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From Editor’s Desk

WE FIND NEW WAYS TO MARKET YOU DIGITALLY editor Abdul Wasey* *(Editor for purpose of prb act 1867) IT SOLUTIONS In the death of Sachar, DEPUTY Editor Arkadev Ghoshal

editor (digital media) Tasneem Haider India has lost a sane voice

art Director Ravita Singh every individual is unique and Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu photo coordinator Deepak Kumar Jha contributing accordingly to the world. – who had been in the headlines There are few who play major role in for the wrong reasons for years making and shaking the world. Many now, both before and after his Ad sales & marketing Manager Vishal Kishore of them are regularly and heavily arrest in September 2013 – has also reported in the media. Others don’t been mentioned in this issue of the Production manager Piyush Srivastava we simply deliver get enough limelight. This monthly magazine. He has finally been awarded we simply deliver magazine ˍ—­ Person Matters – is an life imprisonment till death by the Circulation Manager U ma Shankar Tiwari effort to focus on all such people. Jodhpur Schedule Caste and Schedule Renowned human rights activist Tribe Court in a rape case after almost wow!! web solutions Accounts R ahul Sharma wow web solutions and former Delhi High Court Chief five years. printer & publisher Abdul Wasey Justice Rajinder Singh Sachar, who The scrutiny of documents seized by passed away on April 20, was a beacon, the police from his ashram in Motera published from part of a generation older than had earlier revealed that the 77-year- D 136 Abul Fazal Enclave, New Delhi 110025 independent India which is hard to old godman has amassed wealth find. Justice Sachar’s principles stood of around Rs10,000 crores, which Printed at GH Prints Pvt Ltd, firm and were his guiding light till excluded the market value of vast track A-256 Okhla Industrial Area, his last days. He worked tirelessly for of lands that he holds. Such “worldly” Phase I, New Delhi 110020 movements across the country and godmen and religious personalities became a voice of justice for India’s not only hurt the religious sentiments email [email protected] minorities and oppressed. of their followers but also tarnish the Justice Sachar delivered a image of the country. website: www.personmatters.com momentous report in 2006 on the ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda status of Muslims in contemporary Kochhar, yet another personality, India. The report — commissioned by seems to be caught in fresh troubles the Congress government to ascertain as news reports are coming up that a the social, economic and political firm promoted by her husband Deepak Do Not Let Yourself Get Tangled On The Web status of the country’s approximately Kochhar received crores of rupees 180 million Muslims — shattered many from a Mauritius-based company at a myths about the Muslim minority. time when it got multi-million dollar It pointed out that the community loan from a consortium of Indian WE GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE DIGITAL EDGE fared worse than other groups, as banks led by ICICI Bank. per the social, economic and political All is not gloomy and sad in the WOW IT Solutions specialized in Web Designing, UI Engineering, development indicators. country and the world. Telangana’s It recommended greater allocation Durishetty Anudeep has topped the E-Commerce Solutions, Web Portal Development, Mobile Apps of resources and legal protection to UPSC civil services exam 2017. TV them as equal citizens of a democratic presenter-turned-actress Sri Reddy’s Development, Enterprise Application, ERP, CRM and Digital state. The report deflated the Congress protest against the exploitation of assertion that it was the protector women in the Tollywood has finally Marketing. We can provide extremely, cost-effective of the minorities while exposing paid off. The Telangana government as false the BJP rhetoric of Muslim has decided to form a special cell to development without compromising on quality, which make us appeasement at the expense of Hindus. look into complaints of sexual abuse. The report also raised awareness Hope you will like the present issue ideally suited for outsourcing your IT needs! among educated Muslims, igniting and give your feedback too. This will a debate and paving the way for help us in bringing out a better edition community advocacy for equity in for you. the democratic system. His Lordship would be missed. [email protected]

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personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 2 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 3 www.personmatters.com This Issue 15 / february / 2017

1. Harjit Masih 20

2. Aishwarya Rai 24

3. Ruby Sahota 26 HTTPS://TIMESOFFOOD.COM 4. Stephen Hawking 32

5. Sridevi Kapoor 34 6. Irrfan Khan 36 ALL FOOD, ALL 7. Sri Reddy 40 Noted rights activist Rajinder Sachar 8. PV Sindhu 48 passes away at 94 BEVERAGES. ONE SITE! READ TO KNOW FOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE!

EXPANDING AGGRESSIVELY! Social activist Born on December 22, 1923, Rajinder Sachar was a member of United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. He has served as a counsel for the People’s Union for Noted rights activist Civil Liberties. He chaired the Sachar Committee, constituted by the Government of India, which submit- ted a report on the social, economic Rajinder Sachar and educational status of Muslims in India. On 16 August 2011 Sachar was arrested in New Delhi during passes away at 94 protests over the detention of Anna Hazare and his supporters. Rajinder Sachar’s father was Bhim Sen Sachar. His grandfather was a well-known criminal lawyer in Lahore. He attended the D.A.V. High School in Lahore, then went on to Government College Lahore and Law College, Lahore. On 22 April 1952 Sachar enrolled as an advocate at Simla. On 8 Decem- ber 1960 he became an advocate in the Supreme Court of India, engaging report on the subject in August 1978. in a wide variety of cases concerning Rajinder Sachar’s Sachar’s committee recommended civil, criminal and revenue issues. In father was Bhim a major overhaul of the corporate 1963 a breakaway group of legislators reporting system, and particularly left the Congress party and formed Sen Sachar. His of the approach to reporting on the independent “Prajatantra Party”. social impacts. In May 1984 Sachar Sachar helped this group prepare grandfather was a reviewed the Industrial Disputes Act, memoranda levelling charges of well-known criminal including the backlog of cases. His corruption and mal-administration report was scathing. He said “A more against Pratap Singh Kairon, Chief lawyer in Lahore. He horrendous and despairing situation Minister of the Indian state of Punjab. attended the DAV can hardly be imagined… the load at Justice Sudhi Ranjan Das was ap- present in the various Labour Courts pointed to look into the charges, and High School in Lahore, and Industrial Tribunals is so dispro- in June 1964 found Kairon guity on then went on to portionate to what can conceivably eight counts. be borne … that the arrears can only On 12 February 1970, Sachar was Government College go on increasing if the present state appointed Additional Judge of the Lahore and Law of affairs is not improved… It is harsh Delhi High Court for a two-year term, and unjust to both the employers and and on 12 February 1972 he was reap- College, Lahore employees if the cases continue to pointed for another two years. On remain undecided for years”. 5 July 1972, he was appointed a per- follow the bidding of the Emergency In November 1984, Justice Sachar manent Judge of the High Court. He establishment, and who were trans- issued notice to the police on a writ enowned human rights activ- Sachar, who was Chief Justice was acting chief justice of the Sikkim ferred as a form of punishment. After petition filed by Public Union for ist and former Delhi High from August 6, 1985, to December 22, High court from 16 May 1975 until 10 the restoral of democracy, on 9 July Democratic Rights on the basis of ev- RCourt Chief Justice Rajinder 1985, had since his retirement been May 1976, when he was made a judge 1977 he was transferred back to the idence collected from 1984 Sikh riot Singh Sachar passed away on April associated with the People’s Union in the Rajasthan High Court. The Delhi High Court. victims, asking FIRs to be registered 20, 2018, in the capital at the age of for Civil Liberties, a rights group. He transfer from Sikkim to Rajasthan In June 1977 Justice Sachar was against leaders named in affidavits of 94. “He was undergoing treatment was the chairperson of a committee was made without Sachar’s consent appointed by the government to victims. However, in the next hearing for ailments related to old age,” the set up by the previous UPA govern- during the Emergency (June 1975 – chair a committee that reviewed the the case was removed from the Court family friend said about the former ment to look at the social, economic March 1977) when elections and civil Companies Act and the Monopo- of Mr. Sachar and brought before judge, who was admitted to Fortis and educational status of Muslims in liberties were suspended. Sachar lies and Restrictive Trade Practices two other Judges, who impressed pe- hospital in the capital. India. was one of the judges that refused to Act, submitting an encyclopaedic titioners to withdraw their petition

