eye
THE SUNDAYEXPRESS MAGAZINE TOUCHING PUNE,LATECITY THE VOID DECEMBER27,2020 In our last issue of 2020, a 14 PAGES,`5.00 look back at howthis year taught us to examine lives DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW,MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM PAGES 11, 12, 13
DAY AFTER PM DREW LINE Farmerunionsagreeto 20 years on, where are the Board returntotable:Next toppers? Over half are abroad, roundoftalksTuesday most in science and technology Modalities forrepeal, guarantees on MSP on their agenda; Ugrahangroup says morefarmers on waytojoinprotest Gender gap; studentsincreasingly from outside metros; US mostfavoured destination, IIT popular
AMILBHATNAGAR route; minorities, SC/STs invisible: 86 CBSE, ICSE, ISC toppers 1996-2015 tell stories of change &RAAKHIJAGGA —and point to challenges as the newNational Education Policy rolls out NEWDELHI,CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER26 School and staffanesthesiologist RITIKACHOPRA at itsteaching hospital, Beth ADAY afterPrime Minister NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 Israel Deaconess Medical Center. NarendraModi said the govern- Bose says that when he left ment is ready to hold talkson“is- THEY ARE India’s national school India, programmes in critical sues, logic and facts” with farm- boardtoppers over 20 years. So carewerejuststarting to open ers protesting againstthe new it’s no surprise that one’sacan- up. “The US... had well-estab- farm laws,farmerunions an- Sanyukt Kisan Morchaholding apress conference at Singhu cer physicianinNew York;an- WHO’SWHO—ANDWHERE lishedclinical training pathways nouncedresumption of talkson border on Saturday. Gajendra Yadav other is aPhD fellowatMIT;one in thatfield, plus afforded oppor- December 29. is aHarvardprofessor;one a tunities to mix clinical work with Following deliberations on hedgefund manager in focus on research,” he said. the government offerfor talks, According to the unions, the titlement forall farmers and all Singapore—and as manyas11 Janaki Sheth, 28, who stud- farmer unions, under the banner meeting agenda will be:modal- agricultural commodities; areworking forGoogle. iedataschool in Thaneand aced of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, told ities to be adoptedtorepeal the amendmentstobemade and Eachisastory of individual the Class 10 ICSE exams in 2008 the press at Singhu border threecentral farm Acts;mecha- notifiedinthe ‘Commissionfor talent and effort,excellence and with 98.6%, has aBTech in Saturday—the protestatDelhi’s nisms to be adoptedtomakere- the AirQuality Management in achievement,outliers all. But Engineering Physics from IIT gatesisnow amonth old —that munerative MSP,recommended National Capital Region and takentogether,asaninvestiga- Bombay. In 2014,she leftfor the talkswith the government will by theNational Commission on Adjoining Areas Ordinance, tion by The Indian Express re- US foraPhD in Physics at the be held at 11 am Tuesday. Farmers, alegally guaranteed en- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 veals,the arcs of theirdifferent University of California,Los lives—and careers—tell signif- Angeles. On whyshe decidedto icant stories of ageneration studyabroad, Sheth, nowapost- coming of ageafter India Mymoveabroad DuringmyPhDat doctoral scholar at the University openedupinthe 1990s. Of how gaveme MIT,wegotalotof of Pennsylvania, said, “Six to some aspirations endure, some phenomenalopportunities hands-onexperience, sevenyears ago, scientific re- don’t; howsome divides have todoworld-classresearch somethingIhadnever search wasnot very well-funded crumbled, some remain as in- withthebestpeoplefrom experiencedduringmy in India. So whileIhad some in- tractable as ever. allovertheworld undergraduationback valuableexperiencesatIIT,itwas Morethan half the toppers notsufficientfor aPhD. In the US, live overseastoday, theUSbeing KARUNA GANESH, homeinIndia sciencegetsagreat policy thrust the destination of choice. Most PHYSICIAN-SCIENTIST AT RISHABH SINGH, whichmeans thereare more areinscience and technology MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING RESEARCH SCIENTIST WITH places to do good work,and with IITstheir mostfavouredun- CANCER CENTER IN NEW YORK; BIG PICTURE GOOGLE XINCALIFORNIA, thereisconstant upgradation of CLASS 10 ICSE TOPPER IN 1999 dergraduate pit-stop; morethan PAGES 8, 9 CLASS 12 CBSE TOPPER IN 2004 technology,” she said. half of them grew up outside ForArkya Chatterjee, 24,who metros, in Tier 2and Tier 3cities, toppedthe Class 12 ISC exam in and onlyone is aminority — Over half the toppers ties aroundtheworld,inaddition 2015 fromaKolkataschoolbefore there’s notone Dalit or tribal. live or work abroad to the global, multicultural edu- graduating from IIT-Bombayin And if youare agirltopper,you cation it provides,” said Ganesh, Engineering Physics, the move to aremuchless likelytomove Morethan half the toppers — who subsequentlyearnedaBAin the US revealedadifferent side to overseas than if youwereaboy. between 21 and42yearsofage Biochemistry, MA in Medicine, the teacher-student equation. These areamong the key —are in foreign countries, most PhDin MolecularBiology andMD “(Thereis) morehonesty about findings of the four-month in- of them areemployed, aquarter from CambridgeUniversity. collaborations —professors en- vestigation by TheIndian Express of them arepursuing advanced TRACKING couragestudentstotalktoeach that trackeddown86men and degrees. Three of everyfour who INDIA’STOPPERS Mostwent abroad to otherandwork onhomework to- FAMILY TRIBUTE women who stood firstinIndia, areabroad areinthe United study citing better gether.Thisreducestheincentive between1996and 2015,intheir States.While the US remains the ecosystem foracademicdishonesty.Thiskind The wifeand daughtersofcricketer Dean Jones, who passed Class 10 and12examscon- preferreddestination, others are mostinany one company. of trustwas mostly absentatmy away recently, paytributetohim on Day1ofthe second ducted by the Central Boardof basedinthe UK, Australia, Karuna Ganesh,37, leftthe Higher education is the pri- undergraduateinstitutebackin India-Australia Test,atMelbourne Saturday. Reuters SecondaryEducation (CBSE) and Singapore, China, Canada, countrysoon aftertopping her maryreason whytoppers leftthe India,”saidChatterjee,whoisnow MATCH REPORT P14 the Council forthe Indian School Bangladesh and the UAE. Class 10 ICSE exam in 1999 to join country. Of thoselivingabroad, enrolledasaPhD student at MIT. CertificateExaminations. Of thoseemployedabroad, United WorldCollege(UWC), over 70%leftIndia to pursue ei- CONTINUEDONPAGE5 Amid soaringcut-offmarks mostworkinthe tech sector,fol- USA, an international boarding ther their undergraduateorpost- basedonClass 12 Boardexams, lowedbymedicine and finance. school that brings together 200 graduate studies —onlyadozen TOMORROW DDC polls: PM invokes MP ‘love jihad’ as the government, in tune with Four out of 10 working in the studentsfrom80countries. She of the 86 went to take up ajob. THE GENDER GAP: itsnew National Education US areinSilicon Valley. Like is nowaphysician-scientistatthe Forexample, Somnath Bose, TOPPERS ALL BUT WHY Bill tougher, Policy,setsupapanel to explore Biswanath Panda, who gradu- Memorial Sloan KetteringCancer 40, leftIndia in 2008 with an IT’S ADVANTAGE MEN Vajpayee, says BJP ceded anational test to rejig the col- ated from Little FlowerSchool in Center in New York. MBBS from CalcuttaMedical but limits who legeadmission process, the Jamshedpur in 1999 and is now “My parentsweresupportive Collegeand an MD from AIIMS, findingsfromthe investigation senior director of engineering at about my moving abroadsince to pursue training in critical care. GOVT STARTS WORK ON power for J-K democracy arepointers to thechallenges Google in SanFrancisco. Indeed, UWChas astrong trackrecordof Today, he is an assistant profes- COMMON TEST FOR UG can file FIR ahead. Googleishome to 11 toppers,the sendingstudentstotop universi- sor at Boston’s HarvardMedical ADMISSIONS PAGE 5
ARUNSHARMA IRAMSIDDIQUE IN PUNE DISTRICT JAMMU,DECEMBER26 BHOPAL,DECEMBER26 Killing of Rajouri youths: Police DESCRIBINGTHE establishment THE MADHYAPRADESH gov- Over 500 with recent travel of athree-tier Panchayati Rajsys- ernment claimedtohaveset into teminJammu and Kashmir motion “the moststringent” law history to UK identified, 396 chargesheet Captain, 2civilians (J&K) as the ushering in of anew in the countryagainst‘love ji- eraand newleadership, Prime had’, clearing aReligion to againstCaptain Bhoopendra tested, two Covid positive ED MinisterNarendraModi PM launching Ayushman Freedom Bill on Saturdaythat BASHAARATMASOOD Singh and twocivilians —Tabish Saturdaysaid the recent District Bharat forJ-K, Saturday. PTI plans higher penalties (jail terms Pawarat SRINAGAR,DECEMBER26 Nazir,aresident of Shopian, and Movewill Development Council elections and fines going up to 10 years ATIKHRASHID&MANOJ the BilalAhmad Lone of Pulwama — PLAIN E ● buildtrust had strengthened democracy. and Rs 1lakh), as compared to MORE meeting. MORE THAN FIVE monthsafter basedonevidence collecteddur- EX “In away,these elections ful- 5lakh to everyfamilyinthe thelaw in Uttar Pradesh, as well PUNE,DECEMBER26 Express three Rajouri youths were killed ing the investigation by aSpecial filMahatma Gandhi’s dream of Union TerritoryofJ&K. as maintenance to thewoman in Shopian in an Armyoperation Investigation Team (SIT) setupto OUTRAGE over killings ‘Gram Swaraj’… We have Modi also took aswipe at concernedand the right to fa- IN THE wake of the emergence of on July18, theJ&K Policehas filed probethe allegedfake encounter. had ledArmyand Police worked dayand night to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ther’s property forachild born amutated and highlyinfectious thelastfew days.Localauthorities achargesheet, accusing an Army Filedbeforethe Principal to investigatethe July18 strengthen grassroots democ- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 to acouple whose marriagehas strain of the coronavirusinthe have been collecting information Captain and twocivilians fortheir SessionsJudge, Shopian, the operation, with both racy and democratic institu- been declarednull and void un- United Kingdom (UK),the Pune aboutpersonswhohave returned alleged abduction and murder. chargesheetstatesthatthe three reaching the same con- tions,” he said during the launch der itsprovisions. district administration has iden- from the UK between November The 300-pagechargesheet Rajouri youths –Imtiyaz Ahmad clusion. Action against of theAyushmanBharat Yojana PUDUCHERRY: Briefing the media aftera tified atotal of 512persons with 25 (when the newstrainwas first states thatacaseofmurder, ab- (20) and Mohammad Abrar (16), accusedwill build trust Sehat Scheme that provides CM VS LG Cabinetmeeting, Home Minister recenttravelhistoryto theUK,and spotted in theUK) and duction and destruction of evi- residentsofDharsakri village, in the administration. cashless health coverofuptoRs PAGE 2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 successfullytraced444of themin CONTINUEDONPAGE2 dence is “prima facie” established CONTINUEDONPAGE2
My ISOLATION PAGE 6 Is it acar? Is it aplane? Is it atrain? In road to hyperloop, aleap
PAGE 1 “If hyperloop went at amil- TanayManjrekar.Originally ground. The system is notincom- atransporttechnology,that’s all ANCHOR lion kilometres an hour,but had from Pune, Manjrekar is apower mercial use anywhereinthe Ican sayright now.” to stop at everyplace,oryou had electronics specialist who has world, andVirgin Hyperloop it- As partofthe firstleg in India, to wait twohours to geton, that’s been with the companysince self is still running testsinthe US. Virgin Hyperloop planstocon- ‘I’matSinghu, notactuallythateffective,right?” 2016.“Iwas goingtotry to get Lastmonth, NITI Aayog nectPune andMumbai,covering NANDAGOPALRAJAN explains Giegel,who waspart of intothe pod anyway Icould," formedapanel to study hyper- the 150-km distance at 1,200 Tikridaily, in mask, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 the test run held by the company Manjrekar says."Ihavealways loop in depth, including Member kmph speeds in about 35 min- sanitised car... Iunwind lastmonth. “So, it is the whole ex- dreamt aboutcreating ahyper- VKSaraswat, the Chairman, utes, atenth of the time takenby to Kishoresongs’ “WE ARE notall about speed... perience: howlong is the wait, loop, but riding on it wasbeyond Railway Board, and the road currently. Giegel says it is just SANJAY SINGH We don’tsell speed, we sell time.” going directlytothe destination dreams. When that opportunity Secretaries of Housing and the start, and at least7,000km of This mayseem surprising and the like. We bringall the ben- kind of presentsitself, it would UrbanAffairs, Road Transport hyperloop is possible in India. WORLD coming from the co-founder of efitsofspeedofanaircraftwith have been stupid nottotakeit.” and Highways.The panel will Virgin Hyperloop has also American firm Virgin Hyperloop. the comfortofrail experience, Anew form of transportcur- draw on theexpertise of Delhi signedanMoU to conductafea- However, Josh Giegel, nowone without having to wait, and at the rentlybeing developedby anum- Metroand IIT among others. On sibility test regarding alink be- TRUMPHOLDSBACK of the firstpeople in the worldto same time reduce energy usage." berofcompanies, hyperloop en- Saturday, Chairman, Railway tween the Bengaluru city centre BILL,MILLIONSLOSE take the transport system involv- Another passenger on the visages passengers travelling at Board, VKYadavsaid: andKempegowda International JOBLESSBENEFITS ing levitating test pods travelling firstset of test rides held by Pune-origin TanayManjrekar wasone of the firstpeople high speeds in floatingpods lo- “Hyperloop is atechnologythat Airport, andisworking with the PAGE 7 at high speeds, knows what he Virgin Hyperloop, whichGiegel ever to travel in thelevitating pod, at atestrun lastmonth catedinside giantlow-pressure is still evolving across the world. Punjab government fora is talking about. firstenvisaged six years ago, was tubes, either above or below The government is studying it as CONTINUEDONPAGE2
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FROMPAGEONE PM’s Puducherry DDC polls Puducherry in 2018,but thegov- The Prime Ministeralso in- Once an FIR has been regis- women and right to property to WITHENSINPUTS sanction is also requiredto beob- ernmenttherewasdillydallyingin vokedAtalBehariVajpayee’sthree tered, in both MP and UP,the bur- children in the marriageunder tainedfor launching prosecution pointing out that municipal and the matter since it had “no faith in principlesofInsaaniyat, den to proveone's innocence lies question,inthelegislationplanned Farmer unions againsthim”. pointer panchayatelections have notyet democracy’’.Localbodypollswere Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat, ontheaccused.Thoseidentifiedas by the Chouhan government. The 2020’to excludefarmersfrompe- The chargesheetstatesthat been held in Congress-ruled lastheldinPuducherryin2006af- stating Jammuand Kashmir was frequent offenders can face jail matter of maintenance will be nal provisions of the ordinance; the questioning of the twocivil- sparks CM, Puducherry despiteSupreme termanydecades and the term of progressing on the path of devel- terms of five to 10 years. dealt as per Section125 of the and, changes to be made in the iansledtotherecoveryof aMaruti Court orders. thoseelected endedin2011, he opmentonthebasisofthesethree Chief MinisterShivraj Singh CrPC. draftElectricity(Amendment)Bill, Altocar andsome cell phones Withoutnaming anybody,he pointedout. This,he said,showed principles. Chouhantweeted,"Wewillnotal- In both states, marriages 2020 to protectfarmerinterests. from the “Victor Forcecamp Bedi tussle said,“Iwantto expressmy anguish the difference in the speedand lowanyone to carry outreligious proved to have been undertaken The unions warnedthat they Awantipora”. Besidesexamining before thenation that some peo- deeds of some parties and also ‘Love jihad’ Bill conversion using force, threat or forthe sole purpose of religious willintensifytheiragitationby in- allCallDetailRecords,itdetailsthe ple in Delhi keep cursingme howserious theywereabout Narottam Mishradescribed the allurement in MadhyaPradesh. conversion or conductedwithout creasingblockadesonhighways of planning, abduction of the youth, MANOJCG daily…Theygivemenew lessons democracy. Billas"themoststringent"against Forthis we have made our lawof appropriate notice to thedistrict Delhi NCRifthe talksdonot lead the routes taken, and prior NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 ondemocracyeveryday. Iwantto The delayinholding these "the practice of love jihad".Apart 1968 more effectivetoensure administration can be declared to atangible solution. arrangement of illegal weapons showthem the mirror.” elections in Puducherry hasbeen from BJP-ruledMPand UP,the none of the perpetratorsgofree." null and void by familycourts. An estimated 30,000 people, by theaccused. ADAY afterRahul Gandhi said “Main un logosepoochna primarilybecausethedelimitation party'sHimachalPradeshgovern- Claimingto curbreligiouscon- Returnto one'soriginalreligion affiliatedto theBKU(Ugrahan)and The Armyofficer,the thereisnodemocracy in India, chahtahoonkiyehJammuKashmir exercise dragged on foryears. The ment has also notifiedasimilar versionsusingmisrepresentation, -- the religion oneisborn intoor KisanMazdoor Sangharsh chargesheetstated,misledhisof- PrimeMinisterNarendraModion kodekhiyeki,itnekamsamaymein matter reachedthe courts with legislationwiththeaimof "check- allurement,force,threat,unduein- thatpractisedbyone'sfather--will Committee(KMSC),areheadedto ficers and colleagues.Itstateshe Saturdayhit back. Referring to unhoneytree-stariya panchayatiraj multiplejudgementsbythe ing conversions". fluence,coercion,marriage orany notbecounted as conversion un- DelhifromBarnala, Ludhiana, "furnished false information to Congress-ruledPuducherry, said vyavasthakoswikaarkarkeykam Madras High Court and the Inasignificantdeparturefrom other"fraudulentmeans",theMP der the MP Bill. Thisisthe same as Sangrur,Patiala andGurdaspur. misleadtheseniorofficersandfor that local body elections arenot kar diya. Lekin dusari aur vi- Supreme Court. Since June last the UP ordinance though on reg- Bill stipulates jail terms of one to in the UP legislation. SukhdevSingh Kokrikalan, getting lodgment of FIR done to being conducted in theUnion dambana dekhiyekiPondicherry year,abitter tussle between Chief istrationofFIRs in suchcases, the five years,withafineof Rs25,000, WhileboththeUPlawandMP BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary, tailor-fit his motive forgrabbing TerritorydespiteaSupremeCourt mein Supreme Court ke adesh ke MinisterVNarayanasamyand Lt MPBillsays thesecanbedealtonly insuchcases.Thepenaltyincaseof Bill envisageajail term of twoto saidmore than3,000vehicles,car- prize moneyinfurtherance of order. babjood, panchayataur municipal GovernorKiranBedioverappoint- by policepersonnel notless than aperson using"misrepresenta- 10 years in case aperson being rying nearly 16,000 farmers from criminal conspiracy". The Supreme Courtorder electionsnahihorahe.Aurmujhejo mentof anElectionCommissioner therankof sub-inspector,andthat tion" or "impersonation" forreli- convertedisaminor,orbelongsto over 100villages of Punjab, en- One of the civilian accused, Modiapparentlyreferredtocame yahanloktantrakepaathpadarahe forPuducherryhasmeantfurther parentsandsiblingsof theaffected giousconversionwillbehigher,in- theScheduledCasteorScheduled teredNarwanaSaturday noon.He Bilal AhmadLone, turnedap- in May2018. Elections to pan- hain, unki party wahan rajkar rahi delays. individual alonecan file acom- cludingajailtermof three-10years Tribe, the MP legislationtalks of a said the convoy wasgiven arous- prover and his statement under chayat and municipal bodies had hai (I want to ask these people… Referring to thePDP-BJP gov- plaint directly. In caseaguardian and afine of Rs 50,000. penalty of Rs 50,000,againstRs ingwelcomebyHaryana farmers Section 164ofCode of Criminal notbeenheldinPuducherrysince the three-tier Panchayati Rajsys- ernment in Jammu and Kashmir oracustodianwantstoregisteran In contrast, the UP Prohibition 25,000in UP. andmadeahaltatJhanjhKalanvil- Procedure(CrPC) has been 2011. temhas been establishedin afterthe 2014 Assemblypolls, he offence, theymustapproacha of UnlawfulConversionofReligion Both the legislationtalkof lage. Theywill head towardsTikri recorded. The DNAanalysis by Thedelayisprimarilybecause Jammu and Kashmir within a said, “Therewas atime when we Sessions Court authorisedtodeal Ordinance, 2020,passedlast three-to five-yearprisontermsfor Sunday. CFSL, Chandigarh, postmortem the delimitation exercise has shortperiod of itsbecoming aUT, were part of theJammu and withthesemattersandgetacourt month,stipulates that religious religiousorganisationsorindivid- KulwantSharma,ablockpres- reportand the missing reportby dragged on foryears. Thematter butpanchayatandmunicipalelec- Kashmir government. We had a order. conversionusingany of theabove ualsseenascarryingoutmasscon- ident of BKU (Ugrahan), said an- three Rajouri families ledtothe hadreachedcourtsandtherehave tionsare notbeing held in DeputyChief Ministerandalsothe In UP,any "aggrievedperson", means, including misrepresenta- versions, but again the penalty in other batchof15,000 volunteers identification of the three civilian been multiple judgmentsby Pondicherrywhere their party is ministers,butwe pulledoutof the whomayhavenoconnectionwith tion and impersonation, would MP is higher (Rs 1lakh) than UP will enter Haryana via Bathinda- victims, the chargesheetstated. Madras High Courtand Supreme in powerdespiteSupreme Court government on the issue of pan- the couple involved,can register entailajailtermof oneto five years (Rs 50,000). Dabwali highway and hold arally Courtovertheyears.Butinthelast orders),” he said. chayat elections. We wanted em- anFIR.Inseveralcasesinthestate, and afine of Rs 15,000. Inbothstates,organisationsor with Haryana farmers at Pune district twoyears,abittertusslebetween The Prime Ministersaid the powerment of people in villages right-wing organisations have The other big departurebe- priests carrying out conversions Fatehabad before heading to Tikri December22,whenIndiabanned Chief MinisterVNarayanasamy Supreme Court had issuedorders across Jammu and Kashmir,” he been accusedofputting pressure tweentheMPBillandUPlawisthe have to informthedistrictadmin- Monday. flightstoand from the country. and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi over forholding local body polls in said. onfamiliesto registercomplaints. provision formaintenance to istrationabout 60 days before the Swaraj India president Thespecialsurveillanceoperation appointment of aState Election dateofconversion, failingwhich Yogendra Yadav, speakingonbe- beingcarriedoutto findandtrace Commissioner (SEC)has opened theorganisationcanhave itsregis- half of farmer unions, said: “We UK returnees in Pune district was up anew dimension. trationcancelledand the priestor wantto makeonethingveryclear. discussedatthe Covid-19situa- The SundayExpress spoketo facilitator face ajail term. But the We arenot going to discuss tion review meeting chairedby both Narayanasamyand Bedi. MPBillstipulatesahigherpenalty whether the government should Deputy Chief MinisterAjit Pawar The CM said AINRCwas in (of Rs50,000,andthree-fiveyears' take backtheselawsornot.We on Saturday. powerwhen courts firstdirected jailterm)insuchcases,compared willnowdiscusshow theseshould According to the district ad- Puducherry to hold the polls in to one to five years and Rs 25,000 be takenback. The government ministration,atotalof 512persons 2012.HesaidAINRCwaswiththe in UP. mustdiscussthe procedurein- who had returned to Pune from NDAand supportedthe Central volvedincallingbackalaw.Thisis the UK between November 25 governmentfor twoyearswhen Hyperloop the onlydirection in whichthe andDecember22have sofarbeen itwasinofficeafter2014,but“did corridor between Amritsar and talkswill head.” identifiedfromthe datareceived nottakeany action(on holding Chandigarh. Farmerleaderswere criticalof from various airlines. One person elections).” While the technology hurdle thePrimeMinister’sspeechFriday. from Pune district and another In May2018, theSCdirected has been moreorless overcome, Alleging“misinformation”, from Pimpri-Chinchwad have Puducherry to complete the de- anuphilltaskisconvincingregula- RashtriyaKisan Mazdoor tested positive but areasympto- limitation processand hold pan- tors about something that is this MahasanghpresidentShivKumar matic. chayat and municipal polls with- new. “Weall trytorelatesome- Kakka said it wasfor the Prime “Of the total 512returnees, outdelay. TheordercameonaSLP thing newtowhat we already Ministerto“create an environ- 300are from Pune city,115 are filedbyPuducherry government know. Andsopeople kind of look ment conducive fortalks”. from Pimpri-Chinchwad and 66 againstaMadrasHCorderto hold at hyperloop and think, it’s obvi- from rural partsofthe district. the polls by June 2015. ouslynot acar,and it’s definitely Rajouri youths Addresses and contact details of Andthen the tusslebegan. notaplane, and it’s really nota andAbrar Ahmad(25) of Tarkasi 31 passengershave beenfoundto In May2019, Narayanasamy boat,soitmustbeatrain,” Giegel villageofKotranka Rajouri –were be incompleteorinvalid,” said sent afile to Bedi recommending spells out his frustrations. “abducted”fromtheir rented ac- PuneZillaParishad Chief appointment of former bureau- But the conversationshave commodation in Shopian and Executive Officer Ayush Prasad. crat TMBalakrishnan as SEC. The beenmakingprogress.“InJuly, the then killed. “So far, 444 personsfromthis list L-Greturned thefile in July,say- USDepartmentof Transportation Both the Army and theJ&K have been traced, 396 of them ing he could notbeacceptedfor gave usregulatoryguidance.They Policehadearlierclaimedthatthe have been tested andonlyone appointment. actuallysaidthatwe areanofficial three youths were unidentified wasfoundCovid positive. We are “The Lt Governor wanted to mode of transportation,whichis militantsandhadburiedthemdis- trying to trace68returnees who appointanelectioncommissioner abig deal. India, as partofthe creetlyinagraveyard in north have notyet been traced...,” said without the government. Under Mumbai to Pune project, also de- Kashmir's Baramulla. On October Prasad. the Villageand Commune claredusaninfrastructureproject.” 3, theJ&K government exhumed He said one person who had Panchayats Act, and also In Europe, hyperloop has been the bodies of the three labourers returnedfromUKonDecember Municipalities Act, poweris listedaspartoftheSmartMobility killedduringthenightinthepres- 13 hastestedpositive."He was vested with theminister. TheL-G strategy. ence of familymembers and asymptomaticandisfinenow,"he is onlyfor clearance,”hesaid. Giegelthinksitisimportantto handedthem over to the families. said.Thistravellerwassaidto have Bedisaiddespiteherrepeated have theseconversationsinparal- The Indian Express had on come in contactwiththree per- interventions, the Puducherry lel. “Ifwewait untileverything is FridayreportedthattheArmyhad sons, twoofwhom were tested government has been “dragging perfect,itwilljusttaketoolongfor conducted aSummaryof and found to be negative. itsfeet” and not“publishing the certification,”hesays,addinghow Evidence and found an Armyoffi- PCMCAdditionalHealthchief delimited wards” before coming the recent testswerealot about cer culpable forthe killing of the Dr PavanSalve saidthe civic body upwithanameforthepostofSEC. "the incremental development of threeRajouriyouths.Thenextstep has traced115 persons who had The L-G, she said, is the com- technology and the incremental in the process is acourt martial. returnedfromUK. "One person petent authority to appoint the developmentof safety”.Theregu- Earlier,onSeptember 18,the tested positive.Heis35years old SEC. “They (government)just lators, he says,wereveryexcited Army'sCourtofInquiryconfirmed and is asymptomatic," said Salve. pickedupsomebody and sent a with the waytests were doneand that the three youths killedwere He said 15 personsare cur- file forapproval. It wasnot by due the rigour of the process. labourers from Rajouri. rentlyout of town, adding, “we process,” shesaid. The lackofsleep over the past The J&K Police chargesheet willconducttheirtestswhenthey Afterreturningthe file, theL- manymonthsisfinallypayingoff. states,“Avehicle(A-Star)usedfor return.” G’sofficeinJulylastyearissuedan “Wedidn’t think that would hap- theabductionandtransportation Duringthemeeting,Pawardi- open advertisement forappoint- pen this quickly.” of the victims wasseizedasevi- rected local authorities to take ment of SEC. Later that month, The testscould onlyachieve dence.” The “weapon of offence” addedprecautionsinlight of the PuducherryAssemblySpeakerVP 172kmph, but Giegel says it's be- of the Armyofficer hasbeen emergence of the newstrain. He Sivakozhunthuannulledthe ad- cause theNevada test trackjust seized and sent to CFSL, alsoappealedtolocalresidentsto vertisement.Aday later,the gov- was500 metres long.“The goal Chandigarh. followsocialdistancingmeasures ernmentappointedBalakrishnan wasn’tspeed, it wassafety,”he According to the chargesheet, and wear maskswhile stepping as SEC. On December 20, 2019, says,adding that anew certifica- the officer and the twocivilians out of their home. Bedi issued an orderdeclaring tion trackbeing builtinWest have been chargedunderSection He also directed the admin- Balakrishnan's appointment as Virginia will give aglimpse of 302 (murder), Section 364(ab- istration keep aclose watchon "voidabinitio". In January this higher speeds. duction),Section201(destruction the district's health infrastruc- year,Narayanasamyissuedanor- Manjrekar does notsee many of evidence), Section 436, 120-B turesothatevery needy person der annulling the L-G’sorder de- challengesinhyperloop getting (criminal conspiracy to commit gets access to awell-equipped claring it ‘illegal’. whereitshould and, if at all there anoffencepunishablewithdeath) hospital. Pawaralso reviewed In October, Bedi issued an or- arebumps, thinksthe company and Section182 of Indian Penal the vaccine administration plan der appointing former forest of- has robustdesign practices and Code and Section 7/25 of Indian forthe district. ficer RoyPThomas as the SEC. technology to getoverthem. “In ArmsAct (possession or carrying SincePunedoesnothaveadi- “He is aforestofficer.His ap- termsof challenges,it'sreallyarace of prohibited arms or ammuni- rect flight to theUK, mostincom- pointment wasillegal. That is forgovernmentsright nowtoget tion).Whiletheaccusedcivilians, ingpassengersflytoMumbaiand being challenged by another the firstone up,” he adds. Tabish and Bilal, have been ar- then travel to Punebyroad. person and is before the court,” Giegel weighsin, “Wehave rested and areinjudicialcustody, District officials said manytrav- Narayanasamysaid. shown safetravelispossibleon the Captain is “yet to be arrested ellers also choose to flytothe Bedi said the government is this,by notastronautsbutnormal forprocedures under AFSAP UnitedArabEmiratesandthenfly dragging itsfeettosee that the people.Ithinkthebiggestthingfor (ArmedForces Special Powers to Pune, viathe direct flightsbe- elections areheld after me is howfastwecan scale up.” Act) and the ArmyAct whereas tweenDubai and Pune. Assemblypolls.
Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THE SUNDAYEXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020 3 THE CITY
INNUMBERS AfterPMC,PCMCset 9 The number of Covid- toexpanditsboundary 19 deaths reportedin Pune on Saturday. 8,763 with7newvillages The toll so farinthe district. eas,”hesaid. urbanisation on the borders of MANOJMORE Afterthe government’s Pimpri-Chinchwad wastaking 421 PUNE,DECEMBER26 green signal to the PMC, therul- place rapidlybut the gram pan- ing BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad chayatshavenot been able to re- The number of fresh AFTER THE merger of 23 villages has also revivedthe demand for solve the problems pertaining to Covid-19cases within the limitsofthe Pune inclusionofseven villages lo- civic amenities in these villages. reportedonSaturday. Municipal Corporation, seven cated on the northern border of “... The gram panchayats,with villages, including the IT hub of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The seven their meagre resources, arenot 3,60,194 Hinjewadi, areset to be merged villages areHinjewadi,Maan, able to meet the demand forim- The total positive cases within Pimpri-Chinchwad Marunje, Gahunje, Nere, proved infrastructureand civic so farinthe district. Municipal Corporation limits. Sangavade and Jambe. amenities... if these villages are The mergerof23villages The proposal forinclusionof includedinPCMC limits, the withthe PMC took placeinview sevenvillages wasfirstapproved civic body will ensureproper de- of the rapidurbanisation in these by the PCMC general Body meet- velopment as it has the neces- areas, Deputy ChiefMinisterAjit ing and then sent to the state saryresources...,” said Jagtap. BRIEFLY Pawarsaid in Pune on Saturday. government in 2015. “The civic Acivic officialsaidthe PCMC “The gram panchayats arenot generalbody hadapprovedthe initiallywantedto include 14 vil- able to meet the rising expecta- proposal on February10, 2015, lages located near itsborder. AITholds tions of these urbanisedareas. forinclusion of sevenvillages “Residents of sevenvillages, lo- With ameagre budget,the gram within PCMC jurisdiction. The cated in thenorth, opposedthe orientation panchayats were findingitdiffi- proposalwas sent to the state idea because of taxation prob- cult to providebasic amenities, government on June 3, 2015,but lems. As aresult, we had dropped session JOURNEY THROUGH TIME andthereforewehad to merge it rejected the proposal,” said BJP them and decidedtoinclude them with the PMC,” he said. MLALaxman Jagtap. thoseareas that were on the THE INSTITUTES’ Innova- The 135-year-long journeyofthe Indian National Congress has been displayedthrough pictures at an exhibition at the Similarly,said Pawar, some Jagtap said he has again re- western border,” said the official. tion CouncilofArmy Congress BhavaninPune, to celebratethe party’s foundation day. Ashish Kale villages will be includedwithin vivedthe demandand has urged Municipal Commissioner Institute of Technology, PCMC limits. “We will soon take the stategovernment to approve Shravan Hardikar said, “The lat- Pune, organisedanorien- adecision regardingthem.They the proposal. “Ihaveurged Chief estweheardisthatthe district tation session on National willbemergedwithin PCMC MinisterUddhavThackeraytoap- administration hasbeen asked InnovationStart-upPolicy. limits,whichwill be able to provethemergerofthesevillages to give itsreportonwhether The keynote speaker for Sena denies supporting Pawar for UPA chief’s handle the rising expectations withinPCMC limits,” said Jagtap. thesevillages could be merged the session wasSanjay of people in these urbanisedar- The ruling BJP contends that with the PCMC.” Inamdar,co-founderof BhauInstitute, Pune, and post, takes potshots at Congress leadership chairman of the student start-up implementation torial does it saythat Pawar Congress performedbadly. This is dangerous fordemocracy. As customers stay away due committee of AICTE. MANOJMORE should be made UPAchairper- truth cannotbehidden. Rahul Who is responsible forthis ?An PUNE,DECEMBER26 son. “But the editorial does men- Gandhi is putting up agood almostdead opposition?This tion that Pawaristhe onlyleader fight, his effortsare praisewor- scene has to change.IfCongress to virus fear, farmers’ weekly Spreading DISMISSINGSPECULATIONS who is being takenseriouslyby thy. But somewhere,something leadership does notmull over it, festivecheer that it wasinsupportofmaking the BJP as well as by other oppo- is lacking...,” he added. then the countrywill face adif- NCPchiefSharad Pawarthe sition parties,” he said. Raut claimedthat the UPA ficult time ahead.” markets seebusinessdropping TO SPREAD some cheer chairperson of the United “Even Prime Minister has become likeanNGO. “The Saying therewas aquestion around town during Progressive Alliance (UPA), the NarendraModi takeshim seri- parties in UPAhavenot takenthe markoverthe leadership of the Christmas and New Year, ShivSena, however, said it ously. West BengalChief Minister farmers’ agitation seriously.The Congress, the editorial said, the virus. decentralised marketshad set LiL’Goodness, akids food strongly favoured strengthening Mamata Banerjee is settomeet UPAhas some parties, but there “Congress has lostits stalwarts PARTHASARATHIBISWAS Farmers’ weeklymarkets up shops in housing societies, and nutrition start-up, the UPAtotakeonthe BJP.The Pawartotakehis advice forfight- is confusion over what exactly likeMotilalVoraand Ahmed PUNE,DECEMBER26 have been one of thealternate while manyplayers had taken turned‘secretSanta’forthe speculations aroseafter Sena ing the BJP in the upcoming theyare doing,” he said. Patel. Under these circum- marketchannels developedby to deliveringthe produce childrenof Pune. Theteam mouthpiece Saamana on Assemblyelections in the state. The editorial in Saamana stances, who will head the OVER NINE months intothe the Maharashtragovernment to through apps or online web- of volunteers travelled Saturdaypublishedaneditorial Pawarseemsto bethemostcapa- stated, “Priyanka Gandhi was Congress, what is the futureof coronavirus pandemic, farmers’ allowfruitsand vegetable sellers sites. The stateAgriculturede- around the city to drop highlighting the needfor bleleaderatthisjuncture whohas arrested on the streetsof UPA, the confusion remains... weeklymarkets in thestate are to sell theirproduce directly to partment and the Maharashtra chocolates outside the strengthening the UPA. wider acceptability,” said Raut. Delhi...And theyare making fun Forayear now, aparty likethe facing ableak stateofaffairs as city consumers. StateAgriculturalMarketing houses of children. “We have notsaid Sharad “The Congress didn’t even of RahulGandhi. Mamata Congress,whichhas along his- fear of crowds keeps mostof Local municipal corpora- Boardhad takenupthe task of Pawarshould be madethe UPA have the required numbers in Banerjee is being cornered, tory,does nothaveafull-time their loyalcustomers away. tionsprovide open spaces coordinating with FPCs for chairperson,” Sena’s chief Lok Sabha to getthe opposition UddhavThackeray is notbeing president. Sonia Gandhihas Compared to the nearly 100 wherethe FPCs, farmers groups such orders. BVGLifejoins spokesperson SanjayRauttold leader’s post. In the recently allowedtowork. Kamal Nath handledthe party well so far, tonnesofgoods sold per week or farmers themselvesset up Some weeklymarketshad handswith TheIndian Express on Saturday. held Bihar elections, Tejashwi government wasfelledby but the party is losing leaders earlier,onlyabout 40 tonnes are temporaryshops to sell their even asked customers to pro- He said nowhereinthe edi- Yadavprovedhis mettlebut the Prime Ministerhimself... all this around her.” being sold now, said Tushar producedirectly in citieslike vide lists of vegetables they Gujaratgovt Agarwal, director of the Swami Pune and Mumbai. wanted,whichwould be sup- Samarth Farmers Producer Swami Samarath FPC was pliedtothem. BVGLifeSciences Limited, Man held for ‘stealing batteries, ATM with Rs 19.5 lakh inside Company, whichruns 24 mar- oneofthe early movers in the But as regular markets aPune-basednext-gener- ketsinPune and Mumbai. scheme and had created a started opening up and more ation health and wellness iron pipefrom FTII premises’ Agarwalsaid sales have trustedclient base in both the roadside vegetablevendors company, has partnered it stolen from Shikrapurkiosk dippedsignificantly, with cities. On an average, it usedto came backtobusiness afterthe withthe Gujarat Student Pune: A32-year-oldmanhasbeen rial, all worthRs18,500, were the markets reporting lowfoot- reportsale of 100tonnes of pro- lockdown, these marketing ef- Startup and Innovation arrested for allegedly stealing ve- stolen from the FTIIcampus. Pune: Three unidentifiedper- ATMand escapedfromthe spot. fall. “People tend to stay away duce in its24markets. fortshavebeen hit. Hub (i-Hub) under the hicle batteriesand other material Apolice team intercepteda sons stole an entireATM,with Rs Police said therewas cash of Rs from crowdedplaces, and During the lockdown, FPCs “Currently, we areramping Education department of fromthepremisesof theFilmand temponearMhatrebridgeandre- 19.5 lakh inside it, from an ATM 19.5 lakh inside the ATM, while theyare notcoming to our mar- had playedasignificant role in up ouronline presence, which theGujaratgovernment,to Television Institute of India (FTII). coveredthe stolen items from it. centreinShikrapur in the early the machine itself is valuedatRs kets,” he said. ensuring supplyofvegetables will allowpeople to shop on- promote innovation and Policehaveidentifiedtheaccused “Theaccusedworkedfor acon- hours of December 25. 2.5 lakh. Citing the example of to urbanareas. Backthen, these line,” said Agarwal. entrepreneurship in as RahulRam Bhandve. tractor appointed by the FTII..., so Policesaid around 2.45 am, Police Inspector Umesh Balewadi market, he said 5,000- Ayurvedaand herbal As per acase filedatthe he used to visit the instituteon three persons came to theATM Tavaskar of Shikrapur policesta- 6,000people used to visit it ear- healthcare,under i-Hub's Deccan police station, 10 batter- some days... when he stole the centreofabank on the ground tion saidtherewas no security lier,but nowthe markethardly initiative Mind To Market. ies of two-wheelers, an iron pipe, items,” said Senior Police floor of BGBazar on Pabal Road guardatthe ATMcentrewhen gets anycustomers, who stay windowgrills and other mate- Inspector Murlidhar Karpe. ENS in Shikrapur.Theypickedupthe the thefttook place. ENS away due to the fear of catching ADMISSION INVITATION FOR PGDM(2021-23) AICTE Approved2-yearfull timeresidential Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) ‘Best time for students to pick up new certifications • 2nd Campus of MDI Society afterMDI Gurgaon • CRISIL Graded A*** (State) and A** (National) Business School • Awarded Business World TopEducation Brands Award2020- &skills, most courses are availableatvery low cost’ “Excellence and Innovation in Management” • Member of AMDISA • All the previous PGDM batches wereplaced successfully The Covid-19pandemic has quainted.This is the best time to pick be earnedfromanywhere, be it on- The university also has asizeable Admission through CAT2020 for Indian citizens and through brought unprecedented challenges be- up skills and certifications, most line courses or internships, as long number of foreignstudents. GMAT for PIO /Foreign nationals fore educationists across theworld. courses areavailable at very low as proper certificationsare taken. What has been the impact on From changeinteaching methodolo- cost. Iwould advise studentstowork admissions this year and how Lastdate of online application : st gies, integratingtechnologyintolearn- on themselves, learn job-oriented Alot has been said and written arethese studentsbeing taught? Sunday, 31 January2021 (5 PM) ing, measuring learning outcomes skills or even personality develop- aboutthe non-proctored online The number has slightlycome Formoreinformation and online application, withonline examinations and now ment ones. Essentially, theyshould mode of examinations down, nottoo muchthough. The ad- please visit www.mdim.ac.in theimpending campus placements, bring something extratothe table conducted by the university.Tell missions coming through ICCR have Helpline : 8348021165 • Email : [email protected] this year has brought manynew chal- during interviews. us aboutthe challenges you takenplace and what we promised lenges. DR NITIN KARMALKAR, facedand the lessons learnt them is that in firstsix months, The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. vice-chancellor of SavitribaiPhule What have been the challenges Whenwewereasked notto everything is being offeredonline. (A Govt .of India undertaking) Pune University, thebiggeststate uni- in teaching duringvarious conduct examinations in person, The problem in admissions is forthe Kapas Bhawan, Plot No. 3A, Sector 10, CBD Belapur, versity in Maharashtra withover800 lockdownstagesand howhas Dr Nitin Karmalkar the biggest issue we facedwas se- European studentswho come for Navi Mumbai-400614,Phone Number :022-27579217, affiliated colleges, discusses with it evolved? curity.Duringoffline exams,there one semesterasexchange students Fax Number: 022-27576030,27579219 ALIFIYAKHAN thechallenges the Forabig sizedpublicuniversity is proctoring. Because the students’ or through the Study in India pro- Appeal to Cotton Farmers university faced and what lies ahead. likeours, reaching out to studentsto sametime,seamlesslychecklearn- emotions were running high and gramme. Those admissions areaf- teachthem wasachallenge, in fact it ing outcomes. Rather than an hour- we were working on atight dead- fected,but it is inevitable. THE Cotton Corporation of India Ltd (CCI) is anominated nodal agency of It’s December already and is one even today. Studentscome long monotonous learning videos, line, besides some pressure, we Government of India for undertaking procurement of Cotton under Minimum placementseasonapproaches from farflung areas,remote tribal our modules areshorterlikefor were forced to conduct non-proc- Overall, what arethe lessons this Support Price (MSP). soon, especiallyfor professional pockets andmay have very low around 15mins. At theend of the toredonline examinations. Ibelieve unprecedented pandemic has In Cotton season 2020-21, CCI has opened 440 MSP procurement centers at 140 districts in 11 cotton growing states under 15 branch offices. courses. Arethereany bandwidth, networkconnectivity videos,certain questionsare asked the entiresanctityofexaminations taught the university? Have any So far CCI has procured 352 Iakh quintals of kapas in aperiod of three months as apprehensions that students and that tooonlyfor sometime in a to the studentsbasedonwhat out- waslost. If youlook at the scores gaps been identifiedand what is against 130 lakh quintals in the corresponding period of last year.Current MSP maynot be able to find jobs day. So, forus, the challengewas ed- come wasexpected.Once astudent and passing percentage, it will the roadmap going ahead? procurement is around 300 %more than last year. during final placementssince ucation that wasanytime, anywhere answers, the AI (artificial intelli- showhow seriouslyand fairly stu- Ithink the biggestlesson we Due to unregulated heavy kapas arrivals in Market yards, the farmers are facing the job market is badly affected? withany device. We had already gence) will advise, revisit thecon- dentshavetaken examinations. learnt is that in partnership, we can- hardship and compelled to wait in long queues for days together in selling their Let’s notdenythat it willbeaf- asked our teachers to createe-con- tent or go to the next. We aremov- Besides that, technology wasanis- notworkinsilos. We have to get produce and processing capacities are also under tremendous pressure. fected.Itislikelytobeslower, even tent and it wascontinuouslybeing ing focus from teaching to learning. sue. Our studentsare spread in a partnered with good institutions, no Therefore CCI has requested district administration and APMCs to regulate kapas bleak in certain areas likeengineer- added. Already alot of online plat- large geographical area, connectiv- one knows everything by them- arrivals in market yards in such away that FAQkapas brought by farmers can be ing students maybe. And, their is- forms likeZoom,Google classroom, What is the long-term impact on ity and servers areanissue. Nearly selves. Also,weneedpartnerships sold, weighed and billed on the same day so that farmers need not stand in long suesare compoundedbythe fact MicrosoftTeams were available but teaching methods, willthis 10,000resultswererevisedand yet in both academics and industry. I queues and do not face any difficulties in selling their produce. that theycannoteventravelabroad we decided to createdaplatform of modelaffect future practice? therewerecomplaints.Intermsof learnt alot about technology,too. CCI management makes an appeal to all cotton farmers to bring their produce to for post-graduation. However, cer- our own. One that neededverymin- Even todayeverything is an ex- lessons learnt, we have decided not We were notpractising enough of market yards in phased manner as per advice of respective APMCs. CCI assures that it will remain present in market yards till 30th September 2021 and tain areas likebiology,medicine, sci- imum bandwidth,could be ac- periment, we arestill learning. to go foranoutsideagency again. AI, machine learning and related shall procure entire FAQgrade kapas from farmers.CCI is committed to all cotton ence courses studentswill have cessedinweak connectivity and had However, what Isee in the futureis Our in-house EduTechwing is stuff. Ialso strongly believe thesyl- farmers to save them from any distress sale. Therefore they need not sell their FAQ good prospects. What studentsneed awhole lotofother features, so it ablendedhybrid mode of educa- working on creatingour ownsys- labus needs to be revamped,bothin produce in hurry. to understand is that theyhaveto took us time to restructure things. tion, moving away from mereclass- temwherestudentswould give on- content and delivery method. New S. K. Panigrahi L. K. Gupta Pradeep Kumar Agarwal updatethemselves, getwell versed We created Moodle,aplatform room teaching. Also, we see a60:40 line proctored exams,get results conceptsneedtobe brought in...We CGM(Marketing) Director(Finance) Chairman cum Managing Director with technology.Thereisgoing to be through whichwenot onlyteach ratio of teaching at university level the same dayand log in grievances have to evolve asystemtomakereg- 022-27579215022-27560143022-27576044 adigitalbend everywhere,get ac- butmakeitinteractive and at the and the rest 40 percentcredit can immediately,ifany. ular revampsinthe syllabus.
Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 EXPRESS NETWORK THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020
RSP to contestall local polls INAUGURATION ON DEC 29 alone:‘Focus is to strengthen party at the grassroots’ Ladakhtogetitsownmeteorologicalcentre
He said the effort wastobuild Lieutenant Governor RK forsetting up ameteorological Automatic WeatherStations sible forcollecting vitalmeteo- oletradiations receivedhereare EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE astrongerelectoralbaseandwork ANJALIMARAR Mathur and senior officials of centreinLadakh wastaken up (AWS)inoperation, theIMD rological datafromthe cold very intense. Short, long, dif- MUMBAI,DECEMBER26 forwinning at least30to35 PUNE,DECEMBER26 the ministry. and the MoES approved the willstrengthen itsnetwork in desertregion. The datawill be fusedwaveradiations willalso Assemblyseats in the next elec- Till date,weather forboththe same in May. TheIMD sought near future. usedfor carrying out climate be measured here,” added THE RASHTRIYASamajParty tion. If this target could be THE UNION TerritoryofLadakh UTs—Jammu &Kashmir and government approval, com- “Wewill strengthen and ex- changestudiesobserved at Sharma, who will be overseeing (RSP),analliance partner of the achieved, thenthe RSP would be will getits ownMeteorological Ladakh —was monitored by the pletedadministrative decisions pand our networkofAWS.At high-altitude locations. the operations of the Leh MC. BJP in Maharashtra, has decided inapositionto dictatetermsto BJP Centre(MC) early next week.The meteorological centreat and took up on-ground works least10additional AWSneedto Located at approximately Amovable weathermonitor- to contestall forthcoming local andCongressalliances,headded. newMC, to be establishedinthe Srinagar.However, it is manda- forthe newMCamidstthe on- be installedatkey locationslike over 3,000 metres abovesea ing radar will soon be deployed body elections alone. Starting He also said NCPand Shiv UT’s capital town of Leh, would tory forevery Indian stateand UT going Covid-19pandemic. Kargil, Drass, Pangong Tso, level, Ladakh experiences at the Leh MC, whichwill be use- with elections to 14,234gram Senawerethe same as BJP and provide weather forecasts, issue to have acentreofthe India Besides, Ladakh is astrategi- Zanskarand Nubravalleys.Our plenty of sunnydays in the ful in issuing weather and panchayats in 34 districtson Congress, who liked to “use and warningsincase of adverse Meteorological Department callyand geo-politically vital lo- aim is to make theLeh MC a year.Meteorologists hope to Nowcastwarnings. January15, the RSPhas made the throw”smaller parties and, eventsand perform all manda- (IMD). The decision to establish cation of India. Aftercarrying out state-of-the artobservatory tapthe abundant solar raysby “Wewant to be weather- decision to stand alone. therefore, therewas no chance tory meteorological operations. an MC in Ladakh wastaken fol- necessary ground surveys,the among the high-altitude obser- installing special instruments ready and issue alerts to the lo- Mahadeo Jankar,president of of an alliance with them either. The Leh-MC will be virtually lowing the Union government’s IMD has acquired land forcon- vatories of Asia,” Anand in the region. cals in advance, ahead of anyad- the RSP,told TheIndian Express, This givesthe BJP areason to inaugurated by Dr Harsh decision to abrogate Article 370 structingits building. But, forthe Sharma, head, Regional “With the availability of verse weather event. Such “Wehaverealised that unless we reworkits strategy,especiallyat Vardhan, Ministerfor Earth in August2019, wherebythe time-being, the MC will operate Meteorological Centre, Delhi, bright sunshine, we hope to tap informationwill be handy even go fororganisational expansion, atime when Congress, NCPand Sciences (MoES), on December Ladakh UT wasconstituted. out of atemporarybuilding. told TheIndianExpress. solar energy.Being located at forthe tourists visiting Ladakh,” we willnot be abletohaveour ShivSena areworking to stitch 29 in the presence of Ladakh In March this year,aproposal In addition to the existing The Leh MC will be respon- suchhigh altitude, the ultra-vi- Sharma said. sayinstate politics,”adding, “we up agreater alliance to corner have takenadecisiontocontest the party in local body elections. all local bodies’elections, includ- In 2010,when the BJP went ing gram panchayats,alone.” to polls, it hadfour alliance part- Farmers’ main problem is high input cost, The formerministerfor dairy ners.Shortlyafter,the ShivSena development and animal hus- lefttojoin hands withCongress needs to be reduced: Gadkari at ABVP meet bandry, Jankarsaid, “The RSP is and NCPtoformthe government neither quittingthe NDA in Maharashtra. Almostayear FOUL againstthethreenewfarmlawsenacted basedneeds.IhaveaskedMaharashtra’s (National Democratic Alliance) later,the RSP is talking of dis- VIVEKDESHPANDE recently. “Ihave beenworkinginthefield powergeneration companytoset up nor joining the MVA(Maha Vikas tancing itself from an electoral NAGPUR,DECEMBER27 of agriculturefor manyyears now. Iam 1,000 unitstoproduceethanol in two Aghadi). Ourstand is neutral at alliance withthe BJP in all elec- AIR painedbyfarmers’ suicides. Farming years. We needtoshift to organic farm- this stage. Our focus is to tions. Therefore, the BJP,atpres- SAYING THE problems facedbyIndian contributes only8-12per cent to the ing by using home-made cow-urine strengthen the RSP at the grass- ent, is leftwith theRepublican Garbage farmers can’t be resolvedunless thein- GDP as againstthe 22 per cent con- basedjeevamrut.Thesethingsareessen- roots. Therefore,wehavetobuilt PartyofIndia (RPI), Shiv being burnt putcostinagricultureisreduced,Union tributed by the industrial sector and 56 tial if we want to become atmanirbhar cadreatbooth level.” Sangramand Ryat Kranti Party. at NIBM Ministerfor Road TransportNitin per cent by the servicesector.Ifeel the (self-reliant),” he said. Road in Pune Gadkari on Saturdaycalledupon mem- farmers’mainproblemishighinputcost. Duringhisspeech,theBJPleaderalso Office of the Chairman, NEET UG Medical &Dental Admission on Saturday. bers of the AkhilBharatiyaVidyarthi Unless that is reduced, he will notcome attributed his success as ministerfor /Counseling Board- 2020 and Principal, Government Dental PavanKhengre Parishad (ABVP) to work in rural areas out of crisis,” said Gadkari. transportto hisdevelopmentasahuman College (RUHS College of Dental Sciences), forsocio-economic transformation of Hesuggestedthatshiftingto organic being in RSS. “I have had the privilegeto Subhash Nagar,Behind T.B. Hospital, Jaipur |Phone: 0141-2280090 rural India. In his address to delegates at farmingandalliedproductionof bio-fu- watchthreeRSSstalwarts,Yashwantrao Websites: www.education.rajasthan.gov.in/medicaleducation | www.rajugmedical2020.com the66thnationalconventionof ABVPin elsaretheremediesto improvethecon- Kelkar(ABVP founder), Dattopant No. State UG Counseling Board/2020/ Dated: 24.12.2020 Nagpur,Gadkari calledfor ashifttoor- dition of farmers. “Input costisgrowing Thengdi(BharatiyaMajdoor Sangh NOTIFICATION (Mop-up round,Off-line) ganic farming and making agricultural but farmers’produceprice is notgrow- founder)andBhauraoDeoras(RSSideo- NEET UG (MEDICAL /DENTAL) COUNSELLING 2020 profitable by integrating it withthe al- ing.Manycrops getsoldbelowmini- logue).Theyalwaysgroomedthevolun- (MBBS, BDS)(STATEOFRAJASTHAN) liedproduction of bio-fuels. mum supportprice,” he said. teers,inculcatingvaluesof commitment In continuationtoearlier notification dated 18.12.2020, all concerned candidates are informedthat mop-upround allotmentswill be done on The minister, however, made no “Thebio-fueleconomy’spotentialis to work as partofthe organisation,”said 26-27December2020 for both Medical as well as Dental seats. All mentionoftheongoingmassiveprotests worthRs20,000crore. We needtoshift Gadkari. FULLREPORTON concerned candidates are requiredtovisit the website by farmers on the borders of Delhi to thisimport-substitutioninallourfuel- www.indianexpress.com www.rajugmedical2020.com and are required to be present at the venue GDC, Jaipur for seat allotments, as per this revised schedule. Sd/- Chairman NEET UG Medical &Dental Admission/ Counseling Board-2020 Saradha: CBI plea in SC on Mamata DIPR/C/9978/2020 govt ‘links’, says it is scuttlingprobe
evade, avoidand escape the process of role of former Kolkata Police ATRIMITRA& law” and “scuttle the investigation”. CommissionerRajeevKumar,whowhen ANANTHAKRISHNANG In an application filedonDecember postedinBidhannagar had supervised KOLKATA,NEWDELHI,DEC26 23, the CBI said that examinationofone the SIT probeintothe Saradha case, and of theaccusedinthe case, formerRajya hassoughthiscustodialinterrogation.In THE CBI has filedacontemptplea in the Sabha MP KunalKumar Ghosh,bythe February2019, Mamatahad personally Saradhachitfund scam before the Enforcement Directoratehad “revealed sat on adharna to stop aCBI team from Supreme Court, seeking to link Chief thattheChief Minister, West Bengal,and questioningKumar.Referringto this,the MinisterMamataBanerjee with some promoterofM/s Saradha Group Shri CBItoldtheSupremeCourtthatthe“facts of theaccused and chargingher gov- SudiptaSenhadverygoodrelationship”, clearly point towardsconcerted institu- ernment withshowing “constant, de- and cited call data records to show that tionalconnivanceandacomplete break- liberateand wilful non-cooperation” in Ghosh and Sen were in constant touch. down of rule of lawand constitutional the probeand of “a concerted effort to The CBI is particularly critical of the machinery in the StateofWestBengal”.
