NEW YORK (TIP): New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the guilty plea of Charles Epps, a former New York State Correction Officer who collected over $35,000 in workers’ compensation indemnity benefits to which he was not entitled.
Epps, 56, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty yesterday in Erie County Court before Honorable Paul B. Wojtaszek to Insurance Fraud in the 3rd degree and Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, both of which are class D felony charges under NYS Penal Law.
Prompted by a referral from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), the Inspector General’s investigation established that on May 8, 2020, Epps claimed to have been injured while working at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, NY. He subsequently made a claim for workers’ compensation benefits and in July 2020 went out of work claiming a disability from the May injury. Epps received lost wage payments from DOCCS and the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) from July 2020 to November 2022.
While he collected indemnity benefits, Epps completed NYSIF Work Activity Reports and Independent Medical Examination questionnaires which falsely represented a lack of work activity. The Inspector General’s investigation revealed, however, that Epps began working as a motor coach operator for New York Trailways during this time period and was regularly assigned to operate a roundtrip bus route between Buffalo and New York City.
As a result of his misrepresentations to NYSIF, Epps fraudulently obtained $35,544.67 in workers’ compensation benefits. Additionally, a related investigation by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) uncovered that Epps also fraudulently collected $16,907.40 in Social Security Disability benefits through concealment of his employment as a bus driver.
Epps was terminated from DOCCS during the investigation.
“All New Yorkers should be outraged that DOCCS is facing a daily staffing crisis due in large part to abuses of the Workers’ Compensation system,” said Inspector General Lucy Lang. “That this correction officer was uniquely situated to understand the impact that his unjustified absence posed to the safety of staff and incarcerated individuals alike, but still prioritized his own self-interest is unconscionable.”
“In addition to pleading guilty yesterday, I am pleased to announce that this defendant has been ordered to pay back the money he stole from the taxpayers of New York,” said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn. “I would like to thank the New York State Inspector General’s Office and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for their work on this investigation and their partnership with my office. Together, we will continue to uncover the criminals who defraud the state systems that help the injured and disabled and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Inspector General Lang thanked the members of her staff responsible for handling this important matter, including Investigator Erynn Migaj, Senior Investigator Maren Robinson-Traber, former investigator Mark LaMonte, and Investigative Counsel Jill Florkowski, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Jeffrey Hagen and Chief Investigator Martin Stanford.
Inspector General Lang also thanked the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General for their partnership on this case, the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations for their referral, and the New York State Insurance Fund for their cooperation. Lang also thanked Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn and his office for their diligent work prosecuting this matter.
BRIDGEWATER, NJ (TIP): Well known around the world for his mastery of the Mridangam, a percussion instrument that is a primary rhythmic accompaniment in Carnatic music ensemble, and with expertise in various other percussion instruments, including konnakol (vocal percussion), thavil, ghatam, kanjira, and morsing, T. S. Nandakumar is a world renowned south Indian music artist, showcasing his versatility in Carnatic music, has devoted his entire life to the cause of popularizing Indian classical music around the world.
T. Shankaranarayanan Nandakumar, popularly known as “TSN” has played a pivotal role in spreading the knowledge about Indian drums, particularly the mridangam in the United States through his stage performances at prestigious orchestras, participation in global music events, educational initiatives and contributions, collaborations, global impact, and philanthropic endeavors. He has demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility through charity work, including organizing a 24-hour non-stop Akanda Seva Bhajan in aid of India’s tsunami victims.
T. Shankaranarayanan Nandakumar is being honored.
Nandakumar’s belief that “Music is like a horizon which is never ending and has no boundaries” has enabled him to take music wherever he went. TSN’s participation in international festivals and workshops has contributed to the global awareness of Indian percussion, showcasing the richness of Indian drumming traditions and providing a platform for cross-cultural exchange. By actively participating in musical collaborations and performances in the United States, TSN not only showcases the beauty of the mridangam but also educates audiences about the intricacies and significance of this traditional Indian percussion instrument.
As a percussionist, TSN has accompanied luminaries in Carnatic music, including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. D. Ramanathan, Bhimsen Joshi, T. N. Krishnan, M. Balamuralikrishna and others. His role as an accompanist has greatly enhanced the events with the performances of these eminent artists.
Through his musical engagements, TSN engages in a form of cultural diplomacy, fostering an appreciation for Indian music and drumming traditions. This indirect form of education occurs as audiences experience the artistry and cultural depth of the mridangam during performances.
“Through music you can reach god,” says Nandakumar and wants to spread this path to the Almighty. Not satisfied with his own mastery of classical Indian music, TSN took upon himself the mission to spread Carnatic music around the world. He established TSN’s Percussive Arts Centre. Inc (TSNPAC), where students are trained in diverse instruments. Since its inception in 1998 in Mumbai, India, TSNPAC has evolved into a hub for students to refine their skills and collaborate within the realm of Carnatic arts. Upon migrating to New Jersey, USA, TSN seamlessly incorporated TSNPAC, offering courses in higher learning for Carnatic percussion enthusiasts in the United States. Today, TSNPAC stands as a beacon for aspiring artists seeking to master the intricacies of Carnatic percussion. It’s well known around the world that through TSNPAC, TSN has played a very important role in teaching and training students in diverse percussion instruments, including the mridangam. In addition, Internationally famous musical institutions have tapped into TSN’s expertise, hosting his performances and though his highly acclaimed special, lectures in percussive arts.
Performing at the Thyagaraja Festival is a prestigious and culturally significant experience for Carnatic musicians. The Thyagaraja Aradhana is an annual music festival held to commemorate the legendary Carnatic composer Saint Thyagaraja. TSNPAC conducts Thyagaraja Festival to commemorate the legendary Carnatic composer Saint Thyagaraja. Thyagaraja Aaradhana Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, which is the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India.
“I feel very good about my accomplishment in spreading my knowledge about music to everyone. I have students all over the world, students of Indian origin and from other nationalities, some of them have become full time musicians and are accompanying renowned artists,” Nandakumar says with pride. TSNPAC, in addition to providing training to music enthusiasts, has successfully organized numerous annual events by notable artists in Carnatic music, including luminaries such as K J Yesudas, N. Rajam, N. Ramani, A. Kanyakumari, and L. Subramaniam.
Mridangam Arangetrams are held annually at TSNPAC, where graduating students perform along with accomplished artists, without prior rehearsal, which is a unique approach that serves as a culminating experience for their graduation from the Center.
The festival is characterized by an atmosphere of devotion, celebrating the profound impact Thyagaraja had on the Carnatic music tradition. Musicians engaged in marathon music sessions, presenting a repertoire of kritis (compositions) composed by Thyagaraja. The festival features continuous music performances, creating an immersive experience for both performers and the audience.
TSNPAC’s significant milestones include a decennial celebration marked by a grand performance featuring over 100 students. The center conducts Mridangam Arangetram annually, where students, without prior rehearsal, accompany main artists like A. Kanyakumari, culminating in a graduation ceremony. Notably, TSNPAC’s influence extends globally, with 108 professional student performances, including drumming, at the Cleveland Thyagaraja festival. Many of his students have achieved high accolades as professionals and have become graded artists by All India Radio. They follow in his footsteps by training their own students in the style of TSN and continuing to promote Carnatic percussive arts.
In addition to training students of South Asian students, several artists from the West, who are now well known for their expertise in Carnatic Music include: Paula Jeanine, Todd Isler, Johann Berby, Guillaume Barraud, Will Calhoun, Bill Buchen, Lenora Zenzlai Helm, and Bernhard Schimpelsberger.
TSN’s discography, featuring solo performances and collaborations with various artists, serves as a valuable resource for those interested in Indian percussion. His recorded works contribute to the preservation and dissemination of this musical knowledge. His album, “Jewels of Rhythm” by his ensemble has earned him high accolades. Nandakumar composed and released Jewels of Rhythm Vol 1, Jewels of Rhythm Vol 2 and Jewels of Rhythm Vol 3 which were performed by his students. Vibrative Rhythms by TSN is a fusion of Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western music as a one-man ensemble of mridangam, konnakol, thavil, ghatam, kanjira and the morsing played by himself.
Author of several books, with the objective of educating students to the themes of Indian Percussive Arts, TSN is currently working on writing books that covers advanced topics.
Son of Shrimati Saraswati and Shri Balakrishna Panicker, a great supporter of the arts as member of the Devaswom board in Kerala and actively involved in promoting Carnatic devotional music in temples and organizing concerts, TSN was born in the village of Ambalappuzha in Kerala, India. As a child, he was fascinated with the rhythmic chants and bhajans that would emanate from the various temples, was introduced to his Guru, Shri Kaithavana Madhavadas, where he was trained in the gurukula samprada tradition of Carnatic music. Nandakumar soon became a ‘Laya Vidwan’ due to his mastery of Carnatic percussive components: Laya, Raaga, Thaala and Bhava .
“At a very early age I started learning mridangam (A South Indian Classical Carnatic double-sided drum) because I was fascinated about percussion and its beats when my uncle’s (Shri Amabalapuzha Brothers) concert was held in the temple where I used to put Thalam,” recalls Nandakumar. “When I started learning I enjoyed playing mridangam and other percussion instruments. I was so passionate about it that I got into teaching mridangam and other percussion instruments and making people aware about the importance of music.”
