YEARS

# 1 Indian American Weekly : Since 2006

VOL 15 ISSUE 12 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2021 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 ● [email protected] www.theindianpanorama.news THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 02 We Salute India’s Martyrs

YEARS

# 1 Indian American Weekly : Since 2006

VOL 15 ISSUE 12 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2021 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 ● [email protected] www.theindianpanorama.news

HOLI AND VAISAKHI SPECIAL EDITIONS Atlanta shootings leave 8

will bring out special editions tomark dead at Asian businesses HOLI AND VAISAKHI HOLI SPECIAL EDITION will be Six of the victims at the three businesses were Asian women published on March 26, for which articles may please be submitted by Asian American community shocked and fear-stricken March 23. Advertising space may please be booked by March 22. Nationwide condemnation of the attack on Asian -Americans Please send articles and advertising requests to [email protected] I.S. SALUJA VAISAKHI SPECIAL EDITION will be published on April 9. Advertisements ATLANTA (TIP): Eight people were may please be booked by April 2, and killed in shootings at three businesses articles for publication may please be in the Atlanta area on Tuesday, March submitted by March 30 to 16. Six of the eight victims were Asian [email protected] women, authorities said. The attacks began at around 5 pm Tuesday, March 16afternoon. Atlanta UK PM Boris to visit India police officers first responded to a crime in April-end scene at Young's Asian Massage, where Will shift focus to Indo-Pacific in four people were killed, in Cherokee County, just north of Atlanta. The post-Brexit review victims were Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul UK Prime Minister Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Boris Johnson will CONTD ON PAGE 44 visit India at the end of April << Police at the scene of crime NEW DELHI (TIP): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India House passes bill to give Dreamers and other at the end of April, his first major international tour after London's exit undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship from the EU. Roughly 2.5 million undocumented The announcement from London nation's broken immigration system just came after the minister for South Asia immigrants to benefit as President Biden confronts a growing Tariq Ahmad wrapped up his visits WASHINGTON (TIP): The surge of migrants at the border, says a where which included interactions Democratic-led House voted on New York Times report filed byNicholas with External Affairs Minister S Thursday, March 18, to create a path to Fandos. In a near party-line vote of 228 to Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary citizenship for millions of 197, with just nine Republicans joining A rally in Los Angeles in support of the Deferred Harsh Vardhan Shringla. undocumented immigrants, reopening a Democrats, the House moved to set up a Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. CONTD ON PAGE 42 politically fraught debate over the CONTD ON PAGE 42 File photo / Los Angeles Times Facebook sees computing’s future on your wrist The science behind Facebook's new vision for the human- Photo of prototype computer interface - electromyography, or EMG - can read Facebook wristband nerve signals in muscles anywhere in the body. But Facebook that reads nerve researchers said the wrist is the ideal spot to apply it. impulses, on a person's arm with NEW YORK (TIP): Facebook researchers are rapidly the finger pointing learning how to replace mouse clicks and screen taps with Photo / Facebook finger twitches. contd on page 42 THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 04 Indian - Origin Small Business Owner Attends Round Table with Kamala Harris WASHINGTON (TIP): An Indian - who come in and you can recognize if origin businesswoman, who imports they're having a bad day and you already goods and supports widowed women in know what they want to they don't even India, has participated in a round table have to put in an order," she said. with Kamala Harris and asked the US Ms Harris said those in need of Vice President to back a global plastic assistance have been opening up their policy. car trunks to pick up food boxes but Lalitha Chittoor, the owner of Eco All leave handwritten notes and sometimes Trading LLC, a small micro business a tip thanking the volunteers. involved in wholesale trading of "These families who have nothing sustainable products such as stainless because they've lost so much, tipping the steel, bamboo, birch wood attended the volunteers for their generosity and round table with Harris in Denver, recognizing the dignity of their work," Colorado on Tuesday along with her she said daughter. Born in Chennai and a naturalized Ms Harris brought up the citizen of the US, Ms Chittoor started administration's climate change efforts her business at the behest of her and said a policy staffer would follow up daughter. Her primary customers are with her. Ms. Chittoor's business During the round table, Lalitha Chittoor asked Ms. Harris to back a global plastic policy restaurants, federal government, state founded in 2019, is women-owned and government, school cafeterias, prison imports goods from India and supports heartbeat of every community. models," she said. cafeterias, hospital cafeterias. widowed women in India. "Our small business leaders are not "It is our small businesses that hire During the round table, Ms Chittoor She told the round table that the small only business leaders, you are civic from the community, that uplift the asked Ms. Harris to back a global plastic businesses were really part of the leaders, community leaders, role community, that have regular customers policy. Two Indian-origin South African Indian-origin man charged women won International accolades for cyber-stalking for their exemplary leadership WASHINGTON JOHANNESBURG (TIP): Two young (TIP): A 31-year-old Indian-origin women from South Africa's Indian-origin computer Pretoria city, a 21-year-old beauty security consultant has products entrepreneur and a 30-year-old been charged in the US architect, have won international for allegedly engaging accolades for their exemplary leadership in cyber-stalking this week. campaign against a Beauty products entrepreneur, Rabia woman and threatening Ghoor, received the Forbes Woman Africa multiple people, 'Young Achievers' Award for 2021, while including a deputy architect Sumayya Vally, was included in prosecutor and a police the 2021 Times100 list that acknowledges officer investigating leaders who are shaping the future. collaborations. That is exposure for my him. Ghoor's award was announced during a brand and myself. I think winning opened Sumit Garg from virtual Forbes summit to celebrate networking opportunities," she added. Seattle was indicted on African women leaders who are Vally became the youngest ever Wednesday, March 17 by committed to economic and social architect to make in the Times100 list for a federal grand jury for transformation on the continent. Ghoor her role in the design of the pavilion for conspiracy to engage in cyber-stalking, skills to threaten multiple people in the started 'Swiitch Beauty', her make-up and London's Serpentine Galleries. She joins three counts of cyber-stalking in former roommate's life, including her skincare online beauty store at just 14, such internationally celebrated violation of criminal order, and two uncle who represented her in obtaining dropping out of school two years later to architects as Frank Gehry and Zaha counts of cyber-stalking, Acting US a civil protection order; her current concentrate full-time on the business, Hadid. Attorney Tessa M Gorman announced. boyfriend; the Seattle Police Detective which was inspired after she spotted a Vally established the company Garg was transferred to federal who investigated the threats; and even gap for the African market. Counterspace five years ago in custody last week and was ordered the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who "American, European or Asian brands partnership with a group of friends while detained at the Federal Detention Centre filed charges against Garg for his illegal that are unavailable here in South Africa still lecturing at the Graduate School of at SeaTac on March 15, 2021, the US stalking conduct. were constantly innovating and evolving, Architecture at the University of Department of Justice said in a He used his computer skills to try to especially in the digital space, while Johannesburg. She said the company was statement. hide who was sending the threats or South African brands lagged behind or formed with the aim of developing a He will be arraigned on the indictment making the posts. just straight up didn't exist. design language that acknowledges and on March 25. The case is being investigated by the "I began researching product sourcing, celebrates the African continent. According to a detailed criminal United States Secret Service with formulation, e-commerce, packaging, "It is an absolute privilege to be on a list complaint and the indictment in the assistance from the Seattle Police manufacturing, design with the end goal with so many artists, innovators and case, Garg has been involved in an Department. in mind being to create a beauty brand leaders who I look up to. It has deepened extensive campaign of threats and Conspiracy to engage in cyber- that firstly, didn't break the bank and the sense of responsibility to our sexually explicit messaging and posts stalking is punishable by up to five years secondly - made things that people would histories, our hybrid identities and our about a woman who used to share an in prison. Cyber-stalking in violation of actually use in real life - things that did futures that I strive to embody in my apartment with his spouse. criminal order is punishable by a what they said they were going to do," work, and the sense of responsibility that Using her personal information, Garg mandatory minimum of one year and a Ghoor said. I have to my communities," Vally told the threatened and tormented the former maximum of five years in prison. Cyber- "After being announced as the winner, I website Laudium Today in her roommate in violation of court order. stalking is punishable by up to five years received tones of emails for hometown. He allegedly also used his computer in prison. THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 05 Indian American high Indian-origin crypto investor school Basketball phenom commits to Stanford buys $69.3 million artwork PARAMJIT S AUJLA SINGAPORE/ NEW DELHI SACRAMENTO (TIP): Singapore-based Indian (TIP) : Indian Cryptocurrency investor Metakovan American high has bought an artwork by digital school basketball artist Beeple for $69.3 million. phenom Ryan Various media reports cited that Agarwal has Metakova is a pseudonym of the committed to investor, which means King of Meta Stanford University. in the Tamil language. His real Agarwal made the identity is not known, but the announcement investor is the co-founder of the Tuesday,March 16 NFT collection called Metapurse. afternoon via a The investor successfully commitment video acquired the piece, titled- posted on his social "And I have Everydays: The First 5,000 Days-for media. decided to go with $69,346,250 (Rs 504 crore "It's truly a my dream school, approximately), according to the blessing to have Stanford auction house Christie's. experienced this University", said Indian American According to reports, the price The artwork a Singapore-based Indian Cryptocurrency investor has bought for $69.3 million recruitment high school jumped from the $20 million range process, a process basketball phenom to over $50 million in the last that lives on the Ethereum Twobadour, the steward of that I will never Ryan Agarwal minutes of the auction. blockchain and proves digital Metapurse whose real identity is forget" Agarwal said The work in question is a mosaic ownership of its associated media. also unknown, said he understands in the video. "However, it can only be of 5,000 artworks made over the last According to the New York Times, that valuation might sound like a one." 13 years by Mike Winkelmann, who the most expensive painting ever "fantastical number, but we do "And I have decided to go with my goes by the artist name Beeple. sold was a Leonardo da Vinci that believe that down the line this has dream school, Stanford University." It's by far the largest known sale went for $450.3 million in 2017. the potential to become the most Agarwal thanked his coaches, family, of an NFT, a special type of token The Art Newspaper reported that valuable piece of art ever". and friends in the five-minute video. The four-star signee also received offers from Harvard, Princeton, Oklahoma State, and Rice University, Indian American Republican'JD' Diganvker running among others. In a recent interview with the for highway commissioner in Illinois Township American Bazaar, prior to his commitment, Agarwal said there were CHICAGO (TIP): Indian American focuses primarily on maintaining roads three things he was looking at most Republican Jitendra "JD" Diganvker is and bridges in the unincorporated areas when considering a school to play for. no stranger to politics and public service. of township. Unincorporated Maine "A relationship with the head coach is A small business owner, he ran against Township is also home to many minority huge," said Agarwal. That's who he will Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IL, from communities who are entirely be playing for, putting him in games, and Illinois' 8th congressional district in 2016. unrepresented on the Maine Township teaching him the most, Agarwal noted; a Now Diganvker, known as "JD," is Board. As a resident of unincorporated role he seems to trust with Stanford taking another stab at electoral politics. Maine Township and a member of its Head Coach Jerod Haase. This time he is running for the post of ethnic community,I think I will be able to Play style was also an important factor Highway Commissioner in the Maine do just representation." according to Agarwal. Township, a suburb of Chicago. Diganvker said he wants to keep "Me being a shooter and a guy who The long time Illinois resident, who is roadways open and safe while also acting spreads the floor more, and tries to get running on a Republican slate, told the as a strong steward of hard-earned out in transition and shoot, I wouldn't American Bazaar that the taxpayer funds. want to play on a team that just [has the commissioner's job would provide him "I plan to lower the tax over the next ball] stay in the guard's hands or goes to with the right platform to address local four years to reduce the excess the bigs and they score inside all the issues. Diganvker said his candidacy is JD is running for the post of Highway accumulated by my predecessors time. I'd rather be on a team that spreads important as the Maine Township is Commissioner in the Maine Township, a through over-taxation," he said. "I also the floor, moves the ball well and shoots home to many minority communities suburb of Chicago plan to regularly meet with residents of the ball a lot." "who are entirely unrepresented." various neighborhoods in the township One of the best long-range snipers in Born in India, Diganvker immigrated that, through his candidacy, he wants to to brainstorm about how to improve our his class, Agarwal should look to have to the United States in 1999. A US citizen send a message to all Indian Americans government and make it more efficient plenty of opportunities to light the ball since 2003, he made Des Plaines and to concentrate on local offices. "More and inclusive." fly playing alongside five-star point Maine Township his home. In 2003, he voices at a local level, bring in real issues Diganvker spoke about his priorities if forward and McDonald's All-American launched a small business, along with his to the center stage," he said. he gets elected. "My first issue would be Harrison Ingram and four-star guard Isa wife. It employed five people and grew by Speaking about the increasing Indian to make sure all our citizens receive their Silva next season. 230 percent over the next seven years. American presence in US politics, he Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible," he At the end of the day,it's also about Diganvker is not the only Indian said, "Americans are more welcoming to said. Secondly, we had a particularly bad development Agarwal told The American Republican on ballot in the all candidates who come forward to winter this year so I will be on road to American Bazaar. While playing April 6 local elections. Smitesh Shah is represent them on a local level and they review our roads and bridges and do the Division I basketball was a goal of his, running for the Maine Township clerk. have high regard for Indian Americans." needful." the 6'6 wing has his sights set on the The presence of two Indian Americans Diganvker said if he goes on to win, it Lastly, he added, "With COVID-19 NBA in the future. on GOP slate is a first, according to old- will increase representation for the taking a toll on all aspects of life, every "I know I'm not an NBA athlete right timers. community."This will also be our chance family is affected and has somehow lost a now, so college at the end of the day is Early voting for the local elections to represent our community in local loved one. At this time, healing and safety gonna have to take me to that point begins on March 22. government," he said "The Maine is of paramount importance to me." where I want to be and so the Diganvker told the American Bazaar Township Highway Commissioner (Source: American Bazar) development and how they train, not just team wise, but personally is gonna be READ MORE INDIANS ABROAD STORIES ON PAGE 40 huge." THE INDIAN PANORAMA NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 06 BAPS Charities organized a COVID-19 vaccination drive in Melville

MELVILLE, NY (TIP): As the country takes steps education by a grassroots telephone campaign and towards distributing COVID vaccines to the population, through local media on the vaccination's necessity and many communities throughout the United States are safety. either uninformed or misinformed about the process Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive, said, "BAPS and effectiveness of being vaccinated. Charities is doing is an important aspect of the process BAPS Charities organized a COVID-19 vaccination of vaccination. Through such vaccination sites, we are drive in Melville, New York on March 5, 2021, in reaching parts of the community that may not be collaboration with the State of New York COVID-19 getting access." Task Force and Stony Brook University Hospital Members of US Representative Thomas Suozzi's benefitting 240 participants. office presented a Certificate of Special Congressional While the hospital staff handled the registration of Recognition on behalf of the Congressman to BAPS individuals, administration of the vaccination and Charities for hosting the vaccination drive. New York post-vaccination care, BAPS Charities played an State Assemblyman Steven H. Stern (10th Dist.) and essential role in ensuring that the vaccine's Chad A. Lupinacci, Town Supervisor for Huntington beneficiaries had a safe and smooth experience. In Township, visited the vaccination drive and expressed particular, the volunteers assisted in providing safe process lasted less than 30 minutes. their appreciation and gratitude on behalf of their flow and translation services. On average, the onsite Before the vaccination, BAPS Charities provided constituents. GOPIO Organizes 1st Ever Webinar Session "India's Outreach to the Diaspora - Youth Perspective"

Shanti Bhavan to launch High School Chapter program in the US Part of the participants at the GOPIO Youth Session NEW YORK (TIP): The Shanti Bhavan Children's Program has decided to launch a High School Chapter Top: Amb. Anup Mudgal and Dr. Thomas Abraham; Bottom Dr. Beena program in the US in view of the recent Ramachandran considerable interest from students wishing to bring about social change by better. Young people are the HOPE for the future as they are furthering their involvement with creative and fill of energy. Identifying youth leaders and Shanti Bhavan. By establishing student supporting them in their efforts to be the leaders who could be chapters on campuses across the United a critical link between the government of India and the States, young people can create change immigrant youth who are spread around the world. in their own communities while helping With the objective of providing a youth forum that will Shanti Bhavan's students create change provide a platform for the Diaspora youth to help amplifying in theirs. Through these chapters, youth actions that will help create change in approach and students will build leadership and programs by the Government of India, GOPIO International Ambassador Anup Mudgal and GOPIO International Chairman Dr. service skills by spearheading Thomas Abraham with selected youth presenters. organized a virtual session on "India's Outreach to Diaspora- discussions, organizing fundraisers, Top row: from L. to R. Amb. Anup Mudgal, Dr. Abraham. Akshat Gupta; Youth Perspective" on Sunday, March 7th, 2021. Attended by and spreading awareness of Shanti Middle row: from L. to R. Anjo Therattil, Abhi Parikh, Ananya Kotiyan; youth and senior leaders of the Diaspora from around the Bhavan's mission. Bottom row, from L. to R. Vedant Gannu, Nithya Shenoy and Alicia Kaur world, the event provided the participants a rare view into the If you know of a great student STAMFORD, CT (TIP): As the youth-led initiatives and youth and their perspectives on how the Diaspora youth power interested in getting involved, email us their success stories around the world have shown, collective can be utilized creatively for the benefit of India and the world. at [email protected] action from young people is already changing things for the (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 07 Indian American Forum organized the Tenth Outstanding Women’s Achievements Awards Gala Dr. Nirmal Kaur Khurana, Dr. Angelish Kumar, Laura Curran, Jennifer Rajkumar, Roopa Patel awarded LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): IAF organized the tenth edition of Outstanding Women 's Achievements Awards Gala virtually on March 6. Supervisor of Town of Oyster Bay Joseph Saladino, New York State Assemblywoman Jennifer Raj Kumar, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Bobby Kumar Kalotee, Founding Member of IAF, and community leadersjoined in the ZOOM call. IAF (Indian American Forum) led by Indu Jaiswal, known for her strong commitment and dedication to the community cause, was the organizing force behind the gala. Well known community leader training at NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S Shammi Singh was the Chairperson of LANGON MEDICAL CENTER. Dr the Gala. Welcoming the guests to the Kumar has handled women's need with event, she congratulated the honorees cutting edge technology very and praised their efforts in achieving successfully for over a decade the high level of success. enhancing the quality of care for busy National anthem of America and New York City women who want to stay India were sung by Gurbani Kaur Sethi fit and make most of their lives. Dr. and Roopam Maini, respectively. Kumar serves on the Executive Boards Aashmeeta Yogiraj Sandhu mastered of Springboard Enterprises, USA and ceremonies. Human Care Charitable Trust a Ganesh Vandana sung by Vandana medical facility in New Delhi, India Jauhar, Dance performances by LAURA CURRAN A very successful students of Nartan Rang Dance NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE Academy and Students from Satya serving the sixth richest county of Narayan School, Vocal performances America, abutting New York City, with by Pallavi, Jyoti Gupta and Kul Gold Coast of America, she opened the Bhushan Sharma enthralled the gates of opportunity to many on Long audience. Island and handled the Pandemic Chanbir Kaur Sethi, Roopam Maini, specter very ably to control it and is Inesha Singh, Rohini Singh and Dr bringing the thriving economy back to Meena Jaiswal coordinated a brief Long Island. Q&A session with the honorees JENNIFER RAJKUMAR A dynamic discussing and emphasizing their political leader and first Indian accomplishments. American Lady to get elected as Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor ASSEMBLY WOMAN OF THE NEW Joseph Saladino congratulated the YOTK STATE ASSEMBLY in the thirty- honorees and acknowledged the efforts eight district to lead the well-known of IAF Team. Five distinguished State of New York with a thriving women who had excelled in their population of over twenty million. We profession and community services wish her good luck were presented with Outstanding MS ROOPAL PATEL A glamorous Women's achievements Awards leader in the fashion world of New York City where she leads as SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT in the prestigious SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, bringing a touch of beauty and elegance to the lives of eight million New York City dwellers and beyond. Also, Citations of Appreciations were presented to Dr Sanjana Jon and Dr NIRMAL KUMAR KHURANA, technologies which is also affiliated Ms Brahashitha Gupta for their MD.MBA. F.A.A. P A very well well- with a medical college in New Delhi. community services. known pediatrician of Long Island, India, to meet the health care Nassau County Executive Laura who not only treated children over half challenges of burgeoning population Curran was all praise for the efforts of a century to maintain their robust and train an army of medical doctors, Indian American Forum and Indian health but also trained an army of to meet future needs. Both are known American Community. She doctors on Long Island Hospitals.: for their philanthropic work over congratulated the honorees and Mercy, South Nassau, Hempstead several decades that served various stressed the importance of role women General Etc. A very successful causes of humanity. are playing in this world. entrepreneur too who along with DR ANGELISH KUMAR MD, NCMP, Citations on behalf of Nassau herhusband Dr ISH KUMAR, a AOA A young dynamic diplomat of the County Executive Laura Curran, Town neurosurgeon, attained successes in American Board of Urology, who is of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph many enterprises in America and affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital. Saladino, New York State Senator founded a large Hospital in India Shei s also the founder of Women's Kevin Thomas were presented to the facility with first class medical Orology, New York, New York. She got Honorees THE INDIAN PANORAMA EDITORIAL FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 08

AS I SEE IT ● India's External Affairs Ministers S Jaishankar made a strong statement in the Boris,beware the Ides of March! Parliament that set the tone for the ensuing period of Indo-UK relations ● Jaishankar's statement came after a question about racism BY PRABHU DAYAL in the UK by an MP Ashwini Vaishnaw It is indeed a cause of some concern ● Vaishnaw alleged that an that some mischievous, anti-India Indian student and former elements in the UK have an president-elect of the Oxford unambiguous agenda of pushing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a taste of Jaishankar plain speak on March 15 when University Student Union was Indian External Affairs Minister said:"As the land of Mahatma Gandhi, we can never ever turn their country's relationship with India our eyes away from racism wherever it is. Particularly so when it is in a country where we have "cyberbullied" on a downward spiral. These include such a large diaspora." Khalistan supporters and Kashmiri up such matters with great candor when agenda of pushing their country's made adverse comments against India required." The use of the expressions 'a activists who have the backing of relationship with India on a downward over press freedom, freedom of speech friend of the UK' and 'strong ties with the Pakistan's ISI. A series of spiral. These include Khalistan and domestic values. UK' indicates that having made known unfortunate developments supporters and Kashmiri activists who The Indian High Commission in his displeasure, he perhaps signaled the engineered by such elements have have the backing of Pakistan's ISI. A London issued a strong statement against Indian Government's willingness to put series of unfortunate developments these British Parliamentarians over their the relationship back on track. been threatening to derail the engineered by such elements have been comments. The High Commission said Notably, within a few hours of making bilateral relationship. threatening to derail the bilateral that it would "normally refrain from his statement in Parliament yesterday, n the Ides of March (15th March), relationship. commenting on an internal discussion Minister Jaishankar and Foreign India's External Affairs Minister A quick review of recent events is involving a small group of Secretary Harsh Shringla held talks OS Jaishankar made a strong needed to put matters in the correct Parliamentarians in a limited quorum. covering bilateral ties and global statement in the Indian Parliament perspective. Tension has slowly built up However, when aspersions are cast cooperation with Lord Tariq Ahmad, the which set the tone for the ensuing period between some British political groups against India by anyone, there's a need to visiting UK Minister of State for South of Indo-UK relations. Jaishankar's and the Indian Government in regard to set the record straight." Asia. The talks assume a great deal of statement came after a question about the farmers protests in India. When To further underline India's significance in view of the fact that racism in the UK by an MP Ashwini British PM Boris Johnson was slated to displeasure, Foreign Secretary Harsh British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Vaishnaw who alleged that Rashmi come to India in January this year as the Shringla summoned the British High will visit India at the end of next month Samant, a student from Karnataka and Chief Guest for the Republic Day Commissioner and conveyed strong in what will be his first major the former president-elect of the Oxford celebrations, more than a hundred opposition to the unwarranted and international trip after Britain's exit University Student Union, was members of the British Parliament had tendentious discussion on India's from the European Union and will be "cyberbullied to the point that she had to signed a letter asking him to raise the agricultural reforms in the British part of his efforts to boost the UK's resign (from the post)." Jaishankar said concerns of India's protesting farmers in Parliament. The Foreign Secretary made opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region. in his reply: "As the land of Mahatma his discussions with Prime Minister it clear that this represented a gross It is a truism that in diplomacy, Gandhi, we can never ever turn our eyes Narendra Modi, as also the "brute force" interference in the politics of another overcoming the main threats to national away from racism wherever it is. employed against them. However, democratic country. He advised that the interests must always override other Particularly so when it is in a country Johnson had to cancel his visit due to the British MPs should refrain from concerns. India's national interests are where we have such a large diaspora." surge in the Coronavirus cases in the UK. practicing vote bank politics by threatened by serious challenges such as Through this statement, the Indian Later, as a follow up of a petition which misrepresenting events, especially in the ongoing stand-off with China, the government sent out a message that if was started by a UK Sikh activist Gurch relation to another fellow democracy. unending tension with Pakistan and the the British parliament can debate India's Singh and signed by more than 1 lakh Thus Jaishankar's 'Ides of March' Covid-19 pandemic with its resultant internal affairs, so can the Indian persons, the House of Commons had statement in Parliament was a firm slowing-down of the economy. No doubt, parliament debate the internal affairs of assigned 90 minutes for a debate on signal that the demarche made recently at this critical juncture, India can ill- Britain. Thus, the clear message sent by March 8, 2021 on matters relating to the by the Foreign Secretary with the UK afford a deterioration in its relationship New Delhi to London is that the trend farmers' protests in India. During this high commissioner last week was more with the UK, but the latter must also being witnessed in Britain to interfere in debate, several MPs from the Liberal than just a passing phenomenon. realize that the reverse is equally true. India's internal affairs must be brought Democrats, Labour Party and the However, Jaishankar went on to say Hopefully, the combination of tough to an end or else it will adversely affect Scottish National Party expressed during the very same statement that "as a posturing and deft diplomacy by India the growth of bilateral ties. concern about the safety of the farmers friend of the UK, we also have concerns will perhaps be able to put things back on It is indeed a cause of some concern protesting against the agricultural laws about its reputational impact," adding track. that some mischievous, anti-India on Delhi's borders and the targeting of "What I do want to say is that we have (The author is a retired Indian diplomat) elements in the UK have an unambiguous journalists covering the agitation. They strong ties with the UK (and) we will take (Courtesy OPOYI)

