The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Leading Indian-origin doctor Ranjit Manchanda to chair AIIMS Infosys Oncology

    Leading Indian-origin doctor Ranjit Manchanda to chair AIIMS Infosys Oncology

    LONDON (TIP): Leading India-origin gynecological oncologist Ranjit Manchanda from London’s Cancer Research UK Barts Centre has bagged the prestigious Infosys Chair in Oncology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Manchanda, an alumnus of AIIMS New Delhi, completed his MBBS and MD from AIIMS in 1990s before proceeding to the University College London, UK for PhD in gynecological oncology. An acclaimed super specialist, Manchanda’s research spans targeted precision prevention of cancer. His core work includes population-based germ line testing for risk prediction, targeted screening and cancer prevention; developing targeted surgical prevention strategies for ovarian and endometrial cancer; developing genetic testing strategies as cancer diagnosis and prevention and management of familial gynecological cancer.

    Currently Professor, Gynecological Oncology at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London and Consultant Gynecological Oncologist at Barts Health National Health Services Trust, Manchanda is leading several crucial research projects, early detection of ovarian cancer among them.

    “This award means a lot to me and it is an honor and privilege to have received it. I am excited at the opportunity to work with colleagues at AIIMS across both clinical and academic domains, and bring our institutes together with the common aim to reduce the burden of disease and improve the lives of women affected by gynecological cancer,” Manchanda said. His work at Infosys Chair will support the division of Gynecological Oncology at AIIMS and will grow collaborative working between Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust and AIIMS.

    It will aid early screening strategies for ovarian cancer, the second most common gynecological cancer in India and a leading cause of death from cancer in Indian women with 3.34 per cent (24,015) of cancer deaths in one year.

    Advanced ovarian cancer has a dismal prognosis, with the highest case fatality ratio amongst all gynecological cancers globally – which explains the criticality of Manchanda’s expertise in the area.

    While 5-year survival from ovarian cancer is 94 per cent when diagnosed in Stage I, only 15 per cent cases are diagnosed at this stage. Most (62 per cent) of cases are diagnosed in Stages III and IV, when 5-year survival is only 28 per cent. Manchanda was previously Director Graduate Studies, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

    He has several top awards to his credit including Columbia Hospital for Women Research Foundation Award for the most impactful paper in 2020-21, NHS Innovation Accelerator NIA Fellowship and the William Blair Bell Memorial Lecture Award of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

  • Indian-origin Raj Subramaniam to become President and CEO of FedEx

    Indian-origin Raj Subramaniam to become President and CEO of FedEx

    NEW YORK (TIP); Raj Subramaniam, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Mumbai graduate, is set to become President and CEO of FedEx with founder and CEO Fred Smith planning to step down from his leadership role.

    Subramaniam, 56, currently President and Chief Operating Officer, will be promoted to President and CEO effective June 1 with Smith serving as Executive Chairman, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies announced Monday. “FedEx has changed the world by connecting people and possibilities for the last 50 years,” said Smith, 77, who founded the company with the current annual revenue of $90 billion, in 1973.

    “As we look toward what’s next, I have a great sense of satisfaction that a leader of the caliber of Raj Subramaniam will take FedEx into a very successful future.” “Fred is a visionary leader and a legend of the business world,” said Subramaniam who joined the company in 1991. “He founded one of the world’s greatest and most admired companies, and it is my honor and privilege to step into this role and build upon what he has created.”

    “As we continue to transform as a company and reimagine what’s next, we will keep our people-service-profit philosophy at our core,” he said. “I am immensely proud of our 600,000 team members around the world.

    “Together we’ve set into motion ideas that have changed the world for the better, and together we will unlock new value for our people, customers, and shareholders.” In a letter to the employees, Smith noted Subramaniam has more than 30 years of experience in key global leadership roles across the FedEx portfolio of operating companies.

    “When he served as Chief Marketing Officer, Raj developed many of the strategies that are in place today, and I am confident they will continue to drive outstanding results for our customers, team members, suppliers, communities, and shareholders,” he wrote.

    “Raj is a brilliant and humble man with great empathy for our various constituencies especially our frontline team members and customers,” Smith wrote. “He is a gentleman of impeccable integrity and is a consummate team player. He has a wonderful family and a broad network of friends around the globe.

    “Given his mix of experience, I can’t think of a better executive in the world to take on the role of CEO of FedEx. There is no doubt he is the right leader to take FedEx into a successful future,” he added.

    “Raj is an accomplished and proven leader, and he has the full support of the Board,” said David P. Steiner, Chair of the Board’s Governance, Safety, and Public Policy Committee.

    He has more than 30 years of global experience across strategy and operations and has led the company through a period of tremendous growth. I am confident that Raj will build on this foundation and take the company to even greater heights.”

    As President and CEO-elect of FedEx Corporation, Subramaniam is responsible for providing strategic direction for all FedEx operating companies: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, FedEx Office, FedEx Logistics, and FedEx Dataworks.

    Subramaniam was elected to the FedEx Board of Directors in 2020 and will maintain his seat on the Board. Prior to his role as President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corp, Subramaniam was President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express.

    He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of FedEx Corp., where he was responsible for developing the corporate strategy. In addition, he served as the President of FedEx Express in Canada and in several other management and marketing roles throughout Asia and the US.

    Originally from Trivandrum, India, Subramaniam earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai. He earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University, and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Subramaniam serves on the board of directors of FedEx Corporation, First Horizon Corporation, the US Chamber of Commerce’s China Center Advisory Board, FIRST, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and the US-China Business Council. He is also a member of the International Trade Administration’s Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC).

  • Indian American producer Joseph Patel is the first Patel to ever win an Oscar

    Indian American producer Joseph Patel is the first Patel to ever win an Oscar

    LOS ANGELES (TIP): “Summer of Soul” producer Joseph Patel, an Indian American, said he became the 10th South Asian to ever win an Academy award after the film bagged the Oscar in the best documentary feature category.

    Patel, who produced the film with director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein, also acknowledged fellow South Asian Riz Ahmed’s win in his backstage Q and A session with journalists.

    Ahmed and director Aneil Karia won the live-action short Oscar for their film “The Long Goodbye”.

    “I’m in a room full of journalists so I have to say this because I would be remiss not to. Riz Ahmed earlier tonight became the ninth South Asian to ever win an Academy Award. I became the 10th. Tonight, two South Asians won an Academy Award. Also, this will please my mother I’m the first Patel ever to win an Oscar. So, I am very proud of that,” Patel said during the backstage interview post his win on Sunday night.

