The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Biden says he’s now convinced Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, but leaves door open for diplomacy

    Biden says he’s now convinced Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, but leaves door open for diplomacy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden on Friday, February 18,  said he is now convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade Ukraine, but emphasized that room for diplomacy remains, says CNN.

    “As of this moment, I am convinced he’s made the decision,” Biden said during remarks at the White House.

    The President also said the US believes Russian forces intend to attack Ukraine “in the coming week” or sooner, and that an attack will target the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

    Throughout recent days, the Biden administration has publicly disclosed several intelligence details on Russian movements — a marked shift in how US national security officials typically operate. The administration’s decision to discuss their movements “loudly and repeatedly,” Biden said Friday inside the Roosevelt Room, was made “to remove any reason that Russia may give to justify invading Ukraine and prevent them from moving.”

    “Make no mistake. If Russia pursues its plans, it will be responsible for a catastrophic and needless war of choice,” he added.

    The President’s assertion on Friday that he’s “convinced” Putin has “made the decision” to invade Ukraine is a significant change in his position. Biden previously stated he did not believe the Russian leader had made up his mind but acknowledged his insights into Putin’s thinking were limited. He did note that he hoped diplomacy could de-escalate the situation, saying on Friday that “diplomacy is always a possibility.”

    But questioned on why he believed Putin is considering diplomacy at all, Biden said only: “We have a significant intelligence capability.”

    Russian misinformation is building up to a false justification for Putin to make that move, Biden said, accusing Russia of ceasefire violations in the “rapidly escalating crisis.”

    “Over the last few days, we’ve seen reports of a major uptick in violations of the ceasefire by Russian-backed fighters attempting to provoke Ukraine in the Donbas,” Biden said, pointing to multiple examples of disinformation that he said have been spread by Russian state media, including a “phony” claim of genocide in the Donbas region.

    But the claims by the Russians simply don’t make sense, Biden argued, saying, “It defies basic logic to believe the Ukrainians would choose this moment — with well over 150,000 troops arranged on its borders — to escalate a year-long conflict.”

    Despite the US’ assessment of an imminent invasion of Ukraine, Biden said that it’s up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decide whether he will attend this weekend’s security conference in Germany. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to meet with Zelensky during the conference on Saturday.

    Earlier on Friday the White House blamed Russia for a massive cyberattack on Ukraine earlier in the week.

    “We believe that the Russian government is responsible for widescale cyberattacks on Ukrainian banks this week. We have technical information that links the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU, as known GRU infrastructure was seen transmitting high volumes of communication to Ukraine based IP addresses and domains,” said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

    The attribution for the attack was unusually fast for the US government, and Neuberger noted that Russia has previously benefited from US delays in attributing Russian hacking operations.

    “Russia likes to move in the shadows and counts on a long process of attribution so it can continue its malicious behavior against Ukraine in cyberspace, including pre-positioning for its potential invasion,” Neuberger told reporters in the White House briefing room.

    White House officials also warned that Russia could face extensive sanctions if it invades Ukraine, calling them “the most severe measures we’ve ever contemplated against Russia.”

    Biden’s speech on Friday comes amid escalating tensions in the region.

    Nearly half of Russian forces surrounding Ukraine are in attack position, according to a defense official familiar with the latest assessment. The number of battalion tactical groups has swelled to approximately 120 to 125.

    The official said the Russian military has continued to move forces toward the border, and within the last 48 hours, the number of forces in attack position has reached 40% to 50%.

    US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Michael Carpenter warned earlier Friday that the US has assessed a significant Russian military buildup near Ukraine just in the last two weeks.

    “Russia probably has massed between 169,000-190,000 personnel in and near Ukraine as compared with about 100,000 on January 30,” he said in a statement at the OSCE meeting. That includes Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine as well as the Russian-led forces in eastern Ukraine, which have not been included in previous US assessments of Russia’s strength in the area.

    Shortly before his remarks, Biden spoke with allies in North America and Europe. He will hold a phone call with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO to discuss the ongoing crisis.

    During the call, the leaders “expressed deep concern” about the situation and reiterated their support for Ukraine and discussed further economic assistance to the country, according to a White House statement. “They pledged to continue pursuing diplomacy to de-escalate tensions while ensuring readiness to impose swift, coordinated economic costs on Russia should it choose further conflict. The leaders also discussed efforts to ensure the defense and security of NATO’s eastern flank,” the statement said. The President on Friday also called into a meeting the vice president was holding with members of Congress, who are all attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany and, according to a person in the room, he reiterated the work the US and allies have been doing to try to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine. He also updated the members on the situation at Ukraine’s borders.

    (Source: CNN)

  • Not as good as their word

    Not as good as their word

    Poll manifestos in UP flaunt titles that combine purpose with hyperbole

    By Radhika Ramaseshan

    “The BJP was caught between addressing its core Hindutva constituency and pandering to the demands and expectations of the larger electorate it had formed over the years. After a string of averments on welfare programs, its ‘sankalp patra’ bared a core commitment: enhancing the minimum punishment for ‘unlawful conversions’ from five to 10 years’ imprisonment with a Rs 1 lakh penalty. While the SP had slots for women and Dalits and the Congress for Dalits, the BJP’s manifesto had a special place for the backward castes, a cherished electorate of the party: subsidized boats for the Nishads who are engaged in fishing and overall rural development through a scheme named after ‘OBC leader Kalyan Singh’.”

    Highfalutin titles never signify a sincerity of intent. In Uttar Pradesh’s election season, grandiose claims are not scarce. Short of proclaiming there’s heaven on earth, political leaders conjure every trick there is. Last week, the poll manifestos put out by three parties—the SP, BJP and Congress—flaunted titles that combined purpose with hyperbole. The SP’s document was called ‘Samajwadi Vachan Patra’ and the BJP’s ‘Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra’. The Congress, which appears to be a peripheral player, released the ‘Unnati Vidhan’. The BSP is going without a policy statement, although its leader Mayawati now and then makes declarations in her speech.

    Unmistakable in the string of promises contained in each manifesto was the shadow of the farmers’ agitation.

    Unmistakable though in the string of promises contained in each manifesto was the shadow of the farmers’ agitation that rocked parts of UP and coalesced the dissent against the Centre’s laws with the state government’s failure to address the core issues of sugarcane farmers. The kisan andolan formed the backdrop of a party’s policy statements. The SP — which believes it is best placed to capitalize on the agrarian unrest with its ally, the RLD — declared that by 2025, all farmers would be debt-free, for which a debt relief law will be passed to alleviate the sufferings of small and marginal farmers. Central to the SP’s pre-electoral pitch was free electricity for irrigation (farmers complained that power consumption in fields was unmetered and the rate was ‘arbitrarily’ fixed) along with interest-free loans, an insurance cover and pension. In the light of a serious shortage of di-ammonium phosphate and urea before the sowing season in October-November 2021, the SP stated farmers owning less than two acres would also get two bags of DAP and five bags of urea. In a few places, sowing was put off because the vital inputs were not available. It was said urea supplies were diverted to plywood mills which are a major consumer and constitute a powerful economic lobby.

    The BJP was on the back foot ever since the farmers’ protests snowballed into a movement that caused a law and order crisis. Unlike the demonstrations against the CAA that were quelled by the police and converted into a politically polarizing issue, the farmers were not easy pickings. Things reached a boiling point when the son of a Central minister, Ajay Mishra Teni, mowed down farmers protesting peacefully at Lakhimpur Kheri. Ashish Mishra was subsequently arrested and jailed, but released last week, leading to an outcry among the peasantry. The BJP’s manifesto was not as expansive on agriculture as the SP’s, but held out assurances of free electricity for irrigation, modernizing sugar mills, setting up new sugar cooperatives and guaranteeing settlement of payment backlog with interest within 14 days. The last is a pledge nearly every party takes before an election, but rarely redeems it.

    The Congress tried to be one up on the BJP by promising to waive aside farm loans within 10 days of coming to power and purchasing the cash crops at enhanced prices. However, the Congress was also the only party to address the problem arising from the rogue cattle let loose by their owners because the Yogi regime stringently enforced a law against bovine slaughter which prohibited the sale of unproductive animals to the abattoirs. The cattle are supposed to be housed in specially made shelter homes, but these are few and far between and the animals just too many left to pillage fields. The Congress affirmed a monetary compensation for damaged land and offered to purchase dung at Rs 2 per kg as an incentive to retain sterile animals.

    Among the standout points in the manifestos was the SP’s promise to create an Urban Employment Guarantee Act modelled after the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to augment employment and restore the old pension system for superannuated government employees and teachers—a big constituency in UP. The BJP government persisted with the National Pension Scheme (introduced by the Centre in 2004) under which the pension’s worth depends on the corpus saved by an employee at retirement and is subject to the fluctuations in investment value. The notion of subjecting savings to market vagaries unnerved several ex-employees, although the BJP government tried to convince that the NPS was ‘more beneficial’ because the amount received could be invested in other saving schemes. Employees preferred the old pension scheme which they saw as a security net because an employee got an assured amount, regardless of how much contribution was made towards her pension during her working years. The SP’s promise had kindled interest and enthusiasm among the government employees, most of whom were committed to the BJP since 1989. The BJP was caught between addressing its core Hindutva constituency and pandering to the demands and expectations of the larger electorate it had formed over the years. After a string of averments on welfare programs, its ‘sankalp patra’ bared a core commitment: enhancing the minimum punishment for ‘unlawful conversions’ from five to 10 years’ imprisonment with a Rs 1 lakh penalty. While the SP had slots for women and Dalits and the Congress for Dalits, the BJP’s manifesto had a special place for the backward castes, a cherished electorate of the party: subsidized boats for the Nishads who are engaged in fishing and overall rural development through a scheme named after ‘OBC leader Kalyan Singh’.

