Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, June 26, 2023 i India Today

Sometimes justice gets lost in the thicket of the law and the legal process. Sometimes common sense is needed. Consider for a moment where the world champion women wrestlers fighting for justice come from. The struggles they have gone through to reach where they have. They all come from humble backgrounds and from a highly conservative environment. People notice women in sports when they reach the podium, after which there’s a shower of confetti, awards and celeb endorsements. No one sees the lonely trek, often from the most inimical of places, the battle with inner and outer demons, with material want and historical disadvantage. Wrestling, the most macho of sports, was an all-male affair conducted in the mud pits of deeply patriarchal Haryana, a place where their mothers and grandmothers…

Telangana State shot to global prominence for the scientific precision and meticulous execution of the multipurpose engineering marvel–the Mission Bhagiratha. This unparalleled initiative remains a boon for 23,999 rural habitations and 142 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which are now enjoying portable drinking water supply; 1.06 crore households in Telangana have been provided tap connections while functional tap connections are provided in all Schools and Anganwadis. Telangana has seen remarkable development at both rural and urban levels with its pioneering Palie/Pattana Pragathi. The State Government has been releasing Rs 148 crore to ULBs every month. Every gram panchayat (GM) now has a dump yard, a tractor, a vehicle for waste collection and water tankers for avenue plantation. The concentration on the interiors with exclusive initiatives is paying off. Around 56 GPs,…

The swanky new Telangana Secretariat, named after Dr Ambedkar, is already making waves as an architectural masterpiece. It has been given a Gold rating by the Indian Green Buildings Council 06BC The imposing 125-foot statue of Dr. BR Ambedkar is the newest tourist attraction not only for Hyderbad but to India. Spread over 2 acts very near to the newly inaugurated Telangana Secretariat on the banks of the Hyderabad’s famous Hussain Sagar lake. Hyderabad, the cosmopolitan and truly secular global Indian city, stands out as much as it assimilates. For five years in a row, Mercer’s Quality of Living Index has crowned Hyderabad as the best city to live in, in India. The global survey upheld its many attributes, such as investment in economic and public infrastructure, large international and…

When Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his inability to attend the meeting of all Opposition leaders Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar convened in Patna on June 12 and reportedly offered to send someone else instead, the meeting was immediately called off and rescheduled for June 23. Unwilling to make it look like another half-hearted attempt at Opposition unity, Nitish made it clear that “all parties must be represented by their respective heads”. Hint taken, the Congress high command, within 72 hours, confirmed the participation of not just Kharge but also Rahul Gandhi.…

Q. Some cast doubt on the allegations of the wrestlers and question the intent behind the protest, saying it’s at the behest of a political party. We are not aligned with any party nor have we been lured by anyone. The aim of the protest was that the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh be probed, that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is run by officials who keep the sport clean, and that there’s no exploitation of girls and women. Q. Another narrative doing the rounds is that this is a Thakur vs. Jat battle for control the WFI. These are tactics to deviate from the real issue—Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Initially, they said it was a ‘Thakur-Jat’ issue, then it became ‘Haryana vs. UP’, then the narrative was that…

↘ The administration is sharply divided on ethnic lines between two communities—Meitei and Kuki—and often failing on professional responsibilities ↘ Police force remained mute spectators when weapons were looted from state armouries; both communities are now armed, carrying out arson attacks ↘ State political leaders are allegedly backing Meitei vigilante groups, who claim that Central government and armed forces are unwilling to take strict action against Kuki militants involved in violence ↘ Provocative comments by political leaders and civil society groups of both sides are adding to the conflict; there is little action against such statements ↘ Both Meiteis and Kukis say peaceful co-existence is no longer possible; violence is a way to grab maximum land from each other…