As a young prodigy, TSN gained a reputation as an accompanist to renowned Carnatic musicians such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.D. Ramanathan, S. Ramanathan, R. K. Srikantan, V. Dakshinamurthy, Bhimsen Joshi, N. Ramani, M. Balamuralikrishna, T. N. Krishnan, K. J. Yesudas, N. Rajam, T. K. Govindarao, Nedunuri Krishnanmurthy, T. V. Gopalakrishnan, Parassala . B. Ponnamal, A. Kanyakumari, M. Chandrasekaran, D. K. Jayaraman, B. V. Raman, B. V. Lakshmanan and many others.
In his recognition of his great accomplishments, he was honored with The Lifetime Achievement Award by the Shanti Foundation in Chennai. He was awarded the “Best Teacher Award” from several organizations with the most prominent being awarded by Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and the Cleveland Thygaraja Aaradhana Festival and by the Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai in 2007, Bharat Ratna Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Sangeetha Pracharya Award), and Visionary Award by Academy of Indian Music, USA.
Acknowledging contributions to the world of music, TSNPAC has bestowed prestigious titles upon distinguished artists. In 2022, the center conferred the title “Ranjakagayakasiromanih” (The Crown Jewel among those singers whose music is charming) upon the legendary K J Yesudas. A. Kanyakumari was honored with the title “Sasvatanadavidushi” (One Who Is Adept in Music Which Is Ishvara).
Dedicating his entire life to the spreading of Carnatic Music, Nandakumar has been highly sought after as a teacher in India as well as abroad. In Mumbai, TSN trained students at large institutions like Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Chembur Fine Arts, Gana kala, Music Triangle and Naadalaya.
He has conducted several musical concerts, lectures, demonstrations, and workshops at universities in the United States abroad like Lamar University of Houston and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. TSN also spent some time conducting special classes in percussive arts at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Pittsburgh, the Academy of Indian Music in New Jersey and Switzerland. He also conducted 24 hours nonstop Akanda Seva Bhajan (Offered a Prayer through the medium of music) with his students in Mumbai for the tsunami affected victims of India.
He continues to provide opportunities for his students to perform by conducting seminars specific to accompaniment to other Indian art forms, such as Bharatnatyam Dance recitals and vocal or instrumental concerts, as well as through Talent Exposure Concert Series which are published on YouTube to give students a forum to display their prowess.
Beyond geographical confines, TSNPAC continues to host performances not only in New Jersey but also in various parts of the United States. As a nurturing ground for Carnatic percussion, TSNPAC’s legacy embodies a commitment to excellence, providing a platform for students to explore and flourish in the rich tapestry of Carnatic music.
Looking back into his life’s mission, Nandakumar says, “My aim of contributing to Carnatic music by spreading knowledge has successful and I forever am indebted to my parents and my teacher. I feel even more proud that some of my students have become masters of mridangam and it’s an honor knowing that the knowledge I shared with my students is now spreading to around the world, imparting to many generations.”
TSN’s commitment to promoting local talent and fostering cultural exchange remains unwavering. He has invited senior artists from India for the upcoming TSNPAC annual events with the objective of creating a global stage for collaborative performances.
Don’t miss this cultural extravaganza that promises to transcend boundaries and create lasting memories. Join us for an unforgettable musical journey at Sri Balaji Temple in Bridgewater.
Prepare to be captivated by a Rhythmic Extravaganza, an enchanting spectacle of rhythm, melody, and cultural celebration as T. S. Nandakumar (TSN), the maestro of Carnatic percussion presents an extraordinary event at Sri Balaji Temple in Bridgewater on March 17, 2024, from 9 am to 1 pm.
Event Highlights:
Multifaceted Performances: Join different groups of percussionists, including students of TSN, along with talented musicians playing Violin, Flute, Veena, and Vocal.
Diverse Instruments: Experience the soul-stirring sounds of Mridangam, Ghatam, Kanjira, Morsing, Thavil, and Konnakol, creating a symphony of percussion.
Artistic Fusion: Enjoy dance recitals by students of TSN, mastering Nattuvangam, a South Indian rhythmic recitation, and percussion, creating a seamless fusion of arts.
Music Cum Percussion Ensemble: Be part of a unique ensemble featuring students across age groups, showcasing the rich diversity of talents from ages 4 to 60.
Book Release: Witness the unveiling of TSN’s latest book, a testament to his deep-rooted knowledge and contribution to Carnatic percussion.
Distinguished Chief Guest: Dr. Venkataraman Swaminathan, a revered musicologist, will grace the occasion, releasing TSN’s book and adding to the cultural richness of the event.
Star Performance: TSN himself will take the stage in the climax, inspiring and boosting the spirits of the budding talents.
LONDON (TIP): A 33-year-old Indian-origin woman on Wednesday, March 6, appeared before a UK court charged with the murder of her 10-year-old daughter, who was found dead at their home in a town in the West Midlands region of England. Jaskirat Kaur, also known as Jasmine Kang, appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Shay Kang, described as “bright and fun-loving” in a tribute from her school. West Midlands Police said the girl had been found with injuries at an address in Rowley Regis on Monday and pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our thoughts remain with Shay’s family and friends. Her tragic death has had a profound impact on those who knew her as well as the wider community. We ask that they are left to grieve in private as our enquiries continue,” said Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt of West Midlands Police.
“The community has understandably been left shocked by what’s happened, and we’ll continue to have a police presence and offer our support in the area over the coming days,” he said.
Kaur had been arrested on Monday from the residential property where her daughter’s body was found. A cordon remains in place at the property on Robin Close and a post-mortem is to be held in due course to establish the cause of death.
“At this stage we are not looking for anyone else as part of the investigation,” the police said at the time.
Brickhouse Primary School, where Shay was a pupil, issued a statement to say the school was deeply saddened by the tragic death.
“Shay was a bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well liked by all, and she will be very sadly missed by everyone. School is the heart of the community and we have already begun working with our children and staff to support them following this devastating news,” read the statement.
Tributes including toys, cards and balloons have since been laid near the police cordon on Robin Close in the town of Rowley Regis, where the schoolgirl lived with her mother. Some parents of children who attended the same school have also set up an online Go Fund Me fundraiser to collect money for Shay’s funeral, with over GBP 3,800 raised so far.
The fundraiser reads: “As you may be aware she had no family except her mum. The purpose of this is to come together as a community to help raise funds for her funeral and to also help with flowers, headstone etc.
“She didn’t deserve this at all and the best we can do is make sure she flys (sic) high in the most beautiful way.”
Belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, Arora has returned to the Lahore provincial assembly for the third term after winning the February 8 polls
LAHORE (TIP): Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, an influential minority leader, has been sworn in as a provincial minister, making him the first Sikh to occupy a ministerial position in post-Partition Punjab.
Belonging to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, Arora has returned to the Lahore provincial assembly for the third term after winning the February 8 polls.
Arora, 49, was recently elected pardhan (president) of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and also as the ambassador to the Kartarpur Corridor. He was administered the oath along with 17 others on Wednesday, March 6. Arora has been allotted the portfolio of minorities of Punjab province in the cabinet of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, incidentally, also the first woman to hold the post in the country.
According to sources, Arora has close connections with the military establishment.
“Singh’s brother is also looking after the affairs of the Karatarpur Corridor,” another member representing the Christian minority community of Punjab, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, told Press Trust of India on Thursday, March 7.
Born on October 11, 1974 at Nankana Sahib and hailing from Narowal district, Arora was also the first-ever Sikh member of the Punjab provincial assembly taking oath in 2013. He has done post-graduation in social enterprise and studied at the Government College, Lahore, Punjab University, Lahore, and Harvard Business School in the US. He also served as a member of the National Commission for Minorities, chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce & Investment and remained as Patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Sikh Council.
According to Arora’s profile on the official website of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, he is also a renowned human rights activist and a social worker, who played a prominent role in protecting the rights of Sikh community in Pakistan and is credited with the passage of ‘The Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Act, 2018.’
Due to his efforts, Pakistan has become the first country where the Sikh Marriages Registration Act is enforced, it said.
LONDON (TIP): Indian-origin executives with years of experience in the field of law and finance have been appointed to the board of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a non-ministerial department responsible for strengthening business competition and curbing anti-competitive practices.
Dharmash Mistry, a venture capitalist specializing in technology, new business models and finance, was named among four new non-executive directors of the CMA by the British government’s Department for Business and Trade last week.
Meanwhile, Cyrus Mehta – a former partner at international law firm CMS in London – was named on the CMA board as a Panel Member, Non-Executive Director.
“Our new board members will bring further fresh perspectives and expertise at a time when our responsibilities, and our positive impact on people, businesses and the economy, are growing significantly,” said CMA Chair Marcus Bokkerink.
“They will help us continue the great strides we have made over the past year to ensure that people can get great choices and a fair deal, competitive businesses are free to innovate and thrive, and the economy is able to grow more productively and sustainably,” he said.