LETTER TO EDITOR

Charles Edward Winslow's quote from Concern for future pandemics 1842, "The science and art of preventing includes antibiotic resistant COVID-19 AND 2021 disease, prolonging life, and promoting microorganisms called"super bugs" and Dear Editor, History has the nasty habit of repeating physical and mental health and may contribute to the reemergence of itself. Our longevity in the present efficiency through organized diseases that were thought to be under pandemic is an epidemic of an century is mainly due to the successes community efforts for the sanitation of control. A tuberculosis pandemic??? infectious disease that has of public health. The most scientific and the environment, the control of One of my very religious Indian Aspread across the world. technological advances have added only community infections, the education of patients asked me recently, "Dr. Raju, so Throughout human history there have 6 to 8 years to our life. Such is the the individual in principles of personal many people died so sadly, is it their been a number of pandemics of disease, paramount importance of public health, hygiene… will ensure to every karma?" I said instantaneously "Some such as smallpox and tuberculosis, and that even in the era of exponential individual in the community a standard others failed their Dharma, and these the most fatal pandemic in recorded scientific and bioengineering of living adequate for the maintenance people suffered their karma". history was the black death, also known advancements, the impact of basic of health."Obviously,we missed many of Dr. V.K. Raju as the plague. The plague killed over 75 health protections from the 1900s cannot these fundamentals during our present Morgantown, WV million people in the 14th century. be underestimated. Let us recollect epidemic. [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA PERSPECTIVE FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 09 How America’s Big Ag swallowed the family farms BY CHRIS MCGREAL "This is an eye opener for the majority of India's Across the Midwest, middle class who are being the rise of factory fed the narrative that 'Big farming is destroying Ag' is the panacea for Indian farmers difficult situation, rural communities. and especially for small And the massive farmers. I distinctly remember late Arun Jaitley corporations behind had argued against this devastation are Congress initiative bring in now eyeing a post- corporate investment to farming by quoting An abandoned farmhouse with graffiti on the front Across the state, farmhouses where Brexit UK market generations grew up lie abandoned. - Photo / Courtesy Scott Morgan/The Observer American farmers' plight! hen the vast expanse of rural Iowa was carved up for "That's the Shoesmiths' place," she said. "Two years ago, it Why are we still so adamant settlers in the 19th century, it was often divided into had cattle, pigs and pasture." to bring in the new farm W160-acre lots. Four farms made a square mile, with a Now the land is rented out and is all given over to corn. A crisscross of dead-straight roads marking the boundaries like little further along, the Watts family's farmhouse stands empty, laws?" a sprawling chess board. its roof falling in. There are a few relics of the old farm at the Within each square, generations of families tended pigs and place that used to be owned by the Williamses - an abandoned cattle, grew oats and raised children, with the sons most likely hen house and a bit of machinery - but the land is all corn and Did monopoly to take over the farm. That is how Barb Kalbach saw the future soya beans. The Denning house, on Walnut Avenue, was power reduce food when she left her family's land to marry and begin farming bulldozed after the land was sold and rolled into a bigger prices? with her new husband, Jim, 47 years ago. operation. In the past 40 "When we very first were married, we had cattle and calves," It's a story replicated across America's Midwest, with the years, average food she says. "We raised hogs from farrow to finish, and we had rapid expansion of farming methods at the heart of the row prices in America corn, beans, hay and oats. So did everyone around us." over US attempts to erode Britain's food standards and lever have shot up by open access to the UK market as part of a post-Brexit trade more than 200%, Corporate agriculture evolved to take deal. Last weekend, the US ambassador to Britain, Woody Dave Makkar while the earnings control of the entire production line from Johnson, appealed to the UK to embrace US farming, arguing of the bottom 90% that those who warned against practices such as washing have increased by less than 25%. "farm to fork", from the genetics of breeding chicken in chlorine had been "deployed" to cast it "in the worst Joe Maxwell, who leads a possible light". campaign group called Family to wholesalers in the US or far east. As His message was greeted with anger by campaigners. Nick Farm Action, told us about factory farms spread, their demands Dearden of Global Justice Now warned: "It is really an animal entrenched rural poverty, child welfare issue here. If UK farmers want to compete against hunger, and food-insecure homes. dictated the workings of slaughterhouses. American imports, they will have to lower their standards or Not what you'd expect to hear go out of business." His words would come as no surprise to about the most powerful nation. Smaller abattoirs, which offered choice and Rosemary Partridge, who farms in Sac County, western Iowa. Today, rural America feels competitive prices to family farmers, abandoned, its dignity stripped She grew up on an Iowa family farm and then moved with her away. As we drove home, one disappeared, to be replaced by huge husband in the late 1970s to raise pigs and grow crops. thing had become clear to us: far "In the past 20 years, where I am, independent hog farming from being a panacea, the opening operations that were further away and just silently disappeared as the corporates came in," says up of US agriculture, the imposed lower prices on small-scale Partridge. "I live on a hilltop. I can see seven farm families, elimination of MSP-like parity people my kids went to school with. They're all gone now. My schemes, and the rise of contract breeders such as the Kalbachs. county has 11 small towns, and it's almost like I could look back farming has been a lose-lose in slow motion and just see the businesses change and proposition for everybody other Half a century later, Kalbach surveys the destruction within disappear. We've become poorer. Our communities are than Big Ag. the section of chessboard she shared with other farms near basically shattered and in more than just an economic way - in India had better learn from Dexter in southwestern Iowa. Barb and Jim are the last family a social way too." American experience. still working the land, after their neighbors were picked off by This collapse has in good part been driven by the rise of waves of collapsing commodity prices and the rise of factory concentrated animal feeding operations, or Cafos. In these Dave Makkar farming. With that came a vast transfer in wealth as farm industrial farming units, pigs, cows and chickens are crammed profits funneled into corporations or the diminishing number by the thousand into rows of barns. Many units are semi- "Over time, it has extracted of families that own an increasing share of the land. Rural automated, with feeding run by computer and the animals communities have been hollowed out. watched by video, with periodic visits by workers who drive wealth and power from And while the Kalbachs have hung on to their farm, they between several operations. communities. We can see long ago abandoned livestock and mixed arable farming for the "That's how I end up with 40,000 hogs around me," says only thing they can make money at any more - growing corn Partridge. Cafos account for only a small proportion of how that has impacted rural and soya beans to sell to corporate buyers as feed for animals America's 2 million farms, but they dominate animal main streets. You can see crammed by the thousands into the huge semi-automated production and have an outsize influence on crop growing, sheds that now dominate farming, and the landscape, in large particularly in the Midwest. By one calculation, the US has the boarded-up storefronts. parts of Iowa. around 250,000 factory farms of one kind or another. They have You can see the lack of Kalbach comes from five generations of farmers and their roots in the 1930s, with the mechanization of pig suspects she may be the last. As she drives the roads around slaughterhouses. By the 1950s, chickens were routinely packed economic opportunity." her farmhouse, she ticks off the disappearances. CONTD ON PAGE 10 THE INDIAN PANORAMA PERSPECTIVE FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 10

CONTD FROM PAGE 9 In 2017, its former owner, Jack DeCoster, went to prison, along with his son Peter, over a 2010 salmonella outbreak that made tens of thousands sick, left some How America’s Big Ag with permanent injuries and prompted the recall of more than half a billion eggs shipped from Iowa factory farms. Quality swallowed the family farms Egg pleaded guilty to selling eggs with false expiry dates and to bribing an agriculture department inspector to into huge sheds, in appalling conditions. Tim Gibbons of Missouri Rural Crisis breeding sows, and the majority of those approve the sale. In the early 1970s, US agriculture Center, a support group for family are in Cafos. The biggest pig farmer in DeCoster had a long history of paying secretary Earl Butz pushed the idea of farmers set up during the 1980s farm the country is Virginia-based Smithfield fines worth millions of dollars for animal large-scale farming with the mantra "get crisis, says the cycle of economic shocks Foods, which has nearly a million sows in cruelty, falsifying records, swindling big or get out". He wanted to see farmers has blended with government policies to the US (and more in Mexico and eastern contractors and polluting - without much embrace what he regarded as a more create a "monopolization of the livestock Europe). Iowa Select Farms has one of impact on the way he did business. He efficient strategy of growing commodity industry, where a few multinational the fastest-growing Cafo operations in was found to have made immigrant crops, such as corn and soya beans. Some corporations control a vast majority of the country, with 800 farms spread workers, many of them in the US farmers invested heavily in buying land the livestock". through half of the counties in Iowa. illegally, live and work in squalid and and new machinery to increase Gibbons explains: "They are vertically Yet few of the economic benefits spill unsafe conditions. The company paid production - taking on large amounts of integrated, from animal genetics to down to the communities around them. $1.5m to settle allegations that debt to do so. grocery store. What they charge isn't Workers are often poorly paid; many are supervisors at Iowa plants raped female A decade later, the farm crisis hit as based upon what it costs to produce, and bussed in. That they often include workers. overproduction, the US grain embargo it's not based on supply and demand, immigrants has sharpened the criticism DeCoster is an extreme case, but against the Soviet Union and high because they know what they need to from men like Nick Schutt, who used to around Iowa he's seen as emblematic of interest rates dramatically drove up make a profit. What they have done, work at Iowa Select, driving pigs in how the industry uses its money and costs and debt for family farms. Land through government support and livestock trucks and handling sows. He influence to impose its will, including prices collapsed and foreclosures taxpayer support, is to intentionally says he earned $23,000 a year for 12-hour changing planning and environmental escalated. overproduce so that the price stays low, days and no overtime. regulations. "Every blow to independent farming sometimes below the cost of production. "These companies claim they're Much of this is the result of made it more of an opportunity for large That kicks their competition out of the creating all these jobs, but who's coming? agricultural corporations pouring corporations to come in," said Partridge. market. Then they become the only Not people with families who create millions into lobbying state In 1990, small and medium-sized farms player in town. communities." governments. But Gibbons says accounted for nearly half of all "Over time, it has extracted wealth and Schutt lives in Williams, a small town Washington also bears some agricultural production in the US. Now it power from communities. We can see in central Iowa, which is surrounded by responsibility. He accuses President is less than a quarter. how that has impacted rural main Cafos and currently fighting to keep a big Barack Obama's administration of As the medium-sized family farms streets. You can see the boarded-up new one out, saying factory farms pollute failing to deliver on promised reforms retreated, the businesses they helped storefronts. You can see the lack of the environment and depress property that would have benefited smaller support disappeared. Local seed and economic opportunity." values. When the wind blows in the farmers. It is this, he says, that damaged equipment suppliers shut up shop Gibbons says that corporations game wrong direction, the stench from huge Obama's standing among farmers and because corporations went straight to the system by obtaining low-interest, lakes of pig manure wafts across the drove up their support for Donald Trump. wholesalers or manufacturers. Demand federally guaranteed loans to build Cafos town. Barb Kalbach is not optimistic about for local vets collapsed. As those that then overproduce. But they know The high school Nick Schutt attended the future. Her son will not be taking over businesses packed up and left, the government will buy up the surplus has closed. His daughter was in the last the farm. She hopes the land will stay in communities shrank. Shops, restaurants to stabilize prices. class to graduate. As Williams declined, the family for at least another generation, and doctors' surgeries closed. People "The system has been set up for the the only doctor shut his clinic and left but expects it to be rented out and found they had to drive for an hour or benefit of the factory farm corporations town. Schutt's mother used to own a subsumed into some larger operation. more for medical treatment. Towns and and their shareholders at the expense of restaurant: that closed along with the But Kalbach fears something bigger counties began to share ambulances. family farmers, the real people, our town's three grocery stores. than the loss of her own farm. Farmers Corporate agriculture evolved to take environment, our food system," he adds. In Blairsburg, seven miles away, pretty are ageing and their children either have control of the entire production line little interest in working the land or from "farm to fork", from the genetics of cannot afford the sophisticated breeding to wholesalers in the US or far equipment needed to compete with east. As factory farms spread, their corporations. demands dictated the workings of "Investors buy the land, and they have slaughterhouses. Smaller abattoirs, tractors and combines that you can run which offered choice and competitive by computer," she said. "They'll hire prices to family farmers, disappeared, to somebody to sit in a little office be replaced by huge operations that were somewhere and run that stuff off the further away and imposed lower prices computer and farm the land that way. on small-scale breeders such as the Now what you've done is you have lost the Kalbachs. innate knowledge of how to grow food "By the time you paid to transport and raise animals. You've lost a whole them the extra distance, and they were generation of it, probably two. Now we paying you less than they paid the are going to rely on a few corporations to corporations because you weren't Semi automated pig barns now dominate large parts of rural Iowa - decide who is going to eat and who isn't. bringing the big numbers, there was Photo / Courtesy Scott Morgan/The Observer We're one generation away from that really no money in it," says Kalbach. picture right now." In Williams, Schutt The buying power of the Cafos also "The thing that is really pervasive much every shop except the post office is says he's seeing a community of owners helps drive farmers' decisions on which about it is that they control the rules of gone. The neighboring hamlet of Wilke becoming workers: "It's going to be like crops to grow. With no livestock, the the game because they control the now consists of three animal sheds on Russia with serfs. If you want to work on Kalbachs were forced into growing corn democratic process. It's a blueprint. We're land where dwellings were bulldozed a farm, you'll have to work for them. We'll and soya beans to sell to factory farms as paying for our own demise. from existence. Two-thirds of the give you a job, but you're going to be animal feed or to corporations for "It would be a different argument if it counties in Iowa, almost all of them working on our terms. We control ethanol. was just based upon inevitability or rural, have seen their populations decline everything. Small farms can't survive." Iowa is not alone. Missouri, to the based on competition. But it's not based since 2010, according to the US census. Kalbach agrees. "I think they're done," south, had 23,000 independent pig upon competition: it's based upon North of Williams is a Cafo whose she said. farmers in 1985. Today it has just over squelching competition." name, Quality Egg, has come to represent (The article authored by Chris McGreal was 2,000. The number of independent cattle There are about 70 million pigs in the the worst of factory farming. In 1988, first published in The Guardian on March farms has fallen by 40% over the same US at any time, most of them destined for New York temporarily banned the sale of 9,2019. It has been republished with the period. the dinner plate. But one in 10 are its eggs after salmonella killed 11 people. addition of a comment of Dave Makkar) THE INDIAN PANORAMA OPED FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 11 First and foremost, I want Why I Dare to Dream Big to give every student the BY MEISHA PORTER that our schools are ready. We've put all option to go back into the recommended safety and health school buildings five days his week, I began leading the measures in place, and our schools are nation's largest public school one of the safest places in the city to be. a week starting this fall. I Tsystem. A school system that I hope to see everyone back full-time serves more than 1 million students- come September. want New Yorkers to know including, many years ago, me! Second, I want to make sure that what that our buildings are safe I am both excited and honored to take we teach reflects students' lived on this role. Not only because I am a New experiences, including any trauma and that our schools are Yorker born and bred, but because related to this past year. We are coming education is in my blood. Both my mom back from the hardest year of our lives. ready. We've put all the and auntie were teachers and between We want all our students to see recommended safety and them have 40 years of changing young themselves in their curriculum, their people's lives. I became a New York City classrooms, and their schools. We will health measures in place, public school educator because of them, have social-emotional supports in place and the amazing teachers I had as a as well, not only for our students but also and our schools are one of student myself-like Ms. Pearlman, my for our staff. We are aware that many the safest places in the first grade teacher at P.S. 215, and Mrs. people will be returning to schools Hulak, Mr. Garrison, and Mr. McCarthy, where they've lost somebody. They may city to be. I hope to see and my great instructors at Queens walk past an office that was once Vocational and Technical High School occupied by someone else. They may everyone back full-time where I studied plumbing. think about a paraprofessional who Meisha Porter, New York City Schools come September. Over the course of 20 incredible years, Chancellor supported them or a kitchen worker who I worked as an English teacher, an gave them an extra lunch every day. So, address students' individual needs-both assistant principal, and then principal. students, families, teachers, school staff, we will have a dual-pronged approach, for those learning full-time in More recently, I served our school and principals, have sacrificed and addressing both academics and social- classrooms and those who may wish to communities as a superintendent and suffered. But I also see signs of renewal emotional learning. continue learning remotely. Bronx executive superintendent. as more vaccines become available and Third, I want to take the lessons we To our families, I want to assure you But I have to admit, never did I more sectors of our great city reopen. learned during the pandemic into the that this will be a collaborative effort, imagine that a youth activist from the I have that same sense of optimism next school year. As an example, the with many opportunities for us to meet Highbridge section of the Bronx would about our schools. As I prepare to pandemic forced us to harness and talk. I promise to include your rise to become the first Black woman to welcome our high school students back technology to create a 21st-century voices and expertise as we finish out this serve as Schools Chancellor. This is a next week, I want to share my top three learning experience and we've delivered school year and plan for the next. milestone, not just for me, but for every priorities for this school year and nearly half a million devices into To our students, as your Chancellor I child who feels "different" but dares to beyond: students' hands. At the same time, it will continue to dream big on your dream big. First and foremost, I want to give showed us that human interaction is behalf, and I invite you to dream and I don't come into this role wearing every student the option to go back into critical; nothing replaces the experience achieve alongside me. Lean into your rose-colored glasses. I know how school buildings five days a week between a kid and a teacher in a education, dream beyond your wildest challenging the last year has been for all starting this fall. I want New Yorkers to classroom. So, I want to bring these two imagination-and know that there are no of us. I know just how much our know that our buildings are safe and worlds together, using technology to limits, only endless possibilities.

Vaishnav said they interviewed 1,200 Indian Americans across the country, ages 18 and older, and Indian Americans divided, wanted to make sure that the sample contained both US citizens and non-citizens given that the latter constitute a significant share of the overall diaspora population. polarization increasing: Survey The survey shows that 44 percent of US-born Indian Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, The survey - "How Do Indian Americans View India?" - was conducted in collaboration between the compared to 36 percent of foreign-born Indian Americans. Roughly 25 percent of respondents Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Johns Hopkins-SAIS and the University of Pennsylvania. expressed no opinion. he Indian diaspora in the United States is deeply However, many Indian Americans hold 'relatively divided over the direction India is headed, more conservative' views on Indian policies - such as Taccording to a first-of-its-kind survey of Indian those affecting protection of religious minorities, Americans that was released early this month. immigration, and affirmative action. It also shows that religious polarization is increasing As an example, 90 percent of respondents supported among Indian Americans, one of the authors of the treating members of all faiths equally. Of these, 60 survey told indica News. percent expressed opposition to the 'Muslim travel ban' The survey - "How Do Indian Americans View India?" imposed by Donald Trump but only 49 percent opposed - was conducted in collaboration between the Carnegie the Indian government's controversial citizenship law. Endowment for International Peace, Johns Hopkins- (L to R) Milan Vaishnav, Sumitra Badrinathan and Devesh Similarly, 69 percent supported the idea of more SAIS and the University of Pennsylvania. Kapur, the survey report authors liberal immigration policies in the US and 55 percent It is authored by University of Pennsylvania supported less stringent policies. However, only 45 professor Sumitra Badrinathan, Devesh Kapur of and surveys of Indians about America but there have percent indicated they were opposed to the Johns Hopkins-SAIS, and Milan Vaishnav, director and not been, to our knowledge, surveys of Indian controversial all-India National Register of Citizens senior fellow, South Asia Program, Carnegie Americans about India. exercise proposed by the Indian government. Endowment for International Peace. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made outreach The report shows 18 percent believed government Vaishnav told indica News that they fielded a to the diaspora a critical element of his foreign policy, corruption to be India's most pressing challenge, nationwide survey in September 2020 in partnership but we know very little about how Indian Americans followed by 15 percent who listed the economy as their with YouGov.That survey had three modules: one on US view their ancestral homeland. So that really was the area of concern. Another 10 percent of respondents politics, one on Indian domestic affairs, and one on inspiration," he added. cited religious majoritarianism as the country's most Indian-American social identity and social relations. The survey had questions on how Indians in America important challenge. "Our plan is to release one report on each," Vaishnav regard India, how do they remain connected to Indian Americans are also divided about US action to said. "We hope to publish our third and final report of developments there, what are their attitudes toward strengthen India's military as a check against China, this series in May 2021." Indian politics and changes underway in their which only 7 percent of respondents saw as the top Asked what prompted the survey, Vaishnav said: ancestral homeland, and what role, if any, do they challenge facing the Narendra Modi government today. "There have been surveys of Americans about India envision for the US in engaging with India. CONTD ON PAGE 42 THE INDIAN PANORAMA PROFILE FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 12 The Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju and the Eye Foundation of America BY I.S. SALUJA ocular oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and the wonderful team who are always there to share his he Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju, retinopathy of prematurity, a disease effecting vision and work for its realization. President of the Eye Foundation of America and premature babies. Let me introduce the readers of The Indian Tthe board of directors of the Eye Foundation of Dr. VK Raju has received awards from American America for their collaboration in publishing the Academy of Ophthalmology four times for his teaching, panorama to this great team. special edition to pay tribute to Martyrs of India on the research and international service. A partial list of Martyrs Day. awards include Doctor Nathan Davis International We take this opportunity to briefly introduce the award of Excellence in Medicine by American Medical Association Foundation, Lifetime Achievement Award eminent eye surgeon and a great philanthropist. from WV State Medical Association, the President's VK Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Ellis Island Award Nominee 2019 Ophthalmologist, Regional Eye Associates Obama, Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award for President and Founder, Eye Foundation of America Achievement in Medicine, House of Lords, London. He President and Founder, Goutami Eye Institute also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Clinical Professor, West Virginia University Award from West Virginia University. He was also Director, International Ocular Surface Society inducted into Medical Missions Hall of Fame by Adjunct Professor, GSL Medical School University of Toledo and Medscape placed him among VK Raju received his medical degree from the best doctors in America. Andhra University, India and Residency For over 40 years, Dr. Raju has dedicated himself to Dr.and Fellowship in UK. He is a fellow of the eliminating avoidable blindness in children and adults Royal College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the through outreach programs, surgeries, and educational American college of Surgeons. efforts. V. K. Raju has published over 100 scientific V.K.Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS is a clinical professor of articles, 17 book chapters, and 2 books. Still, he will tell ophthalmology at West Virginia University, WV, you, "My work is only beginning." USAand practicing ophthalmologist at Regional Eye in Only this morning, Dr. Raju shared with me two Morgantown, WV, USA. In 1977, work began on what is quotes. Now these quotes are a pointer to his mind. now known as the Eye Foundation of America. With Dr. "Of all the senses vision is the most precious. Raju's guidance, the Eye Foundation of America's work ( SARVENDRIYANAM NAYANAM PRADHANAM- has grown. To date, the Eye Foundation of America has in Sanskrit. performed over 3 million vision screenings in rural 80% of our learning is through vision. areas of over 30 countries. Through the Eye Foundation Join us in giving a gift of vision " of America, over 350,000 sight-saving surgeries have Another now. been performed at no cost. Over 700 medical "There is nothing new under the sun. professionals, including many residents and In this world, nothing is more important than ophthalmologists, have been trained to identify and children's nutrition and education. If we give them treat eye diseases. nutrition and education, they will take care of Dr. Raju remains highly involved as the Founder and themselves. President of the Eye Foundation of America to this day, Since 1977, Eye foundation of America is striving returning to India every few months to participate in to do just that. educational programs, vision screening camps, and "Be part of that effort". We have no doubt that the vision of Dr. Raju to have surgeries. He often speaks about the colossal work which needs a world without childhood blindness will be realized. If His insatiable drive to improve the lives of others has to be done to prevent childhood blindness. He is human effort could have a world without polio, why also resulted in the recent culmination of another passionate about his vision of a world without can't the world be free from childhood blindness? lifelong goal. The construction of another eye hospital childhood blindness. We wish you, Dr. Raju and your dedicated team is underway with wings devoted to specialties including Luckily for him, he says, he has been blessed with a all success.

CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE Dr. VK Raju and Dr. Leela Raju of the Eye Foundation of America will be glad to answer any eye related concerns of the readers of The Indian Panorama during this difficult period of Coronavirus onslaught

DR. VK RAJU IS A DR. LEELA RAJU IS CLINICAL AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PROFESSOR OF OPHTHALMOLOGY OPHTHALMOLOGY AT WEST VIRGINIA AT NYU LANGONE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

They can be reached at [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA US FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 13 India’s Consul General at Chicago launches the first Gandhi King legacy roundtable summit NAPERVILLE, IL (TIP): The First contribution of the Indian American Gandhi King Legacy Roundtable Summit community in helping local communities was organized by the U.S. Congressional in several ways during the Covid-19 Multi Advisory Task Force (MEATF) of period." Congressman Danny K Davis in U. S. Congressman Danny K. Davis's cooperation with Metropolitan Asian Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force saluted Family Services (MAFS) on Friday India's Consul General Amit Kumar for February 26 from 12 noon to 4pm. his vision in conceiving this Gandhi King Ms. Vasavi Chakka, Commissioner, Legacy Summit as a tribute to two great Naperville Sister Cities Commission legends. The month of February is moderating the Summit stated that this officially observed as BLACK HISTORY Summit is being held to Commemorate MONTH throughout United States and the Black History Month and Mahatma Gandhi's 73rd Death Anniversary Gandhi's73 Death Anniversary with the (Punyatihi /Shaheed Diwas) was on theme being, "Challenges of the January 30. U.S. Congressman's Multi Behavioral Health Crisis during the General of India at Chicago inaugurating message and philosophy continue to Ethnic Advisory Task Force presented COVID pandemic. the Summit said the greatest testament of inspire us all, that life of Mahatma Consul General Amit Kumar with an Dr. Mrs Santosh Kumar, Founder the Gandhi King Legacy is the current Gandhi was very closely followed in the Official plaque for his initiative in Executive Director of Metropolitan Asian strong ties between India, the largest US, referred to the historic visit of Dr. conceiving this historic epoch making Family Services welcoming the democracy and USA, the Oldest King to India in 1959 and efforts to spread event. A brief video of Martin Luther Roundtable Summit stakeholders said democracy, at the highest levels and the legacy of these two leaders. He King Jr speaking on Mahatma Gandhi that this is the first time a Gandhi King recalled the role of India under Prime referred to the Gandhi-King Scholarly was screened followed by Dr. Sriram Roundtable Summit is being held in Minister Narendra Modi's leadership Initiative Act passed by the US Congress Sonty, eminent Ophthalmologist, the Vice Illinois State and stressed that the during the COVID pandemic. The supply in 2020 that was initiated by late President of The Gandhi Memorial, Summit is addressing the important issue of Indian made vaccines to several Congressman John Lewis, another iconic Chicago eloquently describing the of Behavioral Health and how to improve countries recently is yet another glowing figure in the civil rights movement. He GANDH-KING Connection and its

