Bill for regulatory panel needs serious discussion
Aprivate member’s Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha seeks setting up of a national commission to control medical inflation, an issue of immense public interest. CPI’s P Santhosh Kumar has put the spotlight on the dire need to regulate and standardize the rising costs of medicines, diagnostic tests and pathological examinations. The Bill flags the annual increase in expenses related to healthcare, the inexplicable divergence in rates and the devastating blow that healthcare costs can cause. It claims that last year, India witnessed the highest medical inflation rate of 14 per cent among Asian countries.
Data suggests that almost 60 per cent of all hospitalizations and 70 per cent of out-patient services in the country are catered to by the private sector. Nearly 63 per cent of healthcare expenditure is out of pocket. A study has come out with startling figures that 7 per cent of India’s population is pushed into poverty every year because of healthcare costs. The Centre’s efforts on universal health coverage are noteworthy, but a sizeable number of people who are eligible are still not insured. Even those covered under government schemes are not safe from unexpected health emergencies. There are private facilities that provide assistance to poor patients, but the number is minuscule. Most hospitals follow market-based pricing for tests and allied services. The patients and attendants have little choice but to shell out the fee charged, no questions asked.
The Bill wants a cap on the rate charged for every procedure and test, standardization of medical expenses and a quality assurance framework. The demands are a reflection of the everyday realities of crores of Indians. Healthcare is a public good. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure affordable and equitable access. To that end, the list of essential drugs with a price ceiling keeps growing. Availability is a problem, and so is lack of awareness. Pharma companies claim that lower profit margins narrow the window to innovate, invest in research and can be a factor in exiting the category under regulation. A serious, informed discussion in the House would be in order.
All nations must come together against groups targeting civilians
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s listing of four hurdles to better counterterrorism cooperation, i.e., state support for financing terror; multilateral mechanisms that are opaque and agenda driven; double standards and politicization of countering terrorism according to where terror groups belong, and the “next frontier” (the use of emerging technologies such as drones and virtual currency by terrorists), needs attention. The focus of the UNSC special briefing on Thursday, ‘Global Counterterrorism Approach’, that was convened by India, is well-timed given that the “Global War on Terrorism” and the sanctions regimes launched after 9/11 are in disarray. In their haste to exit Afghanistan in 2021, for example, the UNSC’s permanent members, the U.S. and the U.K. struck the biggest blow to the sanctions regime by holding talks with the Taliban, easing their path to power in Kabul and letting their handlers in Pakistan off the hook. Second, as Mr. Jaishankar has pointed out, a P-5 country (China) continues to block the designations of Pakistan-based terrorists, including five named this year, from the LeT and the JeM. Finally, instead of uniting to accept India’s proposal, of 1996, of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terror to institute global practices on countering terror, the P-5 countries are hopelessly polarized, and irrevocably so, over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Given the scenario, New Delhi’s attempt at highlighting the issues during the last few weeks of its two-year UNSC tenure was apt, as it built up to the briefing with conferences in India including a UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting, the No Money For Terror conference, and an Interpol conference.
It is unfortunate, however, that the briefing appears to have been overshadowed by heated words outside the Council between Mr. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In response to Mr. Jaishankar’s comments on Pakistan being the “epicenter of terrorism”, Mr. Bhutto chose to launch a personal tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots. That Pakistan’s “dossier” on what it claims is an Indian hand behind a blast in Lahore essentially pertains to an attack on the 26/11 terrorist strikes mastermind and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed is equally telling about the Pakistan government’s regard for him, as well as its desire to muddy the global narrative on terrorism. The Government would be better served by not taking the bait, and focusing instead on the task at hand: “re-invigorating” the global agenda and counter-terrorism architecture by emphasizing the need for unity on the issue, and for all countries to provide resources to the battle against those driven by a radical ideology who continue to threaten civilian populations worldwide.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday and said dialogue and diplomacy were the only solution to the conflict in Ukraine. They also touched on other areas of practical interaction such as mutual investment, energy, agriculture, transport and logistics.
At the request of PM Modi, Putin gave fundamental assessments of Russia’s line on the Ukrainian direction, said the Russian readout of the conversation. In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Prime Minister reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way forward, said the Indian side. The Ministry of External Affairs said the conversation was a follow-up of their Samarkand meeting in September and among other key areas, touched energy cooperation, trade and investments, and defense and security cooperation.
The sixth telephonic conversation of the year between the two leaders took place against the backdrop of PM Modi not holding the annual summit with Putin this year due to “domestic commitments”, according to a senior Russian diplomat. The readouts of both countries did not specifically touch on the prospects of an in-person meeting soon, but said they agreed to remain in regular touch. India, like several nations from the Global South, has so far defied western pressure to cut off ties with Russia.
The leaders expressed satisfaction with the high level of bilateral cooperation and underscored the importance of close coordination within the framework of international organizations, including the Indian presidencies of the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The PM briefed Putin on India’s ongoing G20 presidency, highlighting its priority area.
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Without mincing words, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called out Pakistan and China in his address to the UN Security Council, saying the “contemporary epicenter of terrorism” remains very much active and “evidence-backed proposals” to blacklist terrorists under sanctions regimes are put on hold without assigning adequate reason.
“We cannot forget that old habits and established networks are still alive, especially in South Asia. The contemporary epicenter of terrorism remains very much active, whatever gloss may be applied to minimize unpleasant realities,” Jaishankar said in his address to the UN Security Council briefing on ‘Global Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward.’ held under India’s Presidency of the 15-nation Council. “We cannot let another “9/11 of New York” or “26/11 of Mumbai” happen again,” he said, asserting that combating terrorism is a battle in which there is no respite. “The world cannot afford attention deficit or tactical compromises. It is most of all for the Security Council to lead the global response in this regard.”
Jaishankar presided over the Council and in a statement made in his national capacity, called out Pakistan and its all-weather ally China, which has been putting holds on proposals by India to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists and entities under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
“By now, it is well established where and how terrorist organizations operate, and under what kind of protection. Activities like recruitment, financing and motivation are often done in the open. The days when it could be said that we were unaware are now behind us.
“Consequently, assigning responsibility is that much easier. The response of the sponsors of terrorism is not to give up but to conduct and execute their agenda at an arms-length. To do this, they create narratives of limitations and difficulties. We buy such explanations at our own peril. The suggestion that states who are apparently capable of everything else but are only helpless when it comes to terrorism is ludicrous. Accountability must therefore be the bedrock of counter-terrorism,” he said.
Jaishankar added that the working methods of relevant mechanisms are also a subject of legitimate concern and debate.
“At one level, we have seen protections that come close to justification. Then, there are evidence-backed proposals that are put on hold without assigning adequate reason. Conversely, there has even been recourse to anonymity so as to avoid taking ownership of untenable cases,” he said, a reference to China.
In the past five months, China, a permanent, veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council has put holds on as many listing proposals made by India and the US to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under the Council’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee regime.
Since June this year, China, Islamabad’s all-weather ally, has put holds on proposals to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists Hafiz Talah Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terrorist Sajid Mir, senior Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) leader Abdul Rauf Azhar and Abdul Rehman Makki under the Al Qaeda Sanctions regime. India and the US had submitted proposals to designate the Pakistan-based terrorists and subject them to asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo but hit stumbling blocks when Beijing placed holds on the proposals.
Highlighting four specific challenges with which the counter-terrorism architecture is currently grappling, Jaishankar pointed to the issue of terror financing and State culpability, whether by commission or omission. “The world may no longer be willing to buy the justifications and cover ups as in the past. Through bitter experience, we know that terror is terror, whatever the explanation. The question now arises as to the responsibilities of the state from whose soil such actions are planned, supported and perpetrated.”
He also stressed the need to addressing double standards in countering terrorism, leading to concerns of politicization. “Uniform criteria are not applied to sanctioning and prosecuting terrorists. It would seem sometimes that the ownership of terrorism is more important than its actual perpetration or its consequences.”
He underlined the challenge of ensuring the integrity and accountability of the counter- terror multilateral mechanisms and their working methods. “They are on occasion opaque, sometimes driven by agendas and at times, pushed without evidence.”
He began his address by telling the Council that India faced the horrors of cross border terrorism long before the world took serious note of it. “Over the decades, we lost thousands of innocent civilian lives. But we fought terrorism resolutely, bravely and with a zero-tolerance approach.”
He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has declared: “we consider that even a single attack is one too many and even a single life lost is one too many. So, we will not rest till terrorism is uprooted.”
He said the briefing is part of India’s ongoing efforts in the Security Council to re-invigorate the counter-terrorism agenda. “And that is overdue because the threat of terrorism has actually become even more serious. We have seen the expansion of Al-Qaida, Da’esh, Boko Haram and Al Shabab and their affiliates. At the other end of the spectrum are ‘lone wolf’ attacks inspired by online radicalization and biases.”
Jaishankar said that countering threats from the misuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists is “likely to be the next frontier of our battle.”
He noted that the third challenge is “how do we deal with differential standards, both inside and outside this Council. For too long, some have persisted with the belief that terrorism is just another instrument or stratagem. Those invested in terrorism have used such cynicism to carry on. It is not just plain wrong but could be downright dangerous, even for the very people whose toleration extends this far.”