↘ SHAKTI Free travel for women within Karnataka on state transport buses (excluding premium services) was rolled out on June 11; 4.2 million beneficiaries daily. Cost: `4,052 crore annually* ↘ GRUHA JYOTHI Free power for domestic consumers whose monthly usage is less than 200 units from August 1. Some 21.4 million households will avail this benefit. Yearly cost: `13,000 crore ↘ GRUHA LAKSHMI Monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 to every family headed by a woman (excluding tax payers) from mid-August. It’ll empower 12.8 million. Cost: `30,000 crore a year ↘ ANNA BHAGYA 10 kg foodgrains per month for ration card holders, starting July 1. It’ll help some 11.3 million BPL families. Annual cost: `10,100 crore ↘ YUVANIDHI For two years, monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for graduates, Rs 1,500 for…

The power struggle within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) took a significant turn on June 10 when party supremo Sharad Pawar announced the appointment of his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and former Union minister Praful Patel as the working presidents of the party. With Sule thus anointed as her father’s political heir, all eyes are on her mercurial cousin and Maharashtra leader of opposition Ajit Pawar. Ajit refused to comment immediately after his cousin’s appointment as the effective No. 2 in the NCP. He later denied that he was upset. “I am very content,” he told the media. “This is unnecessary (speculation).” Ajit also tweeted in support of the newly-appointed functionaries. He would have seen it coming. Just when a group in the party, which owed its…

SET BOUNDARIES: They help protect your sensitivities and your sense of self-worth REGULATE EMOTIONS: Learning to not be in extremes of emotions, so that decisions come from a place of logic POWER OF EXPRESSION: Not being able to say how you feel and what you expect can make the other person think you are cold and uninterested UNDERSTANDING WOMEN: Many men are unable to strike the balance between traditional stereotypes and modern views of women HEALTHY FLIRTING: The ultimate ice-breaker LISTENING: Being able to give your partner a safe space to speak is crucial APOLOGISING: Genuine apologies do not deflect blame and come with follow-up action as remedies COMFORTABLE DRESSING: Fancy attire can be stressful. Coaches emphasise comfort dressing instead REDUCING FEAR: Be it fear of commitment, expression, coming across as inappropriate—they…

Everyone has heard of ‘Paranthe Wali Gali’ in Old Delhi. However, few would know of ‘Samoson ki Gali’, which, along with many other such place names from the 19th century, has not survived. Trivia apart, this book is a meticulously researched account of Mughal Delhi before 1857. The British were determined to teach a lesson after the Revolt and demolished great swathes of the city. This has made the reconstruction of late Mughal Delhi a challenge for historians, and one important source is a large-scale, thana-by-thana, coloured map from 1846-47, which the book reproduces in detail. The work of a colonial official or a team, the map certainly had indigenous collaborators as place names were written in Urdu. The map records areas that have long disappeared, including a plan of…

In keeping with the motto that ‘expenditure on education is an investment for the future’, the State Government launched Mana Ooru - Mana Badi/Mana Basti - Mana Badi programme for comprehensive development and strengthening of infrastructure facilities in 26,065 schools in 3 phases, spread over a 3-year span, with a total budget outlay of Rs 7,289.54 crores. English medium of instruction was introduced in all government schools from the academic year 2022-23. • 1002 TS Residential Schools have been set up with international standards for poor students and 5lakh students are enrolled which has helped public education dramatically• Telangana comes first in minority girls' education in the country.• Mid-day meals and lunches at hostels are supported with free high quality fine rice by the government.• Overseas scholarships worth Rs 20…

Dalit Sandhu is a transformative welfare scheme launched by the Government of Telangana with an aim to empower Dalit families to achieve its avowed mission of ensuring social justice. The scheme is designed to address the socio-economic disparities faced by Dalit communities and uplift them through financial assistance and state support. Dalit Sandhu ranks among the most popular of the welfare schemes. It provides employment and promotes self-development Dalit Sandhu Scheme directly transfers Rs. 10 lakh with 100% grant to the beneficiary, which is the largest direct cash transfer scheme without any collateral security in the country. The government has released Rs.3832.30 crore to 38,323 beneficiaries while for FY 2023-24 the government has allocated Rs. 17, 700 crore to benefit 1, 77,000 SC families. The government’s concern for below poverty…