    Crunch time will come five years hence when the party/coalition in power will be judged on whether it was true to its word or whether the manifesto was not worth the paper it was printed on.

    (The author is a Senior Journalist)

  • Signs of peace: On Russian pullback from Ukraine border

    Russia’s decision to pull back some troops suggests it sees potential in proposals by Macron and Scholz

    Russia’s announcement that it is pulling back some troops from Ukraine’s borders is the strongest signal of de-escalation from Moscow. Russia has always maintained that it had no plans to attack Ukraine. But the massive troop mobilization on the three flanks of Ukraine, which included combat aircraft, warships and S400 missile defense systems, had raised fears of war. Besides, the U.S.’s warning that a Russian invasion could come “any day” and its decision to shut the American embassy in Kiev added to the frenzy. The Russian approach appeared to have been rooted in building military pressure around Ukraine to gain diplomatic leverage in talks with the West. In the last few weeks, European leaders, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz, have visited Moscow. Of these, the diplomatic interventions by Mr. Macron, who called for respecting Russian security concerns and sought to revive the Minsk agreement on Ukraine’s civil strife, and Mr. Scholz, who said in Kiev that Ukraine’s entry into NATO was “not on the agenda right now”, were significant. Their talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin opened a diplomatic path towards de-escalation.

    It is too early to say that the crisis is over. The complex issue is rooted in Russia’s security concerns and NATO’s expansionary open-door policy with no quick solutions. But the suggestions from the talks Russia and the West have had point to a formula for peace. Russia’s three concerns are: one, it does not want neighbors Georgia and Ukraine to be members of NATO. Two, it wants NATO (read the U.S.) to roll back its military presence and drills from Eastern Europe and the Black Sea. Three, it wants the Ukraine crisis — the civil conflict between Kiev and the Russia-backed separatists in Donbas — to be resolved through the Minsk process.

    In talks with Mr. Putin, U.S. President Joe Biden has already said the U.S. does not have any plan to deploy offensive weapons or permanent combat troops to Ukraine and that Washington was open to reducing drills and missiles in Eastern Europe on a reciprocal basis. Mr. Macron has taken steps to revive the Minsk II deal to address Ukraine’s internal crisis. And then Mr. Scholz practically ruled out Ukraine joining NATO in the “foreseeable future”. Put together, this is a comprehensive package that could accommodate Russia’s security concerns and the West’s fears of Russian aggression. Moscow’s decision to pull back troops partially suggests that it sees potential in these proposals. Russia might keep some troops on the border to retain the pressure. But the obvious next step is to take these proposals to solid agreements through diplomacy. The West and Russia should take that road aimed at finding a lasting solution to Europe’s most dangerous security crisis.

    (The Hindu)

  • Wrong signal: On MediaOne

    HC order accepting national security bogey to shut down channel is concerning

    The Kerala High Court judgment upholding the Government’s revoking the broadcasting permission given to Malayalam news channel MediaOne is plainly wrong. The I&B Ministry did not renew the channel’s permission to uplink and downlink signals after the Union Home Ministry declined security clearance. The company and some employees challenged the action. The court seems to have endorsed the Government’s stand that it was a national security issue and, therefore, there was no need to observe the principles of natural justice. The Government claimed there were sufficient reasons, even though they were not disclosed. It is unfortunate that the court chose to accept the submission of documents in a sealed cover and agree with the authorities that there were intelligence inputs that warranted the denial of security clearance, without the petitioners being shown the contents. The court’s decision goes against emerging jurisprudence that any restriction on fundamental rights must not only be reasonable, as permitted in the Constitution, but also withstand the test of proportionality. In this case, broadcasting involves the inter-connected rights concerning media freedom, freedom to disseminate information and the freedom to consume information. All these fall under the framework of freedom of speech and expression. The court seems to have accepted the restriction without examining its reasonableness in any way. It has negated not only the channel’s right to broadcast but also its viewers’ right to know.

    It is astounding that the court dismissed the precedent set in a recent case that national security cannot be used as a pretext to avoid any judicial examination of restrictions imposed by the state. Raising the specter of national security did not give a free pass to the Government, the court had noted in the case involving allegations of the use of Pegasus, a spyware, against citizens. By claiming that it was in a case that involved the ‘right to privacy’ and not germane to the MediaOne case, the judge seems to have erred. The need for circumspection against the bogey of national security being raised to deny or curtail fundamental rights is a general principle, and not confined to a particular right. Further, it is plainly unacceptable that the much-derided form of ‘sealed cover’ justice is being used as an aid to adjudication. Even though courts recognize that the scope for judicial review in matters of national security is limited, any claim that a particular action was based on that ground ought to be substantiated by the Government, even if it is reluctant to disclose all details. If this practice of using confidential intelligence claims to revoke the permission given to a channel to operate is encouraged, freedom of the media will be in great peril.

    (The Hindu)

  • Indian-origin Ex-IAS officer GL Bailur passes away in London

    LONDON (TIP): Haryana cadre 1958-batch IAS officer, GL Bailur, passed away in London at the age of 86 years on February 9. He is survived by his wife and three children. He worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

    Recalling his association with Bailur, former J&K Governor, NN Vohra, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear about Bailur’s sudden passing away. Our relations go back to over 60 years ago when he and I joined as Sub-Divisional Magistrates in the erstwhile district Kangra of pre-bifurcated Panjab on the same day in May 1961. He was an extremely competent, devoted, humble, caring and a thorough-bred gentleman whose going away shall be missed by one and all. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace and the Lord give Jayanti the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

    (Source: Tribune, Chandigarh)

  • NRIs key to propelling Punjab’s growth: Navjot Singh Sidhu

    NRIs key to propelling Punjab’s growth: Navjot Singh Sidhu

    AMRITSAR / NEW YORK (TIP): Addressing NRIs as the “soul of Punjab”, Sidhu said at most of the villages, the NRIs had donated more funds than the government and their influence could not be ignored. “Instead of doling out funds for electioneering, I urge each one of you to reach out to at least 100 of your relatives living in Punjab, convince them to vote only for the truth,” he said.

    He said the “Punjab Model” contained a roadmap especially for the NRIs who could be the “shareholders” in guiding Punjab on the way to progress. He said the model was shaped out of 17 years of his toil and observation on political pitch and emphasized that in politics, the two terms — ‘aas te vishwas’ (hope  and faith) — held significance.

    “Since the NRIs live in a better ecosystem, they could be the enablers who could propel us to progress. They could be the biggest shareholders to lay the foundation of Punjab’s progress. For this, we have to win over their faith. They wish to invest in Punjab but get dejected due to poor management and governance. If a single-window system without official and legal wrangles persisted, they would be ready to join us in our mission without any hitch,” he said.

    Citing the examples of the Kartarpur corridor and toppling of Capt Amarinder Singh, Sidhu said he had turned the “impossible to possible”. “If that could be done, the same way I will also show you the transformation of Punjab,” he said.

    My fight is against the system and the mafia that have mortgaged the state. I am committed to transforming Punjab, said Sidhu.

  • Indian-origin business leader Vipul Chawla appointed as group CEO of Singapore’s FairPrice Group

    Indian-origin business leader Vipul Chawla appointed as group CEO of Singapore’s FairPrice Group

    SINGAPORE (TIP): Indian-origin business leader Vipul Chawla has been named as the group CEO of Singapore’s FairPrice Group, a union-linked supermarket food chain operator across the country with an annual revenue of nearly USD 3 billion. Chawla, 54, will take over from group CEO Seah Kian Peng on April 5 this year, The media reported on Thursday, citing a statement from FairPrice Group and its parent group National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Enterprise. Chawla will continue the efforts of Seah to accelerate the growth of FairPrice’s physical stores and online retail, supported by a robust supply chain strategy, the company said in a statement. He has held leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies in the consumer goods (Unilever) and food services industries. As president of Pizza Hut International since 2018, the US-based Chawla oversaw markets in more than 100 countries with a combined revenue of USD 7.5 billion and was able to navigate the company through the Covid pandemic.

  • Indian American  engineer Sanjay “Ram” Ramabhadran nominated as the  Chair of Houston Metro 

    Indian American  engineer Sanjay “Ram” Ramabhadran nominated as the  Chair of Houston Metro 

    HOUSTON (TIP): Houston   Mayor Sylvester Turner on Thursday, February 17,  nominated a highly respected engineer, a long-time community leader, and a current METRO board member, Sanjay “Ram” Ramabhadran to serve as the next Chair of the public transit agency. Sanjay “Ram” Ramabhadran has served on the METRO Board of Directors since May 2015 and is the current Chair of the Capital & Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the Finance & Audit Committee. He has helped oversee the planning, design, construction, and launch of major projects, including METRONext, that enhance mobility throughout the region. These projects include a multi-million-dollar program ensuring universal accessibility for passengers with a range of disabilities. He also worked to expand METRORapid, the agency’s bus rapid transit (BRT) service. Initially a single north-south route connecting Uptown to two major transit centers, the service will also include the Inner Katy Line, connecting Uptown and downtown, and the University Line, which will be the longest BRT line in the nation. He is working to enhance the travel time, reliability, and access for 17 of METRO’s high ridership bus routes as part of the BOOST initiative.

    “As a prepared and proven leader, Sanjay is ready to steer Texas’ largest metropolitan transit authority,” Mayor Turner said. “His leadership will play a big role in getting the ambitious METRONext and other projects right.”