Non-executive directors of the CMA board play an important role in setting up the organization, working with the chair and chief executive. As board members, they are also responsible for setting the organization’s strategic direction and policy framework; developing priorities; monitoring performance against its objectives; and making decisions on market investigation references.
Mistry has served on a wide range of boards in executive and non-executive capacity and is also a non-executive director of the Premier League and the Football Association. In the past, he has served as a non-executive director of the BBC and British Business Bank.
Cyrus Mehta, as the former head of the European Union (EU) and competition team at CMS, has over 35 years’ experience in the field of UK and EU competition law, state aid, consumer law, trade law and regulation in both London and Brussels.
Mistry and Mehta are joined by broadcasting personality Dame Patricia Hodgson and entrepreneurs Justin Basini and Frank Dangeard as the new appointees on the CMA board.
The award recognizes the achievements of Indian students and alumni who have pursued an international programme of study
LONDON (TIP): Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and British Indian chef Asma Khan were among the winners of the annual India-UK Achievers Honours in London, which recognizes the achievements of Indian students and alumni who have pursued an international programme of study.
The initiative, by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, in partnership with the British Council in India and the UK government’s Department for Business and Trade, was launched last year with the aim of celebrating bilateral educational ties.
At a ceremony earlier this week, the “Class of 2024” made up of high achievers across the arts, sports, entrepreneurship and medicine were honored following a day-long conference entitled ‘The Future of Education’.
“I am pleased to see that for the second year, you are showcasing exceptional Indian talent that has been developed in the UK,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a message for the event on Wednesday.
“I am extremely proud of the UK-India partnership and the Achievers Honours highlights the strong outcomes that can arise through partnership,” he said.
Akhtar, the acclaimed writer-filmmaker behind box-office hits such as ‘Luck By Chance’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and most recently ‘The Archies’, was conferred the Living Legend Award in recognition of her work in furthering an understanding of India on the global stage. She spoke of her degree in literature and sociology giving her a strong footing for her filmmaking career.
“I genuinely believe that literature and sociology have helped me immensely in making movies, and writing and telling stories,” Akhtar said.
“However, I don’t believe one size fits all when it comes to your career path in the film industry…today films can even be made on a phone. I do feel it’s a lot easier these days. There is access to a lot more filmmaking tools today,” she said.
The 51-year-old daughter of writers Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani addressed a session on Creative Economies at the conference, during which she reflected on her love of writing.
“I started writing at a very young age because I grew up in a home of writers, so it’s just something that you imitate in a very organic way. You are surrounded by those kinds of discussions and narrations,” she said.
Also recognized in the field of Arts, Culture and Entertainment this year was UK-based chef Asma Khan, behind the women-led Darjeeling Express restaurant in London. The King’s College London alumna started out in the field of law but has since made a mark for herself in the culinary space, including as a cookery writer behind bestselling recipe books on Indian cuisine.
“I never call myself a chef, I am a cook; and most of my cooking I learnt by watching,” said Khan, who was recently also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (Social Sciences) degree by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
The India-UK Achievers were also celebrated at the UK Parliament complex, where the finalists had an opportunity to interact with British members of Parliament, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education sector.
“These achievers are not just recipients of a prestigious honor, they are the embodiment of the profound transformation that education and cross-cultural experiences can engender in our societies,” said NISAU UK Chair Sanam Arora, who is also a commissioner of the UK International Higher Education Commission.
“The progress and achievements of Indian students in the UK over the past year have been nothing short of remarkable. Their growing presence in the UK’s universities is a testament to the enduring appeal of British education and the opportunities it offers,” added Lord Karan Bilimoria, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students and President of the UK Council of International Student Affairs.
(Source: PTI)
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Vin (Vinay) Kruttiventi is an Indian American Republican, who is vying for a seat in the 14th Congressional District, home to a large Indian American community.
Kruttiventi secured 17.8 percent of the vote in the March 5th primary and now faces incumbent Democrat Eric Swalwell, who is seeking his sixth term. Kruttiventi, a businessman and entrepreneur, came to the United States after earning an engineering degree from Osmania University in India. He is the founder and CEO of A5 Services, a business and technology consulting firm.
Kruttiventi has made a substantial personal investment of $500,000 into his congressional campaign.
The 14th Congressional District spans Lake, Napa, Yolo, Solano, and Sonoma Counties. According to the Cook Political Report PVI, the district leans heavily Democratic (+17).
If elected, Kruttiventi pledges to co-sponsor and advocate for a bill that will cap House members’ terms at three and senators’ terms at two.
Kruttiventi runs the Vinay Kruttiventi Foundation, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations in the Tri-Valley region. The foundation aims to empower nonprofits and small businesses to thrive and contribute to vibrant communities. Beyond his political and entrepreneurial pursuits, Kruttiventi describes himself as a devoted husband, father, community leader, philanthropist, and outdoors enthusiast. In his leisure time, he enjoys hiking the scenic trails of East Bay, watching basketball and baseball games with friends, and cherishing moments with his beloved wife and two daughters.
NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American coach Sean Desai, who was relieved of his duties after just one season as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, is expected to be hired by the Los Angeles Rams in a senior defensive role.
The son of immigrants, Desai, 40, was the first Indian American coordinator in NFL history. He will face his former team when the Eagles come to Los Angeles during the 2024 season, according to CBS Sports.
Desai was let go after Philadelphia finished 30th in the NFL in points allowed during the 2023 season. While the unit struggles in most categories, the Eagles’ defense did finish 10th in the NFL in both fewest rushing yards allowed and touchdown runs allowed, CBS noted.
Prior to his time in Philadelphia, Desai spent six seasons as the Bears’ defensive quality control coach, two seasons as the team’s safeties coach and was Chicago’s defensive coordinator in 2021. That season, the Bears’ defense finished third in the NFL in passing yards allowed.
In 2022, Desai served as the Seahawks’ associate head coach and defensive assistant. He left for Philadelphia after then-Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon accepted the head coaching position in Arizona.
In Los Angeles, Desai will aid a Rams defense that last finished ranked 19th in points allowed during the 2023 season. The unit continues to be led by future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who last season was selected to his 10th Pro Bowl in as many seasons after recording eight sacks.
Desai started his coaching career at Temple (2007-10), where he was a graduate assistant for the defense and special teams while earning his doctorate in educational administration. He entered the NFL ranks in 2013 as the quality control coach-defense for the Bears, working with the defensive backs/linebackers/special teams.
Desai was named Bears’ safeties coach in 2019 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021. The Bears ranked sixth in total defense and third in passing defense that season.
In Chicago, Desai coached under noted defensive minds, including Vic Fangio, John Fox, Mel Tucker, and Chuck Pagano. Desai was a part of three different coaching staffs with the Bears.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP)- In a tragic incident, Amarnath Ghosh, a Bharatnatyam and Kuchupudi dancer from Kolkata, pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, was shot dead during his evening walk in his neighborhood, Tuesday, February 27, according to media reports.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee, a popular TV actress and friend of the deceased, has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar for assistance in repatriating Ghosh’s body. Devoleena expressed her grief on social media, highlighting the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of her friend and appealing for support in uncovering the motive behind the murder.
“My friend #Amarnathghosh was shot and killed in the St Louis Academy neighborhood in the US on Tuesday evening. Only child in the family, mother died three years back, father passed away during his childhood. Well, the reason, the details of the accused are not revealed yet, or perhaps no one is left in his family to fight for it except his few friends. He was from Kolkata.”
She ended the note with her appeal: “Some friends in US are trying to claim the body but still no update about it. @IndianEmbassyUS kindly see to it if you could. At least we should know the reason of his murder. @DrSJaishankar @narendramodi”
Ghosh was an alumnus of Kalakshetra Foundation and Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai. According to a GoFundMe campaign set up in his honor, he also served as faculty at the Kuchipudi Arty Academy.
Described as an excellent dancer, he was interested in exploring his diverse ethnic background and the unity of various cultures through the compositions of Rabindranath Tagore, according to his bio on the university website. His research aimed to showcase how dance could unite people from diverse backgrounds.
Atlanta-based Bharatnatyam dance guru Anupa Thakurta, founder and artistic director of Deeksha School of Performing Arts, who has known Ghosh since Covid times, expressed shock and anger at his tragic death.
“We met through an online performance and immediately became friends,” she told NRI Pulse. “He had high aspirations to come to the US to perform. He had asked me multiple times to arrange for performances in the US. Considering the phenomenal artist that he was, he did make it to the US to do MFA in St. Louis, Missouri. He had a creative mind filled with splendid ideas. A very talented and humble artist and above all a very good human being.”
“Ghosh came into this country with lots of dreams and aspirations, but this land took his life. Life is so unpredictable. Today you are here and tomorrow you are gone. This news shook me completely,” she added.
In a heartfelt obituary, Amarnath Ghosh was remembered as more than just a dancer.
“Amarnath was more than just a dancer; he was a visionary artist whose passion and dedication breathed life into every movement,” the obituary reads. “His performances were electrifying, captivating audiences with their raw emotion, technical precision, and sheer artistry. Whether he was portraying the agony of loss or the ecstasy of triumph, Amarnath had a rare ability to evoke deep and profound emotions, leaving spectators spellbound in his wake.”