    Roots front man Thompson, best known by his stage name Questlove, arranged the never-seen-before archival footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity, attended by 300,000 people in the summer of 1969. “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” was nominated alongside India’s “Writing with Fire”, “Ascension”, “Flee” and “Attica”. Sadly, the documentary’s moment of glory was eclipsed due to the slap gate that happened just before its win was announced.

    In a moment that shocked everyone, actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock for cracking a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s health condition. Rock was on the stage to announce the best documentary feature winner.

    Thompson declined to talk about the incident and instead shared his happiness for the documentary’s win.

    In his acceptance speech on the stage, Thompson said the win for the movie was about “the marginalized people in Harlem that needed to heal from pain”.

    “It’s not lost on me that the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival should have been something that my beautiful mother and my dad should have taken me to when I was five years old,” Thompson added.

  • Indian-American high schooler’s artwork  to be displayed at US Capitol

    Indian-American high schooler’s artwork  to be displayed at US Capitol

    ‘I wanted to see if I could draw myself as I am and not how I think I am’, says the winner

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): In a proud moment for Indian-Americans, the artwork of a community student from Florida is all set to be displayed at the US Capitol. Sraddha Karthik, a Grade-11 student from a Tampa High School in Florida, has been declared the winner of the annual Congressional Art Competition at the Tampa Museum of Art where high school students from across Hillsborough County competed for a spot to showcase their work in the US Capitol. This year, Sraddha Karthik, who came to the United States at the age of one along with her parents from Chennai, bagged the top prize with her graphite drawing “Pensive Gaze” created with intricacy and precision, said a media release issued by Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

    Karthik’s self-portrait tackles perception versus reality. “I wanted to see if I could draw myself as I am and not how I think I am,” she said.

    She used different shades of graphite to create depth and dimension for her artwork, the release said.

    Karthik, the statement said, has been drawing since she was 7 when her parents registered her for an art class.

    “I don’t have as much time, but I do try to fit in art as much as possible because it’s really helpful for me to express myself,” she said. Art will add depth to Karthik’s career in architecture, which she plans to pursue after high school, said the Congresswoman’s office.

    This wasn’t Karthik’s first art competition – she’s been competing in the Salvador Dali Museum annual art competition since eighth grade, and her artwork has been chosen to be displayed every year, it noted.

    “It was a very talented display of art at this year’s event – this honor could have gone to anyone in the competition!” Karthik said of Castor’s art competition.

    It’ll be her first visit to Washington, DC, when she goes for her national showcase this summer. Her artwork will then be displayed in the US Capitol for one year alongside winners for congressional art competitions from throughout the country, the media release said. “The Tampa Museum of Art provides an incredible venue for one of the top high school art competitions in the country. I am grateful to our parents, teachers and especially students who have turned to arts for encouragement and connection as we mend from the pandemic.

    Reflective artwork has been a prominent theme and I look forward to welcoming Sraddha to Washington, DC, this summer to represent our talented and diverse community,” Castor said.

  • Indian American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna asks India to condemn Putin, stop buying Russian oil

    Indian American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna asks India to condemn Putin, stop buying Russian oil

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has reiterated his call to India to give up its neutral stance and condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.

    Going a step further, he wanted India to stop buying oil from Russian and China and get weapons from the US instead of Russia even as he acknowledged that the US needed India to ultimately contain China.

    “I’ve been clear actually on India, and I think India ought to be condemning Putin and India ought not to be getting oil from Russia or China,” Khanna said in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

    “We ought to rally the world around to isolate Putin,” said Khanna, who is also the vice chair of the US India Caucus, the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives. “First India should condemn Putin in the UN for the blatant human rights violations,” he said. “Second, they need to realize, they have to pick sides.” “We, the United States, were with them when China invaded India. Putin wasn’t there,” he said.

    “And it’s time for them to buy weapons from the United States, not Russia,” said Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley in the House. “We’ve got to look at how we can facilitate that and make that easier,” he said noting, “We need India as an ally ultimately to contain China.”

    In a recent interview with the American Bazaar too, Khanna had asked India to clearly pick sides with a free enterprise democracy over Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship. “I think my position is supported by most Indian Americans. They believe and understand what I do,” he had said. “We have to strengthen the relationship,” Khanna said. “We have to have the defense relationship even more strengthened so that they’re not reliant on arms from Putin, but that they are more building and buying from the United States.”

    “And most people in Silicon Valley at least want to strengthen the US India relationship,” Khanna told the American Bazaar. “Want to see them clearly pick sides with a free enterprise democracy as opposed to dictatorship which is what Putin is.”

    In the interview with Fox News, Khanna also defended President Joe Biden’s off the cuff remarks that Putin “cannot remain in power” even as he made clear that the US policy is not regime change, but a negotiated end of war.

    “US policy is not regime change. It’s negotiated end of this war,” Khanna said noting that the White House had been quick to clarify the US position.

    “They have been disciplined and said there has to be negotiated end of this war,” he said. “It’s a Democratic house and it has been Democratic policy for the last 20 years.” Defending Biden, Khanna said any human being would express frustration over the bombing of women and children in Mariupol. “The President was speaking from the heart. But it’s not the US policy to seek the regime change,” he asserted. Biden’ ad-libbed words — “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power” — in Warsaw Saturday at the end of a European visit – created a firestorm around the world and sent US officials scrambling to clarify the US position.

  • Indian American community leader Manjusha Kulkarni wins Racial Equality Award

    Indian American community leader Manjusha Kulkarni wins Racial Equality Award

    CHARLOTTE (TIP): Indian American community leader Manjusha (Manju) Kulkarni is one of the five inaugural winners of Bank of America’s ‘Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award’ honoring leaders advancing racial equality and economic opportunity for people of color. The award recognizes individual leaders who are advancing racial equality and economic opportunity in Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian American, and Native American communities.

    The five honorees are being recognized for their extraordinary contributions to break down systemic racial barriers and create opportunities for people of color across the country, the Bank announced.

    Kulkarni, Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based AAPI Equity Alliance, “has dedicated her life to fighting for equity,” according to her profile.

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, she co-founded the Stop AAPI Hate campaign, which has become one of the leading voices in the effort to identify and oppose hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

    The data and stories compiled by Stop AAPI Hate helped drive national action among community members to stand up and speak out against anti-Asian discrimination.

    Due to their activism, Kulkarni and her fellow Stop AAPI Hate co-founders were named to the Time Magazine “Most Influential People of 2021” list. South Asian Network will be the recipient of Kulkarni’s grant.

    AAPI Equity Alliance is a coalition of 40+ community-based organizations advocating for 1.5 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in Los Angeles County with a particular focus on low-income, immigrant, refugee, and other disadvantaged sectors of the population.