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 6 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 7 www.personmatters.com Social activist retired justices Hosbet Suresh and politics. Muslims were more likely to tional, saying “It should be rejected Siraj Mehfuz Daud in an investiga- be poor, illiterate, unhealthy and to completely. It is on communal lines tion by the Indian People’s Human have trouble with the law than other and will divide the country. It is a Rights Tribunal into a massive slum Indians. Muslims were accused of be- result of vote bank politics”. clearance drive in Mumbai, which ing against the Indian state, of being In 2003, as counsel for the Centre had the ostensible purpose of pre- terrorists, and politicians who tried for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), serving the Sanjay Gandhi National to help them risked being accused of Sachar and Prashant Bhushan Park. The demolitions on 22–23 “appeasing” them. challenged the government’s plans January 2000 had been undertaken The Sachar Committee recom- to privatise Bharat Petroleum and despite a notification from the state mendations aimed to promote Hindustan Petroleum. CPIL said government to stay demolitions inclusion of the diverse communities that the only way to disinvest in the until September. The people had not in India and their equal treatment. companies would be to repeal or been allowed to take the remains It emphasised initiatives that were amend the Acts by which they were of their homes, which had been general rather than specific to any nationalised in the 1970s. In Decem- burnt. Sachar described the scene one community. ber 2009 it was reported that Sachar as “Barbaric, savage. It’s as if a bomb It was a landmark in the debate was being proposed as Governor of has fallen here”. In August 2000 the on the Muslim question in India. West Bengal to replace Gopalkrishna judges, joined by former Supreme The speed of implementation would Gandhi, whose term had expired. In Court judge V. R. Krishna Iyer, held a naturally depend on political factors the event, Devanand Konwar was two-day hearing into the clearances including the extent of backlash from appointed acting governor. in which about 60,000 people had Hindutva groups. The Sachar Com- At the age of eighty-seven Sachar been evicted. The inquiry covered mittee Report recommended setting was detained by Delhi Police on 16 both legal aspects of the clearances up an institutional structure for an August 2011 during the India Against and the human impact. Equal Opportunity Commission. Corruption protest. Sachar headed a People’s Court in An expert group was established The arrest was for unlawful as- 2002 to deliberate on people affected that presented a report, including a sembly and for making speeches in by evictions required to widen the draft bill to establish such a commis- a location where a magistrate had Beliaghata Circular Canal in Kol- sion, in February 2008. There was op- declared the Section 144 rules were kata, needed for health and safety position. Thus, a speaker at a seminar in force. Sachar claimed that he purposes. Most of the people were in April 2008 sponsored by a group knew the law and should not be ar- poor handcart pullers, maidservants, called “Bharatiya Vichar Manch” rested, but despite this he was taken hawkers and so on. The court called described the report as unconstitu- into custody. in the national interest, which they and amendments were needed. The Communist Party of India (Marx- for consultation with the affected declined, then dismissed the petition. committee prepared a draft amend- ist–Leninist). On 26 August 2004, still people as part of the project’s deci- Justice Sachar declared much later ment Bill incorporating its recom- being held without trial, the detain- sion-making process. They should be that his memory is still haunted by mendations. These included changes ees began a hunger strike. Sachar led treated humanely, without force or the reminiscence of not being able to to the membership of the National a team of human rights activists who coercion, and should not be evicted get FIR registered in these cases. Human Rights Commission, changes visited them in jail on 15 September during periods of bad weather. Sachar was one of the authors of to procedures to reduce delays in 2004 and persuaded them to end the In March 2005 Justice Rajinder a report issued on 22 April 1990 on following up recommendations and hunger strike. POTA was repealed on Sachar was appointed to a com- behalf of the People’s Union for Civil a broadening of the commission’s 10 November 2004. However, all the mittee to study the condition of the Liberties and others entitled “Report scope. The recommendations were POTA provisions were incorporated Muslim community in India and to on Kashmir Situation”. In January submitted the Home Affairs ministry in the Unlawful Activities (Preven- prepare a comprehensive report on 1992 Sachar was one of the signa- on 7 March 2000. tion) Act. In October 2009 Sachar their social, economic and educa- tories to an appeal to all Punjabis In April 2003, as council for the called for abolition of these laws. He tional status. On 17 November 2006 asking them to ensure that the forth- People’s Union for Civil Liberties said “Terrorism is there, I admit, but he presented the report, entitled coming elections were free and were (PUCL), Sachar argued before the in the name of terror probe, many in- “Report on Social, Economic and seen to be free. They asked the people Supreme Court of India that the nocent people are taken into custody Educational Status of the Muslim to ensure there was no violence, Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act without registering a charge and are Community of India”, to Prime cooercion or unfair practices that (POTA) should be quashed since it being detained for long period”. Minister Manmohan Singh. The would prevent the people from elect- violated fundamental rights. On 24 Sachar, who had formerly been a report showed the growing social ing the government of their choice. November 2002 the police arrested United Nations special rapporteur and economic insecurity that had Sachar was appointed to a high- twenty six people in the Dharma- on the Right to Adequate Housing, been imposed on Muslims since level Advisory Committee chaired puri district of Tamil Nadu, and on headed a mission that investigated independence sixty years earlier. by Chief Justice Aziz Mushabber 10 January 2003 they were placed housing rights in Kenya for the Hous- It found that the Muslim popula- Ahmadi to review the Protection of under POTA by the government on ing and Land Rights Committee of tion, estimated at over 138 million in Human Rights Act, 1993 and deter- the grounds that they were members the Habitat International Coalition. 2001, were under-represented in the mine whether structural changes of the Radical Youth League of the Rajinder Sachar participated with civil service, police, military and in

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 8 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 9 www.personmatters.com Banking Chanda Kochhar banks on borrowed time at ICICI

My wife, Chanda Kochhar, managing director and chief executive of ICICI Bank, was not aware of his 50:50 tie-up in 2008 with Videocon group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot” Deepak Kochhar

Promoter of NuPower Renewables he was once the sterling loan that ICICI Bank under Kochhar example of women breaking The government sanctioned to the Videocon group of Sthe proverbial glass ceiling in agencies are currently companies in 2012. Videocon failed corporate India, especially since her to pay back around Rs 2,810 crore appointment as managing director investigating several from that loan, and this was declared and chief executive officer of ICICI allegations levelled a non-performing asset (NPA) in 2017. Bank – India’s largest private-sector The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – lender – in 2009. against the Kochhar the country’s central bank – defined Currently, however, Chanda Koch- family members and an NPA in a 2015 Master Circular as har, her husband Deepak and other “credit in respect of which interest members of the family – including Videocon’s Dhoot and/or instalment of principal has her brother-in-law Rajiv Koch- remained ‘past due’ for a specific har – stand accused of “helping” the period of time.” That period of time beleaguered Videocon group despite hot on the heels of the Kochhars and has been two quarters – six months – it being in dire financial straits. Dhoot over what could turn out to since 1995. Now, ICICI Bank has, since the be a fresh embarrassment for Prime The government agencies are cur- allegations against the Kochhars and Minister Narendra Modi after the rently investigating several allega- Videocon-owner Venugopal Dhoot Nirav Modi scandal involving the tions levelled against the Kochhar surfaced, given Chanda a vote of con- state-owned Punjab National Bank. family members and Dhoot. Chanda fidence and labelled the accusations Kochhar herself is accused of not “malicious and unfounded rumours.” Allegations disclosing conflict of interest when However, several government An investigative report alleged in the Videocon group received the Rs agencies, including the Central late March that Chanda Kochhar 3,250-crore loan in 2012. Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the and members of her family may What has made matters even Income Tax (I-T) Department, are have gained from a Rs 3,250-crore murkier is something that happened

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 10 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 11 www.personmatters.com Banking a few years even before this hefty currently probing the allegations the likes of scam-accused jeweler managed to net them Rajiv Kochhar Who is Chanda Kochhar? graduating from Jai Hind College in loan. Reports have said Deepak and that have surfaced, and are surg- Nirav Modi and the former “King of on Thursday, April 5. He was appre- Born in Jodhpur and brought up in 1982, Kochhar completed her MBA Dhoot set up a company in 2008, and ing ahead despite ICICI Bank’s vote Good Times” Vijay Mallya fled the hended from the Mumbai airport Jaipur, both in Rajasthan, Chanda and Cost Accountancy.” this company received a loan from a of confidence in Kochhar. In fact, a country before they could be taken while trying to get on board a flight Kochhar was educated at St Angela It added: “She did her Masters in Videocon subsidiary. Dhoot resigned lookout notice has also been issued into custody and face the conse- bound for a South East Asian Sophia School in the Pink City before Management Studies from the Jam- from the company within a month, against Dhoot and members of the quences of their actions. country. she moved to Mumbai for higher nalal Bajaj Institute of Management transferring all his shares to Deepak. Kochhar family whose names have The authorities’ decision to issue Rajiv was subsequently ques- studies. Studies, Mumbai. She topped her come up in connection with the alle- the lookout notice after the CBI reg- tioned by the CBI for five days. Dhoot An archived page from the ICICI batch and received the Wockhardt ICICI Bank stands by Chanda Kochhar gations, effectively preventing them istered a preliminary inquiry against and Deepak Kochhar are expected Bank official website said of her: Gold Medal for Excellence in Man- ICICI Bank, however, has not from leaving the country. Dhoot and Deepak Kochhar seemed to be next, but the exact date is not “Kochhar joined Jai Hind College for agement Studies. In Cost Account- exactly thrown Kochhar under the And not without reason. After all, to have been with reason, because it known. a Bachelors Degree in Arts. After ancy she received the JN Bose Gold bus, despite repeated demands from Medal for highest marks in that year.” many corners since the allegations The current page about her on the surfaced urging the lender to make bank’s official website says: “Kochhar her step down. began her career with the erstwhile The bank, in a March 28 statement, ICICI Limited in 1984 and was elevat- seemed to negate the allegations and ed to the Board of Directors of ICICI absolve Kochhar of any wrongdoing. Bank in 2001. She was instrumental It said: “In 2012, a consortium of over in establishing ICICI Bank during the 20 banks and financial institutions 1990s. She subsequently went on to sanctioned facilities to the Videocon head the infrastructure finance and group (Videocon Industries Ltd and corporate banking business at the 12 of its subsidiaries/ associates as Bank.” co-obligors) for a debt consolidation It adds: “In 2000, she took on the programme and for the group’s oil challenge of building the nascent re- and gas capital expenditure pro- tail business, focusing on technology, gramme aggregating approximately innovation, process re-engineering Rs. 40,000 crore.” and scaling up of distribution and The bank then claimed: “ICICI taking the bank to a leadership posi- Bank’s current exposure to the tion in this business. During 2006-07, Videocon group is part of this syn- she led the bank’s corporate and dicated consortium arrangement. international banking businesses ICICI Bank was not the lead bank during a period of heightened activ- for this consortium and the Bank ity and global expansion by Indian only sanctioned its share of facilities companies.” aggregating approximately Rs 3,250 It also says: “From 2007 to 2009, crore which was less than 10 percent she was the joint managing director of the total consortium facility in & chief financial officer of the bank. April 2012.” This was a critical period which saw The lender also said: “ICICI Bank’s rapid change in the global financial share of the banking sector’s expo- landscape. She was elevated as the sure to the Videocon group was less managing director & CEO of ICICI than 10 percent while around 90 Bank in 2009 and since then has percent of the loans were sanc- been responsible for the bank’s tioned by other banks and financial diverse operations in India and institutions.” overseas.” It concluded, after listing out its Kochhar is also part of the India- findings in the statement, that “there Japan Business Leaders Forum, the is no question of any quid pro quo/ US-India CEO Forum and the Board nepotism/conflict of interest” that of Trade. Kochhar, who was awarded the reports said was there. “The the Padma Bhushan in 2011, is also board has full confidence and re- the deputy chairman of the Indian poses full faith in the bank’s MD and Banks Association (IBA), according to CEO Chanda Kochhar,” it concluded. the ICICI Bank official website. How- ever, an official document on the IBA Under the scanner official website lists her as a member Several government agencies are of the Managing Committee of the association.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 12 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 13 www.personmatters.com Child abuse Asaram found guilty sumal Sirumalani Harpalani — known as Asaram Bapu or Ajust Bapuji by his followers — in rape case, gets life has received life in prison for raping a teenage girl in his ashram five years ago. Special judge Madhusudan Sharmas verdict was read out in the imprisonment Jodhpur Central Jail where 77-year- old Asaram has been kept for over four years. The self-styled godman will re- main in jail till his natural death, the court pronounced, convicting him under the provisions of the Indian Pe- nal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act. It also imposed of fine of Rs 1 lakh on him. The godman’s lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict. In his 453-page judgement, the judge lamented that by his heinous act the godman has “not merely shat- tered the faith of his devotees in him but has also harmed the reputation of saints among common people”. Born in Sindh province, now in Pakistan, Asaram?s family mi- grated to Ahmedabad after Partition. Starting from a hut on the banks of the Sabarmati, Asaram created a Rs 10,000-crore empire with 400 in Rajasthan that Nirbhaya could have Asaram is also facing a rape case ashrams in India and other parts of avoided being assaulted by the men in Surat in Gujarat. He unsuccessfully the world in four decades. During in the bus she boarded with a friend. moved 12 bail applications, of which these years, he made friends with “She should have taken God’s name six were rejected by the trial court, the powerful and has been seen with and could have held the hand of one three by the Rajasthan High Court and politicians from Bharatiya Janata of the men and said, I consider you my three by the Supreme Court. Party as well as Congress, including brother and should have said to the Asaram was mentioned in a list Narendra Modi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee other two, brother, I am helpless, you of fake sadhus released by Akhil and Digvijay Singh. are my brother, my religious brother,” Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex Bhopal has two places named after the media had quoted him as saying. organisation of Hindu Sants (saints) Asaram — a road crossing and a bus The charge sheet against Asaram and Sadhus (ascetics) in India. stand — both located near the god- and the four other co-accused was Asaram was born on 17 April 1941, man’s ashram near the Raja Bhoj Air- filed by the police on November 6, in the Berani village of the Nawab- port on the city outskirts. The board 2013. The teenager had said in her shah District in British India (Present- carrying his name was removed from complaint that Asaram had called day Berani Town is located in Jam the bus station soon after the verdict. her to his ashram in Manai area near Nawaz Ali Tehsil of District Sanghar Asaram has also courted contro- Jodhpur and raped her on the night Sindh Pakistan), to Menhgiba and versy in recent years with his views of August 15, 2013. He was arrested Thaumal Sirumalani. His birthname on issues such as Valentines Day and in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on was Asumal Thaumal Harpalani or the rape and murder of Nirbhaya in September 1, 2013. He was under judi- Asumal Sirumalani. Delhi. In 2013, he had told a gathering cial custody since September 2, 2013. Following the partition of India