While the 2G scam may have led to the fall of the United Progressive Alliance government, it wasn’t the spectrum scandal Union home minister Amit Shah was alluding to when at an event in Tamil Nadu, he termed the DMK and the Congress—allies in the UPA when the 2G scam allegedly took place—as the 2G, 3G, 4G parties. “I am not talking about the 2G spectrum scam,” he clarified. “2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations…the Maran family has been doing corruption for two generations, the Karunanidhi family has been doing corruption for three generations, the Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth-generation. For four generations, they have enjoyed power.”…

Despite being in alliance, the BJP and AIADMK have clashed over mutual poaching since early 2023. On June 9, the saffron party scored a big win when it ensured the return of V. Maitreyan, an oncologist and Jayalalithaa acolyte, to the saffron fold after two decades in the AIADMK. Thrice a member of the Rajya Sabha, Maitreyan comes back at a time when the party is looking to project itself as a serious contender in Tamil Nadu politics. The only problem? Its alliance with the Dravidian major may be rockier than ever before.…

↘ Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 66, is a six-time Lok Sabha MP from Gonda, Balrampur and Kaiserganj in UP ↘ A student leader circa 1985, Singh cut his political teeth in the Ram temple movement. Was an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition. Acquitted in 2020 ↘ Close to the late firebrand VHP leader Ashok Singhal, he joined the BJP in 1991. Won his first LS election from Gonda the same year ↘ Fielded wife Ketki Devi Singh from Gonda LS seat in 1996 as he couldn’t get the ticket. She won. (There was a TADA case against him for allegedly harbouring associates of don Dawood Ibrahim. Got a clean chit later) ↘ Switched to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in 2009, won Kaiserganj LS seat ↘ Became president of the…

Q. Beginning January, the wrestlers have been protesting against alleged sexual harassment by WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Why has the issue been dragging on for so long? Why did they have to come out to the streets to protest? The matter is already under investigation and the government has taken the steps required from day one. First, by my meeting with the protesting athletes on January 19, a day after they started their protest. Second, by forming the [oversight] committee headed by Mary Kom soon after. Third, after getting the report, we asked the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) to set up an ad hoc committee in place of the current one to run day-to-day operations and hold transparent elections for the new committee to run WFI. Fourth, we…

POLITICAL IMBALANCE ↘ 40 assembly seats are in Imphal valley, dominated by Meiteis ↘ 10 assembly seats are in hills dominated by Nagas and Kukis GEOGRAPHICAL IMBALANCE ↘ Meiteis account for 53 per cent of population but occupy only 10 per cent of the geography ↘ Nagas and Kukis account for 47 per cent of population but occupy 90 per cent of the geography RELIGIOUS TENSION ↘ Between 1961 and 2011, the Hindu population, mostly Meiteis, declined from 62 per cent to 41 per cent, while Christian, Nagas and Kukis jumped from 19 per cent to 41 per cent DEMOGRAPHIC TENSION ↘ Between 2001 and 2011, population in Imphal valley, dominated by Meiteis, grew by 16 per cent. Hill areas, inhabited by Nagas and Kukis, grew by 40 per cent…

The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) is a two-year full-time residency program in cardiology for post-MBBS doctors offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was launched in 2006 by the Honorable Health Minister of India, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, to provide specialized training to medical professionals in the field of cardiology. The course was designed to develop a cadre of non-interventional cardiologists to develop rural cardiology and was open to candidates holding an MBBS degree. This PGDCC diploma is not a distant education or online program. It is the first face-to-face full time clinical residency program in cardiology offered by IGNOU. This two-year clinical residency program was designed similarly to the way the National Board of Examinations…

↘ Born on July 22, 1959, to Ashatai and Anantrao Pawar, the elder brother of Sharad Pawar ↘ Joined politics through the cooperatives sector ↘ Elected to Lok Sabha from Baramati in 1991; months later, vacated seat for uncle Sharad Pawar, who became Union defence minister ↘ In the Congress-NCP government that came to power in 1999, Ajit held cabinet portfolios like water, energy, and finance. Was deputy CM from 2010-2014 ↘ Was seen as Pawar’s political heir till cousin Supriya Sule joined politics in 2006 ↘ In 2019, formed short-lived government with BJP. As MVA government came to power, Ajit was made deputy CM, with the finance portfolio ↘ Married to Sunetra Pawar; has two sons, Parth and Jay…