The fourth challenge is the growing potential for the misuse of new and emerging technologies by extremists, radicals and terrorists. “Over the years, they have diversified their funding portfolio and expanded their recruitment toolkit. They exploit the anonymity afforded by new and emerging technologies such as virtual currencies for fundraising and finances. Terrorist groups are taking advantage of openness of democratic societies, spreading false narratives, inciting hatred, and radicalizing ideologies.” He said that taking all these into account, we need to adopt a comprehensive, contemporary and result-oriented approach to this set of challenges.
“No individual state should endeavor to seek political gain from terrorism and none of us collectively should ever put up with such calculations. When it comes to tackling terrorism, we must overcome political differences and manifest a zero-tolerance approach.”
NEW YORK (TIP): Highlighting its policies focused on good governance, zero tolerance towards crime and corruption and ease of doing business, the Uttar Pradesh government is inviting global investors and diaspora to invest in a plethora of sectors across the state such as agro and food processing, defense, aerospace and IT.
A high-level delegation led by Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh Suresh Khanna interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, including those hailing from the state, during an event held at the Consulate General of India in New York Monday, December 12.
The delegation comprised leaders and senior bureaucrats including Advisor to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Awanish Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary and Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Arvind Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Amit Singh and former cabinet minister and MLA Sidharth Nath Singh. The delegation’s visit to the US comes two months before the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit (UPGIS) 2023, which is scheduled to be held in Lucknow from February 10-12 next year.
The delegation invited investors and diaspora to visit and invest in the state as well as participate in the global summit, the flagship investment summit of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
In a video message played at the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh, with its abundant natural resources, good governance, zero tolerance policy towards crime and corruption, largest consumer market, single window portal ‘Nivesh Mitra’, online incentive management system and 25 investment-friendly industrial policies, is a leading state in ‘Ease of Doing Business.’
He said that over the past five years, including the time when the world was facing economic challenges due to the COVID19 pandemic, investment projects worth four lakh crore rupees were launched in the state, “which is a mark of trust that the investors have placed in the new Uttar Pradesh.”
Yogi Adityanath invited all to come and be a part of “new India’s growth engine” and invest in Uttar Pradesh. “Welcome to new India’s new Uttar Pradesh.”
Consul General of India in New York Randhir Kumar Jaiswal exhorted the gathering to invest in UP as the State offered the required investment climate.
In his special address, Khanna invited the diaspora and investors to come and invest in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting that the state today has a stable government under the Chief Ministership of Yogi Adityanath, with focus on policy-based governance, rule of law, easy availability of land, zero tolerance towards crime and corruption and guarantee of safety and security.
“We have come to invite you so that investments in Uttar Pradesh increase manifold and for that it has been ensured that a congenial atmosphere is provided,” Khanna said adding that the state has a conducive environment for business and investments and it is ensured that all facilitation are available to prospective investors.
Khanna underlined that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given equal prominence and importance to both urbanization as well as development of rural areas. “Today, the Yogi model is popular and is talked about all across the country,” he said.
Khanna said that in Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Uttar Pradesh a Chief Minister who is like him, who has no personal agenda. He has only one focus and agenda – that of improving the conditions of the common man in the state and that Uttar Pradesh is known as a developed, progressive and prosperous state.
Consul General of India in New York Randhir Kumar Jaiswal exhorted the gathering to invest in UP as the State offered the required investment climate.
Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, earlier, welcoming the delegation, exhorted investors and the diaspora to invest in the State of UP which offered the required climate for investment.
Sidharth Nath Singh underlined that “there is an economic model for Uttar Pradesh, which has been adopted by our Chief Minister and I call it the ‘Monk with the economic model’.”
“What we are seeking is certainly that you come and make an investment and become our partner in the growth of Uttar Pradesh, the growth of India. India can only grow if Uttar Pradesh grows because we are the backbone,” he said.
A view of the gathering
Stressing the importance of showcasing the heritage of India and Uttar Pradesh to the younger generation in the diaspora, Awasthi said that “UP nahin dekha, toh India nahin dekha” (If you haven’t seen Uttar Pradesh, then you haven’t seen India).
He also said that there is tremendous scope and avenues to grow and support the state’s education, health and nutrition sectors as well.
Kumar gave a detailed presentation on the business environment and investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the rapid infrastructure development in the state including construction and completion of expressways, the country’s largest rail network, international airports and India’s first inland waterway. He said that during the 2023 global investor summit, the state is targeting an investment commitment of 140 billion dollars. Amit Singh also highlighted the various investment opportunities and advantages of investing in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Association of North America Founder and Chairman Rakesh Agarwal highlighted the cultural power of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The delegation highlighted sectors such as food processing, dairy, handloom and textile, IT, startups, tourism, defense and aerospace, pharma, micro, small and medium enterprises, film and renewable energy among others are key areas of investment opportunities.
Rakesh Agarwal, founder and trustee of the Uttar Pradesh Association of North America rallied support for global investment & job creation in Uttar Pradesh.
Rakesh Agarwal, founder and trustee of the Uttar Pradesh Association of North America rallied support for global investment & job creation in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Agarwal stated that “the Uttar Pradesh Government has created a business-friendly environment”. The state now ranks #2 among the best states for investment in India.. He met with CM Yogi Ji in June of 2022 and the U.P. Government is offering incentives and tax breaks for companies to expand/start operations in Uttar Pradesh. By working together, we can create jobs & make Uttar Pradesh a better place for everybody, he said.
If you have any plans to start or expand your business in India, please contact Mr. Rakesh Agarwal at ra@cparakesh.com
The three-day long Investors Summit brought together policy makers, corporate leaders, business delegations, academia, think-tanks and Political and Government leadership from across the globe, to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships.
Tanya Indrani Bathija.Tanya with Dad Gobind Bathija who, it is learnt, had big business plans for her.
I.S. Saluja
HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): A young lady of 32 and her dog perished in a fire that broke out in a Dix Hills home, December 14.
The local authorities said the cause of the fire was not known at this stage. Around 60 fire tenders were at the site.
According to Newsday which first reported the incident, Tanya Indrani Bathija died, along with her dog, in a predawn fire in a Dix Hills cottage on Wednesday,December 14.Despite the efforts of her parents and three Suffolk police officers, she could not be saved from the engulfing fire.
Tanya Bathija lived in a cottage behind her parents’ home on Carlls Straight Path, said Suffolk Police Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, head of the department’s homicide squad.
Tanya’s father, Gobind (Ben) Bathija, a businessman and a community leader, woke up early to exercise before work and when he looked out of the window, he noticed the cottage on fire, Beyrer said.
“He alerted his wife at the same time as he called 911. They ran outside to the cottage and tried to get her out but it was fully engulfed,” Beyrer said.
More than 60 firefighters and rescue workers launched “an aggressive attack on the blaze,” which was reported at 2:54 a.m., Dix Hills Fire Department spokesman Steve Silverman said by email.
Two Suffolk County patrol officers and a sergeant “attempted to enter the cottage but were repelled by fire,” police said.
They were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for smoke inhalation. Beyrer said their injuries are not considered serious. Four firefighters were also treated at the site for minor injuries, Silverman said.
Bathija and her family own at least eight Dunkin’ Donuts stores across Suffolk, including in Patchogue, Blue Point and their latest location on Montauk Highway in Bellport.
Tanya Bathija received an undergraduate degree in international business and fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology and an MBA in accounting and finance from Baruch College.
A funeral will take place on Sunday, December 18 at 10 A.M. at Maloney’s Lake Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Lake Ronkonkoma. A prayer service will be held the same day at 4 p.m. at the Asamai Hindu Temple in Hicksville.
The bereaved family can be reached at (212) 470-3331, (516) 423-1705, (631) 355-0473 and (631) 482-0441.
Russia and Ukraine should adopt realistic policy to deal with growing challenges
“Hundred thousand Russian troops killed or wounded, with similar figures on the Ukrainian side. He also stated that about 40,000 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel had been killed and 15 to 30 million Ukrainians displaced from their homes. The Russians have been unsparing in their response to Ukrainian attacks, with their missiles targeting electricity supply lines and destroying power supplies and communications across Ukraine. A large number of Ukrainians have been forced to shift to new locations. Russian oil and gas supplies to EU countries, like Germany, also stand cut off.”
By G Parthasarathy
While most former Soviet republics have maintained good relations with Russia, Ukraine has, in recent years, believed that it has the political resilience and economic clout to seek substantial changes in its ties with Russia. It has done so under the leadership of its young and charismatic President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has received significant support from the US. Russia’s strong concerns about moves by the Zelenskyy government to hinder Russian access to the strategic port in Crimea and about the welfare of Russians living in southern Ukraine led to Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
The demand for natural gas is growing across Europe. Public anger will inevitably grow in Europe as freezing winter continues across EU countries and eastern Europe.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict has led to horrendous casualties on both sides. According to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military, Gen Mark A Milley, the conflict has resulted in an estimated
Hundred thousand Russian troops killed or wounded, with similar figures on the Ukrainian side. He also stated that about 40,000 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel had been killed and 15 to 30 million Ukrainians displaced from their homes. The Russians have been unsparing in their response to Ukrainian attacks, with their missiles targeting electricity supply lines and destroying power supplies and communications across Ukraine. A large number of Ukrainians have been forced to shift to new locations. Russian oil and gas supplies to EU countries, like Germany, also stand cut off.