and increase the Behavioral Health example of India's Prime Minister Modi's thanked Representative Danny K Davis, relevance to the present day. Resources in our communities which is global leadership, he added. CG Kumar for his strong support to India-US ties, Consul General of India Amit Kumar the most effective way to continue the thanked the organizers for hosting the and recalled his initiative to establish the along with Consul General of Japan legacy of the legends Mahatma Gandhi Roundtable Summit on the Legacy of Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force a Kenichi Okada at Chicago jointly and Martin Luther King Jr. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther decade ago to empower different ethnic presented the Gandhi King Legacy Award Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Founder King and to commemorate the Black communities in his district. He also of Excellence 2021 to Dr. Steve Munsey, Chairman of Congressman Danny K History Month. He recalled that their life, acknowledged the exemplary Founder, Family Christian Center, Davis's Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force Munster, Indiana for his extraordinary in his opening remarks credited India's leadership to the underserved Consul General at Chicago Amit Kumar communities of Northwest Indiana and for conceiving this historic Summit to the City of Chicago during COVID honor Gandhi King's Legacy. Dr. Vijay pandemic from June 2020 to present. Dr. Prabhakar, a public health expert said Steve Munsey, Author, Pastor, Creative that America will face the gravest Director, and Producer giving the Dr. challenge from the behavioral health Gandhi King Legacy Oration 2021 extolled crisis in 2030 and hence all concerned all the leaders to emulate the virtues of citizens, elected officials, behavioral these two great legends by their actions in healthcare providers and other their day to day lives and implement life stakeholders should form a broad transforming programs with purposeful framework to work towards seriously goals. Dr. Munsey spoke about the need to addressing the challenges of behavioral make Behavioral Health Care affordable healthcare.om/user/ and accessible to all especially the AsianMediaVideo/videos?view=1&flow= vulnerable sections of the community grid now. (Read full story at Ambassador Amit Kumar, Consul www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIA FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 14 Vijay Mallya, Ambani security scare: Two cars Nirav Modi, allegedly used by suspended Mehul Choksi coming back to Mumbai cop Vaze seized MUMBAI (TIP): The National face law, says Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, March 18, seized two more luxury cars allegedly used by suspended Mumbai Sitharaman police officer Sachin Vaze, sources said. inance Minister Nirmala A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was Sitharaman said that fugitive found parked outside Vaze’s residence in Fbusinessmen Vijay Mallya, Saket area of adjoining Thane, an agency Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi are official said. A Mercedes car was also "coming back" to India to face the law. seized but it was not clear from where it The government is pursuing was picked up. extradition of Vijay Mallya and Nirav The total number of vehicles seized Modi from the UK while Mehul Choksi has gone up to five, including another is believed to be in Antigua and Mercedes, a Scorpio and an Innova. Barbuda. The vehicles were brought to the NIA "Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul office at Cumballa Hill on Pedder Road Choksi all of them are coming back to here. face the law of this land...One after The NIA on Thursday called two other everybody is coming back to this policemen, including an aide of Vaze and Two cars taken to National Investigation Agency (NIA) office in connection with Sachin vaze country to face the law of this a senior police inspector, for questioning, case in Mumbai on Thursday, March 18. country," Ms Sitharaman said while sources said. responding to a discussion on The NIA arrested Vaze on Saturday used vehicles. He said he did not know and the ATS,” Deshmukh said. Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in night in connection with the security Vaze. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil “Some of the colleagues of the Rajya Sabha. scare outside the south Mumbai Deshmukh on Thursday said Singh was (former) Mumbai police chief (Singh) Vijay Mallya, an accused in bank residence of industrialist Mukesh transferred after some of his colleagues committed some serious mistakes. Those loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore Ambani. committed “serious and unforgivable are unforgivable mistakes. Hence, he was involving his defunct Kingfisher Under fire over handling of the bomb mistakes”. transferred. Further action will be taken Airlines, is in the UK since March scare outside Ambani’s house, In his first public comments after based on the probe report,” he added. 2016. He is on bail on an extradition Maharashtra Government on Wednesday Singh’s transfer, Deshmukh said he was Asked about the BJP and the MNS’s warrant executed three years ago by shifted Mumbai Police Commissioner shifted to ensure that the probe into allegation that political bosses of the Scotland Yard on April 18, 2017. Param Bir Singh to the Home Guard. police officer Sachin Vaze episode is officials are not being acted against, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, are Senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale has conducted “properly and without Deshmukh said, “The NIA and ATS are accused in a scam involving fake replaced Singh as Mumbai police hindrance”. conducting the probe professionally. guarantees in the name of state-run commissioner. Deshmukh said the Maharashtra Anti- They will definitely find out whoever is PNB to secure overseas loans. Both The NIA on Tuesday seized a black Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the NIA are guilty.” Vaze was arrested by the NIA on fled India in 2018, before the CBI began Mercedes from the Crawford market area conducting the probe into the episode March 13 in the probe into recovery of probe. Last month, Nirav Modi, the in Mumbai and recovered from it the “professionally”. explosives from the SUV. He was later diamond merchant wanted on charges original number place of the explosive- He said that action will be taken suspended. of fraud and money laundering in the laden SUV that was placed outside against whoever is found guilty in the Vaze, an “encounter specialist”, has estimated $2-billion Punjab National billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence respective probes by the NIA and ATS. also been facing heat in the murder case Bank (PNB) scam case, had lost his ‘Antilia’ on February 25. “This is not an administrative transfer of Thane-based businessman Mansukh legal battle against extradition as a A 27-year-old travel operator said on (of Singh). Hiran, who was in possession of that UK judge ruled that he does have a Wednesday he sold the Mercedes-Benz Some things have come to light SUV. Hiran was found dead in a creek in case to answer before the Indian car in February to a website that deals in through the probes conducted by the NIA Thane district on March 5. courts. Stone From Foreign tourist arrivals will not revive Sita Temple in before 2023: Report Sri Lanka for NEW DELHI (TIP): Foreign tourist arrivals in India will not touch pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels before 2023, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has said, citing the International Ram Temple in Air Transport Association’s (IATA) March survey that found 80% of visitors do not want to travel due to quarantine rules. CAPA’s preliminary forecast indicates that foreign arrivals Ayodhya will grow to just over 18 million by 2030. It said India is highly stone from Sita Eliya, the place dependent on long-haul flights for foreign tourist arrivals. in Sri Lanka where Goddess CAPA said such flights are expected to recover more slowly than ASita is believed to have been short-and medium-haul travel. It has estimated 72.0% of people held as a captive, will be used in the will travel by air for visiting friends and relatives as soon as the construction of the grand Ram temple pandemic has been contained. in Ayodhya. CAPA said Covid-19 has peaked in the UK, US, Canada, China, The stone is expected to be brought Malaysia, Australia, which are key sources of foreign tourists to tourism,” CAPA said in its report. “Although some travel may to India by Sri Lankan High India. It added Covid-19 vaccination rollouts are in initial stages resume from winter 2021/22, meaningful recovery is unlikely Commissioner-designate to India worldwide, except the UK (34.3%) and the US (19.7%). until winter 2022-23 and pre-Covid volumes will probably not be Milinda Moragoda. Widespread vaccinations are expected by late 2021 in other achieved until winter 2023-24.” It added India is a long-haul Sita Eliya has a temple dedicated to countries from where a bulk of tourists come to India, it said. destination from most of its source markets and a large Goddess Sita and is said to mark the The IATA survey found 56% of potential travellers will proportion of travellers are from vulnerable older age groups. place where she was held captive by postpone their air travel until the economy stabilises, 66% of “[This] will impact the speed of recovery. Protocols related to the demon king Ravana and where she them feel that quarantine is not necessary for vaccinated health and hygiene, and the quality of civil infrastructure will regularly prayed to Lord Rama for her passengers and 81% were ready to travel by air if vaccinated. become the new normal and the industry needs to prepare for rescue. The survey also found 84% of potential tourists will not travel if this reality.” Aviation safety consultant Mohan Ranganathan Prime Minister Narendra Modi had there is a chance of quarantine. said foreign tourist arrivals will not revive before 2025. laid the foundation stone of the grand “The aviation and tourism industries should ensure the “Tourist’s traffic will not commence even after the vaccinations Ram temple in Ayodhya in August last highest levels of strategic determination, commitment and are completed until restrictions imposed by the government are year. coordination to expedite the recovery of India’s inbound lifted,” he said. Source: HT THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIA FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 15 BJP announces 157 candidates Nitin Gadkari: Will for West Bengal assembly polls, remove all toll booths turncoats rewarded within a year, take KOLKATA (TIP): The BJP on Thursday, March 18, collections via GPS announced its list of 157 candidates for the last four phases of assembly election in West Bengal, rewarding NEW DELHI (TIP): The government will remove around 22 turncoats and fielding party heavyweights toll booths across the country within a year and carry Mukul Roy and Rahul Sinha. out collections through GPS imaging on vehicles The candidate list also features 17 Muslim faces, instead, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin including women. Gadkari said Thursday, March 18. The party is facing protests and resignations as many “I want to assure the House that within one year all of its aspiring old-timers did not find their names in the physical toll booths in the country will be removed. It list of candidates. means that toll collection will happen via GPS. The Roy's son Subranghshu, a sitting TMC MLA, state money will be collected based on GPS imaging (on BJP Mahila Morcha president Agnimitra Paul, Bengali vehicles),” Gadkari said in the Lok Sabha. His film personalities Rudranil Ghosh, Srabanti announcement came in response to a question raised Chattopadhyay and Parno Mitra were among those given nominations to turncoats from their home seats by BSP’s Danish Ali, who complained about toll booths given tickets by the saffron party. to avoid dissent. in Ganamukteshwar in Hapur district. Ali said that Roy, BJP national vice-president and former union The list also has 19 women candidates, which is more instead of the norm of toll booths at 60-km intervals on minister, is back in the electoral fray after a gap of two than its previous two lists. national highways, his constituency has two booths decades. The party continued with its strategy of fielding within 40 km. He will contest from the Krishnanagar Uttar seat, personalities from different walks of life and sitting Gadkari said: “I know in some places there are too which is dominated by the Matua community. He had MPs. many toll booths. Its wrong and unfair. We have decided unsuccessfully contested election on a TMC ticket in It named folk artiste Ashim Sarkar from Haringhata to get rid of them.” 2001. assembly seat and scientist Gobhardhan Das from “There used to be lot of theft in this. Our income The BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition Purbasthali Uttar. from toll tax used to be Rs 24,000 crore per year, but in the state, has also fielded sports personalities and a It has fielded its former state unit chief Rahul Sinha, during Covid time, it was Rs 10,000 crore lower. But we scientist for the high stakes battle in the state. who is yet to taste success in any of the elections he has have implemented FASTag,” he said. Despite protests over recruits getting more contested so far, from Habra against the state Food The FASTag system, which facilitates electronic importance than old-timers in the candidates' list, the Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick. payment of fee at toll plazas, was introduced in 2016. party gave nominations to 22 turncoats, including The BJP has nominated party MP Jagannath Sarkar Gadkari said 93 per cent of existing vehicles pay toll several former TMC MLAs like Arindam Bhattacharya for the Santipur seat. using FASTag, but the remaining section had still not who has been fielded in Jagatdal and Jitendra Tiwari in The party has so far announced names of five sitting adopted it despite having to pay double toll. “It looks Pandaveswar. MPs, including Union minister Babul Supriyo, as its like they don’t want to leave a record. Now, I have called However, in some cases, the saffron party has not candidates for the state election. a police inquiry.” Priyanka takes dig at BJP leaders over India looks forward to upping ties ‘ripped jeans’ with US in five areas: Envoy remark NEW DELHI (TIP): India looks forward to closely working with the new US administration and other NEW DELHI (TIP): Uttarakhand Chief stakeholders around five immediate baskets of Minister Tirath Singh Rawat had stirred a cooperation, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh controversy on Tuesday when he said that due Sandhu told The Tribune in an interview. to a lack of values, young people, including Speaking after the February 18 Quad summit, Sandhu women, follow strange fashion trends these outlined cooperation in healthcare and pharma as the first days by wearing jeans ripped at the knees. item on the wish list. This also includes ensuring affordable Congress leader Alka Lamba also attacked medicines and vaccines. the BJP over the remarks, alleging that many Like Covid cooperation, the second area — digital space; leaders have made similar comments against information and communication sectors — was also women in the past, and the country is angry as discussed in the Quad under the rubric of emerging the latest remarks have come from a Chief technologies. The third is the energy sector, including LNG, Minister. renewable and solar, that will help in the fight against "The Congress strongly condemns this kind climate change. Equally important are advanced of thinking towards women. We demand that partnerships in education and knowledge partnership; and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ask the cooperation in strategic and defence areas, including in the Uttarakhand Chief Minister to apologise Indo-Pacific. immediately," she said. “We look forward to building on the momentum to Lamba also warned that if Rawat didn't strengthen our existing partnerships across diverse apologise, the BJP will have to replace him as sectors,” he said. the women of the country will launch an He said industries in both countries were working agitation and expose the BJP leaders and their together to chart out reliable supply chains in next- Taranjit Singh Sandhu mindset. generation defence technology and to undertake joint R&D, "The Congress feels that the women of the manufacturing, innovation and experimenting in new $500 billion and hopes to re-engage with the US on trade and country have complete freedom to eat, wear or domains. Both sides can offer a lot to each other in critical tariff issues. “In coming days, once senior officials of the speak whatever they want according to the and emerging technologies such as AI, big data analytics, Biden administration take their positions, intensive Constitution. They will not tolerate any such robotics, quantum computing, block chain and Internet of discussions can be expected on trade issues,” he added. remarks," she said. things. Sandhu was hopeful that the brakes on immigration and On Tuesday, Rawat had said, "Showing bare “In recent years, we have cemented traditional areas of easier work visas would also be revisited by the new knees by wearing ripped jeans just to look like cooperation, while simultaneously exploring new horizons. administration. “We remain engaged on issues related to rich kids is the value given now which is just Today, there is no area of human activity that the movement of Indian professionals, who bring in value to the a race towards westernisation when the partnership does not touch — from nanotechnology to US economy,” he said. western world today are following us. Ripped space and Indo-Pacific to Covid vaccine manufacturing and There is a strong sense of commitment and determination jeans pave the way for societal breakdown and delivery,” he observed. “The visit of US Defence Secretary among the political leadership of both India and the US to is a bad example for children." Lloyd Austin to India will enable the two sides to review take the bilateral strategic partnership to the next level. The He had also said that youngsters go to the ongoing cooperation and provide new momentum to our Ambassador, however, did not take questions on the farmers’ market to buy ripped jeans, and if they do not defence ties,” he said. agitation and allegations in New Delhi about the increased find one, they cut their jeans using scissors. India remained committed to the bilateral trade target of activity of US-based Khalistanis. Source: The Tribune THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 16 The character of a nation is known by its martyrs

ndia’s freedom movement against the A nation is known by its people. The strength of a nation is known by its heroes. The British was witness to an character of a nation is known by its martyrs. With the Martyrs Day (March 23), Ioverwhelming participation of people throughout the country.From Kashmir to commemorating the martyrdom of the three patriots- Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat, thousands of men and women fought Sukhdev-four days away, the editorial board of The Indian Panorama decided to recall together against atrocities of the British their sacrifices, as also of many others who sacrificed their lives to bring freedom to India. Raj. While many selflessly gave their lives to protect the dignity of their The brief description of the martyrs is meant to remind Indians that the freedom they motherland, others got injured and embraced imprisonment. Let us know enjoy today is the result of their sacrifices, and whatever tributes they may pay the patriots about a few brave freedom fighters from various parts of colonial India who gave on this day, are not enough to repay them for their nobility. their lives to achieve freedom for their Let us know some of the martyrs of India. beloved motherland:

Mangal Pandey to shoot himself after having been kingdom to look after administrative Odisha], India—died August 18, 1945, restrained, and eventually was matters. Taipei, Taiwan?), Indian revolutionary overpowered and arrested. Some The 22-year-old queen refused to cede prominent in the independence contemporary reports suggested that he Jhansi to the British. Shortly after the movement against British rule of India. was under the influence of drugs— beginning of the mutiny in 1857, which He also led an Indian national force from possibly cannabis or opium—and was not broke out in Meerut, Lakshmi Bai was abroad against the Western powers fully aware of his actions. Pandey was proclaimed the regent of Jhansi, and she during World War II. He was a soon tried and sentenced to death. His ruled on behalf of the minor heir. contemporary of Mohandas K. Gandhi, execution (by hanging) was set for April Joining the uprising against the British, at times an ally and at other times an 18, but British authorities, fearing the she rapidly organized her troops and adversary. Bose was known in particular outbreak of a large-scale revolt if they assumed charge of the rebels in the for his militant approach to waited until then, moved the date up to Bundelkhand region. Mutineers in the independence and for his push for April 8. Resistance to the use of Enfield neighbouring areas headed toward socialist policies. cartridges later that month in Meerut led Jhansi to offer her support. The son of a wealthy and prominent to the outbreak of a revolt there in May Under Gen. Hugh Rose, the East India Bengali lawyer, Bose studied at Mangal Pandey, (born July 19, 1827, and the start of the larger insurrection. Company’s forces had begun their Presidency College, Calcutta (Kolkata), Akbarpur, India—died April 8, 1857, In India, Pandey has been remembered counteroffensive in Bundelkhand by from which he was expelled in 1916 for Barrackpore), Indian soldier whose as a freedom fighter against British rule. January 1858. Advancing from Mhow, nationalist activities, and the Scottish attack on British officers on March 29, A commemorative postage stamp with Rose captured Saugor (now Sagar) in Churches College (graduating in 1919). 1857, was the first major incident of what his image on it was issued by the Indian February and then turned toward Jhansi He then was sent by his parents to the came to be known as the Indian, or Sepoy, government in 1984. In addition, a movie in March. The company’s forces University of Cambridge in England to Mutiny (in India the uprising is often and stage play that depicted his life both surrounded the fort of Jhansi, and a prepare for the Indian Civil Service. In called the First War of Independence or appeared in 2005. fierce battle raged. Offering stiff 1920 he passed the civil service other similar names). resistance to the invading forces, examination, but in April 1921, after Pandey was born in a town near Lakshmi Bai did not surrender even after hearing of the nationalist turmoils in Faizabad in what is now eastern Uttar Rani Lakshmi Bai her troops were overwhelmed and the India, he resigned his candidacy and Pradesh state in northern India, Lakshmi Bai, also spelled Laxmi Bai, rescuing army of Tantia Tope, another hurried back to India. Throughout his although some give his birth place as a rebel leader, was defeated at the Battle of career, especially in its early stages, he small village near Lalitpur (in present- Betwa. Lakshmi Bai managed to escape was supported financially and day southwestern Uttar Pradesh). He was from the fort with a small force of palace emotionally by an elder brother, Sarat from a high-caste Brahman landowning guards and headed eastward, where Chandra Bose (1889–1950), a wealthy family that professed strong Hindu other rebels joined her. Calcutta lawyer and Indian National beliefs. Pandey joined the army of the Tantia Tope and Lakshmi Bai then Congress (also known as the Congress British East India Company in 1849, some mounted a successful assault on the city- Party) politician. accounts suggesting that he was fortress of Gwalior. The treasury and the Bose joined the noncooperation recruited by a brigade that marched past arsenal were seized, and Nana Sahib, a movement started by Mohandas K. him. He was made a soldier (sepoy) in the prominent leader, was proclaimed as the Gandhi, who had made the Indian 6th Company of the 34th Bengal Native peshwa (ruler). After taking Gwalior, National Congress a powerful nonviolent Infantry, which included a large number Lakshmi Bai marched east to Morar to organization. Bose was advised by of Brahmans. Pandey was ambitious and (born c. November 19, 1835, Kashi, confront a British counterattack led by Gandhi to work under Chitta Ranjan Das, viewed his profession as a sepoy as a India—died June 17, 1858, Kotah-ki-Serai, Rose. Dressed as a man, she fought a a politician in Bengal. There Bose stepping-stone to future success. near Gwalior), rani (queen) of Jhansi fierce battle and was killed in combat. became a youth educator, journalist, and Pandey’s career ambitions, however, and a leader of the Indian Mutiny of commandant of the Bengal Congress came into conflict with his religious 1857–58. Subhas Chandra Bose volunteers. His activities led to his beliefs. While he was posted at the Brought up in the household of the imprisonment in December 1921. In 1924 garrison in Barrackpore in the mid-1850s, peshwa (ruler) Baji Rao II, Lakshmi Bai he was appointed chief executive officer a new Enfield rifle was introduced into had an unusual upbringing for a of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, India that required a soldier to bite off Brahman girl. Growing up with the boys with Das as mayor. Bose was soon after the ends of greased cartridges in order to in the peshwa’s court, she was trained in deported to Burma (Myanmar) because load the weapon. A rumour spread that martial arts and became proficient in he was suspected of connections with the lubricant used was either cow or pig sword fighting and riding. She married secret revolutionary movements. lard, which was repugnant to Hindus or the maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao, Released in 1927, he returned to find Muslims, respectively. The belief arose but was widowed without bearing a Bengal Congress affairs in disarray after among the sepoys that the British had surviving heir to the throne. Following the death of Das, and Bose was elected deliberately used the lard on the established Hindu tradition, just before president of the Bengal Congress. cartridges. his death the maharaja adopted a boy as Shortly thereafter he and Jawaharlal There have been various accounts of his heir. Lord Dalhousie, the British Nehru became the two general the events of March 29, 1857. However, the governor-general of India, refused to secretaries of the Indian National general agreement is that Pandey recognize the adopted heir and annexed Congress. Together they represented the attempted to incite his fellow sepoys to Jhansi in accordance with the doctrine of Subhas Chandra Bose, byname Netaji more militant, left-wing faction of the rise up against their British officers, lapse. An agent of the East India (Hindi: “Respected Leader”), (born c. party against the more compromising, attacked two of those officers, attempted Company was posted in the small January 23, 1897, Cuttack, Orissa [now Continued on Page 17 THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 17

From page 16 ended. hero of the Indian independence assassination of a British Raj police A few days after Japan’s announced movement. officer. He also fought for the right-wing Gandhian faction. surrender in August 1945, Bose, fleeing Bhagat Singh attended Dayanand independence of India and On 23 March Vocal support for Gandhi increased Southeast Asia, reportedly died in a Anglo Vedic High School, which was 1931 he was hanged by the British within the Indian National Congress, Japanese hospital in Taiwan as a result of operated by Arya Samaj (a reform sect of government along with Bhagat Singh and meanwhile, and, in light of this, Gandhi burn injuries from a plane crash. modern Hinduism), and then National Sukhdev Thapar. resumed a more commanding role in the College, both located in Lahore. He began party. When the civil disobedience Lala Lajpat Rai to protest British rule in India while still movement was started in 1930, Bose was a youth and soon fought for national already in detention for his associations independence. He also worked as a writer with an underground revolutionary and editor in Amritsar for Punjabi- and group, the Bengal Volunteers. Urdu-language newspapers espousing Nevertheless, he was elected mayor of Marxist theories. He is credited with Calcutta while in prison. Released and popularizing the catchphrase “Inquilab then rearrested several times for his zindabad” (“Long live the revolution”). suspected role in violent acts, Bose was In 1928 Bhagat Singh plotted with finally allowed to proceed to Europe after others to kill the police chief responsible he contracted tuberculosis and was for the death of Indian writer and released for ill health. In enforced exile politician Lala Lajpat Rai, one of the and still ill, he wrote The Indian Struggle, founders of National College, during a 1920–1934 and pleaded India’s cause with silent march opposing the Simon European leaders. He returned from Commission. Instead, in a case of Europe in 1936, was again taken into Lala Lajpat Rai, (born 1865, Dhudike, mistaken identity, junior officer J.P. custody, and was released after a year. India—died November 17, 1928, Lahore Saunders was killed, and Bhagat Singh Chandra Shekhar Azad Meanwhile, Bose became increasingly [now in Pakistan]), Indian writer and had to flee Lahore to escape the death Chandra Shekhar Azad a close critical of Gandhi’s more conservative politician, outspoken in his advocacy of a penalty. In 1929 he and an associate associate of Bhagath Singh in the economics as well as his less militant anti-British nationalism in the lobbed a bomb at the Central Legislative freedom struggle was born in the year confrontational approach toward Indian National Congress (Congress Assembly in Delhi to protest the 1906. He is the most challenging and independence. In 1938 he was elected Party) and as a leader of the Hindu implementation of the Defence of India fearless Independence Fighters against president of the Indian National supremacy movement. Act and then surrendered. He was the British Rulers. He was a part of the Congress and formed a national planning After studying law at the Government hanged at the age of 23 for the murder of Hindustan Republican Association. After committee, which formulated a policy of College in Lahore, Lajpat Rai practiced at Saunders. a fierce battle with British Soldiers and broad industrialization. However, this Hissar and Lahore, where he helped to killing so many enemies he shot himself did not harmonize with Gandhian establish the nationalistic Dayananda Sukhdev with a pistol. economic thought, which clung to the Anglo-Vedic School and became a notion of cottage industries and follower of Dayananda Sarasvati, the Ram Prasad Bismil benefiting from the use of the country’s founder of the conservative Hindu own resources. Bose’s vindication came society Arya Samaj (“Society of in 1939, when he defeated a Gandhian Aryans”). After joining the Congress rival for reelection. Nonetheless, the Party and taking part in political “rebel president” felt bound to resign agitation in the Punjab, Lajpat Rai was because of the lack of Gandhi’s support. deported to Mandalay, Burma (now He founded the Forward Bloc, hoping to Myanmar), without trial, in May 1907. In rally radical elements, but was again November, however, he was allowed to incarcerated in July 1940. His refusal to return when the viceroy, Lord Minto, remain in prison at this critical period of decided that there was insufficient India’s history was expressed in a evidence to hold him for subversion. determination to fast to death, which Lajpat Rai’s supporters attempted to frightened the British government into secure his election to the presidency of releasing him. On January 26, 1941, the party session at Surat in December though closely watched, he escaped from 1907, but elements favouring cooperation Sukhdev Thapar was a senior member his Calcutta residence in disguise and, with the British refused to accept him, of the Hindustan Socialist Republican traveling via Kabul and Moscow, and the party split over the issues. Association. He participated in several Ram Prasad Bismil was a young eventually reached Germany in April. During World War I, Lajpat Rai lived in actions alongside Bhagat Singh and revolutionary Independence Fighters In Nazi Germany Bose came under the the United States, where he founded the Shivaram Rajguru, and was hanged by from India who martyred for his country tutelage of a newly created Special Indian Home Rule League of America the British authorities on 23 March 1931 like Bhagat Singh. He was born in the Bureau for India, guided by Adam von (1917) in New York City. He returned to at the age of 23. Sukhdev participated in year 1857 and was a respectable member Trott zu Solz. He and other Indians who India in early 1920, and later that year he numerous revolutionary activities such of the Hindustan Republican Association had gathered in Berlin made regular led a special session of the Congress as a prison hunger strike in 1929. He is along with Sukhdev. British government broadcasts from the German-sponsored Party that launched Mohandas best known for his assaults in the Lahore sentenced him to death for involving in Azad Hind Radio beginning in January (Mahatma) Gandhi’s noncooperation Conspiracy Case (1929–30). He is best the notorious Kakori train robbery. 1942, speaking in English, Hindi, Bengali, movement. Imprisoned from 1921 to 1923, remembered for his involvement in the Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, and Pashto. he was elected to the legislative assembly assassination of Deputy Superintendent Bipin Chandra Pal A little more than a year after the on his release. In 1928 he introduced the of Police, J. P. Saunders, on 17 December Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia, legislative assembly resolution for the 1928, by Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Bose left Germany, traveling by German boycott of the British Simon Commission Rajguru, undertaken in response to the and Japanese submarines and by plane, on constitutional reform. Shortly violent death of the veteran leader Lala and arrived in May 1943 in Tokyo. On thereafter he died, after being attacked by Lajpat Rai. July 4 he assumed leadership of the police during a demonstration in Lahore. Indian Independence Movement in East Rajguru Asia and proceeded, with Japanese aid Bhagat Singh and influence, to form a trained army of about 40,000 troops in Japanese-occupied Southeast Asia. On October 21, 1943, Bose proclaimed the establishment of a provisional independent Indian government, and his so-called Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj), alongside Japanese troops, advanced to Rangoon (Yangon) and thence overland Bipin Chandra Pal an unforgettable into India, reaching Indian soil on March revolutionary was born in the year 1858. 18, 1944, and moving into Kohima and the Pal was a substantial part of the Indian plains of Imphal. In a stubborn battle, the National Congress and he is the one who mixed Indian and Japanese forces, encouraged the abandonment of foreign lacking Japanese air support, were goods. He formed an association with Bal defeated and forced to retreat; the Indian Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and National Army nevertheless for some Lal-Pal-Bal trio. All of them together time succeeded in maintaining its Bhagat Singh, (born September 27, executed many revolutionary activities identity as a liberation army, based in 1907, Lyallpur, western Punjab, India Shivaram Hari Rajguru was an Indian for the country. Burma and then Indochina. With the [now in Pakistan]—died March 23, 1931, revolutionary from Maharashtra, known defeat of Japan, however, Bose’s fortunes Lahore [now in Pakistan]), revolutionary mainly for his involvement in the Continued on Page 18 THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 18