    “It is an honor of a lifetime to serve the City of Houston and the entire region. I truly appreciate the trust and confidence in me to build the future of METRO. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the METRO Board, the CEO, and the 4,100 strong METRO family,” said Ramabhadran. “These men and women are frontline heroes in their own right. 24/7 and 365 days a year, they work to move Houstonians. Not just during a regular work week or for a baseball game, but when it is most needed, during a flood, hurricane, or pandemic.” Ramabhadran will replace Carrin Patman, who is stepping down following her nomination by the Biden Administration to serve as ambassador to Iceland.

    She is METRO’s first woman to serve as board chair, appointed in 2016 by Mayor Sylvester Turner. She previously served as a METRO board member from 2010 to 2013.

    As Chair, Carrin led the successful passage of the $3.5 billion METRONext bond measure. METRONext calls for 500 miles of travel improvements in the region over the next 20 years.

    “I am grateful to Carrin Patman for all she has done in the advancement of providing safe, clean, reliable, accessible, and friendly public transportation services to our region,” said Mayor Turner.

    Patman’s last day as METRO Chair will be Thursday, February 24, 2022.

    Ramabhadran will be the first Indo-American who will serve as METRO’s Chair. Combined with his historic appointment of Patman as the first woman to lead METRO’s board of directors, Mayor Turner said the appointments of two accomplished individuals underscore Houston’s strength as a diverse and inclusive city.  “There is incredible talent in our city. That gives me hope that no matter what challenges we face, we will overcome those challenges if we work together,” Mayor Turner said.

  • Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna’s book on digital age creates buzz

    Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna’s book on digital age creates buzz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A book on the digital age by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, which seeks to democratize the digital revolution in the larger good of humanity and the planet, has been getting rave reviews and accolades from the top American politicians and global economists.

    In his rare foreword to a book, eminent economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen writes that ‘Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us’ by Congressman Khanna offers a graceful picture of the coexistence of disparate ways of living, allowing justice and fairness.

    Sen describes 45-year-old Khanna, a Democratic politician, as an “innovative social thinker”.

    The book, which hit the bookstores early this month, has climbed up the best sellers’ list and has received accolades from the tech industry as well, including Microsoft’s Indian-origin CEO Satya Nadella.

    “Whether we consider the future of America, or of other places, we have reason to be grateful to Ro Khanna,” he writes in the book.

    Former US president Bill Clinton, who rarely comments on others’ books, tweeted that ‘Dignity in a Digital Age’ is full of good ideas for creating opportunities in places across America that have been left out and left behind for too long.

    “We should all work together to make them a reality and spread the benefits of technology to every American,” he wrote in his tweet.

    Khanna, the three-term Congressman from California, writes that the book imagines how the digital economy can create opportunities for people where they live instead of uprooting them.

    It offers a vision for decentralizing digital innovation and wealth generation to build economically vibrant and inclusive communities that are connected to each other, he wrote.

    “We need a development strategy that fosters a nucleus of tech jobs with myriad applications for different industries and local entrepreneurs in thousands of rural and underrepresented communities across our nation.

    “The digital revolution is reshaping our economy and society, but it continues to sideline, exclude, upend, and manipulate too many in the process. My aim is to advance our democratic values by empowering all of us to direct and steer these digital forces,” wrote the Congressman who represents Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives.

  • Battle of Ballot:  Egos apart, it is war of nerves, doles, muscle power and chance

    Battle of Ballot:  Egos apart, it is war of nerves, doles, muscle power and chance

    By Prabhjot Singh

    Every party has been doling out lucrative promises, doles, and appeasements. From debt waivers to special financial assistance to students, women, and unemployed youth, they have been in a neck and neck race in over running their opponents. They all promise to work for overall development of Punjab besides ending “Mafia Raaj” in sand mining, liquor and drugs.

    Leaving nothing to chance, all parties and their candidates are putting their best foot forward to woo Punjabi voters. Still an average voter does not appear to be convinced as his experience has been bitter. Promises were made but not kept. Results on March 10 will reflect his mind.

    They say, “War of Waterloo was won on the playfields of Eton”. Punjab is on war. This battle for political supremacy will be contested at 24,740 polling booths on February 20. Thirteen political parties, including three alliances, represented by 1304 candidates are face to face with each other to see who gets the mandate of 2, 14, 99, 804 electors, including 1,02,00,996 women, for grabbing political reigns of this debt torn border state. The battle of ballot features not only the incumbent Chief Minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, but also three of his predecessors – Parkash Singh Badal, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and CaptAmarinder Singh – besides four  MPs, three sitting  – Sukhbir Singh Badal (Shiromani Akali Dal), Bhagwant Mann (Aam Aadmi Party), Partap Singh Bajwa (Congress)- and  a former- Vijay Sampla (Bharatiya Janata Party). Two of them – Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bhagwant Mann – are also the Chief Ministerial candidates of their respective parties. Charanjit Singh Channi happens to be the Chief Ministerial face of ruling Congress party.

    Five-times Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is the oldest candidate at 94. He is contesting from his home turf, Lambi, on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket.

    All elections are unique. And the ensuing elections to the Punjab Assembly are no different as they may script new chapters of electoral firsts to be followed later by the rest of the country.

    Punjab, credited with pioneering coalition politics, has yet another milestone in the offing as it has three major coalitions in the fray. Besides the newly floated Shiromani Akali Dal- Bahujan Samaj Party (SAD-BJP) alliance, it has the ruling national party Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) continuing with a breakaway group – Sanyukt Shiromani Akali Dal – of one of its oldest partners – Shiromani Akal Dal – besides Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) – a dissident faction of its traditional rival in national politics, the Indian National Congress. No one could even in one’s farthest imagination would have visualized such an electoral understanding.

    Then also in the run for political supremacy is a coalition of different unions of farmers led by the Bharati Kisan Union (Rajewal) Samyukat Samaj Morcha and Samyukat Samaj Party of the Haryana based farmers led by Gurnam Singh. This coalition is projecting Balbir Singh Rajewal as its Chief Ministerial candidate.

    Since last Assembly elections in 2017, two of the major stakeholders – Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress – witnessed strong to mild dissensions. Six months before election, CaptAmarinder Singh, on being removed as Chief Minister, walked out of the party to form his own Punjab Lok Congress. The Shiromani Akali Dal also saw some of its Taksali leaders, including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Sewa Singh Sekhwan, walking out. While Ranjit Singh Brahmpura returned to the party fold to remain a candidate from Khadoor Sahib, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, went ahead with his Sanyukt Akali Dal and entered a poll pact with the BJP and Punjab Lok Congress.

    The main Opposition party – AAP – too witnessed revolts and walkouts as several of its sitting MLAs crossed over to Congress. They include Sukhpal Singh Khaira, now contesting on Congress ticket from Bholath.

    Four Chief Ministers, including the incumbent Charanjit Singh Channi of Congress, the first Dalit Chief Minister of the State, are in the run. Among the remaining is Parkash Singh Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal, who has a rare distinction of ruling the State on five previous occasions. CaptAmarinder Singh, who left Congress after being removed as Chief Minister, six months short of his second term, is banking upon chances of returning to power with support of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Sanyukt Akali Dal. Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who had the distinction of becoming the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab in 1996 for a short term, is contesting against former Punjab Finance Minister and now a part of Sanyukt Akali Dal, Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

    The February 20 polls will also witness three Olympians testing their political acumen. Seeking his third term from Jalandhar Cantonment is Hockey Olympian Pargat Singh. Opposing him is another Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi of AAP. Third Olympian in the contest is cager Sajjan Singh Cheema who is contesting from Sultanpur Lodhi as a candidate of AAP.

    Fourth Olympian, Ajitpal Singh, captain of the 1975 World Cup champion Indian hockey team, could not make it on technical grounds as he was not a registered voter in the State. He was named a candidate by the Punjab Lok Congress from Nakodar.

    Sidhu Moosewala, a folk singer, who mostly remains mired in controversies, is the Congress nominee from Mansa. Opposing him his only medical consultant, Dr Vijay Kumar of AAP.

    Though bureaucrats or civil servants are nothing new for their second innings in politics, the ensuing election will witness some of them, including policemen Kanwar Vijay Partap Singh (Amritsar North – AAP), Iqbal Singh Lalpura (Ropar, BJP), Harmohan Singh Sandhu (Chamkaur Sahib, SAD), SR Ladher (Gill, BJP), Surinder Singh Sodhi (Jalandhar Cantt, AAP), Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantt, Congress), Sajjan Singh Cheema (Sultanpur Lodhi, AAP), Kuldip Singh Vaid (Gill, Congress), Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal (Phagwara, Congress), Jagmohan Singh Raju (Amritsar East, AAP), and Shammi Kumar Kalyan (Nakodar, Punjab Lok Congress).

    Every party has been doling out lucrative promises, doles, and appeasements. From debt waivers to special financial assistance to students, women, and unemployed youth, they have been in a neck and neck race in over running their opponents. They all promise to work for overall development of Punjab besides ending “Mafia Raaj” in sand mining, liquor and drugs.

    Senior party leaders have been campaigning in Punjab. Even after abandoning his last visit to Punjab (Ferozepore) on alleged security lapses, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to travel to the Congress ruled State on February 14, 16 and 18 to address public rallies in each of the three regions of the State. Of late, he has been trying to woo Sikh voters not only by lauding the great contribution of Sikh Gurus but also appreciating the role the Sikh community has played in every sphere of life. He has been meeting Sikh leaders and even Dera chiefs, including Dera Radha Soami, the largest of all. Besides him, several Union Ministers, including Home Minister, Amit Shah, also went out to campaign in Punjab. Amit Shah paid obeisance at Golden temple and held a closed-door meeting with the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht.

    From Congress, Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka, remained the star campaigners. The AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal virtually made Punjab his temporary home for the past couple of weeks. His wife and daughter too joined him in seeking votes for AAP candidates.