    Kulkarni also serves as a lecturer in the Asian American Studies Department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2014, Kulkarni received the White House Champions of Change award from President Barack Obama, which recognized her dedication to improving health care access for Asian American communities.

    In March 2021, she testified before the House Judiciary Committee on anti-Asian hate. Kulkarni will direct Bank of America’s funding to the South Asian Network.

    “I am incredibly honored to receive the Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award from Bank of America and delighted to be able to support South Asian Network, an organization dedicated to addressing racial, social and economic disparities experienced by South Asian Americans and ensuring equity for all marginalized communities in Southern California,” said Kulkarni.

    “Through this program we are recognizing the impact of inspiring leaders in our country who are creating real change,” said D. Steve Boland, chief administrative officer at Bank of America.

    “Supporting nonprofits and their leaders has been core to our approach of investing in the local communities we serve. We are proud to honor these brilliant leaders and empower nonprofits with resources to continue their work in support of communities of color.”

    The other four in 2022 group of awardees are: Edgar Villanueva, Founder and Principal of Decolonizing Wealth Project, New York; John Rice, Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Bethesda, Maryland; Luz Corcuera, Executive Director of UnidosNow, Sarasota/Manatee, Florida; and Nathaniel Smith, Founder and Chief Equity Officer of Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), Atlanta, Georgia.

    The Racial Equality Award is an extension of Bank of America’s signature philanthropic program, Neighborhood Builders, which focuses on economic mobility and nonprofit leadership, the release said. Awardees have the opportunity to direct $200,000 in flexible funding to a nonprofit of their choice, it said. The selected organizations will also be invited to participate in the company’s year-long Neighborhood Builders Leadership Program, which provides strategic growth and development trainings, setting the organizations up for long-term success.

  • History This Week-March 25 to March 31

    “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”  – MICHAEL CRICHTON

    March 25

    March 25, 1807 – The British Parliament abolished the slave trade following a long campaign against it by Quakers and others.

    March 25, 1911 – A raging fire erupted inside a garment factory in New York City killing 123 young women employed as low-paid seamstresses, along with 23 men. The fast-spreading flames engulfed the 8th and 9th floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in lower Manhattan in just a few minutes. About 50 of the victims had jumped to their deaths rather than perish from the flames. The sensational tragedy spurred national interest concerning the rights of mostly-immigrant women workers of the New York garment industry who labored long hours six or seven days a week in cramped, dangerous conditions for about $5 weekly pay.

    March 26

    Camp David accord. Left to Right:Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel, US President Jimmy Carter, and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat

    March 26, 1979 – The Camp David Accord ended 30 years of warfare between Israel and Egypt. Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed the treaty of mutual recognition and peace, fostered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

    Serge Krikalev

    March 26, 1992 – Soviet Cosmonaut Serge Krikalev returned to a new country (Russia) after spending 313 days on board the Mir Space Station. During his stay in space, the Soviet Union (USSR) collapsed and became the Commonwealth of Independent States.

    Tennessee Williams

    Birthday – American playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) was born in Columbus, Mississippi. His works featured Southern settings and include The Glass Menagerie, Night of the Iguana, and two Pulitzer Prize winning plays, A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof .

    March 27

    March 27, 1977 – The worst accident in the history of civil aviation occurred as two Boeing 747 jets collided on the ground in the Canary Islands, resulting in 570 deaths.

    March 28

    March 28, 1979 – Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident occurred in which uranium in the reactor core overheated due to the failure of a cooling valve. A pressure relief valve then stuck causing the water level to plummet, threatening a catastrophic nuclear meltdown. The accident resulted in the release of radioactive steam into the atmosphere and created a storm of controversy over the necessity and safety of nuclear power plants.

    March 29

    March 29, 1979 – In the U.S. Congress, the House Select Committee on Assassinations released its final report regarding the killings of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy.

    John Tyler

    Birthday – John Tyler (1790-1862) the 10th U.S. President was born in Charles City County, Virginia. He became president upon the death of William H. Harrison and served from 1841 to 1845. In 1861, Tyler was elected to the Confederate Congress, but died before being seated.

    March 30

    Ronald Reagan

    March 30, 1981 – Newly elected President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest while walking toward his limousine in Washington, D.C., following a speech inside a hotel. The president was then rushed into surgery to remove a 22-caliber bullet from his left lung. “I should have ducked,” Reagan joked. Three others were also hit including Reagan’s Press Secretary, James Brady, who was shot in the forehead but survived. The president soon recovered from the surgery and returned to his duties.

    Vincent Van Gogh

    Birthday – Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was born in Groot Zundert, Holland. He was a Postimpressionist painter, generally considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt. During his short (10-year) painting career he produced over 800 oil paintings and 700 drawings but sold only one during his lifetime. In 1987, the sale of his painting Irises brought $53.9 million, the highest price ever paid for a work of art up to that time. During his life, Van Gogh suffered from despair and bouts of mental illness, at one point cutting off part of his own left ear. He committed suicide in 1890 by gunshot.

    March 31

    March 31, 1933 – The Civilian Conservation Corps, the CCC, was founded. Unemployed men and youths were organized into quasi-military formations and worked outdoors in national parks and forests.

    Lyndon Johnson

    March 31, 1968 – President Lyndon Johnson made a surprise announcement that he would not seek re-election as a result of the Vietnam conflict.

    March 31, 1991 – The Soviet Republic of Georgia, birthplace of Josef Stalin, voted to declare its independence from Soviet Russia, after similar votes by Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Following the vote in Georgia, Russian troops were dispatched from Moscow under a state of emergency.

    Franz Joseph Haydn

    Birthday – Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was born in Rohrau, Austria. Considered the father of the symphony and the string quartet, his works include 107 symphonies, 50 divertimenti, 84 string quartets, 58 piano sonatas, and 13 masses. Based in Vienna, Mozart was his friend and Beethoven was a pupil.

    Jack Johnson

    Birthday – Boxing champion Jack Johnson (1878-1946) was born in Galveston, Texas. He was the first African American to win the heavyweight boxing title.

  • Weekly Horoscope-March 28 to April 3, 2022

    Weekly Horoscope-March 28 to April 3, 2022

    By Astro Friend Chirag – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla

    Aries

    Ganesha says, this week, you’ll be able to overcome your fears. Wearing Blue this week can help you generate a lot of good luck. This week, a rebirth of vitality will make you feel fantastic. As your pressure will be relieved, you will be ready to begin your plans. Mercury’s effect will make you feel a little jumbled in your head this week, especially in the second half of the week. Don’t be too concerned this week, and try to keep your thoughts under control. This week, your connection will be OK. This week will be fine for your health.