From Page 17 Born on December 3, 1889 in judgment, the young freedom fighter century. He was studying in England Habibpur of Midnapore district of the said with a smile on his face, “Yes, I do when he carried out the Assassination Chittaranjan Das then Bengal Presidency, Khudiram and my lawyer said that I was too of William Hutt Curzon Wyllie. While Bose lost both his parents, young to make bombs. If you allow me studying in England he joined Abhinav Trailokyanath Bose and Lakshmipriya some time before I’m taken away from Bharat Mandal and became an active Devi, when he was just six. Never too here, I can teach you the skills of member of India House an fond of studies, he would rather spend making bombs too.” organization started by Indian in his time helping people affected by He was, finally, executed at 4:30 in England. On 1st July 1909, during the flood and other calamities. A student of the morning of August 11, 1908. gathering of the Indian National Midnapore Collegiate School, he gave Association, Dhingra fired five shots at up studies to dedicate his life to Jatindra Nath Das Curzon Wyllie and then he didn’t try to revolutionary activities. After escape and surrendered. After a trial of dropping out, he became a member of 25 days, he was sentenced to death and the Revolutionary Party. subsequently hanged on 17th August In 1905, when Bengal was divided, 1909. ‘Banga-Bhanga’ saw the strongest protests in Midnapore where Pratap Singh Baharat Khudiram Bose actively participated Pratap Singh Baharat was an Indian Das the founder of the Swaraj Party in burning British products. The revolutionary who hailed from and a Lawyer by Profession was born in British attitude towards peasants, Udaipur district of the Indian State of the year 1870. He was popular as revolutionaries, farmers and other Rajasthan. He was born in the family Deshbandhu and took an active part in Indians further fuelled his anger. of freedom fighters and with his uncle, the Indian National Movement. Being a As a member of the Revolutionary he carried out bombing at viceroy Law Practitioner he successfully Party, he started distributing procession (Lord Hardinge) on 3rd defended Aurobindo Ghosh who was pamphlets with Vande Matram written He was born in Calcutta and when December 1912. Later he was caught charged in a crime by the British. on them. At one of the places where he was in B.A he was arrested for and trailed under Banaras Conspiracy Chittaranjan used to Mentor Subash Bose was distributing pamphlets, he revolutionary activities. Later, he was Case. He was sentenced to 5 years Chandra Bose. apparently slapped a police officer, contacted by other revolutionaries and rigorous imprisonment. Inside the jail, breaking his nose when he was just 14 he agreed to prepare the bomb. He was he was tortured to reveal the name of Abdul Hafiz Barakatullah years old. arrested when police discovered the his fellow revolutionaries and he At the age of 16, he had learnt how to Saharanpur bomb factory of H.S.R.A refused. He died in Bareilly Central make bombs and went about planting and were put in Lahore Jail with Jail on 7th May 1918. bombs near police stations and Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta. targeted government officials. He started hunger strike along with Bhai Balmukund In 1908, he and Prafulla Chaki were Bhagat Singh and other Bhai Balmukund was born in Jhelum assigned to assassinate Muzzaffarpur revolutionaries and died on the 63rd district, now in Pakistan. He was one of district magistrate Kingsford. day of his hunger strike. the founding members of the Ghadar Kingsford, before being transferred to Party. He was involved in throwing a Muzaffarpur, was a magistrate in Bhagwati Charan Vohra bomb at Viceroy Procession in Delhi Bengal and his method of torturous and killing Europeans by a bomb at punishments against revolutionaries Lawrence Garden in Lahore. He was had angered the youngsters of Bengal. arrested in Jodhpur and after a trial in It was decided that the two appointed court, he was sentenced to death. He men, Bose and Chaki, would hurl was hanged in Ambala Central Jail on bombs at him in the court but after 10 11th May 1915. Abdul Hafiz Mohamed Barakatullah days of monitoring Kingsford’s fought in a unique style for the nation’s movements, they realised that hurling Rajendra Lahiri freedom. He was born in the year 1854 bombs in courtroom would injure a Rajendra was born in Pabna District, and is also the co-founder of Ghadar large number of innocent civilians. now in Bangladesh and while studying Operated overseas from San Francisco. The plan was thereafter changed to in college he joined H.R.A to overthrow He took Pen as a weapon and published assassinate him outside a club which British from India by aggressive blazing articles in England’s leading he attended. means. He participated in daily to arose the fire of Independence. On April 30, 1908, Khudiram Bose He was born in Lahore and he joined Dakshineswar Bombing and afterward instructed Chaki to run away and H.S.R.A when he met other freedom escaped from the site. He remained Ashfaqulla Khan threw the bomb himself on the fighters of India at National College in underground in Benaras as a student carriage, in which Kingsford was Lahore. He was a great orator and a and after joining H.R.A executed supposed to be travelling. However, as campaigner and he prepared the HSRA famous Kakori Train Conspiracy. After he had on previous occasions, manifesto that was used to educate a long trial he was found guilty in both Kingsford escaped death as the people about HSRA and its activity. He the cases and he was hanged in Gonda carriage was, instead, carrying the rented out a small room in Lahore and district Jail on 17th December 1927. wife and daughter of a barrister used it as his bomb preparation named Pringle Kennedy. Bose was laboratory. The bomb prepared by him Udham Singh arrested from a railway station in was used to blast the train of Viceroy Samastipur district, where he had Lord Irwin. He died in Lahore on 28th reached walking barefoot for 25 May 1930 while testing a bomb. It is kilometres (16 miles) after bombing the said that bomb was necessary for the carriage. Later, the station where he rescue of Bhagat Singh and other was captured was renamed to revolutionaries. His last words were: Khudiram Bose Pusa railway station. “Had this death been late by two days I Ashfaqulla Khan the founder of Unlike other parts of India, where would have attained more success young revolutionary fire sacrificed his revolutionaries could rarely afford a before dying. Now that desire of mine life for Mother India like many other lawyer, educated Bengali lawyers’ remained unfulfilled.” leaders in the list. Similar to Bismil teams used to represent the Udham Singh was born in Sangrur and Chandrashekhar he became a revolutionaries of Bengal for free. Madan Lal Dhingra district of Punjab and he is commonly prominent member of the Hindustan Khudiram’s statement was recorded in referred to as Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Republic Association. He carried out English, instead of the language used Udham Singh. His father and mother the popular train robbery Kakori Khan by Bose, and lawyer Narendra Kumar died at an early age of 8 and he studied with the help of his associates. That’s Basu used this, along with Bose’s in an orphanage. He was inspired by the reason British Executed him. tender age, to defend him. Bose was too Bhagat Singh and joined the Gadar young to know the art of making a Party. He helped Indian Revolutionaries Khudiram Bose bomb, he had argued. by providing Arms and ammunition for However, the judge received a letter, which he was later arrested. He is where it was written that there would famous for Assassinating Michael be revolutions not only in Bengal but O’Dwyer in England who approved also in Bihar if Bose was not Reginald Dyer’s Jallianwala Bagh sentenced, or sentenced lightly. massacre. He concealed his revolver in a On 13 July 1908, Bose was finally book and entered the hall. When the sentenced to death. On being asked by meeting was over he shot O’Dwyer twice the shocked English judge, as Bose was killing him immediately. After still smiling after hearing the Madan Lal was one of the first assassinating O’Dwyer he didn’t try to judgment, whether he understood the Indian revolutionaries of the 20th escape and was arrested. THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 19 Lesser known heroes who sacrificed their lives for country’s freedom hagat Singh, Azad, Born in a prosperous agriculture and also an Rajguru, Sukhdev, Ram Kshatriya family in Andhra educationist who set up an BPrasad Bismil, Gandhi, Pradesh in 1887, Raju left educational institution in and Bose are few names that are everything for the freedom Machilipatnam. He, however, synonymous with our struggle struggle. In 1922-24, he led a died in poverty in 1963 and was for freedom from the British. We failed yet important ‘Rampa largely forgotten by the society owe our freedom to them. Rebellion’ with the help of and by his own party, the But apart from these hallowed tribals. Raju was referred, Congress." A postage stamp was names, there were thousands of “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of issued to commemorate him in friends killed Saunders, the trio others who too sacrificed their the Jungles) by the local people. 2009 and in 2011 it was proposed killed Col NS Simpson Inspector lives on the path of freedom. He took up the cause of the that he be posthumously General of Prisons who was But unlike these big names, tribal people in the Agency awarded the Bharat Ratna. The known for his atrocities on the history didn’t do justice with areas, who were being harassed outcome of that proposal is, prisoners. The trio of Badal them. of first President of the by British officials under the however, not known. Gupta, Dinesh Gupta and Benoy Many of them have been Provisional Government of Forest Act, and led an armed Basu decided not only to kill him, forsaken by history and most of India formed in Afghanistan. In rebellion against the British Tanguturi Prakasam but also to strike fear in the hearts us don’t even know about them. 1906, despite against the wishes forces. Raju was trapped and of the British by attacking the This is an attempt to give those of the family, he went to killed by the British in the secretariat building- the souls a tribute because their Calcutta to attend the Congress jungle in 1924. Writers’Building in Dalhousie contribution to our freedom is session and met several leaders Square, Kolkata. On 8 December by no means lesser than those of the Swadeshi movement. Tirot Singh 1930, trio dressed as Europeans who got their due. But soon he realised that went to Writers’ building and Congress won’t be able to help killed Simpson. None of the three Kartar Singh Sarabha his cause of freedom. Therefore, revolutionaries wanted to be he moved out of India in 1915 nabbed; therefore Badal and via Switzerland, entered consumed poison whereas Benoy Germany. With help of Indian and Dinesh shot themselves. members of the Berlin Badal was taken to hospital where Committee, he met Kaiser he died on 13 December. Wilhelm-II, the German Not many people know about emperor who promised him this Andhra Kesari (Lion of Surya Sen assistance to invade India via Andhra). Prakasam was first Afghan border. Pratap who had the chief minister of Madras family relations with Jat Sikh presidency and then chief states of Jind, Nabha and Tirot Singh was one of the minister in Andhra state. He Patiala wanted to invade India chiefts of Khasi people in the started as a lawyer but gave up through Afghanistan and later early 18th century who fought practice in 1921 to participate in to use these states to crush the against the Britsh who tried to the freedom movement. He rose British in India. take control over the Khasi to fame in 1928 during the But with Germany’s defeat in hills. Though the year of his protest against Simon We all love Bhagat Singh, but WW-I, his dream of invading birth is unknown, Tirot Singh Commission in Madras. The only a handful know Kartar India didn’t materialise. Pratap fought the British in 1835 when police had issued orders of Surya Sen popularly known as Singh Sarabha who Bhagat also tried to connect with British tried to acquire Khasi shooting people in some areas. master Da because he was school Singh himself considered his Russians after Germans forsake hills to extend their possession But Prakasam didn’t fear the teacher was a Bengali Indian guru. Kartar Singh Sarabha was him and his peers. He met Lenin on Lower Assam areas. orders and faced police by independence activist. Sen is the main architect of the as well. In 1932, Pratap was also Actually, the British wanted tearing open his shirt and known for 1930s Chittagong Ghadar revolution which aimed nominated Nobel Prize in 1932. to construct a road through this daring police to shoot at him. armoury raid. Sen drew his to incite a mutiny in British N.A. Nilsson, his nominator, area to connect Guwahati with This lone act of defiance won inspiration from nationalist Indian Army during the thick of said about him- "Pratap gave up Sylhet to save weeks of travel him the title of Andhra Kesari. ideals during his college days on World War-I. Sarabha sought to his property for educational and malarious country. But 1916 in Behrampore. In 1918, he take advantage of the war to purposes, and he established a Singh and his tribe objected the Veerapandiya was selected as the president of uproot the British from India. technical college at Brindaban. British occupation of the area Kattabomman INC’s Chittagong branch. Later Born in Ludhiana, Punjab in In 1913 he took part in Gandhi's and thus British tried to after college, Sen started 1896, Sarabha went to the US for campaign in South Africa. He crushed their opposition which recruiting young men to fight the studies and established Ghadar travelled around the world to resulted in a bloody war British. In the late 1920s, Sen Party in 1913. create awareness about the between Khasi tribes and the decided to free Chittagong from In 1913, the party came out situation in Afghanistan and British in which Singh the British and thus formed a with a paper called ‘Ghadar’ India. In 1925 he went on a sacrificed his life defending his group of revolutionaries who which came out in languages mission to Tibet and met the tribe and land. carried out the infamous like Pushto, Hindi, Punjabi, Dalai Lama. He was primarily Chittagong armoury raid. On 18 Bengali, Urdu, and Gujarati. on an unofficial economic Pingali Venkayya April, Sen led a group which Sarabha aimed to start a mutiny mission on behalf of looted the armoury of the police. within British Indian Army and Afghanistan, but he also wanted Their plan was to seize the arms over 20 thousand Ghadar to expose the British brutalities Almost 60 years before the and destroy the communication activists travelled to India from in India. He called himself the rebellion of 1857, Kattabomman system of the city, thereby different countries of the world servant of the powerless and rebelled against the British and isolating Chittagong from rest of put plans in the motion. But the weak." Today majority of land refused to pay taxes to them.As the British India. The group betrayal of an insider resulted acquired by Aligarh Muslim a chieftain of Palyekar managed to loot the armoury, but in the arrested Sarabha and a University is donated by Pratap community in the 18th century, failed to get the ammunition. The few more. After the trial, the 19- and his family. Kattabomman waged a war group hoisted the Indian National year-old, Kartar Singh Sarabha Venkaya was the man who against the British to protect his Flag on the premises of the was hanged on November 16, Alluri Sitarama Raju designed the Indian national lands. He too died in the war armoury before escaping. But the 1915, in Lahore central jail, the flag. Before independence, against the British. British captured most of the same jail where Bhagat Singh, many flags were designed and revolutionaries but Sen in Rajguru and Sukhdev were used by different groups and in The Trio of Badal, Jalalabad hills. Many died there hanged. this process, Venkaya designed Dinesh and Benoy while fighting the British. one version of flag for Indian Sen managed to escape and Raja Mahendra Pratap National Congress which later Bengal had given many remained absconding for three A royalty of Hathras, Aligarh, became Indian flag after minor freedom fighters and these three years before being captured in Raja Mahendra Pratap was one alterations post-Independence were also from there. They are 1933. Before he was hanged by the of the first Marxist According to The Hindu, known for their attack on the British, he was tortured beyond revolutionaries in the country. "Pingali Venkayya was an Dalhousie Square in Kolkata. the limit. In fact, Pratap was the president authority in geology, Much like Bhagat Singh and his Source: Indiatimes THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 20 Ghadar Movement: The rebels who wrote history

n November 16, 1915, seven patriots were hanged after the culmination of the first Lahore Conspiracy OCase. These hangings, however, did not deter the Ghadarites from waging a war against the British. These included Bakshish Singh, Jagat Singh, Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, Surain Singh s/o Boor Singh, Surain Singh s/o Ishar Singh, Harnam Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha. These trials were to have an enduring impact on the psyche of Punjab and reverberations on India’s history. These hangings by the colonial government were one of the many in order to curb the war declared by the Ghadarites on the colonial government in India in February of 1915. Events that led to Ghadar A week after Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, a clarion call had appeared in Ghadar, a weekly revolutionary newspaper published from San Francisco, summoning its overseas Indian readers to return to their homeland and fight. It said the opportunity to free their country from slavery had arrived. This was so because Britain was quite vulnerable due to depletion of troops and resources. Also, its arch-enemy Germany was offering support to various revolutionary movements which had the potential of undermining the strength of the Empire. These included the Indian and Irish national revolutionists and the pro-Ottoman pan- Islamists. This was how the Ghadar Movement was launched among the Punjabi migrant workers in North America in 1913. It was characterised by a predominant (Clockwise from top left) Harnam Singh Sialkoti, Jagat Singh Sursingh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Suren Singh Gilwali (senior), Punjabi male participation and was a ringing explosion in Bakhshish Singh Gilwali, Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, Surain Singh Gilwali. the ears of the imperial government of the time. The Ghadar Party was established by the Punjabi Sikhs circuit, capable of linking various elements among the of the USA and Canada in June 1913 also known as the Indian radicals abroad. It also linked Indian radicals to Hindi Association of the Pacific Coast. The word ‘Ghadar’ other networks, and also connected pre to post-war means “mutiny” or “rebellion” or “revolt”. On November 1, revolutionary movements inside the country. This 1913, the Ghadar Party issued their first newspaper from movement in its overall assessment has been termed as a University of California in Berkeley. This party was “heroic failure” by Ghadar historian Harish K Puri. originally built around the weekly paper Ghadar. For the Although it largely failed to impact the colonial first time, a true picture of the British rule was shown in government in ways its members had originally the journal, simultaneously enunciating a vision for the anticipated, its cultural reach extends to this day. future of India. In fact, the founders envisioned that the The literature of Ghadarites was strikingly separate Ghadar would do the work of preparing the Indians for from any talk of fatalism. Instead it spoke to the higher revolt until the actual war. ideal in men while looking at the ultimate fate in its eye. It Today, it is important to remember the martyrs and the remains a shiny reminder of the refusal of a population specific conditions that led the erstwhile loyal ‘Sikhs’ to which formed the spine of the military prowess of the turn against their imperial benefactors. At the heart of the colonisers to yield to exploitation, a doomed attempt of movement was the Punjabi farmer-soldier-turned-labourer unthinkable courage and splendid patriotism. It is a story abroad, driven out by the accretion of economic problems of our forefathers which merits remembrance and at home. retelling. In the decade before the seeds of this large-scale unrest The Ghadar Movement was the first Indian movement were sown by the imperial government in Punjab, the with truly global linkages that effectively kick-started the agrarian legislation, the colonisation Bill, issues of water movement of immigrants for equal rights and consolidated rates and enhancement of land revenue had largely the integration of migrants into their new nations. It needs contributed to Punjabi men being forced to migrate in to be remembered that the participants being largely Sikh, search of economic opportunities. At the same time the One of the early issues of the Ghadar, a weekly revolutionary the ideas of egalitarianism, sacrifice, service and Indian National Association, the Indian National Congress, newspaper published by Ghadarites from San Francisco. martyrdom formed the bedrock of the political thinking of the Swadeshi Movement and the activities of Zamindara this and the later resistance movements in the region. League (Unionist Party) had contributed to the political that time did not want Indians associating or interacting A struggle like Ghadar which failed in its overall awakening of the Punjabis. with white people. This led to measures being taken by the objective and did not gain the large-scale support of the Canadian government, then a colony of Britain, citizenry has a tendency to be relegated into historical The Sikh connection discouraging immigration from India. The freedom offered insignificance. However, this is the exact reason why it It is a curious question of history as to how the Sikh by these countries to the migrants propelled the transition must be remembered that not every battle is about victory. community in Punjab which was given the distinction of to a demand for a more just social order. Parallels can be drawn with the widespread desire of being a ‘martial race’ by the British, turned around to These socio-political conditions led to the birth of the today’s Punjabi youth for migration abroad. The fact that it demand complete independence and plan a violent Ghadar Party, a party that gave expression to the evolved speaks volumes about the socio-economic conditions here stratagem against their benefactors. The spectacular understanding of the repercussions of colonial rule in is not lost to anyone. The demand for fair migratory display of material prosperity,the spring of freedom in the India. Although strict interpretation of its character is opportunities is a prominent legacy of the Ghadar. steps of white people and the opportunities of economic difficult without being unfair to its secular participants, The rejection of sectarianism, calling out for social mobility in the USA and Canada led the pioneer migrants numerically the Ghadar was largely a Sikh movement. The justice and demand for a just society, are vestiges of its to understand their own depravity induced by slavery to an Komagata Maru incident was the final spark that ignited cultural impact. In line with Kartar Singh Sarabha’s daring imperial power. The white Canadians and Americans an already inflamed Sikh pride. The aftermath of this conviction ‘the blood of martyrs never goes waste’, the believed that they belonged to a superior and civilised race incident was a burst of revolutionary activity in the failure of the Ghadar Movement proved to be a landmark whereas Indians and other Asians were considered migrant Sikhs to redeem themselves from both the shame in the struggle for freedom. It inspired the likes of Bhagat uncivilised. of allegiance to the British government in 1857 and their Singh who considered Kartar Singh Sarabha his role model During the first decade of the 20th century,5,000 Indians own cursed status as a slave nation. towards a revolutionary change. It will be right to conclude reached Canada. Out of these more than 90 per cent were that the dreams of these primal modern revolutionaries Sikhs. The harsh racial differentiation, violent attacks by Literary legacy must be remembered on the day of their martyrdom to white labourers and hoodlums led to a feeling of The Ghadar was no ordinary movement neither in its serve as a light post for the future we aspire to as a society humiliation and shame among these Indian migrants. scope of influence nor its tactics. Maia Ramnath has and a country and to forever be grateful. They believed they were subjected to this treatment observed in her book, Haj to Utopia that the Ghadar’s because they were citizens of a slave nation. The British at printed material served as connective tissue or switching Source: The Tribune THE INDIAN PANORAMA MARTYRS DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 21 The saga of Komagata Maru

n May 20, 2016, Canadian Prime The Komagata Maru incident involved the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, on Minister Justin Trudeau rendered which a group of people from British India attempted to immigrate to Canada in April Oan apology in Parliament, saying ‘More than a century ago, a great 1914, but most were denied entry and forced to return to Calcutta, where at least 19 injustice took place.’ This was one of the rare occasions people were killed in a clash with British soldiers. when a sitting public ofcial apologised IN 2017, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, accorded the status of publicly for a controversial historic event. What he wasapologising for was martyrs upon those killed in Komagata Maru tragedy. the SS Komagata Maru incident of 1914, when aship laden with Indian immigrants was refused entry at the Canadian ports. It was a time when Canada’s immigration policies were an actively racialised endeavour. The objective of the Canadian government was to attract more British and American immigrants, as well as immigrants from the 'preferred countries' of central and northern Europe. This strict hierarchy continued till the Second World War, with a more inclusive policy only being adopted in the 1960s. Suffice it to say, Indians and other 'Asians' were on the bottom deck, actively kept out due to Western paranoia about them coming and taking up local jobs and introducing their 'ways of life.’ As per the Canadian government’s 1908 Continuous Passage Act, all potential immigrants had to make a continuous journey to Canada, with no stops. A later amendment stated that no immigrant of ‘Asiatic’ origin would be permitted unless they were in possession of $200, a signicant sum even today. Canada at the time was actually seeing a period of increased migration from Europe, with its more direct routes. A journey from law. This was, therefore, just another case of ‘smart discrimination,’ part of a concerted Asian-exclusion policy by the Canadian Government, to keep the ‘unwanted’ out. Matters came to a head with the Komagata Maru incident. The story begins in 1913. Gurdit Singh was a well-to-do Sikh contractor from Indian immigrants aboard Komagata Maru in 1914|. Amritsar, who had also lived variously in south-east Asia. During a visit to Hong British authorities, to much more Kong in 1913, he came across a large violent ends, on the return voyage. contingent of Sikhs who were looking to It was the time when the revolutionary immigrate to the United States or Ghadar movement was sweeping across Canada. the Indian diaspora in the USA and The ship set sail from Hong Kong on Canada. Theleaders planned to return to April 4, 1914, with 165 passengers, and India and foment a revolution. Clarion more joining in Shanghai and calls were sounded across Indian student Yokohama. It left Yokohama on May 3 societies across the Pacic Coast, with 376 passengers and sailed into including California and Oregon, urging Burrard Inlet, near Vancouver, on May Indians to 'go home’. 23. The British were not in the dark about The Canadian authorities, however, what was brewing. They were ell- citing the policy, refused permission to prepared for it, and the passengers of the dock and the passengers were detained Komagata Maru had to bear the brunt of on board. A two-month stalemate the response. They even passed an followed, with negotiations, political ordinance restricting the liberties of any manoeuvring and talks taking place. Indian returning to the country after Conditions aboard were abysmal for the September 5, 1914, and the ship’s passengers, with a shortage of food and passengers were one of the first to be water. charged. The SS Komagata Maru arrived ‘Shore’ committees were formed to at the Budge Budge dock in Calcutta on help the passengers with provisions, September 27, only to be welcomed by Komagata Maru Memorial at Budge Budge in Kolkata. both food and legal, by Indians in British gunboats at the entry into the Vancouver. Protest meetings were also port. The passengers were charged as and served a ve-year term. In 1952, the Indian government erected held in the city. But on July 23, the ship political agitators who had acted Komagata Maru was an incident that a monument to the martyrs of Komagata was forced to turn back, with only 20 illegally. A riot ensued, as the police not only shaped Indian immigration but Maru at Budge Budge. September 29 is people satisfying the authorities to stepped in to capture Gurdit Singh and galvanised Indian nationalism, marked as memorial day when Sikhs stay back and the rest having their other leaders. In the ruckus, 19 particularly with the Ghadar movement. visit Budge Budge to pay homage. dreams shattered. passengers were shot and killed, the rest The confrontation became a rallying While remembered as a dark phase in The ship’s departure, however, was were incarcerated or kept under house point in a diasporic movement for social Canadian history, the story still remains just the beginning of the saga though— arrest until WWI ended. Gurdit Singh justice and a springboard for an largely forgotten in India. the passengers faced the iron st of the escaped, but eventually gave himself up international, anti-colonial sentiment. Source: Live History India THE INDIAN PANORAMA SOUTH ASIA FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 22 Pak PM Imran Khan receives anti-COVID vaccination; urges nation to implement norms against deadly virus

ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan Prime activities. Please be very very careful,” Minister Imran Khan on Friday received he tweeted. the first shot of vaccination against He also urged the people to remain COVID-19 and urged the citizens of his careful as the new (UK) “strain spreads country to ensure the full faster and is more deadly” as compared implementation of norms to prevent the to the Wuhan variant of the COVID-19 surge in cases of coronavirus. virus. Khan, 67, was vaccinated as part of the The fresh measures were taken as nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination Pakistan recorded the highest 3,495 new campaign which is underway in its first coronavirus cases in a single-day after phase. “Prime Minister Imran Khan was three months as the national tally of vaccinated today.On the occasion, the he infections reached 615,810 on Thursday, appealed to the nation to ensure full according to the official data. implementation of SOPs in view of the It is the highest number of new cases third wave of the pandemic,” according in a day since December 6 last year when to a tweet by his office. 3,795 cases were recorded, according to The COVID-19 vaccine is being the ministry of National Health Services provided to people 60 years of age and reported. above and to front-line health workers. The ministry data shows that 61 people Pakistan on Thursday also imposed died in the last 24 hours, taking the smart lockdowns in areas worst hit by COVID-19 death toll to 13,717. Another the coronavirus as the country recorded 2,062 patients were in critical conditions. a sharp increase in the positive cases. Sialkot, and Hafizabad, which will pandemic, warned that stricter Meanwhile, 1,634 patients recovered All markets, shopping malls, offices, remain in effect till March 30 in Gujrat, restrictions on activities might be from the deadly disease during the day, and restaurants will remain closed in the March 24 in Sialkot and March 26 in enforced if the compliance of standard taking the total number of recoveries to areas of smart lockdown. However, Hafizabad. "We have to save more people operating procedures (SOPs) did not 577,501. The sharp rise in the grocery stores, hospitals, pharmacies, from the danger of being infected. The improve. coronavirus cases came as the second bakeries, meat and milk shops will be coronavirus is spreading rapidly because “Sharp spike in covid positivity. batch of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccines allowed to remain open. of not taking precautions,” Rashid said. Hospital daily admissions & people in sent by China reached Pakistan on Punjab province Health Minister Minister for Planning Asad Umar, who critical care rising fast. If sop Wednesday. Pakistan officials last week Yasmin Rashid said that smart is also head of National Command and compliance does not improve, we will be said that the country was hit by the third lockdowns are imposed in Gujrat, Control Centre that deals with the forced to place stronger restrictions on wave of the pandemic. PTI

Indonesian girls Myanmar faces growing traumatised by push to Helicopter crash kills 9 Afghan isolation as military wear hijab: HRW report tightens grip JAKARTA (TIP): Ifa Hanifah troops in central province Misbach was 19 when her father died - MYANMAR (TIP): Myanmar faced and her family told her he would not go KABUL (TIP): A helicopter crash nationwide spike in bombings, growing isolation on Thursday with to heaven because she refused to wear overnight has taken the lives of at targeted killings and other violence as increasingly limited internet services the hijab, a Muslim head covering. least nine Afghan military personnel peace negotiations in Qatar between and its last private newspaper ceasing Misbach now works as a in a central province, the defence Taliban insurgents and the Afghan publication as the military built its case psychologist in Bandung, West Java, ministry said Thursday. government stall. against ousted elected leader Aung San where she has counselled dozens of In a statement, it said that four crew The Islamic State group’s local Suu Kyi. Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi Indonesian girls who have been members of the MI-17 helicopter along affiliate has claimed responsibility for was overthrown and detained in a ostracised, bullied and threatened with five security personnel were some of the violence, but many attacks February 1 military coup, triggering with explusion from school because killed in the crash, in the Behsud go unclaimed, with the Afghan mass protests across the country that they too declined to wear the veil. district of Maidan Wradak province. It government putting the blame on the security forces have struggled to suppress "The impact of religious pressures, gave no further detail except to say Taliban. The insurgents have denied with increasingly violent methods. especially to wear the jilbab, when that investigations were ongoing. responsibility for most of the attacks. The total documented number of you’re young, makes it feel like you Separately on Thursday, a bombing The attack in Kabul comes on the people killed in the unrest stood at 217 have no breathing room," Misbach killed four state employees commuting same day Russia hosts the first of but the actual toll was probably much said, using the word for hijab more in a minibus in the capital Kabul, three international conferences aimed higher, the Assistance Association for commonly used in Indonesia, in a police said. at jump-starting the peace process, Political Prisoners activist group said. report by Human Rights Watch. Ferdaws Faramarz, spokesman for ahead of a May 1 deadline for the final Western countries have condemned "I wanted to run away." the Kabul police chief, said a woman withdrawal of US and NATO troops the coup and called for an end to the The 45-year-old's experience is one of was among the dead and nine other from the country. violence and for the release of Suu Kyi many shared by women and girls in people were wounded in the attack in The Moscow conference is seen as a and others. Asian neighbours have the world's largest Muslim-majority the city’s north. critical first step toward peace. Key offered to help find a solution, but the nation, including cases of girls being No one immediately claimed players are attending, including US military has a long record of shunning expelled from school. responsibility for the Kabul attack, but peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, Afghan outside pressure. Large parts of an Indonesia's ideology enshrines government employees have been national security adviser Hamdullah economy already reeling from the novel religious diversity and the country has targeted before. On Monday, another Mohib and Taliban co-founder Mullah coronavirus have been paralysed by the significant Christian, Hindu, Buddhist bombing on a minibus carrying state Abdul Ghani Baradar, who will lead a protests and a parallel civil and other minorities, but religious workers in Kabul killed three women 10-member delegation. disobedience campaign of strikes conservatism and growing intolerance of and a 3-year-old child, and wounded 13 Representatives of Pakistan, Iran, against military rule, while many beliefs other than Islam has been rising others, according to security officials. India and China are also participating. foreign investors are reassessing over the past two decades. Reuters Afghanistan is experiencing a AP plans.(Reuters) THE INDIAN PANORAMA WOMEN’S DAY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 23 Empowered Women Empower Women: CII Hosts Women Leaders in the US- India Corridor to Reflect on International Women's Day 2021 NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): To commemorate stressed perseverance and working through emotions to International Women's Day,the Confederation of Indian free oneself to try new things and solutions to The participants Industry (CII) brought together leaders within the US - professional struggles. are prolific in both countries. Empowerment, she India partnership to discuss innovative and Dr Mohan spoke to studying, working, and building a declared, begins in the home, and young girls have to be empowering solutions to daily challenges women face in family within a STEM field known for its gender taught to see themselves as equal to persist in a world the workplace. Countries around the world have rallied disparity, and how she strives for the elusive "work/life that tells them otherwise. for international gender parity with International balance." She called for diversity and particularly While all the panelists agreed that things are not as Women's Day celebrations for over 100 years, increasing the representation of women and minorities they should be, the general consensus of CII's 2021 highlighting the social, economic, cultural and political in every career field and at every level, as all the Women's Day Panel is that the world is certainly achievements of women. CII's own first female panelists concurred that women proliferate throughout improving in terms of women's access and president, Ms Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice- educational institutions and entry-level positions, but empowerment within the US - India Corridor. Dr Mohan Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, are still largely missing from upper-level, management cited that she was selected to work at NASA by a woman moderated Monday's panel that reflected the vast roles. leader whose supervisor was also a woman, and diversity of women's experiences from government to From the corporate sector, Ms. Parameswar noted her reiterated the imperativeness of supporting and the corporate boardroom and even outer space. organization's dedication to mentoring and supporting mentoring women particularly within male-dominated CII's "Women Leaders in the US - India Corridor" women throughout their careers, and remarked that in career fields. She also noted that her daughters have panel featured remarks from Ms Diane Farrell, Acting addition to gender constructs, she faced cultural access to a plethora of resources like STEM camps, Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, barriers as well when she began working in the US from classes, etc. that did not exist when she was younger. Dr US Department of Commerce; Dr Swati Mohan, Lead, India. Besides learning about American football to build Mumtaz concurred, praising the positive impact of Guidance and Operations - Mars 2020 Perseverance relationships with her predominately male US increasing levels of female education, as well as Mission, JPL, NASA; Ms Bhavani Parameswar, colleagues, Ms Parameswar also worked within her companies like Lupin that directly focus on encouraging Executive Director and President, Indivate Inc (ITC company to eliminate the "motherhood penalty" and women in the workforce. Ms Parameswar stressed the Group); and Dr Sofia Mumtaz, past Chair, CII - India prevent women who chose to have children from advantages for companies and countries' overall GDP to Business Forum USA and President, Lupin Ltd, who suffering lost wages, equity, and leadership increase and retain women workers, noting specifically graciously joined together to share their experiences opportunities. that continued success depends upon examining and insights, as well as a few words of advice for women Dr Mumtaz was also quick to point out that gender policies and how they either effect or enable women to navigating the post-COVID workforce. discrimination is both a US and India issue, citing that excel in their fields. To conclude, Acting Undersecretary Acting Undersecretary Farrell, reflecting on her years for women to succeed in the workplace, they must Farrell engendered another cause for hope by of service within the US Government, attributed much overcome society's expectations as well as their male suggesting to the panel that the new Biden - Harris of her success to remaining flexible in her career path, peers' prejudices, as being called pejorative names like Administration in the US is expected to focus more on staying open to opportunities, and taking risks. She "aggressive" to family pressures to quit after marriage gender equity for women all around the world.