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 14 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 15 www.personmatters.com Child abuse

At A glance

 In 1960s, Asumal Harpalani became Asaram Bapu after a guru gave him this name. Soon, Asaram began preaching spiritualism.  Almost a decade later, in 1972, Asaram built his first ashram on the banks of Sabarmati river in Gujarat’s Motera town.  Asaram married Laxmi Devi at the age of 15. The couple has three children including Narain Sai, who is also a rape accused.  He had four crore followers worldwide. Except the Northeast, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Asaram has follow- ers in every Indian state.  Asaram has assets worth Rs 2,300 crore. His magazines – Rishiprasad and Lok Kalyan Setu – have over 14 lakh subscriptions. he began propagating his own brand to have included some elements of of Hinduism only after Leelashahji black magic as well. Reportedly, Asar-  The rape convict was politi- threw him out of his ashram. am’s spritual projected was cut out to cally well-connected He built his first ashram, with suit the needs of the disempowered about five to ten followers in 1972, sections of the Indian population. His in 1947, he and his family moved to to Laxmi Devi, which though finally ki Jeevan Jhanki, Asaram returned in a town called Motera in Gujarat. popularity was particularly strong Ahmedabad, then part of the former happened. The book also mentions to Ahmedabad on 8 July 1971. On 29 Eventually, he found more followers among the tribals and the Hindi- Bombay State in India, now Gujarat, Lilashah as the spiritual guru, who ac- January 1972, he built a hut at Motera, in the tribals when he went to Surat. speaking population of north India. leaving behind their immovable cepted him as her disciple and named then a village on the banks of the He subsequently went on to open The rape cases are not the first time assets in Sindh. The family moved to him Asaram on 7 October 1964, in one Sabarmati. Although his official biog- politicians became his devotees. By ashrams throughout the state and the Asaram had gotten into trouble with Ahmedabad, where Asaram’s father of his escapades. raphy doesn’t mention it, Asaram also 2013, Asaram had 400 major and country, ran as many as 40 gurukuls the law. In 2008, mutilated bodies of founded a coal and wood selling busi- Sources have described him to be lived in Motera’s Sadashiv Ashram for minor ashrams in India and abroad, (schools), a printing press, and opened two children were recovered from ness. Asaram ran this business for a involved in a variety of professions two years, before setting up his own with numerous followers. businesses for products such as soap, the banks of the Sabarmati river, close short time after his father’s death. ranging from selling liquors and tea to hut adjacent to it. Asaram had organized spiritual shampoo, medicines, etc. By 2008, his to his ashram in Motera. It was found According to Sant Asaram Bapuji repairing cycles, prior to his establish- He converted his hutment into an discourses all over India, whence empire was worth Rs 5,000 crore, a that some vital organs from the bod- ki Jeevan Jhanki, an auto-biography ment as a religious leader. ashram in 1973, starting with 5–10 his disciples are accorded diksha chargesheet filed by the police had ies were missing. The Gujarat police published by his ashram, Asaram Asaram and Laxmi Devi have two followers. In 1981 and 1992, the Indian (initiation by a guru) by him. Around claimed. Large droves of followers at- had booked seven of his followers received his formal education at children, son Narayan Sai and daugh- National Congress-led state govern- 20,000 students visited his satsang in tracted politicians, and the Congress, in 2009 for the murders of the two Jai Hind High School, up-till class ter Bharti Devi. Their son Narayan ment allotted the ashram 14,515 m2 Ahmedabad in December 2001. as well as BJP governments, granted children. In August 2013, a case was III, when his father died. He had a Sai works with Asaram and is also land. In 1997 and 1999, the Bharatiya It was Leelashahji Maharaj who him land for his projects. registered by the Delhi Police stating series of escapades to ashrams which mentioned in the Akhada’s List of fake Janata Party-led government allotted accepted Asumal as his disciple, Asaram’s brand of Hinduism is an that Asaram had allegedly raped started with running away to an ash- religious leaders. Sai is also impris- it 25,000 m2 for expansion. Asaram showing him the path of spirituality. amalgamation between a simplified a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in ram in Bharuch at the age of 15, eight oned in the same prison awaiting trial. had few followers in the beginning, On October 7, 1964, he named him reading of Hindu scriptures along Jodhpur. He was taken into custody on days before his scheduled wedding According to Sant Asaram Bapuji but the numbers increased as local Sant Shri Asaramji Maharaj. However, with Tantric practices, which appears August 31, 2013.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 16 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 17 www.personmatters.com Spiritual some who stood close to the main entrance of the burial site — Brind- havanam annexe — which is a small enclosure. Soon after the body was brought into the annexe, a curtain was dropped in front of that building cutting the visibility for the devotees waiting outside. Shankaracharya Jayendra LED screens in and around the venue which till then beamed live visuals of the ceremony like Abishek- am, halted the screening when the Saraswathi dies at 82 rituals shifted to the annexe, leading to resentment among some devotees. As several followers tried to gradu- ally move forward to get a glimpse With his demise we through the various entrances to the annexe, it led to a near stampede-like have lost a great saint of situation. All the three entrances Modi in a tweet. of Sankararaman, a manager at the present times, who has to the annexe were closed by Mutt “With his demise we have lost a temple who had levelled several officials during the final stage of the great saint of present times, who has accusations against the Kanchi seers been a guiding force for ceremony. been a guiding force for the millions. and the mutt. In 2013, he and 22 others The 69th head of the Kanchi mutt My prayers for the liberated soul,” were acquitted of the charges. the millions. My prayers was the successor of Sri Chandraseka- tweeted finance minister Arun Jaitley. Shankaracharya Jayendra Sar- for the liberated soul” rendra Saraswathi Swamigal. The Tamil Nadu chief minister Edap- aswathi was admitted to a hospital junior pontiff, Sri Sankara Vijayendra padi K. Palaniswami, deputy CM O. after he complained of breathing Arun Jaitley Saraswathi will now become the 70th Panneerselvam, opposition leader problems. Finance Minister head of the mutt, reports pointed out. M.K. Stalin and other senior political Born Sri Subramaniyam on July 18, “Deeply anguished by the pass- leaders condoled the demise of the 1935, Jayendra Saraswathi was head of ing away of Acharya of Sri Kanchi senior pontiff. the Kanchi Mutt or Hindu monastery Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pu- Born as Subramaniam Mahadeva established by Adi Shankaracharya jyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shanka- Iyer on 18 July 1935, Jayendra Saras- in the 8th century and had a huge fol- racharya. He will live on in the hearts wathi was head of the Kanchi Mutt, a lowing in South India. and minds of lakhs of devotees due Hindu monastery established by Adi The Mutt runs several schools, to his exemplary service and noblest Shankaracharya in the 8th century. eye clinics and hospitals. The junior thoughts. Om Shanti to the departed The senior pontiff was arrested in pontiff Vijayendra Saraswathi will soul,” said Prime Minister Narendra 2004 in connection with the murder succeed Jayendra Saraswathi.

hankaracharya Jayendra Sar- racharya Jayendra Saraswathi had aswathi, the 69th pontiff of the its share of tense moments when the SKanchi Kamakoti Mutt, passed authorities blocked the view of the away on February 28 at a private hos- proceedings by drawing a curtain, pital in Kanchipuram. He was 82. making the crowd restive, the reports “The 69th Acharya of Sri Kanchi said. Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pu- Those trying to force their way in jyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shanka- were allegedly pushed out by some racharya Swamigal attained Siddhi at of the volunteers manning the burial 9.00 am today (February 28),” said an ceremony, they added. official release from the Kanchi mutt. A devotee, K Santhanam, report- The last rites of Kanchi Shanka- edly claimed he was pushed away by

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 18 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 19 www.personmatters.com Migrants

