo has relaunched the home line with table linen and cushion covers as well as ceramic and marble crockery (a first from the label). “The homeware collection was developed for the international market and we decided to focus on fashion primarily for the domestic market, as it was the fastest growing category at the…

Citrus Calling The backdrop of beautiful hand-painted mangoes, banana trees and monkeys instantly reminds you of summer fun. We have mirrored that in the setting with bright and colourful tableware that looks at once vibrant and inviting. Add a beautiful pop of colour with gelatos and citrus elements and you have a winner. Pearl Uppal is the creative force behind Talking Threads, a bridal and evening couture brand. She is an expert of colour, craft and design. www.talkingthreads.in Location DISCOVER COLLECTION CLUB NEW DELHI Sorbet Sensation This outdoor patio set-up plays with sorbet colours that move from blues and purple to raspberry. In this table setting we have used deeper gelato flavours that melt into the tableware and played around with light and shade. The earthy wooden outdoor table anchors…

#BeTheBetterGuy A Road Safety Initiative If you see flashing lights in your rear view mirror and hear the siren of an emergency service vehicle, move out of the lane immediately to help clear the path to life. Fire tenders, ambulances, police vehicles, all have the right of way in case of emergencies which these vehicles warn you of with sirens and flashing lights. Basic thumb rule is pull to the left and slow down to let emergency service vehicles safely pass. Also, slow down and let those in front of you switch lanes to ensure the emergency service vehicle’s path is cleared as quickly as possible. If you are on a two-lane road without a median and there’s an emergency service vehicle approaching from the opposite side, even then the…

On the evening of April 18, shortly after landing in Delhi from Karnataka where he had been campaigning for the assembly polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi went to Matia Mahal market in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, and to Bengali Market near Connaught Place for a taste of street fare. Lest you think it was an impromptu visit by the Gandhi scion, looks like some political planning went into it. A few senior Congress leaders had proposed that Rahul host an iftaar in the month of Ramzan, like Sonia Gandhi would do in her time. Others voted against the idea, fearing it would invite charges of Muslim appeasement. As a compromise, Rahul went to Muslim-dominated Chandni Chowk where he could interact with the locals. And just so that he is not accused…

Governor C.V.Ananda Bose turned up in kurta-pyjama and spoke in chaste Bangla at a cultural programme in Raj Bhawan on April 15 on the occasion of Poila Baisakh. However, he slightly modified the slogan of ‘Jai Bangla’, also the rallying cry of the ruling Trinamool Congress, to ‘Jai Paschim Banga’. The BJP thinks West Bengal should retain its identity as Paschim Banga as it was carved out as a Hindu-majority state at Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s insistence when undivided Bengal was partitioned. The battle lines for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls stand drawn—it will be Hindu pride vs Bangla pride.…

SUSHIL MOONCH Areas of operation: Meerut, Muzaffarnagar No. of cases: 49 Known variously as Sushil Moonch, Langda and Pradhanji, he runs a gang called IAS99. Starting out with a cable operator business, Moonch was running an organised racket of hired hitmen. Accused of murder, robbery and extortion, the 49 cases registered against him include more than 10 cases of murder in the Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. He was going out for a movie with a young girl when he was first arrested for murder in 2012. He was let out on bail in 2017 and was on the run till 2019, when he surrendered before the Muzaffarnagar court because he feared he would be killed in an encounter. He remains lodged in Ambedkarnagar jail currently. UDHAM SINGH Area of operation: Meerut No. of…

↗ While opposition parties aggressively sought a JPC probe in Parliament into the allegations against the Adani Group, Sharad Pawar opposed the demand ↗ Ajit Pawar’s palace coup in 2019 saw him join hands with the BJP in a short-lived arrangement that preceded the formation of the MVA govt ↗ ED did not name Ajit and his wife Sunetra in a chargesheet in a case about a sugar mill’s auction at an undervalued price ↗ There are conjectures that Ajit and some of his loyal MLAs may join forces with the BJP to evade action from the central investigating agencies ↗ If CM Shinde and 15 of his MLAs are disqualified in the event of an SC order, the BJP may need to shore up its numbers in the legislature…

Like everything else, the earlier you learn good financial habits, the better. You stand to gain the sooner you develop these habits. It is easy to learn new things and build good habits when you are young. Once you establish good money practices early enough, it will be near impossible to break those habits. Likewise, adjusting the mistakes that we make can impact our financial progress. But, making those mistakes early in life gives us ample time to recover in time and learn from them. An important learning from any mistake is not to repeat it. In general, when it comes to money, understanding compound interest is critical. Investing money early allows compound interest to grow that money exponentially over decades. There is also a downside to compound interest which…