anything to the world. The Fascinating Stories of Achievements of Women It is very clear to me that what the world needs most urgently is not another business executive, not another By Anu Jain of PepsiCo, the second largest food and beverage PhD holder or not another lawyer. These things may be Realtor business in the world. Indra Gandhi who was the Prime important but alone they won't bring us a world of hat women have achieved Minister of India and Janet Louise Yellen is an peace in the next century. and what they are capable to American economist. She is serving as the United What the world needs very simply are individuals Wachieving is a fascinating States secretary of the treasury and she with commitments and genuineness at heart. The world topic to write about, I suppose it's a was the Chair of the Board of Governors of the is starving for this heart! And as a woman of topic every woman has thought about Federal Reserve System and there are many woman commitment, we must have the confidence that we can, at one point in her life, at least those of entrepreneurs who are successfully leading and and we will make a difference despite of what our us old enough to know that roles have changed over handling businesses. background is. time. A decade ago, they were given roll in the movies Let us remember that with our special qualities as In 21st century, women enjoy more freedom and mostly for singing dancing or supporting male actors, women also comes a unique responsibility. power than ever before, entering in the job market and nowadays their rolls are so diversified including roles Only a woman can bear a child. Only a woman can be the political arena in greater number than ever. as a police officer or detective etc. which were initially a mother. In addition to bearing, nurturing and raising Women's education and income continue to rise in the played only by male actors. our own children, we share a united responsibility to 21st century due to the steadily growing percentage of And I am convinced that women's value will not be in maintain, uplift and improve each of our hometown women in college in the past few years. trying to imitate men or in becoming more like men. Our cities and nation. Women are taking care of their responsibility with value will be in honoring our womanhood and femininity Personally, I feel more confident and have a great pride in all fields precisely; we have many examples and offering to the world the wisdom that we hold. feeling of flowing with the time and adjusting with around usincluding our Vice President Kamla Harris is Many women who don't have enough confidence whatever comes in my way and I am enjoying the new strong example of women achievementsIndra Nooyi a think that by not obtaining a degree or having work and improved womanhood on a day-to-day basis………. business executive and the past Chairperson and CEO experience it means that they are not contributing Naree tum Shakti ho…

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcukasaid: "This UN's largest gathering on women's rights calls on pandemic has been the most directly discriminatory crisis the world has enhancing women's leadership in public life in the ever seen. It has treated most harshly those most deprived, and affected run up to the 2021 Generation Equality Forum women's lives across the world." Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NEW YORK (TIP): The 65th session of the pandemic in the foreground, and preparing the ground 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65), the UN's for the forthcoming Generation Equality Forum, which largest gathering on gender equality and women's will kick off in Mexico City from 29-31 March. called for increasing women's participation and rights, opened March 15, as an almost entirely virtual (Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news) leadership in decision-making to solve global challenges. session, with the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 THE INDIAN PANORAMA BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 24 Kiara confirms she is dating Sidharth Malhotra

AR Rahman to score Heropanti 2 ozart of Madras and Oscar- winning composer AR Rahman Mand celebrated lyricist Mehboob have joined the team of Tiger Shroff ’s upcoming sequel in the Heropanti franchise, Heropanti 2. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news as he took to Twitter to share the announcement. “AR RAHMAN – MEHBOOB JOIN #HEROPANTI2 TEAM… #ARRahman [music] and #Mehboob [lyrics] come on board for #Heropanti2… Stars #TigerShroff… Directed by #AhmedKhan… Produced by #SajidNadiadwala… 3 Dec 2021 release,” the post caption read. Later in the day, Tiger Shroff also shared the news on his social media and here is a rumour in B-town that with Filmfare, the actress was asked actor said, “Then I will block him and called it an “absolute honor and privilege actors Sidharth Malhotra and about what’s brewing between her and never look back. No forgetting. I don’t to work with the legendary maestro.” TKiara Advani are dating. Sidharth. But Kiara refused to divulge go back. That’s a complete no-no in a Tiger had marked his Bollywood debut Although the two have not confirmed details. Instead, the she opened up about relationship.” with the actioner Heropanti in 2014, their relationship, there are a date she went on earlier this year. Meanwhile, Sidharth Malhotra-led which was directed by Sabbir Khan. speculations that the actors who will be Speaking to Filmfare, Kiara said, Shershaah, the biopic of Kargil war Tiger had broke the news about sequel seen together in the upcoming film “Last time I went on a date was… It was hero Vikram Batra, is set to release of Heropanti 2 with a post on his social Shershaah are together off-screen as sometime this year. And it’s been only theatrically on July 2. The film, also media handle that read, “My first love is well. Now, Kiara Advani has spilled two months for this year, so you do the starring Kiara Advani, has been helmed back action, thrill, like never before! Lets some beans on her dating life and math.” The Kabir Singh star also by Tamil director Vishnu Varadhan, celebrate this one together on the 3rd of seemingly hinted that the two are opened up about how she would react if known for films like Arinthum December in cinemas.” indeed together. During an interview she found her boyfriend cheating. The Ariyalum, Pattiyal and Billa.

Govinda says Bollywood Sanya Malhotra plays an unusual ‘conspired’ against him ollywood actor Govinda, in a new interview, has young widow in Pagglait said that certain sections in Bollywood have B'conspired' against him which has led to him being deliberately sidelined, resulting in financial he film is focused on Sandhya, played by Sanya, losses for him. who is a young widow who appears not be coping Govinda told The Times of India, "In the last 14-15 Twith the loss of her husband as expected by her years, I have invested money and lost around Rs 16 family and the events in her life that unfold after the crores. I was treated badly by some people from the passing of her husband after five short months of her fraternity too. My films didn’t get theatres and they wedding. wanted to demolish my career, which didn’t happen. Sandhya’s whole family is concerned about her well- Now, I am ready to kick-start 2021 in a big way." being who is holed up in her room after the death of her The actor also refused to speak badly about the husband. recent 'Coolie No 1' remake starring Varun Dhawan The widow, however, is a constant surprise who is and Sara Ali Khan which made its debut on Amazon never shown shedding a tear while others wail around Prime Video last year. her, eats gol gappas and prefers Pepsi over chai, and is Asked if the film shouldn't have been made, more concerned with the number of comments on the Govinda said, "You will never see me speaking against Facebook post about her husband’s death. others. While others often like to talk about me, I A large sum of insurance money left behind by never talk about their work or judge it because I Sandhya’s husband however does change things. With respect everybody's hard work and money invested." everyone rushing to determine Sandhya’s fate and if she should remarry using the money or not marry and keep the money in the family and much more, Sandhya decides she wants to take charge of her own life. Despite being a comedy, the trailer does invoke thoughts about what is the right way of expressing grief, or even if there is one? The story of self discovery of a woman definitely comes from a unique point of referance and one to watch out for. Sanya looks promising in the role surrounded by a variety of seasoned actors like Ashutosh Rana, Raghubir Yadav, Sheeba Chaddha, Sayani Gupta and others. THE INDIAN PANORAMA HOLLYWOOD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 25 Elliot Page 1st trans man to star on Time magazine cover

scar-nominated actor Elliot Page will become the first transgender man to Ostar on the front cover of Time when the magazine's latest edition goes on sale on Friday. Page, 34, who was nominated for various awards for Oscar-winning 2007 independent film Juno and plays a leading role in the current Netflix hit The Umbrella Academy, announced he was trans in December. The actor wrote on Instagram at the time that he could not "begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self". Page Kelly Brook launching follows in the footsteps of actor Laverne Cox, who became the first trans woman to appear on her own beer the cover of Time, a mark of mainstream media approval, in 2014 under the headline The elly Brook is launching her own brand of beer. Transgender Tipping Point. The 41-year-old model has filed a trademark for In his first interview since coming out as a Ka new brand of beers and non-alcoholic drinks transgender whose preferred pronouns are he under her birth name, Kelly Ann Parsons, The Sun and they, Hollywood actor Elliot Page newspaper's Bizarre column reports. (formerly known as Ellen Page), has opened up Meanwhile, Kelly previously revealed she created a about coming to terms with who he actually is, gin bar and a coffee shop inside her home. with regard to as an artiste and as a person. He She shared: "I've really enjoyed making my home is on the cover of Time magazine in his first space versatile for my working day and it's really interview since disclosing in December that he helped to keep me feeling energised and happy. is transgender "You don't need a lot of room, but creating different “Sorry, I’m going to be emotional, but that’s designated areas for activities, whether it's making a cool, right?” Page asked his interviewer. coffee or having a stretch, is a nice way to make use of “What I was anticipating was a lot of support all your space. I've created different areas in my home and love and a massive amount of hatred and dedicated to things I like to do, like a reading corner, a transphobia. That’s essentially what yoga space, a little coffee shop and a gin bar. When I happened,” Page said as he spoke about the feel organised in my living space it's a total game time when he finally revealed his transgender changer and I've loved presenting my radio show identity via a lengthy Instagram post. overlooking my garden." Rachael Leigh Cook finalises Katherine Heigl undergoes neck divorce from Daniel Gillies

he 40-year-old surgery for ‘excruciating’ herniated actress ended her T15-year marriage to the ‘Vampire Diaries’ disc in her neck alum - with whom she atherine Heigl has undergone has Charlotte, seven, and neck surgery after having a Theodore, five - in June Kherniated a disc in her neck. 2019 before officially The ‘Firefly Lane’ star took to filing for divorce in July Instagram on Wednesday (17.03.21) to last year, and according reveal she’s now “bionic” after having to legal documents two titanium discs placed in her neck to obtained by TMZ on help heal her injuries after suffering the Wednesday (17.03.21), the “excruciating pain” of a herniated disc, former couple have now which occurs when a soft cushion of been declared legally tissue between the bones in the spine single. pushes out. Documents state Posting pictures of herself in a neck Rachael has been brace, Katherine wrote: “Well…I am allowed to keep her own now bionic!! Two titanium disk now jewellery and designer inhabit my neck and I can probably clothing as part of the stand on my head for like hours. I’m not divorce settlement, as gonna try it just yet but give me a few well as her 2020 Audi Q5 months and I’ll blow your mind!! I am so and access to any reward deeply deeply grateful to the incredible points on her credit Dr’s and care team that saved me from cards including frequent the most excruciating pain I have ever flyer miles. experienced and blessed me with a new Rachael is also pain free lease on life! (sic)” keeping a property in Katherine went on to thank the Redondo Beach, doctors who helped nurse her back to California, whilst the Studio City home she owned with Daniel is being health, as well as joking she has been sold and profits will be split equally between the pair. “blessed with the luck of the Irish” on The former couple will share expenses for their two cats and two dogs, St. Patrick’s Day, which also fell on and are also sharing joint legal and physical custody of their two Wednesday. children. She continued: “I really feel like they deserve a big giant shoutout of gratitude and Daniel, 45, will get to keep his own jewellery and clothing, as well as a appreciation so I’m gonna give it to them! @thebackdoctorapp thank you for treating me like 2019 BMW X6. a human being and giving me so much of your time and attention to help me truly understand Meanwhile, Rachael previously opened up on her new romance with a what to expect and what all my options were. man named Kevin, who works as a swim coach. THE INDIAN PANORAMA WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 26

staring down the eye of climate change, and on the brink of groundbreaking AI technology, we need the Athena Film Fest Honors best and brightest leading the way. Too often women are left out, underrepresented or intentionally sidelined in the STEM fields. We're excited to once again partner with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to Women’s History Month tell the stories of fierce and fearless women working in STEM. We'll see the discoveries they make and the BY MABEL PAIS challenges they face as they uncover the truth about our world and break down social barriers. Women's History Month 2021 is RESILIENCE THROUGH UNCERTAINTY celebrated by 'The Athena Film What keeps us going? How do we move into the future Festival' during the entire month of when we have no idea what it will look like? Humans, women, leaders are resilient. What does resilience look March 2021 like? How do we move through the fog of uncertainty Catch up on several of the films, panels and and come out on the other side? Through films and conversations available until the end of March at conversations we'll investigate and showcase the athenafilmfestival.com/2021 exhaustion and devastation, and the powerful manifestations of perseverance and hope that keeps s an organization dedicated to showcasing the people going. best films about women leaders, the festival TEAR IT DOWN: DISMANTLING WHITE Ateam felt compelled to curate a program that receives, reacts and responds to this past year. With all SUPREMACY of its programming, the members hope to examine the Farah Goes Bang The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare that which already challenges all around us, celebrate those who have plagued our country, including police brutality, taken up the task to solve them and use this moment as structural racism, and economic inequality. We'll take an opportunity to rebuild and envision the kind of a look at people organizing and taking action to tear world we want to live in. down systems of oppression. You'll see stories of activists organizing to fight white supremacy in the The areas of focus in the Fest are: many forms it takes, whether that is hair discrimination, mass incarceration, or continued A LOOK AT HEALTH disrespect for indigenous communities and their Physical health, mental health, community health, sacred land. public health, socioeconomic health - we've thought Panels and Conversations about it constantly for the past 12 months. In a year where every email starts with "hope you are well," we All panels and conversations are free of charge and are asking ourselves "what does it mean to be well?" open to the general public, but registration is required. Why are there so many different ways of talking about Information on how to access the panel will be sent to health? What does holistic wellness look like? Who has all registrants in advance of the event. access to health? Do people have autonomy over their Frozen Use this link to register for panels and conversations health? We'll dive into these questions with films about of your choice airtable.com/shrmnASUe1HOXH64b health, with a focus on the ongoing fights for All of the panels and conversations listed below will reproductive rights, justice, and disparities in be pre-recorded and made available on the dates maternal healthcare. indicated in the list. COME AS YOU ARE The following available conversations include:

Women, femmes, and trans and non-binary folks are This is a featured conversation of the Nothing About constantly being told how they should look, how they Us Without Us program area. should act and how they should live. For years feminist March 20: Producing During and After COVID and queer movements have been breaking down those expectations while also reclaiming things that were The conversation will also include where they see the once seen as restrictive and stereotypical but now industry going. they're powerful but are these things reclaimed or are March 20: Writing Roundtable we just perpetuating old stereotypes OR is it now such a stereotype that the mere act of embodying it makes it This is an invitation-only event. AFF Awards - Photos / athenafilmfestival.com subversive? It is so confusing! In this section we throw March 23: Deconstructing Whiteness all of that out the window and celebrate just being who things that things don't have to be the way they were. you are, whatever that means to you. Whether that's How do we use this newfound possibility to build a This is a featured conversation of our Tear it Down: wearing makeup or not, wearing your natural hair or better world? How do we take this new perspective and Dismantling White Supremacy program area. not, shaving or not. It's all good here as long as it's what turn it on institutions or systems that up until now we March 23: The Push for Decarceration you want! Come as you are. just accepted as the way things had to be? The future is DISCOVERY wide open. What will it look like? This conversation will be in conjunction with The NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US Third Strike. Fall in love with new voices. Celebrate the inspiring This is a featured conversation of our Tear it Down: new works of first time and student filmmakers as they This rallying cry,which began in the disability rights Dismantling White Supremacy program area. discover and unlock their creativity, and support a movements in South Africa in 1993, has since been March 25: Creating Utopias: Science Fiction as a filmmaker on the brink of success with our second applied to multiple movements and causes. In the film Model for Future Planning annual Breakthrough Award. It has been a difficult community, it has been picked up as a way to discuss year for filmmakers with theater closures and authorship. Too often we see new voices represented on This is a featured conversation of our Imagining a production halts - among those hit hardest are screen but not behind the scenes. In this program, we New Future program area. emerging filmmakers. But as you'll see here, emerging dive into representation. Who is at the center of the March 25: Black Feminist Future: Reconceiving filmmakers are resilient and the future of the industry story? Who is telling the story? These films examine, Freedom for Collective Power and Justice is bright. celebrate, and dissect representation and visibility as IMAGINING A NEW FUTURE it appears in everyday life and in wider communities. This is a featured conversation of our Imagining a In these times of great change, we must keep this New Future program area. When so much has changed so fast, when in the span rallying cry ringing in our heads. We must keep To learn more or purchase tickets, visit of just a few weeks, people started talking about the asking, who is this change serving and who is leading? athenafilmfestival.com/2021 "new normal," how does that change our ideas of what MAKING IT HAPPEN: WOMEN IN STEM (Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and is possible? While so much of this rapid change has Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness) been difficult and even traumatizing, it has shown us In a world where we're fighting a global pandemic, THE INDIAN PANORAMA NJ ARTS: MUSIC FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 27

NJSO Meets BOLLYWOOD BY MABEL PAIS The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players PERFORM ollywood, the Hindi-language film industry of "The NJSO is incredibly grateful for the India, inspires a free virtual concert featuring commitment and support provided by the PSEG FREE Bollywood Virtual Concert Bthe NJSO Chamber Players on March 26 at 7 pm. March 26, 2021 at 7 PM on ZOOM "Best of Bollywood" explores historical influences Foundation. Their generosity helps us fulfill our Audiences Enjoy Signature Bollywood Music and mission in bringing engaging programs to the Insight into Hindi-language Film Industry on the growth of Bollywood and offers insights into signature music and lyrics of the genre. diverse communities of New Jersey," says NJSO Interactive program features a Q&A with NJSO President & CEO Gabriel van Aalst. musicians Famed works include themes from the Oscar- "technical abilities, musicianship and maturity"- March 26 at 7 pm on Zoom winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire." continues her acclaimed leadership of the NJSO. The Audiences register for FREE event at hese interactive virtual events-co-hosted by Orchestra presents classical, pops and family programs, njsymphony.org/bollywood Archana Athalye and James Musto-will include a as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. TQ&A with NJSO musicians. The programs Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO feature NJSO violinists Wendy Chen and James Tsao, is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing violist David Blinn, cellist Sarah Seiver and Arts Center in Newark and regularly performs at State percussionist James Musto. Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie This is a free Zoom event. Registration is Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Richardson required; audiences can register at Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center njsymphony.org/bollywood in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood. "We are proud to continue our longstanding support of Partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, the NJSO for the Diversity & Inclusion Community universities and civic organizations remain a key Initiative. The NJSO's programs are designed to enrich element of the Orchestra's statewide identity. the lives of communities and are well aligned with our In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the goals to support those programs that reach new and NJSO presents a suite of education and community diverse audiences with a lasting impact on communities engagement programs that promote meaningful, throughout New Jersey," says PSEG Director of lifelong engagement with live music. Programs include Corporate Social Responsibility and President of the school-time Concerts for Young People and the NJSO PSEG Foundation Calvin Ledford. Youth Orchestras family of student ensembles, led by The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) José Luis Domínguez. NJSO musicians annually perform original chamber music programs at Named "a vital, artistically significant musical community events in a variety of settings statewide organization" by 'The Wall Street Journal,' the New through the NJSO Community Partners program. Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality The Orchestra's online hub for free NJSO Virtual through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and 20-21 content is njsymphony.org/virtual. unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra's Connect with NJSO: Website: njsymphony.org superb musicians. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NJSymphony (Top) Archana Athalye; (Bottom) James Musto - Music Director Xian Zhang-a "dynamic podium YouTube: @NewJerseySymphony Photo / Courtesy NJSO presence" 'The New York Times' has praised for her Email: [email protected]

1979, is a tiered orchestral program offering ensemble education for students in grades 3-12 across New Jersey. NJYS HOSTS PLAYATHON NJYS has grown from one orchestra of 65 students to over 500 students in 15 different orchestras and BY MABEL PAIS ensembles, including the internationally recognized NJYS VIRTUAL PLAYATHON Youth Symphony. NJYS ensembles have performed in venues including the New Jersey Performing Arts SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 3 - 4:30 P.M. EST Center, Carnegie Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center "Although we cannot be together in person, the for the Performing Arts. NJYS has received numerous New Jersey Youth Symphony is super excited to prestigious awards for its adventurous programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and present a virtual orchestra of over 300 musicians Publishers (ASCAP) and has had six European tours, performing two of our Playathon favorites, 'Can- including participation in the Summa Cum Laude Can' and 'Superman'. We will also feature newly International Youth Festival and Competition (Vienna), created virtual performances by our Clarinet winning First Prizes in July 2014 and 2017. Ensemble and Charles Mingus Jazz Combo, as WIPA well as video messages from graduating seniors. The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is a It will be a true celebration of our beloved NJYS Collage of NJYS Musicians - Photo /CourtesyWIPA/NJYS program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing community and beyond!" -Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Arts (WIPA). Wharton is New Jersey's largest non-profit The annual fundraiser raises a nearly 6-figure performing arts education organization serving over Artistic Director and Principal Conductor amount for the organization to support performing arts 1,500 students of all ages and abilities through a range The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) hosts a education, including scholarships and tuition of classes and ensembles. In addition to the New Jersey virtual Playathon on Sunday, March 21 from 3:00- 4:30 p.m. EST on WhartonArts.tv. assistance for New Jersey's largest youth orchestra Youth Symphony,programs include the Paterson Music program. This year, NJYS students are participating in Project, an El Sistema-inspired program that uses he event will feature virtual ensemble a practice challenge to help raise funds for the event music as a vehicle for social change by empowering and performances, raffles, trivia contests, and and have logged 279,500 minutes to date. To support inspiring children through the community experience Tinterviews with NJYS conductors, as well as a music education at the New Jersey Youth Symphony of ensemble learning and playing in its hometown of live auction to win the conductor's baton and the chance and the 2021 Playathon, continue to give by texting Paterson. Beginning with early childhood music classes to conduct the New Jersey Youth Symphony performing MUSIC to 74121 or donating online at for toddlers, the Performing Arts School offers 500 John Williams' 'Superman'. WNYC's Weekend Edition WhartonArtsDonate.org private lessons and group classes each week, ensuring and 'The Christie Tracker Podcast' Host David Furst NJYS there is something for everyone of all ages and abilities. will preside as the event's emcee. (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), founded in Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness) THE INDIAN PANORAMA TAX MATTERS FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 28 IRS Pushes Tax Deadline Back by One Month Filers will have until May 17, the agency said Wednesday, March 17

WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal extra time as the IRS offered last year, additional guidance. Revenue Service will give Americans when the filing deadline was pushed to But Mr. Rettig said taxpayers should extra time to file their taxes as a result of July 15. But it should make it easier for not unnecessarily delay filing, especially the pandemic. taxpayers to get a handle on their if they will be receiving money back. Instead of the usual April 15 deadline, finances - as well as tax changes that took "Filing electronically with direct filers will instead have until May 17, the effect just this month with the signing of deposit is the quickest way to get :"This continues to be a tough time for many agency said Wednesday,an extension that the American Rescue Plan. refunds," he said. (Taxpayers who file people, and the IRS wants to continue to do will ease the burden on filers dealing The new law made the first $10,200 of electronically can generally expect to everything possible to help taxpayers with the economic upheaval caused by unemployment benefits received in 2020 receive any refund within 21 days.) navigate the unusual circumstances related the coronavirus, which has put millions tax-free for people with incomes of less The IRS emphasized that the extra time to the pandemic," said Chuck Rettig, the IRS commissioner. out of work or caused their hours to be than $150,000, a significant change for is only for federal returns, not state cut. many whose jobs were affected by the returns, so taxpayers should check with eligible for a larger one. (The latest "This continues to be a tough time for pandemic. The IRS said last week that it their state tax agencies about any stimulus bill includes a provision for the many people, and the IRS wants to would provide a worksheet for paper deadline changes. It also does not apply to Treasury Department to make continue to do everything possible to help filers and coordinate with tax-software estimated tax payments that are due on supplemental payments by September; if taxpayers navigate the unusual companies. The agency also asked those April 15, which are still due on that day. you don't get one by then, you should be circumstances related to the pandemic," who were eligible for the tax break but Filing quickly also can benefit people able to claim what you're owed when you said Chuck Rettig, the IRS commissioner. had already filed their 2020 returns not to whose 2020 income makes them newly file your 2021 taxes.) The one-month delay is not as much file an amended return until it had issued eligible for a stimulus payment, or (Source: NY Times) The IRS is behind in processing nearly 7 million tax returns, slowing refunds as it implements new stimulus