OBITUARY
Vencobb today’s ex-shop BUSINESS I, Seema Kumarispouse CHANGE OF BIRTH delivery rate at Pune of Service No POULTRY Rs.80 per kg.Contact 15418444M, Rank NK/AA I,Army No.15418444M, (9522) 22872417, Pune Shiwam Kumar Singh RANK–NK/AA, Shiwam Office of the Additional Chief Engineer,PWD Zone-II Udaipur, (9520) 24269414. have changedmyName Kumar Singh declares 0090272255-1 from SeemaKumari to my SonBir Pratap Singh HQ Banswara Rajasthan Seema Devi vide Wrong DOB 18/11/2014 Email: [email protected] Affidavit No. 1170/2020. corrected to 18/11/2015 CHANGE OF NAME vide Affidavit No. Notice Inviting Bid 0090279708-1 NIT No.- 04/2020-21 1169/2020. 90279708-2 I, Mary SmitaVarghese I have changed my old RFP Code-PWD2021RFP0003 am changing my name Swati Anand Leley PROPERTY FOR SALE No.- D-472 Dated -16.12.2020 mother’s name in my to new name Swati Spacious 1000sqft 2BHK RFP for Balance Work for Construction of High Level Bridge across river Anas including approaches Near Bheravji passportfromher Anand Lele Aadhaarcard flat with big balconyand Mandir on Nahali -Bhattar- Bheravji- Peechhawara -Naharpura road (MDR-125) District Banswara in the State of married name Celine carpark near Hotel Rajasthan on EPC Basis. no.983290251946 Varghese to maiden Rajwada Baner . The Rajasthan Public Works Department is engaged in the development of Highways &Bridges and as part of this endeavour, 0090279697-1 it has been decided to undertake Balance Work for Construction of High Level Bridge across river Anas including approaches name Celimma Jacob as Expected 88L. Contact Near Bheravji Mandir on Nahall -Bhattar Bheravji- Peechhawara- Naharpura road (MDR-125) District Banswara in the State per affidavitnumber My old name Salma 9422031072/9767308945 52675581. Anwarali Sayyed of Rajasthan through an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract. 0050173222-1 The Rajasthan PWD, now invites bids from eligible contractors for the following project: 0090279690-1 changed by new name State Section Name of work Estimated Completion Maintenance Salma HasanChougle as HOTEL & RESORTS Project Cost period period Sheetal Agro Traders I have changed my old aadhaar card9040 1135 name Anand Yashwant Rajasthan Nahali- Bhattar- Balance Work for Construction of High Level Bridge Rs. 18.48 Cr. 18 Months 10 years / Today’sEx-Shop 1094 Bheravji- Peechhawara across river Anas including approaches Near Bheravji 120 Months delivery for livesmall Leley to new name 90279710-1 -Naharpura road Mandir on Nahall -Bhattar Bheravji- Peechhawara- birds sizebetween1.3to Anand Yashwant Lele (MDR-125) Distt. Naharpura road (MDR-125) District Banswara in the 1.5 rate at PuneRs. 128/- Aadhaarcard Banswara State of Rajasthan per Kg.7776024132, no.398553682304 “The complete BID document can be viewed /downloaded from official e-procurement portal of Rajasthan Government 7588532184 0090279697-2 http://www.eproc.rajasthan.gov.in or http://sppp.rajasthan.gov.in from 18.12.2020 to 07.01.2021 (upto 18.00 Hrs. IST), WATERPROOFING 0090274713-1 Bid must be submitted online only at http://www.eproc.rajasthan.gov.in on or before 07.01.2021 (upto18.00 hours IST). Bids I have changed my old Without Breaking Toilet, received online shall be opened on 11.01.2021(at 13.00 Hours IST). A Pune Broiler Traders name AshirwadArun Bathroom, 5Years Bid through any other mode shall not be entertained. However,Copy of Single Online Challan generated through Association Rate on Siddha to new name Guarantee, Terrace egras.raj.nic.in in favour of "Executive Engineer PWD Division ,Garhi (DDO code -14254) Containing to Amount of Bid 27.12.2020 ForLivebig Aashirwad Arun Siddha 10Years Guarantee,All Security,Bid Processing Fee, Bidding Document Fee, Power of Attorney and Joint Bidding Agreement, GST registration and birds Rs-106 Livesmall r/oE-402, Felicita, Leakage Work,FreeVisit contractor registration etc. shall be submitted physically by the Bidder on or before 08.01.2021 (up to 13.00 Hrs. IST), Please Baner, Pune-45 vide note that the Authority/ reserves the right to accept or reject all or any of the BIDs without assigning any reason whatsoever. Birds Rs-126/-Contact:- AuthorizedApplicator 8695842684 affidavit no. 744/2020 Dr. Sd/- dated 24/12/2020. (Ramhet Meena) 0090271130-19 Fixit9225534110/7666729 Additional Chief Engineer, 0040558696-1 911. 90278819-2 DIPR/C/9987/2020 PWD Zone-II, Udaipur (HQ Banswara), Rajasthan Simra Trading rates for 100 eggs. Sellingprice I, Usha Masalkar, spouse Rs. 566. Contact of, Armyno. JC351915N, GOVERNMENT OF RAJASTHAN Date of NIT:23-12-2020 9922117736. RankSUB MAJOR DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY Masalkar Santoshkumar 0090273863-1 Email: [email protected] Kanhaba, R/OCME, NOTICE INVITING TENDER (NIT) NECC suggested farm- Dapodi,Pune 411031, herebydeclarethat I BRIDEWANTED In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 10B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, itssubsequent gate price for 100eggs on 27.12.2020 in Pune have changedmyname amendmentsand in accordance with the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 as amended from time to time notified thereunder,the HINDU Government of Rajasthan has notified the following mineral blocks for the purpose of grant of Mining Lease for mineral limestone and without tray is Rs.565 - from Usha Masalkar to hereby invites bids in digital format only from eligible bidders through electronic auction. (FiveHundred and Sixty Usha Santosh Masalkar SM for Kamboj Hindu boy The details of mineral blocks and last date of submission of bid is as summarized below:- fiveRupees only) vide affidavit no. 2637/ 6’1” May1991, M.Tech S Block Lease Start Date of Sale of Last Date of Sale of Bid Due date and time Phone:NECC 24270724, 2020 B.Tech IIT Kharagpur. No Tender Document on Tender Document on 26336377, Dealer: 90279709-1 Management MSTC website MSTC website consultant US firm in 24332689,24455130, I, Manishkumar 1 Khinya -IIA(KH-II A) Block Tehsil Shri Mining 23.12.2020 07.01.2021 upto 1700 Hrs 27.01.2021 upto 1300 Hrs Gurugram40lpa. Mohangarh &District jaisalmer Lease (IST) (IST) 24265787. Nanavate S/oRajaram Panchkula family,father 2 4G IIa Block Tehsil Khimsar &District Nagaur Mining 23.12.2020 07.01.2021 upto 1700 Hrs 27.01.2021 upto 1400 Hrs 0090272256-1 Nanavate R/oRH-35, Doctor Class-1officer Lease (IST) (IST) Dwarkadheesh Pimpri Chinchwad Chandigarh, mother All the blocks mentioned above are being put up for second attempt of auction. The interested and eligible bidders, upon registration on Residency,Pimple Broilers Traders PhD.Caste no bar. MSTC website
Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020 5 EXPRESS NETWORK
Centre sets up panel to workout ‘HONOUR KILLING’ SUSPECTED; 2HELD common entrance test for varsities Manhackedto coaching forthese exams". instance, giventhe rangeofsub- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ED To ease Thereare 40-odd central uni- jectsoffered across central uni- deathbywife’s NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 cut-off versities run by the Ministryof versities, this committee will PLAIN E Education (MoE) and, collectively, have to identify the disciplines ● stress IN WHATmarks the firstat- EX all of them have about 1to1.25 forwhichseparate testswill be tempt, afterthe introductionof lakhseatsacross different disci- needed.Weexpect areportby the newNational Education THE GOVERNMENT’S plines at the undergraduatelevel, Januaryand hope to take adeci- familyinKerala Policy,atmoving away from un- move to setupapanel to said aministryofficer. Of these, sion by March 2021. The attempt realistic cut-offmarksforadmis- explorethe possibility of currentlyabout 16 central univer- is to have acommon entrance intendent Sujith Das said police ALL FORDIDI: TMC workersprotestatBJP’s Kolkataoffice sions to universities, the govern- anational test is ex- sities, all setupunder the UPA-II test forthe next session starting SHAJUPHILIP have arrestedthewoman'sfather againstformer minister Suvendu Adhikari and MP Sunil ment is exploring the feasibility pected to ease the pres- government, have acommonen- in August," said Higher THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, and uncle. “As the couple be- Mondal. The TMC menallegedly vandalisedMondal’s vehicle of holding acommonentrance sureofsoaring cut-off trance test forBachelor's study. Education SecretaryAmit Khare. DECEMBER26 longed to different castes, we while he wasentering theoffice,triedtoblockAdhikari’s car test forundergraduate admis- marks based on Class 12 If the NEP suggestion is im- Principal of DAVPublic primafacie assumethatit is acase while he wasleaving, and clashedwith BJP workers. Express sions across all central universi- Boardexams foradmis- plemented, the National Testing School, Pushpanjali Enclave, A27-YEAR-OLD man was of ‘honour killing’. Adetailed ties from the next academic year. sions to universities. Agency will be tasked to conduct Rashmi Biswal said while ajoint hackedtodeathallegedly by his probeisonand statementsare The UGC setupaseven-mem- acommon aptitude test as well entrance test wasagoodidea, a wife’s father and uncle in being recorded. The murder has bercommittee on December 23, as specialisedcommon exams sensitiveareawould be stream- Kerala’s Palakkad district on happenedafter aseriesofinci- Sen:Santiniketan headedbyVice-Chancellor of universities to provide asingle fordifferent disciplinesatleast lining the exam curriculum for Fridaynight in asuspected case dentsoverthe lastthree months. Central University of Punjab RP platform foradmission". twice ayear,for admission to all students. Director of Ahlcon of “honour killing”. Both of them Afterthe marriage, both parties Tiwari, "toconsider the issue (of) The newNEP,released in July bachelor's in central universities. group of schools Ashok Pandey have been arrested,police said. were summoned to the police holding common entrance test at this year,advocates reducing the "Conducting acommon en- said moving towardsajoint en- The victim Aneesh, who be- station. The girl’s familyhad land registered on undergraduatelevel only from number of entrance teststo trance test seems simple but trance exam might encourage longed to the OBC blacksmith agreednot to trouble the newly- thenext academicyear in central "eliminatethe needfor taking thereare severalintricacies. For moremulticulturalism. community,had married wedcouple. Even afterthat, her Haritha, 21,after severalyears of uncle reactedemotionallyagainst friendship, whichbegan from the marriage. He wanted the girl long-term lease 5% of positive 150 troops in their school days. to come outofthe relationship. TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE Haritha belonged to Vellar OnFridayalso,theuncle hadatiff Don’t act on advice of failed CM: BJP samples to go for Delhi for R-Day Pillai (a community of Tamil ori- with the youth, whichlater in the ACTIVECASES:2,81,667 gin). Besides, she hailedfroma dayled to the murder,’’ he said. 299 CASES: whole genome test positive well-to-do familywhile Aneesh The victim’s father ENS&PTI Nobel DAYSSINCE 1,01,69,118 DEATHS:1,47,343 wasadailywager.Theyhad mar- Arumughansaidhissonhadbeen KOLKATA,DECEMBER26 laureate PANDEMIC sequencing: riedsomethree monthsback, facing threatssince the marriage. BEGAN | Amartya TESTS: 16,71,59,289 RECOVERIES: 97,40,108 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE and sincethen have been al- “Haritha’s uncle Suresh had Responding to the controversy Sen CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS Covid task force NEWDELHI, DECEMBER26 legedly facing threat. threatenedAneesh. He (Suresh) over media reports that Visva- DEC25 22,273 25122,274 8,53,527 According to police, Aneesh told my son that he would be fin- Bharati University has named NEARLY150 Armypersonnel washackedtodeath on Friday ishedoff before the marriage him among those “occupying as he is by the Centralgovern- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE who areinDelhi forthe Republic night while he wasriding atwo- complete three months. We had additional illegal plot”, Nobel ment in Delhi with itsgrowing NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 Dayparade have tested positive wheeler with hisbrotherArun. lodged acomplaint with the lo- laureateand economistAmartya control over Bengal," Sen added. forCovid-19. Officialsources said While Aneesh stoppedthe bike cal police, but theyfailedtoact Sen said that the land is regis- Referring to recent reports on THE HIGH-LEVEL task forcefor all those who tested positive near ashop on his waytohome timely,”healleged. teredinrecords and is on along- the V-C's claim to the faculty that Covid-19Saturdaysaid that as a were in a“safebubble”. Sevenof at Thenkurussi villagein However, the SP said there term lease. Sen had calledhim up against partofits strategy to detect and them were symptomatic. Palakkad, his father-in-law wasnolapse their in addressing Referring to reports that eviction of hawkers before his contain the mutant variant, as Morethan 2000 Armyper- Prabhu Kumar and uncle Suresh the complaint. “Theylodged a Visva-Bharati University Vice- Pratichi residence, Sen said, "He STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES manyfiveper cent of positive sonnel have come to Delhi for Kumar,who had followedthe complaintonDecember 8, two chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty would be spared the necessity of ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK cases from all states will be RepublicDay.All those who brothers,attackedAneesh. Ase- days before the local body elec- wasarranging theeviction of inventing completely imagined Kerala 64,096 5,161 tested forWhole Genome came in from outside had to un- riouslyinjured Aneesh died tions. Our entireforce wasde- unauthorisedoccupation of conversations with me, begin- Bihar 5,348294 Sequencing (WGS). dergo Covid-19test. The “safe while he wasbeingtaken to the ployedinelection duty.Yet,we leasedland on the campus and ning impossiblywith me intro- On Saturday, theHealth bubbles”, sources said, arewithin hospital. acted timelyand told both sides that he has also been namedin ducing myself as Bharat Ratna Odisha 2,922 255 Ministrysaid morethan 50 sam- the cantonment area in Delhi. Palakkad district policesuper- to settle the issue,”hesaid. the listofoccupants, Sen said something that no one has ever STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING ples of UK returnees arecur- that the central university has heardmedo". ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK rentlyunder sequencingatthe nevercomplainedaboutany ir- Meanwhile, the BJP on West Bengal 14,749 4,316 designated laboratories. RAJASTHAN Arunachal: BJP regularity of landholding either Saturdayhit out at the Nobellau- The meeting of the National Delhi 7,2674,152 to him or his family. reate, saying that he “shouldnot Task ForceonCovid-19was at- wins Pasighat, The Nobellaureateasserted work on the advice of afailed Maharashtra56,8233,529 tendedbyDrVinodPaul, Nobody helped, says that the Visva-Bharati landon chief minister”. STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES Member,Niti Aayog, AIIMS JD(U) secures 9 whichhis house is situated is en- Aday afterChief Minister ONDEC25 TOTAL Director Dr RandeepGuleria and tirelyonalong-term lease, MamataBanerjee wrotetoSen Kerala 5,3987,32,085 independent subject experts. friend of journalist seats in Itanagar whichisnowherenear itsexpiry. andslammedtheBJPfor“baseless “NTF concludedthat thereisno Maharashtra3,43119,13,382 "Additional land wasbought by allegations”againsthim,stateBJP needtochangethe existing civic body my father as freehold and regis- chief Dilip Ghosh said: “Were- West Bengal 1,5415,44,755 treatmentprotocol in viewof who died in assault teredinland records under specthim(Sen).Butheshouldnot STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS mutations...,” the Ministrysaid. mouja Surul," he said be seenasthe spokesperson of a ONDEC25 TOTAL During the meeting, the NTF to confront the men. PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA "I couldcomment on the big group. If heworksontheadviceof Maharashtra7250,261 discussedthe UK variant. “NTF EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE “Abhishek went to them and ITANAGAR,DECEMBER26 gapbetween Santiniketan culture afailedchief minister, peoplewill recommendedthat in addition JAIPUR,DECEMBER26 asked whytheywerestaring at West Bengal 31 9,536 and that of the V.C., empowered think otherwise.” to the existing surveillance me. Themen leftbutashortwhile THE BJP on Saturdaywrestedthe Delhi 30 10,414 strategies, it is critical to conduct DAYS AFTER a27-year-old video later came backand startedas- Pasighat MunicipalCouncil DataasonDecember25,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical enhanced genomic surveillance journalistsuccumbed to his in- saulting himwithanironrod. (PMC) from the Congress by Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive forSARS-CoV-2,especiallyinin- juries in Jaipur afterbeing as- When Icaught one of them, they winning six of the eight seatsof Ex-litigant unhappy with coming passengers from the UK.” saulted by three men, his friend, beat metoowiththerodandIlost the civic body in Arunachal who is also an employeeofapri- consciousness. Therewereother Pradesh,while the JD(U), in its Ayodhya mosque design vate news channel and wasa people tooatthe eateryand maidencontestinthe Itanagar SEXUALHARASSMENT PROBE witness to the attack, said that around us but nobodycame to Municipal Corporation polls, nobody helpedthem at the time help us. It wasall over within a bagged nine wards. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE of the incident in front of aroad- matter of minutes. Later,when The BJP,the ruling party in LUCKNOW,DECEMBER26 Akhilesh Gundecha dropped side eatery. we regainedconsciousness, the state, won10seats, one According to thepolice, Abhishekdrove towardsthe hos- shortofthe majoritymark, in THE BLUEPRINT of the proposed AbhishekSoni, 27,diedatahos- pital but on our waytoo we didn’t the 20-member Itanagar mosque in Ayodhya has come from MP’s Tansen Samaroh pital in Jaipur on December 23, find anypolice outposts or offi- Municipal Corporation (IMC) under criticism from former lit- afortnight afterthe attackwhich cials,” said the woman. and the NPP bagged one. igant in the Ayodhya land dis- cialmediabacklashfrompastand took place on the night of Acase hasbeen filedunder Among the 10 wardswon by putecase, Iqbal Ansari. SUANSHUKHURANA present studentsofDhrupad December 8. IPC sections 302 (murder), 323 the BJP in the Itanagar civic According to Ansari, notasingle NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 Sansthan and artistessuchas The 29-year-old private (voluntarilycausing hurt), 341 body polls, five candidates point in the proposedmosque An artist’s impression of the Carnatic classicalvocalistTM channelemployeesaid she re- (wrongful restraint) and 354A were elected unopposed,a represented Islamic cultureor mosquecomplex ORGANISERS OF the Tansen Krishnadueto theongoingprobe. ceivedseveral stitches as she was (sexual harassment) on the ba- StateECofficial said. etiquetteofareligious structure. Samaroh, afour-day classical “#MeToo accusedAkhilesh also injured in the attack. sis of her complaint, police said. The Congress, whichhad The blueprint of the pro- concertseries that takesplace Akhilesh Gundechaand Gundecha who has serious “My friend Abhishek Soni “Afterthe twoofthem went wonseven seatsinthe 2013 posedmosque, whichwill be and notenjoying apicnic,” near the tomb of 16th-century Ramakant Gundecha chargesagainsthimwastopartic- worked with aprivate news to thehospital, the policecame to PMC elections, securedonly built on the five-acrelandallot- Ansari told The Sunday Express. musicianTansen in Behaat in ipateatthe Tansen Samaroh in channel as avideo journalistand knowabouttheincidentthrough twowards this time,and the tedbythe stategovernment, was Ansari also questionedthe Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior dis- GwaliorhostedbyUstadAlauddin he would also shootfor wed- the control room... Afterinvesti- party failedtoopen itsaccount unveiledonDecember 19. authenticity of the Trustand trict, have droppedaperform- Dhrupad Sansthan. KhanKalaEvamSangeetAcademy dings. On December 8, we were gation we identifiedthe three ac- in the IMC polls. The perform- “The Supreme Courthas said: “Fivelitigantsfought the ance by pakhawajplayer Tansen Samaroh is organised and the Culturedepartment, MP returning from suchanevent cusedand one of them, 19-year- ance of the JanataDal United in given5acres of land forthe case for70years in all the courts Akhilesh Gundecha. jointlybytheUstadAlauddinKhan Govt what areyou going to do and since he wasusingmymo- old Shankar Choudhary, hasbeen the civic polls assumes signifi- mosque and the structure and no suggestion wastaken Since October,anInternal Kala Evam SangeetAcademy and about it?” tweetedKrishna. bile forthe shoot, Ihad accom- arrested.Two other accused, in- cance as the party receiveda should resemble the mosques from us.” ComplaintsCommittee has been theMadhya PradeshDepartment Tailang told TheSunday paniedhim. After10pm, we cluding ajuvenile,are abscond- major jolt in Arunachal on built in India. The map theyhave TrustsecretaryAthar Husain investigating allegations of sex- Of Culture. StudentsofDhrupad Express that shewasn’t awareof were sittinginside our car at a ing and effortsare being made to Friday, with six of itsseven showcasedhas no structure. A said replicating astructurewas ual harassment againstAkhilesh Sansthan arescheduledtoper- the sexualharassment investiga- roadside eaterynear Narayan nabthem,”saidDilipKumarSoni, MLAs defecting to BJP. mosque or atemple has an eti- notarchitecture, and their con- Gundecha and Ramakant form on December 28. tion when she chose Akhilesh as Vihar wherewehad stoppedfor SHO of Mansarovarpolicestation. The JD(U), ledbyBihar Chief quette,and if thereisatemple ceptistopromote the idea of a Gundecha, twoofthe three The decision to drop her accompanyingartiste. dinner.Three men who had ar- Soni said the accusedare stu- MinisterNitish Kumar,won without ashivala, it won’t be syncretic culture. “Under that Gundecha brothers who run the Akhilesh’sperformancecomesin Tailang, aprofessor of music at rivedonamotorcycle were also dentsand the arrested person sevenofthe 15 seatsitcontested considered atemple. Everything plan we have decided to build a Dhrupad Sansthan in Bhopal. the wake of discomfortfrom RajasthanUniversity and an A thereand we noticedthat they has claimedthatitwas Abhishek in the 2019 Arunachal assembly should be as per religious tradi- hospital to provide better med- Afterthe allegations surfaced, Madhu Bhatt Tailang, the Jaipur- Grade artiste at AllIndia Radio, were staring at me,”the woman who had assaulted them with a elections and emergedasthe tions. Theyneedtounderstand ical facilities to thepeople of Akhilesh had voluntarilyrecused baseddhrupadsingerwithwhom has performedwith himbefore told The SundayExpress. She rodfromthe car and theyacted second-largest party afterthe that it is aplace to offernamaz Ayodhya,” he said. himself from all the activities of Akhilesh wastoperform, and so- anumber of times. said Abhishek got out of the car in self-defence. BJP,whichhad bagged 41 seats. FROM PAGE ONE More than halfthe toppers from Tier 2, 3cities; no Dalit or tribal in list of 86
Six of 10 toppers chose callyIIT,was therule... Ilater re- that age. toppedthe ISC Class12exam gineering,” he said. wasoffered ajob by Kearney, a Ismat, who says his teacher SM annum when he toppedthe engineering alisedIwasn’tinterestedinen- Lekshmi Vaidyeswaran, 29, from aKolkata school in 2009 globalmanagement consulting Singh paidhis Boardexamina- Class 12 Boardexam.Almost gineering and movedout to who toppedthe CBSE Class 10 with 99.25%, has aBTech in Those who stayed back firm, and joinedthem in Delhi as tion feesince his familycouldn’t three-fourths said their parents Morethanhalf the toppers other fields,” he said. exam in 2007 with99%, and is Mechanical Engineering from IIT Among toppers who stayed consultant this month. “While an afford it, went on to study BSc earnedoverRs5lakh annually (48out of 86) chose engineering Sundresh laterpursuedan currentlyasenior product man- Kanpur.Helater did an MBA backorreturnedtoIndia after MBAabroad has itsmerits, it is too (Honours) Physics at Delhi’s St. at the time of their Boardexams. as their undergraduatedegree — MBAfromthe Indian School of ager at ICICI Prudential Life from HarvardBusiness School their higher studies, mosthave expensive.And today, India has Stephen’s College,fundedbya The remaining reportedannual only12did medicine. Among Business,Hyderabad,and until Insurance in Mumbai, has a and is working as senior product chosen acareer in finance,fol- lots of great jobsand opportuni- corporatehouse. familyincomes of between Rs 1 those who studiedengineering, September,was general man- BTechdegree in appliedelec- manager at Amazon in Seattle. lowedbythe tech sector,consult- ties in theprivate sector,” she said. Apersonal crisis at home lakh and Rs 5lakh. six out of 10 did so at an IIT. ager (business development) at tronics and instrumentation “While the IIT brand wasdefi- ing, and business. This is unlike Tackling social, meant that Ismathad to put his Morethanhalf the toppersare Many, however, confessed Sea6 Energy,aplatform that har- from the College of Engineering nitelyafactor,therewas no fam- those settledabroad, who mostly career aspirations on hold foral- from Tier 2and Tier 3cities such that an interestinengineering nesses the potential of oceans. In Trivandrum. ilypressure... Iliked mathand worked in the tech sector. economic challenges mostfour years afterhegradu- as Dehradun, Dhanbad, Asansol, wasn’t alwaysthe motivation his role there, he admits,there “My familywanted me to go science, and agree that Idid not ForParnil Singh, 27,the CBSE Of the 86 toppers, onlyone ated from DelhiUniversity.This Jamshedpur,Trivandrum, behind the decision. wasnodirect use forhis me- forCommerce. Iinsistedonengi- know muchabout othernon-IIT Class 10 topper of 2009 from a belongedto the Other Backward year,hestarted preparing forthe Lucknowand Meerut —cities Sundaresh Nageswaran,32, chanical engineering know- neering as anyother choicewas options at that point, probably school in Visakhapatnam, there Class (OBC) category. None was UPSC examination. whereEnglish-mediumICSE and who toppedthe CBSE Class 10 how. He is nowworking on his perceivedassomething optedby due to lack of career advice at a waslittle incentive to pursue Dalit or tribal. Of the 76 toppers Of the74topperswho shared CBSE schools have riddenonthe exam in 2004 before studying ownventure. thosewho could notmakeitto school level. But in hindsight, a postgraduatestudiesinmanage- who responded to this newspa- their familyincome with The ambitionand aspirationforabet- Mechanical Engineering at IIT- To be sure, fewregrettheir engineering,” she said. “In hind- better awareness on howyour ment abroad since, she says,pre- per’s questionnaire, just five were Indian Express, onlyone came terfutureintheseparts.Theseare Roorkee, said it wasthe “societal undergraduatedegree in engi- sight, yes, Iwould have gone for undergraduate degree linksto mierbusinessschoolsin Indiaof- first-generation college-goers. from the lowest earning quartile. alsothe cities hardesthit during norm” forthose who did well in neering. However, manywish Commerce and pursuedChar- various types of futurecareer feredmorevalue formoney. Mohammad Ismat, 29, from The student, who didn’t want to the current pandemic, com- school to study engineering. theyhad exposuretootherpro- teredAccountancy.” roles mayhavealtered my deci- While she wasatIIM-Calcutta, Imphal, Manipur,toppedthe be identified, said his parents pounding fears of job losses and “Engineering, or morespecifi- fessions or career counselling at Subhojit Ghosh, 29, who sion of choosing mechanical en- whereshe did her MBA, Singh Class 12 CBSE exam in 2012. earnedless thanRs1lakhper school dropouts.
Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 OPINION THE SUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020
Across Fifth THEAISLE COLUMN TAVLEENSINGH Work,wealthandwelfare Twitter@tavleen_singh
MERCIFULLY, THE year 2020 is coming to EndofYear WorkForce Rateof GDP(Constant) HDIRank HumanFreedom WorldPressFreedom factors or internal developments,the gov- an end. Everycountryisbruised, some are (inmillion) Unemployment inRsCr (out of189) Index (outof162) Index(outof180) ernmentmustbear responsibility. The battered.Covid-19hasnotgoneaway, but 2004-05 438 2.3 32,42,209 120 governmentmay bewell-intentioned, get Confronting it is less threatening, and the vaccines that 2013-14 472-105,27,673 130 140 the best available advice or mayhave arebeing distributed give us hope. As far 2017-18 484 4.7131,75,160 131 102 136 committed unintendederrors,but the asIndiaisconcerned,our economyisbat- 2018-19 487 6.3 139,81,425 130 110 138 buckstopswith the government. Good or reality PCHIDAMBARAM teredand the livesofmillions of people 2019-20 494 8.5 145,65,951 129 140 140 bad,governmentsmustbechanged.That Website:pchidambaram.in (especiallythe migrantsand those who 2020-21Q1 18.9 26,89,556 is why, in manycountries, thereare term TILL THE farmersbrought their trolleys, Twitter@Pchidambaram_IN losttheir regular jobs) have been severely 2020-21Q2 500 7.3 33,14,166 131 142 142 limitsonPresidentsand Prime Ministers. tractorsand their protesttothe bordersof bruised. Further,the divisive and polaris- Asenseof permanence is thecause of the Delhi, NarendraModi hadthe imageofbe- ing utterances of, among others, Mr Amit lengeinadevelopingcountry likeIndia. ment and slow(or negative)growth will beginning of adownfall. ing the mostpowerfulPrime Ministerof Shah andMrAdityanathhave tornthe so- The rapid decline in growth rates(2018-19 impact welfare. My concern is not eco- As we end theyear,the three abiding India ever.This has changed.For the first cial fabric asunder. and 2019-20) triggered the rise in unem- nomic welfarealone.Food, healthcare and images of 2020 are: time in sevenyears, he is beginning to look The abidinglessonof2020isthatana- ployment, the pandemic made it worse social security areindeedimportant, but 1. The millions of migrants—tired, weak.Not just because the farmersopenly tion willsufferifthereisadeclinein three andthe unplannedlockdowns exacer- welfaregoes beyond material and tangi- hungryand sick—trudging hundredsof attack him personallyonnationaltelevi- measures—work, wealth and welfare. I batedthe situation. At itspeak, 130mil- blegoodsandservices.Askyourselfsome kilometres along highwaysand railway sion but because he seems no longer to Unemployment is alwaysa wish to devote this year-end columnto lion personslosttheir jobs or livelihoods. questions: Do people think theyare a free tracks with their meagrebelongingsto knowwhat to do. So,his attemptstoreach reflect on this lesson. Jobshave comebackslowly,butsomejobs people?Do theyhaveaheightenedsense reachwhat theybelieved was home. out to theprotesting farmersare confused huge challenge in a Work: Ultimately, it is work that dis- have disappeared permanently. The fig- of fear?Are people afraid thatpresumably 2. The long and peaceful protests — and confusing.One dayhegoes offtoad- developing countrylikeIndia. tinguishes one human from another. ures speak forthemselves(seeTable). independent agencies likethe CBI, ED, firstatShaheen Baghandnowonthe bor- dress farmers in Kutchand explains to Therapid decline in growth Thereare manythousands who do not Wealth: Themosteasilyunderstood Income TaxDepartment, NCBand NIA ders of Delhi —demanding that the gov- them the virtues of the newfarm laws.The rates (2018-19 and 2019-20) have to work,yet theydo, because work is measureofanation’s wealth is the Gross willhoundandpersecute them? Arepeo- ernmenthearthemandheedtheirappeals next dayitissomeother group of farmers pleasurable, enhances esteem,earns re- Domestic Product. If the GDPgrows, pleconfidentthat the courts of laware ac- for justice. in Madhya Pradeshthat he talkstobut triggered the rise in wardsand determines one’s standing wealth is enhanced,and the average cessible and will render swift justice?Can 3. Theresounding voteinthe Kashmir neverdirectlytothose who have been sit- unemployment,the among peers and in the society-at-large. shareofacitizen in the pie (per capitain- twoyoung people be friends, go outto- Valleycomprehensively rejectingthe un- ting on Delhi’s northern borders nowfor pandemic made it worseand At theother end, thereare millions who come) is larger.Ihavetaken the simplest gether, fall in love andmarry?Can one, ac- constitutionalcoup stagedby thegovern- morethan amonth. Then therewas that the unplanned lockdowns need to work,but cannot find work;they measure: GDP in constant prices. Look at cording to her choice,eat, wear clothes, ment on August5,2019. visittoRakab Ganj Sahib gurudwarathat arethe unemployed. By lastcount, the un- the slowgrowth ratesafter 2017-18and speak,writeand associatewith other peo- In sum, Work,Wealth and Welfaresuf- wassotransparent an attempt to placate exacerbated the situation. At employment rate in India was8.7percent look at the destruction of wealth in 2020- ple? ‘Welfare’ is the sum of these things. feredin2020, making it aforgettable year. protesting Sikh farmers that theywould its peak,130 million persons (CMIE,December 22, 2020). In between, 21 (see Table). Notatall encouragingfor a Some indicatorswhere Indiastands,inrel- Iurgeyou, however, paraphrasing George have seen it forexactlywhat it was. lost their jobs or livelihoods. thereare people who do notwish to join developing countrythat has manymil- ative terms, arethe HumanDevelopment Santayana, nevertoforget2020 sothatwe All of this came afterweeksinwhich Jobs have come back slowly, theworkforce and thereare people who lions who arepoor.Isitany wonder that Index, IndexofFreedom,Press Freedom maynever repeat 2020. Instead, beproud, he allowedhis ministers and party arehome workers who arenot counted among the people thereispessimism etc(see Table). Overall, thereisadecline. fearless and freedom-loving Indians. I spokesmen to use television debates and but some jobs have as partofthe work force. about the future? Three Abiding Images: In ademoc- wish youahappy,healthyand prosper- social media platforms to malign the disappeared permanently Unemployment is alwaysahugechal- Welfare: Acombinationofunemploy- racy,good orbad, thecausebeingexternal ous 2021. protestingfarmers as Khalistanis and Naxalites.When the Prime Minister changed trackand beganhis effortsatpla- cation even the mostabusive of these spokesmen startedtotempertheirabuse My ISOLATION by praising the farmers as ‘equal to God SeeingIndia,Pak history because theyfeedmankind’. On the part AWEEKLY WINDOW INTO THE LIVES OF INDIA’S NEWSMAKERS Dalitality of thegovernment the softening has in- AND THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THEM cludedassurances that everychangethat through the lens of caste the farmers want will be made in the FAISALDEVJI three newfarm laws.This mustmean that ‘I’m at Singhu, Tikri daily, thereare serious flaws in the laws. Unfortunatelyfor Modi hisconcilia- tory gestures have come toolate. It is no WESEEcaste asaproblem,not asananalyt- longer justabout the farm laws,itisabout in mask, sanitised car... I ical category. It is the object of analysis but other things. Forastart thereisthe arro- neveritssubject.ScholarshiponIndia’shis- gancewithwhich they were brought. In tory includes caste as one element, with the wordsofone of the protesting farmers, unwind to Kishoresongs’ classandcommunitycomprisingothercat- “Youtell us that these will be beneficial egories. What would the history of India forusbut whyare youtrying to give us look likeifseen through the lensofcaste? benefitsthat we do notwant?” So many What precautions areyou taking? Ambedkar made this argument foran- farmers said this or something similar that Itry to followall the basic guidelines,of cient India, seeing the struggle between famous TV anchors who usuallyexhibit washing my hands frequently, wearing a Brahminism and Buddhism, interrupted their loyalty to the government in every mask at all times and using asanitiser by Muslim invasions that destroyed the show, begantotell BJP spokesmen that in- wheneverIamout or meeting someone. latter and includedthe former within a stead of trying to convince them of the Besides, Idon’t socialise and trytoavoid neworder.Hinduism emergedfromthis benefitsofthese laws theyshould con- gatherings as muchaspossible. The point conquestbyadopting Buddhistpractices vince the protesting farmers. is to have minimal contact. Ialso take vita- of vegetarianism, temples, floral offerings It is alsoabout unfulfilledpromises. mins regularly to boostmyimmunity. and non-violence.Buddhists,meanwhile, Farmers point out that when Modi be- converted to Islamfromthe lowcastesto came Prime Minister, he promised to dou- Have yougot yourself tested for whichtheyhad been reduced. Gettingreadyfor Ambedkar Jayanti in Gulbarga,Karnataka. Archive ble their income by 2022.Not onlyhas this Covid-19? Whateveritsaccuracy,Ambedkar’shis- nothappenedbut easier promises have Notyet.Fortunately, Ihavehadnosymp- tory repudiated thedualisticnarrative of notbeen kept either like thepromise to toms so far. Hindu-Muslim conflict by including caste If Gandhi’s rise to powersignalledthe tureinbothcountries, allowing different ensurethat sugarcane farmers were fi- within it. Ambedkar claimedthatbylaun- emergence of anew national culturefor castestoidentifywitheachotherby exclud- nallypaid their dues by themills theysell What is your dailyroutine like? Illustration: Suvajit Dey chingthemovementforPakistan,theMus- Hindus,Jinnah’sriseaccomplishedthesame ing minorities.While Hinduism provides a their cane to.And the promise that old Ihavebeenregularly exercisingathome lim League abandonedits history of allia- forMuslims.Thecultureoflearningandho- home formanysectarian cultures in India, debtswould be forgiven thosewho could and practising yoga.Mostofour meetings Both the Tikriand Singhu ncesbetweencaste andreligiousminorities. nour that had characterisedthe League’s Islam in Pakistanisexclusive. notpay them because of the terriblehard- withseniorsareheldthroughvideoconfer- bordersofDelhi where farmers It came instead to an agreement with the Brahmin and Kshatriyaelitewas replaced WhydoesIslamasanationalideology ship theyhaveendured in this year of dis- encing. But wheneverthereisalaw-and- are amassed protesting against Congressasone high-caste partywithan- by aBania focus on contractual politics. have to find itsenemies within the Muslim ease, disruption and death. ordersituation and Ihavetogoout in the other to divide thespoils of Independence. With Independence, Banias in both community in Pakistan, whether among Otherthingshavenow become partof field,Iensure thatmy maskisalways onand the new agriculture laws fall Iwanttooffer aparallelaccount of how countries had to take abackseat.InIndia AhmadisorShias, DeobandisorBarelvis? the protest. Suddenly,the things that have asanitiser handy forpersonal safety. Cur- under SANJAY SINGH, Special caste permitsustounderstand modern theywererestrictedbyaBrahmin bureau- Because the emergence of Bangladesh been autocraticallyimposed in Modi’s rently, as the farmers’agitationisgoing on CP,Western Zone. This means Indian history.Consider howthe Bania cracy and in Pakistanexcludedbyanew eliminatedHindus as asubstantialminor- ‘newIndia’ areattracting morenotice than at the Singhu and Tikri borders whichfall the officer finds himself in a tells us adifferent storyabout this past. The Kshatriyaelite. With Brahmins disempow- ity,with Christians, Sikhs and Parsis also theyhavebefore. Dissent has been inmy zone,Ihavetobeongroundandmon- firsttime this caste transformed modern ered by the lossoftheir bases in north tooinsignificant. crushedruthlessly in this newIndia, and itor the day-to-daysituation closely. Ialso hot spot yet again, after handling India wasinthe 18th Century, when India, powersoon came to beexerciseddi- While Christians and Hindus aredis- forthe sakeofwinning elections there have the additional charge of SpecialCP reopening of trains, flights traders supportedthe EastIndia Company rectlybyKshatriyas through the military. criminated againstand even persecuted have been unashamedattemptstosow (Transport Zone).So, when flightand train following the lockdown to makecolonialism possible. Theydid so The multiplicity of powercentres in in Pakistan, as Muslims and Christians hatred between Hindus and Muslims. operations resumedduring the lockdown, by switching allegiance from Kshatriya post-colonialIndialedtoavarietyof allian- sometimes areinIndia, theyare notseen These things have notgoneunnoticedby Ihadto inspectairportsandrailway stations rulers,whether HinduorMuslim. ces, in whichthe numericaldominance of to represent anyserious threat to Islam. farmers who the government believesare inDelhito ensureallarrangementswerein INTERVIEWBY ThesecondtimeBaniaschangedIndia’s Shudrashasbeendivided,joinedormediat- This meansthat Islam comes to dominate toostupid to knowthat the newlawsben- place. Idid the same forDelhi Metrotoo. MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL modernhistorywaswiththedevelopment edby othercastes.Pakistanwasdominated politicsinsuchaway as to obscureboth efit them. It astonishedmetoheara of theCongressasamassorganisation un- by aKshatriya-Shudragroupinginthewest caste andreligiousdifference. white-beardedfarmer tell aTVreporter What kind of mask do youuse? derGandhi.TheKshatriyasdisplacedby co- and aShudra-Dalit-Adivasi one in the east, If the suspect religious minority in that, “Theywant us to fight among our- Ibuytheplainones,nottheoneswithair duce their screen time. But because the lonialismhadby thenbeenreplacedinpol- with Brahmin administratorsand Bania Pakistan is to be foundwithin Islam,non- selvesbut nowwehaveall come together, filters,and have been usingthem sincethe worldtodayisoperating virtually, Ihaveto iticsby Brahminlawyersandadministrators. capitalistsoflittle account in eitherwing. Muslim groups come to represent notreli- Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. beginningofthe pandemic. constantlybeonmycomputer and check The firstBania to take powerfromthe InIndia,Baniasplayedamajorrolefora giousbut caste difference. AMuslim com- We areall together now.”Inthe echo my mobilephone. Thatwould easily Brahminswhodominatedtheparty,Gandhi thirdtime duringthe country’s economic munity dominated by Kshatriyas and chamber in whichModi has functioned, Howdoyou stay safeatwork? amount to morethansix hours aday. gainedfor it the support of India’s traders. liberalisationintheearly 1990s,whichfreed Shudras thus attacks Christians in Punjab especiallysince his second term began, Imaintain socialdistancing inside my The national and religious culturepro- them to adoptanewpolitical identity in as Dalits, while discriminating against these arenot wordsthat he would hear. office.Wheneverthereare in-personmeet- Howdoyou keep your mindoff the motedbyGandhi wasalsoBaniaincharac- Hindutva’s Brahmin-Bania combine. Their HindusinSindasDalits,BaniasandAdivasis. Thereismoreconfusion. Hisministers ings,seatingarrangementsaremadekeep- pandemic? ter, definedbybhakti, ahimsa and popular religiosityisnot the austere kind valuedby Christians and Hindus also serveas maynow be speaking in conciliatory ingadequatedistance.Iensurethatmystaff Dailymonitoring of crime and main- Vaishnavism. His rivalJinnah performeda BrahminideologueslikeSavarkar,however, repositories forthe caste identitiesof voices,but BJP Twitter warriors continue wear masksatall times. Ialso getmywork taininglaw and order in my zone is usually similar feat in the Muslim League, which but continues to be focusedonbhakti. Muslims,who escape their status by dis- to use social media platforms to spew ha- space sanitisedatregular intervals. enoughto keepmeoccupied.Inthelimited had been run by an administrative class In Pakistan, meanwhile, the Kshatriya- placingitontothem.While caste differen- tred againstthe protesting farmers. free time, Ilistentoold songs, especially equivalentto theBrahmins,alongsiderem- Shudragrouping became an absolutema- cesinIndiaarealsodisplacedontoareligio- EspeciallySikhfarmers.Theyranthyster- Do youtakeany specific precautions KishoreKumartorelax and unwind. nantsofthe old Kshatriyaelite. jority with the separation of Bangladesh. us minority, in Pakistanthis displacement icallyabout ‘international conspiracies to when youtravel? Jinnah wasfromthe Khoja caste of Even atraders’ party likethat of Nawaz locates the minority within and caste out- defame India’. Theysay that thesamepeo- Everyday,beforeIheadout,Iensuremy What is the firstthing youwant to do in traders and, likeGandhi, the firstBania to SharifmustadoptKshatriyaidealsto survi- side Islam. Caste reallydoesallowustosee ple who made trouble over the vehicle is cleanedand sanitised. aCovid-free world? gain control of his party whilebringing ve.Asfor Brahmins, theirdeclining status history anew. Citizenship (Amendment) Act(CAA) are Iwanttogoonavacation with my fam- Muslim capitalists to supportit. Khoja are has allowedthem to emergeasideological Faisal Devji is Professor of Indian History nowusingfarmers to maketrouble be- Howmuchtime do youspend in front ily. We have been in the house since the mostlyconvertsofHindu Lohana caste. brokersforgroupsmakingclaimsto power at theUniversity of Oxford cause their lastattempt to disruptand di- of ascreen? lockdownandhave notgoneoutanywhere, Jinnahboastedofhisabilityto talkto Gandhi in the name of Islam. Suraj Yengde, author of CasteMatters, vide India failed. Itisn’thealthyandonemusttryandre- exceptfor work. as aKhojawould to aBania. Religionhascometo definenationalcul- curatesthe fortnightly ‘Dalitality’ column The truth is thatthosewho protested againstthe CAAweregenuinelyworried about the weaponisation of citizenship. The truth is that the farmers aregenuinely worriedabout the newlaws. Thetruth is thatthis has been aterrible year forIndia On the in everyway and the pain causedbythe Whatever gets youthrough theday economyhitting rock bottom is nowbe- LOOSE ginning to hurtbadly. If the Prime Minister had concentrated on dealing with theloss LEHERKALA n’t foraball? In recent years, Indian partic- figure. It’s an elaboratecharade, but in this Lifehas gottenmuchmoreprecarious FabulousLives... is that they are “escapist” of jobs and income by puttingtogether [email protected] ipants at thehighlysoughtafterLeBal have godforsakenyear,pardon me if Ichoose to since, and to staveawaysubliminal stress, in nature. Thereispressuretoadheretoan schemes that would directlytransfer includedpolitician JyotiradityaScindia and see old worldsymbolismsasacomforting it’scrucial to steer clear of calamitycon- (unspoken) intellectualstandardthat folks moneyintothe bankaccountsofthose industrialistYashBirla’s daughters. anddistinguishingcharacteristicof thehu- tent. My leisureviewing these days is re- on Twitter careabout because the notion who arehurting the most, this sudden re- IN ONE episodeofThe FabulousLives of www.imdb.comhasgiven TheFabulous manspecies.Indeed,theageofdebutantes served solelyfor richpeople drama. Bring prevails that the impulse to escape is ater- volt againsthis government maynot have Bollywood Wives on Netflix, Maheep Lives... adismal twostars and a3.8/10rat- mayhavepassedbut letusnot denythe on the scones and high tea! At this point, rible character flaw. In truth, what could be happened. Kapoor’s daughter is preparing to debut at ing. Audience reviews haven’t been very nostalgiatheyevoke. living vicariouslythrough characters con- morenatural? 2020 wasnot theyearto re- Instead, he has chosen to followthe Le Bal, Paris. Forthe uninitiated,‘Le Bal de charitable either.Glimpses of Shanaya In fact, it’s the very outmodedness of sumedbyappearances feels likethe ulti- visit Schindler’sList butto do whatevergets patternthat has become the leitmotif of Debutantes’ is aharkbacktopastEuropean Kapoor among aglittering assemblyof these customs and curtsies thatadd to their mateinluxury. youthrough the day. his second term, whichistocontemptu- grandeur where, forone fairytaleevening, debutantes in aFrenchpalace provoked romantic allure—especiallyonscreen. It Worldover, people aregravitating to It’speoplewhocanswitchofffromtheir ouslyordain forthe people whathebe- quaint traditions likethe waltz and white sneeringreactionsto thisfrivolityingowns. explains the success of shows like Downton entertainmentthattakesthemaway from everydayproblemsviasimplepleasureslike lievesisgoodfor them.This happened gloves areresurrected andwealthyyoung “Arevolting patriarchal ceremony,”went Abbey and their timeless appeal. We wish the agonyofuncertainty.Streaming plat- comics, music, exercise or other hobbies firstwith the changes in the citizenship women are “presented”(to vetted com- one opinion on Twitter.I,for one, thor- to misremember the pastascharming and formshave notedaspikeininterestincom- whoarebestableto handleadversity.Don’t Act, then withArticle 370and nowwith pany). Throughout the 18th and 19th cen- oughlyenjoyedwatching the antiquated elegant, basicallyeverything thepresentis edyshows andreruns of old hits. It’s not knockthe debutantes bowing in ice blue the farm laws.The farmers have shown turies, the coming-of-ageball wasamile- ritualof ladieswaltzingthenightaway,first not. At thebeginning of thelockdown Isaw difficult to gauge why. They’repredictable dresses or the Bollywood Wives’ prattle. If himthat this kind of contempt forthe stone foryoung aristocrats, away to meet ledbytheirfathersandthen,chevaliers.For Contagion on Amazon Prime, director and have happy endings. Sociallyisolated, thereisanythingthisCovidyearhasproved, peopleisnot something that even the potential mates and announce their place those scoffing at this pretentiousness, of Steven Soderbergh’s remarkablyprescient we’recraving time with friends—perhaps it’swe have to find ourownmethodsof sal- mostpowerful political leaders can get in ‘politesociety’. Point to note:would courseeveryone knowsadebutante ball 2011 film on the horrors unleashedbyater- familiar TV faces stand in as proxies.One vation to guardagainstreality. away with. Modi has been forced finally ElizabethBennett everhave metMrDarcy serves no purpose other than showcasing rifying virus. An aptwatch,itincentivised of the great criticisms aimedatgenreslike to step outofhis echo chamber intothe in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice if it was- fine jewelleryand, in Darcy’s words, afine me to furiouslykeepwashing my hands. science fiction and reality TV like The The writer is director, HutkayFilms real world.
Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM
THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020 7 THE WORLD
TOPOFTHE WORLD MillionsinUSlosejoblessbenefits asTrumprefusestoclearCovidaid
Govt shutdownfromTuesday unlessCongress can agree stop-gap spendingBill She chronicled
China’s crisis, but The number of coronavirus cases hit arecord 949inTokyo Apostalworkerdelivers STEVEHOLLAND& justasJapan heads intoNew Year holidays that normally see packages last week in RICHARDCOWAN is now accused people stream from the capital intothe provinces. AP Chicago. AP PALMBEACH,WASHINGTON, DECEMBER26 of spreading lies
USA MILLIONS OF Americans saw Japan bans foreigners ‘Unprecedented’ their jobless benefitsexpireon VIVIANWANG Saturdayafter US President DECEMBER26 mailvolumedelays Donald Trumprefusedtosign from enteringafter UK intolaw a$2.3 trillionpandemic IN ONE video, during the lock- Christmasgifts aid and spending package, downinWuhan,China,shefilmed SOME WHO mailedholiday protesting that it did notdo ahospital hallway linedwith virusvariant detected presentsweeks early this enough to help everydaypeople. rolling beds, the patientshooked year found theydidn’tact Trumpstunned Republicans up to blue oxygen tanks. In an- early enough as Christmas and Democratsalike when he other,shepannedover acommu- CHRISGALLAGHER Japanese citizens and arrivedwiththeirgifts stuck said this week he wasunhappy nity health centre, noting that a &SAMNUSSEY foreign residentswill in transit. The US Postal with the massive Bill, whichpro- man said he waschargedfor a TOKYO,DECEMBER26 Service said on itswebsite vides $892 billion in badly Covid test,eventhough residents be allowedtoenter but thatit was“experiencingun- neededcoronavirusrelief,in- believedthe tests would be free. JAPANONSaturdaysaid it would mustshowproof of a precedented volume in- cluding extending special unem- At the time, Zhang Zhan, a37- temporarilyban non-resident negative coronavirus creases and limited em- ploymentbenefitsexpiring on year-old former lawyer turned foreign nationals from entering ployeeavailability due to the Dec 26, and $1.4 trillion fornor- citizen journalist,embodiedthe the countryasittightens itsbor- test 72 hours before impactsofCovid-19.” Austin mal government spending. Soldiers carry the firstshipment of Pfizer-BioNTechCovid-19vaccines in Budapest,Hungary, Chinese people’shunger forun- ders following the detection of a departing forJapan and WithoutTrump’s signature, on Saturday. Reuters filtered information about the new, highlyinfectiousvariant of Race of Grand Rapids, mustquarantine for Michigan, placedanonline about14 millionpeoplecouldlose epidemic.Now,she hasbecome the coronavirus. order Nov. 30 foracollector’s those extrabenefits,according to asymbol of the government’s ef- The banwill take effect from twoweeks afterarrival model die-castofaNASCAR Labour Department data. Apar- fortstodenyits early failings in December 28 andwillrun racing car.Ithadn’t reached tial government shutdown will Europe to begin vaccination as the crisis and promote avictori- through January, thegovernment his father afterthe Postal beginonTuesdayunlessCongress ous narrative instead. said in an emailed statement. the capital intothe provinces. Service passedthrough his canagreeastop-gapgovernment Zhang abruptlystoppedpost- Japanese citizens and foreign Serious cases were un- neighbourhood Thursday fundingBillbeforethen. doses shipped across continent ing in May, afterseveral months residents will be allowedtoenter changed from aday earlier at 81. night, even though he was Aftermonths of wrangling, of dispatches. Police later re- but mustshowproof of anega- Tokyotransporthubs were notifiedDec. 8that it was Republicansand Democrats levels of hesitancy towardsthe vealedthat she hadbeenarrested, tive coronavirus test 72 hours subdued, local media said, aday shippedbytwo-day priority agreedtothe packagelastweek- REUTERS ED Bringing vaccine in countries from France accusedofspreading lies. On before departingfor Japanand afterPrime MinisterYoshihide mail. “Idounderstand the end,withthesupportoftheWhite DECEMBER26 senseof to Poland,leadersof the27-coun- Monday, she will go to court, in mustquarantine fortwo weeks Suga, under pressureascases situation, but it’s still kind of House. Trump, did notobject to PLAIN E tryEuropean Union arepromot- the firstknown trial of achroni- afterarrival, the statement said. continue to climb, urgedthe na- ● hope,unity frustrating,” he said. AP terms of the deal before Congress EUROPE LAUNCHES across- EX ing it as the best chance of getting cler of China’scoronavirus crisis. Japan on Fridayreportedits tion to stay home and avoid so- voteditthroughonMondaynight. border vaccination programme backtosomethinglikenormallife Zhang has continuedtochal- firstcases of afast-spreading cial mixing. But since then, he hascom- of unprecedentedscale on THE ARRIVAL of the vaccine in nextyear.