Russia has two crucial interests in its relations with Ukraine. The first is its uninterrupted access to the sea through Ukraine. Secondly, Russia has a natural interest in the safety and security of Russians living in southern Ukraine. Equipped with some of the most modern weaponry supplied by the US and its NATO allies, Ukraine had initially started pushing out Russian forces in southern Ukraine. This has been followed by devastating missile attacks by Russia, which have destroyed the infrastructure for transmission of electricity and gas. The consequences of continuing attacks are going to be devastating for the people of Ukraine.
The conflict has raised passions across Europe, with considerable sympathy for Ukraine. Developments in Ukraine now are the constant focus of international media attention. Initially, India had preferred to remain on the sidelines. PM Modi, however, became the focus of global attention at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, when he proclaimed in the presence of leaders across Asia, including Putin and Xi Jinping: ‘Today’s era is not of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today, we will get an opportunity to talk about how we can progress on the path to peace.’ While most of US NATO partners, including Germany and the UK, have joined the US in military assistance to Ukraine, French President Macron appears to be leaning towards facilitating a meaningful dialogue for restoring peace in Ukraine. This broadly coincides with the position that both India and China have taken. Modi’s call for peace was endorsed by the recent G20 summit in Indonesia.
The demand for natural gas is growing across Europe. Public anger will inevitably grow in Europe as freezing winter continues across EU countries and eastern Europe. While Putin would eventually welcome a dialogue with Ukraine, his primary focus will remain on Russian access to Crimea, and possibly to the Port of Odessa in southern Ukraine. Odessa has been the center of trade of the erstwhile Soviet Union, with countries across the world, including India. The world is also set to face a strong effort by the US and its NATO allies to restrict prices of Russian oil exports to $60 per barrel. It remains to be seen how this issue is handled.
While western countries predictably resorted to strong criticism of Moscow at the G20 summit, China and India are convinced that such criticism is not going to affect Russia’s determination. It is essential that Russia and Ukraine should meet and adopt a realistic policy to deal with the growing challenges.
Pakistan has surprised many in the world by its policies during the Ukraine crisis. Developing countries have been circumspect in dealing with both Russia and the US, though many countries have expressed disapproval of the Russian military action. Pakistan, however, initially chose to be discreet by not passing any judgement on Russia’s actions. India, China and some other countries in Asia were also circumspect and avoided being judgmental on developments in the raging conflict. The world, at large, was surprised when Pakistan provided facilities to aircraft of the British Royal Air Force to transport large amounts of Pakistani military equipment, including ammunition, to the Ukraine military — obviously, with US support. This accompanied a US declaration of supplying military equipment valued at $450 million to Pakistan.
The entire air operation was evidently supervised by Pakistan’s then army chief General Bajwa, who was, thereafter, feted during his visits to Washington and London. Astonishingly, this was followed by a visit by Pakistan’s minister of state for petroleum Musadik Malik to Moscow, where he asked his hosts for a 30%-40% discount on prices of Russian crude, and indicated that the Russians had agreed to his request. However, the Pakistan media disclosed that the minister’s talks in Moscow ‘had ended with no cogent conclusion’. The Russian side, however, reportedly agreed to consider the demand of Pakistan, and to ‘share its mind later on through diplomatic channels’.
( The author is Chancellor, Jammu Central University & a former High Commissioner to Pakistan)
Kejriwal nowhere near goal of offering alternative, while Rahul yet to prove mettle
“Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has been making a serious flutter. The picture painted of Rahul as a spoilt, little ‘baba’ is being slowly obliterated with every sure step he takes on his marathon journey. During the election fever, he was off the air, but even after the results were announced and new CMs appointed, the channels have not brought him back into focus.
“If he is to be the Congress’ candidate to face Modi in 2024, he will not only have to join disparate forces in the Opposition space, but also prove his clout with the voting public to convince Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Chandrashekar Rao and Nitish Kumar that he means business, is ready, and, above all, capable of leading. If he cannot do this, five different PMs-in-waiting will emerge!”
By Julio Ribeiro
The results of the Assembly elections held in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and the municipal elections in Delhi panned out as predicted. The Modi-Shah regime could not afford any loss of face in Gujarat. They suffered embarrassment last time because of the demand for reservation for the Patel community which dominates the political space in the state.
Rahul Gandhi will have to show he means business, is ready, and, above all, capable of leading. If he cannot do this, five different Opposition candidates will emerge!
Both the young men who led that agitation, Hardik Patel and another young man with influence among the OBCs, have crossed over to the BJP, strengthening the hands of the party. This alone made a massive difference in the support base of the BJP and the Congress. The Congress share in the total votes cast fell from 40% plus in 2017 to 26% in this election. The new player in the power struggle, Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, cornered 13%, which gave it only five seats in the legislature but a big toehold in the state.
The AAP is far removed from its dream of forming a government in Gujarat. It will take two decades or more to come to that level. In Gujarat, despite AAP’s massive propaganda blitz, it came nowhere even near the Congress, which remains the principal opposition party there. The way the Congress is going about its business, it may lose even that status next time round.
Kejriwal, personally, is nowhere near his goal of offering an alternative to Modi, even if he postpones his challenge to 2029. In 2024, he does not have a chance. At present, Modi is the king of all he surveys. I have no doubt that he will ride the popularity wave in 2024.
Persons of goodwill were disappointed when BJP leaders in the state and the Centre remitted the sentences of life imprisonment awarded to rapists and killers of women and children in the Bilkis Bano case. One would have thought that there would have been public outcry against such a perverse use of constitutional powers. At least, there should have been a severe condemnation of the reception accorded to the released convicts. Perhaps, the leadership had gauged the mood of its electorate. The release of the convicts and the welcome accorded to them was a recipe to gain electoral victories.
The people of Gujarat have their own distinct collective personality. A gentle, nonviolent people at most times, with their heads buried in books of accounts, they have a cerebral fear of those who struggle for their next meal, but do not hesitate to use their fists, even knives — and now guns — to settle scores. The Gujaratis used to rely on uniformed men of the Army and the police to protect them from physical harm, but now they have begun to support militant Hindutva and its front-line troops, led by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.
Home Minister Amit Shah had proclaimed in an election speech that the government (or is it the party? Perhaps both, since the police follow the ruling party’s dictat) had taught the mischief-makers a lesson in 2002. There has been no communal violence since then he proclaimed! This sums up the thinking of the ordinary Gujarati today. A reminder of that ‘truth’ before elections is sufficient to move voters to the polling booths.
Himachal Pradesh has a very small percentage of Muslim voters. Their votes are inconsequential to the final outcome. The voters continue to vote in the pattern they were accustomed to, replacing an incumbent party by its opponent every five years. There is the usual quest for leadership and the consequent infighting in every party. Since power was vested in the BJP before these elections, it had more than its fair share of infighting. Now that the Congress has replaced it in Shimla, it should expect the same fate in 2027, if it can hold out that long. Till 2027, its problem will be to keep its flock together.
The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, an ally of the BJP, has hit upon a unique method of keeping its MLAs pleased. It has withdrawn the vehicles supplied to police stations under the Nirbhaya scheme — vehicles meant to protect women from lust — and transferred them to each legislator to guard them from bodily harm! Each Shinde-faction MLA now has round-the-clock protection of five policemen. Protecting them from possible attacks from what? No one knows! There are 40-odd legislators belonging to this faction. Each will insist on his full quota of five trained policemen to bolster his ego and make him feel so much more important. Five men each for 40 legislators totals to 200. Since there is no sanction for such a huge deployment, the police stations will be denuded. The men will be taken off normal patrols and deputed to keep the MLAs happy. The cost to the exchequer and the travails of a depleted police station are of no consequence, or so it seems.
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has been making a serious flutter. The picture painted of Rahul as a spoilt, little ‘baba’ is being slowly obliterated with every sure step he takes on his marathon journey. During the election fever, he was off the air, but even after the results were announced and new CMs appointed, the channels have not brought him back into focus.
Rahul had said his yatra was not connected to the polls. He campaigned in Gujarat for just one day as the yatra’s ultimate purpose was more important for him. But the results may force him to rethink.
If he is to be the Congress’ candidate to face Modi in 2024, he will not only have to join disparate forces in the Opposition space, but also prove his clout with the voting public to convince Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Chandrashekar Rao and Nitish Kumar that he means business, is ready, and, above all, capable of leading. If he cannot do this, five different PMs-in-waiting will emerge!
(The author is a retired IPS officer and a former governor )
“For better or for worse, the collegium system is currently the law of the land, which everyone, including the executive, must adhere to. Instead, we see a defiant government refusing to cooperate, let alone consult, with the Supreme Court. Names proposed by the collegium are left pending for years, only to be eventually returned unceremoniously. The Government would also do well to think about its own culpability in allowing the problem of pendency and vacancies to fester. Pendency is caused majorly by poor judicial infrastructure, including an abysmally low number of judges. Court funding is at the mercy of the government, which is either particularly frugal or deliberately parsimonious in the matter. Similarly, vacancies in the higher judiciary are directly due to the Government’s frequent refusal to accept names of persons who are out of favor, or who have not toed the Government’s line.”