Harjit Masih escapes death, but 39 others weren’t lucky

ndia’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on March 20 con- Ifirmed that all the 39 Indians ab- ducted by Islamic State in Iraq’s Mosul in 2014 were dead. The total number of Indian captives was, in fact, 40. Harjt Masih — a native of a village near Punjab’s Batala — was able to return alive from the site where incident took place. Giving details of the incident, he said that Indians were working at a factory in Iraq in 2014. “But we were kidnapped by militants and kept hostage for some days,” a PTI report quoted him as saying. On the fateful day, they were made to reach an Iraqi Army checkpoint in a Bangladeshi relief camp and was and one of his relative, Rajbir Masih, to sit on their knees and the militants Erbil, from where he was picked up by rushed to hospital. A week later, I came on the directions of Ministry of then opened fire upon them. “I was the Indian embassy. returned to India.” Masih’s statement External Affairs, media reports said. fortunate to have survived though a Masih further said, was he sent had been dismissed by the Centre Masih’s sudden arrest came after bullet hit my thigh and I fell uncon- back to India days later, and remained when he had said that his co-workers families of nine of the missing men scious,” he reportedly said. He, how- in the custody of security agencies for were all murdered. filed a complaint. The families alleged ever, managed to return to India after three months. He had said: “Why the government they had paid Masih and Rajbir sums giving a slip to the ISIS militants. Masih told a news channel: “I had is not accepting the reality and giving ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh Upon his return, Masih had never lied, the government was lying.” proper information about the 39 In- for visas and jobs abroad. However, claimed that all the Indians were He was quoted saying by Hindustan dians to their kin? If the government Dubai-based Rajbir, who was declared killed. “I had been saying for the last Times in 2017: “Everything was fine says all Indians are safe, why has it an absconder in the case, told The three years that all 39 Indians had till May of 2014. We enjoyed our work not produced any of them in all these Indian Express over the phone that been killed (by ISIS terrorists),” Masih at a factory, though some incidents three years! Moreover, what will I get the government was making them said. of firing by IS militants happened in by not telling truth.” scapegoats in the matter. “I had spoken the truth,” asserted the outer parts of Mosul. But, a month Masih’s story of escape, and then The families questioned how only Masih, resident of village Kala Af- custody. I had said this in Parliament workers were trying to leave Mosul in later, they entered the factory and being jailed by Indian authorities on Masih could have escaped unscathed ghana in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. earlier,” said Swaraj. 2014 when they were intercepted and kidnapped all of us.” the charges of human trafficking is and alleged that Masih duo had “sold” His statement came after Swaraj Masih said they were killed in front taken hostage by the ISIS fighters. He said they were shifted to a place one compelling tale itself. A native the men to IS. Reports said Masih was informed the Parliament that all the of my eyes and I had been saying In an interview, Masih claimed he couldn’t identity. Stating he some- of a village near Punjab’s Batala, kept under house arrest at a location 39 Indian workers, abducted by ISIS all these years, wondering why the that four days after the kidnapping how survived after receiving a shot Masih claimed he had been abducted in Delhi-NCR area. As per a relative, in Iraq nearly three years ago, were government was not accepting what incident, all the 40 Indians were asked in his right leg. He said: “They forced with the rest of 39 people by ISIS. He he was given a VIP accommodation killed and their bodies have been he had said earlier. to kneel down by the terrorists near a us to sit on our knees, in a row, and further claimed that he saw all of by the government in Noida. recovered. Among as many as 39 Indians, who railway track. Later, he heard the fir- opened fire. I received a shot in my them being shot dead by the abduc- In a statement, Swaraj had said in The senior BJP leader also said that had gone to Iraq to earn their liveli- ing sound of assault rifles and one by right leg and was covered with bodies. tors, and that he was able to escape Parliament that Masih was kept in all allegations of government harass- hood, several were from Amritsar, one men dropped dead. I fell unconscious. Next day, when I unhurt. “protective care” of the government ing Masih is completely baseless. Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala Masih claimed he was shot in the regained consciousness, I found all In March 2017, Masih was arrested because of threat to his life “in view of “It is baseless that Harjit Masih was and Jalandhar in Punjab. Others leg and pretended to be dead till the my fellow workers dead. After a few for offenses including human traffick- his escape” from the IS, media reports harassed, he was kept in protective were from Bihar and Himachal. The terrorists left. He, somehow, managed days of walking, I managed to reach ing and cheating. The arrest of Masih, said.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 20 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 21 www.personmatters.com Politics

Sasikala back in jail after attending husband’s funeral

K Sasikala, who is serving a sentence in the assets case, was back in the Bengaluru Para- Vpana Agrahara prison after 10 days of parole. She had been granted on March 20 the emergency parole to attend the funeral of her husband Natara- jan M, who died at a private hospital in Chennai. The parole was sanctioned after her advocates filed an application following her husband’s demise. The 15-day parole includes two days of travelling to and from Thanjavur, where the final rites of Nata- rajan took place, media reports quoted a senior jail official a saying. Thiruthuraipoondi who later moved Jayalalithaa alleged that Sasikala dering and amassing illicit wealth Sasikala was instructed not to take part in any to Mannargudi. Her marriage to M. and her family were working against worth about `66.44 crore (equivalent political activity or interact with her supporters or Natarajan was presided over by DMK her. The matter was resolved by 31 to `259 crore or US$40 million in the media. She had also been instructed not to travel leader M. Karunanidhi. Her husband, March 2012, when Sasikala Natarajan 2017) in the 1990s in a criminal con- anywhere outside Arulananda Nagar in Thanjavur who was a public relations officer was reinstated as a party member spiracy with Jayalalithaa. and return back to the prison by April 3. in the Government of Tamil Nadu, after issuing a written apology. The three were sentenced to a worked closely with the District In a meeting held on 29 December four-year jail term. This restored in Background Collector of Cuddalore, V. S. Chan- 2016 – the first after Jayalalithaa’s toto her earlier conviction in the Sasikala, a Tamil Nadu-based politician and a busi- dralekha, who in turn was very close death on 5 December 2016 – the AI- case delivered on 27 September 2014, ness person, was the general secretary of All India to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. ADMK general council unanimously awarding a four-year jail term to Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. She was a close Ramachandran. appointed Sasikala as the party’s her and her relatives, in addition to aide of J. Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of In the early 1980s, M. Natarajan re- general secretary. imposing a fine of ₹10 crore (US$1.5 Tamil Nadu, who headed AIADMK from 1989 until quested V. S. Chandralekha, who was On 5 February 2017, Sasikala was million) each. her death in 2016. After Jayalalithaa’s death, the then the District Collector of South unanimously elected as the AIADMK The judgment stipulated that she party’s general council unanimously appointed her Arcot, to introduce his wife Sasikala to Legislature Party Leader by a meet- and her accomplices would serve an as the interim secretary general of AIADMK. She is Jayalalithaa, who was then the Propa- ing of all the MLAs in the party. Tamil additional 12 months in prison if they the aunt of TTV Dhinakaran. ganda Secretary of the Anna Dravida Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao failed to pay the fine. She was arrested along with Jayalalithaa on 7 Munnetra Kazhagam, for recording accepted the resignation of Chief The Supreme Court refused her December 1996 and was remanded to judicial cus- video of party functions. Sasikala and Minister O Panneerselvam on 6 plea to surrender after a fortnight and tody for 30 days in connection with the Colour TV Jayalalithaa gradually became very February 2017, and instructed him to to be allowed to have food from home, scam. During Jayalalithaa’s three tenures as Chief close. continue to function as acting Chief so Sasikala and Ilavarasi, but not Sud- Minister, Sasikala was alleged to have laundered On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa Minister “until alternate arrange- hakaran, presented themselves for huge amounts of wealth amassed by Jayalalitha. On expelled Sasikala Natarajan and 13 ments are made”. imprisonment on 15 February 2017. 14 February 2017, a two-bench Supreme Court jury others including Sasikala’s husband On 14 February 2017, the Supreme Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has pronounced her guilty and ordered her immediate M. Natarajan, T. T. V. Dhinakaran, their Court of India found Sasikala and her announced that he is planning a film arrest in a disproportionate-assets case, effectively relatives, and Jayalalithaa’s disowned co-accused — Ilavarasi (her sister- covering Sasikala’s early life and the ending her Chief Ministerial ambitions. foster son V. N. Sudhakaran from the in-law) and V. N. Sudhakaran (her things she did to gain entry into Tamil Sasikala was born in a Kallar family from AIADMK. nephew) — guilty of conspiring, laun- Nadu politics.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 22 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 23 www.personmatters.com Politics