Poet, publisher (Seagull Books), photographer, and theatre person Naveen Kishore, 70, wears several hats. It’s his photography hat that is currently on display at Emami Art in the Kolkata Centre for Creativity. The exhibition In A Cannibal Time is in collaboration with Chatterjee & Lal (who had taken Kishore’s Performing the Goddess to the Cincinnati Art Museum) and is showing at the gallery till June 25. It includes four series: Performing the Goddess, The Green Room of the Goddess, The Epic and the Elusive, and In a Cannibal Time. According to Kishore, his photographs are ‘happy accidents’. This is particularly true for the photographs in The Epic and the Elusive. They were shot over 20 years ago as part of a series for Seagull Theatre Quarterly’s issue on theatre in…

Panoramas are to photography what stretch limousines are to cars…the luxury of excess space. These are multiple images shot on the same axis and digitally stitched together to create extended photographs that cover a wider expanse of visual information. Panoramic photography has conventionally just been a limo—a vehicle for special occasions. It is used to capture sweeping landscapes, show off grand monuments, or create dramatic images for gatefolds in coffee-table books. Amit Pasricha, a scion of Delhi’s first family of photographers, is arguably India’s best-known practitioner of panoramic photography. He has amplified the clichéd strip of the panorama with the emotions and empathy of documentary photography, the palpable energy of street photography and the performative tableau of studio work. His panoramas create a sensory experience where the familiar scene is…

Set in a charbagh-style Mughal garden, Humayun’s Tomb is arguably Delhi’s greatest architectural gem. Over the last decade and a half, this World Heritage Site and its adjacent areas and monuments have been nursed back to their former glory by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) under the uncompromising stewardship of conservation architect Ratish Nanda. In 2007, AKTC signed an MoU to undertake the Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative that has included the conservation of Humayun’s Tomb, the creation of Sunder Nursery and development works in Nizamuddin Basti. Before that, in 1997, AKTC had undertaken the restoration of the Humayun’s Tomb garden as a gift of the Aga Khan to mark the 50th anniversary of Indian independence. Spread across 90 acres and housing 20 monuments (six of them part of…

“Chai tea? Chai means ‘tea’, bro! You are saying ‘tea tea’! Would I ask you for a ‘coffee coffee’ with room for ‘cream cream’?” It’s one of the lines in the animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse that leaves audiences in Indian cinemas in splits. Its deliverer is Pavitr Prabhakar, a desi Spider-Man based in the crowded, bustling city of Mumbattan, with luscious hair that he credits to coconut oil and genes. He feeds stray dogs, loves his girlfriend Gayatri and displays a robust joie de vivre in the 12-odd minutes of his screentime. Voiced by cricketer Shubman Gill in the Hindi-dubbed version, the film saw the biggest weekend for an animated movie in India. Of the 1,000-odd animators who worked on the film, at least a few were Indians.…

After the state’s formation, the government has Incurred an expenditure of Rs. 1.59 lakh crore on major, medium and minor Irrigation projects; Rs. 5349 crore to restore and strengthen tanks while 15.05 lakh acres have been stabilized. Cultivable area increased from 1.31 crore acres in 2014 to 2.20 crore acres in 2022-23; grain production, which was only 68 lakh MT in 2014-15, increased to a record level to touch 3 crore MT during 2022-23. The Telangana Government procured 671.22 lakh MT of paddy and paid Rs 1.21 lakh crore to farmers, while the gross cropped area has gone up by 83% The state government also launched a unique Rythu Bandhu scheme, which provides direct financial assistance to farmers to support their agricultural activities. Telangana began its true empowerment of formers…