    Taurus

    Dear Taurus, in the minds of some significant individuals, you’ll encounter this week, you’ll be able to depict yourself as ambitious. This week, you’ll be able to perfectly describe yourself. Being helpful can help you recruit smart people to work on your initiatives. The recent condemnation you’ve been subjected to will lead to a difficult period in the second part of this week. Due to the weak moon in your zodiac, your concerns will continue to plague you this week, but your companion will make things better and keep you happy. You don’t need to be concerned about your health since everything will be OK.

    Gemini

    You will effectively accomplish the job that you had previously postponed Dear Gemini. You’ll also be able to emerge from your cozy cocoon. Between Wednesday and Saturday, Jupiter will shower you with extraordinary benefits. As a result, schedule any expert meetings related to closing a contract this week during this time. Your emotions will triumph over your intellect. This week, your anxiety will shake your faith in your partnership a little, so you must appeal to Lord Krishna for guidance in your love life. This week, you’ll need to focus on your health.

    Cancer

    This week, you’ll encounter someone who is both encouraging and interesting. You’ve been restricting yourself for a long time. A long-time acquaintance will assist you in gathering the assets you’ll need to start a new business. This week, your professional ambitions will fall into place. This week, you should avoid those born under the sign of Pisces. Furthermore, Ketu’s position indicates that you should avoid travel this week since an undesirable incident is likely to occur. Your companion will improve the situation. Don’t worry about your wellness this week; everything will be OK.

    Leo

    This week, you’ll spend a lot of time with yourself. Being self-centered will assist you in making significant changes in your life. You will also make new commitments to yourself, which will be the finest thing that can happen this week. It will be tough for you to figure out numerous things at the same time, and this stress will consume you by the middle of the week. Being emotively weak will likewise be a stumbling block for you. Your companion will assist you in remaining strong. This week will be beneficial for your health.

    Virgo

    Dear Virgo, you have a distinct character that others may try to undermine this week, but no one will be able to change your exclusivity this week. This week, you’ll be recognized for the hard graft you’ve put in in the past. This week, your unique individuality will be the center of attention. You’re more likely to get into a fight with someone with whom you have a strong relationship. Due to Venus, your commitment to your relationship will be hampered this week, so try to be gentle with your lover. This week, your health will take a hit since you’ll be dealing with back discomfort.

    Libra

    This week, you will finally achieve a sense of security in your daily existence Dear Libra. This week’s current equilibrium in your life between negative and optimism will educate you on things you didn’t expect to learn so fast. You’ll think greater than you thought, and you’ll go further than you expected. Your love relationship will be unaffected since your spouse will be content to give you space for work and ‘Me’ time. This week, you will fail to look after your health, resulting in sleepiness. In the second half of the week, you will feel disconnected from your professional activities.

    Scorpio

    Dear Scorpio, you will have a fantastic week since a promise made to you a long time ago will be honored this week, which will improve your financial status and career prospects. Wearing pink and red this week will bring you good fortune. Someone will try to sabotage your happiness this week by keeping a close check on your personal and home life. This week, do your best to keep your partner well-equipped with optimism regarding your relationship. As a result of Ketu’s malign influence, you’ll need to pay attention to your physical health.

    Sagittarius

    This week, you’ll make some fantastic trip arrangements, most likely with coworkers. This week, people will get to see a distinct side of you. You will leave an impact on others around you, which will benefit you later in life. As a result of Rahu’s connection with Venus, someone with whom you have a love attraction may disrupt your job stream. If you don’t handle this particular problem well, everything you’ve fought so hard for will be ruined. As a result of the Moon’s shift, your mental health will be harmed this week. Try to retain your cool and manage your rage.

    Capricorn

    Dear Capricorn, Because of your rigorous and thorough approach to work, you will move a few steps closer to your objectives. Your outlook will be transformed into one that is repaired and healthy. You will meet a better version of yourself this week, and you will be grateful to God for it. You’ll have a hard time dealing with the issues in your love life that you were scared might arise. You must realize that discussing your anxieties with your spouse is the best way to conquer them. This week, Venus will be in a favorable position, so take advantage of it. This week will be fine for your health.

    Aquarius

    You’ll master toggling this week. You will be inundated with work from all angles, yet you will be able to satisfy your commitments, much to your amazement. This week, people will be extremely helpful to you. In the second half of this week, your proclivity for identifying flaws will betray you. Your spouse will attempt to free you from the painful events that have injured you. This week, you’ll have to be more cautious with your wellness. You will be able to ensure that your children make the best selections possible because Lord Sun will assist them.

    Pisces

    Dear Pisces, you will be a highly trustworthy person in your group, particularly among your coworkers this week. This genuine quality of yours will assist you in winning several affections this week. With the assistance of someone more experienced, you will be able to improve your job this week. This week, you must pay attention to your spouse/companion; their approach to the problem will be more honest and productive than yours. In the second half of this week, you’ll be a bit irritated. You will not be able to maintain your optimum health owing to being angered and agitated at times, but you will be well by the weekend.

  • Birthday Horoscope-March 28 to April 3, 2022

    Birthday Horoscope-March 28 to April 3, 2022

    By Astro Friend Chirag – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla

    March 28

    Ganesha says today your day will be full of happiness; you may get some good news from your family. You may spend time with family and your partner. Today you may feel good about having your family and partner with you in every step of your life. You may plan to buy a new house. Your partner may surprise you with a gift today. Try to spend as much time as you can with your partner as it’s important for the two of you to make your bond strong.

    March 29

    Ganesha says you may receive more than you can give in your professional as well as personal life and your social status is likely to elevate. Positive thoughts may fill up your mind. On the career front, you may take steady steps to ensure personal growth. Today is a balanced day for you. Pay attention to your physical as well as mental health. Spending some time with the outside world or among friends may help you gain new perspectives and prepare you better to deal with the daily tribulations of life.

    March 30

    Ganesha says today your day will be good. Family members may give you good news. You may plan to buy a new vehicle for your partner. You may get your ancestral property transferred to your name. You may recover from your past disease today. Today, you will have an extraordinary day. You may plan to meet your old friends today, which may make you emotional. You and your partner may enjoy the day together. You may plan to buy a new house today.

    March 31

    Ganesha says you will have a good day today. Your dreams are likely to come true with your hard work and dedication. You may get countless opportunities to fulfill your aspirations and prove your hard work. You will have an adventurous day today. You and your partner may plan for a trek today. You may impress your seniors with your hard work.

    April 1

     Ganesha says you will have a great time with your loved ones and your partner today. Today is a good day for you to start afresh. New beginnings are in your cards today and you will go through a very pivotal moment in your health today and it will shape you to be the best version of yourself that you can be, in the future.