● IRS commissioner says he hopes to clear tax processing more returns. refund backlog by summer "While the IRS issues most tax refunds within 21 days ● of the filing season start, it's possible some refunds may Lawmakers told him Americans need the take longer," said IRS spokesman Robert Marvin. "Many refunds as a lifeline during the pandemic. factors can affect the timing of your refund after we WASHINGTON (TIP): Nearly 7 million tax filers are receive your return. Some tax returns take longer to in limbo and facing substantial delays in getting refunds process than others. For example, returns with an error, so far this tax filing season, as the Internal Revenue incomplete information or those affected by theft or fraud Service struggles to keep up with the demands of issuing may take longer to process." stimulus checks and implementing myriad tax code Marvin said the IRS would send taxpayers letters if changes from coronavirus relief packages, including the more information is needed to process a return. one President Biden signed this week. Jacob White is one of the frustrated Americans There are 6.7 million returns that have not yet been desperate for a refund to arrive, so that he can pay March processed, more than three times the number in the same rent. He and his girlfriend both filed their tax returns on period last year, when fewer than 2 million returns faced that money, and the IRS just won't give me any answers," the same day: Feb. 12. Her refund arrived two weeks later. delayed processing, IRS data shows. said Frances Johnson, a single mother in Burlington, He has not seen his, and the IRS reports that it is still The delays are largely a result of a year's worth of Wash., who filed on Feb. 12 and needs the money to repair "processing." extraordinary stimulus measures that have created more her car. "When I call, they say I will have to wait until the An IRS call center agent told White on Wednesday that complicated tax returns for millions of Americans. The end of April." "over 7 million returns were sent to the Error Resolution IRS was already straining to adjust after the December The main two issues to emerge so far this tax filing System to buy time." stimulus package. The newest package, the American season are a large number of returns being sent for "It's just the wrong time for all of this. People need the Rescue Plan, adds even more tasks for the agency, manual review and the malfunctioning of the popular money," White said."My rent and my car payment are due including sending out another round of one-time "Where's My Refund?" tool for weeks. The tool was fixed next week, and the electric." payments, making changes to tax rules to help last weekend, the IRS confirmed, but the processing The Error Resolution System is the group involved in unemployed workers and paying out a new child tax delays persist. the manual review of returns. Most years, it deals mainly benefit. National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins has been with returns that are flagged as potentially fraudulent, Many Americans who did not receive the correct urging the IRS to let people know why returns are but this year millions of returns claiming stimulus stimulus payments in January or last year are filing for delayed. She is also concerned that the processing delays money or involving the earned-income tax credit or the additional money now. And some low-income filers are could get even worse if millions of people who already child tax credit have also gone to the error department. newly eligible for more tax credits than usual. The IRS is filed their taxes have to file amended returns to benefit Most of these filers are low-income families who lost a job having to manually review a lot of these returns, a slow from the changes Congress just enacted. or who had a new baby in 2020, and should have received process that is delaying refunds for millions of low- For example, unemployed workers could see tax stimulus checks based on those events but did not. income families, after the agency has faced a decade's breaks, because Congress agreed to make the first $10,200 "We had a 2020 baby, and we also had our income drop worth of budget cuts and staffing losses. of unemployment benefits received from the government in 2020, so we claimed that we had missed out on some More than 100 people still waiting for the IRS to process in 2020 nontaxable. stimulus," said Caitlyn Primiano, who lives in Syracuse, their returns shared their stories with The Washington The backlog is severe for any tax return requiring a N.Y., with her husband and five children. "The IRS is Post. Most filed electronically on Feb. 12, when the IRS manual review by an experienced IRS staffer. Amended telling everyone like me that their returns are in the opened tax filing season. They were eager to get their returns typically require a manual review, and many of 'review and errors' department and to expect 10 weeks." refunds and to update their information with the IRS the 6.7 million returns that have yet to be processed are The other problem is that Congress said low-income tax ahead of the $1,400 stimulus payments going out. But a also sitting in line for a manual review, according to filers could use either 2019 or 2020 income to qualify for month later,many of these early filers are still waiting for Collins. the highest possible tax credits for children. IRS systems their returns to be processed - and their refunds to be The IRS said that 36 million refunds have gone out so have struggled to handle two different years of income deposited. far and that the agency is moving as fast as it can to get qualification. (Read full story at "I'm supposed to get a $5,600 refund. I absolutely need stimulus payments out in the coming days, all while www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FARMERS’ STIR FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 29 Senators ask Blinken to raise Tikri farmers shun farmers issue, say Indians will jab, to be sensitised JHAJJAR (TIP): Despite the best efforts of the determine path ahead on new laws district health authorities, farmers camping at the Tikri-Bahadurgarh border have so far been reluctant to get vaccinated against Covid-19. WASHINGTON (TIP): For the second consecutive day today, no farmer Observing that it is for the people turned up for vaccination at a booth set up at the and the Government of India to protest site. The dismal response has forced the health determine the path forward on its authorities to plan holding an awareness campaign at recently enacted farm laws, two top Tikri. “We have been contacting farmers for Democratic senators have urged vaccination, but they refuse to take jab. They often Secretary of State Antony Blinken claim that the Covid-19 pandemic is nothing but a to raise the issue of treatment of conspiracy of the Centre to divert the public attention,” peaceful farmer protesters and said an official. journalists. Parminder Singh of Moga claimed no farmer had In a letter to Blinken, Senate been infected for three months at the stir site hence Foreign Relations Committee there was no need for vaccination. Chairman Bob Menendez and “The issue will be discussed in the next meeting of Senate Majority Leader Chuck the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to take a final call in this Schumer on Thursday urged the regard,” said Purushottam Singh Gill, a senior BKU Biden administration to further leader. engage with Prime Minister Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjay Dahiya said efforts were Narendra Modi's government over being made to convince the protesters. its treatment of farmers in India Dr Vinay Deswal, Senior Medical Officer, said health who have been peacefully officials had been directed to meet the farmers to demonstrating against the passage motivate them. No one had been vaccinated, he added. of new farm laws. Source: The Tribune “India is a long-term strategic partner with deep ties to the United readouts of the phone calls do not decision. As the US pursues a more States, thanks to our many shared indicate that Blinken raised this perfect union here at home, values and our large and valued issue, under pressure from his including efforts to bolster the rule Indian American community. In party men, with Jaishankar. The of law and our democracy, those light of these shared values and Biden administration has insisted efforts reinforce the importance of strong connections, we write with that the two countries share addressing challenges to serious concern regarding the democratic values. democracies abroad as well,” the response of the Indian government Schumer and Menendez said the Senators wrote. to the farmer protests,” Menendez months-long demonstrations have The letter by Schumer and and Schumer wrote in their joint been met with orders from the Menendez comes a day after the letter to Blinken. central government and local latter wrote a similar letter to In their letter, released to the authorities to shut off internet Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, press, the two senators urged access in protest areas, cut off who is visiting India this week. Blinken to raise the importance of water and electricity supplies for There has been no response from freedom of speech and the right to the tens of thousands living in either Austin or Blinken if they peaceful protest in conversations protest camps, and impede the work plan to raise these issues with with his Indian counterparts and to of journalists reporting on the their Indian counterparts, ensure that State Department protests. especially when the Biden officials at all levels do so as well. “India's people and government administration is going out of its After becoming the Secretary of will determine the path forward on way in its outreach with the Modi State, Blinken has spoken with these laws, and peaceful dialogue government given the serious Farmers construct permanent shelter as the summer season External Affairs Minister S and respect for the viewpoints of all challenge it is facing from China. approaches, during their ongoing agitation against Centres Jaishankar multiple times. The peaceful actors should drive that Source: PTI three agri-laws, at Tikri border in New Delhi. Photo source: PTI Farmers’ protest to continue through harvest season NEW DELHI (TIP): The farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders plan to keep the movement alive during the upcoming harvest season with the help of supporters from other walks of life in an example of Insider advises Modi to bring in law on MSP building solidarities across professions. With the harvest season upon them, farmers from atyapal Malik, the Meghalaya It was during his stint as Punjab and Haryana are under pressure to return to governor handpicked by the governor that the Centre decided to their fields. But Darshan Pal of the Samyukta Kisan SNarendra Modi dispensation, revoke the special status of Jammu Morcha (SKM) said that various unions and groups had has pitched for a law on the and Kashmir. Later, he was already committed to sending people in batches to minimum support price and transferred to Goa and then to occupy the protest sites during this period. warned the Centre of Meghalaya. This is just one instance of the broader coalition consequences if the government Malik, who had spoken in favour sought to be built, against not just the three tries to suppress the farmers’ of the protesting farmers earlier contentious farm laws but also the labour codes and protest and send them back empty- too, said he was “ready to go to any bank privatisation. handed. extent” for the farmers since he It is with this end in view that progressive mass Malik’s voice holds significance belonged to a farmer family and organisations, including trade unions and student as he belongs to the ruling stable Satyapal Malik knew well the problems they faced. associations, participated in a meeting organised by and hails from western Uttar don’t use force against them’,” Malik warned the Centre against the SKM at the Singhu border on Wednesday to ensure Pradesh, the epicentre of the farm Malik told a felicitation at a school committing the mistake of the success of the Bharat Bandh called by farmers on protests along with Punjab and in Baghpat, western Uttar Pradesh, ignoring the farmers and echoed March 26. Haryana. on Sunday.Malik had studied in the their demand for a law on the The farmers’ unions, particularly from Punjab, are “When I saw what was village school. minimum support price, up in arms also over a new order from the Food happening in the matter of Malik, who joined the BJP in underscoring that “Kisan bahut Corporation of India asking peasants to furnish land farmers, I couldn’t stop myself. I 2004 after stints in the socialist bure haal me hai desh me”. records for direct transfer of the minimum support spoke and I told both the Prime camp and the Congress, was picked “Make a law on the MSP and the price to their bank accounts for the rabi marketing Minister and home minister that as governor of the erstwhile state farmers will be ready for other season. The SKM has asked farmers not to provide the ‘One, don’t send them back empty- of Jammu and Kashmir in August amendments the government documents to the government in a show of non- handed because the sardars 2018, a move indicative of his wants,” he said, urging the Centre cooperation. remember it for 300 years. Second, proximity to Modi and Shah. not to allow the protest to drag on. THE INDIAN PANORAMA WORLD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 30 South Africa has world’s most dangerous roads: Study JOHANNESBURG (TIP): South in South Africa. Africa has been ranked as the world's JPSA Chairperson Howard most dangerous country to drive in while Dembovsky, while agreeing that South Tanzania’s Prez Magufuli dies India came in at a fourth place, Africans tended to be poor drivers, said according to a research study that Zutobi had used outdated figures in NAKURU (KENYA) (TIP): President undertaken by international driver its study. John Magufuli of Tanzania, a prominent education company Zutobi. Dembovsky also queried why South Covid-19 skeptic in Africa whose Among the list of 56 countries in the Africa was the only African country on populist rule often cast his East African study, Thailand came in the second its list. country in a harsh international position and the US took up the third “So to accuse us of being the worst in spotlight, has died. spot. the world is a little bit unfair. If you are He was 61. Magufuli's death was The safest roads in the world can be the proportion of road traffic deaths that going to talk about the worst countries in announced on Wednesday by Vice- found in Norway, with its Scandinavian have been attributed to alcohol the world, then you need to adopt a President Samia Suluhu, who said the neighbour Sweden having the third consumption over the national legal balanced approach,” Dembovsky said as president died of heart failure. “Our safest roads while Japan took second limit. he commented on poor driving in his beloved president passed on at 6 pm this place, according to the study. These estimates were based on the country in an interview with radio evening," said Suluhu on national “We analysed each country on five World Health Organization's Global station Cape Talk. television. “All flags will be flown at half- factors, giving each one a normalised Health Observatory data repository. “(South African drivers) do have a mast for 14 days. It is sad news. The score out of ten for each factor, before The maximum speed limit on shocking road safety record. As much as president has had this illness for the past taking an average final score across all motorway and blood alcohol content I would not place much reliance on that 10 years.” The vice president said that five factors,” Zutobi said. restrictions in the various countries so-called study, there is still plenty of Magufuli died at a hospital in Dar es These factors included estimates on were also taken into account. evidence to show that South Africans are Salaam, the Indian Ocean port that is the number of road traffic deaths per But Zutobi's findings have been dangerous drivers and inconsiderate Tanzania's largest city. Although the 100,000 population; the percentage of car challenged by the Justice Project SA drivers and have very little regard for the Vice-President said the cause of occupants who use a seat-belt when (JPSA), an NGO that aims to improve safety of others on our roads,” he said. Magufuli's death was heart failure, travelling in the front of a vehicle; and road traffic laws and their enforcement PTI opposition politicians had earlier alleged that he had Covid. — AP China busts $770 million refined oil smuggling ring in Actor Johnny Depp seeks appeal massive swoop BEIJING (TIP): China foiled in UK wife beater libel case criminals seeking to smuggle nearly 1 million tonnes of refined oil worth 5 LONDON (TIP): Hollywood star which they said had undermined her billion yuan ($770 million), with officials Johnny Depp will seek permission on evidence. seizing 11 ships and detaining 171 Thursday to appeal against his defeat in On Thursday, Depp's legal team will suspects in a sprawling swoop on a London libel case last year over a apply for permission to appeal, and to Tuesday,customs authorities said. tabloid article that labelled him a wife rely on further evidence. The hearing, The operation, which saw customs beater. expected to last for about two hours, will officers from the port city of Ningbo join High Court Judge Andrew Nicol be livestreamed on the Court of Appeal's forces with local law enforcement and YouTube channel. maritime police, spanned eight Chinese ruled last November that Depp had Following Nicol's verdict, seen as regions, including the coastal provinces violently assaulted his ex-wife being highly damaging to his career, of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Amber Heard during their Depp was asked to leave the 'Fantastic Fujian, the General Administration of tempestuous five-year relationship, Beasts' franchise, the movie spin-offs Customs said in a statement. from the 'Harry Potter' books and films. A total of 14 gangs were busted on at times putting her in fear for her During the libel trial last summer, Tuesday, the agency added. It was not life. Heard said Depp would turn into a immediately clear if the gangs were That decision came after three weeks jealous alter ego, "the monster", after trying to smuggle the oil into or out of of hearings where the court heard bingeing on drugs and alcohol and had the country. China is Asia's biggest sensational claim and counter-claim often threatened to kill her. refiner and consumer of oil products from Depp, 57, and Heard, 34, about Heard detailed 14 occasions of extreme such as gasoline and diesel. violent outbursts that each accused the violence when she said the actor choked, Customs authorities described the other of committing. punched, slapped, head-butted, throttled swoop as "one of the most extensive Depp, star of films including 'Pirates and kicked her, with Nicol accepting 12 operations" to combat refined oil of these accounts were true, including smuggling along China's southeast coast of the Caribbean' and 'Edward an assault after her 30th birthday party in recent years, in terms of area. Scissorhands', had gone to the and another incident which left her with Such smuggling disrupts the retail fuel London court to sue The Sun black eyes. market, brings serious safety hazards newspaper and one of its journalists The couple met while making 'The and causes pollution, it said, adding that Rum Diary' in 2011 and married four smuggled refined oil was of inferior over an article that stated he had years later, but divorced in 2016. quality and had a sulphur content that been violent towards Heard. Depp had told the court he was never greatly exceeded stipulated limits. The "I have found that the great majority of violent towards his ex-wife, saying her customs agency said it had launched a alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp claims were a hoax and portraying her as coordinated nationwide campaign have been proved to the civil standard," a gold-digger. But Nicol rejected his against refined oil smuggling in August said Nicol in his November ruling. version of events. last year, focusing on hotspots like the In the aftermath, Depp's lawyers said Depp has also filed a $50 million Pearl River and Yangtze River Deltas and the ruling was so flawed it would be defamation lawsuit against Heard in a had recorded 170 cases involving ridiculous for him not to appeal. Virginia court over an opinion piece she products worth 5.4 billion yuan by the They said it was "troubling" the judge rejecting the evidence of police officers, wrote in The Washington Post. end of February.Reuters had relied on Heard's testimony while her former assistant and other witnesses — Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA WORLD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 31 In landmark ruling, Japan Burglars, thieves, robbers to court says not allowing same-sex marriage is be fitted with GPS tags in UK 'unconstitutional' LONDON (TIP): Burglars, thieves and such crimes place on the taxpayer every TOKYO (TIP): A Japanese court robbers released from prison will be year. ruled on March 18 that not allowing made to wear GPS tags to track their “Tagging prolific offenders provides a same-sex couples to marry is movements in a world-first scheme to strong deterrent and means officers will "unconstitutional," setting a precedent crack down on neighbourhood be able to quickly arrest and gather in the only G7 nation not to fully criminals, the UK government evidence against anyone suspected of recognise same-sex partnership. announced on March 18. being involved in a robbery, burglary or The ruling by a district court, the Under the new rules, such offenders other theft,” Deputy Chief Constable Jon first in Japan on the legality of same- who have served a prison sentence of a Stratford, National Police Chief ’s sex marriages, is a major symbolic year or more will be automatically fitted Council Electronic Monitoring Lead. victory in a country where the with a tag on release, allowing their “This scheme will play a part in our constitution still defines marriage as whereabouts to be monitored by GPS their ways and will help police find and overall work to prevent crime and keep being based on "the mutual consent of satellites 24 hours a day for up to 12 charge them if they don’t. It’s another our communities safe,” he said. both sexes". months. tool helping probation staff to cut crime The scheme will initially launch in six While a new law will be needed With more than half of those and keep the public safe,” he said. England police force areas of Avon and before same-sex marriages can convicted of theft and burglary Police will be able to work with the Somerset, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, actually take place -- which could take reoffending within a year and almost 80 Prison and Probation Service staff to Gwent, Humberside and West Midlands some time in socially conservative per cent of cases resulting in no suspect investigate whether those on the tags on April 12 and it is estimated 250 Japan -- LGBT activists celebrated the being identified, the Ministry of Justice have been in the vicinity of recent offenders will be tagged in the first six ruling and said it had the potential to said the new scheme will be a vital extra burglaries, thefts and robberies. months. It will then be extended to a change their lives. source of intelligence to help police It is hoped that this would provide the further 13 areas in September. "I'm really happy. Until the ruling catch these persistent offenders. crucial evidence needed to catch the Police officers will be able to submit was announced, we didn't know this “Being burgled or robbed is perpetrators. any burglaries, thefts or robberies they was what we'd get and I'm just devastating and I understand how The intention is the tags will also act are investigating to a dedicated unit overjoyed," said 44-year old Gon frustrating it is when the perpetrators as a deterrent, protecting people from overseen by the Prison and Probation Matsunaka, director of activist group can’t be caught, both for the public and further burglaries and thefts and forcing Service. Marriage for All Japan and the police,” said Kit Malthouse, UK “career criminals” to choose a more Trained staff will then be able to check representative at Pride House Tokyo. Minister for Crime and Policing. honest way of making a living. the location history of those on tags "Its value is absolutely measureless." “Tagging these prolific offenders so we The Ministry of Justice said it is against the details of the crime, allowing While Japanese law is relatively know where they are 24 hours a day hoped this novel approach will reduce police to either rule out or investigate liberal by Asian standards, social should be powerful persuasion to change the estimated 4.8 billion pounds burden suspects further. PTI attitudes have keep the LGBT community largely invisible in the world's third largest economy. Under the current rules, same-sex couples are EU sets out virus pass plan to allow free not allowed to marry,can't inherit their partner's assets -- such as the house they may have shared -- and also have travel by summer no parental rights over their partners' children. Though partnership BRUSSELS (TIP): With summer recovery certificates.” certificates issued by individual looming and tourism-reliant countries The commission proposed that all municipalities help same-sex couples anxiously waiting for the return of a vaccines rubberstamped by the to rent a place together and have steady influx of tourism income amid European Medicines Agency should be hospital visitation rights, they still the coronavirus pandemic, the European automatically recognized, but also don't give them the same full legal Union’s executive body presented a offered governments the possibility to rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples. proposal March 18 that would allow include vaccines like Russia’s Sputnik or The Sapporo District Court threw European citizens and residents — China’s Sinovac, which haven’t received out the demand for damages by the six vaccinated or not — to travel freely EU market authorisation. plaintiffs -- two couples of men and one across the 27-nation region by the The European Commission of women -- who had asked that the summer. guaranteed that “a very high level of Japanese government pay 1 million The plan, which will be discussed next data protection will be ensured” and said yen ($9,168.42) each in week during a summit of EU leaders, the certificates will be issued in digital acknowledgment of the pain they foresees the creation of vaccine format to be shown either on suffered by not being able to legally certificates aimed at facilitating travel production of vaccines. The European smartphones or paper. marry. But the "unconstitutional" from one member state to the other. Commission, however, remains EU officials also hope that vaccine ruling was the victory the plaintiffs, The topic has been discussed for weeks confident it can achieve its goal that 70 certificates will convince the member their lawyers and activists had been and proved to be divisive. The travel per cent of the EU adult population is states which have introduced travel hoping for as a key step forward and industry and southern European vaccinated by the end of the summer. restrictions aimed at slowing down the one that sets an important precedent. countries dependent on tourism like To secure the adhesion of all member pace of new infections to lift their Similar cases are currently being Greece and Spain have been pushing for states, the commission proposed that its measures. heard in four other courts around Japan the quick introduction of the measure, so-called Digital Green Certificates, The EU’s executive arm has previously and this ruling may indirectly influence which could help avoid quarantines and which should be free of charge, would be warned six countries that their travel- the outcome of those by changing testing requirements. delivered to EU residents who can prove limiting measures, which in Belgium go public opinion, Matsunaka added. But several member states, including they have been vaccinated, but also to as far as a ban on nonessential trips, While homosexual sex has been legal in France, argued that it would be those who tested negative for the virus or could undermine the core EU principle Japan since 1880, social stigma means premature and discriminatory to have proof they recovered from it. of free travel and damage the single many have yet to come out even to their introduce such passes since a large “Being vaccinated will not be a market. families. Some in the business world say majority of EU citizens haven’t had precondition to travel,” the commission The commission said the certificates Japanese rules not allowing same-sex access to vaccines so far. said. “All EU citizens have a fundamental should be suspended once the World marriage hurts the country's According to data compiled by the right to free movement in the EU and Health Organization declares the end of competitive advantage, by making it European Centre for Disease Prevention this applies regardless of whether they the COVID-19 pandemic. difficult for companies, especially and Control, less than 5 per cent of are vaccinated or not. The Digital Green If agreed by the EU leaders, the foreign companies, to attract and keep European citizens have been fully Certificate will make it easier to exercise proposal will need to be approved by EU highly-skilled labour in an increasingly vaccinated amid delays in deliveries and that right, also through testing and lawmakers to enter into force. AP international economy. Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA COVID-WORLD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 32 WHO warns against Global Covid-19 caseload premature easing of curbs tops 121.7 mn n its latest update on Friday, March ans Kluge, the World Health 19, morning, the University's Center TRACKING THE VIRUS Organization's (WHO) Regional Ifor Systems Science and HDirector for Europe, has Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the warned countries against premature current global caseload and death toll easing of Covid-19 restrictions. stood at 121,714,255 and 2,689,898, GLOBAL INDIA Kluge's warning on Thursday, respectively. March 18, came as the region has been The US is the worst-hit country with Cases Deaths Cases Deaths witnessing a rise in Covid-19 the world's highest number of cases transmission rates, while its death toll and deaths at 29,664,869 and 539,659, 121,714,255 2,689,898 11,514 331 1,59,370 was inching towards the 1 million respectively, according to the CSSE. mark, Xinhua news agency. Brazil follows in the second place Addressing a virtual press with 11,780,820 cases and 287,499 conference here, Kluge noted that fatalities. "while 27 countries are currently in a The other countries with more than a partial or full nationwide lockdown, million confirmed coronavirus cases 21 are gradually easing restrictive are India (11,474,605), Russia (4,378,656), measures". the UK (4,294,327), France (4,241,963), "Some are doing so based on the Italy (3,306,711), Spain (3,212,332), assumption that increasing Turkey (2,950,603), Germany (2,628,629), vaccination uptake in countries would Colombia (2,319,293), Argentina immediately lead to an improved (2,226,753), Mexico (2,175,462), Poland epidemiological situation," he said. (1,984,248), Iran (1,778,645), Ukraine "Such assumptions are too early to (1,553,659), South Africa (1,533,961), make." Indonesia (1,443,853), Czech Republic Kluge stressed that with (1,439,019), Peru (1,435,598) and the vaccination coverage in the region Netherlands (1,196,045), the CSSE ranging from less than 1 per cent to 44 figures showed. per cent, it is "far too early to In terms of deaths, Mexico comes in demonstrate the effect of vaccines on the third place with 195,908 fatalities. overall Covid-19 hospitalisation and Nations with a death toll of over deaths". 50,000 are India (159,216), the UK Despite "giant scientific leaps and (126,163), Italy (103,855), Russia (92,266), the introduction of effective tools that France (91,833), Germany (74,271), give us power over the virus", the Spain (72,910), Colombia (61,636), Iran WHO official acknowledged that in (61,581), Argentina (54,386) and South parts of the region, such as central Africa (51,724). Europe, the Balkans and the Baltic states, "case incidence, hospitalizations and deaths are now among the highest in the world". India sees sharpest five-day rise in US threatens new sanctions COVID-19 cases in 10 months NEW DELHI (TIP): In the past five over Nord days, India has witnessed its sharpest rise in COVID-19 cases in at least the last Stream 2 10 months. On Thursday, March 18, the daily cases almost touched 40,000 with 39,670 new infections in the past 24 pipeline hours. This was the highest single-day he US government has spike in November last year. threatened new sanctions In the last five days, the average of Tagainst companies involved in daily cases has been growing by more the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, urging than five per cent. Previously, the daily them to pull out of the German- growth of over five per cent was seen Russian project. from May 19 to May 22, according to a The US State Department report in the Times of India. "reiterates its warning that any entity Maharashtra on Thursday recorded involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline 25,833 new coronavirus cases, the highest risks US sanctions and should one-day spike since last March when the immediately abandon work on the first coronavirus infection was detected. pipeline", said Secretary of State The earlier record was 24,886 cases, Antony Blinken in a statement on reported on September 11 last year. Thursday. Additionally, 15 other states and union He added that the Department is territories have also reported their tracking efforts to complete the highest single-day caseloads since pipeline and "evaluating information September 2020. Punjab reported 2,387 regarding entities that appear to be fresh cases--highest since September 19. involved" in the project. Chandigarh also reported its highest Nord Stream 2 is a "bad deal for tally of cases at 211 since September 25. Germany, for Ukraine, and for our Daily cases were up in other states as Puducherry (81). the country has crossed 3.89 crore, Central and Eastern European allies well, including Gujarat (1,276), Tamil COVID-19-related deaths have also according to the Union Health Ministry. and partners", Blinken said. Nadu (989), Madhya Pradesh (917), seen a surge but not at the same pace as So far, 76,19,786 healthcare and 78,11,126 "As multiple US administrations Haryana (633), Delhi (607), Uttar Pradesh the spurt in cases. India reported more frontline workers got the first dose, while have made clear, this pipeline is a (321), Rajasthan (32), West Bengal (323), than 150 fatalities for three straight days. 46,92,962 healthcare and 21,50,198 Russian geopolitical project intended Himachal Pradesh (171), Jammu and Separately, the total number of frontline workers have received the to divide Europe." Kashmir (140), Jharkhand (97), and COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in second dose. THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 33 THE INDIAN PANORAMA WOMEN FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 34

CONNOISSEUR’S Skincare tips before, after CHOICE and during workouts e all know that workouts are great for the body and By Tript Arora Wmind, but did you know that they are equally good for the skin, too? Regular workouts leave your skin feeling fresh and glowing. Mutton curry However, not many realise that utton Curry is lamb certain skincare mistakes may be cooked with flavourful responsible for not letting the skin Mspices in onion and breathe, which is why you might be tomato gravy. Though it is cooked in many delectable missing out on a post-workout glow. versions, Punjabi Mutton Curry is simple and tasty. The whole Pre-workout session spices are sauteed in pure ghee „ Cleanse: You’re more likely to or mustard oil and then cooked experience a breakout if you with onions, ginger garlic and start your workout with dirty tomato gravy. I prefer to cook it skin. Remove your makeup in mustard oil which gives a with an oil-based cleanser and sharp flavour to this dish. I also then with a gentle cleanser. cleanser that works for your prefer to cook my mutton Curry with bones. Since it adds „ Moisturise and apply „ Wipe off the sweat: Don’t skin type. Keeping a sweat-free flavour and juice to the Curry. The best meat is of the front leg sunscreen: Apply your wipe or rub your face against face can prevent the pores from of the lamb which is tender and juicy. The most asked moisturiser and lip balm, as your clothes as it can lead to clogging. question is why the mutton remains chewy. If we don't your lips can feel dry and rashes and itchiness. Instead, „ Don’t ignore the body: Post- pressure cook it for the required time, it doesn't cook well and chapped after a workout along use a soft towel and pat on the workout toxins usually get becomes chewy. It should be slow cooked for best results. with a sunscreen with at least skin to get the sweat off. soaked into clothes. Ideally,one Serve it with jeera rice on a Sunday brunch and delight SPF 30. „ Hydrate: Keep drinking water should take a quick shower yourself with this simple and flavourful recipe. during your workout. If you do and change into clean clothes. During workout session not drink enough water, you „ Moisturise: Skin can feel We need „ Do not touch your face: All may experience symptoms like flushed and red following a 500 gm Mutton with bones, 2 Tbsp fresh Curd, 3 Medium the germs and bacteria from dehydration, dry mouth, lack workout due to heat from Onions, 2 Medium Tomatoes, 8 Cloves of Garlic, 2" Ginger the workout equipment can of sweating etc. exercise. Apply a gentle piece, 2 Green Chillies, 2 Tbsp Kasuri Methi, 1 Tbsp Turmeric, 1 cause acne and even bacterial moisturiser following your Tbsp Red Chilli Powder, 1 Tbsp Coriander Powder, 1 Tsp Garam infection. So consciously keep Post-workout session cleanse to help soothe the skin Masala, 1 Tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli powder, 2 Bay leaves, 4 your hands off your face while „ Always clean your face after with a sunscreen. Cloves, 2 Green Cardamoms, 1" Cinnamon stick, 1 Black Cardamom, 1 Tbsp Cumin Powder, 1 Tbsp salt or to taste, 5 working out. a workout: Use a gentle Source: Indian Express Tbsp Mustard Oil. Here we go „ Wash Mutton thoroughly under running water and then Long-distance relationship? Follow these put it in a sieve to drain water completely. „ Add fresh curd to the mutton along with ½ Tbsp salt and red chilli powder. Mix well and set aside. mantras to stay close to your partner „ Grind onion to a fine paste. Also grind ginger, garlic and green chillies separately. Make puree of tomatoes also t is normal for couples to feel a little distant and and set aside. detached when in a long-distance relationship. „ In a pressure cooker add mustard oil and heat it till it IThese feelings also bring a few doubts as to whether smokes. Let it cool. When cooled, put it again on flame they are with 'the one', and if their significant other is and add cumin seeds, black & green cardamom, cloves, 'worth waiting for', or is 'feeling the same way'. bay leaves and cinnamon sticks . Saute till cumin seeds While the concept of long-distance is not new, splutter. technology has made it easier for people to connect and „ Add onion paste to these whole spices and saute till stay in touch with their partner, even if they are in onions turn light brown in colour. Add ginger garlic another continent and time zone. But despite that, if paste to the onions and saute again till it leaves oil. you are struggling right now to sustain your „ Add tomato puree and ½ tbsp salt, turmeric powder, relationship and looking for ways to keep it stable and coriander powder, kashmiri Red chilli powder and garam fun, counselling psychologist at Fortis Hospital masala powder. Saute till it leaves oil. Add kasuri methi Mulund, Hirak Patel, shares a few coping mechanisms. and mix. Read on. „ Add marinated mutton to this onion & tomato masala. „ Mutual acceptance: Acceptance that in this Saute till it leaves oil and gets aromatic. Mutton juices phase, the person is not going to be around you are also sealed. It will take 5 to 7 minutes. Keep the physically. Accept the reason behind getting into flame on low during the process. this phase, the variable reasons could be due to a „ Add around 600 ml of water to the mutton and close the job switch, financial needs, family circumstances lid of the pressure cooker. Keep the flame on high. or any other. Acceptance would make the couple „ After 1 whistle, turn the flame on low and continue sail through the phase smoothly and keep the lamp cooking for 15 minutes. Oh, it smells so good. After 15 of hope burning. „ Encourage listening: Show immediate minutes turn off the flame and let the pressure release „ Communication is key: Communication appreciation when they listen to you properly and on its own. When the pressure is released, open the becomes a key aspect when people are in a long- show interest when they are talking. You need to pressure cooker and serve your mutton Curry with jeera distance relationship. Truthful communication stay connected by sharing. rice or chapati. Enjoy your Sunday Lunch. and giving enough space is important. One needs „ Do activities together: There is a need to explore Preparation Time : 15 minutes. to understand there is some leeway that needs to and experience things together, but in a long- Cooking Time : 45 minutes. be given. Communicate because you feel like it and distance relationship, it becomes difficult. Doing do not force yourself into it. Sharing things about activities like watching a movie at the same time, Tips: Grind the onions to a fine paste for smooth gravy. Add a each other’s day can help in maintaining a crucial virtually-cooking together, or exploring one’s day little water if required for grinding. connection even from afar. virtually can help. Also, plan a holiday together as First wash mutton and marinate with curd, red pepper and „ Stay balanced: Make sure your dependence and well. salt and then start with the gravy preparation as the mutton independence are well-balanced. Ensure your „ Maintain trust: Trust is the foundation of all will get marinated side by side till you prepare the gravy. It partner knows how much you need them, but don't strong relationships. Even if there is a physical will save time. cling, as that can make your partner feel trapped. distance, attachment and emotional connection Always keep the flame on low after the first whistle as the „ Use technology: Video call, writing an email, can be sustained effectively. Trusting the partner slow cooked mutton is tender and delicious. surprising through letters, online gifting are good becomes an important aspect for a relationship to You Can reach me at: www.triptasfoodtunnel.com ways to maintain excitement in the relationship, sustain and thrive in distance. Email : [email protected]. and stay connected. Source: Indian Express Instagram: @triptasfoodtunnel THE INDIAN PANORAMA HEALTH FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 35 The real reasons behind the declining rate of women fertility