“We arestartingto turn lengethe authorities from jail. variant in passengers arriving With NewYear celebrations plainedthattheBillgivestoomuch Sunday as part of effortstoend Europe brought hope to are- thepageonadifficultyear,”Ursula Soonafterherarrest,Zhangbegan from Britain. The newvariant centredaround family gather- USA moneytospecialinterests,cultural aCovid-19 pandemic that has gion that has seen some of the vonder Leyen, European ahungerstrike, according to her has also been detected in aman ings and mass visitstotemples Judgedelays projects and foreign aid, while its crippledeconomiesand earliestand worst-hit Covid Commission president, said in a lawyers. She has become gaunt who visited theUKand afamily and shrines, experts have one-time$600stimuluschecksto claimedmorethan 1.7million hotspots in the world. It also tweet. “Vaccination is the lasting anddrainedbuthasrefusedtoeat, member —the firstcases of in- warnedpublic restraint will be executionofonly millions of struggling Americans livesaroundthe world. brought asense of unity to a wayout of thepandemic.” thelawyerssaid,maintainingthat fected people found outside air- essential to prevent infection womanonfederal were toosmall.Hehasdemanded The region of 450 million post-Brexit EU whichhad its AfterEuropean governments herstrikeisher form of protest portchecks —Nippon TV re- ratesfromrising further amid that be raisedto$2,000. people has secured contracts fundamental principle of free were criticised forfailing to work againsther unjustdetention. portedonSaturday. concerns of pandemic fatigue. deathrow “Whywould politicians not with arange of suppliers forover movement questionedduring together to counter the spread of Zhang’s prosecution is partof The newstrain addstowor- Suga’s initial political hon- AFEDERAL judgesaid the US want to give people $2,000, twobillion vaccine doses and aperiod of closedborders. EU thevirusinearly 2020,thegoalthis the Chinese CommunistParty’s ries about asurge in casesas eymoon aftertakinghis postin Justice Department unlaw- rather than only$600?...Give has setagoal forall adultstobe leaders celebrated thecollec- timeisto ensurethatthereisequal continuing campaign to recast Tokyoreported another record September has ended, with his fully rescheduledthe execu- our people the money!” the bil- inoculated during 2021. tive effort to getthe vaccine as access to the vaccinesacrossthe China’shandlingofthe outbreak rise on Saturday. popularity sliding aftercriti- tion of the onlywoman on lionairePresident tweetedon The sheer scale of the effort “atouching momentofunity”. entireregion. Countries including as asuccession of wise, tri- Infections of the virus that cism he wasslowtoreact to ris- federaldeathrow, potentially Christmas Day, muchofwhich means thatsome countries are France, Germany, Italy, Austria, umphant movesbythe govern- causes Covid-19hit arecord949 ing infections in Tokyoand for settinguptheTrumpadmin- he spent golfing at his Mar-a- calling on retired medics to help PortugalandSpainareplanningto ment.Criticswhohave pointedto in the capital justasJapan heads attending agroup steak dinner istrationtoschedule the exe- LagoresortinPalm Beach, out while others have loosened the injections. begin mass vaccinations, starting early misstepshave beenarrested, intoNew Year holidays that nor- in defiance of his owncalls for cution afterPresident-elect Florida. REUTERS rulesfor who is allowedtogive Withsurveyspointingto high with health workers on Sunday. censored or threatened. NYT mallysee people stream from caution. REUTERS Joe Biden takesoffice. US DistrictCourtJudgeRandolph POLICE STILL TRYINGTODETERMINE TARGET OF LARGE ‘INTENTIONAL’ EXPLOSION Moss also vacated an order from the director of the BureauofPrisonsthathadset Nashville blast knocks out communication lines LisaMontgomery’sexecution datefor Jan 12.Montgomery had previouslybeen sched- arecordedwarning that abomb The chief said investigators at uledtobeput to death at a KIMBERLEEKRUESI, would detonate in 15 minutes, thescene “have found tissue that FederalCorrectionalComplex MICHAELBALSAMO& MetroNashvillePolice Chief John we believe could be remains, but in Indiana this month. AP ERICTUCKER Drakesaid. Police evacuated we’llhavethat examinedand let NASHVILLE,DECEMBER26 nearbybuildingsandcalledinthe youknowatthat time.” Police IRAN bomb squad. The RV exploded could notsay whether it came ARECREATIONAL vehicleparked shortlyafterward,Drake said. from someone inside the RV. Heavysnowfall in the desertedstreets of down- MayorJohn Cooper has is- Surveillancevideo published town Nashvilleexplodedearly At the blastsiteFriday. AP suedacurfew in the area. on Twitter thatappearedtobe kills8climbers, Christmasmorning,causingwide- Policebelieve theblastwasin- across the street from the blast severalmissing spread communications outages tentional but don’tyet knowa captured thewarningissuing thattookdownpoliceemergency Police were responding to a motive ortarget,andDrakenoted fromtheRV, “...if youcanhearthis AT LEASTeightclimbershave systems andgrounded holiday reportofshots firedFridaywhen thatofficialshadnot receivedany message,evacuatenow,”seconds diedand severalmoreare travel at the city’s airport. theyencountered theRVblaring threatsbeforethe explosion. before theexplosion. AP missinginmountains north of Iran’s capital Tehran after heavysnowfallandablizzard, Multiple blasts statetelevisionreportedon Senior Chinese official to visit Nepal Saturday. Severalclimbersre- in Kabul, at least main unaccounted forsince ANCIENT ‘STREET FOOD SHOP’UNCOVERED amid political crisis in the country Fridaywhentwo deathswere four people dead reported, whilethe number Frescoes on an ancient counterdiscoveredduring excavations in Pompeii,Italy. Reuters Department of the Communist ‘Prachanda’ and MadhavKumar reportedasmissing hasin- YUBARAJGHIMIRE PartyofChina, takesplace in Nepal,bothleadersof the anti-Oli creasedasconcernedfamilies KATHMANDU,DECEMBER26 the wake of asplitinthe NCP, faction, on Monday. RAHIMFAIEZ contact the authorities, the ■ Archaeologists in Pompeii, ■ Known as atermopolium, ■ The front of the counter was something that Beijing has “Iguess China is still trying KABUL,DECEMBER26 broadcastersaid. News re- the city buried in avolcanic Latin forhot drinkscounter, decorated withbrightly AVICE MINISTER of the Chinese been trying to avoid. forapatchup, whichIdon’t think portssaidthenumberof peo- eruption in 79 AD, have made the shop wasdiscovered in coloured frescoes, some CommunistParty will arrive in Therehas been no official is possible,” asenior leader of the ASERIES of explosions hit the pleunaccountedforcouldbe theextraordinaryfind of a the Regio Vsite, whichisnot depicting animalsthat were Kathmandu on Sundayinanap- word fromeither the Chineseside Prachanda-factionsaid. Afghan capital on Saturday as high as 12.Search efforts frescoedhot food and drinks yetopen the public. Traces of part of the ingredientsinthe parent emergency visit to tryto or the government of Nepal, but Chinese Ambassador to morning, killing at leastfour were haltedforthenightand shop that servedupthe nearly 2,000-year-old food food sold, suchasachicken restorethe unity of theruling sources in both factions of the Nepal, Hou Yanqi, has in recent people including twopolice of- wouldresumeonSunday,the ancientequivalent of street were found in some of the and twoducks hanging Nepal CommunistParty. NCPsaid Guo will be meeting days metmanytop leaders from ficers, officials said. reportadded. REUTERS food to Roman passersby. deep terracotta jars. upside down. The visit of Guo Yezhou, vice PrimeMinisterKPSharmaOlion both sides and is believedtohave The deaths were causedbya ministerofthe International Sunday, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal advisedthem to still tryfor unity. sticky bomb attachedtoapolice vehicle detonated in western Kabul, police spokesman FerdawsFaramarzsaid. The ex- plosion woundedtwo civilians. THE MI6 AGENT WAS UNMASKED AS ASOVIET SPY IN 1961AND SENTENCED TO PRISON BEFORE HE ESCAPED TO RUSSIA Twoother police officers were woundedwhen abomb at- tached to their carexplodedear- George Blake,last in line of Cold War spieswho betrayed UK, dies lier SaturdayinsouthernKabul, Faramarzsaid. Maooma Jafari, deputy side thoseofaseparatering of ble.ButIthinkitisanobleideaand in January1943. Afterjoining the Afterhis release in 1953,he spokeswoman forthe health TIMOTHYHERITAGE British double agentsknown as Ithink humanity willreturn to it.” British Navy,hestarted working returnedtoBritainand in 1955 ministry, said that four corpses &POLINAIVANOVA the CambridgeFive. Inacondolencemessagepub- forthe British Secret Intelligence wassentbyMI6 to Berlin, where and four woundedpeople were LONDON,MOSCOW,DEC26 Unmasked as aSovietspy in lishedbythe Kremlin, Russian Service, MI6, in 1944. he collected information on takentohospital following the 1961,Blakewas sentencedto42 President Vladimir Putin said Afterthe war, Blakeserved Sovietspies butalsopassedse- twoexplosions. GEORGE BLAKE, who diedin years in London’s Wormwood Blakewasaprofessionalof partic- brieflyinthe German city of cretstoMoscowabout British Athirdsticky bomb deto- Russia on Saturdayatthe ageof Scrubs prison. In aclassic cloak- ularvitality and couragewho Hamburgand studied Russian at and US operations. nated in eastern Kabul but 98,was thelastinaline of British and-daggerstory,heescaped in made an invaluable contribution Cambridge University before be- Blakewas eventuallyex- causednocasualties, he said. spies whose secret work forthe 1966 with the help of other in- to globalstrategicparityandpeace. ingsentin1948toSeoulwherehe posedbyaPolishdefector and Therewerereports of at least SovietUnion humiliatedthe in- mates and twopeace activists, “The memoryofthis leg- gathered intelligence on brought home to Britain, where twoother blasts elsewherein telligence establishment when and wassmuggledout of Britain endaryperson will be preserved CommunistNorth Korea, he wassentencedand jailed. the city but police had no imme- it wasdiscoveredatthe heightof in acamper van. He made it foreverinour hearts,” he wrote. CommunistChina and the Soviet When he escapedfrom diate details. the Cold War. through Western Europe undis- Blake wasborn in Rotterdam FarEast. He wascapturedandim- WormwoodScrubs,heleftbehind In aseparatereportform Britain says he exposedthe coveredand crossedthe Iron ‘The memoryofthis legendaryperson will be preserved in the Netherlands on Nov11, prisonedwhen North Korean his wife, Gillian, and three chil- northern Balkh province, asen- identities of hundredsof Curtain intoEastBerlin. foreverinour hearts,’ Putin said afterBlake’s death 1922, to aDutchmother and an troopstookSeoulaftertheKorean dren. AfterGillian divorced him, ior armyofficerwas killedwhen Western agentsacross Eastern He spent the rest of his lifein Egyptian Jewishfather whowas Warbegan in 1950. It wasduring BlakemarriedaSovietwoman, his vehicle hit aroadside bomb, Europe in the 1950s, some of the SovietUnion andthen Russia, anaturalisedBriton. his timeinaNorthKorean prison Ida,withwhomhehad ason, policesaid. Mohammad Tareq, whomwereexecuted as aresult wherehewas fetedasahero. lievedthe worldwas on the eve have been well worthit,” he said. He escapedfromthe that he became acommitted Misha.Heworkedataforeign af- the garrison commander of the of histreason. Reflecting on his lifeinanin- of Communism. “Ithoughtitcouldbe,andIdid Netherlands in WorldWar Two Communist, reading the worksof fairs institutebeforeretiringwith armybrigade in Balkh wasthe His case wasamong the most terviewwith Reuters in Moscow “It wasanideal which, if it whatIcouldto helpit,tobuildsuch afterjoining the Dutchresistance KarlMarxand feeling outrageat hertoadacha,orcountryhouse, apparent target who waskilled notorious of the Cold War, along- in 1991,Blakesaid he had be- could have beenachieved,would asociety.Ithas notprovedpossi- as acourier and reachedBritain heavyUSbombingof NorthKorea. outside Moscow. REUTERS in the attack. AP
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Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; CITY OF SCHOOLING WHERE THE TOPPERS ARE 67.BHUVANYAA VIJAY BTechinEngineeringPhysics from IIT- St.Joseph’s Academy, Dehradun Bombay, PhD in Physics from University of 3 2 1 TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2013 California, LA.LIVESIN: Philadelphia, USA TIER 2CITIES 41 CANADA UNITED KINGDOM BANGLADESH Who’s who —and where ■ Self-employedasafreelance research 42.SHRUTI SINGH assistant in international environmental St.Joseph’s Convent School, Varanasi COMEFROMTIER2 law. BA LLB (Hons) from National Law ANDTIER3CITIES 1 School of India University,Bangalore. TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2008 52% LIVES IN: Bengaluru 1 CHINA From the co-founder of astealth AI start-up in NewYorktoahedge fund manager in Singapore, from acompetition law ■ Pursuing aPhD in Physics at University (Two toppers from CISCE-affiliated schools in Dubai) 45 46 47 48 of California, San Diego. BTechin HIGHER STUDIES UAE 3 68. SHREYAS SUDHAMAN specialistinDelhi to aHarvardprofessor —RITIKA CHOPRA trackeddown86men and women who toppednational Engineering Physics from IIT Bombayand 34 Sri Kumaran Public School, Bangalore MS in Physics from University of California, UNITED STATES SINGAPORE LIVESIN: TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2014 school boards between 1996 and 2015,tofind individual stories of talent and effort San Diego. San Diego, USA (46/86 toppers live 24 38 24 40 ■ Pursuing PhD in Chemical Engineering STUDYING STUDYING STUDYING abroad —34inthe INDIA 43.VIGNESH VENKATACHALAM US) from Cockrell School of Engg, University 1. SANKALPA BHATTACHARJYA 10. PUSHPRAJ SHUKLA ORHAVE ORHAVE ORHAVE from McGill University,Montreal. Group. Dual degree (BTech&MTech)in KendriyaVidyalaya,CLRI, Chennai of Texas. Bachelor’s in Chemical LIVES IN: UGDEGREE PGDEGREE PHD Frank AnthonyPublic School, Bangalore MethodistHigh School, Kanpur Calgary, Canada Aerospace Engineering from IIT-Bombay, TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2008 1 Engineering from Ohio StateUniversity. TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1996 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,1999 MS in Management Science and AUSTRALIA LIVES IN: Austin, Texas, USA 23.RAHUL LAKHMANI Engineering from Stanford, MBAfromThe ■ DeferredMSinComputational Analysis FIRST UG DEGREE ■ ■ LIVES IN: Partner at PwC India. BE (Hons) in EE Partner Director of Machine Learning Seth MR Jaipuria School, Lucknow WhartonSchool. San Francisco &Public Policy at University of Chicagoto WORK STATUS 69.SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR from BITS-Pilani and MBAfromFaculty of at Microsoft. BTechfromIIT Kanpur and TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2004 Fall 2021due to pandemic. Nowaresearch KAHALI Management Studies, Delhi University. MS Computer Science from University of 33.PALLAVI CHANDRA and documentation intern at Rashtram MBBS 12 LIVES IN: LIVES IN: ■ 49 50 51 52 60 21 5 Little FlowerSchool, Jamshedpur Gurgaon Texas, Austin. San Francisco Bay Working in familybusiness. BE in CS Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun School of Public Leadership, Sonipat. BTech LIVESIN: TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2014 Area, USA from BITS-Pilani, PGDM from IIM- TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2006 from VNIT Nagpur. Thane, India SOCIAL SCIENCE 8 2. ROHIT CHARLES FERNANDES TRACKING Ahmedabad. LIVES IN: Lucknow CURRENTLYEMPLOYED STUDYINGOTHERS* ■ AnalystatGoldman Sachs. BTechin ■ Don Bosco School, Park Circus, Kolkata 11. KARUNA GANESH Co-founder &Director of Vidyanjali 44.GAURAV SOOD Mathematics and Computing from IIT- PURE SCIENCE 3 LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1996 Maneckji Cooper Educational Trust INDIA’STOPPERS 24.KAUSTAV MAJUMDER Montessori Preschool and Symphony The Doon School, Dehradun 19 12 7 6 6 4 3 Delhi. Bengaluru School, Mumbai The Blue Bells School, Gurgaon Events,aneventmanagementcompany. BA ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2008 Senior SoftwareEngineer with Google AN EXPRESS SERIES (Hons)inEconomicsatSt.Stephen’sCollege, HADENGINEERINGAS IT,techor Finance Consulting Entrepreneur Medicine Researchor Industry 70. APOORVA NARAYANASWAMY TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,1999 TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2005 ■ India, working on improving Google MSc (Finance &Economics) at University of Running Strategy &Special Projectsat softwareindustry orbusiness academics St.Paul’s English School, Bangalore ■ ■ THEIRFIRSTDEGREE Maps. BTechinComputer Science from Physician-scientistatthe Memorial General Surgery Resident at University Warwickand adiploma in Early Years Zego,afintechfirm.Bachelor’sinEconomics 56% *Self-employed, preparing forexams TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2014 IIT-Madras and Master’s and PhD from Sloan Kettering CancerCenter.BAin TOTAL TOPPERS of Minnesota.MBBS at AIIMS. LIVES IN: Education from Modern Montessori from St Stephen’s Collegeand MBAfrom 30 studied their firstdegree at an IIT (63% of those Cornell University. LIVES IN: Bengaluru Biochemistry, MA in Medicine, PhD in Minneapolis-StPaul, Minnesota,USA InstituteLondon. LIVESIN: Karnal University of Oxford. LIVES IN: London who studied engineering as their firstdegree studied 1EACHINCIVIL SERVICES, LEGAL, CORPORATE ■ Attending medical school at Bangalore Molecular Biology &MDfromCambridge at an IIT) 11OR13%OFTOPPERSWORKWITHGOOGLE Medical Collegeand Research Institute. 3. RISHI RAJ SINGH University. LIVES IN: NewYork, USA 25.SAGAR RAKSHIT 34.JERENE MATHEWS 53 54 55 56 45.SOHINI CHAPARALA LIVES IN: Bengaluru,India Cambrian Hall, Dehradun 86 Laurels School International,Indore KendriyaVidyalaya,Kottayam Sri Sathya Sai Higher SecondarySchool, 12.ANOOP MENON Puttaparthi Oncology at Centrefor Sight 56. SPRIHA BISWAS Bachelor’s from St.Stephen’s College, 71.TEZAN TAPAN SAHU TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,1997 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2005 TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2006 LIVES IN: Hari Sri VidyaNidhi School, Thrissur Superspecialty EyeHospital, Hyderabad. RajendraVidyalaya,Jamshedpur Delhi. Imphal St.Mary’s ICSE School, Mumbai ■ Assistant Vice President at Genpact, in 51 35 ■ In second year of his postdoc fellowship ■ Paediatric dermatologistatBelievers TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2008 MBBS from Seth GSMedical College, TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2000 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2011 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2015 charge of digital transformation initiatives. BOYS GIRLS in Hematology/Oncology at Mayo Clinic Church Medical CollegeHospital. MBBS ■ Research Manager at Innovations for Mumbai, MD Ophthalmology from AIIMS. 62. ANIKA AGRAWAL ■ LIVES IN: ■ ■ BTechatIIIT Allahabad and MBAatXLRI Recentlyquit as Assistant Professor of in USA. MBBS from AIIMS and Residency from Government Medical College, PovertyAction, anon-profit. Graduated Hyderabad Chief ProductOfficeratScribetech,head- St.Mary’s School, Pune Nowa4th-year BTechstudent at IIT LIVES IN: STREAM LIVES IN: Jamshedpur. Noida Strategy at WhartonSchool, University of in Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. Kottayam, MD (Dermatology) and post- with MSc (Integrated)Economics from ingdevelopmentof amedicalspeechrecog- TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2013 Bombay. Mumbai Pennsylvania, to co-found astealth AI LIVES IN: Cleveland, USA doc fellowship from JIPMER. IIT-Kanpur. LIVES IN: Dhaka, Bangladesh 51. JANVI VIPUL THOSANI nition software. Metallurgy Engineering SCIENCE LIVES IN: LIVES IN: ■ 4. SHALINI PRASAD startup in NewYorkCity.BAinEconomics Thiruvalla, Kerala Smt. Lilavatibai Podar School, Mumbai from IIT-Bombay. Mumbai Pursuing MS Marine Biology from Texas 72. AYUSH BANERJEE De Nobili School, Mugma, Dhanbad and Psychology from AmherstCollegeand 49 25 26. ANAND VENKATRAMAN 46. RISHI RAJIV MEHTA TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2010 A&M University;BSinEnvironmental Loyola School, Jamshedpur PhD in Strategy from HarvardBusiness BOYS 74 GIRLS PS Senior SecondarySchool, Chennai 35.GAURAV MISHRA Jamnabai Narsee School, Juhu, Mumbai 57.ETI AGARWAL Toxicology at same university. TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1997 LIVES IN: ■ LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2014 School. NewYork, USA S.C.B. Medical Public School, Cuttack Analystwith JP Morganworking on La MartiniereGirls’ College, Lucknow Galveston, Texas, USA ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2005 57 58 59 60 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2009 ■ Vice President (Finance) at British TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2007 managing banks’ liquidity and interest TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2011 Investment AnalystatAccel; BTechin Petroleum looking afterelectric vehicle 13.BIKAS SAHA ■ In neuroendovascular training at ■ Softwareengineer working on Google’s rate risk.BCom from Mumbai University, 63.MANASI ARORA Chemical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. ■ ■ LIVES IN: charging and customer offers. BCom St.James’ School, Kolkata University of South Carolina. MBBS from Senior SoftwareEngineer at Google search ranking algorithms; BTechand MBAfromIIM-Ahmedabad and is aqual- TaxManager at EY.BCom (Honours) Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School, Bengaluru,India COMMERCE LIVES IN: LIVES IN: (Honours) from SRCC and is nowaquali- TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2000 AIIMS, Neurology Residency from building AI systems. BTechinEEfromIIT MTechinCSfromIIT Kharagpur. ifiedCA. Mumbai from SRCC, Delhi University.Isalso aqual- Mumbai fied CA. LIVESIN: London University of Alabama and aNeurocritical Delhi. LIVESIN: Mountain View,California San Francisco BayArea, USA ifiedCAand CompanySecretary. 73.SARTHAK AGRAWAL ■ LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2013 Platform architect at Adobe. Bachelor’s 2 BOYS 12 GIRLS 10 carefellowship at HarvardMedical School. 52. SWATI PRUSTY Bahadurgarh,Haryana DPS Vasant Kunj, Delhi LIVES IN: ■ 5. CHAITRA CHANDRASEKHAR and Master’s in Computer Science and South Carolina,USA 36. PARUL GARG 47.PARNIL SINGH DAVGirls Senior SecondarySchool, Working as an analystinaglobal finan- LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2014 Sophia High School, Bengaluru Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Arya VidyaMandir,Santacruz, Mumbai KV No.1,Sri Vijaynagar,Vizag Chennai 58. DRAVYANSH SHARMA cial services firm. BCom from HR College ■ Mountain View,California, USA 27.SUBHANKAR MOHAPATRA Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad of Commerce and Economics and is also TIll recently, he wasworking as an econ- TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,1998 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2007 TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2009 TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2010 LIVES IN: DAVSchool, Chandrasekharpur,Odisha TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2011 aqualifiedCA. Mumbai omistatthe Institutefor Fiscal Studies in ■ Partner at consulting firm Oliver 14.YASHODHAN KANORIA ■ Senior AssociateatNexia Advisors, a ■ JoinedKearney, aglobal management ■ Strategy Consultant at L&T Infotech. London. ReturnedtoDelhi to work on an TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2006 ■ Wyman. Has twoBachelor’s degrees in Campion School, Mumbai boutique investment banking firm. BCom consulting firm, as aconsultant this BTechinElectrical and Electronics Pursuing PhD in the Computer Science 64. SIMRAN KHANUJA initiative that will help governmentsuse OVERALL, ■ Management and Computer Science and IAS officer (2018 batch) of Odisha cadre, (Honours) from Narsee Monjee Collegeof 61 62 63 64 month. Integrated BTechand MTechin Engineering from BITS-Pilani, MBAfrom Department at Carnegie Mellon St.Mary’s School, Pune big dataand AI forbettergovernance;BA TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2001 86% LIVESIN: Engineering; and aMaster’s degree in postedasSub-Collector,SDM, Kandhamal, Commerce and Economics and is aquali- Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore. Mumbai University,Pittsburgh. Wasearlier senior TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2013 in Economics from SRCC, Delhi, and MPhil Electrical Engineering and Computer ■ SidneyTaurelAssociateProfessor of TOPPERS DID Odisha. MBBS at SCB Medical College, fied CA and CharteredFinancial Analyst. MBAfromIIM Calcutta. LIVES IN: Delhi softwareengineer with Google. BTech from OxfordUniversity. LIVES IN: Delhi Science from MIT. LIVES IN: NewYork Business Decision, Risk and Operations SCIENCE IN Cuttack. LIVES IN: Kandhamal, Odisha LIVES IN: Mumbai 53.SHREYA DAGA from IIT-Delhi. LIVES IN: Pittsburgh, USA ■ Predoc Researcher at Google Research CLASS 12 DivisionatGraduateSchool of Business, 48. SUBHOJIT GHOSH Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar,Kolkata India working on developing technologies 74.ANANYA PATWARDHAN 6. KIRAN GOPINATH Columbia University.BTech in EE from IIT- 28. VIPUL GUPTA 37.JAHNVI DHAR St.Joseph’s College, Kolkata TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2010 59.MADHAVI SINGH forlow-resource languages. BE in CS and Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Bombay, PhD from StanfordUniversity. DAVPublic School, Thermal Colony, Brahm Prakash DAVSchool, Hyderabad Carmel School, Dhanbad MSc in Economics from BITS-Pilani, Goa. Mumbai LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2009 ■ LIVES IN: Thiruvananthapuram NewYork, USA Panipat Manager in the taxdepartment of PwC Bengaluru TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2007 ■ TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2012 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2015 TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1998 TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2006 Senior product manager at Amazon India. B.Com (Hons) at St Xavier’s College, 15.SMAHAVIR AGARWAL 71% 96% ■ Senior Resident in thirdyear of DM helping createpersonalisedshopping ex- Kolkata, and is aqualifiedCA. ■ Lawyer with Shardul Amarchand 65.SOPAN KHOSLA ■ Nowa4th-year student of BA LLB ■ OFGIRLS OFTHEBOYS ■ LIVES IN: CardiologistatNIMSMedicity.MBBSand Ispat English Medium School, Rourkela Preparing forcivil services and doing Gastroenterology at PGIMER, Chandigarh. periences forcustomers. BTechinMEat Kolkata Mangaldas working on competition law Delhi Public School, Mandla Road, (Hons) programme at the National Law MD from CMC, Vellore, and DM from WHOTOPPED WHOTOPPED MA Economics from IGNOU.BTech in EE MBBS, MD from Maulana Azad Medical IIT Kanpur and MBAfromHarvard cases. BA LLB (Hons) at National Law School of India University,Bangalore. TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2002 Jabalpur Government Medical CollegeTrivandrum. STUDIED STUDIED from Delhi CollegeofEngineering, and College, Delhi. LIVES IN: Chandigarh Business School. LIVES IN: Seattle, USA 54.SUMEDHA RAI School of India University,Bangalore, and LIVES IN: Bengaluru LIVESIN: ■ 65 66 67 68 TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2013 Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Professor in the Department wasaYoung India FellowatAshoka St.Anthony’s Junior College, Agra Bachelor’sinCivil LawatUniversity of SCIENCEIN SCIENCEIN LIVES IN: LIVES IN: ■ of Psychiatryatthe University of CLASSES11&12 CLASSES11&12 University. Zirakpur,Punjab 38. LEKSHMI VAIDYESWARAN 49.TANNVI AGGARWAL TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2010 Oxford. Delhi, India Studying Master’s in Machine Learning 75.SOUGATO CHOWDHURY 7. SOMNATH BOSE Toronto, StaffPsychiatristand Clinician- BhartiyaVidyaBhawanSenior ApeejaySchool, Faridabad and Natural LanguageProcessing at St.Xavier’s CollegiateSchool, Kolkata ■ St.Patrick’s Higher SecondarySchool, Scientistinthe Schizophrenia Division 29.ABHISHEK KAR SecondarySchool, Trivandrum TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2009 Studying MS in DataScience at New 60. SHALAKA ABHAY KULKARNI Carnegie Mellon University.Earlier TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2015 Asansol at Centrefor Addiction and Mental StewartSchool, Bhubaneswar York University.BA(Hons) Economics Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, worked at AdobeResearch Bangalore. TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2007 ■ ■ Health, Toronto. MBBS from JIPMER, 19.MEGHA SINGH Senior Manager at one of the largest re- from St.Stephen’s Collegeand MSc Thane BTechinCSfromIIT Roorkee. Fourth-year student enrolledinthe five- TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1998 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2006 ■ LIVES IN: Puducherry,and MD and PhD