    Leaving nothing to chance, all parties and their candidates are putting their best foot forward to woo Punjabi voters. Still an average voter does not appear to be convinced as his experience has been bitter. Promises were made but not kept. Results on March 10 will reflect his mind.

    Contests to watch

    Amritsar North

    Kanwar Vijay Partap Singh (AAP) vs Anil Joshi (SAD)

    Amritsar East

    Navjot Singh Sidhu (Congress) vs Bikramjit Singh Majithia (SAD) vs Jagmohan Singh Raju (AAP)

    Batala

    Ashwani Shekhri (Congress) vs Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa (Bharatiya Janata Party)

    Bholath

    Sukhpal Singh Khaira (Congress) vs Bibi Jagir Kaur (SAD)

    Sultanpur Lodhi

    Navtej Singh Cheema (Congress) vs (Olympian) Sajjan Singh Cheema (AAP)

    Jalandhar Cantt

    (Olympian) Pargat Singh (Congress) vs (Olympian) Surinder Singh Sodhi (AAP) vs Jagbir Singh Brar (SAD)

    Chamkaur Sahib

    Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) vs Harmohan Singh Sandhu (SAD)

     Jalalabad

    Sukhbir Singh Badal (SAD) vs Mohan Singh Phallianwala (Congress)

    Lambi

    Parkash Singh Badal (SAD) vs Jagpal Singh Abulkhurana (Congress) vs Gurmeet Singh Khudian (AAP)

    Bathinda Urban

    Manpreet Singh Badal (Congress) vs Sarup Chand Singla (SAD)

     Mansa

    (Singer) Sidhu Moosewala (Congress) vs Prem Arora (SAD) vs Dr Vijay Singla (AAP)

    Lehragaga

    Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress) vs Gobind Singh Longowal (SAD) vs Parminder Singh Dhindsa (Sanyukt Akali Dal)

    Dirbha

    Harpal Singh Cheema (AAP) vs (Kabaddi player) Gulzar Singh (SAD)

    Bhadaur

    Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) vs Satnam Singh (SAD) vs Labh Singh Ugoke (AAP)

    Dhuri

    Bhagwant Mann (AAP) vs Parkash Chand Garg (SAD) vs Dalbir Singh Goldy (Congress)

    Patiala

    CaptAmarinder Singh (Punjab Lok Congress) vs Harpal Juneja (SAD) vs Vishnu Sharma (Congress)

    Ropar

    Iqbal Singh Lalpura (Bharatiya Janata Party) vs Daljit Singh Cheema (SAD)

    Gill

    SR Ladher (Bharatiya Janata Party) vs Kuldip Singh Vaid (Congress)

     Parties and alliances in the fray

    Party                                       Contesting                    Men                Women

    Congress                                 117                              107                  10

    Aam Aadmi Party                    117                              104                  13

    Alliance 1

    Shiromani Akali Dal                 97                                93                    4

    Bahujan Samaj Party               20                                19                    1

    Alliance 2

    Bharatiya Janata Party            68                                63                    5

    Punjab Lok Congress               34                                32                    2

    Sanyukt Akali Dal                    15                                14                    1

    Alliance 3

    Samyukat Samaj Morcha        107                              103                  4

    Samyukat Samaj Party            10                                10                    0

    Others

    Lok Insaaf Party                      34                                34                    0

    CPI                                           21                                21                    0

    CPI(M)                                     18                                18                    0

    CPI(M-L)                                  11                                11                    0

    Chief Ministerial faces

    Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress)

    Bhagwant Mann (AAP)

    Sukhbir Singh Badal (SAD-BSP)

    Balbir Singh Rajewal (SSM-SSP)

    Sitting and former MPs and their constituencies

    Partap Singh Bajwa (Congress) Qadian

    Sukhbir Singh Badal (SAD)        Jalalabad

    Bhagwant Mann (AAP)               Dhuri

    Vijay Sampla (BJP)                      Phagwara

    (Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered  Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows. For more in-depth analysis please visit probingeye.com  or follow him on Twitter.com/probingeye. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)

     

  • Ukraine  Standoff! Will cooler heads prevail?   

    Ukraine  Standoff! Will cooler heads prevail?   

    By George Abraham

    The current situation has indeed risen out of a crisis of confidence, and both the United States and Russia have contributed their fair share into it.

    The drums of war are beating again! It is at the border between Russia and Ukraine and in the corridors of the power elites in Washington. It is kind of shocking to see the readiness for another war so soon among the Neocons considering the recent debacle in Afghanistan, an epic failure of a global power surrendering to a ragtag army of religious fanatics and running away, leaving thousands of its citizens and supporters stranded in mortal danger. The spectacle from the Kabul airport had brought shame and distress to the civilized world and soweda seed of doubt and skepticism on the role of the United States as a  global leader.

    Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia who may have been emboldened by what he witnessed in Afghanistan, has not hidden his territorial ambitions after the fall of the Soviet Union. Crimea, a territory of Ukraine since 1954, was seized and annexed under his leadership in violation of the international law and order. Putin is described as a man with iron rule at home and a menacing despot for rivals abroad.  Notwithstanding the unrest in the eastern part of Ukraine, there has also been simmering tension between Moscow and Washington on the future of the NATO alliance after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

    NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was created as a defensive alliance to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. In simple terms, the purpose was to contain possible  Soviet aggression against Western Europe. There is no doubt that NATO stood as the main U.S.-led military alliance against the Soviet Union throughout the cold war.

    However, after the Cold War, people worldwide aspired for a peace dividend where the nations would soon focus their attention on socio-economic development and expend their energy and resources to lift millions of people out of poverty. However, instead of disbanding NATO,  it was reconceived as a “cooperative security” organization to foster dialogue and cooperation with former adversaries in the Warsaw pact and manage conflicts in the European theatre. Essentially, nothing much has changed, although there was a window of opportunity to negotiate with Russia for a comprehensive security framework under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, who championed the ‘glasnost’ a policy of openness.

    There is little doubt that the current confrontation was primarily fueled by Russia’s grievance that the West has broken its promises and continued with its NATO expansion. In discussion with James Baker, then-Secretary of State under George H W. Bush, Putin claims that NATO would not expand to the east if Russia accepted German unification. In March 1991, John Major, a former British PM, was asked by Soviet Defense Minister Marshal Dmitry Yazov about eastern Europe’s interest in joining NATO. According to press reports, he was assured: “nothing of that sort will ever have to happen.” In 1993, Boris Yeltsin wrote to President Bill Clinton, arguing that further expansion of NATO eastwards breached the spirit of the 1990 treaty.

    However, NATO has added 14 new members since German unification and continued its expansion towards the east, reaching Baltic republics’ borders. It is incredible to note that Moscow at one point was even angling to join NATO but was thwarted by the United States arguing of possible incompatibilities. Potentially, with its enormous nuclear arsenal, Russia can be termed a threat to the peace and security of Europe and the rest of the world. However, the United States truly missed an excellent opportunity to bring Russia to the European orbit of friendly nations and diffuse tensions. It is to be noted that despite the land area it covers or the military prowess it possesses, Russia’s gross domestic product amounts to 1.3 trillion. At the same time, the state of Texas’ comes about 1.7 trillion dollars. That means TEXAN’s per capita income of $59000 is almost seven times greater than that of a Russian.

    The current situation has indeed risen out of a crisis of confidence, and both the United States and Russia have contributed their fair share into it. It was alleged by sources close to the Kremlin that the foreign powers have had a hand in the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych, who was sympathetic to Russia,  although, in reality, the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove him from office. It is to be noted that under strong pressure from Russia, Yanukovych rejected a trade association agreement with the European Union. According to CIA reports, while the riots and unrest might have driven him out, Russia’s anxiety may have increased that a pro-western government might make a move to NATO or against the Black Sea fleet. Undoubtedly, Putin would like to see the former soviet state under his control.

    However, many of the bureaucrats in Washington, who are the true architects of several infamous wars, think alike and continue to promote this notion of a ‘permanent enemy’ that would serve their interests. At this point in time, Russia fits that bill perfectly, and to many, the cold war has never ended. They are part of the elite society, mostly come with Ivy League credentials and live in their multi-million abodes in Washington suburbs. Most of them might not have served a single day in the United States armed forces, and some of the older ones might even have gotten away with waivers during the time of the draft. At the end of the day, it is either those boys from the Midwest who believe that it is their duty to serve their country and honor its flag or the poor black and Latino kids who are hoping to build a better life after completing their service in the Military are the ones who fall prey to these odious designs of the so-called establishment.

    Making war has become their primary business for many bureaucrats who are part of this military-industrial complex. President Dwight Eisenhower once gave the nation a dire warning. “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” He called the military-industrial complex a formidable union of vested interests and a threat to democratic government. Today, China poses the most significant strategic threat to the United States. In terms of people’s access to political rights and civil liberties China ranks below Russia in the annual Freedom House report. Under President Xi Jinping, Beijing has become more aggressive and nationalistic. It has cracked down on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong, interned more than a million Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang and stepped-up threats of military force to seize a democratic Taiwan. It is building up its military and  increasing its presence in the disputed waters of South China sea threatening neighbors and constantly creating border tensions with India with incursions and occupation. However, for some strange reasons, the same Washington establishment treats China with Kid gloves!

    The Trade deficit with China has widened 14.5% from the previous year to reach close to 355.3 billion in 2021.America’s gross national debt has ballooned over 30 trillion dollars as the country borrows and lives beyond its means. Once China overtakes the United States as the world’s largest economy, the position of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency will not only be threatened but the impulsive use of the ‘sanction regime’ driven by vested interests in Washington will also be rendered toothless. The current policies by Washington are not only emboldening China but  also encouraging Russia into a stronger Sino-Russian alliance.