In keeping with this spirit, the Government of Telangana has framed the New Industrial Policy 2015 for “Research to Innovation, Innovation to Industry, Industry to Prosperity”. It is themed around “In Telangana – Innovate, incubate, Incorporate”. The policy has provided a business regulatory environment where doing business has become as easy as “shaking hands”. The Industrial Policy Framework has a mandate of “minimum inspection and maximum facilitation” for the concerned departments. It emphasizes on effective industrial clearance mechanism which functions at three levels - mega projects, large industries and SMEs. The Government has earmarked 10% of water from all existing and new irrigation sources for exclusive industrial use. The government has enacted the TS-iPASS Act for providing all approvals to entrepreneurs at a single point within set time limits based…

The notable achievement is the establishment of SHE Teams, a specialized unit focused on women’s safety. The presence of these teams helped instil a sense of security among women and made Telangana a role model for other states. Additionally, the state government’s decision to pay envious salaries to Home Guards and its all-out war against sale of illicit liquor, gutka, banned narcotic substances, and illegal gambling activities have created a safe environment. The Telangana government has also recognized the importance of its traffic police force to which it provided a 30 percent risk allowance, a unique initiative in the country. Moreover, recruitment of a sizeable number of police personnel and the ongoing process to fill up additional vacancies reflects the government’s commitment to boost the strength and capabilities of the…

It was a scathing statement that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary and former Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde made earlier this month—one that could only have been a sign of festering wounds growing bigger. On May 31, at a public meeting organised in Delhi by the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), an ally of the BJP, Pankaja, the daughter of the late OBC stalwart and BJP leader Gopinath Munde, boldly declared, “I belong to the BJP, but the BJP does not belong to me.” On that same day, her sister and BJP’s Beed MP Pritam Munde broke ranks and came out in support of the wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Another statement bristling with intent, if not exactly dissent, followed barely days later.…

INDIA’S FINANCE MINISTERS From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977) by A.K. Bhattacharya PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE ₹999; 408 pages A potted history of India’s political economy through the prism of North Block. Rich in anecdote, this account is also a reminder of the startling autonomy of FMs of yore and their often adversarial relationship with South Block MY LIFE AS A COMRADE: The Story of an Extraordinary Politician and the World that Shaped Her by K.K. Shailaja with Manu Sara Rajan JUGGERNAUT ₹799; 328 pages An inspirational memoir, of Malabar Communism and family values, from the politician who rose to fame as Kerala’s health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic NTR: A Political Biography by Ramachandra Murthy Kondubhatla HARPERCOLLINS INDIA ₹699; 408 pages The colourful life and times of the actor-politician founder of…

The assembly election in Maharashtra may be a year away, but the number of chief ministerial aspirants across parties is rising. In addition to the incumbent Eknath Shinde, his deputy and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, their supporters pitchforked two more leaders into this league by putting up banners on their birthdays—state Congress chief Nana Patole and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray. Now to see if a complete dark horse wins this race.…

In the wonderlands of the Garhwal Himalayas, lies the Kartik Swami temple that remains hidden by the cottony clouds that carelessly drift above the temple. This holy temple is dedicated to Kartikeya, the elder son of Lord Shiva and is adorned at the end of a narrow ridge, enclosed by a deep valley. Kartik Swami is a temple of mystic ambience and exquisite views. The popular Hindu temple is perched on a hilltop at an elevation of more than 3000 meters and situated near Kanak Chauri Village in the district of Rudraprayag. In order to reach the temple, one has to undergo a 3km thrilling trek that starts from Kanak Chauri Village. The route of the trek is rugged but it assures astonishing verdure to relish the exquisiteness of nature.…