in La Martinierefor Girls, Kolkata Senior Product Manager at ICICI tail groups in the Middle Eastand India. Finance from University of Warwick. Pittsburgh, USA year integrated BS-MS program at IISER ■ ■ LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2012 LIVES IN: Assistant Professor at HarvardMedical PsychiatryfromNIMHANS, Bangalore. TOPPED:CLASS12ISC,2003 Senior Research ScientistatGoogle Prudential LifeInsurance. BTechinApplied BCom from SRCC (Delhi University) and NewYork Pune. Pune, India School (HMS) and staffanesthesiologist LIVES IN: Toronto, Canada working on algorithms to help comput- Electronics &Instrumentation from College postgraduatediploma in management ■Currentlypursing MBAfromYale School 66. PARAS SHARMA ■ LIVES IN: at HMS’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Owns aTanishq showroom and aven- ers see the worldaswedo. BTechinCS of EngineeringTrivandrum, PGDM from from IIM-Bangalore. Dubai 55. AVISHEK DE of Management. BTechinEEfromIIT- Lancer Convent School, Rohini, Delhi 76. ARKYA CHATTERJEE LIVESIN: LIVES IN: Center.MBBS at Medical CollegeKolkata, 16. VIBHOR JAIN turecalled‘Creative Circus’ that does pop- from IIT-Kanpur,PhD from UC Berkeley. IIM Kozhikode. Mumbai St.Xavier’s Institution, Panihati Bombay. Connecticut, USA Vivekananda Mission School, Joka, LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2013 MD at AIIMS and Residency in anesthesi- Boys’High School &College, Allahabad up events. BSc Management Science from California,USA 50. MRITTIKA SEN Kolkata LIVES IN: 69 70 71 72 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2011 ■ ology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. University of Warick. Kolkata 39.APARNA MURALIDHAR Rajhans Vidyalaya,Mumbai 61. MOHAMMAD ISMAT Is aMaster’s student in International LIVES IN: TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2002 ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2015 Boston, USA 30. SATYAM SAXENA KendriyaVidyalaya,ASC, Bangalore AssociateatGoldman Sachs working on Zenith AcademySangaiprou, Imphal Relations at University of Queensland. BA ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2009 ■ Principal Member of Technical Staffat 20. KSHITIJ GARG St.Peter’s College, Agra platforms that calculatemarket risk for (Honours) Economics at SRCC, Delhi Nowasecond-year PhD student at MIT. TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2007 ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2012 LIVES IN: 8. PREM KARTHIK S Global Foundries, wherehis role is in R&D St.Joseph’s Academy, Dehradun Pursuing afellowship in Ophthalmic the firm’s dailytrades. BTechinEEfrom University. Queensland, BTechinEngineeringPhysics from IIT- TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2006 ■ LIVES IN: ■ LIVES IN: Vikaasa School, Madurai of semiconductor technologies. BTech- PathologistatChandramma Dayananda and Facial Plastic Surgery and Ocular IIT-Roorkee. Bengaluru Preparing forcivil services exam. Physics Australia Bombay. Massachusetts, USA MTechDual Degree in EE from IIT Kanpur, TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2004 ■ Vice President, Group Finance at DBS, Sagar InstituteofMedical Education and TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1998 PhD from University of California Santa ■ Equity Research AnalystatGoldman Singapore. BE (Hons) in Computer Science Research.MBBS from Kempegowda ■ Principal at Daugherty Business Barbara. LIVES IN: Vermont, USA Sachs. Bachelor’s in Computing from from BITS-Pilani, PGDM from IIM InstituteofMedical Sciences, Bangalore, The following either were unavailable foraresponse or didn’t givetheir consent foruse of their photos. All photosonpageprovided by subjects themselves Solutions helping Fortune 500companies National University of Singapore, and Ahmedabad. LIVES IN: Singapore and postgraduation in Pathology from the deliverITtransformation initiatives. BE 17.RAHUL SHARMA Economics from Delhi University,PGDM same college. LIVES IN: Bengaluru GRISHMA NPACHCHIGAR LIVES IN: San Francisco BayArea Hyderabad. LIVES IN: Bengaluru from Wharton. LIVES IN: Singapore Science and Engineering, and Master’s in LIVES IN: LIVES IN: degree in Computer Science from Brightlands School, Dehradun from IIM-Rohtak. Bengaluru 31. GEETAK GUPTA Villa Theresa High School, Mumbai CS, all from Stanford. Toronto Thiagarajar CollegeofEngineering and MS TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2003 St.Mary’s Academy, Meerut Cantt 40. ANTARIKSH BOTHALE TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,1999 MINAL BATHWAL PIYUSH SRIVASTAVA GAYATHRI RAVICHANDRAN in SoftwareSystems from BITS-Pilani. 21. RISHABH SINGH Delhi Public School, Jodhpur 73 74 75 76 Don Bosco School, Kolkata Boys’High School &College, Allahabad DAVGirls Senior Secondary, Chennai RISHABH RAJ LIVES IN: ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2006 ■ Greater Chicago Area, USA Product Manager at Google. BE KendriyaVidyalaya,ONGC, Dehradun No full-time job. Degree in management St.Paul’s School, Rourkela ■ TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2007 TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2000 TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2005 TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2010 (Honours) in Electronics and TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2004 Research scientistatTransphorm, a studies from HR CollegeofCommerce and TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2014 9. VARTIKA BHANDARI Instrumentation from BITS-Pilani, PGDM semiconductorcompany. B.TechinEE ■ Senior SoftwareEngineer at Google Economics, Mumbai,MMS from Jamnalal ■ Portfolio Manager at Brevan Howard.BA ■ Reader at TIFR. BTechinCSfromIIT ■ Studying MS in Electronics & LIVES IN: ■ ■ St.Mary’s Convent Inter College, from IIM Bangalore. Seattle, USA Research Scientistwith Google X. BTech from IIT-Kanpur and MS and PhD from working on Google Assistant. BTechand BajajInstituteofManagement Studies. (Honours)EconomicsatSt.Stephen’sCollege, Kanpur,PhD from UC Berkeleyand post- Communications Engineering from UC, SoftwareEngineer at Microsoft, LIVES IN: LIVES IN: Allahabad in CS from IIT-Kharagpur,MSand PhD University of California SantaBarbara. MTechinMEfromIIT-Bombay, MS in HongKong PG diploma in business management from doc from Caltech. Mumbai San Diego. BTechfromNIT Trichy. Hyderabad. B.TechinCSatIIT Bombay. 18. VINEET KUMAR from MIT. LIVES IN: San Jose, California LIVES IN: SantaBarbara,USA Computational Linguistics from University IIM Calcutta. LIVES IN: Singapore LIVESIN: San Diego, USA LIVES IN: Hyderabad TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1998 LIVESIN: City Montessori School, Lucknow of Washington. California, USA BISWANATH PANDA PRIYADARSHINI BANERJEE ■ Senior StaffSoftwareEngineer at TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2003 22. ADITYA GALGOTIA 32. RAJHANSA RAMASUBBA Little FlowerSchool, Jamshedpur NSUNDRESH Modern High School forGirls, Kolkata ROHAN SAMPATH MGAYATRI Google. BTechinComputer Science from The Modern High School, Dubai SRIDHARA 41. JANAKI KIRIT SHETH DAVBoys Senior Secondary, Chennai Dubai Modern High School, Dubai NewGreenfield School, Saket,Delhi IIT Kanpur and PhD in Computer Science ■ Strategy Manager at Google. Bachelor’s TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,1999 TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2007 Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane from University Illinois at Urbana in Computer Science and Engineering TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2004 ■Senior Director of Engineering at Google. TOPPED:CLASS10,CBSE,2004 ■PrincipalatBCapitalGroup,aventurecap- TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2012 TOPPED:CLASS12,CBSE,2015 Champaign. LIVES IN: San Francisco Bay from BITS-Pilani and PGDM from IIM ■ Facilities Engineer at Imperial Oil TOPPED:CLASS12,ISC,2006 TOPPED:CLASS10,ICSE,2008 BTechinComputer SciencefromIIT ■To starthis ownventure. BTechfromIIT italfirm.Bachelor’sinComputerEngineering ■ CEO of Copilot, astartup. Bachelor’s in ■Preparing forCAfinal exam. BCom from Area, USA Lucknow. LIVES IN: NewYork, USA Resources. BE in Mechanical Engineering ■ ProjectLeaderatBostonConsulting ■ Postdoc scholar at Perelman School of Kharagpur,MSand PhD from Cornell. Roorkee, PGP in Management from ISB, atNationalUniversityof SingaporeandMBA Economics, Master’s in Management SRCC. LIVES IN: Delhi
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THESUNDAY EXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020 Crude Wa tch IRAQTOBOOSTCRUDE EXPORTCAPACITY Dubai: Iraq aims to increase crude oil export capacityfrom its southern ports to 6million barrels per dayfrom the current 10 ECONOMY 3.5million barrels aday capacity, Karim Hattab, deputyoil minister fordistribution affairs, said in astatement. REUTERS
BRIEFLY MINING PROFITS VOTEBEGINSTOWINDUP6SCHEMESWITH `26,000 CRORE OF INVESTOR MONEYSTUCK FinMinallows Sebi appoints TS Krishnamurthy Rajasthanto NMDC-Karnatakatiff borrowmore observer for Franklin MF e-voting NewDelhi: The Finance MinistryonSaturdaysaid it couldspillovertoCentre manager,Sebi; Nayana would be producedbeforethe has permitted Rajasthan to ENSECONOMICBUREAU ED Future Ovalekar,chief operating officer Supreme Courtinasealedcover borrowanadditional MUMBAI,DECEMBER26 hangsin of CDSL; KSriram, practising along with the reportofthe Rs2,731 croreafterthestate PLAIN E balance companysecretary; and scruti- Observerappointed by the Sebi. ● successfullyundertookease vsstaterevenueclaims THE SECURITIES andExchange EX niser MKrishna and ESai Accordingly,Sebi has appointed of doing business reforms. BoardofIndia (Sebi) on Saturday Prasad, assistant directors of TS Krishnamurthyasthe Rajasthan has nowjoined appointed former Chief Election THE OUTCOME of the CentralForensicScience “Observer” on December 18, thefive other states namely, state governmentsbygovern- CommissionerTSKrishnamurthy voting willdetermine if Laboratory, Hyderabad, to assist 2020,” the marketregulator said AndhraPradesh,Karnataka, KARUNJITSINGH INTERIMAGREEMENT ment companies under the ‘observer’in e-voting of unit hold- the schemes with Krishnamurthy. in an official statement. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 Mining by Government ers of six schemes of Franklin Rs 26,000 croreof “The Supreme CourtofIndia The SC, on December 9, Nadu and Telangana, which ■ Under theinterim CompanyRules,2015willalso af- TempletonMutual Fund. unitholders’moneymust vide itsorder datedDecember 09, asked Sebi to appoint an ob- have completedthe reform STATE-OWNED IRON oremajor agreement, NMDCis fect NMDC iron oremines in The voting process for closedownornot and 2020 has directedSebi to appoint server foroverseeing the e-vot- facilitatingease of doing NMDC is settoresume operat- required to payatotal Chhattisgarh, whichaccountfor unitholders to decidethe fate howsoon unitholders an Observer regarding the e-vot- ing process.The sixschemes are businessto beeligibleforad- ing the Donimalai mines in royalty of 37.5 percent amajority of the iron oreproduc- of the six debt schemes of will gettheir moneyback. ing of unit holdersof six schemes Franklin India LowDuration ditional borrowing. These Karnataka afteratwo-year hia- on sales of iron ore, tion by the company. Franklin TempletonMutual of Franklin TempletonMutual Fund, Franklin India UltraShort sixstateshave beengranted tus due to litigation with the including an NMDC’sKirandul and Bacheli Fund will take place between Fund whichisscheduledbe- Bond Fund, Franklin India Short additional borrowingper- stategovernment. Itsmining additional 22.5 per complexes in Chhattisgarhcon- December 26 and 28. notand howsoon unitholders tween 26th December to 29th Term Income Plan,Franklin missionofRs19,459crore. lease wasextended as an interim cent royalty to the tributearound 24 million tonnes The outcome of the voting will gettheir moneyback. December,2020. Further the India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin measurewhile agovernment stategovernmentover of iron ore,or about 75 per cent of will determine if the schemes Sebi has also constituted a Supreme Courthas also directed India Dynamic Accrual Fund and Entitiesunder panel decidedroyalty due to the the 15 per cent royalty NMDC’s annual iron oreoutput. withRs26,000croreofunithold- technical assistance team com- that the result of the e-voting Franklin India Income stateexchequer. the companywas According to experts,state ers’ moneymustclose down or prisingBNSahoo, chief general would notbeannouncedand Opportunities Fund. 1%cashpayment Under the interimagreement, paying priortothe governmentsare likelytoseek NMDC is required to payatotal suspension of greater premiums from public ofGSTliability royalty of 37.5percent on sales of operationsin2018. sector mining companies upon iron ore, including an additional renewalofmining leases, or seek COVID IMPACT CEBR:India to NewDelhi: Themandatory 22.5 per cent royalty to the state to auction offmining rightsfor requirement of 1per cent government over the 15 per cent in 2018,extendedNMDC’smin- higher revenues under the Mines ‘CFOOptimismIndexat cashpayment of GSTliabil- royalty the companywas paying ing lease forDonimalai mines and Minerals (Regulation and become 3rd largest ity with effect from January prior to thesuspension of opera- for20years, but asked the com- Development) Act. all-time lowfor Decqtr’ 1would be applicable to tions in 2018.The interim agree- panytopay 80 per cent of the “The recent hikeinthe price about 45,000 taxpayers, ment is applicabletill therecom- averagesale value of iron oreto of iron oreannouncedbyNMDC The confidence levelofchief financial officers overfinancial and whichisonly0.37percentof mendations of the government the stategovernment -leading is moreorless goodenoughto ac- macroeconomic conditions in thecountry reached arecord low economy by 2030 the totalbusinesses regis- panel areexecuted or November to NMDC suspendingopera- count forthe increase in royalty. forthe December quarter,said aDun and Bradstreetreport teredinthe Goods and 2022, whicheverisearlier. tions at the mines. Under the current demand-sup- Services Taxsystem, According to sources awareof The Karnataka High Courtset plyscenario, NMDC has the pric- 8.4% DECLINEINTHEDUN ENSECONOMICBUREAU The UK-basedthink Revenue Department developments, NMDC, whichis aside the requirement that ing powertobeabletoabsorbthe &BRADSTREETCOMPOSITE NEWDELHI,DECEMBER26 tank forecastthat sourcessaidonSaturday. PTI currentlyinnegotiations to lower NMDC pay80per cent royalty to increase in leviesbut once there CFOOPTIMISMINDEX(Y-O-Y) the royalty rate to be paid to the the stategovernment, leading to is greatersupplyfrommerchant TO98.1DURINGQ42020, INDIA,WHICHappears to have China will, in 2028, ‘USholiday stategovernment, expectsthat Karnataka withdrawing the ex- miners, in the next fewyears, ARECORDLOW been pushed back to being the overtake the US to the royalty decidedbythe gov- tension award. their ability to passthrough the world’s sixth biggest economyin become the world’s retailsales ernment panel forextension of The Donimalaimineshave an impact of the levies and prof- 32.1% INCREASE 58% OFCFO 2020,will again overtake theUK mining leases forgovernment estimatedresourcereserveof149 itability will beaffected,” said Jigar (Q-O-Q)BASISANDRISK RESPONDENTS SEECASH to becomethefifthlargest in2025 biggesteconomy rise3%’ companies will notchange very milliontonnes andan annualpro- Mistry, partner at portfolio man- PERCEPTIONSTILLREMAINS FLOW MANAGEMENT AS andraceto thethirdspotby2030, significantlyfromthe interim roy- duction capacity of 7million agement firm Bouyant Capital. HIGHAMONGRESPONDENTS THETOPMOST PRIORITY the Centre forEconomics and Bengaluru: US retail sales alty setfor the Donimalai mines. tonnes. The royalty to be paid to Mistryaddedstate govern- Business Research (CEBR) said in The CEBR forecasts that the rose 3per cent during this “Thenumber is notgoing to thestategovernment,decidedby mentswerelooking to getalarger 18% OFCFOsSURVEYED 63% INDICATEDTHEY an annual reportonSaturday. Indian economywill expand by 9 year’s expandedholiday changedrastically from the one the high-levelcommittee,willbe proportion of revenues from min- EXPECTANINCREASEIN WILLUSEEFFECTIVE India had overtakenthe UK in per cent in 2021and by 7per cent shopping season from Oct. arrivedatthrough discussion in applicableretroactively to all pro- ing in their states by state-owned THERISKAPPETITE IN THE RECOVERYSYSTEMASA 2019 to become the fifthlargest in 2022. “Growth will naturally 11 to December 24,areport this interim agreement,” said a duction at the Donimalai mines companies. “Stategovernments CURRENT SCENARIO RISK MANAGEMENTTOOL economyinthe worldbut has slowasIndia becomes moreeco- by MastercardsaidSaturday, source, adding the drop from the under the interim agreement. In areseeking to getagreater pro- beenrelegatedto 6thspotin2020. nomicallydeveloped,withthean- poweredbyapandemic- earlier demand of the stategov- casetheamount is lowerthan the portion of profitsofmining PSUs Key issues: Businesses are still foreseeing “India has been knockedoff nualGDPgrowthexpectedto sink drivenshifttowardonline ernment foran80per cent pre- 22.5 per cent agreedtounder the whichwould otherwise flowto coursesomewhat through the to 5.8per cent in 2035.” TheUK- financialrisk on their balance sheet and this can Source: shopping.US ecommerce mium on iron oresales wasabet- interim agreement, NMDC will the centreaseither dividends or impact of the pandemic. As are- basedthinktank forecastChina be attributed to variousfactors including high Dun and sales jumped49per cent in terreflection of aviable levy for notbepermitted to seek refunds through reinvestment to build ca- sult, afterovertaking the UK in willin2028overtaketheUStobe- inflationarypressures and supply side risks Bradstreet/ this year’sholidayshopping NMDC.Thesource alsonotedthat forpaymentsmadeduring the in- pacity replacing investment by 2019,theUKovertakesIndiaagain come the biggesteconomy, five Methodology: Based on the survey of PTI season, as per aMastercard the companywas preparing to re- terim time period. the central government.” over 350 respondents in this year’sforecastsand stays years earlier than previouslyesti- report. REUTERS sume operations at the mines. Thedecisionof thehigh-level NMDC did notrespond to aheadtill 2024beforeIndia takes mateddueto contrastingrecover- The Karnataka government, panelonthe royaltypayable to emailedrequestsfor comment. over again,”said the report. ies of the twonations from Covid. YOURWEEKAHEAD BRIDGE SUNDAY CROSSWORD 2301 If it’s your Dealer: North,Vulnerable: NorthSouth ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA Sept. 24 -Oct. 23 QUICKCLUES NORTH Birthday Thisweek, the Financial and ACROSS emphasis is on long- property matters ♠ KJ3 1. Urbane (8) term planning. Make loom large,soit’s ❤QJ109 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 5. Capital of Macedonia (6) surethat all legal time to getyour ♦ A8 IC 2D dbl 10.Capital of Israel (3,4) 11.Beseech(7) SundayDecember 27 problems arecleared up andthat affairs in order.Therehave ♣K1097 Pass 2H Pass Pass foreignand overseas been unavoidable delays Pass 12.Metallic sound (5) Prepareyourlong-rangegoals but sparea SOUTH 13.Likechampagne(9) connectionsare all in fine form. recently, and you’renot totally 14.Theyhavetobefollowed!(6,6) thought forshort-term pressures. There Don’t expect to finalise decisions to blame forthe slowpace of ♠ Q1062 18.Sam Manekshaw’srank ?(5,7) seemsto beagreatdealto besaidforsorting before Thursday,incidentally, as developments. However, ❤K83 21.Typeofcalendar,ofchant (9) out afinancial mess. there stillseems to be anumber friends and lovedones are ♦ Q73 23.Anancient Celtic tribe of Eastern of changes in circumstanceson waiting foryou to take England (5) MondayDecember 28 the way. decisive action. ♣A63 24.Jennifer of Friends fame (7) As the days pass, passion will be replaced 25. Altitudes (7) TAURUSApr.21-May 21 SCORPIO Oct. 24 -Nov.22 SouthmadeaNegativeDoubleof2D,hopingtofindaspadecontract. Hefol- 26. Settle (6) by alaid-backfeeling.Youdotakelifealittle Familymembers and Oftenitworks well if lowedwith2NTtoshowaninvitationalhandofaroundelevenpoints.West 27.Inscription (8) tooseriously. Youcannowreaptherewards ledthekingofdiamonds,hispartner’ssuit. people at home arein youkeep certain DOWN of initiativesyou started. an impatient mood, information to Howshould Southplantheplay? Bespecific. 1. Sense (6) and there’ll be yourself, though 2. Simplesong(6) TuesdayDecember 29 momentswhen you’reforced familymembers maybe TheWest Hand:S-9874H-A7652D-K2C-54 3. Directed acourse intoacorner.People at work challenging your secretive TheEastHand:S-A5H-4D-J109654C-QJ82 The Sun is hitting some of itsstrongest (9) mayhaverejected your advice. tendencies, inspiring youto 4. Probes (14) alignmentsover. This is positive,favours WhatSouthdidwaswintheace,thinkingthattheleadhadgivenhimatrick. Don’t worry, though,asbefore come clean. But,are youreally 6. Stuffing forpillows hardworkandoffershopeifyouarewilling He decided, randomly, to lead hearts next. West won the first round and theweekisout colleagues ready to reveal all? It maybebest (5) continued diamonds, which set up East’s suit. In time South had to lead to putintheextraeffortrequiredtoachieve should have realisedthe errorof to keep friends and partnersfully spadesandEasttookhisaceandset3NTwiththeremainderofhisdiamond 7. Oathsorpledges (8) your goals. suit. 8. Invigorate(8) theirways. informedofyour plans “Iwasunlucky,” saidSouth. “IfIguesstolead spadesfirstImake3NT.” and activities. 9. Cooperation between competing WednesdayDecember 30 GEMINI May22-June 21 “That’s true,” noted North, but leavingsomething unsaidthat hung in the political†parties(14) air. WhatdidNorthmeanbyhisunfinishedstatement? The week is full of SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 -Dec. 22 15.Accomplishing(9) Lifehas been confusing lately. One reason What North meant was that South should have made 3NT. You saw what see(7) 17. Sends in different directions (8) promise, even The week’s top 16.Caught_____ :caught unprepared might be that close partners needtocome South did do and it is agreed that South was unlucky to lead hearts before 26. Point to aflowerfor afestival 19.Fashionablegreeting, butover- or unawares?(3,5) though theremay be planets areMarsand spades.Hadheledspadesfirst,thatwouldhaveremovedEast’sentry.How (6) affected (6) cleanabout what they’rereallyupto-and could Southhavemade3NTwithoutguessingtoplayspades first? 17. Variety of celery(8) manycrisestodeal Uranus, a 27.One having daylight castoncoin 20.Colonel lushlyretired alittle out of youneedtobemoreaware of your long- 19.___ AurShera: lovers of Indian with. In fact, it’s your business combinationwhich collectioninParaguay’s capital sorts(6) SouthshouldhaverealizedthatEastprobablyhadoneofthemajorsuitaces. folklore?(6) term ambitions. affairs which arecomingunder is boundtomakeyou think If East had both of them it would be inconsistent with the bidding, but one (8) 22. Makesureslip isn’tshowing 20.Sentimental art (6) scrutiny. The brightestdays of afreshaboutyour independence acewaspossible.Southshouldhaveletthekingofdiamondswintrickone. DOWN (5) 22. Chose(5) ThursdayDecember 31 theweekfor resolving alllegal -and about what youneedtodo West would lead his second diamond but now South couldlead either ma- 1. Birdatthe fair ? jorandsucceedbecauseWestwould notbeabletoleaddiamondsagain. CRYPTIC CLUES You’llbetakingyourpleasuresseriouslyand issues and arranging long- to recoveryour freedom. What is (6) ACROSS Solutions to 2300 if youcan mix self-improvement with distancetravelare Wednesday taking place at themoment Dealer: South,Vulnerable:North South 1. Violet canine? (8) 2. Leave Regina to go north ?Monster and Thursday. involvesall that is most !(6) QUICKCLUESAcross: 1Eraser,4 simple fun, you’ll makethe mostofa 5. Happen to be autumn profound andfundamental to 3. Howyou mayliveifsingle-minded Dominant,9Forged,10Scissors,12Rick, profoundlyproductive period.Idoubt if CANCER June 22 -July23 (6) 13Reciprocal,15Extravagance,18 your existence. 10.Quietreasontoexercisecharacter ?(2,4,3) you’ll have amoment to yourself. The Moon begins the NORTH SOUTH 4. Games held by people following Freewheeling,21Applicable,22Tito,24 (7) Hardcopy,25Nepali,26Transfer,27 week by challenging CAPRICORN Dec. 23 -Jan. 20 revolutionaryart movement ♠ K10764 ♠ J3 11.One order sung about self-centred Pantry.Down:1Enforced, FridayJanuary1 your sign, so youmay Youmay be feeling a ❤53 ❤A prayers (7) (14) 2Atrocity,3Even,5Onceinawhile,6 be pre-occupiedby littlemoreemotional 6. So, with time,itcauses grain to Youcan nowaffordtoput your foot down ♦ Q874 ♦ AKJ932 12.Run away to join up, perhaps (5) Instructed,7Avouch,8Tussle,11Setan athome.TheMoongivesyoutheadvantage, partnership matters, in than usual,but this is 13.Breaking up can be very painful spoil(5) example,14Hairpieces,16Vigilant,17 particular by the needto naturalnow that 7. Quitesatisfactory, so there’s none ♣53 ♣A982 (9) Ignominy,19Sachet,20Sparta,23Meta. and this week onlyaclose friend can call persuade afriend or colleague to Neptune is makingits presence left(3,5) CrypticClues:Across:1Bubble,4 14.Vehicles fordriving instructors your bluff. Colleagues and partners should agree with your plans. As it felt in freshregionsofyour chart. 8. An injured stag in theAlps moved Abortive,9Nerves,10Reaffirm, WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH (5,7) finallyadmit that youare right. happens, this is an excellent However, don’tget toocarried 18.Never out-but notinvariably round whenatthe point of death 12Mobs,13Instalment,15Attache- Pass 1S 2H 3D cases,18Friday’schild,21Mace-bearer, week to getproposalsfor away,otherwiseyou’ll miss out (12) (4,4) SaturdayJanuary2 3H 4D Pass 5D 9. Continual hail’s giving me weird 22Team,24Thematic,25Begone,26 domestic changebackoncourse. on very excitingprofessional 21.African has warm drink about ten Semidome,27Gaggle.Down:1Bone visions! (14) It’s afine time to put in extraeffort. You developments. Pass Pass Pass (9) meal,2Birdbath,3Lief,5Breathalyser,6 LEO July 24 -Aug. 23 15.Burial placeofaKennedy girl, not might be working quitehardatthe 23. Asian leader turnedchickenbefore Refulgence,7Ibidem,8Enmity,11 TheSun is busy AQUARIUS Jan. 21 -Feb. 19 an Askew (9) SouthbidconservativelyatfirstbutwhenNorthmadeacompetitive4Dbid game (5) Incendiarism,14Scoreboard,16Live-long, moment. In astrangesense, you’ll gain the shedding light on Lifeisalways 24.Heart possiblyretains energywith 16.Desirable stiffener providedbythe Southwenttogame. Itisagoodgame,dependingonguessingthespades. 17AdamBede,19Smites,20Scream, greatestpleasurefrommaturebehaviour ideasand complicated,never oldculinaryherb (7) merry thought? 23Leda Westledthejackofhearts,whichSouthwon.Howwouldyougoaboutplay- agreementswhich easy! There’llbea ingthehandtohelpyouguessthespadesuit? 25. Coal pit worked outasyou can (4-4) and sober activities. have been neglected forsome great dealgoing on time. AfterMercurymakes some behind thescenes at the significant alignments in the beginningofthe week,but don’t middle of the week,you’llhave fall intothe trap of imagining that JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel5s all theopportunity you’ve been other people areout to getyou. Instructions waiting fortoarrange Youshould ignorerumours and Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, appointments, seek interviews discount superstitionsunless and hold important discussions. youhavehardconcreteevidence therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4334 theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe that they’retrue. 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SOLUTION
TICKY ,S MMIT CO I, SUSH OBESE, SOLUTION:
Pune DECEMBER 27, 2020 | WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM | PAGE 11 THE SUNDAY EXPRESSMAGAZINE
THE YEAR THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS OurBroken, Don’t Blamethe Hopeful Lives Sci-fi Writer Ourpickofthe best tales of human upliftment 2020 has had more than sufficient drama fora on OTT platforms eye reality-showseason finale TOUCHING THEVOID In our last issue of 2020, alook back at this strange,disruptive year and how it taught us to examine our lives anew. First up, long beforesocial distancing brought home to us the transformative power of touch, arelentless, invisible segregation hadensured that we did not meet each otherasequals