“At Battery Dance, we had the privilege of collaborating with Amarnath, and his presence on our stage was nothing short of transformative. His performances were a testament to his unparalleled talent and unwavering commitment to his craft, inspiring all who had the privilege of witnessing his artistry. We will forever cherish the memories of his electrifying performances and the joy he brought to our stage.”
Indian Consulate in Chicago condoled the death of Ghosh.
“Deep condolences to family & friends of deceased Amarnath Ghosh in StLouis, Missouri. We are following up forensic, investigation with police & providing support. @IndianEmbassyUS @MEAIndia”.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
Rajiv Mehta, an accused in a 25-year-old alleged fraud case, where he intercepted the bank drafts which he used to encash later had been on the run since 2000
WASHINGTON (TIP): The CBI has successfully coordinated repatriation of an alleged fraudster, facing an Interpol Red Notice, from the United States on Wednesday ending his 23-year long run from the law, officials said.
Rajiv Mehta, an accused in a 25-year-old alleged fraud case, where he intercepted the bank drafts which he used to encash later had been on the run since 2000, they said.
The Global Operations Centre followed his trail using Interpol channels that resulted in National Central Bureau-Washington locating him in their jurisdiction, officials said.
“The Global Operations Centre of Central Bureau of Investigation has coordinated via Interpol channels with National Central Bureau-Washington for return to India from the US of a Red Notice subject today, that is, March 06. He was earlier geo-located by the US authorities through close follow-up through Interpol,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.Interpol had issued a Red Notice against Mehta on June 16, 2000, on a request from the CBI. “Red notice was circulated to all Interpol member countries for location and arrest of the accused,” the spokesperson said.
He said the subject is wanted by the CBI in a criminal case registered in 1998 for prosecution in respect of offences of cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy involving opening of fictitious bank accounts in Central Bank of India, Greater Kailash Part-II, New Delhi, for the purpose of interception of drafts of various parties in transit and encashing them.He was declared a proclaimed offender by the court in 1999, the spokesperson said.
“The CBI as the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India coordinates with all law enforcement agencies in India for assistance via Interpol channels,” he said.
(Source: PTI)
China is willing to respond positively to US moves towards a limited détente
“The US is vulnerable as it is involved in two wars, one in Europe and the other in West Asia. While it is engaged in a rivalry with China in the Indo-Pacific, there is as yet no ‘hot war’ there and the US would prefer to keep a lid on that possibility. For this to work, there must be a lessening of tensions with China. China faces its own economic headwinds and is willing to respond positively to US moves towards a limited détente. Public expressions of an anti-China front with India would run counter to this. The postponement of the New Delhi Quad summit, which would have brought President Biden to India, points in the same direction — of not alienating China at this critical juncture.”
By Shyam Saran
When India and the US concluded the historic Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008, their bilateral relations were launched on a positive trajectory. Since then, there has been an across-the-board expansion in virtually all dimensions of the relationship — security, technology, defense, economy and commerce. There is today a broader and deeper relationship of unprecedented magnitude. This is undoubtedly anchored in enduring strategic convergence, particularly with respect to maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific but not limited to it. If there is a ‘quadrilateral’ platform which groups India together with the US and its military allies Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific, there is the I2U2 in the Gulf, bringing together India and Israel as well as the US and the UAE. A shared concern over the expansion of Chinese power on both the eastern and western flanks of India makes these security arrangements valuable to the country.
These remarks, which appear to openly solicit US support as a supplicant in helping India cope with the military standoff with China on the border, are unusual.
From the US standpoint, building up India’s economic, military and technological capabilities makes sense even if India is not its formal ally because New Delhi, for its own reasons, will pursue policies to deter the exercise of coercive power by China. This will reinforce the US objective of constraining Chinese power. Furthermore, India is the only country which has a scale matching China’s and can emerge as its peer rival. But it has always been clear that India is unlikely to participate in possible hostilities which might erupt between the US and China, say over Taiwan. Nor will the US put boots on the ground to support any Indian armed operations against China. These limits are well understood by both sides. Neither the US nor India, in their public pronouncements, suggest otherwise. It is also true that while China is a key component in the India-US strategic partnership, it is not the only one. The sheer breadth of the relationship has a logic of its own and India is right in asserting this.
It is against this background that one was intrigued by the remarks attributed to India’s Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane on the occasion of the convening of the second INDUS-X defense meeting with the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C Aquilino, on February 21. He was quoted as saying: “In navigating the complex dynamics of this region, India and the US find themselves as key stakeholders, bound by shared values and common interests.”
This was fine, but then he brought in the military standoff with China in Ladakh into his public remarks: “India is giving a face-off to our neighbor in almost all the fronts we have with them. Wherever there is a mountain pass, we are stationed there to face any eventuality. Wherever there is a road, we have to be ready there also. So, we are standing against a bully in a very determined fashion.”
While this may have been conveyed in confidential deliberations in the past, it is the first time such remarks have been made publicly.
It was even more surprising to read the Defense Secretary’s subsequent remarks: “And we expect our friend US will be there with us in case we need their support. It is a must for us and we have to do it together. We greatly appreciate the support and resolve from our friends in supporting us during such an event. The strong resolve that we will support each other in the face of a common threat is going to be of critical importance to us.”
These remarks, which appear to openly solicit US support as a supplicant in helping India cope with the continuing military standoff with China on the border, are unusual. They may not have been appropriate to the occasion and even convey, perhaps inadvertently, that India is not capable of dealing with the Chinese threat on its border on its own. The US Department of Defense’s readout on the meeting contains neither a reference to these remarks nor any reaction from the US Indo-Pacific Commander. There may even have been some embarrassment on the US side over this public statement.
Some days later, there was a media interview of Richard Verma, a former US ambassador to India and currently Deputy Secretary of State in charge of management and resources. The interviewer asked him whether in the backdrop of the Indian Defense Secretary’s reported remarks, “… Is the US standing with India?” His reply is most revealing and supports the view that the Indian official’s remarks may have embarrassed the Americans, who do not wish to give the impression that the US is ganging up with India against China. Listing all the principled reasons why the US-India relationship “stands on its own”, he added that “… this isn’t about any third country. When I think about this relationship, I think about it in bilateral terms and what we can do to strengthen the international architecture.”
For good measure, he added: “And each of us will take our own path that I think fits what’s right for our people and for our societies. I would leave it at that.” This is more the kind of careful language India usually uses.
The US is vulnerable as it is involved in two wars, one in Europe and the other in West Asia. While it is engaged in a rivalry with China in the Indo-Pacific, there is as yet no ‘hot war’ there and the US would prefer to keep a lid on that possibility. For this to work, there must be a lessening of tensions with China. China faces its own economic headwinds and is willing to respond positively to US moves towards a limited détente. Public expressions of an anti-China front with India would run counter to this. The postponement of the New Delhi Quad summit, which would have brought President Biden to India, points in the same direction — of not alienating China at this critical juncture.
We should have read the runes correctly and avoided displaying our vulnerability to shifts in US geopolitical postures. This may also send a wrong message to China.
(The author is a former Foreign Secretary of India)
“Former President Trump’s resounding triumph on Super Tuesday marks a remarkable political comeback following a significant defeat in 2020. This situation draws parallels with the victory of India’s late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1980, after facing a humiliating defeat in 1977. It is crucial to acknowledge, however, that although there may be some general similarities, every political scenario is distinctive, with varying contexts, issues, and political dynamics. Comparisons should be approached with caution, taking into account the specific circumstances surrounding each leader’s political trajectory and resurgence.”
By Dave Makkar
The Super Tuesday primaries represent the most substantial voting day in the United States, second only to the November general elections. Nearly one-third of all delegates for the presidential nominating conventions are up for grabs on Super Tuesday, surpassing any other single day in significance. Consequently, the outcomes on Super Tuesday serve as a robust predictor of the probable presidential nominee for each political party.
On Super Tuesday, March 3rd, 2024, former President Trump asserted his influence across America by securing victories in 14 out of the 15 states where Republican Presidential Primaries or caucuses took place. He garnered substantial support, polling over 50-60% in several states and even reaching over 70-80% in others. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump’s sole opponent, managed to secure the lone liberal state of Vermont, preventing Trump from achieving a clean sweep on Super Tuesday. Notably, Trump’s 11-point win in New Hampshire marked his narrowest victory since the commencement of the primary season in January 2024.
The Associated Press was the sole news reporting agency that declared Trump the winner in 14 states shortly after polls closed. Trump led Haley by a substantial margin of three or four to one in certain places.
India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at an election rally in India in 1980
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS in 15 States with 854 DELEGATES at stake
State-Run Primaries (13): Alabama (50 Delegates), Arkansas (40), California (169), Colorado (37), Maine (20), Massachusetts (40), Minnesota (39), North Carolina (74), Oklahoma (43), Tennessee (58), Texas (150), Vermont (17), Virginia 48).