Issues of pendency and infrastructure ought to be broached in appropriate forums and in high-level meetings to quell the growing acrimony between the executive and the higher judiciary
By Ajit Prakash Shah
Recent comments by the Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankar, and the Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju, can be read as a concerted attack on the collegium system, the Supreme Court of India, and even the basic structure doctrine (conveniently forgetting that it is this doctrine that has kept the Indian Constitution intact). Clearly, the present government continues to try and undermine judicial independence, which it has been doing since it first came to power in 2014. As a long-standing critic of the collegium system, I might have joined a chorus that called out the problems with judicial appointments. But this onslaught from the Government has been particularly disturbing and wholly unwarranted.
An ‘elected autocracy’
The Supreme Court, conceived as the custodian of the Constitution and the final arbiter of the law, has had an inconsistent history. The ghosts of ADM Jabalpur continue to haunt to this day. While the government under Indira Gandhi intended to destroy the judiciary during the Emergency, the entire Court, barring Justice H.R. Khanna, was also complicit in the erosion of citizens’ rights that took place then.
Over the decades, after much reflection and repair, from both within and outside the judiciary, those dark days have been seemingly left behind. But what worried us then has now re-emerged to torment us again.
The present move — of attempting to undermine and discredit the judiciary, as seen in the comments — is part of the larger mission to make the executive the most powerful entity. Today, executive accountability is a thing of memory, for no one raises any questions about its actions. Since 2014, the Government has undertaken a well-crafted, deliberate takedown of various institutions and mechanisms that could hold the executive accountable. Its efforts may not be as brazen as the Indira Gandhi-led government, but the same ends are being achieved: the state is rendered practically comatose, and the executive, most often, has the upper hand.
Parallels can be drawn with ‘elected autocracies’, where elected governments use the very institutions integral to democracy to kill democracy itself and destroy civil liberties. We have heard nothing of the Lokpal since. The National Human Rights Commission has been made dormant. Investigation agencies are misused at the slightest opportunity, with action against activists, journalists, students, political opponents, or anyone who protests against the government. The Election Commission of India appears to have been clearly compromised. The Information Commission is almost non-functional. The list is long and disturbing. Others who can hold the executive accountable — academia, the press, and civil society — have also been systematically emasculated. Universities are under attack. An unbiased mainstream fourth estate in India no longer exists, and the media operates mostly as a propaganda machine. Civil society, too, is being slowly but surely strangled.
And a resurgent judiciary
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 2015 on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, arguably, from the Court under the Chief Justices of India (CJI) Dipak Misra onwards, through the tenures of notably Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.A. Bobde, the judiciary has remained passive, even submissive, to the executive. Consequently, not even a whisper emerged against the collegium. However, with the last three CJIs, i.e., Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice U.U. Lalit, and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the Court is being more assertive and speaking in a non-aligned and confident voice. The executive seems to have recognized that the judiciary is the last bastion and final protector of civil liberties which it must overcome to claim its position as the most powerful entity in India.
History tells us that in the early years of modern India, decisions on judicial appointments were usually made on the advice of the CJI. Even if concurrence was not contemplated, for our founding fathers, an independent judiciary was non-negotiable. B.R. Ambedkar was unambiguous that appointments should have no political pressure and considerations, but that ‘consultation with persons who are well-qualified … to give proper advice’ would be appropriate. This was followed through the Nehru-era.
Both the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi governments attempted to manipulate the process. The collegium was created as a historical response to contemporaneous challenges, and succeeded in preventing the executive from hijacking judicial appointments. However, I maintain that ‘judges appointing judges’ is never a good idea, and a formal, structured appointments commission, with rules and accountability mechanisms, is the ideal way forward.
The NJAC law could have fixed this problem but it had many flaws, structured to undermine judicial independence, including giving a veto to so-called ‘eminent persons’. The Court could have read down these flaws and at least set up a body that could incrementally improve with every selection round. But the Government refused to accede to any change or modification in the law. Eventually, the Court was forced to strike down the law completely, leaving us, once again, with the collegium system.
Fixing the system of appointments
For better or for worse, the collegium system is currently the law of the land, which everyone, including the executive, must adhere to. Instead, we see a defiant government refusing to cooperate, let alone consult, with the Supreme Court. Names proposed by the collegium are left pending for years, only to be eventually returned unceremoniously. The Government would also do well to think about its own culpability in allowing the problem of pendency and vacancies to fester. Pendency is caused majorly by poor judicial infrastructure, including an abysmally low number of judges. Court funding is at the mercy of the government, which is either particularly frugal or deliberately parsimonious in the matter. Similarly, vacancies in the higher judiciary are directly due to the Government’s frequent refusal to accept names of persons who are out of favor, or who have not toed the Government’s line.
All this points to the same thing repeatedly, i.e., the appointments system must be fixed. Pending a clear, rule-based system, even the existing collegium system can be improved, e.g., through well-defined criteria for appointments, transparency and accountability in selection, better methods of assessing candidates for elevation, and improved ways of ensuring diversity and representation. CJI Chandrachud, with two years in office, has a wonderful opportunity to make these changes, even as, in the long term, we strive for a well-structured and balanced legislation on a judicial commission that brings in transparency without compromising judicial independence.
Until then, issues of pendency and infrastructure should be broached in appropriate forums, such as the Chief Justices Conference, or meetings between the Prime Minister and the CJI. Press interviews or parliamentary addresses are not fit stages for this, and only serve to incite acrimony and reinforce the view that the Government does not have a cooperative spirit.
We can rest assured that the leadership at the Supreme Court appears to be in good hands now and is resisting the pressure and attacks in a dignified and restrained way. If the Government continues to stonewall, perhaps the judiciary should find ways to persuade or even compel the Government to follow the law of the land. This is the best that the Supreme Court can do to protect democracy, and for the sake of Indian citizens.
(The author is former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court and Madras High Court, and former Chairperson, Law Commission of India)
‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’ lights up the 2022 holiday season with its popular and electrifying stage spectacular!
Performers. (Photo: NJPAC)
Broadway director Neil Goldberg has searched the world to assemble the most unique cast of incomparable cirque artists and theatrical talent to wow audiences nationwide. This critically acclaimed extravaganza is a Broadway musical and new cirque adventure wrapped into the ultimate holiday gift for the entire family.
The New York Daily News proclaims a “delicious confection of charm, sparkle and talent by the sleigh load and so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil.” The Boston Globe hails, “Entrancing … Las Vegas meets family entertainment.” Experience this unique, multimillion-dollar live stage production, which dazzled at the Kennedy Center, sparkled at the Grand Ole Opry House, and BroadwayWorld calls “The Perfect Holiday Gift … a show that everyone will enjoy.”
Over 300 imaginative costumes, 20 world-class astonishing acts, the finest singers, original music and seasonal favorites celebrate Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and New Year’s in a two-hour, breathtaking spectacle. Audiences of all ages will marvel at soaring acrobatics, gravity-defying feats and extravagant theatrical production numbers.
TICKETS
For Tickets, visit njpac.org/event/cirque-dreams-holidaze.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. (Photo : NJS)
Join NJS as your Symphony triumphantly brings back this great holiday tradition! Music Director Xian Zhang will conduct Handel’s incomparable classic ‘Messiah.’ Joining Xian and the musicians will be the talented singers of Montclair State University, who will delight audiences as they sing the glorious “Hallelujah Chorus.”
HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’
Friday, December 16 @ 8:00 pm
Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
Holiday Singalong
Friday, December 16 at 7 pm
Enjoy a festive singalong of holiday songs and carols – including a quick rehearsal of the “Hallelujah Chorus” – with the Montclair State University Singers and Heather J. Buchanan.
Sunday, December 18 @ 7:00 pm
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark
89 Ridge Street , Newark, NJ 07104
Program
Handel’s Messiah
New Jersey Symphony Holiday Tradition
PART I, PART II, PART III
Xian Zhang conductor
Ellie Dehn soprano
Maya Lahyani mezzo-soprano
Miles Mykkanen tenor
Nicholas Newton bass-baritone
Montclair State University Singers | Heather J. Buchanan, director
For more information on Program Notes, visit njsymphony.org.
TICKETS
For tickets to either of the performances, visit njsymphony.org.
New Jersey Symphony (NJS)
The New Jersey Symphony will redefine what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. As NJS celebrates its centennial, it is renewing its deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be new; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of the organization — all to better reflect and serve its vibrant communities. Its expansive educational offerings—including the youth orchestras, masterclasses, and virtual learning opportunities — will build the next generation of listeners and musicians and help students grow, both musically and personally. Across genres and venues, for audiences of all walks of life, it strives to bring music that’s meaningful to you, to you.
NJB WITH NJS PRESENTS HOLIDAY FAVORITE ‘NUTCRACKER’
Nutcracker. (Photo : MPAC)
By Mabel Pais
New Jersey Ballet’s presentation of the holiday favorite ‘Nutcracker’ comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (mayoarts.org or MPAC), Morristown, NJ for 11 performances December 16-22, 2022. New Jersey Symphony will provide live orchestral accompaniment.
‘Nutcracker’ brings together three of the state’s leading cultural institutions – New Jersey Ballet, New Jersey Symphony and MPAC – to present a ‘Nutcracker’ that is firmly established as New Jersey’s favorite holiday tradition. The ‘Nutcracker’ will feature the New Jersey Symphony under the baton of John Yaffé. Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, will perform as a special guest dancer for the December 16 and December 22 performances as Cavalier.