Meet Aishwarya Rai who will marry Lalu’s son Tej Pratap

lot of people did a double because it drizzled on the day take when news emerged she was born. Athat Aishwarya Rai was  She is the eldest of three uled for May 12. Both rendered him unable to going to marry Lalu Prasad’s eldest siblings. She has a sister named will have been organ- contest elections, but he son Tej Pratap Yadav. Some even Ayushi and a brother named ised in Patna. continues to be chief of asked: Was the beauty queen- Apurva.  Although the Rashtriya Janata turned-actress leaving Abhishek  Aishwarya, who hails from Aishwarya Dal. Bachchan and turning cougar? Chhapra, did her schooling comes from a Meanwhile, Lalu’s And then it came to light that from the Notre Dame Academy political family, daughter Misa Bharti this was an entirely different in Patna. her entry into – along with husband Aishwarya Rai, a namesake who  She obtained a degree in politics – a la Shailesh Kumar and had a completely different claim History from the prestigious Dimple Yadav, mother Rabri Devi to fame. Miranda House college under wife of Samajwadi – is under the scan- Delhi University. Party chief Akhilesh ner of the Enforcement Here’s everything you need to  Aishwarya then earned an Yadav, in Uttar Pradesh Directorate (ED) in a money- know about this Aishwarya Rai: MBA degree from Amity – has been ruled out. laundering case. She and Kumar  Aishwarya Rai is 25 years old University. This has been one are currently out on bail. and the daughter of former point where haters seem to Good luck charm? Tej Pratap himself suffered a Bihar chief minister Daroga be needling Tej Pratap Yadav, Aishwarya may be viewed by Lalu and setback last year when the Janata Dal- Prasad Rai, who ruled the state who reportedly dropped out clan as bringing good luck and cheer. United (JD-U), led by current Bihar in the 1970s. of school to pursue a career in After all, they have been haunted by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, decided  Her father Chandrika Prasad active and electoral politics. a number of allegations, convictions to end its coalition with the RJD and Rai, who was elected to the  Aishwarya and Tej Pratap’s and political setbacks in recent times. the Congress and seek support for its Bihar Assembly six times, also match was reportedly fixed by For example, Lalu himself was alliance government from the BJP. served a Cabinet-rank minister his mother Rabri Devi – her- – between December 23, 2017, and The move meant Tej Pratap would at the state level. self a former chief minister of March 24, 2018 – convicted in three no more be the state health minister  Her nickname is Jhipsi, which Bihar. different cases pertaining to the fod- – a portfolio he held at the time when is also a local term for a light  Their engagement is taking der scam. This was in addition to the this change in guards happened – and name or drizzle. She was place on April 12, while the 2013 conviction in a case pertaining his brother Tejashwi Yadav would lose apparently given the name wedding ceremony is sched- to the same scam. This has effectively the post of deputy chief minister.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 24 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 25 www.personmatters.com Politics prior to her election to the House of Commons. Sahota sought the Liberal nomination for the newly created rid- ing of Brampton North, winning it on March 1, 2015. The general election campaign involved some controversy, as Ruby’s campaign criticized leaflets circu- lated by her opponent, Conservative Ruby Sahota incumbent Parm Gill, which it was alleged were deliberately aimed at confusing Sahota with previous helps ease spouse Liberal Party MP Ruby Dhalla. She defeated Gill to win the election. Once elected, Ruby Sahota was ap- reunion in pointed to both the Standing Commit- tee on the Status of Women and the Standing Committee on Procedure Canada applications. IRCC has also report- “We are glad that our Prime and House Affairs. She was subse- edly been successful in reducing the Minister Justin Trudeau had fixed top quently named to the Special Com- spousal inventory from 75,000 ap- priority for strengthening ties among mittee on Electoral Reform. On Febru- uby Sahota, Member of Parliament plications to 15,000 as of Dec 31, 2017, citizens of both countries having mul- ary 1, 2017, she was elected Chair of the for Canada’s Brampton North, reports said. tiracial population,” she was quoted as Federal Liberal Ontario Caucus by her Rrecently said that the process of Ruby Sahota, a senior member saying by The Tribune. peers. As Caucus Chair, she presides spouse sponsorship by the Government of of a delegation led by Canadian PM Ruby has cautioned that Punjabi over meetings, lead discussion and act Canada had significantly improved over the Justin Trudeau, had earlier said the youths should not fall prey to sinister as an important link between Ontario past year, helping Canadians and perma- main aim of the ensuing visit was to designs of fraudulent travel agents. Liberal MPs and the Prime Minister’s nent residents to reunite faster with their strengthen bonds among people of She also warned against organising Office and Cabinet. spouses. the two countries, besides promoting marriages in haste in expectation of She is married to Dr. Tejinder Sa- “When I opened my office in Brampton cultural exchange. greener pastures abroad. hota, and has a son named Nihal. North, I had constituents waiting over two Narrating incidents from her own years to be reunited with their spouse. I life, Ruby Sahota maintained that per- am proud to have been a ble to raise sistent and intensive labour was the this concern in Ottawa and work with only key to success at levels in Canada the Minister and the Government and other western countries. to improve the process and reunite spouses faster under a more ef- About Ruby Sahota ficient and easier to navigate She is a Canadian Liberal politician process,” Ruby was quoted as who was elected as a Member of saying by India Blooms. Parliament in the House of Commons Immigration, Refugees and of Canada to represent the federal rid- Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ing Brampton North during the 2015 had announced in Dec Canadian federal election. 2016 that the backlog Ruby was born in Toronto after of spousal applicants her parents arrived in Canada in the would be reduced by late 1970s, and was raised in Bramp- 80 percent and shorten ton. Her father previously was the processing times to 12 Chairman of the Ontario Sikhs and months. Gurdwara Council. IRCC also announced She attended the Brampton’s Cen- that sponsorship applica- tral Peel Secondary School (1993-8), tion process would reportedly and then graduated with an Honours become more efficient and easier to bachelor’s degree in Political Science navigate. and Peace Studies at McMaster Uni- More than 80 percent of applica- versity (1998-2003) before attending tions in the global spousal sponsor- Western Michigan University Cooley ship backlog on Dec. 2016 have now Ruby Sahota with Tehelka’s printer and publisher Law School. received final decisions for their Swinder Bajwa Ruby practiced law for five years

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 26 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 27 www.personmatters.com Motivation NLP coach Yashica on a mission to empower people through her programs

Yashica Jalhotra, who lives in New Delhi has helped people around the world transform their since she made a shift in their lives health, relationships and financial status through her columns, videos, workshops, live events, and helped them cut thoughts of personal coaching and Whatsapp programs. suicidal attempts. Through her programs, Yashica ashica Jalhotra — a renowned keeps on adding people in the Un- NLP practitioner, a motiva- stoppable League. Ytional speaker, a personal hap- She has an amazing ability to and stress so that they live the life session of Yashica. Now I can easily piness coach, columnist and founder overcome all hurdles and challenges. they deserve- a happy, confident and bend and move around with ease. I of Quantum of happiness — strongly Hardships of her life had made her content life. am so thankful to her,” said Sarabjit believes in the power of human mind even stronger and when the tough She is a ray of hope to trust and to Singh (one of her client) and women empowerment. time comes, she keeps on moving on endure as she can erase subconscious Yashica is healing people with The woman, always full of oppor- her track with just two things — The patterns of failure, depression and Neuro-Linguistic Programming that tunities, fun and enthusiasm has set Unshakable Belief in her Capabilities anxiety and re-imprint patterns of can direct the human mind towards her own niche as an NLP trainer and and Trust in the Universe. wellness, confidence, happiness and growth, prosperity, money, happiness Law of Attraction coach in India. Her Being an NLP coach, she helps peo- positivity in you. She will help you feel and desired relationships. determination to excel in whatever ple tap their own subconscious mind your worries, sorrow, and pain leav- Being a Law of Attraction expert she does has made her what she has to achieve highest levels of health and ing you and flowing in the air. she has helped many people mani- become today in this male-dominated success in their lives. She help people Her program has benefited many fest their desired life. Her workshops industry. get rid of any fear/phobia, painful students, job seekers, businessmen, and sessions combine very deep Being a journalist for past 15 years, memories, addictions like smoking, housewives and individuals. and relaxed meditations, scientific the coach believes that every human nail-biting, mobile etc; psychosomatic “I got rid of chronic back pain in tools & techniques and many other being has a purpose in life. Some diseases like BP, diabetes, migraine just one subconscious re-imprinting proven processes and applications. people realise the purpose early, some Her participants have manifested realize it in last years of their lives and dreams homes, career and jobs of some never realize it at all. their choices. While she has reached the masses “Time had never been a problem in India and abroad to help them with me,” says the multitasker Yashica. get rid of diseases, fears, stress and “We all have 24 hours. If Bill Gates negative over thinking loops, Yashica and Tony Robbins can excel within also wants to equip each one of them this time frame why can’t we,” she with super powerful and highly useful adds. tools of human excellence- NLP, Law “Time never limits me or stops of Attraction and Meditation, which me to do what I want to do. I have she believes are the shortcut to suc- programmed myself in such a way cess, money and confidence. that I easily spare quality time for my Being a woman of substance, she family, coachings, mentoring people, believes “What you thinketh you networking, workshops, writings and become” The personal coach, famous for myself. I love my work and that for creating a whole new mindset keeps me motivated to do more and towards life has helped thousands of more,” replies Yashica when asked people manifest their desires. how she performs so many roles in a Also called as ‘life savior’ – the day. name given by some of her clients

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 28 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 29 www.personmatters.com Culture ajith Kumar, a Botany profes- sor at the a Botany professor at RSree Sankara Sanskrit Univer- sity in Kalady district of South Indian state of Kerala, has raked up a fresh controversy with his remarks that women who dress like men end up “giving birth to transgenders.” “Women who wear jeans and Botany professor ridicules shirts and dress like men, give birth to children called transgender. There are over six lakh transgenders in Kerala,” he said during an aware- jeans-wearing women ness class for students in Kerala’s Kasaragod. He also added that only those cou- ples give birth to “good children” who “live their lives as men and women.” He also said that children of parents who are not of good character turn out to be “autistic and suffer from cerebral palsy.” If mothers wear jeans and The Kerala government said it planned to initiate legal action shirts and dress like men, against the professor, Rajit Kumar, they will beget children who and bar him from government-spon- sored awareness classes in schools are transgenders. Children and colleges. “Rajith Kumar has not withdrawn suffering from autism and his controversial statements so far. cerebral palsy are born to The government is mulling initiating legal action against him,” Health Min- parents who are not of ister K K Shylaja said in a statement. Media reports suggest that this is good character” not the first time that the professor’s Rajith Kumar remarks have created an outrage. Botany Professor Earlier, he had made disparaging remarks against girl students while addressing them at a women’s col- lege in the state capital Thiruvanan- thapuram, following which a student had booed him and walked out in Background for Health and Social Welfare protest. Dr. Rajith Kumar — a controversial K.K. Shylaja said the State would Earlier, he had made disparag- Indian teacher and activist — He initiate legal action against him and ing remarks against girl students was born in Attingal, Thiruvanan- keep him away from government while addressing them at a women’s thapuram, Kerala, South India. He is a programmes. college in the state capital, following writer in Malayalam who had repeat- Rajith Kumar had cast himself in which a student had booed him and edly caused controversies with his the centre of a controversy last week walked out in protest. pseudoscience beliefs. Recently after having allegedly opined on “If mothers wear jeans and shirts Kerala government has banned him live television that women sporting and dress like men, they will beget from all the social awareness pro- ‘men’s wear’ risked giving birth to children who are transgenders. grammes. He is also controversial for transgender children. Children suffering from autism and his misogynistic views on women. He also allegedly linked autism cerebral palsy are born to parents The government of Kerala and cerebral palsy in children to who are not of good character,” Ku- denounced Rajith Kumar for his parents who were rebellious and mar had said. “misogynist and gender insensi- nonconformist in dress code and tive” messages to society. Minister social conduct.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 30 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 31 www.personmatters.com Obituary orld-renowned theoretical old college. These results indicated that it was physicist and cosmologist Stephen wanted to study mathe- necessary to unify general relativity WStephen Hawking, best matics although his father would have with quantum theory, the other great known for his work on black holes, preferred medicine. Mathematics was scientific development of the first half died on March 14 after complications not available at University College, so of the 20th century. One consequence due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he pursued physics instead. After three of such a unification that he discovered a progressive neurodegenerative years and not very much work, he was was that black holes should not be disease. He was 76. awarded a first class honours degree in completely black, but rather should Hawking was born on 8th Janu- natural science. emit ‘Hawking’ radiation and eventu- Renowned physicist, cosmologist ary 1942 — exactly 300 years after the In October 1962, Stephen arrived at ally evaporate and disappear (1974). death of Galileo — in Oxford, England. the Department of Applied Mathemat- Another conjecture is that the universe His parents’ house was in north Lon- ics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) has no edge or boundary in imaginary don but during the second world war at the University of Cambridge to do time. This would imply that the way the Oxford was considered a safer place research in cosmology, there being universe began was completely deter- Stephen Hawking to have babies. When he was eight no-one working in that area in Oxford mined by the laws of science. Recently his family moved to St. Albans, a town at the time. His supervisor was Den- Stephen has been working with col- about 20 miles north of London. At nis Sciama, although he had hoped leagues on a possible resolution to the the age of eleven, Stephen went to St. to get Fred Hoyle who was working black hole information paradox, where passes away Albans School and then on to Univer- in Cambridge. After gaining his PhD debate centres around the conserva- sity College, Oxford (1952); his father’s (1965) with his thesis titled ‘Properties tion of information. of Expanding Universes’, he became, His many publications include The first, a research fellow (1965) then Fel- Large Scale Structure of Spacetime low for Distinction in Science (1969) with G F R Ellis, General Relativity: An at Gonville & Caius college. In 1966 he Einstein Centenary Survey, with W won the Adams Prize for his essay ‘Sin- Israel, and 300 Years of Gravitation, gularities and the Geometry of Space- with W Israel. Among the popular time’. Stephen moved to the Institute books Stephen Hawking has published of Astronomy (1968), later moving are his best seller A Brief History of back to DAMTP (1973), employed as a Time, Black Holes and Baby Universes research assistant, and published his and Other Essays, The Universe in a first academic book, The Large Scale Nutshell, The Grand Design and My Structure of Space-Time, with George Brief History. Ellis. During the next few years, Ste- Professor Stephen Hawking has phen was elected a Fellow of the Royal thirteen honorary degrees. He was Society (1974) and Sherman Fairchild awarded CBE (1982), Companion of Distinguished Scholar at the California Honour (1989) and the Presidential Institute of Technology (1974). He be- Medal of Freedom (2009). He is the came a Reader in Gravitational Physics recipient of many awards, medals and at DAMTP (1975), progressing to Pro- prizes, most notably the Fundamental fessor of Gravitational Physics (1977). Physics prize (2013), Copley Medal He then held the position of Lucasian (2006) and the Wolf Foundation prize Professor of Mathematics (1979-2009). (1988). He is a Fellow of the Royal Soci- The chair was founded in 1663 with ety and a member of the US National money left in the will of the Reverend Academy of Sciences and the Pontifi- Henry Lucas who had been the Mem- cal Academy of Sciences. ber of Parliament for the University. In 1963 Stephen was diagnosed It was first held by Isaac Barrow and with ALS, a form of Motor Neurone then in 1669 by Isaac Newton. Stephen Disease, shortly after his 21st birthday. is currently the Dennis Stanton Avery In spite of being wheelchair-bound and Sally Tsui Wong-Avery Director of and dependent on a computerised Research at DAMTP. voice system for communication Professor Stephen Hawking has Stephen continues to combine family worked on the basic laws which gov- life (he has three children and three ern the universe. With Roger Penrose grandchildren) with his research into he showed that Einstein’s general theoretical physics, in addition to an theory of relativity implied space and extensive programme of travel and time would have a beginning in the Big public lectures. He still hopes to make Bang and an end in black holes (1970). it into space one day.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 32 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 33 www.personmatters.com Obituary