Trump, % of votes polled in the winning states: Alabama (83.2%), Alaska (87.6), Arkansas (76.9), California (78.5), Colorado (63.3), Massachusetts (60), Maine (72.8), Minnesota (69.1), North Carolina (73.9), Oklahoma (81.8), Tennessee (77.3), Texas (77.9), Utah (56.4), Virginia (63.1).
Haley, % of votes polled in the winning states: Vermont (50.2)
In the run-up to Super Tuesday, the Delegate Counts for the candidates as follows:
1. Donald Trump: 1,044
2. Nikki Haley: 89
3. Ron DeSantis :9
4. Vivek Ramaswamy : 3
No other candidate managed to secure any delegates. To clinch the Republican nomination, a candidate requires 1,215 delegates. Given the absence of any opposition to former President Trump, it is reasonable to assume that he is the presumptive nominee for the upcoming Presidential Elections in November 2024 for the Republican Party.
If a candidate secures victories in 14 out of 15 states during the Super Tuesday Presidential Primaries, and in several of these states, attains an overwhelming majority, winning over 80% of the votes, it denotes robust and widespread support for that candidate among the voters. This performance suggests a strong appeal and resonance with a diverse range of voters across different states. The high percentage of wins in specific states indicates not only success but also a significant mandate from the electorate in those regions. Such outcomes often position the candidate as a frontrunner and establish a formidable foundation for their campaign as they head into the subsequent stages of the election, potentially ensuring their victory in the general election.
All the pollsters, analytical experts, and mainstream media pundits who had prematurely written obituaries for Presidential Candidate Trump were compelled to retract their statements after the Super Tuesday results. None of these pundits attempted to compose an obituary for Ambassador Haley’s candidacy, funded by Democrats, by drawing parallels to John McCain’s 2012 campaign. Senator McCain sought the presidency based on his qualification of having spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, a considerable portion of that time in solitary confinement in Vietnam.
Ambassador Haley’s key argument was her relative youth compared to the Democratic and Republican frontrunners. She emphasized her two terms as governor of South Carolina and her role as the Ambassador to the UN in the Trump administration. However, throughout her campaign, she never articulated specific plans detailing how her presidency would differ from those of past presidents. Therefore, there is no reason to express sympathy for Haley’s withdrawal from the race.
Former President Trump’s resounding triumph on Super Tuesday marks a remarkable political comeback following a significant defeat in 2020. This situation draws parallels with the victory of India’s late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1980, after facing a humiliating defeat in 1977. It is crucial to acknowledge, however, that although there may be some general similarities, every political scenario is distinctive, with varying contexts, issues, and political dynamics. Comparisons should be approached with caution, taking into account the specific circumstances surrounding each leader’s political trajectory and resurgence.
However, I can offer some general observations based on historical context:
Charismatic Leadership: Both Donald Trump and Indira Gandhi are known for their charismatic leadership styles. They have the ability to connect with a significant portion of the population and rally support around them.
Populist Appeal: Both leaders had a populist appeal, speaking to the grievances and aspirations of a broad section of the population. They positioned themselves as champions of the common people and tapped into populist sentiments.
Political Resilience: Indira Gandhi faced a significant defeat in the 1977 elections but made a political comeback in 1980. If Trump were to make a political comeback, it would also demonstrate a level of political resilience, overcoming setbacks and regaining popular support.
Political Strategy: Successful comebacks often involve strategic political maneuvers. Both leaders might have employed astute political strategies to rebuild their image, connect with voters, and navigate the political landscape.
Changing Political Context: In both cases, the political context played a crucial role. Indira Gandhi’s return in 1980 was influenced by changing dynamics in Indian politics. Similarly, any potential Trump’s comeback would likely be influenced by the political landscape at the time.
Only time will reveal whether the remarkable momentum garnered by former President Trump in contrast to his rival, the incumbent President Biden, will prove sufficient to secure victory in the November 2024 election. The question lingers: will this momentum propel him to reclaim the presidency of the United States, the most powerful country on Earth, for another four years?
(Dave Makkar is a social activist and a political analyst. He can be reached at davemakkar@yahoo.com)
As the political landscape of the United States gears up for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections, the Republican Party finds itself under the undisputed shadow of one man: Donald J. Trump. The dynamics of the GOP race have proven to be a one-sided affair, with no Republican able to match the charisma and influence that Trump wields. Even formidable contenders like Nikki Haley and long-time adversary Mitch McConnell have had to bow to the overwhelming popularity of the former president.
The Road to Trump’s Uncontested Dominance:
The political landscape of the Republican Party has undergone a significant transformation since the tumultuous years of Trump’s presidency. Despite facing impeachment and contentious moments, Trump has retained a formidable grip on the party’s base, solidifying his status as a political force to be reckoned with. The lack of a viable challenger within the GOP has only further highlighted Trump’s influence, and the recent withdrawal of Nikki Haley from the race underscores this dominance.
Nikki Haley’s Withdrawal:
Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was considered one of the potential challengers to Trump’s hold on the Republican Party. However, her decision to end her campaign reflected the harsh reality that Trump was far ahead in the race. Despite her credentials and experience, Haley recognized the uphill battle she faced against the towering figure of Trump. His loyal following and unmatched popularity within the party made it evident that challenging him would be an arduous task.
Mitch McConnell’s Endorsement:
Mitch McConnell, a seasoned politician and a prominent figure within the GOP, has had a tumultuous relationship with Trump. However, even McConnell, known for his strategic political maneuvers, had to concede to the overwhelming support for Trump within the party. His endorsement of Trump highlighted the pragmatic realization that opposing the former president would be futile. McConnell’s move further solidified the perception that Trump is, as of March 8, the de facto choice of Republicans.
Trump’s Chances of Winning the Republican Nomination:
Given the current landscape, it seems increasingly likely that Donald Trump will secure the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race. The lack of a formidable opponent and the widespread support within the party make Trump the default candidate for Republicans. However, the question remains: What are his chances of winning the presidency if he officially enters the fray?
Factors Favoring Trump’s Victory:
Loyal Base: Trump’s unwavering support among the Republican base is a significant advantage. His charisma and connection with his followers have created a fervent and dedicated voter base that remains steadfast in its allegiance.
Populist Appeal: Trump’s populist appeal resonates with a considerable section of the American electorate. His ‘America First’ approach and promises to prioritize domestic interests strike a chord with many voters who feel disenfranchised by globalization and establishment politics.
Economic Record: Trump can tout a pre-pandemic strong economy during his presidency. The emphasis on job creation, tax cuts, and deregulation could appeal to voters concerned about economic stability and growth.
Media Presence: Trump’s ability to dominate media coverage is unparalleled. His provocative statements and unfiltered communication style ensure that he remains in the public eye, a factor that played a significant role in his previous electoral success.
Fundraising Prowess: Trump has demonstrated a remarkable ability to raise funds, tapping into a network of enthusiastic donors. Financial strength is crucial in modern political campaigns, and Trump’s fundraising prowess gives him a significant advantage.
Mobilization of Rural and Conservative Voters: Trump has successfully mobilized rural and conservative voters who may feel overlooked by mainstream politics. His focus on issues like gun rights, immigration, and traditional values resonates strongly with these demographics.
Potential Challenges for Trump:
Polarization: Trump’s divisive rhetoric has polarized the American electorate. While this approach energizes his base, it also alienates a significant portion of voters who may be crucial in a general election.
Handling of COVID-19 Pandemic: Criticism of Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic could be a significant obstacle. While his supporters appreciate his emphasis on economic reopening, opponents may point to perceived missteps in the initial response.
Legal and Ethical Concerns: Trump’s presidency was marked by legal controversies and ethical concerns. Opposition may leverage these issues to tarnish his image and question his suitability for a second term.
Age and Health: Trump, born in 1946, would be 78 years old by the time of the 2024 election. Questions about his age and health may arise, especially considering the demands and stress associated with the presidency.
The Indian Panorama’s Prediction:
The Indian Panorama, having closely studied the mood of Americans, boldly predicts Donald Trump as the President in 2024. This foresight is grounded in several factors:
Historical Precedent: Trump has already demonstrated his ability to defy conventional political wisdom. His unexpected victory in 2016 serves as a precedent for overcoming the odds.
Populist Appeal: The resonance of Trump’s populist appeal, combined with a lack of a strong, unified opposition within the Republican Party, positions him favorably in the eyes of many voters.
Party Loyalty: The Republicans’ decision to rally behind Trump, even those who were once critical of him, signifies a unified front that could contribute to a formidable campaign.
Public Perception: Trump’s public image, despite controversies, remains resilient among his supporters. His larger-than-life persona continues to captivate a significant portion of the electorate.
Policy Continuity: Voters who align with Trump’s policies, especially on issues like immigration, trade, and foreign relations, may see him as a consistent advocate for their values and priorities.
The dynamics of American politics have always been shaped by the concerns and priorities of the common citizens, and it seems that the everyday struggles of employment, healthcare, education, and social security are taking center stage. In this context, we delve into how Biden’s perceived shortcomings have indirectly contributed to the strengthening of Trump’s position, especially among independent voters who prioritize practical issues over grand geopolitical narratives.