This year marks the 51st anniversary of New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker,’ making it the longest-running original professional production in the state. The production debuted in Millburn in 1971 with international star of New York City Ballet Edward Villella as the Cavalier. Since then, the company has given approximately 900 performances in theaters throughout New Jersey, with more than 5,000 dancers and children, and over a million viewers. Many in the audience who saw the production as children now bring their own children and grandchildren to see this cherished holiday tradition.
When the curtain rises, audiences in Morristown can expect the eye-popping special effects, brilliant dancing, glorious costumes and the magic and pantomime that has inspired critics to call it “A spectacle that never seems to age…magic that should go on and on,” and “One of the best…as good as it gets.”
PROGRAM
John Yaffé conductor
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker
Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Performance Schedule:
Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm (limited tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 pm (limited tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 pm (limited tickets)
Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 pm (limited tickets)
Sunday, Dec. 18 at 6 pm (limited tickets)
Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 pm (Livestream also available)
Friday, Dec. 23 at 1 pm
Saturday, Dec. 24 at 1 pm
Monday, Dec. 26 at 1 pm
Monday, Dec. 26 at 6 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 pm
Special guest performer: Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet: Dec. 16 & Dec. 22
A livestream of the Thursday, December 22 production is available for the 2nd year for those unable to attend in person. TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased at mayoarts.org or the Mayo Performing Arts Center box office at 973.539.8008.
Livestream of the Thursday, December 22 performance is available for those unable to attend in person.
Daniel Ulbricht
Daniel Ulbricht, who began his dance training at 11, attended the School of American Ballet at age 15. He has danced featured roles in Balanchine, Robbins, Martins, Peck, Ratmansky, Wheeldon and Tharp ballets. Ulbricht is currently the Director of Programming at Manhattan Youth Ballet and Artistic Director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts’ (NYSSSA). He is the founder and director of Stars of American Ballet and on the faculty of Yale University. He is also the co-founder and co-producer of ‘Dance Against Cancer’ and on the board of the National Dance Institute (NDI). New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Ballet is the resident ballet company at MPAC.
This season, New Jersey Ballet marks its 56th year as New Jersey’s premier classical ballet company. It performs in 9 venues from Bergen to Cape May, and has performed internationally with tours to Russia, Taiwan, Bermuda, Italy, and India. Its programs have introduced countless children and adults to the magic of dance theatre and inspired in many a lifelong love of the arts.
New Jersey Ballet has been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for “artistic excellence, substantial programming, and broad public service,” and is a 3-time winner of the title New Jersey’s Favorite Dance Company. For more information, visit njballet.org.
New Jersey Symphony (NJS)
To learn more about The New Jersey Symphony, visit njsymphony.org.
The Mayo Arts Center (MPAC)
The Mayo Performing Arts Center presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. MPAC was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine. Learn more at mayoarts.org. Connect with MPAC online:
Ganesha says the new connections you make today will last a long time. The returns on previous investments would be pretty profitable, and you will get over past emotional issues related to your ageing. You might expect to make money from your passion project today. Minor health issues could be caused by stress and strain. You should approach an influential figure today that has the potential to alter your outlook and personality significantly.
December 20
Ganesha says today, new relationships and coalitions will form. You would be in a good position, and your abilities would present you with better opportunities. You and your partner should plan going on long journeys and have many enjoyable times together soon. A family member’s health scare can necessitate routine medical care today. During this time, you would see an increase in your income and make some wise investments. Your main ally would be your husband.
December 21
Ganesha says today is a happy day for you mainly due to the encouragement you get from loved ones and friends, your confidence is likely to see a significant lift today. Later in the day, some people will get promotions and move places. Stress and anxiety may arise due to your parent’s health. To prevent future problems, avoid money transactions with friends and family. You’re spending on entertainment and luxuries would increase as your income increased. It is advised to make new investments because previous investments will reap dividends.
December 22
Ganesha says you would utilize your knowledge, experience, and skills in an important presentation today. More than cash benefits, you would be motivated by fame and glory. Your salary would be adequate, though, and you would also make some significant investments. Today’s key highlights include new buildings, renovations, and socializing. You might be inclined to start planning your abroad trip.
December 23
Ganesha says you would meet new people today, which would benefit your career. Even when possessive, your partner would be supportive and helpful. Minor health issues, including backaches, stiff necks, and body aches, will frequently cause problems during the day today so make sure to take some time to rest. Additionally, you would experience unforeseen career advancements. If you go out and join clubs and other social events, you will be quite successful socially.
December 24
Ganesha says your employer would value your confidence and excitement today. Many tasks you had previously thought unattainable would be possible for you to complete. Having new contacts would bring financial advantages for you today. You’ll be bothered by minor domestic conflicts and worry. Make sure to take extra care of your health by watching what you eat. It will be enjoyable and intellectually stimulating to go on a picnic or meet up with friends. Friends and family will offer encouragement and support to you today.
December 25
Ganesha says people will be impressed by your charisma and communication skills at work today. Although your salary would increase, it would be very challenging for you to preserve money because of your extensive spending today. If you want to reach your goals, you shouldn’t let anything hinder your career aspirations. Family members’ elders and kids will need a lot of your attention today.
Ganesha says, this week, you’ll have to deal with financial challenges. You will receive assistance from your coworkers and professional contacts. Your company will be the most beneficial once a week. In regards of your business, you might need to offer people pressure on a frequent basis. Your buddy will require emotional support this week. Being tough under pressure comes naturally to you since you are a little callous, but your partner may not feel this way, so try to put yourself in their shoes. Every week, you’ll need to exercise additional caution since you can develop a cold or a sneeze. Be careful and only use natural remedies.
Taurus
Ganesha says,you’ll have a great week since you’ll have a great job prospect. This week, you’ll undertake measured risks that will work out well for you. The effect of your eleventh sector will also be advantageous for your career. You most probably travel with your partner this week. You’ll communicate all week while having fun in each other’s presence. if you’re unmarried, you could run into someone fascinating. You’ll need to exercise extra caution due to your frequent acid reflux. You could end up in a predicament.
Gemini
Ganesha says,there will be less emphasis on learning and more on generating wealth. You’ll give up your old habits of behavior. You must use utmost prudence given the present downward trend in the financial industries. By doing the easy tasks, you may give your partner a feeling of specialness. They treasure the small things you do for them. You’ll be liberated of whatever resentment you have for them. Every week, your wellness will be good. The key to great wellness this week, is eating sensibly and on time.
Cancer
Ganesha says,this week will be a challenging week for you in your career. The subject of wealth will be on your mind every week. Even if you may not currently believe that your destiny is secure, you will prevail in the short run. The financial market will also enable you to preserve income this week. You and your partner will argue over the same issues this week. You need to convince your spouse of the importance of your gift. You’ll need to set aside some time each week for your healthcare since you must see a physician for your spinal troubles.
Leo
Ganesha says,if you follow a regular schedule, this week will be highly productive for you. You should ask for a raise or an evaluation this week even though your eighth sector will go upwards. You may make your partner aware of your departure once a week by not allowing them sufficient time. They will appreciate your merits rather than will become offended. Every week, your wellness will be OK. The exercise programme you’ve been doing up until now has been effective.
Virgo
Ganesha says,you will not depend on your companions or colleagues while reaching important judgments. If you’re in a partnership, impacted choices won’t help you. Your partner will help you manage with difficulties this week. You’ll find comfort in their kind words. Engaged individuals will have a common domestic problem this week; try to think together with a resolution as a community. You will feel dizzy and worn out this week. Attempt to consume on schedule, and refrain from drinking.
Libra
Ganesha says, you’ll be able to make more income today as a result of your prior efforts. Additionally, you’ll exert more energy than usual. You’ll observe how things will come together naturally. If you work in commerce, avoid making important decisions every week. This week, you’ll feel as though your partner is excessively worried about a minor issue. You will try your hardest to help them understand, but you will fall short. Don’t let it become a mess, please. The only factor you should be worried about is your food choices because you will feel fine every week. You might eat too much fast food this week, which might cause issues later.
Scorpio
Ganesha says, you’ll be able to manage your money well from this point forward this week. Your connection will expose you to fresh prospects and economic deals if you’re in industry. If you’re a freelancer, the good news will reach you via the job board where you qualified. Amazingly, you’ll run into somebody every week. Because of a previous catastrophe, you’re cutting individuals out of your existence, but the individual you’ll see every week will be good enough to justify more than simply a possibility. Maintain your emotions open every week. You might not be able to leave the house every week. You’ll suffer from agonizing back pain every week. You shouldn’t pressure oneself to exercise out every week.
Sagittarius
Ganesha says, you won’t be able to generate decisions every week on your professional facets. When undertaking any significant decisions, you must wait for Venus to coincide in your advantage. Be kind; soon, things will be better. This week pleasant events are anticipated while Jupiter transits in a pleasant period. Subjects covered each week include weddings and proposals. Each week, yoga and mindfulness will aid in your recovery. Ensure you get advice before starting your new dietary routine.