Bollywood’s female superstar

role at age 13 with the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu (1976). Sridevi es- tablished herself as one of the leading Sridevi laid to rest actresses of Tamil and Telugu cinema, with leading roles in 16 Vayathinile (1977), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Varu- mayin Niram Sivappu (1980), Meen- dum Kokila (1981), Premabhishekam ollywood’s first bathtub after losing consciousness. (1981), Moondram Pirai (1982), Aakhari female superstar Later the case was transferred to the Poratam (1988), Jagadeka Veerudu BSridevi — who Dubai Public Prosecution. On Febru- Atiloka Sundari (1990) and Kshana cinema came with the 1979 drama Himmatwala. She went on appear in mesmerised the ary 27, Vipul, the Consul General of Kshanam (1991). film Solva Sawan, and gained wide a series of commercially successful Indian audience India, confirmed that Dubai Police has ridevi’s first starring role in Hindi attention with the 1983 production films, including Mawaali (1983), with films like closed Sridevi’s case after a thorough Tohfa (1984), Naya Kadam (1984), Chandni, Lamhe, investigation. The mortal remains of Maqsad (1984), Masterji (1985), Naz- Chaalbaaz, Mr.India the actor were brought back to India rana (1987), Mr. India (1987), Waqt Ki and Sadma among late on Tuesday night on a chartered Awaz (1988) and Chandni (1989). She others — was laid flight. also received praise for such films as to rest with full Sridevi Kapoor — born on 13 Sadma (1983), Nagina (1986), Chaal- state honours in August 1963, was daughter of Ayya- Baaz (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khuda Mumbai. pan Naidu[8] and Rajeswari was an Gawah (1992), Gumrah (1993), Laadla The funeral Indian actress and film producer who (1994) and Judaai (1997). Following and last rites starred in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malay- the role of the titular protagonist of Sridevi, who alam, and Kannada films. Regarded as in the television sitcom Malini Iyer passed away in Hindi cinema’s first “female super- (2004–2005), Sridevi returned to film Dubai on February star”, she was the recipient of two acting in 2012 with the successful 24, were held at Vile Filmfare Awards and three Filmfare comedy-drama English Vinglish. She Parle Seva Samaj Cre- Awards South. Sridevi ranked among then starred in her 300th film role matorium and Hindu the highest-paid actors in the 1980s in the 2017 thriller Mom. She earned Cemetery, Next to and 1990s and is considered to be critical acclaim for her performances Pawan Hans, SV Road, one of the most popular actresses of in both films. Vile Parle West. Indian cinema. In 2013, the Government of India A day after her Sridevi made her debut as child ar- awarded Sridevi the Padma Shri, death, Dubai Police had tiste with the 1967 Tamil film Kandan the country’s fourth highest civilian said Sridevi died of ac- Karunai at the age of 4,and started accolade for her contributions to the cidental drowning her acting career in lead role as a entertainment industry. Honourary in her hotel child with M. A. Thirumugam’s 1969 awards were also conferred on her devotional Tamil film Thunaivan and by the state governments of Tamil continued to act as a child artist Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam Sridevi was also voted ‘India’s Great- and Kannada films. She est Actress in 100 Years’ in a CNN-IBN made her Bollywood national poll conducted in 2013 on the debut as a child artist occasion of the centenary of Indian in Rani Mera Naam cinema. She was married to the film (1972) and played producer Boney Kapoor, with whom her first adult she had two children. Sridevi died on 24 February 2018 in Dubai.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 34 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 35 www.personmatters.com Bollywood

Irrfan Khan starts treatment of neuroendocrine tumour

he rare illness affects the cells that release hormones into the Tbloodstream. Khan did not give any further details of his condition. He had tweeted on March 6 that he was suffering from a “rare disease” but did not say what it was. Khan, 51, has acted in more than 100 films including Bollywood hits Piku, Maqbool, Haasil and Paan Singh Tomar. His English language films include Life Of Pi, Jurassic World, Slumdog Millionaire and The Amaz- ing Spider-Man. Film critics, contemporaries and other experts consider Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan — who was born on January 7, 1967 — to be one of the Awards, three Filmfare Awards, an In- the year 2017, his solo lead film Hindi finest actors in Indian cinema for his dependent Spirit Award nomination, Medium became a super hit at the versatile and natural acting. Marked and various international honours. box office, garnered significant praise his screen debut in 1988 with the He also hosted a television show and from critics, and earned Khan the Academy Award nominated Salaam commercials. 2017 Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Bombay!, Khan received the Padma Khan is featured in more than fifty the role. Shri (2011), India’s fourth highest civil- Indian films, and other international Khan was born in Jaipur, Rajas- ian honour for his contribution to the works such as The Namesake, The than, to a Muslim Pathan family. His field of arts. Darjeeling Limited, the Academy mother Begum Khan was from the Khan has garnered the National Award winner Slumdog Millionaire, Tonk Hakim family, and his father, Film Award for Best Actor in the 60th Life of Pi, New York, I Love You, The the late Jagirdar Khan, was from National Film Awards 2012 and a Amazing Spider-Man, Jurassic World, the Khajuriya village near the Tonk Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and Inferno. district, and ran a tire business. Khan for his performance in Paan Singh In September 2015, he was ap- was studying for his MA degree when Tomar. pointed as the brand ambassador for he earned a scholarship to study at The actor has won the 2014 Asian “Resurgent Rajasthan”, a campaign by National School of Drama (NSD) in Film Award for Best Actor, three the state government of Rajasthan. In New Delhi in 1984. International Indian Film Academy

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 36 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 37 www.personmatters.com Society t was supposed to be something pointed out the vermilion and the she had this to say to her haters and meant to change society’s mindset mangal sutra – which Gilu Joseph is those who claimed that the entire Iaround breastfeeding. Instead, Gilu seen sporting on the cover – seem to thing was a publicity stunt: “I have not Joseph and her photo on the cover of present her as a Hindu woman, when earned a single penny out of it and I Malayalam magazine Grihalakshmi in real life she is actually a Christian. have been mostly receiving abuses are at the centre of not only a contro- Things took an even uglier turn from people. Till yesterday, they were versy but also a lawsuit that accuses when an advocate sued Gilu and referring to me as a poet and now her and the publication of promoting the magazine claiming that they they are calling me a slut, prostitute. “indecency” in an effort to drive up were promoting indecency with the How is this publicity at all?” magazine sales. cover, and that it was all in an effort As for those expressing outrage at And that is just one aspect of the to increase the sales of the periodical she being portrayed as a Hindu mar- entire row that has erupted as a result publication. ried woman on the cover, she said: Gilu’s of the campaign. One of the biggest “ I like wearing a bindi and sindoor. aspects of the entire controversy is Who is Gilu Joseph? Tomorrow, if I were to get married, Gilu being depicted as a Hindu mother Born in the Idukki district of Kerala despite belonging to a Christian reli- breastfeeding on the magazine cover when she is in 1990, she is one among the three gious household, I will probably wear neither. daughters of Joseph SJ and Annakutty sindoor again, because I would choose Joseph. She moved to Dubai at the age to do so.” What is the controversy? of 18 and currently lives there. photo It all started when Grihalakshmi – a While her magazine that functions under the move to Dubai aegis of noted Malayalam-language was so that she invites row, newspaper Mathrubhumi – published could work in its March 1 issue with Gilo Joseph on its airline hospitality cover. The cover picture shows Joseph with Fly Dubai, breastfeeding an infant. she has since tak- lawsuit It wrote on its Twitter handle: en to many other “Grihalakshmi March 1st Issue is out, professions in a which speaks about the importance of more glamorous breastfeeding, and the taboos revolv- way. For example, ing around it. [sic]” she is not only a Joseph herself said about the cover model but also Because we get and the message behind it: “Because an actress who we get so easily ashamed of our bod- has so far been so easily ashamed of our ies, rape victims are continued to be seen in small shamed more than the perpetrators roles in a hand- bodies, rape victims are themselves. People would probably ful of Malayalam have no problems seeing graphic im- films including continued to be shamed ages of people getting killed in news- the critically and papers and television, but cannot bear commrcially suc- more than the perpetrators to see a woman bond with her child by cessful Jacobinte feeding it.” Swargarajyam. themselves. People The cover and the story surround- She is also an ing it received quite a bit of praise, award-winning would probably have no with even the official Twitter handle poet, and has of Unicef India tweeting it out. Even used that talent to problems seeing graphic common Twitter users seemed to be write the lyrics for images of people getting showing their support, as they talked a few Malayalam about how women should not be films, including killed in newspapers and stared at or otherwise made uncom- the aforemen- fortable when they are breastfeeding tioned Jacobinte television, but cannot bear their babies. Swargarajyam However, controversy erupted and the Jayaram- to see a woman bond with when people started objecting to starrer 2017 film the cover because Gilu was neither Sathya. her child by feeding it.” married not a mother, and therefore Having been – they felt – the cover was a mis- publicly trolled representation of sorts. Some even and slut-shamed,