Biden’s Lackluster Performance:
President Joe Biden entered the White House with promises of unity, healing, and an ambitious agenda for the American people. However, as his presidency unfolds, there is a growing sentiment among common Americans that his administration has fallen short in addressing their most pressing concerns. The focus on achieving greatness on the world stage, while commendable, has not resonated strongly with the everyday worries of the average citizen.
Economic Concerns: One of the primary drivers of discontent is the perceived lack of progress on economic fronts. Despite promises of job creation and economic recovery, many Americans find themselves grappling with concerns about job security, inflation, and rising living costs.
Healthcare: The global pandemic highlighted the importance of robust healthcare systems. While the Biden administration has made strides in combating COVID-19, concerns remain about the accessibility and affordability of healthcare for all Americans.
Education: Parents across the nation are concerned about the quality of education their children receive. Debates around school reopenings, remote learning, and educational disparities have heightened these concerns.
Social Security: The Biden administration’s focus on social justice issues, while crucial, has not entirely alleviated concerns about the broader social security net for the average American. Questions about retirement benefits, affordable housing, and social safety nets persist.
Common Americans’ Priorities:
Amidst the complexities of global geopolitics, the average American’s primary concerns revolve around their immediate well-being and that of their families. The desire for a steady income, access to quality healthcare, opportunities for good education, and the assurance of social security forms the crux of their worries. In this context, the Trump narrative gains traction.
Steady Income: The promise of economic stability and job growth was a cornerstone of Trump’s previous campaign. Many Americans view Trump as a leader with a business background who can navigate economic challenges effectively.
Healthcare: Trump’s emphasis on dismantling the Affordable Care Act was a controversial point during his presidency. However, for some Americans, the focus on reducing healthcare costs and increasing choice resonates with their concerns.
Education: Trump’s advocacy for school choice and local control over education policies appeals to those who believe in a more decentralized approach to improving the education system.
Social Security: Trump’s approach to economic policies and tax cuts has been viewed by some as a means to stimulate economic growth, potentially benefiting social security programs.
Independents: The Deciding Factor:
While party loyalty remains a powerful force in American politics, the growing number of independent voters presents a unique challenge and opportunity in the 2024 election. Independent voters, not bound by party allegiance, are more likely to prioritize tangible results over political rhetoric. They play a pivotal role in deciding the outcome of an election, especially when party dissatisfaction is evident.
Trump’s Appeal to Independents:
Despite legal challenges and controversies surrounding Trump, his appeal to independent voters lies in his reputation as a disruptor. Independents, dissatisfied with the status quo, may be willing to take a chance on a leader who promises a departure from traditional politics. Trump’s track record of challenging established norms and his perceived focus on the everyday concerns of Americans could resonate strongly with this demographic.
The evolving narrative of the 2024 presidential election reflects a shift in focus from grand geopolitical ambitions to the practical concerns of everyday Americans. While party loyalty remains a driving force, the dissatisfaction with President Biden’s performance has created a space for Donald Trump to reenter the political arena with a strong appeal to independent voters. The concerns of common Americans regarding employment, healthcare, education, and social security have become the focal points, and Trump’s positioning as a candidate who can address these issues has gained traction. As the nation anticipates the unfolding drama of the 2024 election, the dynamics of party politics, independent voter sentiments, and the ability of candidates to connect with the concerns of the average citizen will be decisive factors in shaping the future of the United States.
The president made the case for why he deserves a second term
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, March 7 night. The speech provided Biden one of his biggest audiences of the year as he made his case for a second term and contrasted his vision of the country’s future with Republicans ahead of what’s expected to be a lengthy general election fight with former President Donald Trump.
Going into the evening, I think many viewers expected to hear something like a campaign speech from Biden, and that’s what he delivered. While he did ask Congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill and spent time on other policy issues like abortion, housing and foreign policy, it was less a policy laundry list than most State of the Union speeches. He worked to paint himself as a brighter, more forward-thinking choice than Trump, whom he only referred to as “my predecessor.” Biden talked about his history in politics and tackled the issue of his age head on, but the end of his speech was about his hope for the future. By comparison, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt’s Republican response to the speech was bleak and painted a dark picture of the country, especially at the southern border.
It echoed Trump’s “American carnage” inaugural address, though Britt avoided mentioning the former president by name. That’s a good preview of how the presidential race is likely to unfold: Republicans will paint Biden as a failure who has presided over a U.S. in decline, while Biden will work to focus attention on the progress he feels his administration has made and can continue to make.
NEW YORK (TIP): On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies. This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.
Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden:
1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.
The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty. Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million).
At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labor force versus 90 per cent of men.
We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits.
Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.
The current reality is far from this. Programs dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.
The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost, there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.
UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources. The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Ami Bera, a Democrat, secured his seventh term by advancing to the general election Ro Khanna, seeking his fifth term, won decisively against Republican Anita Chen Ash Kalra, a Democrat, emerged as the top candidate in the 25th Assembly District. It was a day of victories and defeats for Indian American candidates in the recent Super Tuesday primaries. The biggest day of this year’s primary campaign in the US approached as 15 states — plus American Samoa — voted in contests. Veteran Indian-American Congressmen Ami Bera and Ro Khanna successfully defended their positions against challengers.
Ami Bera, a Democrat, secured his seventh term by advancing to the general election with 53.6% of the vote in California’s 6th Congressional District.
Meanwhile, Ro Khanna, seeking his fifth term, won decisively over Republican Anita Chen in the 17th Congressional District, according to American Bazaar.
In contrast, Indian-American engineer Rishi Kumar, a Democrat, lost his bid to run for Congress.
With 50% of the vote counted, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was ahead with 22% of the vote, while Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian had nearly 18%. Both Liccardo and Simitian are Democrats. Kumar ended up in seventh place out of 11 candidates with 6.3% of the vote.
This came amid Indian-American Republican challenger to former president Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, dropping out of the presidential race.
Indian-American Republican Vin Kruttiventi advanced to the general election in Northern California’s 14th Congressional District, home to one of the largest populations of Indian-Americans in the nation, securing second place with 17.8% of the vote to incumbent Eric Swalwell with 64.5%, seeking his sixth term in the House of Representatives.
According to reports from the Federal Election Commission, Kruttiventi, the founder and CEO of A5 Services, has invested $500,000 of his personal funds into his campaign.
However, clinical psychologist Harmesh Kumar’s longshot bid for the vacant US Senate seat left by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein ended in disappointment.
Additionally, Ash Kalra, a Democrat, emerged as the top candidate in the 25th Assembly District and will face fellow Democrat Lan Ngo in the general election.
However, challenger Tara Sreekrishnan, a 30-year-old Indian-origin leader who has garnered significant endorsements for her bid, faced defeat in her race for California’s 26th district state Assembly seat.
In other races, Democrat Darshana Patel will compete against Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane for California’s 76th district state Assembly seat, which covers a portion of San Diego.
The most prominent of all the Indian-American candidates was Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina. She conceded to Donald Trump after losing every state but one — Vermont — in Super Tuesday’s primary contests.
In January, Indian-American billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his bid after Trump won the Iowa caucus. He later pledged support for Trump’s presidential bid.
NEW DELHI (TIP): The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Thursday, March 7, moved the Supreme Court with a contempt petition against the State Bank of India (SBI) for failing to disclose by March 6 details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties and instead seeking four months for it.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the ADR’s plea before a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud, which agreed to consider it after the petitioner completed the filing formalities. The matter was likely to be taken up on Monday.
Citing “certain practical difficulties”, the SBI had on Monday, March 4, moved the Supreme Court seeking time till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond issued and encashed. “The timeline of three weeks fixed by the court in its judgment dated February 15 would not be sufficient for the entire exercise to be completed,” the SBI said in an application filed in the top court. In a landmark verdict, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had on February 15 declared unconstitutional the electoral bonds scheme that allowed individuals and companies to make unlimited anonymous donations to political parties. Acting on a PIL filed by ADR, the top court had ordered the SBI to stop issuing electoral bonds immediately and submit all details by March 6 to the Election Commission which shall make all donations public by March 13.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian-American politician Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign Wednesday after being “trounced” in 15 states across the US on Super Tuesday but stopped short of endorsing her only rival and former president Donald Trump, who is all set to be the Republican party’s presumptive nominee in the November elections.
After Super Tuesday’s election results, Trump, 77, had established a commanding lead in the delegate count over his only Republican opponent, 52-year-old Haley, who denied him a full sweep by winning Vermont.
“The time has now come to suspend my campaign,” she said on Wednesday in South Carolina.
“I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets,” she added. “Although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”
As Haley suspended her campaign Wednesday morning, Trump posted on social media that the former South Carolina governor got “trounced” on Super Tuesday and invited her supporters to join his political movement.
“Nikki Haley got trounced last night, in record-setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries. Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50%, according to the polls,” Trump posted.
Haley congratulated her rival and former boss Trump during her announcement ending her presidential campaign but stopped short of endorsing him.
“In all likelihood, Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our party convention meets in July. I congratulate him and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be America’s president. Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us,” said Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN under the Trump administration.