    It is not too late to reach an understanding with Russia and to stop provocative actions on both sides, like the potential NATO membership for Ukraine and the troop buildup on its eastern border. The United States will never tolerate Mexico being part of Russia’s sphere of influence or nuclear-tipped missiles stationed closer to the U.S. soil. The world has witnessed the inherent danger of such adventurism during the Cuban missile crisis. For thirteen days in October 1962, the world waited on the brink of nuclear war and prayed for a peaceful resolution. Once again, it is time for cooler heads to prevail!

    ( The author is a former Chief Technology Officer at the United Nations and the Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA. He can be reached at gta777@gmail.com)

     

  • Weekly Forecast-February 21to  February27,  2022

    Weekly Forecast-February 21to  February27,  2022

    By Chirag Bejan Daruwalla

    Aries

    Ganesha says,  this weekfriendship will rule your days. You’ll be delighted to meet such wonderful people. This week, take some time to examine your job possibilities. You may receive a fantastic solution that is appropriate for you. This week you will interact with others in a calm manner. You could be envious of folks who have accomplished so much in their life this week. Ignore them and go about your business. This week, your relationship friends will bloom. you will be delighted to see some good changes in your partner’s behavior. If you are already married, your spouse will spend more time in attending your grievances this week. Your Children’s Health needs to be examined this week. Dear Aries, overall, you will have a very balanced week.

    Taurus

    This week is going to be a really exciting week for you. You’ll have a good time with your buddies. For the most part, excellent possibilities are identified. Any substantial financial transaction should be signed this week. This week, you and a business partner may have a significant quarrel about a little problem in the middle of the week. Don’t be concerned; the scenario will not persist much longer. As suggested by the absence of Venus in your 7th house, your romantic friends will suffer a little. You will be getting anxious over minor things and this will create few troubles in your relationship. Try to keep your mind calm and do not take any big decision. Minor ailment issues will be solved in the latter half of the week.

    Gemini

    This week, be prepared to learn something new and valuable. Keep an open mind. You might receive a significant sum of money this week with little work on your part. This week, you’ll be spending time with youngsters, which will awaken your inner kid. Because of your communication talents, you can find yourself in a theatrical situation. This week, work on your communication skills and avoid interfering in other people’s affairs. You are more likely to get eligible to take a loan and this will boost the process of your project this week. Your relationship fronts will stay stable this week. Your partner will be all ears to your problems throughout the week. Your health will not go through any issues throughout the week.

    Cancer

    This week, you’ll be bursting with enthusiasm and vitality. This week, you’ll be undertaking things that are both enjoyable and frolicsome. You will savor the pleasures of household coziness. This week, you’ll uncover solutions to your money problems. People will also offer your assistance. In the midst of the week, you will be antsy. To prevent the emptiness in your life, spend time with your friends and keep yourself cheerful. Your relationship fronts will need a little bit of attention this week. Following your parents’ advice will help you manage your relationship better. Your health will be alright just keeping your sugar level in check will help you.

    Leo

    This week, your parents will provide you with appropriate assistance. On the job front, some sort of good news is conceivable. This week, you’ll earn profits in estate and land-related topics. In their projects, students will get exceptional achievements. People will criticize you in the middle of the week to make you feel bad. Boost your self-esteem and achieve everything you set your mind to. It’s suggested by the presence of Jupiter in your 10th house, your finances will be well managed and will be able to complete lots of resourceful work this week. Your partner and you will plan an outing for the weekend but, avoid going to farther places as malicious effect of Mars will hover over your love life in the latter half of the week. Health will be alright hence you do not need to worry.

    Virgo

    This week, you could get some fantastic moments. Events are unfolding in your favor, and this will add a glimmer to your everyday routine. You’ll give it you’re all in all you accomplish. By the end of the week, you may have a new source of money. It’s possible that you’ll encounter transportation issues. Maintain a backup plan to avoid being late for projects.Someone proving to be a very compatible partner for you will enter your life this week. Initially, your parents we’ll try to keep you away in order to save you from being hurt emotionally but, you will surely find your way around. You might have to go through minor back pain or joint aches in the latter half of the week. Taking physiotherapy will help.

    Libra

    You’ll spend the week relaxing and getting some rest. This week will see the completion of ongoing projects. Financial clarity will be achieved. Others will respect you as a result of your efforts. You may be upset by someone since the Moon will misalign the peacefulness of your thinking in the middle of the week. Keep your calm since you’ll be moving in separate directions and it’ll pass quickly. Uncalm mind will have a negative effect on your relationship and hence your romantic fronts will suffer a little bit. You will need to give more reassurances to your partner as their doubts will need clarifications. Your health will be alright in terms of your body but your mental will have to be kept in check.

    Scorpio

    You will recover from your missteps this week. There’s a chance you’ll be given a significant assignment this week. You will be reimbursed for the money you loaned. Take care of the crucial things this week. You’ll be really adept at handling things this week. Because Jupiter will not coincide with other celestial planets in your zodiac, you may feel compelled to step outside of your comfort zone, or you may continue to overthink and feel down. You must strive to become a better version of yourself. Your partner will try to change certain habits of yours and this will anger you a little bit but following their advice will help you a lot. Your relationship will get more about improving each other that rather than being self-centered that you were. Your blood pressure issues will need minor attention.

    Sagittarius

    You’ll be in a good mood this week. You’ll be preoccupied with household activities, which will bring you closer to your family. You will be greeted with cheerful gossip. You will have a fantastic evening. Your colleagues will also deliver you some good news. You may feel awful about your behavior in the second half of the week. What has been done cannot be undone, but you can ensure that it does not happen again. People who are married will look for new house or a new property to get settled into. If you are in a relationship against your parents will, this week will bring sorting differences between your partner and you but tackling your problems together will make things better by the end of the week. Your health will need attention as you will suffer from stomach related issues as a result of your carelessness.

    Capricorn

    This week, you’ll be laser focused. You’ll set priorities and schedules for everything. You and your companion will have a fantastic time. This is an excellent week to invest in real estate in particular. You will set your ego aside and accept responsibility for your faults. Accepting your flaws will not make you any less of a person; rather, it will earn you a lot of respect for your honesty. It is an excellent week to find your soul mate. The person you meet will be very good at heart but we lack expression. You will not be able to realize their worth soon but, universe will show you positive signs about this person by the end of the week. Dental issues will bother you this week hence you must keep yourself away from cold drinks.

    Aquarius

    This week would be ideal for you to spend in alone. Self-time will help you gain confidence and cleanse your thoughts so you can plan for the future. This week, you might even be able to take a small road trip. Don’t make assumptions or put yourself under unnecessary stress. You must confront issues head-on while being stress-free. You will become more of a money minded person this week. Aquarians looking for a partner will find Taurus and Gemini as one of their most compatible matches this week. As Mars will bring negative effects on your Zodiac, you are more likely to suffer in terms of your health in the latter half of the week. Following home remedies and more consumption of turmeric will help you ease up your health issues.

    Pisces

    You will have the week you have been anticipating. Your week is going to be full of surprises. You will be thankful for the presence of your loved ones. This week will be a triumph at work, and you will reach the objective you set. You should not get overly sensitive to matters that do not affect you. People may be trying to get you to fall, but you should not fall for their bait. Although you are a very spiritual person you have run  far away from divinity since long. This week you will meet someone who will try to bring you closer to God and will help you retain your faith in the divine self. As suggested by the planetary transitions in the 7th House of your Zodiac, this will be a really good week to plan out marriages and engagements. Health of elderly people in the house will need attention throughout the week.

  • Birthday Horoscope-February 21 to February 27, 2022

    Birthday Horoscope-February 21 to February 27, 2022

    Shree Ganeshaya Namah!!

    By Astro Friend Chirag – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla

    February 21

    Ganesha says your day will be full of joy and laughter. You’ll spend today jumping and skipping as a lot of physical activity will be done by you today, which is a great thing. Your mental health and your financial stability are both at peace today. Make sure your love, care, time and attention are directed towards someone who is absolutelyworthy of your attention before moving forward. A lot of success in terms of finances and fame and great health is on your way today.

    February 22

    Ganesha says you will make financial gains today, so you may think of investing in the property soon. You may have to participate in group activities that may keep you occupied in the first half of the day. This is a favorable day for those who have been trying hard for a long time to be a perfectionist at work. You may have to travel to meet new clients or collect payment. All your hard work and efforts may get paid off. You may get a promotion or client appreciation.

    February 23

    Ganesha says this is a favorable day. Your efforts to make everyone happy on the family front may be paid off. You may have to help someone in the family, so be available.Your friendly and caring nature may impress your partner. Your colleagues may not agree with you and there are chances of an ego clash. If you are making presentations or attending business meetings, you may not be able to impress clients and colleagues with your ideas. This day may bring new opportunities for you. This is a favorable time to take your relationship to the next level and think about tying a knot.

    February 24

    Ganesha says this is a good day in so many aspects. You may be more concerned about increasing your knowledge and learning new things to take your career graph to the highest level. You may get selected in prestigious institutes or colleges to pursue higher studies. You may get success today. Your excellent health and adventurous mindset may compel you to find new ways to have fun. Today your property deal may fetch a great amount. You may inspire family members or friends to come together to solve an important matter on the home front.

    February 25

    Ganesha says today is going to be a fruitful day. Your perfect way to complete work and attention to detail may get your rewards or appreciation from seniors at work. You may get new responsibilities on the professional front. You will have a day full of love and surprises today. You will receive a lot of attention from your favorite people that will have you feeling like you’re on cloud nine today, if that wasn’t enough, you’re very likely to make a profit from a new prospect that you worked with even though your business partner was against it.