    April 2

    Ganesha says you are likely to enjoy your day with your partner today. You may understand your partner today better by communicating your thoughts and lending an ear to them might strengthen your ties. You may experience a roller coaster of emotions as new emotions come your way. You are likely to succeed in anything you do today. You may get new opportunities today. You are likely to work on multiple tasks and excel in all of them today.

    April 3

    Ganesha says today your aims and aspirations may get new wings. Your dreams may start to take shape now. You are likely to bring positive changes in your lifestyle, which may fill you with a positive sense of energy. You may plan to travel to a tourist destination with your friends soon. You and your partner will have a great day. You may plan to go for a romantic dinner with your partner. If you are single, you are likely to tie a knot with your lover. You may start taking interest in making your relationship more serious today.

  • India in history this Week- arch 25, 2022, to March 31, 2022

    25 MARCH

    1788  First advertisement of Indian language Bangla published in the newspaper ‘Calcutta Gadget’.

    1898  Swami Vivekananda gave initiation of celibacy to Sister Nivedita.

    1954  The country’s first helicopter “S-55” was launched in 1954 in Delhi.

    2007  Team India out of World Cup cricket in 2007.

    2017  Tanushree Pareek of Bikaner, Rajasthan, made the country and state proud by becoming the first woman officer of the country’s Border Security Force (BSF) in 2017.

    26 MARCH

    1552  Guru Amardas became the third Guru of the Sikhs.

    1907  Mahadevi Varma, the modern ‘Meera’ of Hindi literature world, was born.

    1972  President of India VV Giri inaugurates the first International Sanskrit Conference.

    1973  In the state of Uttarakhand, India, in 1973, farmers organized an eco-protection movement called “Chipko Movement” to oppose the cutting of trees.

    27 MARCH

    1898  Death anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who introduced modern education for the Muslims of India.

    2010  India successfully test-fires Dhanush and Prithvi 2 equipped with nuclear technology at Chandipur, Odisha.

    28 MARCH

    1941  Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose escaped from detention and reached Berlin.

    1977  Morarji Desai formed the government in India in 1977.

    2000  West Indies’ Courtney Walls broke Kapil Dev’s record  435 wickets.

    2013  The Internet’s biggest attack on history.

    2015  Saina Nehwal became the world’s number one female badminton player.

    29 MARCH

    1857  Soldier Mangal Pandey became known as a freedom fighter in the Bengal Native Infantry revolts against the British rule in India and the long-running 1857 Sepoy Freedom Struggle.

    1943  Laxman Nayak, a freedom fighter and leader, was hanged in Barhampur jail.

    1954  The Indian Institute of Public Administration was inaugurated.

    1982  N. of Telugu Desam Party Formed in 1982 by T. Rama Rao.

    1999  Nearly 90 people died in the 1999 Himalayan earthquake in the foothills of the Himalayas.

    2008  370 cities of the world started celebrating Earth Hour in 2008 for the first time to save energy.

    1913  Famous Hindi poet and writer Bhavani Prasad was born on this day.

    30 MARCH

    1919  Mahatma Gandhi announced his opposition to the Rowlatt Act.

    1949  The state of Rajasthan was established in 1949 and Jaipur was made its capital.

    1977  Swami Agnivesh merged his Bharatiya Arya Sabha Party with the Janata Party in 1977.

    1932  Regal Cinema Hall, one of the famous and old cinema halls of Delhi since 1932, was closed in 2017.

    1899  In 1899, Cyril Radcliffe, who drew the line of the India-Pakistan divide, was born.

    1664  Guru Har Kishan Singh, the eighth Guru of the Sikhs, died on this day in 1664.

    31 MARCH

    1959  The Buddhist Dalai Lama was granted asylum in India after his exile from Tibet.

    1964  Electric tram last run in Bombay.

    1774  The first post of the Postal Service opened in India in 1774.

    1867  Praya Samaj was established in 1867 in Mumbai.

    2011  According to census data, India’s population has increased to 121 crore (1 billion 21 crore) in 2011. This is 17.64% more than what was calculated ten years ago.

    1504  The second Sikh Guru Guru Angad Dev was born.

    1865  India’s first female doctor Anandi Gopal Joshi was born.

  • Priyanka, Sienna Miller to star in Anthony Chen’s adaptation of Secret Daughter

    Priyanka, Sienna Miller to star in Anthony Chen’s adaptation of Secret Daughter

    Priyanka Chopra has bagged another major Hollywood project after recently signing Ending Things alongside Anthony Mackie. The actress will also star alongside Sienna Miller in Singaporean director Anthony Chen’s next. The film will be based on Shilpi Somaya Gowda novel Secret Daughter and will be adapted by Shruti Ganguly as confirmed by Deadline. For the unreversed, Gowda’s novel Secret Daughter tells an interesting story through the eyes of two women interconnected by a child. The story revolves around parallel storylines taking place in San Francisco and India. Among the two lead characters, Kavita, a poor woman in India is faced with the tough decision of saving her newborn daughter’s life by giving her away. At the same time, Somer a San Francisco based woman learns that she may never be able to have children. Eventually, the two are connected through Asha, a child who is adopted out of a Mumbai orphanage.

    Secret Daughter is an emotional novel that is expected to be a project that could churn out some brilliant performances from both Chopra and Miller whose acting prowess remains unmatched. The project will reportedly be produced by Amazon Studios.            Source: Pinkvilla

  • Jennifer Lopez accepts Icon honor at iHeartRadio Music Awards

    Jennifer Lopez accepts Icon honor at iHeartRadio Music Awards

    The iHeartRadio Music Awards 2022  were held on Tuesday in Los Angeles and one of the biggest highlights of the evening was Jennifer Lopez’s stunning performance at the event as well as her big win for the evening as she was given the Icon Award. Lopez delivered an emotional speech as she accepted the award while Ben Affleck was cheering for her. In an emotional as well as inspiring speech, JLo proved that she is truly an icon as she thanked her fans who have been supporting her all through her career. She said, “Thank you to everyone who comes to a show, streams a song, sees a movie, follows me. You guys are the ones who give me the opportunity every day to live a life I couldn’t even imagine would come true when I was a little girl growing up in the Bronx.”

  • Randeep Hooda to play Veer Savarkar in Mahesh Manjrekar film

    Randeep Hooda to play Veer Savarkar in Mahesh Manjrekar film

    On Shaheed Diwas, March 23, Randeep Hooda announced his next film, a biopic on the revolutionary freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar. Helmed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film has been titled Swatantra Veer Savarkar. Swatantra Veer Savarkar, in which Randeep Hooda will play the titular role, will be produced by Anand Pandit and Sandeep Singh. Sharing a photo with the producers and director Mahesh Manjrekar along with a black-and-white photo of himself, Randeep announced the film.