he biological ticking starts when a woman reaches 25, Tpushing the women to get married and have a child. But this decline is a silver lining in a woman’s life because it shows that now she has full control over her choices and pregnancy decisions than ever. We Avoid these foods if believe that the decline in fertility is a reflection of women empowerment as women are openly opting for you have high BP various fertility treatments. Besides empowerment, economic stress is f you have hypertension, you already know how also a major reason for falling important it is to steer clear of foods that are fertility rates in a developing nation Iharmful to your cardiovascular health. In the like India. following article, we present 20 of the most illicit dishes for heart-conscious eaters. Dual incomes are needed Of course, this list is not exhaustive. If you have In order to have a comfortable and Sometimes women do have many If you know about your problem in any questions about your diet or health, don’t hesitate stress-free life, the expenses of a reproductive issues that cause conceiving, you should plan ahead to speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nutritionist. home today cost more than three problems in conceiving sooner or Opting for fertility treatment is the times as compared to the times of our later. For an instance, if a woman is best way ahead if you want to Deli meat mother’s era. going through PCOD (Polycystic conceive. But treatment also Deli meat may be a practical lunch ingredient, but Now, both the members of the Ovarian Syndrome) then the chances demands a change in your lifestyle its high salt content (two slices of regular ham house need to be working. Couples of having infertility is higher. A procedures including quitting contain 730 mg of sodium) is bad news for your blood these days don’t have the bandwidth couple is described as infertile if they smoking, cutting down on alcohol if pressure. to afford more than one children. are not being able to conceive after you're a heavy drinker. If a couple is Did you know that sodium intake is directly related Sometimes, in order to support their trying for a year. One of the hallmark under 35, a fertility expert first to high blood pressure? According to the World Health partner’s women also keep delaying symptoms of PCOD is irregular or suggests trying out a natural way and Organization (WHO), too much sodium in your diet their pregnancy till they have strong absent ovulation, which makes it somehow if the pregnancy doesn’t can lead to elevated blood pressure and increase your financial support for child’s care. difficult for a person to conceive. happen other procedures such as egg risk of heart disease and stroke. Even the daycare expense of a child is Even an untreated pelvic or embryo freezing, intrauterine The best way to decrease your blood pressure is to quite high and according to a survey inflammatory disease and insemination, and fertility treatment eat less salty foods. the average cost of infant care is endometriosis make it difficult to get are suggested to them depending approximately Rs 50,000 – Rs 90,000 pregnant. All these kinds of upon their situation. Since now you Pickles per year. To afford housing, food and reproductive disorders cause understand there could be tons of Pickles are a tasty addition to any cheese platter, other miscellaneous expenses, now hindrance in pregnancy irrespective reasons ranging from financial, burger, or roast chicken dinner. However, these salty the female partners also need to have of age. Besides radiation treatment, emotional to relationship-related, treats are off the menu if you have hypertension. As a strong financial back-up before adherence to modern urbanization that led you not to have a baby in your vegetables pickle, they absorb large quantities of salt starting a family. practices like smoking and alcohol 20s and early 30s, you must be feeling from their brine. For a healthier alternative, try fresh consumption are the rising causes of like you have a little more freedom to cucumbers or other raw veggies. Age isn’t the only factor infertility. have babies in your own time. Canned soups Many people love the convenience of ready-to-eat soups. But if you’re watching your blood pressure, leave those cans on the shelf ! They contain a Coronavirus infection linked with significant amount of sodium, which elevates blood pressure. For example, just half a cup of canned chicken noodle soup contains 890 mg of sodium. skin rashes among adults Opt for low-sodium versions or, better yet, make your own soup at home. Just remember to leave the salt shaker in the pantry! kin rashes may be associated with a positive COVID-19 test result among adults, according to Store-bought pasta sauces Sa study that could help identify cases missed You might be surprised to learn that supermarket when relying only on the core symptoms. pasta sauces are genuine salt bombs. Half of the Previous studies conducted in hospitals reported sauce brands tested by Consumer Reports had 400 mg that COVID-19 patients showed unusual skin rashes, of sodium or more per half-cup. researchers said. If you have hypertension, choose low-sodium The latest study,published in the British Journal of sauces or whip up your own salt-free version. Dermatology, analysed information provided by 336,847 individuals who used an app designed to register COVID-19 symptoms. PAGE SPONSORED BY The researcher also used data from an independent online survey of 11,544 respondents to investigate DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND skin specific symptoms and collect their photographs. DR. SATISH ANAND In collaboration with the British Association of Former Chairman, Board of Dermatologists, they compiled a catalogue of images Trustees, AAPI National of the most common skin manifestations of COVID- “Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 are E-Mail: 19 from 400 individuals. sometimes the first or even the only sign of SARS- [email protected] The researchers found that skin rashes were more CoV-2 infection,” said senior study author Mario common in adults with a positive COVID-19 test Falchi, from King’s College London in the UK. result than in those who tested negative. “Recognition of such early signs and symptoms of GITANJLI ANAND Among the respondents of the online survey,17 per COVID-19 may enable identification of cases missed Former President, India cent of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases reported skin when relying only on the core symptoms, allowing Association of Long Island rashes as the first presentation, and 21 per cent as the preventive measures to be put in place to minimise (IALI) only COVID-19 clinical sign. further spreading of the infection,” Falchi said. E-mail: [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 36 Facebook eyes Mars may be hiding most of its newsletter biz with new ‘missing’ water underground: publishing NASA-funded study platform ast amounts of ancient water may have been trapped beneath the surface of Mars, according to a NASA- fter launching Facebook News, Vfunded study which challenges the current theory that the social network now aims to the Red Planet's water escaped into space. Amonetise the newsletter Evidence found on the surface of Mars suggests that business and will soon start testing abundant water flowed across Mars billions of years ago, partnerships with independent writers forming pools, lakes, and deep oceans, and where did all that for its new publishing platform. water go has been a matter of investigation. According to a report in Axios, the The new study,published in the journal Science, shows that a newsletter publishing platform is free- significant portion of Mars's water—between 30 and 99 to-use, and will be integrated with percent—is trapped within minerals in the planet's crust. Facebook Pages. The researchers from California Institute of Technology and The Pages integration will allow NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) found that around writers, journalists and content four billion years ago, Mars was home to enough water to have professionals to publish content covered the whole planet in an ocean about 100 to 1,500 metres outside of text, like live videos and deep. "Stories" status updates. However, a billion years later the planet was as dry as it is The platform will also include tools today. for journalists to build actual websites. Previously, scientists seeking to explain what happened to "Facebook plans to build tools within the flowing water on Mars had suggested that it escaped into the platform that allow writers to space due to Mars's low gravity. monetise their websites and Though some water did indeed leave Mars this way, it now newsletters with subscriptions, and appears that such an escape cannot account for most of the possibly other forms of revenue down water loss, the researchers said. the line," the report mentioned on "Atmospheric escape doesn't fully explain the data that we Tuesday, March 16. have for how much water actually once existed on Mars," said hydrogen atoms are created equal, however. There are two Caltech PhD candidate Eva Scheller, lead author of a paper on stable isotopes of hydrogen—deuterium to hydrogen. the research. The lighter-weight hydrogen has an easier time escaping the Hackers hit 32 The team studied the quantity of water on Mars over time in planet's gravity into space than its heavier counterpart, all its forms—vapour, liquid and ice—and the chemical according to the researchers. composition of the planet's current atmosphere and crust. Because of this, the escape of a planet's water via the upper Indian firms via They did so through the analysis of meteorites as well as atmosphere would leave a telltale signature on the ratio of using data provided by Mars rovers and orbiters, looking in deuterium to hydrogen in the planet's atmosphere, and there particular at the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen. would be an outsized portion of deuterium left behind, they Microsoft email Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen: H2O. Not all said. servers t least 32 Indian organisations have been attacked by hackers Instagram’s new feature Awho exploited vulnerabilities in unpatched Microsoft business email servers, a new report warned on will protect kids, teens Monday, adding that the finance and banking institutions have been hit the from creepy adults most in the country. The finance and banking institutions acebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has (28 per cent) in India are followed by announced new safety measures for teenagers, in a progression government\military organisations (16 Fof endeavours to guard youngsters on its application. per cent), manufacturing (12.5 per As per Mashable, Facebook recognises that asking clients for their cent), insurance/legal (9.5 per cent) birthday won't prevent them from lying about their age, so the and others (34 per cent), according to organisation said it is dealing with new man-made consciousness Check Point Research. and AI advancements to attempt to comprehend the genuine age of 2nd-Gen Google Nest Overall, the hacking attempts on its clients. This will likewise keep on working when clients are organisations using the services of joined, helping the stage tailor the experience for more youthful those unpatched on-premises servers clients. Hub to sense your sleep have multiplied by more than six times Instagram is making genuine strides in shielding youngsters from (or tripled) in the past 72 hours. conceivably risky grown-ups on the stage. One new element is that patterns The country most attacked was the the grown-ups won't send direct messages to clients younger than 18 US (21 per cent of all exploit attempts), who don't follow them. oogle has introduced a new feature called Sleep followed by The Netherlands (12 per Mashable revealed, if the two clients are associated, Instagram Sensing on the second-gen Nest Hub which is an cent) and Turkey (12 per cent), along will in any case caution the youngster about dubious conduct on the Gopt-in feature to help you understand and with India. grown-up's part. improve your sleep. The most targeted industry sector Available as a free preview until next year Sleep has been government/military (27 per Sensing uses Motion Sense (powered by Soli low-energy cent of all exploit attempts), followed radar technology) to analyse how the person closest to by manufacturing (22 per cent), and the display is sleeping, based on their movement and then software vendors (9 per cent), the breathing - all without a camera or wearable. researchers noted. Sleep Sensing can also detect sleep disturbances like "A full race has started among coughing and snoring or the light and temperature hackers and security professionals. changes in the room with Nest Hub’s built-in Global experts are using massive microphones and ambient light and temperature preventative efforts to combat hackers sensors, Google said in a statement on Tuesday. who are working day-in and day-out to “We’ll also be looking for ways to work with Fitbit’s produce an exploit that can sleep-tracking features in the future,” said Ashton successfully leverage the remote code Udall, Product Manager, Google Nest. execution vulnerabilities in Microsoft Sleep Sensing can also connect to your Google Fit app Exchange," said the researchers from on Android and iOS devices, so you can see your sleep the cybersecurity firm. summary alongside your other health and wellness information. THE INDIAN PANORAMA BUSINESS FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 37 Tesla to miss out Rajya Sabha Oil slump deepens as on UK subsidy clears Bill to as government raise FDI in Europe faces pandemic lowers price cap esla Inc. customers in the UK will have insurance sector lockdowns Tto pay more for Model 3s after the country to 74% il prices fell on Friday, lowered a cap determining extending losses for a which electric vehicles ajya Sabha on Thursday,March Osixth day as a new wave qualify for subsidies. 18, passed the Insurance of COVID-19 infections wash UK transport R(Amendment) Bill, 2021 that across Europe, spurring new authorities on Thursday seeks to raise the FDI in insurance lockdowns and dampening cut a purchasing bonus for sector to 74 per cent from the current hopes for a recovery in electric cars, vans and 49 per cent, despite opposition push to demand for fuels anytime trucks to 2,500 pounds refer the Bill to a standing committee. soon. ($3,491) from 3,000 pounds, “The FDI policy is brought in only Prices plunged the most on and lowered the price of to supplement domestic capital. This Thursday since last summer, models qualifying to less will only supplement what is leaving oil down nearly 10 than 35,000 pounds. While available in the country because what percent this week with the the previous ceiling of less is now available is not sufficient,” reality that the pandemic is than 50,000 pounds meant Finance Minister Nirmala abiding, even if infections most Model 3 variants got Sitharaman told the House. have plummeted in the US, the the aid, none will qualify Responding to the opposition’s worst-hit country and biggest under the new rule. criticism against the amendment, crude consumer. The UK government has Sitharaman said the law has “enough US crude fell below $60 been under pressure to safeguards” built in. again and was trading at $59.97 plug a hole in the “Under the new structure, the a barrel by 0115 GMT. Brent country’s finances left by majority of directors on the board crude was off by 1 cent at the pandemic. It argues and key management persons would $63.27. that buyers of higher- have to be resident Indians, which Several large European priced EVs can afford to will make them accountable under countries have reimposed make the switch from the Indian law. At least half of lockdowns as new infections combustion-engine cars directors are to be independent increase again, while even without the aid, and directors which also ensures vaccination programs slow that the number of accountability,” she said. because of concerns about battery-powered models On the criticism that the move side effects of the AstraZeneca costing less than 35,000 US crude fell below $60 again and was trading at $59.97 a barrel by 0115 might dilute reservation in state vaccine, which was being pounds has increased GMT. Brent crude was off by 1 cent at $63.27. insurance players, the minister said widely distributed in Europe. almost 50% since 2019. the Narendra Modi government is "Demand concerns linked to The auto industry committed to the protection of the a bumpy vaccine roll-out in declared the AstraZeneca January for a seventh straight balked at the decision, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Europe and other parts of the vaccine safe, but the month to the highest since saying the cut to subsidies and Backward Classes. world" are hitting prices, said programme halt has made it April 2020, according to the is the wrong move as “All the places connected with Dr Vivek Dhar, director, mining harder to overcome resistance Joint Organisations Data registrations continue to BR Ambedkar have been protected by and energy commodities to vaccines among some of the Initiative website on Thursday. plunge amid shuttered the Modi government. This shows research, at Commonwealth population. Shipments from the world's showrooms and economic that the government is committed to Bank of Australia. Rising Rising COVID-19 cases, biggest oil exporter increased damage caused by the the SC community and that the infections in Brazil were also particularly in Brazil, also to 6.582 million barrels per day virus. The European reservation policy will not be weighing on the market, he weighed on the demand in January from 6.495 million industry’s trade group this changed,” she said. said. outlook, and a stronger US the previous month. week reported the worst During the discussion earlier, Germany, France and other dollar pressured oil prices. In the US, crude inventories February for new-car Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun countries have since Supplies of oil are plentiful increased for a fifth week last registrations since 2013, Kharge said the Bill will put people in announced the resumption of as well, with Saudi Arabia's week, according to official with the UK auto market trouble. inoculations after regulators crude exports increasing in figures released on Wednesday. shrinking 36%.

Adani Green ties up $1.3 billion Delhi HC restrains Future Group from a dozen banks from going ahead with RIL deal New Delhi (TIP): The Delhi High Court NEW DELHI (TIP): A dozen on Thursday, March 18, upheld the global banks are to bankroll Adani Singapore’s Emergency Arbitrator’s Green Energy Ltd’s under- (EA) order restraining Future Retail Ltd construction renewable power (FRL) from going ahead with its Rs projects with a $1.35 billion 24,713-crore deal with Reliance Retail to revolving credit line, the company sell its business, which was objected to said on Friday, March 19. by US-based e-commence giant Amazon. The finance facility would Justice JR Midha directed Kishore initially fund a 1.69 GW (gigawatt) Biyani-led FRL not to take further action hybrid portfolio of solar and wind on the deal and held that the group power projects through four SPVs wilfully violated Singapore Arbitrator’s (special purpose vehicles) in order. Rajasthan. The high court directed the Future violating emergency arbitrator’s order. The company claimed this as the Group and its directors to deposit Rs 20 The high court’s order came on first ‘certified green hybrid’ project lakh cost in Prime Minister’s Relief Amazon’s plea seeking direction to order loan in India. The liquidity will Fund for providing Covid vaccines to enforcement of the award by Singapore’s boost the company’s efforts to raise senior citizens of Below Poverty Line EA on October 25, 2020, restraining FRL its capacity to 25 GW from a little (BPL) category. from going ahead with its Rs 24,713-crore over 3 GW at present over the next four years. The court directed the presence of deal with Reliance Retail. But the company still faces the challenge of finding buyers for an 8 GW Biyani and others before it on April 28 as Amazon, in its interim plea, has manufacturing-linked renewable project it won last year with tariffs higher than also attachment of their properties. sought to restrain FRL from taking any current market trends. The project is to be set up in four phases of 2 GW each. The high court asked them to show steps to complete the transaction with The dozen lenders include Standard Chartered Plc, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking cause as to why they be not detained for entities that are a part of the Mukesh Corp and Barclays. three months under civil prison for Dhirubhai Ambani (MDA) Group. THE INDIAN PANORAMA ASTROLOGY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 38 Shree Ganeshaya Namah

By Vedic Astrologer Nastur Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological consultations. He can be reached at [email protected] and on phone +91 8141234275 for astrological queries VEDIC ASTROLOGER NASTUR BEJAN DARUWALLA www.bejandaruwalla.com Chirag Bejan Daruwalla with his father late Bejan Daruwalla

TIP brings you Weekly and Birthday Horoscope from the WEEKLY HOROSCOPE World's most trusted Vedic Astrologer Nastur Bejan Daruwalla. 22nd to 28th March 2021 ARIES : New prospects, as well as new opportunities, work this week. Focus entirely on yourself and your SAGITTARIUS : This week you will try new things are aligned for you. Planetary positions this week seem health this week as you need to pay attention to your and take risks, all of which will turn out to be in your very favorable for you. There will be an improvement in health. Although you will be busy working and hustling, benefit. This week is full of professional growth, your work-pattern through meetings with experienced you have the time this week to work as well as take care career satisfaction, business development for you. people. Seize the opportunity and learn as much as you of your health. You'll find yourself excessively sweating Your relationships will be similarly amazing this can this week. Be very patient with those co-workers and anxious this week; it is only because the stress of week. Take full advantage of the luck you have this who try to make you angry. You should not lose your this week is getting to your body. Even though you'll week for your personal as well as your professional temper this week as you need to focus on work, do not have absolutely no appetite this week, be regular about growth and don't forget to enjoy it thoroughly. get carried away by their actions and words. having your meals regardless. CAPRICORN : Profit remains satisfactory in your TAURUS : If you're single, an exciting new potential VIRGO : Your love life will be quite complicated this business throughout the week. The beginning of new prospect could have your feelings activated. If you're week. You wouldn't be involved in a direct rift with business will be profitable. The investment will be currently involved, recent events may have created such anyone but you will find yourself in between two family fruitful. New opportunities will pour in for a powerful connection between you and your partner members that are fighting. You will be forced to take a that at this point you may think it'll never end. Consider side against your wish, as a third person, you can clearly expansion.You are in the pink of your health this what led up to this feeling and find ways to continually see where each one of them went wrong, but you won't week. Your mood, energy levels, and strength are all re-create it. Starting to work out this week will be a good be able to create peace between the two of them. You will really high this week. You do not need to worry about idea for you. It will improve your energy levels even learn your partner's trigger points and how to navigate your health this week at all. Yoga and meditation will more. through fights to get to a resolution. You will realize this help in your physical and mental well-being this week. GEMINI : You will achieve fame this week and you week that your relationship will only get better from AQUARIUS : Financially you are doing amazing will be remembered for some time to come. You will need this point. Which is a great outcome for you this week. and you will be completely satisfied with your income to focus on eating healthier and exercising more often LIBRA : A new prospect is very likely to arise this this week. Which will keep your partner satisfied and now. Things will be much better for you on the health week, you will feel a sense of satisfaction in terms of happy throughout the week. You need to be more aspect if you can stay calm and keep your mind tension- your finances. This week is an amazing week for your analytical about making investments now as free. If you try to accommodate some health care business as everything will seem to work out super managing the funds that you receive this week will routines like exercise or yoga you feel a lot less tired and smoothly and you might even be done with work in the make a significant difference in your life. Take proper fatigued.Your health will be a lot better this week. first half of your week itself. Believe in offering quality diet and exercise mildly with appropriate and timely CANCER : You will impress a lot of business service and products rather than just pushing quantity. sleep. Be aware and not ignoring of any minor ailment prospects as well as love interests this week, and your Be diplomatic and do not get into fights with anyone. this week. self-worth and self-image will skyrocket this week. You know how to get work done by other people. PISCES : The positive highlight for you this week is might feel overwhelmed and end up over thinking a lot SCORPIO : You will be very busy with work and you will gain a lot of clarity and insight into your love this week. Allow you're self-time and space to process family events this week. Try to spend as much time as life. You will see your partner and their behavior the this week's events. Some solace will do you good this you can do what you love. That would be a good decision way it is and not with your love glasses on like you week, as you have been ignoring your feelings and you make this week. If you are starting a new have been for a while now. This will make it very easy staying busy. You will face a lot of obstacles this week innovation in your existing business, you can expect for you to make decisions and will be fruitful for you. that will take most of your time and energy and you will help to come by in the form of sponsors from your end up feeling tired yet satisfied with the direction you business partner's efforts. Severe acidity will bother you Your health will be better this week than it has ever are going in your professional life this week. a lot this week. Since it is so unpredictable you won't been in a long time. If you have been trying to achieve LEO : Your heightened energies will help you move understand what you're doing wrong that is causing it. a fitness goal, you have ample amount of time to get to past any hurdles without much effort. You will feel as if Make sure that you not only have a proper diet but that where you want. This week is a great week for you. you're being the most productive and efficient in your you eat at the right time as well. Live in the moment and try not to rush things.

MARCH 24: You will have immense support from business. Your health seems to be regressing today. BIRTHDAY HOROSCOPE your partner today. They will understand your You will feel a discomfort in your body most likely 22nd to 28th March 2021 struggles and won't be in your way today. Even your stomach, it is a sign that you need to stop eating though they lack any skill or expertise in your poorly and irregularly. MARCH 22: You will be very engrossed in your art business they will help you by managing things at MARCH 27: Your love life is the most positive today. Try to spend as much time as you can doing work and at home. After a long tiring day,you will be thing about today. A lot of love and appreciation what you love. Enrolling in dance or art classes will welcomed to a nice warm dinner of all of your from your partner will set a very positive tone for consistently keep you happy. That would be a good favorite things. today for you. You will experience a positive shift in decision you make today.Your love life is progressing MARCH 25: You will get a lot of time to relax and everyone's behavior towards you today be it your rapidly. Taking the next step will be a good idea rejuvenate. Use this time to improve your health and partner, family or friends, which will make you feel today as you feel secured and confident in your learn new skills that you have been wanting to since the most special person in the world today. partner. a long time. Your business requires you to be an all MARCH 28: You are financially doing a lot better MARCH 23: You will experience a great amount of rounder and focus on it as much as today. You will meet a new prospect that will adventures today.Today is a fun filled day for you. As possible.Possibility of a new opportunity is present challenge you and your team to the core. Your you spend your time in new adventures and today but. You will need to work very hard as well as employees will be highly supportive today. You will exploring nature throughout the day. You might make sacrifices in terms of finances to make this enjoy the teamwork.Today luck is by your side in suffer minor injuries from your adventure today.You deal. terms of work and finances hence to reap the full will need to seek medical help today do not be MARCH 26: New prospects in terms of benefits of your good luck get a lot of work done overconfident and try to help yourself. sponsorship will help you move forward in your today. THE INDIAN PANORAMA SPIRITUALITY FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 39 Goddess Kali – The feminine form of time

hen people think of Hindu goddesses most people think of elegancy, love, and the Wcounterpart of their consorts. But goddess kali is different in every way. Kali is the feminine form of time (energy of time) and one of the ten Mahavidyas. With her tongue sticking out she symbolizes wrath, power, and sparks fear in the eyes of great lords. With her outstretched tongue, she drinks the blood of Raktabija. Goddess Kali is the destroyer of the evil forces of the universe, the most powerful form of Goddess Shakti, or Adi Shakti (the first energy, creator of the universe). Kali is often shown as standing on the god Shiva, her consort. She wears a necklace made of heads of the demons and she is dark a color which means she is beyond all qualities of nature. On her hands, she has a sickle, sword, axe, and whip along with a flower signifying creation. Maa Kali is the chief of Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses, divine Intelligence. Origin of Goddess Kali Goddess kali was originated from the anger of Goddess Durga to slay the asura named Raktabija (blood-seed). Raktabija was so fierce because he could spawn from every drop of his blood that touches the ground. Goddess Kali is seen carrying the head of the demon and a plate to hold the blood from touching the ground. When goddess Durga became so enraged her wrath emerged as a goddess from her forehead in the form of “Kali“. She was so fierce that she tore down and ate all those who came across. It seemed impossible to calm her down. Seeing all their efforts fail gods went to Lord Shiva to ask him to calm her down. Shiva laid down on her path which is often how she is portraited. Kali was so consumed with her bloodlust she did not realize she was standing on her own husband. When she realized what she has done her modesty and shame calmed her down and the world was saved. Maa Kali’s Appearance Kali is derived from the Sanskrit word “Kala” which means, Time. It also means “she who is black’ – feminine noun of the Sanskrit adjective Kala. She is a dark-colored woman, a counterpart of Goddess Gauri who is fair, both being forms of Shakti. Infamously Kali is shown as a slayer of demons where she stands with one foot on Shiva and holds a severed head. She wears a skirt of severed human arms and a necklace of decapitated heads. Her hands show the form of both creation and destruction. The earring kali wears are small embryos. Kali likes followers who have childlike qualities in them. Vidhya’s, at the end of time the world will be consumed PAGE SPONSORED BY Forms of Kali by Kali, then the world will be dark and unbound like Goddess Kali is said to have 8, 12, or 21 different forms her. She is the destroyer of the universe as her ARISH K. SAHANI based. Some of her well-known forms are Bhadra kali, counterpart Mahakaal (Lord Shiva). Thus, worship of Serving Since 1972 Maha Kali, Dakshina Kali, and Chandika. Different Kali is done to have victory over the greatest power of forms of kali are worshipped in different parts of South the universe, time itself. Kali is worshipped in Please Call or Write for Your Asia. Dakshin Kali is the most popular form of Kali in cremation grounds in the darkest of the night. The goal Insurance Needs Bengal. of tantric gurus to become reconciled with death and Arish K Sahani learn the acceptance of death the way it is. (Father) Mother Kali Even looking at her requires courage, she really has Kali Puja Shiv Sahani (Son) got a terrifying appearance. Then why is she called Maa Kali is especially worshipped in the Kalaratri, the Priya Sahani Sood kali by all her worshippers and followers? Kali seventh day of Navratri which starts from the new moon (Daughter) symbolizes the superiority of females in nature. She is day of Ashwin for 9 days. The practice involves animal that mother who could go to any lengths to protect her sacrifices in many temples. A tantric priest instructs on 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 children. She is a mother who suffers pain to evoke her how an animal or bird should be sacrificed. Kali is the children. She is the symbol of Shakti, feminine power, most misunderstood goddess in Hindu Religion. She is [email protected] and creativity. The devotees who fall at her feet in often feared and only considered the goddess of witches devotion or surrender in front of her can achieve and tantric. In a patriarchal society, Kali is the true and moksha by touching her feet. oldest representation of female supremacy over nature. “If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it?” Kali teaches us to see life, not as something indifferent to Kali in Tantra Vidhya “If India’s own children don't cling to their faith, who shall life but as a part of life. She defies the definition of an guard it?” Kali dominates tantric iconography, texts, and ideal goddess and is beyond the understanding of rituals. In those Vidhya’s kali is considered the highest mankind and the rules of nature. Created to destroy, she “Indians alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are of all deities. Kali is time herself. As stated across many still has a core of love and motherhood. one.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 40 Indian American Frontline Healthcare Workers Protest Outside US Capitol over Green Cards Backlog WASHINGTON (TIP): A group of Indian-American The H-1B visa, the most sought after among Indian IT frontline healthcare workers languishing in the Green professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US Card backlog held a demonstration in front of the US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty Capitol urging lawmakers and the Biden occupations that require theoretical or technical administration to end the per capita country-specific expertise. The technology companies depend on it to quota. hire tens of thousands of employees each year from A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent countries like India and China. Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to The discrepancy in the number of H-1B hired from the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the India and a small number of green cards allotted to privilege of residing permanently in the country. India creates an inhumane Green Card backlog. Indian IT professionals, most of whom are highly Green Card backlog is adversely affecting the skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work professional and personal lives of high-skilled visas, are the worst sufferers of the current Indian American frontline healthcare workers protest in immigrants from India including the frontline immigration system which imposes a seven per cent Washington over delay in grant of green cards because of per healthcare workers, they said. per country quota on allotment of the coveted Green capita country-specific quota Frontline healthcare workers need immediate relief, Card or permanent legal residency. they are suffering for a very long time. As frontline We are frontline COVID warriors, and we are here to job and employer, they said. healthcare workers who are risking their lives in this tell how we have been shortchanged into a life of The small group of protestors said that President Joe pandemic, the least we deserve is a certainty. A perpetual indentured servitude. Each of us has a story. Biden can direct United States Citizenship and certainty that if we die or get disabled, our children and We are here from all over the country asking for justice. Immigration Services (USCIS) to end the Green Card spouses won't be kicked out of the country, said the Justice that has precluded us for decades now, Dr Raj backlog for the frontline healthcare workers by joint statement on behalf of the protestors. Karnatak, an infectious disease and critical care utilizing the unused green cards in the past years. Last month, President Biden revoked a policy issued physician and Dr Pranav Singh, a pulmonary and There was an HR 1044 fairness bill that was passed in by his predecessor during the pandemic that blocked critical care physician, said. the House of Representatives by 365 votes in 2019 and its many Green Card applicants from entering the US. Most of us are from India. We trained in the US and senate equivalent S386 passed the Senate in 2020. Reopening the country to people seeking green cards, took oath as physicians to serve the sick and needy. Now it is back to House as a modified version. or legal permanent residence, Biden in his Most of us are serving the rural and underserved areas. Representative Zoe Lofgren, initial co-sponsor of the proclamation said that the policy of former president We are in a Green Card backlog due to archaic country bill HR 1044 has not shown any interest in bringing the Donald Trump does not advance the interests of the caps that allow no country to get more than seven bill to vote as a bipartisan solution to end the suffering country. percent of employment-based green cards, said the two of skilled professionals including frontline healthcare To the contrary, it harms the United States, including Indian American doctors' organizers of the peaceful workers, they alleged. by preventing certain family members of United States protest said in a joint statement. Dr Karnatak and Dr Singh said that India is a land of citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining According to them, due to decades of backlog, many more than a billion people, but the number of green their families here, he said. high-skilled immigrants are not able to change jobs due cards India gets is the same as a country as small as The US is currently facing a backlog of nearly 473,000 to fear of losing the spot in the Green Card line and are Iceland. qualified family-based Green Card requests. indentured to one employer. Indian high-skilled workers are brought into the US As a result of Trump's ban on issuing green cards, as Can only work in the specialty occupation the visa is on an H-1B visa. There is no country cap on the H-1B many as 120,000 family-based preference visas were lost. allotted for decades. Many healthcare workers could not visa and due to its sheer population; Indians make 50 But this came as a big boon for issuing employment- serve in COVID-19 hot spots as the visas are tied to the per cent of the H-1B workforce. based green cards, mainly those on H-1B visas. Indian American Lovely Varughese’s epic struggle for justice “Who Killed My Son?” is streaming on Discovery+