    February 26

    Ganesha says your day will start with lots of positivity. You may get some good news from your family member today. You may get appreciated at work today. The day seems to be wonderful and brings so many good opportunities for you today. Your partner may give you all the required attention and they may try to understand your point of view, things may go smoothly. You may surprise your partner with lots of beautiful gifts. You and your partner may spend some quality time with each other, which will help you both understand each other.

    February 27

    Ganesha says this is going to be a lucky day for you. All your obstacles or hurdles may vanish on the love front and you are going to enjoy harmony and peace on the domestic front. If you have been exploring the property market to find the home of their dream, you may get good and budget deals. You will be more expressive to your partner today. If you are looking for a suitable marriage proposal, then you may find someone of your liking. Your outing with friends or close ones may be amazing as the destination turns out to be amazing. You may plan to invest in a new property and the day is favorable for obtaining a loan for the same.

  • US sprint great Justin Gatlin retires

    US sprinting great Justin Gatlin on Thursday, Feb 10,  announced his retirement, hence drawing curtains to what was a career tinged by doping controversies. The 40-year-old sprinter, who had clinched the Olympic gold in 2004 Athens Games in 100m, announced his retirement in a post on Instagram titled “Dear Track.”

    “I have loved you track. You gave me tears of sadness and of joy, lessons learned that will never be forgotten,” Gatlin wrote.

    “The torch is passed but the love will never fade. On your mark, get set … Gone!”

    Gatlin’s retirement was on the cards after his failure to make the Tokyo Olympics last summer following a hamstring injury at the US trials.

    Gatlin’s career triumphs include, a 100m and 200m sprint double at the Worlds in Helsinki in 2005, and a 100m gold at the 2017 Worlds in London, where he had managed a rare victory over Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, en route.

    He was also part of the USA’s gold-medal winning 4x100m relay team at the Doha World Championships in 2019.

    However, the veteran sprinter has twice been suspended for doping offenses, the first one happening back in 2001 following the use of Adderall, which contains amphetamine. Gatlin claimed that he had been using the same since childhood to treat attention deficit disorder and the US arbitration panel ruled him a “certainly not a doper.”

  • Have set myself an 18-month target to play for Sr India, says U-19 World Champion skipper Yash Dhull

    Yash Dhull has lost count of the number of flights he has taken in the past 48 hours. He had spent the previous day in Ahmedabad where the entire team was felicitated following a tiring journey in which the squad had to take as many as four flights to reach India from the Caribbean. Having lived out of suitcase for the past two months, which could potentially be life-changing, when Dhull finally met his parents, it was just a mere 30 minutes of reunion for the sleep-deprived captain of the World Cup winning India U-19 team.

    Dhull arrived in Delhi early morning and went straight to his alma mater Bal Bhavan in West Delhi to meet the people who played a big role in him becoming the cricketer he has become.

    Two hours later, he had a flight to catch and next destination was Guwahati, where he is set to make his Ranji debut for Delhi next week. So between the school visit and ride back to the airport, Dhull got just enough time to go home for a shower.

    He has no time to rest as the real journey into the men’s world started with the flight that he took to Guwahati to join the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad.

    Having hardly slept since lifting that trophy in Antigua last week, Dhull has no complaints though. He knows it is only the start of his life as a professional cricketer.

    “I have hardly slept the last few days but it is not something I can complain about. What I have done till now is done, I need to focus on what lies in the immediate future,” Dhull told PTI referring to his Ranji Trophy call-up.

    Most of the World Cup winning squad members won’t go on and play for India but Dhull showed in the Caribbean that he could move up the ladder and play at the highest level. He has set himself an 18-month target to play for India.

    “That is my target but If I am not able to do that in the 18 month time frame, I will keep working hard till I attain my goal,” said the soft-spoken cricketer.

    The 19-year-old is third captain from Delhi to win the title after Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand, who both had contrasting career graphs post their exploits in the U-19 Word Cup. He is inspired by Kohli and his achievements but there is also the story of Chand, who succumbed to pressure of expectations he set with his performance in the 2012 edition.    Source: PTI

  • Ajinkya Rahane takes dig at ‘someone’ for taking credit for Aussie tour win

    New Delhi (TIP)-A central figure in India’s epic turnaround during the 2020-21 tour of Australia, stand-in captain of that series Ajinkya Rahane says “someone else took the credit” for decisions he made to resurrect the team after the nightmarish 36 all out in the first Test in Adelaide. As regular captain Virat Kohli flew out on parental leave, leaving in his wake the disappointment of the humiliating loss in the series-opener in Adelaide, Rahane took over the reins in difficult circumstances.

    What followed was one of the most incredible turnarounds in sport as India rebounded to win the second match in Melbourne by eight wickets, with Rahane leading the comeback with a magnificent hundred. “I know what I’ve done there. I don’t need to tell anyone. That’s not my nature to go and take credit. Yes, there were some things that I took the decisions on the field or in the dressing room but someone else took the credit for it,” Rahane said in a TV interview.

    Rahane did not take any names but his comments could well be a veiled attack on then head coach Ravi Shastri, who was widely acclaimed for the team’s performance and dominated the media space for being the architect of the turnaround, given that the dressing room resembled a hospital ward at one point. In fact, Shastri became the voice of the team after that brilliant victory, and the one in Brisbane.

    India missed three frontline players in Melbourne and continued to lose key players but still emerged triumphant at the end. “After that, the reactions from people or those who took credit or what was said on the media, ‘I did this’ or ‘this was my decision’, or ‘this was my call’, it was for them to talk about,” Rahane said.

    Shikhar Dhawan returns to add to firepower

    Ahmedabad: The returning Shikhar Dhawan will add more firepower to a ruthless India, who are faced with the problem of plenty as they eye a clean sweep of West Indies in an inconsequential third ODI.

    The hosts head into the final match of the ODI series after having ticked almost all the boxes in the first two, which they won comfortably.

    Senior opener Dhawan was among the four players, including a reserve bowler, who had tested positive for Covid just four days before the start of the ODI series. But now that the southpaw is back, India could be forced to make a few changes to their winning combination.

    In his absence, the team management had opened with Ishan Kishan in the first game and the flamboyant Rishabh Pant in the second. This means that vice-captain KL Rahul would continue to bat in the middle-order along with Virat Kohli, whose search for his 71st international hundred continues. Pant will go back to the middle-order with Suryakumar Yadav, who is likely to retain his place after emerging as the team’s highest scorer in the second match.            Source: PTI

  • Kollam: Gateway to the backwaters of Kerala

    Kollam: Gateway to the backwaters of Kerala

    A treasure trove of natural wonders and historical edifices, Kollam is an enchanting town with backwaters and picturesque landscapes. Located 70kms away from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Kollam is a commercial centre and home to India’s cashew producing industry. Popularly known as Quilon, it is often regarded as the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala.

    It sits on the bank of the Ashtamudi Lake, hence, cruising along the Alappuzha route is one of the main highlights of the region. With a history dating back to the 9th century, Kollam was a prominent spice trading centre. It is one of the oldest ports in the Arabian Sea that lies on the southwest coast which was frequented by iconic merchants, missionaries and explorers including Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, Vasco da Gama, Henrique Henriques and many more. Venture the lesser-known path, and this beautiful city on India’s Malabar Coast is sure to enchant you.

    Places To Visit- Thevalli Palace

    A place of great historic importance, Thevally Palace is situated on the banks of Ashtamude Lake. Once served as the home of Maharaja of Travancore, it was constructed under the rule of Gauri Parvathi Bai between 1800 and 1819. The striking feature about the palace is that it presents an intriguing fusion of Dutch, English and Portuguese style of architecture.

    Amritapuri

    Ashram of Amritapuri has been constructed at the same place where Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi was born. People from all over the world, flock in to seek the blessings of Amma. The people residing in the ashram and all the disciplines of Amma have given up their life in the salvation of God and making the world a better place to live in. Amma makes sure to listen to each and every child who comes to her ‘darshan’ and solve each of their problems with an effective solution.

    Looking at Amritapuri, one can relive the ancient saying of ‘the entire world is one family’. It is a collection of people from different cultures, speaking different languages and following different religions. Diverse people from different environments live together under a single roof in search of a meaningful life.

    Amritapuri Ashram is a small village remotely located on a small island which is surrounded by the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. It has now become a famous location for people seeking spirituality and inner peace. The Ashram is home to the international disciplines as well, almost 3000 of them.

    Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Park

    Lying at a distance of just 2 km from kollam town is Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Park which is quite popular as a picnic spot among locals and tourists. The park was introduced in year 1961 and offers an ideal location for mindless strolling along the shore.

    Jatayu Earth’s Centre

    Jatayu Nature Park is a rock-themed park which got opened on November 25, 2017. Built to promote mythology and adventure tourism, the tourism centre boasts of 6D theatre, a digital audio-visual room, cable car and ayurvedic cave resort. It is also home to umpteen adventure activities including paintball, laser tag, archery, bouldering, rock climbing, air-rifle shooting etc. The primary attraction of the park, however, is the world’s largest stone-cut bird sculpture replicating Jatayu, the mythical bird from Ramayana.

    Punalur

    Punalur, lying along the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the district of Kollam, derives its name from two words one Tamil and one Malayalam. Tamil word ‘punal’ means water and Malayalam word ‘ooru’ means place together making Punalur the place of water. Indeed Kallada flows right through the heart of the city with the famous suspension bridge hanging over it, stretching for 400 metres across its width. Panalur is known as “Pepper Village of Kerala” and is also houses a major Paper Mill established in 1850’s.

    Palaruvi Waterfalls

    Palaruvi Falls, cascading downstream from the height of 300 ft, is one of the prime attractions in Kutrallam or as some call it Courtallam, Tamil Nadu. Owing to its height; it is the 32nd highest fall in our country. The name Palaruvi means ‘Stream of Milk’ in the regional language. Ironically it seems to be a glittering stream of milk as it flows down. Hence, the beauty of this fall stands unimaginable till witnessed with own eyes. The roaring sounds of the fall stand in stark contrast to the silence of the forests and mist-kissed mountains around it.