    He captioned the post, “Kuch kahaniyaan batayi jaati hai aur kuch jee jaati hain! Grateful, excited and honoured to be part of #SwatantraVeerSavarkar’s biopic (sic).”

    Calling it a challenging role, Randeep shared his happiness about showcasing Veer Savarkar’s story on celluloid. He said, “There are many heroes that have played their part in getting us our independence. However, not everyone has got their due. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is the most misunderstood, debated and influential of these unsung heroes and his story must be told. I am delighted to collaborate with Sandeep after Sarabjit for Swatantra Veer Savarkar.”

  • Men trailer: Alex Garland is back with horror mystery

    Men trailer: Alex Garland is back with horror mystery

    English writer-director Alex Garland, behind acclaimed movies like Ex Machina and Annihilation and the sci-fi thriller TV series Devs, is back with an A24 horror mystery called Men. A24 horror movies are known for their unique directorial voice as the studio allows its filmmakers complete freedom without any commercial constraints that come with bigger studios. Men appears no different. Starring Irish actor Jessie Buckley, the series has her playing the role of a recently widowed woman called Harper who, to take her minds off a recent tragedy (her husband’s death), goes on a solo vacation in the English countryside. The place, an inn encircled by the woods, is beautiful in a primal sort of way and also something out of the Bible. Too much, in fact. And it’s not subtle either.

    The place is surrounded by apple trees. The owner Geoffrey, played by Rory Kinnear, warns her off eating the ‘forbidden fruit’ when she takes a bite, before claiming he is joking. And he is too prying.

    Things get sinister as Geoffrey’s face seems to be pasted on every man in the village she encounter, including the priest, who wonders aloud whether she is not to blame for her husband’s death. If only she had apologised, he would still be alive. Even the cop is Kinnear, and a young boy (Garland has used deep fake to achieve that, and the effect is clearly unfinished). The idea is that the society is so skewed towards men that everybody blames her for a tragedy she had no part in.

    Men looks like a typical Garland film, albeit with horror elements. In other words, an utter delight. The Biblical imagery, clever use of vocals and sound design, visuals that are both pretty and unnerving, and a small but strong cast — both Buckley and Kinnear have proven themselves to be striking performers. We cannot wait.

    Men releases on May 20.

              Source: The Indian Express

  • Alex Wolff joins the cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer

    Actor Alex Wolff, whose latest film credits include M Night Shyamalan’s Old and the Nicolas Cage-fronted indie hit Pig, has joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. A biopic on J Robert Oppenheimer, one of the fathers of the atom bomb,  stars Cillian Murphy as the titular famed physicist. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the details of who Wolff will play are under wraps.

    Oppenheimer revolves around the theoretical physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb during World War II, but later found his loyalty to the USA questioned by hawkish government officials.

    Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Josh Hartnett, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Matthew Modine, Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz and David Dastmalchian are also part of the cast.

    Shooting on Oppenheimer has been underway in New Mexico for a few weeks now. Based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin, Universal Pictures has set a July 21, 2023 release date for the film.       Source: PTI

  • Deep conditioning treatment for hair at home

    Deep conditioning treatment for hair at home

    Healthy hair is often looked at as something you either have or you don’t. Issues like dryness, frizz, and damage are considered as a disadvantage of having a certain type of hair. While it is true that some hair types are more prone to drying out and frizzing up, there isn’t much that the right kind of hair care won’t tackle. Deep conditioning for hair at home is one of the best ways by which you could treat your hair with natural ingredients.

    There are many deep conditioning treatments you can try at home that are bound to improve the health of your hair. Regardless of your hair type, the leading cause of bad hair, more often than not, is the lack of moisture. Following is a list of 10 DIY deep conditioning treatments that are totally affordable and contain ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen.

    Shea Butter

    –        Apply shea butter from the roots to the tips of your hair. If you have an oily scalp and dry hair, you can apply it from the mid-lengths to the tips.

    –        Once all of your hair is coated with the shea butter, cover it with a hot towel. You can heat the towel by using a blow dryer on the hot setting.

    –        Keep the towel wrapped around your hair for an hour.

    –        Wash and condition your hair.

    Tea Tree Oil

    –        Take 3-5 drops of tea tree oil and add it to 3 tablespoons of cold-pressed coconut oil.

    –        Stir with a spoon to mix the two oils.

    –        Section your hair and start applying the oil mixture on the roots, along the length of your hair, and the tips.

    –        Massage the oil into your scalp for 10 minutes and then braid your hair or put it up in a bun.

    –        Sleep with the oil in your hair. The next morning, wash it out with shampoo and condition.

    Yogurt

    –        Wash your hair with shampoo; skip conditioning.

    –        Once your hair is almost dry, start applying yogurt along the length of your hair, from the roots to the tips.

    –        Let the yogurt sit in your hair for 30 minutes to an hour.

    –        Rinse it out with lukewarm water.

    Aloe Vera

    –        Cut an aloe vera leaf and extract about 1/2 a cup or more gel (depending on the length of your hair) with a spoon.

    –        Blend the gel until it gets to a smooth consistency.

    –        Wash your hair with shampoo. Skip conditioning.

    –        While your hair is still damp, start applying the aloe vera gel to your hair from the roots to the tips.

    –        Let the gel sit in your hair for about 30 minutes.

    –        Rinse your hair out with lukewarm water.

    Mayonnaise And Egg

    –        Mix half a cup of mayonnaise with 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. You may double the ingredients if your hair is very long.

    –        Shampoo your hair and skip conditioning.

    –        Once your hair is almost dry, section it and start applying the mixture from the roots to the tips.

    –        Put your hair up in a bun and cover it with a shower cap or a moist hot towel.

    –        Keep the pack on for 20-30 minutes and then rinse it off with shampoo and lukewarm water. Skip conditioning if you have oily hair.

    Honey

    –        Honey can be used in combination with various ingredients for conditioning your hair. Below are three deep conditioning recipes that contain honey.

    Honey And Avocado

    –        Mash one ripe avocado and add 2 tablespoons of raw honey to it. Ensure that there are no lumps.

    –        Mix it until it gets to a smooth consistency.

    –        Wash your hair with shampoo and skip conditioning. Let your hair air dry.

    –        Once your hair is dry, start applying the honey-avocado mixture from the roots to the tips of your hair.

    –        Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

    –        Wash it off with shampoo and condition.

    Honey And Olive Oil

    –        Take 2 tablespoons of raw honey and mix it with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

    –        Wash your hair with shampoo and skip conditioning. Let it air dry.

    –        Once your hair is completely dry, start applying the honey-olive oil mixture to it from the roots to the tips.

    –        Put your hair up in a bun, or in braids, and wait for 30 minutes to an hour.