Capricorn
Ganesha says, you’ll be able to manage the weekly stack of tasks that has amassed above your head. If you’re an entrepreneur, your competitive position will get better every week. When it regards to suggestions concerning equities, it will be crucial to use prudence this week. Every week, your partner will show you, their love. As you exchange brief encounters on a regular basis, you’ll observe how your connection is strengthened. Just appreciate each other ‘s companionship for the time being and let fate determine the future of your partnership. Your wellness may need monitoring on this week because you could have liver issues.
Aquarius
Ganesha says, this week, you’ll have a little more authority. The best results will come from enabling your workers to share their own thoughts. If you purchase in stocks, you will eventually notice that the weekly marketplace is rather upbeat. Your partner will be persuaded to share their plans with you once a week. Your recommendations will arm them with a richness of knowledge. You’ll keep them safe from the threats. You must carefully keep hold of any health issues you could have once a week. Ensure that you good attention of oneself by using natural medicines.
Pisces
Ganesha says, your emotions will divert, making it difficult for you to stay concentrated on your work this week, but in the interim, your professional facades will offer additional wonderful tidings. Your rivals will be keeping tabs on your every action this week. Every week, your partner will be your pillow to lean on. Every week through your worst moments, they will be beside you. You’ll start considering the destiny of this connection by nightfall. This week, your fitness should be great, but mental tension may prevent you from sleeping. Try to unwind each week by practicing meditation.
Opening of ‘Aquarius Art Tunnel.’ (Photo / Courtesy jingomedia.com)Artist, Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee. Photo / Courtesy jingomedia.com
By Mabel Pais
In Houston, Texas, at the George Bush International Airport, the 240-feet-long Aquarius Art Tunnel connecting two terminals is the brainchild of Indian American contemporary artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee.
Four years in the making, the art is an audio-visual treat for travelers en-route to exotic destinations, the brightly colored murals in vivid reds, blues, greens, and yellows fill the walls from floor to ceiling, evoking a sense of hope and optimism towards nature, the oceans, and abundant underwater life. The tunnel showcases species of fish, coral, sharks, dolphins, barracudas, lobsters, manta rays, and, even, oil rigs, among many other creatures that call the oceans their home. The floor of the tunnel is a coral carpet, inspired by the artist’s deep-sea dives at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the Texas coast, and the accompanying sounds are a combination of classical music and the artist’s own meditative, underwater breath, created by Andrew Karnavas. “This tunnel is a simple act of kindness to the environment,” said Mahimtura Folmsbee at the official unveiling of the project. “We can all work together to invest in our environment, and here in our city, through small acts of kindness, let us protect our waterways, as they are interconnected to our planet through each and every one of us. Water is OURS – for ALL of us!”
Last week, The United Nations Decades of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNESCO) endorsed the Aquarius Art Tunnel as a site for its scientific and educational importance towards ocean conservation through artistic outreach as an immersive art installation; it has also been endorsed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sanctuary in Galveston. The project was commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, on behalf of the Houston Airport System, through the city’s Civic Art Program and the Houston Arts Alliance.
“The power of Janavi’s work will be experienced by passengers because they will feel uplifted and ready to battle their journey ahead, while taking a piece of our Texas coast with them…and a greater sense of responsibility of being custodians of the earth,” said Theresa Escobedo, Civic Art Program Manager for the City of Houston, and part of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
“Facilitating this type of passenger experience from an international artist like Janavi is both a personal and professional pleasure,” said Alton DuLaney, Curator of Public Art for the Houston Airports. “And the fact that the inspiration material for this work is quietly located right off the coast of Texas increases the identity and sense of place for the airport which we strive to deliver through our passenger engagement initiatives.
The Consul General of India in Houston, The Honorable Aseem R. Mahajan, pointed out the commonalities in culture and values between India and the U.S. and how Texas is now home to the second largest Indian community in the country. “Janavi’s work is very vibrant, and as people walk through the tunnel, it will be a shining symbol of the India-U.S. partnership,” he said. The tunnel also has a special significance for Mahimtura Folmsbee; it is where she, and countless others, take the flight home to India. “I hope to create a bridge between science and art,” she said. “I want to shine a light on an essential natural resource, marine life, that is in dire need of our help, now more than ever.”
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
Hip Hop Nutcracker. (Photo : Courtesy NJPAC)Featuring MC Kurtis Blow
Saturday, December 17, 2022 2PM & 7:30PM @ Prudential Hall
NJPAC’s original holiday extravaganza remixes and re-imagines Tchaikovsky’s ballet with supercharged hip hop choreography (njpac.org/event/hip-hop-nutcracker-5/).
A dozen unstoppable all-star dancers go full-out from start to finish, wrapping the classic story of ‘The Nutcracker’ in New York City style. Expect twists, turns and tons of fun in this full-length show that celebrates love, community and the magic of the season. Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, sets the mood as NJPAC’s guest MC.
In what has become an annual NJPAC tradition, the State Ballet Theater of Ukraine returns with the beloved holiday favorite, ‘The Nutcracker’ (njpac.org/event/the-nutcracker-the-state-ballet-theatre-of-ukraine). Set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score and featuring brand new choreography and productions by Andrey Litvinov, the State Ballet Theater of Ukraine premiered this revised version of “The Nutcracker” to a full house in Dnipro, Ukraine, on December 30-31, 2020. Choreography and design lasted for many months with the pandemic constantly disrupting the process. Fortunately, this new interpretation of a timeless classic still managed to be completed.
TICKETS
For tickets to the Nutcracker events, visit NJPAC.org or the box office at 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
NJPAC, located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.
Through its extensive Arts Education programs, which have reached almost 2 million children, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
For more information on NJPAC, location, transportation, directions and parking, visit njpac.org or the box office at 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
Follow NJPAC Online:
Website: njpac.org
Twitter: @NJPAC
Instagram: @NJPAC
Hashtag: #NJPAC
Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC
YouTube: NJPACtv
Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:
Website: njpac.org/takeastand
Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand
Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
ALL ARE INVITED TO GATHER FOR A FULL DAY OF CELEBRATIONS AT NJPAC’S ANNUAL KWANZAA FAMILY FESTIVAL
Free children’s activities, performances, Artisan Marketplace and more
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022 10AM – 10PM
Thousands are expected to gather on the campus of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on December 17 as the venue’s annual Kwanzaa Family Festival returns as an in-person celebration. The festival has been held at NJPAC for more than a decade, and activates the Arts Center’s entire campus during one of its busiest holiday weekends. “We are so excited to welcome our whole community back to this so-much-loved celebration, one of the longest-running Arts Center traditions,” said Eyesha Marable, NJPAC’s Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement. “It’s something we’ve been looking forward to over the past two years. Virtual events are great, but there’s nothing like seeing this whole building filled with families, children and elders enjoying the season.”
FESTIVAL: MARKETPLACE, ACTIVITIES & PERFORMANCES
Free performances will be held every hour in the Arts Center’s Prudential Hall Lobby from 10AM to 10PM. Free family activities including dance and drumming classes, face painting, storytelling, child-friendly arts and crafts workshops, plus a coat and toy give-away for the children of the community, will be held throughout NJPAC’s indoor campus from 10AM to 2PM. Each event and activity embodies one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, a holiday dedicated to celebrating African-American culture and community.
A Kwanzaa candle-lighting ceremony and a Vibunzi — a tradition of honoring young people with an ear of corn (or in this case, a slice of cornbread) to represent the hope for the future they bring — will be a highlight of the day’s celebration.
In addition, the Arts Center’s annual Kwanzaa Artisan Marketplace featuring local crafters, artists and merchants, will fill both the Prudential Lobby and the hallways outside Prudential Hall’s First and Second tier entrances all weekend.
The Marketplace will also be open on Friday, December 16, from 7 to 11PM, before and after a performance by Cuban Salsa Stars Willy Chirino and Leoni Torres (njpac.org/event/willy-chirino-leoni-torres), on Saturday, December 17, from 10 AM to 10 PM before and after ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ (njpac.org/event/hip-hop-nutcracker-5/) and on Sunday, December 18 from 2 to 6PM, before and after The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s performance of the traditional holiday ballet, ‘The Nutcracker’ (njpac.org/event/the-nutcracker-the-state-ballet-theatre-of-ukraine)
The Marketplace will be open throughout the festival and during Saturday’s two performances of NJPAC’s own genre-blending holiday production.
For the first time, the Kwanzaa Festival is presented in collaboration with a collective of the city’s other anchor cultural institutions including the Newark Museum of Art, Newark Arts, Newark Symphony Hall, and the Newark Public Library, as well as in partnership with the City of Newark.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the Family Festival opens at 9AM in person, and activities continue from 10AM to 2PM; to get the full schedule, visit to get a complete schedule of activities, visit njpac.org/about/community-engagement/virtual-kwanzaa-festival-and-marketplace. Families can also register in advance at NJPAC.org or through the registration form at njpac.tfaforms.net/145?id=a2F8X000008wMn9UAE
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by activist and author Maulana Karenga to offer people of African heritage a holiday that would celebrate their culture. Kwanzaa encompasses seven days dedicated to seven principles, also known as the Nguzo Saba. The Kwanzaa principles are Umoja (Unity),Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Each activity or event at NJPAC’s Kwanzaa Festival embodies one of the seven principles.
The Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade this year, marking an end of nearly half a century of the constitutional right to abortion. As states establish their own abortion guidelines and restrictions, there’s no question that women of color will be disproportionately affected. At NJPAC’s community event, the panel will discuss the impact on Black and Brown communities in the context of the documentary ‘Supreme Revenge: Battle for the Court,’ which shows how our nation’s highest court solidified its conservative majority.
To Participate:
Register at njpac.tfaforms.net/145?id=a2F8X000008xmRrUAI
Watch the film Supreme Revenge: Battle for the Court on PBS.org (pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/supreme-revenge) from home on your own schedule.
Join the panelists for a virtual panel discussion at 7PM on Monday, December 19.
PANELISTS:
Jackie Cornell, Chief Government Relations Officer with Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey (PPNCSNJ), and the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAFNJ)
Kimberly Mutcherson, Co-Dean and Professor of Law at Rutgers with a focus on reproductive justice
Joshua Prager, Journalist and Author of The Family Roe
Dr. Simone Manigault, Pediatrician who specializes in adolescent care
MODERATOR:
Amol Sinha, moderator. (Photo : Courtesy NJPAC)
Amol Sinha, Executive Director of ACLU New Jersey.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
For more information on NJPAC, location, transportation, directions and parking, visit njpac.org or the box office at 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
Follow NJPAC Online:
Website: njpac.org
Twitter: @NJPAC
Instagram: @NJPAC
Hashtag: #NJPAC
Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC
YouTube: NJPACtv
Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:
Website: njpac.org/takeastand
Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand
Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
It’s A Wonderful Life. (Photo : courtesy whartonarts.org)
By Mabel Pais
Wharton Community Players of Wharton Arts, New Jersey’s largest non-profit community performing arts education organization, present a family-friendly production of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ (myboxoffice.us/program/wharton-community-players-present-its-a-wonderful-life-the-radio-play-1794) in the intimate Wharton Black Box Theater in Berkeley Heights, NJ, December 9-18, 2022.
Audiences are welcome to eight shows during the holiday season from December 9-18 in what is sure to be an uplifting event for the entire family. John A.C. Kennedy directs Joe Landry’s “outstanding” and “inspiring” (KPBS San Diego) live radio play adaptation of Frank Capra’s film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’
Opening night is on Friday, December 9. Ticket holders for the evening performance on Saturday, December 17 will be treated to a complimentary pre-show reception in the Wharton Arts lobby.
The beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast with the help of an ensemble cast. Five Wharton Community Players actors perform the voices of dozens of characters to portray the story of idealistic George Bailey as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. As in the movie, George must learn that “no man is a failure who has friends” when he must face off against local robber baron and curmudgeon Henry F. Potter.
It’s a ‘Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ is “a surefire reminder of what this season is all about” – Edge Magazine.
Kennedy said, “Like live theater, live radio was an exciting genre where anything could happen. This staged radio production of ‘It’s a Wonderful’ Life delivers the dynamic, uplifting message of the classic American Christmas story along with a few surprises, thanks to the relationships between our quirky radio personalities. And isn’t any live performance a little more exciting when something unexpected happens and performers must adapt on the fly?”
TICKETS
Purchase tickets at www.WhartonArts.org. Seniors and Students receive discounts.
Wharton Arts
Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities. Wharton Arts’ vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible for everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving nearly 2,000 students through a range of classes and ensembles. The 5 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, encourage a love and appreciation of choral music while nurturing personal growth and creative development. The 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve over 500 students in grades 3–12 by audition, inspire young people to achieve musical excellence through high-level ensemble training and performance opportunities. Based in Paterson, the Paterson Music Project is an El Sistema-inspired program of Wharton Arts that uses music education as a vehicle for social action by empowering and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing. From Pathways classes for young children to Lifelong Learning programs for adults, the Wharton Performing Arts School has a robust musical theater and drama program and offers both private and group classes for instruments and voice for all ages and all abilities. With the belief in the positive and unifying influence of music and that performing arts education should be accessible to all people regardless of their ability to pay, Wharton Arts offers need-based scholarships.
Wharton Arts is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 12 counties. All of Wharton Arts’ extraordinary teaching artists, faculty members, and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable the students to achieve their personal best.
Ganesha says, Dear Aries, this week will be filled with multiple joyous occasions. Practically speaking, you will succeed in everything you start this week. You won’t be able to do the chores necessary by your occupation if you are overloaded. If you operate in the manufacturing industry, you will need to make extra efforts to get your agendas finished. in the latter half of the week, will be the best time to deal in intraday investment latter This week, your love life will get richer once more. Your dating life will get a boost. Your partner would experience at home in your household if you recently got engaged. This week, mindfulness will help you remain calm. This week, be sure to follow a minimal regimen.
Taurus
Ganesha says, this week you will be able to make quite the right decisions in terms of your career and personal life. Administrators will get additional assistance for their undertaking this week. The moment to make the changes you’ve been wanting to for a while is this week. Reorganization proposals will be made to employees in the financial sector this week. This week, all within your relationship will feel completely new. Your secret admirer will confess their love for you, reigniting your relationship with them. The youth of this week must put their wellness first. Adults have the perfect week to start a new workout regimen.
Gemini
Ganesha says, this week you will be full of enthusiasm and energy. You will certainly look out for good things you postponed earlier. You’ll depend more on the knowledge and abilities of others working in the professional realm this week. This week will witness a significant improvement in the financial situation for family business employees. This week, as your relationship deepens, your strength will rise. Your love life will be infiltrated with delight this week. This week, digestive discomfort will lead to certain medical issues, so take care.
Cancer
Ganesha says,this week, professional trips will be more beneficial. Don’t be reluctant to express opinions on matters that have been given permission. Developing multiple business plans will be advantageous to you. This week, when your partner expresses their concerns about things that have been upsetting them, your connection will get better. This week, you should be a little worried about your spouse’s health. You’ll probably Be fine, but your companion needs your attention.
Leo
Ganesha says,you’ll get a lot of positive things from this week. Their children’s endeavors will provide economic support for their parents. Your ability to persist will determine how successful you are this week. When excellent wedding proposals are bought by anyone you know completely, those who are experiencing trouble choosing the right partner for a wedding will see their lives take a fresh direction. Athletics or meditation are both recommended for this week. Avoid eating any fatty or expired meals this week.
Virgo
Ganesha says, Individuals waiting for alternative jobs or internships may find it hard to put their search on hold this week as your week will bring lot of good things. You will not get your income back this week if you borrow it, so be careful. This week, old disputes and tensions will be settled, allowing you to restart your positive phase. It is possible to unwind by hearing to calming tunes. It’s obvious that you’ve been under pressure this week.
Libra
Ganesha says, Dear Libra, this week will bring you new ideas and confidence within yourself. The advice this week will direct your business decisions in the proper direction. You will also get a better-paying employment contract this week, but you won’t learn anything that will assist you in progressing in your career. This week, you’ll be worried about finding affection. If you don’t allow the stress in your life to impact your romantic relationships, everything will be OK. This week, you’ll need to pay close attention to your diet. You must completely abstain from processed food and only eat fresh nourishment.
Scorpio
Ganesha says, Dear Scorpio, this week will be filled with new learnings and fresh perspectives. Negative events nowadays are having an impact on your company’s operations but, this week you will be able to control the losses. It will be challenging for individuals to balance their time while pursuing university schooling and operating a business at the same time. Partnership amongst colleagues will assist those in vocations. The couples will actually get to understand one another and adjust to married life this week. Solitary individuals will keep looking for somebody with comparable hobbies. This week will be a bit stressful for you, so give yourself some additional time to unwind.
Sagittarius
Ganesha says, Dear Sagittarius, your kind nature will bring you closer to the best aspects of your destiny. This week, you need to concentrate on discussions happening around you since being an excellent communicator would offer you additional numerous opportunities. The right financiers will find your firm idea this week. This week, you’ll plan a rendezvous with your partner. It’s possible that your partner will ask for approval for marriage or engagement. You would be able to give your health some thought this week. You’ll need to focus more on the wellness of your kids.
Capricorn
Ganesha says, this week, if you behave politely, you will succeed in all your trials. When choosing your firm this week, you should take all relevant considerations into account. It would be wise to distribute funds or execute contracts this week. This week, you’ll experience pleasant and desirable since your mate will be in the condition to complement you on especially the smallest aspects. You run the danger of getting hurt this week. Ensure you commute securely this week. Overall, this week will be all well and settled and way better than you anticipate it to be.
Aquarius
Ganesha says, Dear Aquarius, this week will bring surety and assurance in your decisions. This week, those who are unsure about their career options will have the opportunity to choose the right skills for their future. This week, you have an excellent possibility of making it big on the financial markets. Your popularity will improve this week as well. This week, your boyfriend could offer you a gift. If you are married, you won’t feel pressured to put a lot of effort into making your partnership better. Keep the loosened strands out of the way. This week, your relatives will be checking on your well-being. You’ll be protected this week thanks to their medical advice.
Pisces
Ganesha says, Dear Pisces, this week is of self-reliance. By asking the incorrect individual for assistance this week, you will set yourself up for problems. This week, you’ll be able to approach your work with passion, which unquestionably yields fruitful results. Attend the events and celebrations this week; there’s now a strong chance you’ll run across somebody important. Look for solid qualifications at the conferences you participate in this week. You must consume a lot of lukewarm water this week to safeguard yourself from respiratory infections. A bad weekend to go outdoors is also this one.