Annie Zaidi written in blood.Touchsignalsacceptance,re- spect, solidarity.While the mixingofblood- lines is itsultimatefrontier, living in mixed TOUCH, LIKE love,reveals itself morefully neighbourhoodsandeatingat thesametable once it is in retreat. is the very brickworkofafunctional, healthy Nine months of nottouching anyone ex- society.The transformative poweroftouchis ceptmymother,and Iamdownamineshaft greatlydiminishedifyou refuseto sharespace. of memories about touch: what waspermis- Various degrees of segregation, on the other sible forwhom, the shockofimpliedtouch hand,ensurethatweare notforcedtocon- wherenone existed, sanguine touch, and front eachother as equal citizens. The true op- touchthat invertsall presumption. positeofuntouchability is, thus, notalegally During thelongmonthsofself-isolating, defensible touchabilitybut de-segregation, my childhood steppedout of itsshadows,be- whichisresistedfiercelyinour country. musedatthe social-media hoo-ha about not It wasn’tsurprisingthat,in the early weeks being able to hug friends. Despite growing up of the COVID-19pandemic, we begantohear in afamilywherehugs were the norm and a afew excuses forthe practise of untouchabil- culturethat emphasisedembracing asaform ity —the fear of infection. Stringent social- of greeting, Igrew up nothugging friends. physicaldistancing rules have notcut both WhereIwas growing up in Rajasthan in the ways though. Could people higher up in the 1980s and early ’90s, Inever sawothers hug caste and class hierarchybeaskedto take turns in public. Classmates shook hands formally to do dangerous and “polluting”work,and be occasionally,say,when youfirstmet some- subject to theancient “untouchable” rules in one, or when youwantedto say “Congrats” or the bargain, including being deniedaccess to “HappyBirthday”. Violent touchwas adiffer- common waterresources and being forcedto ent matter.Irecall plenty of beatings and other live on the fringes of all villagesand towns? kinds of assaultsonstudentsinschool. Could the upper and middle classes, even now, Kids touchedeachother, of course,during just be asked to deal withtheir ownwaste, sports or stageperformances. We dancedso- makingsuretodispose it of onlywithinthe ciallyacouple of times ayear,but even that narrowperipheryoftheir ownapartment wassomething my mother initiated at the complex, and notcreatepollution in other birthdayparties she hosted. Grown-ups gath- parts of thecity, wherethe poor live? ered at dinners, pujas, club fetes, orchestra- Our relentless segregation, so ferociously party nights; Ididn’t see them hugging. guarded, is it treatable? Idon’t know, but I It wasn’t until Ijoinedagirls’hostelthat place my hope in education and empathy, hugging became amoreconstant demonstra- whichare akind of spiritual touch. In liberat- tion of friendship. Once Imoved to metropo- EXPRESSARCHIVE ing ourselvesfromignorance and falsehood, lises likeMumbai, Iobservednewsocial rules. residents”. It is no secret thatmostupper-caste MAKE THINGS in the canteen. Now, Iamstarting to wonder wasabout aDalit youth beaten to death be- we mayfindthatexclusionsvia touchonly Friends, colleagues, even acquaintances households keepseparatecupsand platesfor TOPSY-TURVY if it wasn’t because eventhefanciest lunchre- cause he had touchedthe food that had been handicapour society.Wegainnothing except reachedout forhugs. In the newmillennium, domesticworkers. Thereare apartmentcom- quires that suits turn intomen. Men and servedatafeast.Thevictimhadbeencalledto abloated sense of self and amindless fear of Now that Isaw newkinds of informal touch: air-kissing, plexeswhereMuslims or Dalitsmay notre- women, with hands that areageing and thevenueto“cleanup”.Twoupper-caste men losing what we have.Through science and his- fist-bumps, high-fives. By early 2020, the ca- side even if theycan afford to.Public parks separateness is the mouths that makechewing sounds and bel- sawthat he had served himself some of the tory we maylearn that all the segregations in sual half-hug hadlittle emotional significance. charge entrance fees, effectivelybarring the norm, we realise how lies that have to be filled. Eating at the same food and reacted by beating him senseless. theworld cannotprevent changes to our way It remained,however, asignificantsocial con- poor and the homeless. Kids areroutinelyseg- much of asignificant tablewould expose themashuman,no more Inanattempt to verifythereport,IGoogled of lifeand to ourDNA. tract. Hugsassuredparticipantsofacertain regatedviafood with certain schools insisting social contract touch andnolessthantheguywhosweptthe floors “Dalitbeatento death”.Anunconscionablelist We canexpend our strength clinging to peerdom for, always,therewereothers,peo- on vegetarian tiffin, and manystatesrefusing is in our lives or the woman whosat up half the night fix- unfurled.InMay2019,a21-year-oldDalitman the hands of the clock, straining to prevent a ple brickedoff from your affection. Youcould to alloweggs or meat in school lunches. ing other people’s grammar forwages that wasbeaten to deathatawedding. He had of- mix of food habits, blood, faith. We will slow always tell whichsocial classyou belongedto Many work organisationshaveseparate didn’t allowher to retire. fendedhisupper-caste assailantsbecausehe’d down the wheel of timeforaminute, no more. basedonwho gave youahug while leaving eating areas fordifferent classesofemploy- Itisharderto yellat,bullyorrenderjobless occupiedachair. One storyfromNovember Or,wecould reachouttheway poetManglesh the room, who wouldmerelynod, and who ees.Oneof theoffices Iworkedatwould serve the people youeat with.Proximitytoanother this year mentionedaDalit farm worker in Dabral, snatchedfromour midstbythe coro- didn’tfeel the needtoacknowledge youatall. thebosses fancier luncheson nicer trays.They humanbody allows youtolook beyond Guna, Madhya Pradesh,who wasbeaten to navirusthis year,had written: “Touchyou Nowthat separateness is thenorm, now did notcome to thecanteen to eat thesub- clothes, designations and clan affiliations. It deathforrefusingtohandoveramatchbox.In musteventhough it makes things topsy thatwehesitateatthresholds,constantlyalert sidised, vegetarian meals the rest of us ate. In forces youtoacknowledge that vast privilege September,two Dalitchildren—a12-year-old turvy”. We could reject those “Do nottouch” to eachbody’s proximity,Isee clearly what passing, Ihad glancedatthose top-manage- is rarely earned. This is, naturally, aterrifying girland a10-year-old boy—werebeaten to injunctions, and marvel at what we have wasalways there, but noteasy to acknowl- ment trays:china and cutlery, bowlsfilled propositionforthosewhohave unearnedpriv- deathinMadhya Pradesh,apparentlyfordefe- gained:thegreat peace of nothavingto worry edge.Casual social hugging had become one with neatlycubed fruit, served discreetlyin ilege, and,so, theymustholdthemselvessep- catinginthe open.Another storyfromJune aboutwho and what is deniedtous. The end- of those tools that affirmedclass distinctions. conference rooms or their opaque offices. arate,pretendingtheyare superiorormorede- wasaboutaDalitcollegestudentinPunewho less relief! Indians arenot newtosocialand physical Iusedtowonderwhy this separateness serving of calmer,prettierenvironments. hadfalleninlove withanupper-caste woman. distancing.Long before the pandemic, there wasnecessary. Whycould bosses notshare Morethan once over thesenine months Chairs. Food. Utensils. Love andsex.Ofall AnnieZaidiisawriterandshort-filmmaker.She’s were separatelifts andstaircasesfor “service” tableswith clerksandsecretaries?It wasn’tas we have wokenuptobrutereminders that things, this lasttouchisfeared themostfor it thewinnerofthe2020TataLiteratureLiveBookof staff. Private gardensrestrictedaccessto “non- if healthyorexpensive foods were forbidden touchisconstantly policed.One recent story erodes, and eventually, erases hierarchies theYear(Fiction)AwardforherPreludetoaRiot AGlossary of 2020 Words
All the words that this year threw up in one pithy account
Vatsala Mamgain drinking vodka at noon and weepywith anx- to continuallyget usedtoanew butmuch the countryissafe iety,you’reonanemotional coronacoaster worse normal WORK FROM HOME (WFH) (PHRASE): FORAyear that leftusspeechless, 2020 has CORONIALS(N): Babiesproducedafter ayear SOCIAL DISTANCING(PHRASE): (also re- Wearing pyjamas to snack, clean, cook, been full of words. Afew have expectedly, of lockdown.E.g: Coronials arethe product of ferredto asanti-socialdistancing)Usinglock- snack, answer emails, attend calls, snack, etc. been dangerous to health. Awordlike “un- the fact thatwhile social distancing wasman- downas theperfectreasonto avoid everyone E.g. Formostright-thinking people, work in- precedented”, forinstance, has single-hand- datedoutside, theimpactin thebedroom was youdon’tlike. E.g. Introvertsare desperatefor terferes with the full enjoyment of WFH edly convertedus into anation withverypoor quitethe opposite social-distancing rules to be lifted so every- liverhealth. It has been rigorouslyprovenby one theylivewith will leave the house YOU’RE ON MUTE! (PHRASE): The most anunscientificstudy thatif apersontookasip COVIDIOT (N): Aperson with their brains in usedwords in 2020. E.g. YOU’RE ON MUTE! of adrink everytime theyread or heardthe their bum when it comes to COVID-19safety. THE COVID-19(PHRASE): Refers to the19 word “unprecedented”this year,their liver E.g. Medical testshaveproventhat sadlyfor pounds an averageperson put on during this ZOOM (N): The app youuse to provetoyour would be shottohell by now. the rest of us,nocovidiotisasymptomatic pandemicfromstress-eating. E.g.Remember bossthat you’vemanaged to getout of bed. Backin2016,PresidentDonaldTrumphad when everyone usedtosay the key to losing E.g. Has anyone else forgottentheyare on a famouslyboasted, “Iknowwords. Ihavethe FITNESS/ WORKOUT (N): Thirty minutes of weightwas eating moreofyour meals at Zoom meeting with the video on and inad- best words.”Butsadly, inthis,asinotherthings, getting your heartrateupfollowed by 23.5 home? The Covid 19 hadn’tstruckthen! vertentlystarted plucking lint out of their 2020hadhimbeat.So,asapublicserviceto fu- hours spent in the same position. E.g. It’s been bellybutton? If not, then me neither turehistorians,hereisthedictionaryof2020— important to keep up with one’s routine dur- THE ELEPHANTIN THE ZOOM (PHRASE): all the wordsofthe year,definedastheyare ing quarantine. So, right through the year,I The glaring issue during avideoconferencing THEEND (PHRASE):Notherebyany means really used, in one pithy, inaccuratevolume: continuedtonot work out, justlikebefore call that everybody feelsunable to mention. but hopefullyclose. E.g. It’s the end of 2020! E.g. Ididthisafternoon’smeetingin atowelas Things can’t possiblyget anyworse next year, 2020 (VERB): When youbugger things up HANDWASHING(V): The No.1 gap-year ac- nothing fits me anymore.ButIreliedonitbe- so theycan onlyget better! beyond belief. E.g. Legal analystJeffrey Toobin tivity in mostCVs in 2020. E.g. Futuregenera- ingthe elephant in the Zoom This unprecedented dictionaryfor un- 2020’d his career afterheaccidentallyexposed tions will be shocked to learn that the “Happy ILLUSTRATION:SUVAJITDEY precedented times is available on order in a himself on aZoom work call. (PS: This is atrue birthday” song usedtoactuallybesung at LOCKTAIL HOUR (PHRASE): Beer o’clockin fee, the ideas will reallybegin to flow when I TODDLERS (N): The fruit of your ownloins classy leatherite bound volume. Youcan in- story. 2020 is afabulousyear forstories of birthdays andnot justtotime handwashing the lockdown era. E.g. Is it justmeorhas lock- have that in my system with whomyou playedhide and seek all vest in this forthe coronials in your life. 2020-ing) tail hour startedcreepingearlier witheach through the lockdown, even if theydidn’t re- Meanwhile, Happy2021. Stay safe, stay LOCKDOWN (N): Aperiod of complete re- passing week? MORONAVIRUS (N): What covidiots alise it. E.g. Send help to the parents, rumour healthyand remember —keep the mid- CORONACOASTER (NOUN): Theups and strictions when everyone’strue hair colour test positivefor.E.g. Donald Trump, Rudy hasitthe toddlers arewinning hands down morningcoffeecloseat hand. Youneverknow downs of your mood during the pandemic. wasrevealed. E.g. Lockdown waswhatwas MID-MORNINGCOFFEE(N): (alsoknown Giuliani, etc what the NewYear has in store! E.g. If you’reloving lockdown one minute — neededfor awhole bunchofpeople to learn as mid-afternoon coffee) An amazing drink VACCINE(N): Hopeinasyringe. E.g. Thevac- baking bread and happyasabug —and the that “sufficienttime home alone”wasnot the exceptwith tequila, lime juice, triple sec and NEW NORMAL (PHRASE): What stinksfor cine should firstbetestedonpoliticians. If they VatsalaMamgainisaglutton,cook,runner,tree next minute, youare missingthe office coffee, onlything neededtowrite agreat novel nocoffee. E.g. Letmeget my mid-morningcof- everyone. E.g. The newnormal forthis year is areokay, the vaccine is safe, but if theyaren’t, lover,shopperandreader
Pune EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 27, 2020 THE YEAR THAT WAS 12
EYE SPY EVERY FORTNIGHT, WE PICK, YOU WATCH ALittle Solace
THERIGHTMOVES Anya Ta ylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit During this difficult year,afew shows thrilled, entertained and comforted us
Shubhra Gupta
TORIES THATcan take youout of yourself, even momentarily, areworth paying attention to:just Showdid theyshiftyour axis?Inany other year,I would go looking forthe unusual, veering to- wardsstuffthat wasalittle off-kilter.But as these months wore on,during whichwehunkered inside, fearful of a PHOTOSCOURTESYRASHTRAPATIBHAVAN virus that has no cure(yet), Icaught myself actively lean- ing towardstales of human upliftment. So, yes, Idid succumb to the quirky charms of Lyra Silvertongue and her daemon, Pan, in the second season of His DarkMaterials (Disney+ Hotstar). The series is based FirstGardens of the Republic on Philip Pullman’s classic trilogy featuring parallel uni- verses, ahostoffantastical creatures, afascinating fight pitting good and evil, and endless adventures. Ialso took adeep dive intoPerry Mason’s origin story, and promotednew kinds of gardens. During whichrevived our fading memories of Erle Stanley The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s serene, verdant the food shortage of 1950, Governor-General Gardner’s indomitable lawyer who crackedalmostevery CRajagopalachari made apowerful gesture case he took on. Perry Mason (Disney+ Hotstar) starts with estate is rich with blooms and history when he rolleduphis sleevesand ploughed him as aweathered warveteran-turned-private investi- apartofthe premises to grow food grains. gatorlooking forpaying gigs in 1931-32 Los Angeles. Today, the Nutrition Garden, popularly known What lifts this murder-kidnap whodunit is the startling Pawan Kumar Sain wing of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, arethe ele- as Dalikhana,stands there. Perennialandsea- depth on display: notonlydoes Mason, playedwonder- gant gardens, plannedinthe formal Mughal sonalvegetablesand fruitswith high nutri- fullybyMatthewRhys, solve the case, he finds purpose. stylewhile also incorporating some elements tional value aregrown organicallythere. But my topfour shows would have to be those which NNOVEMBER 13,2019, Prince of British gardens. Theyfollow the exquisite When RVenkataraman wasthe President, placedpeople likeyou andme, and their struggles, front Charles, the longest-serving symmetryofthe Persian-inspired charbagh acactus garden wasadded. Alarge number of and centre. Unorthodox (Netflix) tracks the flight of a heir apparent to the British (quadrilateral) tradition.Intheir three sections, newtypes of cacti, developedvia intergeneric young woman from aHasidic Jewish community in throne, walked down paths architectural andarborealfeatures areequally hybridisation and growth manipulation at the Williamsburg, NewYorkCity,toBerlin. Nineteen-year-old OquitefamiliartoBritisharistoc- emphasised. Regional Plant Resource Centreat Esty,playedbythe delicateShiraHaas, is imprisonedby racy.Hewas takentothe HerbalGardeninthe RobertGrant Irving, in his acclaimedstudy, Bhubaneswar,wereaddedinearly 2005. the tight coils of tradition and community.Her journeyis Rashtrapati Bhavan, whereheplanted a Indian Summer:Lutyens,Baker,and Imperial During the presidency of Dr APJAbdul specific to herroots,but we know her troubles: youcan be champa sapling. Accompanied by President Delhi (1981, Yale University Press), describes Kalam, manytheme-basedgardens came up anywhereinthe world, but as awoman, youhavetofight RamNath Kovind, the Prince of Wales notonly the ambience thus: “Themassive,nobly se- GREENAND Zakir Husain. on the premises. Among them, the Musical to be your ownperson. exudedcharm butalsoexhibitedchildlike cu- vere walls whichenclose the garden literally SERENE The gardeners of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Garden offers aspectacular showwhen scin- NormalPeople (Hulu), basedonSallyRooney’s book of riositywhen experts from the Ministryof grow outofthe lowerbasement, resembling have kept alive thetradition of nurturing the tillatinglights,inperfect synchronisation with the same name, refreshes the teenageromance trope (Top) The gardens of AYUSH briefedhim on the medicinal proper- animposingfortress. Channelsofwaterinter- defining featureofthe gardens —the multi- the tunes of veena and shehnai,fall on cascad- quitebeautifully. The fresh-facedMarianne and Connell tiesofvarious plants in the garden.Hewas sectinagrid pattern, with the intersections the Rashtrapati tude of rose varieties. Theyinclude Adora, ing jets of water. Twoherbal gardens were cre- playout their complicated,off-on relationship in Sligo, told aboutthe collaboration markedbyimpressive Bhavan were Mrinalini, TajMahal, EiffelTower, atedto promote naturaland gentlerremedies Ireland, but who doesn’t remember the flush of firstlove? between the All India sandstone fountains con- planned in the Scentimental,Oklahoma(alsocalledBlack forthe well-being of the common people.A From an adult, done-and-dustedperspective,ittakes you InstituteofAyurvedaand structed in apetal design formal Mughal style Rose), BlackLady, BlueMoonand LadyX. Spiritual Garden came up with plant selec- backtoyour owntime when youth stretchedendlessly, the College of Medicine,UK. basedonthe hexagram. while also Thereare alsoroses namedafter personali- tions basedoninformation gatheredfromthe and nottalking to someone whomattered the mostcould The Herbal Garden is Sandstone-pavedpaths ties:MotherTeresa,Raja RamMohan Roy, Mr sacredbooksofdifferent religions. Based on be asillychoice of your ownmaking. incorporating one among an array of gar- continue the grid pattern, Lincoln, Jawahar,and Queen Elizabeth—not the theme of “sense”, theTactile Garden was Anya Taylor-Joydoesn’t makeasingle false move in dens that impartatouchof setamidstaformal planta- elementsofBritish to forget Arjun and Bhim. The ingenious gar- introducedfor the visuallychallengedso that The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix), in her playing of chess mystique to theRashtrapati tion of trees, grass and gardens; Governor- deners also introducednew,exotic varieties theycan also enjoythe beauty of nature. prodigy Beth Harmon who fightsthe twin demons of Bhavan. Theyharkbackto flowerbeds.” General C of flowers likebirds of paradise, tulips and The mostimportant aspect of these glori- drug and alcohol dependency on her waytobecoming a mythology —the wayto Living History Though the layout of Rajagopalachari heliconia in 1998. ousgardens, of course,is the democratic spirit worldchampion. As an orphan in ’50s America, Beth paradise or firdaus passes the garden wasinplace by ploughing asection The Long Garden, apartofthe Mughal of the presidentsofIndia:The Rashtrapati needs to find her waytoachess board, and to unlikely through gardens. Or,con- An Indian Express 1917,the planting was of the gardens to Gardens, is known forits varieties of roses. It Bhavangardens, particularly the Mughal supportive partners, including avulnerable older woman, sider the Garden of Eden, takenuponlyin1928-29. lies afew steps belowthe highestlevel of the Gardens, arethrownopen to the publicduring who provides both succour and wisdom. This one’s pure the paradise on earth. The collaboration with the Director of horticulture grow foodgrains MughalGardens.Itisenclosedby 12-feethigh the bloom season, and this Udyanotsav at- joy, even if youdon’t understand chess. lush landscape surround- RashtrapatiBhavan William Mustoe, who during the 1950 walls with pergola creepers running through tractsmillions of visitors. And Michaela Coel has my heartwith her brilliant I ingtheRashtrapati Bhavan, plantedthegarden,was es- food shortage thepassage. TheLong Garden leadsdown- Thankstothe cornucopia of nurseries, the MayDestroy You (Disney+ Hotstar), adisturbing tale of designedtodisplaycolonial pecially skilledatgrowing ward into acircularsunken garden, which President’s Estate remains filledwith colour, rape and responsibility.Coel plays Arabella, aLondon- powerand style, wasonceasecludedoasisfor rosesand issaidto have introducedmorethan consists of alarge pool surroundedbytiers of fragrance and tranquillity, through the year. basedTwitter star-turned-author,who relivesthe trauma theprivateenjoyment of the viceroy.Thiswas 250 different varieties of hybrid roses gath- plants. In thewords of Irving, “Thetranquil- Naturelovers visiting the Estate arerichlyre- of adarknight through flashes, and ahardpath of self-re- reoriented to servethe sovereign democratic ered from everycorner of the world. Lady lityofacircularpool climaxesthe main urban wardedwith the experience of the beauty and alisation. It’s adifficult parttopull off, and Coel takesno republic afterIndependence. Beatrix Stanley, aprominent horticulturist, axis and faintlyechoedthe WarMemorial ro- insightsintothe weboflife. prisoners, laying herself out completely,offering no ex- If the RashtrapatiBhavanisanarchitec- notedin1931that she had notseen better tary,morethan twomiles distant.” cuses. So hardtowatch,and so rewarding. tural marvel, the15-acre Mughal Gardensare roses in England. Later,morevariety was AfterIndependence,the Indian occupants PawanKumarSainisdirector, itssoul. On the west side, behind the central added, especiallyduring the presidency of Dr of the place addedpragmatism to aesthetics President’sSecretariat
but the US workshardtohide itsbrokenreal- ity:families living in the Tundrawinter with Bridge Over Troubled Waters no heating;anotherfamily so broken thatthey gassedthemselvestodeath when theywere unable to paytheir creditors; children who The pandemic has exposed the deep divides in our world. wouldcome to school hungryon Monday, not having eaten ameal since theyleftfor home Can we find away to cross them? on Friday; children and adultswasting away because ahospital visit would bankruptthem; humanity.Inrecent decades, we have seen it understood norms about chickenhusbandry youngsters being homeschooledbyparents reveal the rotinourmidst, one that we have to and livedhappilydespitetheir differences in whocouldn’teducatethembutthoughtitbet- SLICEOFLIFE acceptasbeing of our ownmaking. sizesand forms. Even the roosters in our flock tertonot exposetheir livestouncaring and For27years, Ilivedbetween NewYorkCity didn’t getaggressive.ThentherewasAntonio judgementalneighbours; families eating food andafarmsteadin avillage calledHebron,nes- Banderas,ourmajestic, charming, andalmost- that wasneither whole nor fresh —and this tledbetween theAdirondackmountains of human llama —agiftfromthe neighbour while working as farmers. New York and the picturesque Green whose alpacas we rescuedwhen she could- Whyshould anyone have to worryabout Mountains of Vermont. While in the city, Ien- n’taffordkeeping them. taking alovedone to adoctor and gettingtheir joyedthe high of the New York minuteand Ourfields,ourcare,andourfood andhous- illnesstreated?Why shouldahospital visit be the thrill would intensify eachtime Iarrived ing kept these animals from money-hungry the reason someone becomes homeless and from thefarm. The 70 acresofluxuriantgreen and inhumane breeders. We had ahugefam- jobless? Howcan aruraloutpost ever trulybe living andan organic lifestyle nevermademe ilyofotherwise shyblue herons, wild turkeys partofaglobal villagewhen thereisnoafford- feelas comfortable andsafeasthe city.Atleast andgeese, too,as wellasdeer andrabbits. But able high-speedinternetaccess? notoutsideof ourfarm’sboundariesandthose the prize wasthe familyoffivemountain li- This yearhas shown what afflicts us across of dear friends. ons, who, when spotted,scaredus but whose allbordersand on everyside of the political My lifepartner and Iworkedhardtocre- presence made us proud of howwewere aisle. The Donald Trumpsof this worlddonot ateahome on the farm that welcomedone maintaining our parcel on this planet. come from avacuum. Theyare the result of a and all and wasconnected to nature. Hives Youcould call our farm Utopia —alabour system that has failed. Forevery leader like carefullytendedbyatrainedapiaristbrought of mad and deep love.Ourfarmhouse wasour Trump, thereare millionsof peoplebroken by millions of bees buzzing around wild and cul- safehaven,our comfortable place to hostand society.When comfortand advantagefor the tivatedflowers.Four dozen alpacas roamed entertain. We opened it to neighbours and luckycome with the marginalisation of other ourpastures, drinkingfrom astate-designated strangers, alike. We made friends, changed people,all of us suffer. SuvirSaran trout stream, and 50 ducks and geese ranged lives, and were alsoat the receiving end of this Humanshavealways treatedeachother free on our property and found asafehaven enriching exchange. We savoured the slow SUVIRSARAN unfairly;greedis asold ashumanity.The inter- Suvir Saran is achef, author,educator in our pond. Twohundred chickens of over pace of lifeand being connected to Mother LIFE LESSONS extending our creaturecomforts to others netand social media have brought inequity and world traveller three dozen varieties —all endangered,rare, or Earth. We cherishedlivingasonewith the sea- Ataleof two cities — around, and we knewothersdoing the same. front and centreand have alsoheightenedits threatened—lived in acoop that Michael sons and bravedtheirchallenges as happilyas But we were the minority.Living in this rural repercussions. The coronavirus will die like New York City AS THEpandemicgoes on,itshows no mercy. Batterberry,the latepublisher of suchmaga- we enjoyed their resplendency.But we were outpostjustafew hours north of NewYork we all do;lifewill go on, with or without us. Deathandsicknessstalk us. Lifeasweknewit zines as Food and Wine and Food Arts,called lucky to nothavehad arevolution begin due and Hebron City,Isaw great disparity in the wealthiestand Riches flyaseasily as they comeand fame is 10 months agoiseroding. Strippedofthe ve- the“PalazzodePollo”, thepalace forchickens. to theglaring disparity between our fairy-tale mostpowerfulnation of the world. temporary. To leave alasting legacy,wemust neers of civility and development, 2020 has They had screenedwindows withshuttersfor lifeand the misfortunes of manyofour neigh- My father,visiting us from India, would say rise above the easy traps of material gains. shown howlittle we have progressedsince the blistery winter;ceiling rafters and sky- bours —adversities that were nottheir fault, that we livedinthe fourth worldinHebron. COVID-19isaclarion call to reflect upon our the end of the WorldWar II, even as we speak lightskepttheir home lightand brightand en- but their lotbecause theywereborn intoa He washeartbrokenbythe povertyinrural actions and choices, to be kind and unselfish of the worldasaglobal village. sured thattheybreathedfresh air free of am- generational lackofopportunityand access. America.Hewould saythat the developing and to remember that, in the end, what goes Disparity has always been the despair of monia. These chickens defiedall previously We did our best to beresponsible neighbours, worldknows itschallenges andfaces them, around, comes around.