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 38 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 39 www.personmatters.com Tollywood

actresses who condemned Rakul wani and Baahubali-star Tamannaah Preet’s remarks, saying the latter Bhatia are all of North-Indian origin, should have spoken the Truth. Sri but have made a name for themselves also said she could make public the in South Indian cinema, and mostly names of directors allegedly forcing through Telugu films. actresses onto the casting couch. She Sri has also claimed that a pro- Why did Sri Reddy even said 90 percent of the actresses ducer’s son sexually exploited her on in Tollywood had been subjected to several occasions. “He used to take me the casting couch. She also hinted at to the studio and he used to f**k me. stage topless protest? some big-ticket filmmakers who she He is the son of a top producer who claimed were into this practice. is ruling the Telugu film industry. He This led a Tollywood director used to force sex (on me). He would named Sekhar Kammula to threaten ask me to come to the studio and I legal action against her, because she said I will go only to talk, not for any hey are calling it the #MeToo seemed to be hinting at him. After his sexual act. But after going there, he movement of India. And it has threat, she actually came out and ac- used to force (me to have) sex,” she Tbeen started by a Telugu actress cused him of sexual exploitation. was quoted as saying by India Today called Sri Reddy who began by first As the storm swirled, Sri took in the aforementioned interview. protesting against the inclusion of things a step further by staging a pro- She added: “Studios are the what she thought was too many test outside the Telugu Film Chamber safest place to use for sex. Big North Indian actresses in the Telugu- of Commerce in Hyderabad on Friday. directors, producers and heroes language film industry – popularly She arrived at the location in a salwar use studios as brothels. It’s like a called Tollywood – and then on Sat- kameez, but shed them and her in- red-light area. And it urday, April 7, sat topless outside the hibitions in front of the camera to sit is the safest place Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce down wearing just a pair of shorts and because no one in Hyderabad in protest against the her hands covering her modesty. will come inside; casting couch. police also will For those wondering, casting Who is Sri Reddy? not check, couch is the alleged practice in film Sri Reddy is an aspiring actress in and the industries where filmmakers and Tollywood, the Telugu language film- government is actors are said to exploit aspiring and industry that gave the world the two not taking this even established actresses – often Baahubali films. as a big issue.” sexually – for favours such as giving Born in 1983, she has been seen a She also them starring roles. few films, and is best known for her said: “”I have While almost all actors and film- performance in the 2013 horror film faced a lot makers – directors and producers Aravind 2. of problems – categorically deny the existence of She has claimed that filmmakers with directors anything called casting couch, Reddy in Tollywood have a penchant for and produc- has made some explosive revelations, casting actresses from North India. ers. They have claiming that not only did one film- “For the last 10-15 years, we are only called me maker proposition her and send her watching North Indian girls as the directly for lewd messages over the phone, but heroine. Why not Telugu girls? A lot nude video a filmmaker’s son even forced her to of people are saying that these North chats and have sex multiple times! Indian girls who are coming from the nude photos. other states, they will give them sex- They asked me The allegations and the protest ual favours and all. That’s the reason directly and I The entire brouhaha started people are showing interest towards have sent, I have in early March when Rakul Preet these North or other state women. proofs also. But Singh, who has been one of the most That is the only reason they are get- still, they are not prominent faces of Tollywood, said ting roles; because they are flexible giving us Telugu at a meeting of the Movie Artists As- to everything, and Telugu women people chance.” sociation (MAA) that neither had she are not,” she said in an interview with faced any discrimination within the India Today. industry, nor did the casting couch Interestingly, actresses like Rakul exist in Tollywood. Preet Singh, Charmy Kaur, Kaajal Sri Reddy was one of the two Aggarwal, Shriya Saran, Hansika Mot-

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 40 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 41 www.personmatters.com Music “I will never agree to sell my art for money. I have been the biggest fan Meet the man who wrote of music and I scribble songs that come to my head in between selling things to my customers. I Priya Varrier’s can never put a price to my viral Malayalam song songs”

catapulted the actress Varrier into an “While I knew that I could never since the release of his re-mixed overnight social media star, Jabbar pursue music as a career, I never gave composition, which was written on is relatively untouched by the frenzy up making songs. Even now, I write a whim at the request of his singer- surrounding his song. songs when I get some free time. I relative Thalassery Rafeeq. “I loved the picturisation and I scribble notes that strike me and I jot “I just wrote song for Rafeeq who don’t understand the reasoning be- them down when I reach home,” said sang it on stage shows and on TV. It hind anyone objecting to the picturi- Jabbar. became a hit locally and people began sation. This song just has a few cheeky But things have been look- including it in the weddings near my teenagers having a bit of fun … If you ing up for this Kerala native ever home. Now it has become a huge hit think like that, then it’s easy to see this and I can’t believe it.” song in an innocent light,” said Jabbar Jabbar has becoming something responding to the complaints levelled of a local hero among his friends in against the song. Riyadh now. The pragmatic grocer and musi- “Everyone is happy for me. It cian, who is known to jot down song fills me with such happiness to inspirations as he attends to his cus- know that my music is being tomers, doesn’t believe in making a heard and enjoyed by mil- big deal about his skills as a composer. lions … I don’t know what “During my time, music was never the future holds for me but he Thrissur native, 62, also Saudi Arabia for the last thirty years. considered a viable option to earn a I will still continue to work claimed that he has not charged In his downtime, he also teaches Ara- livelihood. At that time, harbouring in this grocery store. But I Tany fee to the makers of Malay- bic to children, but shirks from asking ambitions to be a musician meant will never give up making alam romantic comedy Oru Adyaar money in return. that you may be out of work for a long music. That’s my pas- Love in exchange for the rights to “Even if they extend money, I turn time. We lived in another era. Now sion.” — Gulf News re-mix of his composition either. it down because I don’t feel comfort- with the internet, everything has “I will never agree to sell my art able demanding money to sell knowl- changed dramatically,” said Jabbar. for money. I have been the biggest edge or art. I can never treat music as While life came in fan of music and I scribble songs that a means to earn a livelihood.” between him and come to my head in between selling Since his composition’s release in his dreams, his things to my customers. I can never the teen romance, the song featur- two children and put a price to my songs,” said Jabbar, ing the winking beauty has nabbed wife have always who has lived as a grocer in Qatar and more than 3 million views. While it supported him.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 42 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 43 www.personmatters.com Music using any instrument. Yes, talk about improvisation! But it was not all hunky-dory for Pran. When things got tough, the singer had to rely on crowd-funding to produce Ek Tu. In fact, almost the entire video was shot through public funding. “I was passionate about this project and wanted to make it happen anyhow. I am so grateful to all my well-wishers who contributed to this video,” Pran says. And in the social media age, having a large number of followers on Instagram did help. As soon as his followers heard of Ek Tu, help poured in from all sides. In an age of remixes, Ek Tu is a refreshing take on romance and tells a beautiful love story. Pran is not only the singer, he also features on it. The song has been directed by Nishant Joshi of GoBro Studios. While Mohit Joshi is the Cinematographer, Mandeep Singh is the music direc- tor, Yamini Joshi is the stylist. Bobby Genesis, Soumik Hazarika, and Brin mastering was handled by Blake I got to sing in front of PM Modi, Desai are the Sound Engineers and Lagrange. President and 74 African presidents.” The hard work paid off and his par- The musical journey ents took cognisance of his love for Pran had a very interesting journey music. “When I told my Dad about my towards being a musician. “I was not performances, he felt proud of me supported by my family to pursue and changed his mindset toward my music as a career. Although I received choice of career.” encouragement from my parents Soon, he was performing at major and provided me formal training in events like European Union day, EU Hindustani Vocal but following the Film Festival, human rights day at traditional norms in terms of career Australian High Commission, etc. That perspectives was what they actually is when he seriously contemplated a t is not everyday that a young fan believed in.” career in music and started writing Assamese Opera singer gets to fulfil his life-long dream of However, all that changed when he his own songs and compositions. “I Isinging his favourite artist’s line in moved to Delhi to pursue his under- took my time in giving my songs with his first ever song. Assamese Opera graduate studies. Being exposed to a the best music. So started search- singer Pran Saikia has released his new and competitive Delhi University ing Delhi NCR renowned musicians first single Ek Tu, a romantic song environment gave him the opportu- and coming into contact with them which is also a clever dedication to his nity to broaden his perspectives and helped me widening my knowledge Pran Saikia favourite song, I was born to make to take control over his life decisions. So, in music as a musician,” says Pran. make you happy by Britney Spears. The while he was asked to take coaching In future, Pran would like to use single was launched at Fork You, in for civil service, he actually took train- his natural skills and talent in service wows with first single Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village on April 7. ing for Opera and western classical of children suffering from cancer “I love Britney and have been fol- music from the Neemrana Music and would like to raise fund for their lowing her since childhood. So, when foundation and the Delhi School of treatment. Singing is only one of the I decided to make my first single, it, of Music. This helped him a lot in under- talents in Pran‘s long list. The 25-year course, had to be dedicated to her!” standing and enhancing his musical old is also a part-time model and says the singer, who is famous in the capabilities. dancer by profession and is trained in A Cappella scene in Delhi and even “The vocal training helped me to Western as well as Hindustani clas- boasts his own group Imfresnate. For participate in many of the shows such sical music. Pran has also dabbled in those who are uninitiated, A Cap- as India Africa Summit 2015, where Belly dancing and Ballet. pella involves making music without