While her defeat can be seen as a humiliating one, she sounded a warning signal to the party’s leadership in particular Trump as she has consistently garnered a significant portion of Republicans behind her, ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent. In a closely contested election, this might become a critical factor in deciding the winner of the November presidential elections.
“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that. At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away. And our conservative cause badly needs more people. This is now his time for choosing,” Haley told her supporters.
She quoted Margaret Thatcher on this and said the former British prime minister provided some good advice when she said, “Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind.”
In her brief speech lasting about four minutes, in front of a small group of supporters and a battery of reporters, Haley said when she began her campaign about a year ago, it grounded in her love of the country. “Just last week, my mother, a first-generation immigrant, got to vote for her daughter for president. Only in America. I am filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from across our great country,” she said.
Stopping short of endorsing Trump, she reiterated the issues for which she was running for president. “Our world is on fire because of America’s retreat. Standing by our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is a moral imperative. But it’s also more than that. If we retreat further, there will be more war, not less,” she said.
“I have always been a conservative Republican and always supported the Republican nominee,” she added.
Trump now has 995 delegates to his kitty as against Haley’s 89. A candidate needs 1215 delegates to win the Republican presidential nomination, a landmark which he is expected to win in the multiple State primaries of March 12.
Haley, a former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador, has not made a final decision as to whether or not she would endorse her ex-boss Trump.
People who are close to Haley have different opinions. Some believe that it would be good for her to back Trump because she would be viewed as a team player. Others ardently oppose her endorsing him.
During her campaign, Haley scripted history by becoming the first woman ever to win a Republican presidential primary. She is also the first Indian-American to have won either the Democratic or the Republican primaries. The three other previous Indian American presidential aspirants – Bobby Jindal in 2016, Kamala Harris in 2020 and Vivek Ramaswamy in 2024 – had failed to win even one primary.
Of the more than 10 candidates in fray for the 2024 presidential race, Haley is the only candidate to have defeated Trump at the primary stage: in Washington DC and Vermont. She is also the first Indian American to have won any presidential primaries.
Haley, whose parents moved to the United States in the 1960s, was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa. She has long used her middle name Nikki and adopted the surname Haley after her marriage in 1996.
During the campaign, Trump repeatedly referred to Haley as “Nimbra” in a rant on his Truth Social account, adding her to the list of foes he has targeted with racist attacks.
Haley’s father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, is a professor of biology who got his PhD at the University of British Columbia and later moved to Bamberg, a segregated town where Haley was born, to teach at nearby Voorhees College — a historically Black university.
Haley recently told Fox News that although she faced racism as a “Brown girl that grew up in a small rural town in South Carolina,” she became “the first female minority governor in history, who became a UN ambassador and who is now running for president.”
Meanwhile, President Biden on Wednesday made a clear appeal to Haley’s supporters in the aftermath of her exit from the race, praising her “courage” in standing up to Trump.
“Donald Trump made it clear he doesn’t want Nikki Haley’s supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign,” Biden said in a statement moments after Haley suspended her campaign.
Biden praised Haley for her role in her party: “It takes a lot of courage to run for President – that’s especially true in today’s Republican Party, where so few dare to speak the truth about Donald Trump.
“Nikki Haley was willing to speak the truth about Trump: about the chaos that always follows him, about his inability to see right from wrong, about his cowering before Vladimir Putin,” Biden added.
(Source: PTI)
“This year’s ‘discovery’ [WOMAD UK Festival], though, was Red Baraat, a cacophonous bhangra funk band from Brooklyn. Think Punjabi weddings, Delhi street brass bands, modern jazz and rock.” – The Telegraph (UK)
The World Music Institute (WMI) with Brooklyn Bowl, as part of WMI’s ‘LET’S DANCE’ Series, presents ‘Red Baraat – Festival of Colors’, a pioneering Indian bhangra band merging hard driving North Indian bhangra with elements of hip-hop, jazz and raw punk energy. The band will present its performance at the Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211) on March 9, 2024 at 8 PM. This is a standing show with very limited seating. Doors open at 6 PM.
Red Baraat (redbaraat.com), conceived by dhol player Sunny Jain is known for its signature blend of genres including elements of hip-hop, jazz, hard-driving north Indian bhangra and punk energy. The band’s mission is one of manifesting joy and unity in all people. Red Baraat’s annual ‘Festival of Colors’ sold out quickly when WMI presented it last year – This year too, the band will present this uniquely New York celebration of the Hindu holiday of Holi with its colorful array of South Asian sounds.
Traditionally, Holi is marked by public gatherings of families and strangers sharing songs, dance, and the exchange of ‘colors’ – colorful dry powder or colored water playfully thrown amongst the crowds of revelers. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and for many, a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships.
Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve.
Listen to/watch their performance – youtu.be/k4PXlNoUmAk
2018 also saw the band touring Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, US, Canada and Europe. They headlined the renowned WOMAD Festival in Cáceres, Spain in front of 10,000 people, performed the Vienna Konzerthaus (Philharmonie) in Austria and had the crowd jumping at Rudolstadt Festival in Germany. The release of Red Baraat’s 2nd album in 2013, Shruggy Ji, debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music charts in the USA and propelled the band on a world tour that has yet to stop. They’ve performed at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, globalFEST, Lincoln Center, New Orleans Jazz Fest, and Colours of Ostrava, just to name a few. Along the way they sold out rooms as diverse as the Luxembourg Philharmonic and the New York City’s legendary rock club Bowery Ballroom, and performed at the request of The White House (Obama), TED and Olympic Games.
The band’s 2018 album release, ‘Sound The People,’ hit the top 10 on the World Music Charts Europe and was heralded in the US as the anthem soundtrack for the South Asian diaspora by US hipster, indie-rock magazine, Stereogum: “The album is full of moments that hit with the force of a spiritual awakening…The funk, ska-punk, and other American forms that make their way into the music are layered intricately within the same threadwork as the ragas on which these songs are pulled from. Each piece is a gesture of cultural harmony, rendering not only genre irrelevant, but the geographic placement of those sounds.” — STEREOGUM
Reemerging in 2021 with a renewed focus, energy and sound, Red Baraat headlined the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center with master percussionist, Zakir Hussain, performed at the Dubai World Expo, and toured its 11th annual Red Baraat Festival of Colors.
But even as it’s clear that Red Baraat has built a startling history of performances in iconic settings, the band’s bread and butter remains the sweaty clubs, festivals, packed performing arts centers, and college auditoriums that keeps the band on the road all over the world the last several years. It’s here where Red Baraat does what it does best – communing with their audience in a joyful, near hedonistic celebration of music and dance which, tellingly, draws a crowd even more diverse than the players on stage. The universality of what Red Baraat does is undeniable. And this is no happy accident. It is the product of intention and design. Says Jain, “The band…our songs…are addressing the multiplicity of viewpoints,” says Jain. “There’s ‘Zindabad,’ which means ‘Long Live’ in Hindi. In that song, we’re saying that we celebrate life, we celebrate devotion — but we also celebrate agitation and revolution. If we can unite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to partake in the exuberance of life through the universal language of music, then life is that much sweeter.”
“Their infectious rhythms roll over the audience like a hurricane and let the audience breathe only in a short ballad pause.” – — RHEIN MAIN PRESS (GERMANY)
Samir LanGus (samirlangus.com) is a Grammy Award-nominated gnawa musician, born and raised in the city of Ait Melloule, Morocco whose passion for music stems from the variety of street sounds of his home city. Gnawa music is a body of Moroccan religious songs and rhythms. Its well-preserved heritage combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing. It is deeply hypnotic trance music marked by low-toned, rhythmic melodies played on a skin-covered lute called a sintir or guembri. The method involves call-and-response singing, hand-clapping, and cymbals.
Currently based in NYC, LanGus adds his own contemporary spin to the traditional spiritual trance music, mixing jazz instrumentation and North African tradition with New York attitude.
PROGRAM
6 PM – Doors and DJ / 8 PM – Samir LanGus / 9:30 PM – Red Baraat
Standing show with very limited seating
TICKETS
For tickets, visit worldmusicinstitute.org/red-baraat-festival-of-colors-2024
LET’S DANCE SERIES
The LET’S DANCE series brings us all together on the dance floor moving our bodies to the infectious beats of DJs and live bands from around the world.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)
Bengaluru (TIP)- The Gujarat Giants’ disappointing streak in the WPL 2024 continued as they suffered their third consecutive defeat in the competition, losing to the UP Warriorz by 6 wickets on Friday, March 1. Led by Alyssa Healy, the Giants were restricted to setting a 143-run target, which the Warriorz easily chased down, courtesy of a heroic innings by Grace Harris.
Matchday 8 at the M Chinnaswammy Stadium in Bengaluru saw the Warriorz win the toss and follow the consistent trend of teams opting to chase in the WPL 2024. The first innings saw the Warriorz’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Sophie Ecclestone, emerge as the clear winners over the Giants.