Pune EYE,THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE
13 THE YEAR THAT WAS DECEMBER 27, 2020 DOWN IN Stranger Things
JUNGLELAND Fantasy helps to escape reality. But what if it becomes the reality? Tw ofilmmakers, two takes — on how the year 2020 comes to an end RanjitLal FROMTHE Ranjit Lal is an author, environmentalistand birdwatcher FRYINGPAN I’m Only Bhaskar Hazarika ISTEPPED out of the liftonthe 37th floor and headed Sleeping towardsthe pent- house apartment of risingBollywood star Rishi Sangwan. If only the hibernators were turned Irangthe bell and to before declaring the lockdown waited forthe door to open, listening to the babble of OSLEEP through bone-chilling winters is, alas, voices and ambient party music from inside the luckofseveral animal species and insects, for the apartment. Iglancedatmysmartphone hundredsofyears. To qualify fortrue hiberna- to checkthe time. It was10.43 pm on Ttion, the body temperatureand the heartrate December 31 —the lastday of this most mustdropasthe animal goes intoadeep, deep sleep. By wretched year 2020 AD. Iwas herenot justto this yardstick, it is argued that polar bears do nottechni- ring in the newyear andbid arelieved callyhibernatebut go intoastateoftorpor forthe winter farewell to this one, butalso formy months afterstuffing their faces and putting on thicklay- first—and Ihopednot the last—mask- ers of purefat before snuggling down under the snow. But burning party. polar-bear moms also give birth to their cubs at this time Ever since the vaccine forCOVID-19got —and all babies needwarmthand milk,whichthe mama deployed around theworld, groups of the bear has stockedupon. vaccinated have been throwing boisterous Rodents—from the great clan of ground squirrels — mask-burning parties. Theytendedtofea- and other insectivoresalso hibernate. While hiding nuts turewild merriment, feasting, and fornicat- GETTYIMAGES and acorns galoreincaches all over their territory, theyare ing —likepre-COVID parties on hyperdrive. them but forapiercing scream. Iturnedto SEASON’S extrawatchful. Keeping an eyeout forpotential thieves— But the main attraction at these parties, as lookatthe source, and wasstunnedtosee GREETINGS WONDERGIRL other squirrels and birds —theypretend to burythe nuts the name suggests —isthe collective burning my friend Rishitearing intothe neckofastar- Fiction to in aparticular place, while keeping them stuffedintheir of face masks. let—with his teeth. Morescreams distracted cheeksand hiding them elsewherewhen the coastis The bulk of the guests at theseparties me from this hideous sight, and Isaw that the rescue Va san Bala the Millennium Falcon to The Milano, where clear.Aspecies of woodpecker, too, rams in hundredsof featurethe vaccinated,but manyofthe the vaccinated were attacking the masked, shemeets Groot. Theylandinadeserted acorns and nutsintree’s boles, to feastoninwinter.The masked,too, turn up,secureinthe belief that ripping them apart withtheir teethinarabid jungle and have dinner at Yoda’s cottage, rationale behind hibernation is simple: winters in the the vaccinatedcannottransmitthe virus frenzy.Iturned to look at Rishi, and his eyes SAIBALIVES on abeautiful island. One day, as theseven dwarfs playsome musicand the northern hemisphereare ferociouslyfrigid and all sources anymore. That’s whyIwashere. Rishi wasa —orwhat usedtobehis eyes but were now she sitsonthe cliffoverseeing the sea, she sees hobbitssing. of food vanish. If youare unable to escape to warmer friend from when we were bothcub re- putrid orbs filledwithpus —lockedontome. apod crash intothe water, it drowns but a Afterthat Captain Kirk beams Saiba into climes —bymigrating on foot or by air (whichiswhat a porters foranews chan- He charged, snarling likea thing is ejected outofit. Saiba divesintosee. his USSEnterprise.Sheplays chesswithSpock ●●● lotofbirds do) or sea, yousimplyfind aden and go to nel, and had justgottenhis wolf. Iran andshut myself As she swims closer, sherealises it’s arobot whenadistress signal from Fireball XL5 makes sleep: formonths, if necessary. Apartfromthe fat-tailed seconddose along with inside abathroom. andbringsitashore. Therobothas her leave the game unfinished dwarf lemur of Madagascar,noprimatehibernates: no the usual clutchofprivi- Ever since the Panicked, Iturnedonmy amessageencrypted in it. Saiba and go meet Doctor Venus, who’s creatureliving in the tropics needs to.Some, likefrogs and leged folk likeministers’ smartphone to figureout sees it as aholographic vision. It’s treating Elsa’s sister,Anna.Elsaac- toads, do however “aestivate”, disappearing deep under- sons and judges’ daugh- vaccine,groups of what the hell wasgoing on. to find amissing Warrior of the cidentallyfroze Anna’sheart.Only ground during the parched drysummers, because six- ters. Iacceptedhis invite Afew minutes on Resistance to save the worldofthe Saiba’shealingtouchcan save her. feet under,itisstill cool and moist, whichiswhat they not(just)because of the thevaccinated have Twitter told me the bare Evil... an Evil Empire. Saiba uses allher powerand re- needsoastoavoid deathbydesiccation. aforementioned feasting beenthrowing mask- facts. The vaccinated were Saiba takesonthe plots of unites the sisters, bringing Imagine, as the days getcolder,darkerand depressing and fornication, but alsoto turning intozombies, gov- Wonder Woman, Moana and Star Christmas and joybackto (causing SAD—seasonal affective disorder in people in document amask-burn- burning parties ernmentswereparalysed, Wars andnavigates her way Arendelle. But Saiba can’t stay for the frigid north), youfirstspend the autumn months pig- ing party forasmall news and no one knewhow to through an incredible adventure, toolong.Abit of imagination may ging it out at “eat all youcan” buffets:helping yourself to websiteIsometimes ●●● stop it. Justthen, Ihearda in whichshe makes newfriends, have been restored,but the Evil everysinful fat-oozing delicacy.Then youfurnish your wrotefor. distant church ringing in meets herheroes who disappoint Empireisstill strong. To defeat it, bed with piles of quiltsand blankets, getintoyour pyja- An hour later,Iwatchedaspeopledanced the newyear with bells. The ringing wafted in aworld that is losing hope, and an Empire Saiba needs to find the Warrior she’ll join mas, wriggle intobed and sink intoadeep, peaceful sleep around adrum of fire in the large balcony, through the open window, mixedwiththe that is ready to wipe out all magic and won- forces with. Armedwith amap, some food, tossing masksinthe flames as theywhirled sound of fireworks and screams of terror.I derment from the world. some water, andloads of imagination, Saiba around it.The mood wasecstatic, and it was looked in themirrorand said to myself — Saiba gets on aflying dog, blends The sets offfromArendelletomeetthe Dragon difficultfor thedozen-odd masked guests “Happynew year.” NeverEnding Story plot, and tries to save “imag- Warrior...the Kung Fu Panda! likemyself nottoget carriedawayand fling ination”aspeople arelosing faith in it.Without our ownmasksinthe fire,too. Some did ex- BhaskarHazarikaisaNationalAward-winning imagination, there’s no world. VasanBalaisawriter,anddirectorof actlythat, andmaybe Iwouldhavejoined AssamesefilmmakerofKothanodi andAamis The voyageshifts from the Flying Dog to MardKoDardNahiHota Don’t Blamethe Sci-fi Writer WIKIPEDIA WINTERISCOMING This is the year where reality completely overtook the human capacity for imagination —and not always in agood way Arctic ground squirrel hoards up to sustain hibernation
Samit Basu if anyone will be particularly worried. In fact, —for the next severalmonths. Your metabolism slows there’s everychancewewon’t even notice. down, and no, youdon’t have to getupthrice everynight When you’resurrounded by cultural, in- to pee. In the process, youactuallylose muchofthe hor- THERE’S Abad habitthat news/culturecom- stitutional, social, political, financial and en- rendous flab youhad put on as your body burns up all the mentators oftenhave: whenever something vironmental collapse,even forthoseofuswho stored fatand youeventuallyemerge looking trim and fit! reallybizarre andillogical happenstheycom- arepresentlysafeand have the luxuryofbe- (Polar-bear moms can lose up to one-thirdtheir body pareittosci-fiorfantasy.The aim, probably, is ingable to observeand speak,itisdifficult to weight overwinter.) This is one get-slim regime that to underline weirdness, but this habit always find either meaning or reaction. But if we are could become arageifmarketedright —justsleep softly, makes actual writers of speculative fiction to make our wayout of these years,it becomes love!For the next severalmonths, you’venocares or wor- (suchasmyself) chafe—fiction, even physics- imperative to find the strengthtorally and re- ries or bills to pay, justhopefullysweet dreams to revelin. exceedingimaginative fiction,iscompelledto build. We were told that the challengeofthis And then, when youfinallyyawnand stretchand awake, obey internallogicandnarrative consequence. decade would be reskilling, but the truth is it the sun is out and the firstflowers have begun to bloom. Reality,and the news,are not. Thereisnobet- is reallyabout survival. Surprise, youmay even have alovelybrand-newbabyby terexampleofthis than all the news of 2020. As we lurch fromcrisis to crisis, it becomes your side! No doubt you’reravenous, so,off yougotothe We beganthe year with protests, civil crucialthatwe find withinourselvestheabil- supermarket and the worldisawonderful place again! strife, political violence and the incredible de- ity to do morethan justsurvive —manyhave As usual the denizens of the animal kingdomthought cline of severaldemocraticinstitutions. Itlooks already givenintoeither despair or the com- of this first. And it would be such aperfect solution forso likewe’reending it with all of these, too, with fort of submission,and have themselvesbe- manyofour problems too. Imagine, if the populations of apandemic that refuses to be sandwichedin come regressive,violent reality-deniers. the entirenorthern hemispherewent to sleepbetween between. But while early 2020 wasrichin Finding reserves of courage, conviction, em- November and April, the kind of savings we would make dystopian storyinspiration, the rest of theyear pathyand fortitude is no easy task,but it’s the —pollution would drop drastically, there’d be no needto had moreinstore,awhole meteor showerof onlyway we aregoing to find the hope we ravage the earth of itsprecious resources, fossil fuels logic-defying news.Asproteststurnedinto need,tobelieve that brighter days will come. would lastanother 100years, there’d be no murders, lockdowns, breakdowns,meltdowns, take- Afew yearsago,ataleading TVproducer’s hate-speeches or weddings that killjoys can lynchat. Yes, downs and countdowns, everyday,headlines office, Ideliveredafew pitches forshowideas, maybesome morebabies, but then everyone lovesba- thatwould have been world-changingin pre- GETTYIMAGES whichwerepromptlyand predictablyre- bies! And, maybe, those living in the sweaty tropical vious eras were justcasual daily-digestmate- typingforaliving,anddespitethesevere odd- DEEP BLUE SEA security agencies released UFOfootage,and jected fornot being Real India enough. Iwas south could do the same in summer,gotosleep between rial in this one. We learnedthat we were liv- ness of releasing anovelduring apandemic,I In California, the mysterious radio wavesreachedourplanetin askedifIhad anyideas forScriptedReality. I Mayand October (though, of course, they’d demand air- ing in apost-truth worldafew years ago, but hadagreatyearprofessionally—thishasnever bursts fromunknown sources, so it’s possible wasunaware untilthat point that reality seas turned conditioning so that could be an issue!) 2020 has been post-reality.Hoaxes, miracles before beenguilt-inducing.So,Ithink,Icande- aliensexist, andtheyhaveapodcast, andnone showsasacategorywerecalledScripted Actuallyin2020, we did take ashotathibernating, and all-round absurdity have been appropri- clarethis officially: 2020isthe year wherere- fluorescentthis year, of this even holds our attention. The year Reality by producers, that none of them were though as usual we went about it in atotallyham-fisted ated by the news cycle. Loyalty testshave ality completely overtook the human capac- among other strange whereacelebrity releasedapersonalisedgen- curatedshowcases of spontaneous behaviour. manner.Giving 1.3billion people afour-hour notice to re- eaten facts. Mostofmyimagination is ex- ity forimagination, and soon mostsci-fiis happenings around italia-odour candleintothe market; where Theworldmightlookverysci-finow to those tirefromsocial activity foranindeterminateperiod of haustedjustthinking of peaceful times. going to lookastame and relaxing as your av- the world one of the world’stop football clubs mayhave whodon’t readsci-fi,andthat’sjustbecauseof time is notthe waytoassurethem of agood rest. This has been ayearof drasticreminders of eragemundane-lifenovel: comfortreading, hired trolls to attackits ownplayers; where all the shinytechnology.But the truth is, this Businesses and livelihoods collapsed, educational institu- everyprivilegewehave—to have ahouse to becausehoweverstrange thestory, thelawsof Britishrestraintinvolvedtearing down 5G wasnot my year in asci-fiworld, nor yours, tions, sports,traveland entertainment shut down, and the live in and work out of, to have work to do, to internal logicstill apply. On the dayofwriting towers because of rumours; whereeventhe and no band of heroes is on itsway to save us. mantra became “work from home”. We,ofcourse, took have familyand friends who arehealthyand this, dead minksinfected with mutated world’s richestmen aremoreinterestedin We areinside averypoorly-designedScripted advantageofthis COVID-coma syndrome —amarvellous safe, and forafast-diminishing number of COVID-19haverisenfromtheir graves in space colonisation than matters terrestrial. Reality show: the cameras in place,the pre- excuse to shirkworkand getrid of vast numbers of people people, to have some remaining sense of be- Denmarkafteramassculling.Nobody’simag- InStanford,they createdasmarttoiletthat decidedwinners areswaggeringaboutevery- who neededtowork. “We can’t deliversince we’rework- ing inside some systems thatstill function. The ination did this: speaking forspeculative-fic- can identify youbyyour anal print. In where, and the ad breaks arerelentless.But ingwith only10per cent of our staff, because the rest are next fewyears(at least) aregoing to be very tion storytellers, we refuse to take theblame. I California, the seas turnedfluorescent.Onthe all reality shows,likeall empires, end eventu- tramping along expressways,backtothe boondocks.” roughforusall, andIhope 2021doesn’tmake thinkzombieminkswinthe2020news award, moon, waterwas found. Therewerelocust ally.Wedon’t have the option of ignoring this Our great leaders should have takenthe cue from po- us immediatelylook backfondlyatthis year. but thereare manyother contenders. swarms and murder hornets. In India,aRhea one, but we’llfind away to defeat the pro- lar bears and givenpeople enough time to fatten up be- Ispent the lastthree years writing aspec- This wasthe year that featured several wasattackedfornoreasonbypro-government gramming. 2020 has had morethan sufficient fore theybatteneddownthe hatches on their heads. More ulative fictionnear-futurenovel,basedalmost people’s representativesdenying the coron- mobs. In Brazil, arhea (an emu-likebird) at- drama foraseason finale: Ican onlyhope it’s deviously, theypushedthrough rapacious legislation entirelyonnon-fictionandthenews.Tryingto avirusthreat evenaftergetting infectedthem- tackedthehead of governmentand became a nottoo manyyears before we find away to without due diligence, because we —the dulydiligent — carvesomesortof hopefulnarrative outofpiles selves. Wherethe mostpowerful man in the folk hero. In Thailand, inflatable ducks were collectively changethe channel. were hibernating on their orders. of notesabout multiple-choice impending worldmay stillhave to bedraggedkickingand usedfor protest. In Texas,K-pop fans helped apocalypses took everybit of creativity Ihave. screaming out of his official residence after defeat police surveillance with fan-cams. SamitBasuisaDelhi-basedwriter, My work mostlyinvolvessitting at home and losing an election. The year whereAmerican Tomorrow, if there’s an alieninvasion, Idoubt mostrecentlyofChosenSpirits
Pune THESUNDAYEXPRESS,DECEMBER27,2020 ROBIN JACKMAN NO MORE Former England cricketerRobinJackman, who played four Tests and 15 one-day internationals,has died. He was75. Jackman 14 took 1,402wickets in a399-game first-class SPORT AP careerbetween 1966 and1982. Wish abba was alive: Brother says Sirajhas fulfiled late father’s dream
On November 20, little morethan a An incident from Siraj's Hyderabad U-23 skills and it wasbecause of him that he time in five seasons.Since then, he has been VISHALMENON monthbeforeSiraj’s Test debut, hisfather days still ranklesMabboob. landedanIPL contracttwo years later,in2017 aregular at India Atours, all of whichhave DECEMBER26 Ghouse passedaway. The stringent quaran- “HCAhad organisedafitness campfor forthe Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Prasad says. been instrumental in his seamless transition tine restrictions meant the 26-year-old fast bowlers of the U-23 squad at MSK Prasad, the former national chair- from araw pacer to abowler with astute MOHAMMED ISMAIL gathers himself, clears couldn’t return to India forhis father’s final Secunderabad Gymkhana ground. Everyone man of selectors, says it’sbecause of the cricketing nous. his throat, and tries his best to control his rites. “Stay strong foryour father’s dream”; assembledthat morning, but Siraj wasmiss- abundance of fast bowlers that Siraj had to The successes on the cricket field, however, emotions, before uttering the barelyaudible: those wordsfromcaptain ViratKohli helped ing. When Ilater inquired,hesaid,‘Sir,Idon’t wait so long to makehis Test debut. “Siraj’s have notchanged Siraj’s outlook or de- “Iwish abba (lateMohammedGhouse) was Siraj stay backinAustralia. However, Ismail have the moneytotraveltoand frofrom storyissimilar to that of T. Natarajan’s as both meanour.Lastyear,the familyshiftedfrom alive today.” remembers his brother breaking down over Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Howmuch have made it from humble beginnings. their modestrentedapartment in Masabtank Ismail —elder brother of Team India’s lat- acall, days aftertheir father's demise. “He will Itrouble my father formoney.’Itold There’s neverbeen anydoubt in my mind to amorelavish setting at TowliChowki, near estpacesensationMohammedSiraj —says he’s calledmefromAustralia and didn’t sayany- him, 'Never hesitatetoask me forany sort abouthis credentials as ared-ball bowler. Mehdipatnam. BackinHyderabad, he is abit groggy afterbeing gluedtothe television thing. All Icould hear wasthe sound of him of financial help'.” Because we have an abundance of fast-bowl- known to have fundedwedding ceremonies setintheweehoursonSaturdaytowatch Siraj sobbing inconsolably,” Ismailrecollects. Mohd Siraj’s father passeddays after Siraj's fieryspell at an U-23 game caught ing talentsthat Siraj had to take the routeof of friends and relatives. “Allah has been kind makeasensationalTestdebutattheMelbourne It wasGhouse, an auto-rickshawdriver’s, Team India reachedAustralia. Instagram the eyeofJyothiPrasad,then chairman of se- IPL and T20s before making it in long-form to us. So, Siraj is making it apoint to give back Cricket Ground. “Afterwhat we have gone unflinching supportthat gave Sirajthe confi- lectors, who pickedthe pacer forthe Ranji cricket. Look at his first-class numbers, they to society.Heisreallylarge-heartedand never throughoverthelastmonth,thisisaproudmo- dence to bunk classes andsneak pastdiscipli- Trophy. According to Prasad,Siraj benefited arereallyimpressive,” he avers. stops even once when it comes to going out mentforus.IwanttothankAllah.Abbaalways narian mother Shabana Begum to playten- coaching centrecalledCharminar Cricket enormouslyinhis firstseason as afirst-class In 38 first-class games, Siraj has ac- of his waytohelpothers,”Ismail says. wanted Siraj to playTestcricket forIndia. He nis-ball cricket in his mohallanearMasabtank. Club. “Iwas impressedbywhat Isaw.Hewas cricketer, because the Hyderabad coachwas counted for152 scalps, averaging ashade Ready to forego anywee-hour tranquil- wouldalways say, ‘Deshkanaamroshankaro,” Formal training beganat18, whenafriend in- rawbut had the ability to extract good pace," Bharat Arun, current bowling coachofthe over 23, with four five-wicket hauls. In 2016, lity forthe next four days,Ismail hopes Ismail tells The Indian Express over the phone troducedSiraj to 'Mabboob sir', agenial mid- Mabboob notes. "On his debut againstaclub Indian team. “Bharat playedakey role in his he picked41wickets, galvanisingHyderabad Melbourne Test Day1isjustthe firstday of fromhisTowliChowkiresidenceinHyderabad. dle-aged man,who runs an HCA-affiliated calledBalaji CC, he pickedfivewickets." evolution as afastbowler. He fine-tunedhis to theRanji Trophyknock-outsfor the first Siraj's long and fruitfulinternational career. BRIEFLY NewZealand222-3 New-look India atstumpson1stday Impressive debutants, unrelenting bowlers &ashrewdcaptain helpvisitors move on from Adelaidedebaclewith an all-roundshow Mount Maunganui: Kane Williamson made an unbeaten 94 andshared a 120-run partnership with Ross Taylor SANDIPG How Ashwin remainedastep whichliftedNew Zealand intoastrong DECEMBER26 position at stumps Saturdayonthe firstday of the firstcricket test against ANENSEMBLEcastcomprisingtwodebutants, aheadofSmith &Labuschagne Pakistan. Taylor made 70 and twohighly-skilledbowlers at the peak of their Williamson addedafurther 89 with prowess, and an inspiredcaptain combinedto HenryNicholls who was42not outat produce ablockbusterfirstday forIndia in the stumps when NewZealand was222- BoxingDay Test.Itwas abright dayin SRIRAMVEERA 3. Williamsoncametothe crease MelbournewhenAjinkyaRahane’sleadership DECEMBER26 when onlythree balls had been felt likeabreath of fresh air,Jasprit Bumrah bowledand remainedfor the next 86.3 bowled likethe wind in the morning, RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN doesn’t quiterip overs,reshaping the NewZealand in- MohammedSiraj whippedupastorm, and an off-break around off-stump, with loop nings and changing the course of the Ravichandran Ashwin blewlikeacalm after- and dip, and letthe batsman cope withit. firstday.Pakistanhad been on topaf- noon breeze. And at the fagend, came LikeMuttiah Muralitharan, especially when terwinning the toss, bowling on a ShubmanGill, likearipple of evening thunder. younger,usedtodo. Or as Nathon Lyon does green pitchand afterShaheen Afridi Australia reeledunder the weather,mus- on occasions. The artofAshwin lies in entan- removedNew ZealandopenersTom teringonly195 runs on aplacid surface after gling the batsmen intomeanderings from Latham for4and TomBlundell for5 choosing to bat, before India endedthe dayat whichtheyare unable to disengage them- withonly13runs on the board. 36/1.The scoreatstumps wasthe onlyre- selvesintime. LikeSteve Smith on Day1of BRIEF SCORES: NewZealand 222/3 minder of that afternoon in Adelaide, as India thisBoxing DayTest. (Williamson 94*, Nicholls 42*, Taylor demonstrated that theyhavethe skills as well The ball that took out Smith openedup 70,Afridi 3/55) vs Pakistan as the will to turn adversity around.If the scars itstrickery underthe gaze of the batsman, of Adelaide remained, theydid well to conceal rather than reveal itsperfection from the mo- RAshwin pickedcrucial wickets of them. Rather,theywereatransformedbunch, ment it wasreleased. It’s afamiliar theme Wade, Smithand Paine. AP EastBengalhold bustlingwithenergyandpurposeandbound- with Ashwin. His deliveriesare constructed Chennaiyin2-2 ing with relish and resolve.Rahane seizedthe forwhat abatsman might do, tailored to momentsandensuredthattheteamkept their probethe anticipated response, as opposed The artofAshwinlies in Bambolim:Germanmidfielder Matti poise and composure. to apre-fabricatedline of thought. He does- entangling the batsmen into Steinmann emergedasthe unlikely Aclassic example of his non-plussedcap- Mohammed Siraj took twowicketsand as manycatchesonhis Test debut. Reuters n’t do thosepre-designeddream balls. meanderings from which source of goals forSCEastBengal as taincy waswhen Travis Head and Marnus SomeonelikeShane Warne can dispense the Kolkataside ralliedtodraw2-2 Labuschagnewere engineeringacomebackaf- with reality and makethe batsmen dance to theyare unable to disengage with Chennaiyin FC in the HeroIndian terfindingthemselvesineachother’scompany ter. Somewouldspinandbounce,somewould SCORECARD hismachinations.Hisgeniusandtheartofleg- themselvesintime. Like Super League at the Tilak Maidan. at 38/3. Weathering the initial storm, the two justbounce, some would justspin. The uncer- spin allowedhim to do that. Barring SteveSmith on Day1ofthis Chennaiyin took the lead twice, were looking to accelerate, when Rahane tainty washarrowing forAustralia’s batsmen. Muralitharan, off-spinners don’t have such AUSTRALIA VS INDIA through Lallianzuala Chhangte(13') recommissionedBumrah. Areactive captain As wasSiraj,whose skills Rahane master- wizardryintheDNAoftheirart.Buteverynow Boxing DayTest MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND and Rahim Ali (64'). However, abrace wouldhave soughtdefensive measures,likein- fullyharnessed. In the lead-up to tea, he was and then, Ashwin manages to create aprivate from Matti Steinmann (59', 68') saw troducing RavindraJadeja or setting run-stop- bowling intenselybut without luck.Eachtime Toss: Australia, chose to bat reality within the batsmen’sworld wherehe Robbie Fowler's side split honours in ping fields. Here, Rahane counterattacked he beat the edge or an edge fell short, Siraj makes them work against themselves. off. It wasaninteresting move;hehad at- an exciting encounter.OnSunday, Australia’s counter.Head struckBumrah fora would throw his hands in the air.But Rahane AUSTRALIA 195ALL OUT The surprise in Smith’s dismissal wasn’t temptedone in Ashwin’s firstoverbut was Kerala Blasters will take on brace of boundaries offfuller deliveries,which would walk up to him and reassurehim.He JBurnscPantbBumrah 0(10b) howitendedbut howsoonitended. Justtwo beaten, neverthelessherevived that ap- Hyderabad FC. Both sides have played in the end seemedlikeanelaboratescheme. evenobligedhimwithareferralthatlookedfar MWadecJadejabAshwin 30(39b,3x4) balls. Ashwin targeted theintendedshotor proachnow.Whenthe ball wasfuller,he six matches so farwith seventh- Thepacerthenpushedtheleft-handerontothe fromstraightforward (andoncepolitelyrefused MLabuschagnecGillbSiraj 48(132b,4x4) rather the hands, that Smith claimedtohave would push it away,without abig stride, let- placedHyderabad FC sitting justtwo backfootwithamixtureofshort andshort-of- another requestfromSiraj). Mostimportantly, SSmithcPujarabAshwin 0(8b) found during the limited-overs leg of the ting his dextrous hands take care of the de- placesabove Kerala Blasters on the length deliveries,beforehebowledone fuller the skipper kept his faith in the debutant. And THeadcRahanebBumrah 38(92b,4x4) tour.The firstball spun sharplydownleg but viation.For the rest,hewould shuffleside- table, but with adifference of six and seaming away from Head, who prodded justbeforetea, he dismissedLabuschangne. CGreenlbwSiraj 12(60b) Smith didn’t handcuffhis hands. The next ways to ping the large gapatcovers, left points. While Kerala have suffered instinctivelyattheballwithhisfeetcrease-tied. Buoyed, Siraj increasedhis pace andpur- TPainecViharibAshwin 13(38b,2x4) droppedonalength around middle-and-leg, deliberatelyopen. Formostofthe day, three defeats, theNizams sawtheir An edge wasall but unavoidable. chasedreverseswing, notmassive like in the PCumminscSirajbJadeja 9(33b,1x4) forcing Smith to lunge. Ashwin bowled with justtwo on the off-side. unbeaten streak end in their previous The final wall of resistance wasbreached, subcontinent but justenough to troublethe MStarccSirajbBumrah 7(8b,1x4) Foraminute, scrub out the twoplayers, Ashwin’s artisn’t static. It keeps chang- game againstMumbai City. and Australia fell apart, notinaheap but brick batsmen. Eventually,Cameron Green missed NLyonlbwBumrah 20(17b,2x4,1x6) photoshop in Ricky Ponting and Harbhajan ing colours according to the perceived by other.Central to that wasIndia’s planning oneandwaspinnedinfrontof thewicket,end- JHazlewoodnotout 4(1b,1x4) Singh – and youwouldn’t have noticedadif- threat. Soon, he shiftedtoaround the IrvingstarsasNets andthe supreme execution of theirplans. The ing another brief period of resistance. Here ■ Extras(nb3,w1,b10) 14 ference. The seam of the ball towardsleg- stumps, and over-spun one on leg-and- dismissals of SteveSmith and his protege again,Rahanewouldhave beentemptedtore- ■ FoW: 1-10(Burns,4.2),2-35(Wade,12.5),3- gully, the ripping side-spinand the door- middle on alength. Labuschagne almost beatCeltics Labuschagne stood out, forboththe enormity placeSiraj withUmeshYadavorBumrahto pol- 38(Smith,14.3),4-124(Head,41.5),5-134 knob turn of the wristatreleasethattook the combusted, going foranill-executed sweep of thewickets as well as the rationalebehind ish offAustralia’s lowerorder,but that would (Labuschagne,49.3),6-155(Green,61.4),7-155 ball in the air from ashade outside offtoits on an urge,and wassaved by theDRS on Boston:Kyrie Irving scored 37 points, the tactics. Both areleg-side virtuosos. So have been cruel to Sirajwho wasbowling hos- (Paine,62.6),8-164(Starc,67.1),9-191(Lyon, eventual destination. Perhaps it wasthe lure the lbwappeal. Kevin Durant added29, and the visit- mostcaptains and bowlers look to blocktheir tilelyaswell as tirelessly. 71.5),10-195(Cummins,72.3) of the trajectory, but Smith’s hands tres- Though the moistureevaporated from ing Brooklyn Nets enjoyedasuccess- leg-side run-scoring avenues and overcom- But afterTim Paine departed, Bumrahwas ■ Bowling:JBumrah16-4-56-4,UYadav12- passedintoareas from whichhecouldn’t ex- the trackinthe second session, Ashwin re- ful return to theNBA's Christmas Day pensatebybowling outside the off-stump. reintroduced.Hedidtheneedfulwiththewick- 2-39-0,RAshwin24-7-34-3,RJadeja5.3-1- tricatethem in time. turnedaround the stumps but wiselyaban- schedule by pulling away in the sec- But sometimes, batsmen aremostvulnera- etsofMitchellStarc and NathanLyon, before 15-1,MSiraj15-4-40-2 Marnus Labuschagne toodid the same, donedthat line of attackafter sensing the ond half fora123-95 victoryoverthe ble playing the instinctive strokes. Both Smith Jadeja deniedhim afive-for by packing Pat almost. UnlikeSmith, he seemedmorein- lackofpre-lunchbiting turn and bounce. BostonCeltics on Friday. In his first and Labuschagne could notresistthe leg-side Cummins. But India’s good work would have INDIA36/1 tent to playoff the backfoot. Ashwin’s plan From over the stumps, he quietlytriedpush- regular-season game in Bostonsince glide,and the fielders were perfectlysta- been largely negated hadtheylostmorethan MAgarwallbwStarc 0(6b) wasready: to gethim caught at backward ing Labuschagne backand getting him to joining the Nets,Irving made 13 of 21 tionedtogobble up the ensuing catches. the wicket of Mayank Agarwal. Forthis,they SGillbatting 28(38b,5x4) short-leg, wristing the turning bouncing wristthe turning ball to waiting hands. shots,hit seven3-pointers, and Smith wascaught at leg-gully and have to thank the free-stroking Gill, who in his CPujarabatting 7(23b,1x4) ball offhis hip. If the batsman tries to block Though he wasn’t successful, asimilar line handedout eight assists. Irving scored Labuschagneatbackwardsquare-leg. 28 notout of 38 balls oozedample signs that ■ Extras (nb1) 1 straight down the pitch, the bounceand of attackworkedfor Mohammed Siraj. 17 by halftime, but the Nets trailedby Smith seemedhypnotisedbythe curve he’s equippedtodealwiththe best of seamers ■FoW:1-0(Agarwal,0.6) turn wouldhopefullybeenough to getthe Ashwin has already shown in the first three before outscoring Boston72-41 Ashwin conjured throughout what would ar- intheworld.Thepullstrokesoff Starcwerebru- ■ Bowling:MStarc4-2-14-1,PCummins ball ricochet offthe inner edge to forward Testsofthe lasttours to England and in the second half in their first guablybehisbestdayinAustralia.Itwasaspell tal;imperiouswashewhenhesteppedoutand 4-1-14-0,JHazlewood2-0-2-0,NLyon short-leg.The ball sailedpastthe twoshort- Australia that his artisn’t parochial. It isn’t Christmas Daygame since facing out of the off-spinner’s dreams, when every- droveLyonagainstthe turn through mid-off. 1-0-6-0 legs afew times and then Labuschagne pinneddowntoIndia’s soil.But untimelyin- Chicagoin2013. thingwascomingoutperfectlyfromhisfingers Thoughhewasoncegrassed,Gillshowedexcel- DAY2,LIVE ON SONY made his move. juries meanthecouldn’t finish what he AGENCIES -fromthe amount of drift,dip, pace and spin. lent defensive technique to ensurethat India SPORTS NETWORK, 5AM He startedtomovesideways.Side-step- startedonthosetours.Now,itseems, he is The ball wasobedient to the orders of itsmas- didn’t sufferfurther damage. ping to leg,hestarted to cut and punchtothe on acelebratoryrun. Late Leicester equaliser ends Man SA players raise fists before first Test vs Lanka United’s away winning streak in astatement. "In this contextitwas apow- West BromwichAlbion on Sunday. PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA Sri Lanka take erful gestureoftriumph, an acknowledgment REUTERS Marcus Rashfordhad missedawide-open CENTURION,DECEMBER26 of the struggle againstapartheid, and acom- LEICESTER,DECEMBER26 header but put United ahead in the 23rd control after Day 1 mitmenttocontinuing to fight forequality, minutewithacool finish afterbeing slipped SOUTH AFRICAN players raisedafisttoac- justice and freedom, while also honouringthe LEICESTERCITYcame backtwice to end in by Fernandes before HarveyBarnes knowledge thecountry's struggle against Pretoria: Dinesh Chandimal and religious and cultural responsibilities of every ManchesterUnited's away winning streak in equalisedeight minutes later withafine shot apartheid but refrainedfromtakingthe knee Dhananjaya de Silva scoredfluent half- member of our team." the Premier League with a2-2 draw at the from the edge of the box.Rashfordhad agreat associated with the global BlackLives Matter centuries as Sri Lanka took advantage The players said the team had, on multi- King Powerstadium on Saturday. AJamie chance to put Unitedback in front on the hour Movement justbeforethe startofthe first of some lacklustreSouth Africa bowl- pleoccasions, declared its"unmistakable" Vardyshotwhichdeflected offUnitedde- but his powerful drive waswell savedbythe Test againstSri Lanka, hereonSaturday. ing to post340 forsix at the close of supporttothe BLM campaign and commit- fender Axel Tuanzebe, five minutes from the right hand of Kasper Schmeichel. The players, ledbyQuinton de Kock, dayone of the firsttestatCenturion tedtocontinuedoing the same together. end, securedapoint forBrendan Rodgers' side TwominuteslaterAnthonyMartialhadan raisedtheir firsts aftersinging the South Park on Saturday. REUTERS "Werecognize thatour actions will afterBruno Fernandes appeared to have se- effortdisallowedfor offside but Fernandesre- African nationalanthem before thestart of BRIEF SCORES: SriLanka 340/6 mostlikelyresult in criticism from some curedanother victoryonthe road forUnited. storedUnited'sleadinthe79thminute,drilling the opening dayatthe Super SportPark. (Chandimal 85, de Silva 79, Mulder community,one wayoranother,but ... we Ole GunnarSolskjaer's side, who had won intothe bottom corner afterbeing foundin- Pressurehas been mounting on the Proteas 3/68) vs South Africa have takenthe decision through aprocess their lastten away games in the Premier side the area by substitute Edinson Cavani. to showtheir supporttothe global BLM of deepdemocracy to raise ourfists.We League, stay thirdon27points, apoint be- Again though, the lead wasshort-livedas Movement by taking aknee, but the players recognize the historical and political con- hind second-placedLeicester. Liverpoolare Vardy'sfirsttime shotonthe half-turn from a South Africa'sLungi Ngidi celebrates in astatement said that the raisedfists have ownhistory,asexpressedinthe iconicimages notations of the raised fist as agesture of topofthe standings on 31 pointsand have a lowcross from Ayoze Perez, went in off aftertakingawicket. AP more historicalcontext to theSouth Africans. of Nelson and Winnie Mandela on Mandela's ongoing solidarity in the fight forracial chance to extend their lead when theyface Tuanzebeand earnedapoint forthe Foxes. "Theraisedfistisapowerful gestureinour release from prison in 1990," the players said justice and anti-racism work.”
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