    Mayyanad

    A hub of many popular shrines for Hindus and Muslims, Mayyanad is situated about 10 km from Kollam town. The major attraction of the place being Lord Subramaniam Temple, one can also visit an old mosque and several old churches in the area. However, the temple is said to be blessed by Shri Shankaracharya of Kalladi.

    Ashtamudi Lake

    The second largest lake in Kerala, Ashtamudi Lake is situated in the Kollam district. The lake runs over a length of 16 kilometres and covers almost 30% of the town of Kollam. Its name, Ashtamudi has been derived from two words ‘Ashta’ meaning eight and ‘Mudi’ meaning branch, thereby stating the fact that lake has eight branches. All the eight branches converge into a single channel that meets with the Arabian Sea. The lake is fed by the major river, Kallada. Coconut trees and palms surround the entire vicinity of the lake adding to its beauty.

  • Magha Purnima

    Magha Purnima

    Magha Purnima is an important day for Hindus that falls on the ‘purnima’ (full moon day) in the month of ‘Magha’ in the traditional Hindu calendar. This date roughly corresponds to the months of January-February in the Gregorian calendar. This year, it falls on Wednesday, 16 February.

    Magha Purnima is also popularly known as ‘Maghi Purnima’ or ‘Maha Maghi’ and is the last and most important day of the Magha Maas. In the Hindu legends Purnima is known to be an important day for performing religious and spiritual rituals, and of these the Magha Purnima is one of the most auspicious.

    On this day Hindu devotees in thousands perform the ritualistic bath at the Triveni Sangam in Prayag. During this time the famous ‘Kumbha Mela’ and ‘Magha Mela’ is also held in which devotees flock from each and every corner of the country. Even in southern states of India like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and gaiety. In Tamil Nadu on this day the spectacular ‘float’ festival is held wherein beautifully decorated idols of Meenakshi and Lord Sundeshwara are mounted on floats. Magha Purnima also holds special significance for followers of Buddhism as it is believed that Gautama Buddha pronounced his impending death on the same day.

    Rituals during Magha Purnima

    –              On the day of Magha Purnima, devotees must get up early and take a holy dip in any water body, before sunrise. For those who cannot take a dip in the river, can take bath at home by mixing Gangajal in water.

    –              After the ritualistic bath, devotees begin to make preparations for the puja. On this day, they worship Lord Vishnu and Hanuman Ji. Also along with the ‘Ishta Devatas’, the day of Magha Purnima is also dedicated to worshipping Goddess Parvati and Lord Brihaspati’ (as Brihaspati is the God of Magha Nakshatram).

    –              Devotees perform the Satyanarayana Puja with full devotion and also recite the Satyanarayana Katha. The idol of the lord is worshipped with banana leaves, sandalwood paste, til, supari, moli and fruits. In the most of Lord Vishnu’s temples across India, special arrangements for this puja are made. Hence people also visit the temples in the evening.

    –              Fasting on the day of Magha Purnima is also considered to be rewarding. The observer of this vrat, fasts during the day and eats only after offering ‘ardhya’ to the moon in the evening. Only Single meal is allowed in a day.

    –              Making donations in the form of clothes, food, cereals, ghee, jaggery and fruits is highly beneficial. Donations can be any form and should be made to Brahmins and those in need. In the Hindu scriptures, it is believed to be very auspicious to donate ‘til’ (sesame seeds) in the entire month of Magha.

    –              In some regions ancestor rituals are also held on Magha Purnima. Devotees offer tarpan for the peace f the deceased souls.

    Significance of Magha Purnima

    The importance of Magha Purnima is mentioned in Brahma Vaivarta Purana. According to the Hindu mythology, on this sacred day, Lord Vishnu resides in the River Ganga and therefore it is strongly believed that by mere touching the holy water of River Ganga, devotees can attain salvation. Taking a holistic bath in the sacred rivers like Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna on Magha Purnima is very beneficial. By piously observing the Magha Purnima vrat devotees can gain freedom from their sins and also acquire purity and peace of mind. Doing charity on Magha Purnima gives same benefits as observing Maha Yagyas.

    Besides, religious significance, the day of Magha Purnima is also holds importance in the science of astrology. It is held that on this day Sun enters into the Capricorn Sign and Moon moves in the Cancer constellation. Hence it is believed that taking a holy dip on Magha Purnima can put an end to all the problems correlated with Sun and Moon. The month of Magha is also beneficial from scientific point of view. It is believed that this month helps the human body to adjust with the changing seasons. Therefore taking a bath on Magha Purnima will provide strength and power to the body.

    Magh Purnima Vrat Katha

    According to a legend, a poor Brahman named Dhaneshwar lived in a village called Kantika. He sought alms and thus took care of his wife. He was married for many years but remained childless. People in the neighbourhood mocked Dhaneshwar’s wife and taunted her for not bearing a child. Once, a Yogi asked Dhaneshwar and his wife to pray to Goddess Kali for 16 consecutive days.

    Dhaneshwar and his spouse worshipped the Goddess and got blessed by her on the 16th day. The Goddess appeared and asked them to light lamps and observe vrat on 32 Purnima Tithis.

    After thirty-two Purnima Tithis, Dhaneshwar’s wife, conceived and gave birth to a son. The child was named Devidas.

    Dhaneshwar and his wife’s happiness knew no bounds. Days, weeks, months and years passed. On Devidas’s sixteenth year, Dhaneshwar and his wife sent him to Kashi with his maternal uncle. When the two were on their way to Kashi, circumstances compelled Devidas’ uncle to get his nephew married to a girl. A few days later, the God of death arrived to take Devidas along with him, but he couldn’t succeed in his mission because the latter’s parents had observed the Purnima Vrat.

    Furthermore, Dhaneshwar and his wife reaped the benefits of keeping the Purnima Vrat for thirty-two consecutive times in the past. As a result of their devotion, they could guard their child against death and sufferings.

  • Healthy food swaps that will help manage blood sugar, diabetes

    People with prediabetes or diabetes need to be extremely careful with her eating habits. As such, sometimes it can get tricky to ascertain which foods and drinks make for the best choices. But worry not, here are 10 picks by Dr Ganesh Kadhe, associate director, nutrition medical and scientific affairs, Abbott, that will ensure that your blood sugar levels are always maintained.

    Beans (of any kind)

    Lentils, kidney, black or chickpea beans are low glycemic index foods. It means that their carbohydrates are gradually released, and hence they’re less likely to cause blood sugar spikes. They’re so beneficial that a recent study found that eating a daily cup of beans for three months as part of a low-glycemic diet lowered (hemoglobin A1c) HbA1c level by half a percentage point.

    Apples

    You might think there’s no room for fruits in a diabetic meal plan, but apples are also low glycemic. Aiming for foods that are low or medium on the glycemic index is one way to manage blood sugar levels. Eating an apple a day has its benefits – they are high in fibre, vitamin C and fat-free! Not to mention a portable and easy snack option.

    Almonds

    These crunchy nuts are rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps the body use its own insulin more effectively. Try adding more almonds into your diet to have your daily dose of this blood sugar-balancing mineral. Plus, almonds are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, and fibre, which makes them a great way to help manage blood glucose levels.

    Spinach

    This leafy green vegetable has just 21 calories per cooked cup and is filled with blood sugar-friendly magnesium and fibre. Additionally, you can enjoy spinach raw, sautéed with olive oil, in your favourite palak paneer or even blended, making it a versatile choice!

    Chia seeds

    Losing or managing weight is one of the best things you can do to improve your blood sugar. Chia seeds can help with that. In one study, people with diabetes who added about an ounce of chia seeds to a calorie-controlled diet for six months shed four pounds and trimmed an inch-and-a-half from their waistlines. Aside from being packed with fibre, these gems also contain protein and provide 18 per cent of your recommended daily intake of calcium.

    Blueberries

    Blueberries contain compounds that have been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease and improve how the body uses insulin. One study showed that eating the equivalent of about 2 cups of blueberries daily improved insulin sensitivity in overweight people with insulin resistance. They’re also a great source of fibre and other nutrients such as vitamin C and antioxidants.

                    Source: The Indian Express

  • New HIV variant more contagious, doubles rate of immune system decline

    The newly-detected HIV variant from the Netherlands is more transmissible and damaging, according to research.

    The study, led by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute, showed that people living with the newly revealed subtype-B of HIV experience double the rate of immune system decline (CD4 count).

    They have higher viral loads (amount of virus in the blood) and are also vulnerable to developing AIDS two to three times faster after diagnosis than if they were living with other strains of the virus.

    The study also revealed that the variant has been circulating in the Netherlands for years and remains receptive to HIV treatment.

    While the newly identified variant does not represent a major public health threat, it “underscores the urgency of speeding up efforts to halt the HIV pandemic”, the UNAIDS said in a statement The HIV pandemic continues to take a life every minute and scientists have long worried about the evolution of new, more transmissible, variants of HIV.

    “Ten million people living with HIV worldwide are not yet on treatment, fuelling the continued spread of the virus and potential for further variants,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, in the statement.

    Murphy also called for urgent “need to deploy cutting-edge medical innovations in ways that reach the communities most in need”.

    “Whether it’s HIV treatment or Covid-19 vaccines, inequalities in access are perpetuating pandemics in ways that harm us all,” Murphy added.

    With an estimated 79 million people infected, HIV remains the deadliest pandemic of our time, the UNAIDS said.

    It still has no vaccine or cure. The treatment is only antiretroviral therapy, which keeps them alive and well and prevents transmission of the virus.