ARCHERY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA ARJUN MUNDA The Union minister of tribal affairs. Association president since May 2019 JUDO FEDERATION OF INDIA PARTAP SINGH BAJWA Congress MLA from Punjab, elected president in Feb. 2018, though the Delhi HC in June 2022 appointed a retired judge as federation’s administrator CYCLING FEDERATION OF INDIA PANKAJ SINGH Son of defence minister Rajnath Singh, also the BJP MLA from Noida, UP. Elected unopposed as president in April 2023 BADMINTON ASSOCIATION OF INDIA HIMANTA BISWA SARMA BJP leader and Assam chief minister. Elected president first in 2018, re-elected in March 2022 VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION OF INDIA ACHYUTA SAMANTA Lok Sabha MP from Kandhamal, belongs to Biju Janata Dal. Elected president in Nov. 2020 ALL INDIA TENNIS ASSOCIATION DR ANIL JAIN BJP leader, Rajya Sabha MP. Elected president…

Career anxiety doesn’t wither them, peer pressure doesn’t pull them down, nor does the punishing workload in the first years of their professional lives burn them out. Instead, members of the Gen Z are most distressed by the vagaries and brutal confusion of romantic relationships. Anushka Bhushan, 20, from Bengaluru, a graphic design intern, says first dates are more stressful than the first day of work, and break-ups throw her into a tailspin of despair darker than when she has been fired. This is because work has clearly defined rules and goals but romance, says the Kolkata-born girl who uses the dating app Bumble, has a built-in grey area seething with hidden and frustrated expectations. “Someone says they are looking for a relationship online; offline, they just want to have…

Ambadas Khobragade (1922-2012), known for his pioneering works in non-representational/abstract art, was walking down the road in Mumbai on a rainy day, little puddles of water intermingling with oil at several spots. The resultant rainbow-like effect or iridescence he witnessed gave him an idea. He began to experiment with different methods to scatter pigments, searching for a similar iridescence, finally arriving at what would become his signature technique. “He would mix oil paints with kerosene and varnish, spending hours in this process until he was satisfied with the texture,” explains Dr Shruti Lakhanpal Tandon, founder of Ushaarth Art Foundation. “The kerosene would cause the oil-based pigments to break apart in the way he wanted and the varnish would keep those fragments together, enough to maintain the linearity of his strokes.…

To reimagine the mesmerising beauty of the fragmented murals in the 29 rock-cut caves of Ajanta is like trying to piece together scraps of dreams once we are awake. Years of neglect, unscientific efforts at conservation and copying the murals, vermin, vandalising tourists and moisture from streams seeping in through the rocks have damaged this UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Buddhist religious art. The earliest works date back to second century BCE, while the latest ones were created around 480 CE. Now, a truly weighty book—in every sense of the term—will help readers visualise the splendours of Ajanta, sans its opulent colours though, through fluid yet precise line drawings of many important sequences. Of this 370-page tome in two parts, all sections from page 119 onwards are devoted to…

With over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone and a headlining slot at the last edition of the Bacardi NH7 Weekender festival, Anuv Jain is the most successful singer-songwriter to emerge out of India’s independent music scene this decade. But unlike many of his counterparts who claim they don’t care too much about stream counts, Jain readily admits that he pays attention to the plays. “I come from a business family,” says the 28-year-old, Ludhiana-based musician. “I’m a numbers guy and keep rack. At the same time, I don’t make that my entire world. If a song doesn’t do that well [initially], I’ve realised it can pick up after two years.” Jain knows this from experience. His debut single ‘Baarishein’, which he uploaded on YouTube in 2012 when he…

About halfway through the latest Spiderman movie Across the Spider-Verse, as the film’s superhero protagonists traverse multiverse timelines to land up in Mumbattan—a futuristic hybrid of Manhattan and Mumbai—you can hear a sitar, santoor and flute floating in tentative counterpoint, teasing a familiar refrain. Those are the opening strains of a velveteen Hindi-folk-electronica reworking of Post Malone and Swae Lee’s 2018 smash hit ‘Sunflower’, a standout track from the friendly neighbourhood webslinger’s previous outing, Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. New Delhi producer duo Tech Panda x Kenzani—Rupinder Nanda and Kedar Santwani—were roped in by Sony Music to reimagine the dreamy ballad in their signature emotive fusion-focused electronica style. The two have had some big wins in their five years working together, like the bouncy club hit ‘Dilbar’, an innovative collaboration…