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 44 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 45 www.personmatters.com International

asin Kakande, the author of two Young changemaker comprehensive and appar- I knew and feared the Yently controversial books on the plight of migrant workers in the consequences of bringing Gulf Arab region, is one of the young Kakande highlights changemakers that will be delivering this to public light but a TED Talk on April 10 in Vancounver. A native of Uganda, he has been a I also knew that telling inequality at TED Talk Middle East journalist for more than a decade, working for the Abu Dhabi- these stories were worth based The National newspaper as the correspondent for the northern all of the consequences Emirates and chronicling in books the injustices and inequalities of migrant that might be involved.” workers from Africa and Asian coun- tries in the rich Gulf Arab Countries. Kakande’s books have angered the come to their good fortune, he recalls. Arab rulers that fear that the revela- “I knew and feared the conse- tions will awaken the complacent and quences of bringing this to public collective conscience of individuals light but I also knew that telling these who wonder how the benefits and stories were worth all of the conse- facilities were taking their breaks flow of African migrants in their cities costs of globalization can be recon- quences that might be involved,” he still outside in scorching heat where through policies that have impov- ciled to the mutual good of all. said. temperatures rise regularly above 40 erished the continent starting from He was expelled from Dubai after If you live or work in or visit any of degrees Celsius. the colonization and exploitation his first book The Ambitious Strug- the rich emirates in the Gulf region, Kakande now a new immigrant of African resources to holding the gle: An African Journalist’s Journey you likely will see the mistreatment in America is currently working on a whole continent Economic hostages of Hope and Identity in a Land of and abuses of migrant workers at third book on “Why African migrants and also plopping up African dictators Migrants(Florida Academic Press, some point. You will see images from are fleeing to Europe, Middle East and who suppress all dissenting voices. 2013) was published, which received the center of Qatar where workers America?” He argues in the new book “Being selected as a TED fellow considerable international atten- who are building the World Cup 2022 that the West was guilty for the over- is a privilege and also a responsibil- tion from groups such as Reporters ity on my side. TED is a wonderful Without Borders, Radio France Inter- global platform that ideas like mine national, and international migrant of universality of human rights would rights organizations. spread easily.” He returned to Qatar to work as a There has been a global conspiracy journalist shortly afterward where to cover up atrocities committed he worked on his second book “Slave by the Middle East dictators largely States: The practice of Kafala in the because oil corrupts. The gulf petro Gulf Arab Countries”. He left Qatar dollar has strengthened, emboldening voluntarily and returned to Uganda the acquiescence of the American and without incident after he completed European politicians, media and think the manuscript for Slave States. tanks. Most western universities and Kakande says the impetus for his policy institutes receive impressively second book became more urgent generous funding from the Gulf mon- after Qatar won The Fédération Inter- archies and, in exchange, the tone of nationale de Football Association bid academic discourse constrains the to host the 2022 World Cup and Dubai focus on human rights abuses. earned the honors to host the global “My books that sought to expose Expo 2020. Even among journalists this corruption suffered from this who are expected to be fair and bal- politics as well. I think my speech at anced in their work, it is considered TED will help the world wake up to politically risky and professionally the realities other less fortunate peo- insensitive to criticize the underpin- ple have had to go through to earn a nings by which Qatar and Dubai had living in the Gulf Arab region,” he said.

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 46 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 47 www.personmatters.com Sports PV Sindhu our- selves,” seeks to be world’s Sindhu said on her mother. Asked on the challenges she faced to at- number one tain success, Sindhu said she faced many challenges. “But I don’t feel it’s a burden kind of thing because I ce shuttler Pusarla Venkata (PV) Sindhu, dreaming to become World wanted to achieve my dream and I No.1, is trying to reach the numero uno spot. Sindhu, who had achieved just followed that. There was a certain Aa career-best ranking of World No 2 few months ago, said when she time where I thought what’s going started playing at the age of eight her first dream was to represent India. on wrong because at sometimes you “When I started playing at the age of eight my dream was to play for India might not give your best. Sometimes and that was the first dream. When I started playing for India that is you might just play brilliantly but when I thought someday I have to be (on) top of the world. I am when you tend to lose, you think that trying to be World No.1…Now my dream is to become World what’s happening or what’s going on No. 1 and definitely it’s in progress. I would want to see wrong. I think learning from your myself there,” media reports quoted the Rio Olym- mistakes and coming back much pics silver medallist as more stronger is important thing saying. that is what I feel and that’s how At the 2016 Sum- I learnt and came up in my life,” mer Olympics, she Sindhu said. became the first Sindhu said, “You have to Indian woman always be grounded, that is to win an Olympic most important thing. Even silver medal. She is one of though you win a lot more or be at the two Indian badmin- the top position you always have to ton players to ever win an be grounded. You have to give respect Olympic medal – other being and also discipline is very much Saina Nehwal. Born on 5 July 1995, important and those are the values I she was also a silver medalist at the 2017 BWF World have learned from this school.” Championships and, in 2017, became first Indian ever to On her parents, Sindhu said, “My win Korea Open Super Series. parents support was always there Sindhu came to international attention when she and they motivated me. My parents broke into the top 20 of the BWF World Ranking in Sep- played a very important role tember 2012 at the age of 17. In 2013, she became the first and I am lucky to have parents ever Indian women’s singles player to win a medal at the like them because they were Badminton World Championships. In March 2015, she is the sports-persons.” recipient of India’s fourth highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri. Her “Everybody will face challenges silver medal win in the women’s singles event of the 2016 Summer Olympics in their lives. If you want to achieve made her the first Indian shuttler to reach the final of an Olympics badminton something in your life you have to event and the youngest Indian to make a podium finish in an individual event believe in yourself even though there at the Olympics. She is one among the top five shuttlers in women’s singles are ups and downs. You have to go category. through it and hard work is the key Participating in an interaction with students and teachers during a for success. For me I have come so far promotional event organised at her alma mater Auxilium High School and I just feel it is starting for me even here, Sindhu said her mother has been her inspiration. “She has always though I faced so many challenges,” been there saying that ‘do your best’ and ‘give your best’ in whatever you she added. do. Be brave and stay strong and all women should do that and believe in

personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 48 www.personmatters.com personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 49 www.personmatters.com Sports TELL US YOU CAN'T. Q QUANTUM OF WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN. Hijab-clad Majiziya wins H Train Your Brain for SUCCESS bodybuilding tilt in Kerala with QUANTUM OF HAPPINESS Speaking to the Times of India, Maji- male bodybuilders from Kozhikode zia said, “My fiancée encouraged me who encouraged her and officials who to attend the event. I had never before tipped her on the importance of smile, taken part in a bodybuilding competi- she gained confidence by the time she tion. So, I sought the help of my weight- reached the finals. lifting coach, who sent photos of poses “The clothes were never a prob- to be displayed on WhatsApp.” lem as the judges were experienced Wearing her favorite black body- enough to assess a clothed person’s hugging sports suit and a headscarf, build,” The Hindu quoted Majiziya as Bhanu displayed her unique physique saying. through the mandatory four postures She praised her parents for and landed herself a gold medal by constantly giving her the freedom to impressing the judges in no time. pursue her dreams. Majiziya also hails “I was quite confident of winning her fiancee for constantly pushing the championship as I found the other her to apply for the competition. The ü Neuro-Linguistic women contestants to be chubby,” weightlifter also credits her coach added the wannabe dentist. Jayadas for bringing her to the stage Programming (NLP) she currently stands on. ü Law of Attraction espite participating for the first Background Majiziya now seeks to participate time, the 23-year-old Majiziya Majiziya, as a child, was into athlet- in the World Powerlifting Champi- ü Meditation Bhanu recently won Mr Kerala ics and other sports and had main- onships and hopes to see power- D ü Bodybuilding championship in Kochi. tained a strong physique. She took lifting as part of the National Counseling A final-year BDS student at Mahe an interest in boxing in 2016, but Games in the near ü Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhanu, soon dropped out as she was not future. Parenting hailing from Orkkatteri in Kozhikode allowed to enter the boxing is a professional weightlifter but had ring wearing braces. never taken part in a bodybuilding She then turned her at- competition before. tention to powerlifting and Hijab-clad Majiziya had entered the was declared the ‘Strong Benefits bodybuilding circuit, which is mostly a Woman of Kerala’ thrice male bastion, and managed to recon- by the Kerala Powerlift- struct the familiar image of the woman ing Association. She got Enjoy physical & mental well being Release stress/anxiety/mood swings bodybuilder. silver medal in the Asian Build compelling future Attain excellence in job/business/studies “I did not intent to participate in this Powerlifting Championship in at all. I am a powerlifter and had never 2017, reports said. Enjoy supreme confidence Release painful memories thought of participating in a body- The idea of bodybuilding popped Enjoy healthy relationships Improve concentration building competition. One reason was up recently. “I was apprehensive about that I will be required to expose my taking part as it involved much skin body. So when I came across a Face- show,” Majiziya reportedly said. “But book post on the event, I was still scep- then I came across some videos of tical. But my fiancé sent me photos of Egyptian women bodybuilders and Yashica Jalhotra Muslim women from other countries decided to adopt the costumes they Your Personal Happiness Coach | Founder, Quantum of Happiness who participated in body-building used.” YashicaJalhotraCoach Quantumofhappinessofficial Yashicajalhotra_lifecoach yashicajalhotra.com competitions wearing a hijab. That’s She did not know how to pose, and how I decided to participate; it was just being too nervous, couldn’t even smile an attempt. I did not expect to win the while on stage. But thanks to fellow title!” TNN quoted Majiziya as saying. +91 9811674101 Call Now to Reprogram your Mind personmatters / 1 MAY 2018 50 www.personmatters.com Published on 1 MaY 2018 RNI No. DelhiN/2009/28890 Postal Registration No. DL (S) - 01/3363/2016-18 il, 2018 Apr 1 - 30 y the Monthl r Fo

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