    –        Wash with shampoo and condition.

  • Egg Fried Rice

    Egg Fried Rice

    Ingredients

    Basmati Rice – 2 cups, Eggs – 10, Onions – 2 Spring, Onions – 1 bunch, Beans – 10, Carrot – 2, Capsicum – 2, Cabbage – 100 gms, Pepper Powder – 1/2 tblsp, Green Chillies – 2, Tomato Puree – 2 to 3 tblsp (or as required), Ajinomoto – 3 tsp (optional), Soy Sauce – 4 tblsp, Salt as per taste, Oil – 3 tblsp, Coriander Leaves

    Method

    –        Pressure cook the rice until 1 whistle and remove.

    –        Chop all the vegetables finely and keep aside.

    –        Grind together the green chillies and mix well 2 tblsp water. Heat oil in a pan. Saute the onions for a minute.

    –        Add the chopped vegetables one by one and cook for a minute or two.

    –        Add the green chilli paste and tomato puree.

    –        Add salt and ajinomoto. Mix well and add soy sauce.

    –        Break the eggs into the pan and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.

    –        Add the cooked rice and mix until all ingredients are combined. Garnish with coriander leaves.

  • Mozzarella Sticks

    Mozzarella Sticks

    INGREDIENTS

    300 gm mozzarella

    1/2 cup chickpeas flour

    1 cup sunflower oil

    1/2 cup all purpose flour

    1/2 cup crushed breadcrumbs

    Method

    Cut the cheese into 1/2-1 inch sticks and keep aside.

    Mix the maida and besan flour in a bowl. Add enough water and mix to a thick batter.

    Spread the breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip the cheese sticks in the batter and roll them in the breadcrumbs.

    Place them on a parchment paper and keep it in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.

    This is to ensure the cheese does not melt while frying and it has a crispy coating.

    Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Fry the mozzarella sticks until light golden brown.

    Remove and drain excess oil. Serve with a dipping sauce of choice.

  • Simple diet tips to lower cholesterol

    Simple diet tips to lower cholesterol

    Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries and narrow or even block them. This puts you at risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. One type, LDL, is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Another type, HDL, is sometimes called the “good” cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Then your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.

    Choose healthier fats

    You should limit both total fat and saturated fat. No more than 25 to 35% of your daily calories should come from dietary fats, and less than 7% of your daily calories should come from saturated fat.

    Eat lots of fruits and vegetables

    A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase important cholesterol-lowering compounds in your diet. These compounds, called plant stanols or sterols, work like soluble fiber.

    Eat fish high in omega-3 fatty acids

    These acids won’t lower your LDL level, but they may help raise your HDL level. They may also protect your heart from blood clots and inflammation and reduce your risk of heart attack. Fish that are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna (canned or fresh), and mackerel. Try to eat these fish two times a week.

    Limit salt

    You should try to limit the amount of sodium (salt) that you eat to no more than 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day. That includes all the sodium you eat, whether it was added in cooking or at the table, or already present in food products. Limiting salt won’t lower your cholesterol, but it can lower your risk of heart diseases by helping to lower your blood pressure. You can reduce your sodium by instead choosing low-salt and “no added salt” foods and seasonings at the table or while cooking.

     Limit alcohol

    Alcohol adds extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. Being overweight can raise your LDL level and lower your HDL level. Too much alcohol can also increase your risk of heart diseases because it can raise your blood pressure and triglyceride level.

  • Organs from Covid positive fatalities are safe, says study

    Organs from Covid positive fatalities are safe, says study

    Evidence is mounting to show that organ donation from dying donors testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 appears to be safe and does not cause Covid-19 in the patient receiving the donated organ, according to a study. The Covid pandemic exacerbated the shortage of abdominal organs for donation by increasing organ discard rates, due to the unclear risks of using organs from Covid-19 infected donors. A team from Duke University in the US analysed six abdominal organ transplants performed (2 livers, 2 kidneys/pancreas transplanted together) in four recipients using organs procured from four donors who tested positive for Covid and died.

    The donor evaluation protocol included additional review of organ quality, with all four donors undergoing macroscopic and/or microscopic biopsy review to confirm organ suitability.

    Donors were assessed by considering organ type, the duration and severity of Covid-19 illness, whether any signs of hypercoagulable disease were present (meaning potentially increased clotting in the donated organ or vessels) as well as careful overall inspection at the time of organ procurement.

    Further, if the organ to be donated was lung or intestine, it would only be considered if the donor last tested positive for Covid more than 20 days ago, a timeline consistent with infection control practices of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    And if the virus was found in the base of the lungs, the lungs were deemed unsuitable for transplantation, but other organs could still be transplanted safely, provided the donor was not dying from severe hyperinflammatory Covid-19 or showed signs of excessive clotting, the team explained.

    Even after passing through all these barriers, doctors must still consider the ultimate cause of death for a donor and weigh up whether that is likely to negatively impact organ quality and/or surgical risk, they said.

    Further, to reduce the transplant risk, recipients are now strongly encouraged to be fully Covid-19 vaccinated prior to surgery.      Source: IANS

  • Women’s tennis: World No.1 Ash Barty announces shock retirement

    Women’s tennis: World No.1 Ash Barty announces shock retirement

    The world’s top women’s tennis player Ashleigh Barty has stunned the sport by announcing her early retirement at the age of just 25. “Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis,” she said in a video posted on Instagram. The Australian leaves the sport less than two months after becoming the country’s first home-grown Australian Open champion in 44 years, and winning a Grand Slam tournament on three different surfaces. Barty has won 15 titles, including Wimbledon, played on grass, and the French Open, played on clay. “I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself … I don’t have that in me any more,” she said in the video. “I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more. I am spent.” Barty previously walked away from the game as a teenager in late 2014 after becoming disaffected by the Tour.

  • IPL 2022: MS Dhoni passes CSK baton to Ravindra Jadeja

    IPL 2022: MS Dhoni passes CSK baton to Ravindra Jadeja

    Mumbai  (TIP)- Twelve seasons, four title triumphs and five runner-up finishes later, the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni has decided to hand over the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings to his trusted lieutenant Ravindra Jadeja.

    But the 40-year-old will continue to represent the franchise for the “season and beyond”, having led one of the most successful IPL sides since the tournament’s inception in 2008, barring the two seasons when the team was suspended in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal. “MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK,” said CSK in a statement, adding: “Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond.”

    Dhoni, who will turn 41 in July, had announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020 and yet led CSK to their fourth title last season. CSK play KKR in the first match of IPL-15 here on Saturday.