    But the Covid pandemic has affected the treatment, leading to the death of some 36 million people from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the pandemic.

    About 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2020. Of the 38 million people living with HIV today, 28 million are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy.       Source: IANS

  • Sleeping more reduces calorie intake

    Fitness enthusiasts and those dealing with obesity try out every possible weight loss method under the Sun to get the desired results. But what if one’s sleep can do the trick just as good? Now, a new study on how getting sufficient sleep affects caloric intake in a real-world setting attempted to change how we think about weight loss.

    The study was published in ‘JAMA Internal Medicine’.

    Understanding the underlying causes of obesity and how to prevent it is the best way to fight the obesity epidemic, according to Esra Tasali, MD, Director of the UChicago Sleep Center at the University of Chicago Medicine. “The current obesity epidemic, according to experts, is mostly explained by an increase in caloric intake, rather than lack of exercise,” she said.

    In a randomized clinical trial with 80 adults, Tasali and her colleagues at UChicago and the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that young, overweight adults who habitually slept fewer than 6.5 hours a night were able to increase their sleep duration by an average of 1.2 hours per night after a personalized sleep hygiene counselling session. The sleep intervention was intended to extend time in bed duration to 8.5 hours — and the increased sleep duration compared to controls also reduced participants’ overall caloric intake by an average of 270 kcal (calories) per day.

    “Over the years, we and others have shown that sleep restriction has an effect on appetite regulation that leads to increased food intake, and thus puts you at risk for weight gain over time,” said Tasali. “More recently, the question that everyone was asking was, ‘Well, if this is what happens with sleep loss, can we extend sleep and reverse some of these adverse outcomes?”

                    Source: ANI

  • Chocolate Barbeque Chicken wings

    Ingredients

    –              12-15 no Chicken wings

    –              Salt to taste,       1 tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder/ paprika

    –              Oil for frying

    For Chocolate Barbeque Sauce

    –              1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ cup gms semisweet chocolate, chopped

    –              1 1/2 cups ketchup, 1/3 cup packed brown sugar

    –              2 tbsp. honey, 2 tbsp. vinegar, 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

    –              2 tsp. dry mustard, 2 tsp. chili powder

    –              2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. ground black pepper

    –              1/2 tsp. ground coriander

    Method

    –              Apply garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper powder and salt to the chicken wings for 2 hours.

    –              Coat marinated wings in refined flour then dip in egg wash and finally coat with breadcrumbs.

    –              Deep fry them into hot oil until crisp and golden in color. -To make sauce mix everything in sauce pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Coat cooked chicken wings with the sauce and serve immediately with celery sticks

    Cabbage Cutlet

    Ingredients

    2 Cups Grated cabbage3 tbsp Chopped coriander1 tsp Chopped garlic1 Onion (Finely Chopped)1 tsp Chaat masala3/4 tsp Red chilli powder3/4 tsp Cumin Seeds1 tsp Salt1/4 tsp Pepper powder1 tsp Corn flour7 tbsp Sooji

    Method

    –              Wash and strain the grated cabbage, add the chopped coriander, onion and garlic. Mix it well.

    –              Next, add all the masalas – chaat masala, red chilli powder, cumin seeds, salt and pepper powder.

    –              Add the corn flour and half of the sooji at first, mix it well. Then gradually add the rest. Combine the mixture well and let it rest for at least 10 minutes.

    –              Make round-shaped cutlets and shallow fry them till both sides are golden brown.

    –              The cabbage cutlet is ready!

  • Try natural exfoliants from your kitchen

    You may be surprised to learn about a super-affordable and effective DIY exfoliant that you probably already have in your kitchen.

    Honey

     A healthy and sweet addition to your skin care routine, unprocessed honey is a superb antiseptic. This is because it has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral benefits. Loaded with antioxidants, honey helps in protecting and repairing the skin, by reducing skin inflammation too. Mix it in your hydrating facial scrub and it acts as a great moisturiser too.

    Yogurt

    An excellent staple food in your kitchen and healthy diet regimen, yogurt is full of lactic acid, which contains alpha hydroxyl acid (an acid present in prescription skin care treatments). Combine it with milk, and yogurt works as an excellent skin-smoothening exfoliant. All you have to do is apply yogurt on any part of your body, let it stay for 20 minutes and then rinse.

    Baking soda

    A must-use in baking and odor control procedures, baking soda is used extensively in high-end spa treatments. Now they may not leak it to you, but baking soda is used extensively in microdermabrasion treatments, which contains sodium bicarbonate. However, do note that the amount of baking soda you should be using on your skin should be quite moderate, as sensitive or mature skin can suffer from its harsh effects. Best would be to add a pinch of it to your facial cleanser in the morning and enjoy a spa-worthy treatment at home.

    Ground fruit seeds and nuts

    Go for blackberry seeds or raspberry or ground almonds mixture and exfoliate your skin with these easily available ingredients. These ingredients help in removing dead cells, when massaged onto the skin in a smooth, circular motion. Avoid using sharp edged ingredients. Infact, make a puree of the nuts, almonds and readily available fruit seeds and then apply them to your skin for a softer, smoother skin.

    Sea salt

    If you are looking for a facial scrub that really helps in opening your pores, then mixing sea salt with water is a great idea. Scrubbing your face with it in the morning is a great homemade exfoliation procedure. An inexpensive and quite popular body treatment at spas, sea salt scrubs help in detoxifying the body by stimulating blood circulation through vasodilation of blood capillaries inside the skin.

  • Get prettier feet without a pedicure

    Avoid all acetone products on your feet

    Acetone is highly harsh on your nails, as it dries out the natural oils from them. Say no to acetone nail polish removers and opt for the acetone-free options for stronger and healthier nails.

    Don’t soak your feet

    Remember all those times you soaked your feet in water, brimming with pride as to how careful you were about your care regimen? The truth is, you were only stripping the natural oils from your feet. Next time, just wash your feet with some mild soap instead.

    Exfoliate all the way

    Exfoliation is a mandatory process when it comes to caring for your feet. It helps in getting rid of all those pesky dead skin, to leave your feet feeling smooth and soft. Just use a pumice stone on your feet regularly for softer, prettier feet.

    Get a foot massage

    If you’re really looking into taking proper care of your feet, we urge you to go for regular foot massage. Massaging some moisturiser onto your feet everydayhelps lock in moisture and keeps your feet feeling supple for longer.

    Change your diet

    Make sure your diet includes a lot of calcium to walk your way to healthier feet. Foods like green leafy vegetables, fish and almonds are great for adding calcium to your diet, and will help tremendously in taking you one step closer to the feet of your dreams.

  • Achievements of Lata Mangeshkar

    Achievements of Lata Mangeshkar

    Lata Mangeshkar was one of the iconic and versatile singers, India has witnessed. In so many years of her professional life, Lata Mangeshkar had received so many awards and her list of achievements in never ending.

    Here is a list of achievements of Lata Mangeshkar:

    1958 – Aaja Re Pardesi [MADHUMATI] – Filmfare

    1962 – Kahi Deep Jale Kahi Dil [BEES SAAL BAAD] – Filmfare

    1964 – Woh Kaun Thi – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist Association Award

    1965 – Tumhi Mere Mandir Tumhi Meri Pooja [KHANDAAN] – Filmfare

    1966 – Sadhi Mansa – Best Playback Singer.

    1967 – Jait Re Jait – Best Playback Singer.

    1967 – Milan – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1968 – Raja Aur Rank – Best Female Playback Singer –  Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1969 – Saraswati Chandra – Best Female Playback Singer –  Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1969 : Padam Bhushan

    1969 – Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne Lage [JEENE KI RAAH] – Filmfare

    1970 – Do Raaste – Best Female Playback Singer – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1971 – Tere Mere Sapne – Best Female Playback Singer – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1972 – Parichay – Best Female Playback Singer

    1973 – Marjina Abdulla (Bengali) – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1973 – Abhimaan – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

    1974 : Guinness Book of World Records:for singing the maximum number of songs in the world

    1975 – Kora Kagaz – Best Female Playback Singer

    1980 : Was presented key of the city of Georgetown, Guyana, South America

    1980 : Honorary Citizenship. The Republic of Suriname, South America

    1981 – Ek Duje Ke Liye – Best Female Playback Singer.A Portrait Of Lataji – 1983 – Bengal Film Journalist’s Award Association

    1985 – Ram Teri Ganga Maili – Best Female Playback Singer – Bengal Film Journalist’s Award Association

    1985 : 9th June declared as Asia Day in honour of her arrival in Toronto, Canada

    1987 : Honorary Citizenship of the U.S.A, Houston, Texas, U.S.A

    1989 : Dada Saheb Phalke Award

    1990 – Lekin – Best Female Playback Singer

    1990 : Honorary Doctorate (Literature) By Pune University

    1993 : Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

    1993 : Filmfare felicitated by the Maharashra Government 1994 : Filmfare Special Award ( Didi Tera Devar Deewana -HAHK)

    1996 : Videocon Screen Lifetime Achievement Award

    1997 : Rajiv Gandhi Award.

    1998 : Lux Zee Cine Lifetime Achievement Award

    1999 : Padma Vibhushan

    1999 : NTR Award

    2000 : Lifetime Achievement Award by IIFA in London

    2000 : Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar by the Chaturang PratishthanThe Bharat Ratna Award

    2001 : Bharat Ratna – The Nation’s Highest Civilian Award 2001: Noorjehan Award : First Reciepient

    2001: Maharashtra Ratna : First Reciepient

    2002: Felicitation By CII ( For Contribution to Music & the Film Industry)

    2002: Hakim Khan Sur Award ( For National Integration by Maharana Mewar Foundation)

    2002: Asha Bhosle Award : First Reciepient