ILLINOIS (TIP): In 2014 Pravin Varughese, an Indian by acclaimed television journalist Soledad O'Brien as she American student at Southern Illinois University, went to a reports on the nuances behind this case and follows a family house party in Carbondale, Illinois. He was never seen alive as they searched for justice. 'Who Killed My Son?' streams Lovely Varughese with son Pravin Varughese again. exclusively on discovery+ beginning March 23. investigation, to consistently facing what she believed is It took five days to discover his body,but the push to find out "The mystery behind this young man's death is just too systemic racism because of the color of their skin, this how Pravin's life truly ended lasted years. Rumors abounded much for any mother to bear. When the criminal justice Indian American family exhausted all avenues to find out that the 19-year-old's death was his own doing, and system failed to get answers, she began an epic fight for what really happened to their son. accusations of drugs, alcohol and foul play inundated the justice, marshaling a community of supporters to hold Now Lovely Varughese comes forward to share her story, case. officials accountable. What they discovered was nothing less joined by her family's advocate and interviews with law But Pravin's mother, Lovely Varughese, knew her son, and than shocking," says executive producer Soledad O'Brien. enforcement, friends and those connected to the case. she felt certain there was more to the story than the "We are proud to bring this incredibly moving story of Through poignant, emotional and jarring interviews, this authorities let on, says a press release from discovery+ perseverance to Discovery+," says Lisa Holme, Group SVP special probes for answers to the question: was Pravin channel. Content and Commercial Strategy for discovery+. murdered, or was it an accident as law enforcement initially Fighting what she believed to be prejudice, deception, and "Lovely Varguhese's advocacy for her son took years of believed? And should someone be put behind bars for his a flawed legal system at every turn, Lovely refused to give up working against racism and prejudice, and hopefully by untimely death? on the memory of Pravin, adds the channel which has sharing her story, other families will not have to endure the Who Killed My Son? is produced for Discovery+ by Texas documented her epic struggle for justice. same fight." Crew Productions and SO'B Productions. The Varughese family went through great lengths to prove This Discovery+ original follows the challenges the Executive Producers for Texas Crew are David Karabinas that their only son was not the cause of his own death, and Varughese family faced as they fought for an investigation and Brad Bernstein, and Executive Producers for SO'B are that the truth is worth fighting for, it says. into their son's disappearance. Soledad O'Brien and Jo Honig. For discovery+, Dianna This two-hour special is executive produced and narrated From pushing local authorities for a transparent Sperrazza is Executive Producer. THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 41 THE INDIAN PANORAMA TURN PAGE FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 42 contd from page 1 plagued the life of America's Dreamers, who have The whole system is stage-managed by predictive AI become an integral part of the fabric of American programs that work to understand where you are and UK PM Boris to visit India in April-end society," Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, what you might need. When you step into the kitchen, During his meeting with Minister of State for Home Democrat of California and an author of the Dreamer for instance, you might see a recipe. Affairs G Kishan Reddy, Ahmad is learnt to have raised bill, said during a hard-fought debate inside the Capitol. The goal is to give users "exactly the right interaction the detention of Christian Michel, the alleged "It is an issue about who we are as Americans." at the right time," says Tanya Jonker - one of a crew of middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter But after colliding with a wave of hardened Facebook Reality Labs researchers who demoed the deal, whose prolonged incarceration has been flagged Republican opposition in the House, the bills face steep new technology for reporters this week. by the UN Working Group on Aribtrary Detentions. The odds in the evenly divided Senate. While some The science behind Facebook's new vision for the visit is understood to have cleared the decks for an Republicans there have pledged support for Dreamers human-computer interface - electromyography, or EMG Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) to be inked during in the past, their party is increasingly uniting behind a - can read nerve signals in muscles anywhere in the Johnson's visit. The ETP could serve as a precursor to a hardline strategy to block any new immigration law as body. But Facebook researchers said the wrist is the free trade agreement (FTA). it seeks to use the worsening situation at the border as ideal spot to apply it. The PM was to be the chief guest at this year's a political cudgel against Mr. Biden and Democrats. The brain devotes lots of neurons to fine control of Republic Day parade but had to put off his visit due to "There is no pathway for anything right now," Senator hand motion, providing plenty of information for the Covid surge in the UK. Since then London has wrapped Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a devices to read. up the integrated review of defense, security, key player in past bipartisan immigration pushes, said Also, people are already used to wearing stuff on development and foreign policy. A key takeaway is the this week. their wrists. accent on the Indo-Pacific region, which includes That means the immigration measures will join a "Brain-computer interfaces" is a field Facebook has theUK applying for partner status of the ASEAN growing pile of liberal agenda items, as well as broadly been talking about and investing in for years now, but economic union. (Source: TNS) supported measures on pressing national challenges, the company is emphasizing that we won't get our that have passed the House but are destined to languish hands on this technology for some time. House passes bill to give Dreamers or die because of Republican opposition in the Senate. Sean Keller, Facebook Reality Labs director of and other undocumented immigrants a They include a landmark expansion of voting rights, research, said Facebook was unveiling details of this new gun control measures, the most significant pro- work early because it knows there are pitfalls and hopes path to citizenship labor legislation in decades and the Equality Act for to steer around them with input from outside the permanent legal pathway for roughly 2.5 million L.G.B.T.Q. people. company."We want to open up an important discussion undocumented immigrants, including those brought to Democrats in favor of eliminating or altering the with the public about how to build this technology the United States as children - known as Dreamers - and filibuster believe the accumulating pressure could help responsibly," he said. those granted Temporary Protected Status for break the dam in the months ahead, allowing them to Likely trouble spots: humanitarian reasons. change Senate rules to do away with the 60-vote The more "context" your device knows, the more data They were expected to approve a second measure requirement and let legislation pass with a simple it has on you, and Facebook has a long record of playing later, with more bipartisan backing, that would grant majority. (Agencies) fast and loose with user information. legal status to close to a million farmworkers and their Researchers say they know they've entered a families while updating a key agricultural visa Facebook sees computing’s future on potential minefield. "Building a new platform allows us program. your wrist to build security, privacy and safety in from the very The votes were significant milestones for the start," said Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer. Dreamers and other activists who have waged a decade- They're doing it by putting a band on your wrist that Facebook is all about connecting people. But the long campaign, often at great personal risk, to bring the reads nerve impulses sent by your brain to your hand. examples the researchers discussed, where lone users 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the The big picture: Tech insiders widely expect the next are cooking a recipe or choosing music to play, are far United States without permanent legal status out of the generation of computing after the smartphone will be simpler than interactions between people using these shadows. Dreamers, those who have T.P.S. and built around some combination of glasses, headphones tools, where the potential for privacy problems multiply. agricultural workers have in many cases lived in the and other worn devices. The challenge is figuring out Facebook makes money by selling ads, and the "all United States for long periods, and measures to how users navigate information and make choices in around you" interface it's building could easily become normalize their status have broad public support. such a world. overloaded with commercial come-ons. In moving swiftly to consider both bills, House What's new: By picking up brain signals, Facebook's Of note: The Facebook team nodded to the scope of leaders wagered that singling out relatively narrow but futuristic wristband can interpret small finger-motions their ambition by showing a still from Douglas publicly popular immigration fixes could shake up a as, for instance, typing on an invisible keyboard or Engelbart's celebrated 1968 "mother of all demos." deadlocked policy debate after years of failed attempts clicking on a button that isn't there. That event introduced the mouse and many other at more comprehensive immigration legislation, and This "intelligent click" will be paired with images foundations of the graphical computer interfaces we deliver for a key constituency. you'll likely see via augmented-reality glasses - so that use today. "This House has another chance to pass H.R. 6 and the menu items you're selecting, for instance, might Facebook wants to invent the pieces for what comes once and for all end the fear and uncertainty that have appear to be hanging in the air around you. after that.

contd form page 11 survey, Vaishnav said: "A few things surprised us. First, 30 percent of Indian Americans favor the BJP while just 12 percent support the Congress party." Indian Americans He also said that 40 percent do not espouse a partisan identity when it comes to Indian politics. "We were especially struck by how low the divided, polarization Congress party number was. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rate very poorly compared to Modi, increasing: Survey the BJP, and even the RSS. Second, we were also surprised at the mixed views on India's trajectory," Only 53 percent of foreign-born respondents and 38 Vaishnav said. percent of US-born respondents supported that "Respondents were nearly evenly split as to move, with the rest either in disagreement or whether India is currently on the right track or expressing no opinion. headed down the wrong track. This is not the picture The division over support for the US strengthening one gets from most media narratives." India's military also plays out politically - 69 percent He also said: "I think we are seeing really striking of Indian Americans who identify as Republican evidence of polarization within the community, support this, as compared to only 41 percent of especially on religious grounds. Democrats; they are also more likely to say they do "On a number of issues, Hindus and non-Hindus not want the US to provoke China. hold pretty diverging views on politics, especially Despite their misgivings about where India was back in India," Vaishnav said. headed, 49 percent of the respondents gave a thumbs- "The polarization we view in India is clearly up to Modi's performance as prime minister. The seeping into the diaspora as well. This means a more survey said that 32 percent disapproved of him, while fragmented, heterogeneous community going the rest said they had no opinion. forward." Asked what surprised him in the outcome of the (Courtesy Indica / Ritu Jha) THE INDIAN PANORAMA TRAVEL FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 43 This summer, head to secluded beaches

s Summer begins to kick beautiful hillock next to the beach. The water is Spring out of the calendar, it is calm, the palm trees countless and Atime to head to the water. To several opportunities for aquatic sports. gambol, to picnic, to tan, and to slough The beach is prettiest in the evening off everyday malice. But wait, between when the area is illuminated. Summer and water lie the essential SOPs -social distancing and away from the Where: 1 km from the city of Diu maddening crowd. Here’s a look at a few which has an airport. secluded beaches in India where the water is turquoise, the sand silken, and Butterfly Beach (Goa) the people few. This summer, stay away from Miramar, Baga, Calangute, Anjuna and Ottinene Beach (Karnataka) other popular beaches of Goa. Too many No one will tell you how this pretty crowd these common beaches. Pack your beach came to be called Ottinene but picnic hamper, carry a hat, slather whoever has been to Ottinene will surely sunscreen and head to Butterfly Beach, a sing paeans to its spectacular sunset and secluded beach in South Goa. If you find jagged rocky cliffs. It is here that the a few honeymooners, ignore them Byndoor river enters the Arabian sea (Butterfly Beach is also known as and any swimmer with a not-so-faint Honeymoon Beach). Trek in the wooded heart attempts to swim through. You can forest, watch butterflies flit by and when walk down the hill from Kshitija Nesara there is low tide, watch out for sea Dhama straight to the Ottinene beach. urchins, goldfish and sea cucumbers. But if you have a duff pair of lungs, take note that the climb back can be uphill. Where: Butterfly Beach is 61 km from Not just literally, but physically, too. Dabolim Airport. The road trip from Panjim to Palolem beach takes about 90 Where: Ottinene beach is 440 km from minutes. Take a ferry from Palolem or Bengaluru and 125 km from Mangaluru Agonda beaches to reach Butterfly (nearest airport). The nearest railway Beach. station is Byndoor (4 km). Neil Island (Andamans) Mandvi Beach (Gujarat) Neil Island might not be as popular as Gujarat Tourism describes Mandvi Havelock Island but the tiny island is Beach as a golden-brown sprawl of sand equally pretty.When there, do the 3-point along the southern tip of the Kutch tour which takes you through 3 beaches: district. Lying along with the namesake Bharatpur, Sitapur and Laxmanpur. town of Mandvi which was founded in Laden with coral and exquisite marine 1580 by the Rao of Kutch, Khengarji, the life, Neil Island is loved by scuba divers beach still carries the remnants of its and aquatic adventurists. There are 3 historical past as a thriving port. The dive centres on the island. On a good day, not-so-crowded beach is at its glorious you can spot a Dugong (Sea cow), the best during evenings with the sun state animal of Andaman & Nicobar dipping in the sea and the hawkers Islands. Remember, Neil Island can be an peddling snacks and sweets. Internet black hole. No data. No signals.

Where: Lies 59 km from Bhuj airport; Where: 37 kilometres south of Port Bhuj is well connected by railway. The Blair. The only way to reach Neil Island distance between Mandvi Beach and is through a ferry. Both government and Rann of Kutch is 322 km. private ferries are available. Most tourists opt for private ferries because Bakkhali (West Bengal) government ferries are mostly reserved One of the deltaic islands sprawled for islanders and there is no facility of across southern Bengal, it is an 8-km online booking. long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Frazergunj. Do not get surprised at the Gopalpur-on-Sea (Odisha) sight of a grey beach - here, the land Gopalpur can turn other beaches slopes into the Bay of Bengal. The beach envious. Once upon a time it was a is sturdy enough for cycling and light 4- bustling port for the seafarers of ancient wheelers but be careful of the deceptive Kalinga. During World war II, it served soft spots. A mangrove adds to the allure as a busy military port. But beyond war of Bakkhali. Spare a few hours for and trade, Gopalpur has a hospitality Henry’s Island which was named after a history. It was in Gopalpur that Odisha's Mr. Henry who surveyed the land in the first hotel (Palm Beach Resort) was built 19th century. Step into Frazerganj that in 1914 by an Italian named Signor bears testimony to the grit and Maglion. Not many head to Gopalpur but enterprise of Andrew Frazer who tried those who do swear by the spectacular building a resort in the early 1900s. He sunrise and sunset. The sea is very failed because the waves kept washing rough, do not attempt swimming. away the constructed areas. The resort was never built but Frazerganj has not Where: Distance from Bhubaneswar, forgotten Andrew Frazer. the nearest airport, is 174 km. The nearest railway station is Berhampur. Where: Bakkhali is 130 km from the to Bakkhali is about 4 hours. the bustling city and the pretty beach Berhampur is well connected by bus Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose both take their name from a service from across the state. Hire a International Airport in northern Jalandhar Beach (Diu) mythological demon that was killed by local transport to Gopalpur after Kolkata. The nearest rail station is at Jalandhar Beach has nothing to do Lord Vishnu’s Sudahrshan Chakra. alighting at Berhampur. Namkhana. The road trip from Kolkata with the city of Jalandhar in Punjab. But Jalandhar, the demon, has a shrine on a Source: Money Control THE INDIAN PANORAMA TURN PAGE FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 44 contd from page 1 they have dispatched officers to similar businesses. Baker said Atlanta shootings leave 8 dead at Asian homicides are rare for the area, adding that the county "had PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: one homicide" in 2020. The incidents also stoked responses from places like New York City, which deployed Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja businesses counterterrorism officers to Asian communities for caution. VICE PRESIDENT: Feng, according to police. A fifth person, Elcias R. (With input from Agencies) Chitagam Saluja Hernandez-Ortiz, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. CHIEF EDITOR: About 45 minutes later, four more people were killed at two Prof Indrajit S. Saluja other businesses - Aromatherapy Spa and Gold Spa - just across Today We Are All Asian CONSULTING EDITOR : the street from each other. While the names of the victims have esterday Deepak Dwidedi, Chairman, not yet been released, all four of them were of Korean descent, (March 16), Bhaskar Group, Delhi South Korea's Foreign Ministry officials said in a statement, Yanother ASSISTANT EDITOR: though their nationalities have yet to be verified. member of the Bidisha Roy In Cherokee County, authorities arrested the suspect, 21- Tribe of Armed SPL. REPORTER UNO: year-old Robert Aaron Long, on the side of Interstate 75, BY WALLACE FORD and Angry White H.S. Panaser roughly 150 miles south of Georgia Tuesday night after a police Men decided that it GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: chase. Long, who officers believe was heading to Florida to would be a good thing to kill as many Asians as he could find Om Parkash Malik commit similar crimes prior to the arrest, has been charged in massage spas in and around Atlanta. He managed to kill DIRECTOR with eight counts of murder and homicide and one count of eight people, six of whom were Asian. The other two just ADMINISTRATION: aggravated assault. Officials are still investigating possible happened to discover that their Sell By date was yesterday. Gauri Beri motives for the shootings. In other words, the other two were just collateral damage Federal agents are joining local authorities to investigate the in the continued hate war being waged by the Tribe of CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: shootings, and many officials remain wary about pointing to Armed and Angry White Men. And in that war, anyone and any motives. "A motive is still not clear, but a crime against any everyone stands the risk of being collateral damage. In that Baldev Singh / BJ Videos Gunjesh Desai / Masala Junction community is a crime against us all," Atlanta Mayor Keisha sense, we are all Asian. Just as we are all Black. We are all Jay Mandal, Lance Bottoms said in a statement Wednesday. "I have Latino. We are all Muslims. We are all Indigenous people. We Mohammad Jaffer, remained in close contact with the White House and APD as are all LGBTQI members. We are all Jews. SnapsIndia they work with federal, state and local partners to investigate Because in hating and targeting all of the above, the Tribe Mohammad Shahzad, the suspect who is responsible for this senseless violence in of Armed and Angry White Men doesn't care who gets in the Zia Khan, our city." way.And they certainly don't care who dies. Yesterday it was Nisha Rani President Joe Biden on Wednesday, March 17, said that he is six Asian women who committed the capital crime of Being Vaaho Photographers, "very concerned" about the Atlanta shootings, adding that he's Asian and Working. About a year ago it was Armaud Vijay Shah - Photo Journalist. been speaking out about the "very troubling" anti-Asian Arberry who committed the capital crime of Jogging While CORRESPONDENTS : violence in recent months. Black in an Atlanta suburb. In August 2019 it was 23 Latinos SACRAMENTO: "I'm making no connection at this moment to the motivation in El Paso who committed the capital crime of Being Latino Parminder S. Aujla of the killer," Biden said. "I'm waiting for an answer as the in A Public Place. And in 2017 it was Heather Heyer who NEW YORK : investigation proceeds from the FBI and from the Justice committed the capital crime of Demonstrating for Justice Chitagam Department. I'll have more to say when the investigation is with Black People in Charlottesville. And in 2018 it was 11 FRESNO: completed." Jews worshiping in a synagogue who committed the capital Tarlochan Singh Motives remain unclear, but advocacy groups point to a rise crime of Being Jews. DALLAS: in anti-Asian hate Of course, the behavior which cost these men and women Harjit Dhesi, Amarjit Dhillon While Atlanta officials say it is still early to know what their lives are only capital crimes in the twisted universe of motivated the shootings, Tuesday's attacks sparked outrage white supremacist domestic terrorists. These men (and OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS and sorrow among advocacy groups across the country, women) have been letting us know who they are for years and LONDON particularly Asians, as they continue to face a growing number the response of the public and law enforcement has been Nirpal Singh Shergill of pandemic-related anti-Asian hate incidents. tepid at best. All of the referenced atrocities are considered SPL CORRESPONDENT At a press conference Wednesday morning, Cherokee County isolated events and not part of the obvious pattern of white DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: sheriff's Capt. Jay Baker said the suspect indicated in police extremist violence which is committed to maintaining white Chandan Singh interviews that he targeted the locations because he was angry minority rule in this nation, no matter the human or CHANDIGARH: at the "porn industry," and saw the businesses as something "he institutional cost. Manjit Sidhu wanted to eliminate." Officials also said the suspect claimed We saw the savage combination of white supremacy and LUDHIANA: that he had a "sexual addiction" and that the shooting "was not white privilege on January 6, 2020 when a mob that would A.S. Arora, racially motivated." have warmed the heart of the Ku Klux Klan in days gone R.P.Sharma The Atlanta police chief said it was too "early in this past, stormed the capital - ostensibly to keep 45 as president - JAIPUR : investigation to determine [the shooting] a hate crime, even but…there were Confederate flags and Nazi paraphernalia Dr. Yashpaul Goyal though we made an arrest." present - clear signs that white supremacy was coursing But many advocates say it is impossible to divorce race from through the veins of these so-called "good people". DALLAS BUREAU CHIEF & VP misogynist crimes that disproportionately impacted Asians. History shows quite clearly how this country responds Lovllien Kaurr "Many of the victims are Asian. These murders occurred at a when it perceives a domestic threat. Look at what happened 972-330-3139 time when anti-Asian violence has been spiking," Rep. Ted to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Paul Robeson among [email protected] Lieu (D-CA) tweeted in response to the attacks. "All officials thousands of others accused of being part of some Russian The Indian Panorama should do their part to condemn violence and not inflame conspiracy to overthrow the government. P.O. Box No. 190067, South further discrimination." Look at what happened to the Black Panther Party when its Richmond Hill, NY 11419, On Wednesday, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) called out former members asserted the constitutional right of Black people to Tel: 646-247-9458 President Donald Trump for spurring anti-Asian sentiment exercise their Second Amendment rights (the irony is Email: and violence with his racist named for the virus. "President apparent). And look what happened to Martin Luther King, [email protected] Trump clearly stoked the flames of xenophobia against AAPIs Jr. when the Federal Bureau of Investigation considered him with his rhetoric," she said at a news conference. "The CDC and to be "the greatest domestic threat" in the country. DISCLAIMER the World Health Organization said we should all use the A Black man preaching nonviolence in the quest for justice official term covid-19 in order to make sure this disease is not is a domestic threat. A tribe of white supremacist domestic THE INDIAN PANORAMA ASSUMES associated with a particular geographical location or ethnicity terrorists are considered to be either misunderstood or NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CLAIMS MADE IN ADVERTISEMENTS. due to the stigma it causes. And President Trump refused to misguided, but certainly not a national threat. WE ONLY SELL SPACE. VIEWS acknowledge that and instead used the terms 'China virus,' Attorney General Merrick Garland has stated that he PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER 'Wuhan Virus' and 'Kung flu.'" considers domestic terrorism to be a national threat. But he ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND On Tuesday, Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that has been needs to be more specific - it is white supremacist domestic DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE tracking anti-Asian violence reports, also released its latest terrorism that is a true national threat. And unless and until VIEWS OF THE NEWSPAPER. ALL report that nearly 3,800 incidents had been reported since this nation confronts this danger from within, every RIGHTS ARE RESERVED. March 2020. The report also shows that a disproportionate American citizen is in danger of being in the cross hairs of REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IN number of anti-Asian attacks were directed at women, who this renegade tribe. WRITING FROM THE INDIAN reported hate incidents twice as often as men. And that is why today we are all Asian. PANORAMA IS PROHIBITED. Since the shootings took place at spas, Atlanta police said THE INDIAN PANORAMA SPORTS FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 45 Kohli returns to top 5 in ICC T20I Suryakumar shines with rankings bat as India level series ollowing his stellar performance in the ongoing series against AHMEDABAD: (TIP): India won the fourth T20 FEngland, India skipper Virat International against England by eight runs to level the five- Kohli on Wednesday broke back into match series at 2-2. the top of the ICC T20 batsmen Ishan Kishan the other night, and Suryakumar Yadav on rankings. Thursday, March 18. India’s T20 specialists don’t waste any Kohli, a formerly top-ranked time to find their feet in international cricket and keep sending batsman in the format and currently reminders why they should be playing more regularly. number one in ODIs, gained one slot Dropped for the third T20I without getting to face a ball in his and a massive 47 rating points after debut game, Suryakumar top-scored with 57 in his maiden unbeaten knocks of 73 and 77 in the outing with the bat, an innings that showed what he could offer second and third matches against to the side. His knock was one of the highlights in India's win England, to be placed fifth. over England in the fourth T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium, KL Rahul remains the top-ranked which ensured an exciting finish in the fifth and final match on Indian batsmen at the fourth spot Saturday with the series locked 2-2. despite three failures in the series so Suryakumar got the opportunity on Thursday only because far. Ishan had a groin injury.Taking his spot at No 3, the 30-year-old Shreyas Iyer is up 32 places to the pulled the first ball he faced off Jofra Archer for six over fine- 31st spot while Rishabh Pant gained 30 leg. It wasn't an instinctive shot. Having experienced such spots to be ranked 80th. countless situations in the IPL, Suryakumar fully expected the Among bowlers, all-rounder length that Archer would deliver. And as the pacer obliged, the Washington Sundar is up two places to Mumbaikar merely responded. 11th while seamers Shardul Thakur A batsman who should have broken into the side at least a (up 14 places to 27th) and year ago, Suryakumar is at the peak of his prowess in a format, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (up seven places in which he has been so dominant. Unlike the rest of the to 45th) have also gained. options, India have to fill in the middle-order slot, Surykumar's Jos Buttler has re-entered the top 20. range of shots are unparalleled. For a batsman, who has mostly His match-winning 83 not out in the batted at No 4 and 5 during the middle overs, he has an IPL third match has helped him advance strike-rate of 134.57. It is his ability to manufacture boundary five places to 19th position, just two balls in the middle-overs while maintaining the momentum shy of his career-best 17th position given by the openers and lay a foundation for the finishers that attained in October 2018. make him a precious talent in T20s. His other prized asset is his There were also some other fine ability to steady the ship when the team struggles without Suryakumar Yadav smashed 6 fours and 3 sixes in his 31-ball 57 against performances in the series, between affecting the scoring rate. England in Ahmedabad on Thursday, March 18. Photo source: Reuters the top two sides, which England leads With just six months to go for the T20 World Cup, India have 2-1. Jonny Bairstow, who chipped in finally given him an opportunity to claim a spot. In a team decision sent him back. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant ensured with 40 runs and was associated in an where competition is tough, there is little space for Suryakumar's innings didn't go waste as they took India to 185- unbroken 77-run stand with Buttler in Suryakumar to take time to find his feet. Sanju Samson, who 8, their highest total this series. the eight-wicket win on Tuesday, has was unable to make most of the opportunities he got in And defending the total, England came hard at India. Jason moved up two slots to 14th position in Australia, finds himself Roy, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow got starts and looked the list led by his compatriot Dawid discarded for this series. And maybe all those times he spent threatening, but somehow the hosts' attack found ways to get Malan. waiting for the call has only made Suryakumar hungrier than wickets when they needed the most as England wilted under ever. He looked unstoppable until a debatable umpiring pressure to keep the series alive. Ritika, cousin of wrestlers Geeta Paul Pogba returns from injury to help Man and Babita Utd beat AC Milan in Europa League Phogat, ‘commits aul Pogba returned from injury to suicide’ after score the winner as Manchester PUnited beat AC Milan 1-0 on Thursday to reach the Europa League losing final quarterfinals, while Mislav Oršic netted a HISAR (TIP): A budding wrestler, hat trick as Dinamo Zagreb stunned Ritika Balauda, cousin of famed Tottenham 3-0 to eliminate the London wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat, team. allegedly committed suicide at their Pogba was brought on at halftime and residence on Monday, March 15, night. had an immediate impact as he scored two The village sources said that Ritika, minutes later to help United secure a 2-1 17, was reportedly under depression as aggregate victory. she had lost a wrestling tournament’s “Paul looked like he’d been out for six final held in Rajasthan recently by a weeks. He’s been working really hard but narrow margin. playing football is a different matter and She had participated in a state-level you can see that he needs more time,” competition at Bharatpur between United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. March 12 and 14. “He couldn’t play for more than 45 minutes She had been staying at the and he’ll get better and better which is residence of Geeta and Babita to get fantastic for us for the rest of the season … Manchester United's Paul Pogba, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's training under the mentorship of her He’s going to give us a big boost.” first goal during the Europa League round of 16 second leg match between AC Milan and Manchester United at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, March 18, 2021. uncle Mahavir Phogat. She had gone to Arsenal, Roma, Ajax and Villarreal all sleep in her room on Monday night went through as well. missed a goal,” Ibrahimovic said. “We 2016-18, helping it win the Europa League and was found hanging from a ceiling In Milan, former Manchester United made an error at the back but that’s in 2017. That was the English side’s last fan on Tuesday morning, the sources forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic also made his football and if you don’t take your chances trophy. added. Dronacharya awardee Mahavir comeback from injury as a substitute but it’s more difficult to go through. After conceding a late equalizer in a 1-1 Phogat has trained his daughters saw his best effort saved as his powerful “But now I’ll be back to help the team. … draw at Old Trafford, United started Geeta, Babita and niece Vinesh at his header was clawed away by goalkeeper We didn’t deserve to go out tonight, but positively at San Siro but Milan slowly got wrestling academy at their native Dean Henderson. you also learn from negative moments to into the match and had the best chance place in Balali village of Charkhi “There’s so much disappointment, we grow and we’ll move forward.” with the last kick of the first half as Rade Dadri district. played two matches well, today we just Ibrahimovic played for United from Krunic volleyed wide of the left post. THE INDIAN PANORAMA CLASSIFIEDS FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 46 THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVT. FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 47 THE INDIAN PANORAMA ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2021 YEARS 48