    Feeling good: Jadeja

    “Feeling good but at the same time I need to fill in big boots,” said Jadeja in a video shared by CSK on Twitter. “Like Mahi bhai has already set a big legacy and we need to carry it forward, so hopefully I will. And I don’t need to worry too much because he’s here and whatever question I need to ask, I’ll definitely go to him. He was my go-to person and he still is today, so I’m not worried too much.” India’s World Cup-winning captain Dhoni has always been his own man when it comes to leaving captaincy or announcing his retirement.

    He quit Test captaincy and also the five-day game in the middle of a series in Australia in 2014. And when he was sure Virat Kohli was ready to lead India across formats, Dhoni made the way for him in 2017. Though the inspirational leader carried on to play the IPL after announcing his international retirement in his inimitable style, his decision to hand over the CSK leadership to Jadeja was not entirely surprising.

    The 33-year-old Jadeja, who is at the peak of his prowess, is ready for the challenge. The southpaw was CSK’s first retention before the auction ahead of Dhoni, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

    The announcement still took CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan by surprise, but said: “Whatever decision MS takes it is in the best interest of the team.”

    It can be safely said that CSK couldn’t have become the brand it became without the charismatic Dhoni, who developed a special bond with the team and its fanatical fans.           Source: PTI

  • Hockey Pro League: India to open campaign against New Zealand in new format for 2022-23

    Hockey Pro League: India to open campaign against New Zealand in new format for 2022-23

    Bhubaneswar,  (TIP)-The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday, March 22,  released the new schedule for the fourth edition of FIH Pro League as per which India will take on New Zealand in the opener at home in October 2022. India will host the first set of matches with the men’s team starting its campaign against New Zealand on October 28 and Spain on October 30. They will play their return leg matches against New Zealand and Spain on October 4 and 6, respectively. Both the visitors New Zealand and Spain will also play a double-header against each other on October 29 and November 5.

    As per the new format, the schedule will be divided into a series of date blocks, agreed by all parties, to assist with international and domestic competition planning, within which “mini-tournaments” will be played where several teams will gather in one venue to play two matches against each other.

    This move will have a major positive impact on players’ welfare and the environment, thanks to a substantial reduction in the amount of travel needed for each team and the officials. Another great advantage of this revised format is that it increases the number of dates available for athletes to compete in their domestic leagues and club competitions, the FIH informed in a release on Thursday. For the first season with this new schedule, matches will be hosted in the following seven nations — Australia, Argentina, Belgium, England, India, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The matches will be held between October 28, 2022, to July 5, 2023.      Source: IANS

  • Italy fail to qualify for 2022 FIFA WC after shock loss to North Macedonia

    Italy has gone from winning the European Championship to failing to qualify for the World Cup in just eight months.

    In a rapid and stunning fall from grace, the Azzurri were upset by North Macedonia in a 1-0 loss that headlined a night of drama in the European qualifying playoffs on Thursday.

    Italy will miss out on back-to-back World Cups for the first time in the national team’s storied history, having also failed to get to the tournament in 2018. It was only in July that Roberto Mancini and his players were celebrating winning Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium, supposedly completing Italian soccer’s redemption story. On Thursday, there were tears of a different kind, and a general feeling of disbelief inside the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo.

    “Just as last July was the best thing I experienced at a professional level, this is the greatest disappointment,” Mancini said. “Soccer is like that, sometimes incredible things happen.”

  • Papmochani Ekadashi

    Papmochani Ekadashi

    Papmochani Ekadashi is an important day in Hinduism. Papmochani Ekadashi is observed on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Chaitra month according to the Hindu calendar. There are about 24 to 26 Ekadashi in a year and each Ekadashi has its own special significance, thus also Papmochani Ekadashi. Papmochani Ekadashi is known as it is a fast to get rid of sins. This fast is described in ‘Bhavishyottara Purana’ and ‘Harivasar Purana’. In Hinduism, ‘Paap’ means actions that are wrong. The meaning of ‘Mochani’ is to get salvation.

    It is believed that Papmochani Ekadashi destroys all sins and a person who observes the Pamochani Ekadashi fast with full devotion never fears demons or ghosts. Papmochani fast is considered very auspicious.

    Lord Vishnu is worshiped on the day of Papmochani Ekadashi. First of all, Sage Lomasa told King Mandhata about the Papmochani fast. Then Lord Krishna told King Yudhishthira about the importance of Papmochani Ekadashi. Whose fasting has become prevalent.

    Papmochani Ekadashi Worship

    Lord Vishnu is worshiped with full dedication on the day of Papmochani Ekadashi. The person observing the fast should wake up at sunrise and take a bath. A small idol of Lord Vishnu is placed at the place of worship and devotees offer sandalwood paste, sesame seeds, fruits, lamps and incense to the Lord. It is considered auspicious to recite ‘Vishnu Sahasranama’ and ‘Narayan Stotra’ on this day.

    On the day of Dwadashi, after feeding Brahmins, send them off and then eat food.

    Fruits of Worship and Significance of Papmochani Ekadashi Vrat

    The importance of Papmochani Ekadashi fast has been described in ‘Bhavishyottara Purana’ and ‘Harivasara Purana’. It is said that Papmochani Vrat liberates one from the effects of all sins. By observing Papmochani Ekadashi fast, learning at Hindu pilgrimage places is more virtuous than donating cows. Those who observe this auspicious fast enjoy all the worldly pleasures and eventually find a place in ‘Vaikuntha’, the heavenly kingdom of Lord Vishnu.

    Papmochani Ekadashi fasting story

    In ancient times there was a beautiful forest called Chitraratha. In this forest, Devraj Indra Gandharva used to live freely in this forest along with girls and deities. A sage named Medhavi was also doing penance there. The sage Shiva worshiped and the Apsaras Shiva Drohini was Anang’s maid.

    Once Kamadeva sent an Apsara named Manjughosha to him to break the sage’s penance. The young sage was fascinated by Apsara’s work on gestures, dance, songs and sarcasm. 57 years have passed while doing Rati-Krida. One day Manjughosha asked for permission to go to Devlok.

    On asking Manjughosha’s permission, the consciousness of the sage awakened and he realized that Apsara Manjughosha is the only reason for taking me to the abyss. He cursed Manjughosha to be a vampire. Hearing the curse, Manjughosha trembled and asked the remedy for salvation. Then the sage asked to keep the fast of Papmochani Ekadashi. He went to father Chyawan’s ashram after telling the remedy for salvation. Hearing the curse, the Chyawan sage severely condemned the son and ordered him to observe the fast of Paapmochani Chaitra Krishna Ekadashi. Sage Medhavi also observed the Papmochani Vrat and was freed from his sins. Due to the effect of the Papmochani fast, Manjughosha Apsara, freed from her body, went to Devlok.