↘ Shield against rupee depreciation: The Indian rupee has an inverse relation with gold and whenever there is depreciation in the rupee, the price of gold goes up, and vice versa. Whenever the Indian stock markets show weakness, it is better to hedge by investing in commodities over equities in such times. ↘ Liquidity: When equity markets are volatile, one can invest in commodity futures, as it offers higher liquidity compared to other financial assets like real estate. Moreover, it is easy to buy and sell commodities as one has the choice to liquidate this position when it is required. ↘ Event risk hedge: Risks such as natural disasters, wars and economic crises have a negative effect on the prices of financial assets such as bonds and stocks. But these…

BEGINNER Q1. The goal of a budget is to save more than you spend a. True b. False Q2. People keep a personal budget to help them a. Earn promotions at work b. Set, reach financial goals c. Buy with credit d. Buy anything they want Q3. Which action is a financial pitfall? a. Installing antivirus on your laptop b. Using a secure network when working at a cafe c. Giving information to someone who claims to be a bank teller d. Renting your house Q4. Who among the following would benefit most from a personal budget? a. Ram carefully keeps track of his expenses b. Sita spends less than she earns c. Ravi is saving for a major purchase d. Raj does not have enough money to pay bills…

From a prosaic job at the Indian Oil Corporation to top-selling author and screenwriter—not to mention the occasional acting stint—Anand Neelakantan has come a long way. He tasted success with his very first book, Asura: Tale of the Unvanquished (2012). “The job had got hectic and boring when I started writing. When Asura became a runaway bestseller, it opened up opportunities in both books and television,” says Neelakantan. “So, 11 years since my first book, here I am, with 13 books, including the official prequel for Bahubali, more than 600 hours of television and two OTT shows to my credit. It happened like a dream.” The high points of Neelakantan’s career so far are the three prequel novels he wrote for S.S. Rajamouli’s Bahubali movie series, the first being The…

Q. What special surprises can we look forward to at the Delhi dinners? I don’t want to share too much, it’s a surprise! What I can say is that I can’t wait to be back in India. Thank you to Culinary Culture and The Leela Hotels for organising this wonderful opportunity. With my team, we are preparing two beautiful menus, featuring some of the most iconic dishes from Osteria Francescana! Q. How would you sum up your food philosophy? The idea that has led my work and of my team over the past 30 years is of ‘Tradition in Evolution’. We see the kitchen at Osteria Francescana as a laboratory, but also an observatory to look at the past in a critical way, not a nostalgic one. Our work is…

Exposed wood, simple stripes, foraged greens, handmade things, local wicker, lazy corners, endless tea and a sprinkling of nostalgia from the past is how we envision summer 2023. We are stripping it all down to the basics to create a home that’s organic, harmonious, balanced, inspiring and stands the test of time. NATURAL COLOURWAYS To begin with, uncomplicate. Choose a simple colour palette that is natural and one that is easy to live with. Pick a natural palette (such as white, canvas, greige or beige) and pair it down with colours that have old school sensibility. Taupe, tan, smoky green, soft blacks, grey greens, grey blues, dusty pinks, greige—they’re all wonderful colours to get in relaxation and timelessness into your home. If your key colour is canvas or beige, I…

Located at that sweet spot between art, craft, food and decor, the Brio Art House in Lucknow offers connoisseurs of good design myriad possibilities. “It is designed on the principles of sustainability, conscious living and giving back to the community,” says Ankita Jaiswal, sculptor, designer and founder of the space. Interestingly, The Art House is culmination of Jaiswal’s journey. Here’s how. In 2011, she started retailing her artwork online, in 2016, she became the chairman for art and craft committee for hotels in the area. In 2017-18, she opened up an art gallery that also showcased craft, in 2019, she set up an art cafe with the farm to fork concept, then COVID happened. “I then decided to setup my second flagship in the heart of the city (Hazratganj), an…

Although enjoying coffee at a café is still a thing, with a myriad of coffee brewers and specialty coffee available in the market, home-brewing has found its place. Home brewing has elevated its stand from easy access and comfort to experimenting with various combinations. In the kitchen or dining area, you can carve out a little nook dedicated to all things coffee. For some, placing a coffee brewer on the kitchen counter will do the job. However, some are passionate about our brews that need time and all tools to perfect our cup of coffee. A coffee counter is an investment. It needs to be well thought through and quality will always pay off in the long run. Always build from the basics and then ascend to finer equipment. Here…

What if there was a way for your furniture to do more than just look good? What if it gave the differently-abled employment and you a unique piece to hold pride of place at home? With the coming together of Amardeep Design (a 30-year-old brand into commercial furniture solutions) and Sketch (a fashion social enterprise that spreads awareness and empowers people with special needs) it’s finally possible. Their collaborative range takes artworks from people with autism and Down syndrome and transforms it into upholstered furniture. The best part is that you can customise each piece to suit your needs. This one certainly gives new meaning to functional art. PRICE on request AT www.buy.amardeepdesign.com…