Ganesha says your efficiency and tenacity enable you to surpass expectations and maintain an advantage over others, but you must restrain your occasional tendency to act stubborn and jealously. Nowadays, your capacity to manage significant duties would determine your ability to progress professionally. Be extremely cautious when lending money and take additional care with your jewels and other valuable possessions. A tremendous asset for you would be your significant other. This person would add comfort and enjoyment to your daily existence.
December 13
Ganesha says people respect you for your ability to make snap judgments, but you need to rein in your occasionally moody and careless behavior. Your boss would think highly of you because of your commitment to your work. Later in the year, some people might take trips abroad. All year long, your partner will cooperate and show you love and affection. Although you might not have received the financial rewards you had hoped for for your efforts, seniority and respect are definitely yours.
December 14
Ganesha says even though you have a genuine heart for your friends, you need to learn to curb your occasionally moody, domineering, and jealous behavior. You would relish making new friends today and exploring new locations. You would have the energy and creativity to tackle any issue head-on with conviction and dedication. To make your relationship stronger, engage in activities you both find enjoyable. Your family will support you and show you love and affection. Your main inspiration would come from your beloved.
December 15
Ganesha says you put a lot of effort into your work, are dedicated, and have excellent control over it. Try to avoid entering into any new joint ventures or business partnerships today. Although they will be very alluring, partnerships are not advised for the first six months. Through social interactions, a new romance will emerge. It is possible that your parents’ health will cause you some stress and worry. Prior to entering into any financial agreements or signing any new contracts, you must exercise extreme caution.
December 16
Ganesha says you are incredibly gifted, and even at such a young age, you manage a lot of responsibilities. Along with being brave, you are also bold. A brand-new stage of your career would begin for you, one that might not be particularly creative but is expected to yield good financial benefits. Despite your inconsistent behavior at times, your spouse will be very accommodating and show you her complete love and affection. By attending social events and travelling, long-lasting connections would be made.
December 17
Ganesha says although you have a pleasant personality, you need to curb your occasionally aggressive, irritable, and extravagant behavior. You might witness new endeavors and plans coming to fruition to your advantage today. You would start new partnerships, and you would earn money from various sources. Your confidence and morale would both be boosted by the support of your partners and coworkers. A significant source of emotional support would be your spouse in particular.
December 18
Ganesha says you have a great appreciation for art and literature; you need to rein in your occasionally careless, envious, and stubborn behavior. The extra work you do in your spare time would be the main reason for your income to increase. In the final quarter of the year, some people would hear wedding bells, while others would find romance to keep them in the right frame of mind and in a good mood. There would be calmness at home, and family members would offer their full assistance and cooperation.
The Spanish soccer federation said on Thursday that Luis Enrique will not continue as coach of the men’s national team following its elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup. The announcement comes two days after Spain lost to Morocco 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw in regular and extra time. The federation thanked Luis Enrique but said it was time to “start a new project” to keep the growth achieved by the coach in recent years.
Spain got off to a good start in Qatar, routing Costa Rica 7-0, but La Roja couldn’t win again in its last three matches. It drew Germany 1-1 and lost 2-1 to Japan before being held by Morocco. Luis Enrique took over the national team in 2018 to start revamping the squad after its elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia. He temporarily left because of the illness and eventual death of his young daughter, but returned in 2019.
He helped Spain reach the last four of the Nations League twice, including this season and last year, when it lost the final to France. He also led Spain to the semifinals of the European Championship in 2020, losing to Italy in a penalty shootout.
Qatar (TIP)- Brazil seek to become the first team through to the World Cup semi-finals on Friday, while Argentina could set up a blockbuster all-South American clash if they get past the Netherlands.
After three weeks of pulsating action, just eight teams are left standing as the 32-nation tournament heads into the final rounds of the knockout competition after a two-day break.
Five-time champions Brazil kick off the quarter-finals against surprise 2018 runners-up Croatia, with Neymar fit and firing again after an ankle injury he suffered in the opening game.
“I’ll be doing everything that I can to win with the Brazilian national team. That’s our mission and our dream,” said Neymar. “We’re getting ever closer, we’ve got another step to go now.”
Croatia are a much-changed team from the one that reached the final four years ago, but 37-year-old Luka Modric remains the player that makes them tick.
“I agree that we did a great thing by getting to the quarter-finals but regardless of that we would like to do more,” said Modric, who will come up against his Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao in the match at Education City Stadium.
“We know that the greatest match is ahead of us. Brazil are always favourites. We have to be ourselves.”
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is hoping to finally end his wait for a World Cup title with Argentina, after losing the final to Germany in extra time eight years ago. The Copa America holders go up against the Netherlands in Friday’s second quarter-final at Lusail Stadium, the venue for the December 18 final.
The two countries have met five previous times at the World Cup, including in the 1978 final, which Argentina won 3-1 after extra time. Argentina have never beaten the Dutch in 90 minutes.
It is a repeat of their 2014 semi-final clash in Brazil, where the South Americans won on penalties following a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes. “In 2014 I was there and things ended slightly differently (to how we wanted) but I’d like to change that now,” Dutch forward Memphis Depay said at a pre-match press conference. After Argentina’s shock loss to Saudi Arabia in their first match, Messi has dazzled in Qatar and the Dutch will have to nullify his effect on the game. “We’re not going to reveal our tactics to you (about stopping Messi). It would be pretty stupid to reveal your own tactics,” coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.
“Messi is the most dangerous creative player, he is able to create a lot and to score goals himself. But when they lose the ball he doesn’t participate much, this gives us chances,” he said.
Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Gaya District of Bihar. Famous for the Mahabodhi Temple, It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a lot of foreign countries, including Japan and China, have helped the Indian government in building facilities for the Buddhist pilgrims. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year from India and abroad who come to pay their homage in monasteries, temples and remnants of Bodhi Tree.
Located near the river Neranjana, Bodh Gaya was earlier known as Uruwela. It was also known as Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi until the 18th century CE. It is one of the four important Buddhist sites that include: Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath.
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi temple, also called the “Great Awakening Temple”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bodhgaya, Bihar. It is a Buddhist temple that marks the location where the Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Lord Buddha holds a very significant place in the religious history of India as he is believed to be the 9th and the most recent incarnation of Lord Vishnu to have walked the earth. The temple spreads over an area of a whopping 4.8 hectares and is 55 meters tall. The Bodhi Tree is situated to the left of the temple and is believed to be the direct descendant of the actual tree under which Lord Gautam Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment and laid down his philosophy for life. The original temple was built by Emperor Ashoka after he turned to Buddhism in order to seek peace and solitude from war and conquests.
The great Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya in around 260 BC. During his visit, he constructed a small temple by a tree, which was the Bodhi tree- the tree under which Gautam Buddha was sitting when he attained enlightenment. An inscription dated back to between 1st century and 2nd century read that the temple built by Emperor Ashoka was replaced by a new one.
Many monks and devotees can be seen performing countless prostrations to the tree. It’s a purificatory ritual, and some monks are known to do up to 1,00,000 prostrations at one time. The architecture of the temple and its overall silence and peace will surely enchant you as you visit it.
Great Buddha Statue
This statue of Lord Buddha is the tallest in India and was instated by the XIV Dalai Lama in 1989. It is a meditating Buddha resting on a giant lotus, constructed using intricately carved sandstone and red granite.
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi Tree, located 100 kilometres to the south of Patna in the north Indian state of Bihar, is perhaps the most prominent and respected sacred places in Buddhism because of the rich historical significance attached to it. It is under this tree that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who later became to be known as the Buddha, attained enlightenment. It is believed that Prince Siddhartha had to sit and meditate under this tree for seven days. Later on, a shrine known as Animisalocana Cetiya was erected on the spot where he had sat down. A small temple was also built near the Bodhi tree in the 7th century.
The Bodhi tree is a frequently visited destination spot by tourists and is one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In fact, the Anandabodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, both of which are again significant places that find mention in the history of Buddhism, are believed to have been propagated from this tree here at Bodh Gaya. The aura of the Bodhi tree and the temple complex in which this tree is located have attracted sages, meditators and yogis to it ever since the time of the Buddha. Great and renowned spiritual figures like Buddhajnana, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Nagarjuna and Atisha, have lived and meditated underneath the historically and religiously significant Bodhi Tree. Bodh Gaya is also popular for its UNESCO World Heritage Site- the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which is just beside the tree. Religious people, as well as lovers of history, find this place especially fascinating.
Thai Monastery
Well known for its curved roof covered with exquisite tiles of gold, the Thai Monastery houses a bronze statue of Buddha and another recently erected 25m high statue in the garden.
Mahabodhi Temple
This book store offers a wide range of collection of Buddhist books, books on Buddhist culture and history of Mahabodhi Temple.
Royal Bhutan Monastery
The Royal Bhutan Monastery has been named so, as it was built by the King of Bhutan as a dedication to Lord Buddha. Clay carvings are seen on the interior walls of the monastery that depict different aspects of the Buddhist culture.
Cankamana
Situated along the Bodhi Temple, Cankamana is a holy shrine featuring a carving of Lord Buddha’s feet into the black stone lotuses. Source: Holidfy
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