Despite starting brightly in the powerplay of the first innings, Gujarat failed to keep up the momentum. Captain Beth Mooney (16) was the first to fall, trying to hit Ecclestone out of thr park. Her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt was the second batter to fall inside the 10-over mark, once again off Ecclestone who once again showed why she was the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world. The dip and turn of Ecclestone caught Wolvaadrt off guard and she handed a simple catch to Chamari Athapaththu at mid off.
Apart from Giants wicketkeeper Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 35 runs off 26 balls, and 30 off 17 respectively, none of the other batters in her team managed to contribute significantly to the scoreboard.
The score was never going to be enough to tame the strong UP batting unit and that turned out to be true as a strong finish by Grace Harris propelled her side to 3rd place on the WPL table.
The tournament is shaping up magnificently for Grace Harris, as her powerful and unbeaten knock of 60 runs off 33 balls has secured her the new owner of the orange cap in WPL 2024.
Despite Warriorz being dealt a significant blow when their in-form opening batting pair failed to replicate their previous performance against the Mumbai Indians, Harris emerged as the hero of the highest order. Showcasing a beautiful array of shots, she boasted 9 fours and 2 sixes, rescuing her side from a difficult situation and leading them to victory.
Having lost their opening two games of this edition of WPL against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, the Warriorz have bounced back in the most impressive fashion. This is something that the Giants will only hope to replicate in order to get their season running.
New Delhi (TIP)- Senior India batter KL Rahul will not feature in the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala owing to an injury while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return to the team, the BCCI said on Feb 29. Rahul, who continues to feel sore in his right quadriceps, has travelled to London to get an expert opinion on his injury. The wicketkeeper-batter became unavailable after the series-opener in Hyderabad in January and as per the BCCI, he was 90 per cent fit before the third Test in Rajkot earlier this month.
“KL Rahul, whose participation in the final IDFC First Bank Test was subject to fitness, has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring him and coordinating with specialists in London for further management of his issue,” the Board said in a release.
Meanwhile, Bumrah, who was released from the squad for the fourth Test in Ranchi in line with the team’s workload management policy, will link up with the squad in Dharamsala for the final Test, beginning March 7.
India have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead, following the victory in the fourth Test in Ranchi.
Rahul’s absence from the final Test means Rajat Patidar remained with the squad but the MP batter can’t be sure of his place in the playing eleven, having aggregated only 63 runs in six innings.
All-rounder Washington Sundar has also been released from the squad.
“He will join Tamil Nadu for their Ranji Trophy semi-final fixture against Mumbai, starting March 2. He will join the India squad after the completion of the domestic fixture for the fifth Test, if need be,” the BCCI said.
Rahul needs to be fully fit before the IPL where he will lead Lucknow Super Giants and is expected to bat in the middle order to bolster his chances of making the India squad for the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean.
It is the same quadriceps injury that had sidelined Rahul for almost four months last year.
Having got injured during the IPL, Rahul returned to action during the Asia Cup in September last and made instant impact. In the Test tour of South Africa last year, Rahul was the only century-maker for India in the drawn series.
The BCCI also said senior pacer Mohammed Shami is recovering well after undergoing a surgery on February 26 for his right heel problem.”He is recovering well and will soon head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to commence his rehabilitation process,” the Board said of Shami.
India’s updated squad for fifth Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
Source: PTI
Brothers Inaki and Nico Williams teamed up with goals and assists to each other as Athletic Bilbao defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 to reach their third Copa del Rey final in five seasons.
Gorka Guruzeta also scored for Athletic as it advanced 4-0 on aggregate after having won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid three weeks ago. The Basque Country club will play the April 6 final in Seville against Mallorca, who eliminated Athletic rivals Real Sociedad on penalties. “Inaki and I have been getting along very well,” Nico said. “This victory goes to my parents who are in Ghana. Ghana will be a party.”
Nico and Inaki are sons of Ghanaian parents who migrated to Spain before they were born. They are among the few Black athletes to ever play at the club that historically fields only players from Spain’s northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas. “We have fought hard to be able to enjoy things like this,” Inaki said. “It’s a night to enjoy and to be proud.”
There was fan trouble ahead of the match, with Atletico saying one of its supporters was hospitalised with serious injuries after an altercation with Athletic fans. Source: AP
Sikkim is the second smallest state in India, and is wedged between Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and West Bengal, but encompasses an astounding range of pristine natural beauty of the Himalayas. A traveller’s guide to Sikkim explores the stunning beauty of this Himalayas hill town. The Sikkimese call their land ‘Ney Mayal Lyang’ that translates to ‘heaven.’
Sikkim is located in the north eastern part of India, but is not a part of the Seven Sister states. The state is famous for dazzling waterfalls, virgin forests, Tibetan style Buddhist Gompas, alpine meadows, rhododendron flowers and more. Kanchenjunga (also Kanchendzonga) at 8598 m is the third highest peak in the world, and lies in Sikkim.
More than 60 percent of the former Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim is mountainous, and there are sizeable numbers of 6000 m peaks on the eastern and western borders of the state. Sikkim has an impressive literacy rate of more than 70 percent. It was merged with India in 1975, and is a prosperous state today.
Weather in most parts of Sikkim is pleasant throughout the year (except in higher altitudes), and that makes it a favourite of holidaymakers from the Indian plains in the summer months. Bengalis throng the tourist towns of Sikkim during their holiday season of Durga Puja in October-November. The state abounds in a variety of flora and fauna, and lucky ones may also sight the endangered red panda.
PELLING
Pelling lies in West Sikkim, perched at an altitude of 2100 m and is approximately 120 km away from Gangtok. At first glance Pelling looks like a cluster of concrete hotels, but there are unparalleled views of the snowy peaks. Sunrise over the Kanchenjunga is Pelling’s biggest charm. With plenty of budget accommodation options, it also makes for a great base to explore other parts of West Sikkim.
Chief sights in and around Pelling are Pemangyatse Monastery, built more than 300 years ago, which is beautifully located amid green gardens; a huge Buddha statue and statues of reincarnations of Padmasambhava; and Pemangyatse Monastery, famous for the Chaam dances (masked dances) held in February/March.
YUKSOM
The historic little town of Yuksom was the first capital of Sikkim when three Lamas converged from different directions and crowned the first Chogyal (King) in 1641. There is still a stone throne that marks the coronation spot, and is known as Norbugang Chorten, the site is called Norbugang Park. Yuksom has the charming feel of a hamlet; it is lower in altitude than Pelling and is situated in a valley. If you are coming to Yuksom (Also Yuksam) from Pelling, then a short detour will bring you to Rimbi Waterfalls which is quite a sight in the monsoon. Just 9 km before Yuksom, you will cross the Kanchenjunga Waterfall, which is a majestic waterfall falling from a great height.
There is a small pond known by the name of Kathok Lake in Yuksom, a short walk will bring you to a ridge where once stood a palace of the King of Sikkim. There are also two new colourful Gompas above Yuksom, but the most beautiful monastery is the 1701 built Dubdi Monastery. The path to Dubdi Monastery is lined with prayer flags and is located amid lush greenery.
TASHIDING
If coming from Yuksom, you will come across one of Sikkim’s prettiest falls. The Phamrong waterfalls are around halfway on the Yuksom-Tashiding route. Tashiding is a small town located high above the confluence of the Rangeet and Rathong rivers. Tashiding Gompa is the most sacred monastery in Sikkim, the mere sight of Thongwa Rangdol Chorten – a chorten inside the complex, is said to cleanse every one of their sins. The monastery is said to have been built in 1641 and is set in an idyllic location surrounded by many ancient looking white chortens. Tall prayer flags in white (called Darchor) line up the staircase path to Tashiding Monastery, while the views from the Gompa are superb. Intricately carved mani stones with the Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum are piled up on one another to form a mani wall near the monastery complex.
RUMTEK MONASTERY
Undoubtedly, this is Sikkim’s most famous monastery, and every visitor to Sikkim is likely to visit the Rumtek Monastery, even in a 3-4 day trip to Sikkim. Rumtek Village is 24 km away from Gangtok (Sikkim’s capital), and the monastery is the headquarters of the Black Hat Sect (one of the oldest sects of Tibetan Buddhism).There are two buildings of Rumtek Monastery, one is relatively newer (built in 1966), and the older Rumtek Monastery was founded in 1740 by the fourth Chogyal of Sikkim. A path leads to a shrine called Golden Stupa, it is a chorten made of silver and gold, and studded with precious stones such as turquoise, amber and coral. It is recommended to attend the morning prayers at Rumtek Monastery.
TSOMGO LAKE
Pronounced Changu, this scenic lake is perched at 3750 m above sea level and lies 40 km away from Gangtok on the way to Nathu La. The drive to Tsomgo Lake is spectacular, and the lake itself is a pristine water body surrounded by wildflowers for most of the year. A particularly mentionable tourist attraction is that visitors can go for yak rides near the periphery of the lake. Tsomgo Lake freezes in the cold winters, but can still be accessed if the road is open. A visit to the lake requires a special permit from the Tourism Office in Gangtok. The permit can be arranged by a travel agent for a small fee, and there are lots of taxis and shared taxis available for a visit to Tsomgo Lake.
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