AV 8th November 2025

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla meeting devotees at Neasden Temple

Gopichand Hinduja

Power struggles and party chaos

Has Your Party lost the plot before the real work even began?

Eve n b efo r e i ts o ff ic i a l la u nc h , Yo u r P

y, th e much -hyp ed new left-wing alli ance, h as b een th ro wn into turmoil At the centre of the sto rm stands Zarah Sultana, who no w co ntro ls mo r e t h a n £8

n do nations, following a bitter in

as expo sed deep crac ks in th e fledgling movement

T h e m o n

d t o help launch Your Party, is yet to reach the party’s bank account despite assurances from Sultana to co-leader Jeremy Corbyn That delay has angered senior f igures who say they’ve been locked out of funds for weeks One insider described the situation as “ an insane mess

early days

and left “vulnerable to liabilities” after Sultana launched an unauthorised membership drive under a different website last month

That campaign, which mirrored Your Party’s off ic

p

after the three former cust

, Beth Winter, Jamie Driscoll, a

MoU Operations, the company originally tasked with handling the money The trio claim they were thrust

role

Maternity care failings trigger demands for swift reform

Care Quality Commission

versity Hospi

O xford

are now demanding urgent

t he

D epartment of Health and

S oc i a l C a re a n d We s

St re e ti n g t h at t h e s t at us

q uo is unacceptable

The children’s care flagbearer described heartrending accounts of mothers left

w i t h o u t a d e q u a t e p a i n relief, even forced to clean

t h e m s e l v e s u n a i d e d , a n d babies born in crisis conditions One mother recounted overhearing a midwife blame her for her child’s condition, saying she was lazy in labour These experiences came to light amid

w o r s e n i n g e v a l u a t i o n s o f the maternity unit at OUH, which was rated as requiri n g i m p r o v e m e n t b y t h e

i n A p r i l 2 0 2 3 fo r l a p s e s including infection control and medicine handling

In response, Streeting h a s a n n o u

national investigation” into

scrutiny He reiterated that

tragedy is one

many

, and that bereaved families w

inquir y OUH has issued a letter recognising past fail-

investments such as a £3

birthing suite and 24/7 visiting rights for birth partners

However, affected fam-

alone will not suff ice without independent oversight and f irm accountability

n’t approved by Corbyn, coll e c t e d m e m b e r s h i p fe e s through MoU, raising serio u s q u e s t i o n s a b o u t d a t a o w n e r s h i p a n

Commissi-oner’s Off ice is now investigating possible b r e a c h e s o f d a t a r e g u l at i o n s , w h i l e d o n o r s w h o paid through Sultana’s port a l a r e b e i n g p r o m i s e d refunds

So who’s at fault? The

MoU directors insist they r e p e a t

t o h a n d o

r f u l l c o n t r o l t o Yo u r Party, but claim only one of s i x M Ps a g r e e d t o t a ke responsibility They allege the new party suffers from “ a lack of appropriate governance ” , an accusation that cuts to the heart of Your Party’s credibility

Me a n w h i l e , Su l t a n a ’ s critics accuse her of consolidating control and creating c o n f u s io n “ Z a r a h c re a t e d this utter mess, then poses as the saviour,” one party source told Sky News “If this was Labour and one MP held all the money, it would be called undemocratic ”

Su l t a n a ’ s c a m p re j e c t s

that narrative, insisting she stepped in only to resolve an inherited tangle of legal a n d f i n a n c i a l i s s u e s A source close to her says the funds will “100%” be transferred once formalities are c o m p l e t e , a d d i n g t h e r e ’ s “ no deliberate delay”

B u t t h e

already be done To outside obser vers, the saga paints a picture of a movement at war with itself riven by mistrust and ego clashes before it has even begun its work What was meant to be a revival of Britain’s left now r

another experiment in disunity C

remained publicly silent, is said to be privately frustrat-

Prince Andrew stripped of title and forced to leave Royal Lodge

In a decisi ve and unprecedented move, K ing Ch arles

II I h as s t ri p p e d P ri n c e Andrew of his princely title and ordered him to vacate h is lo n gti me res ide nc e at Ro yal Lo dge, Windsor

The action marks one of the most severe disciplinar y measures ever taken against

royal family Andrew, who will now be known simply

relocate to a smaller private r

property he has occupied for over two decades, has

despite his fall from grace

The decision comes as the fallout from his associat i o n w i t h c o n v i c t e d s e x o f fe n d e r Je f f r e y Ep s t e i n c o n t i n u e s t o o v e r s h a d o w t h e m o n a r c h y R e n e w e d s c r u t i n y fo l l o w i n g f r e s h allegations by Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre has i n t e n s i f i e d c

Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing, his public p

regarded as untenable

Buckingham Palace said

the measures were “deemed necessar y to safeguard the integrity of the Crown,” signalling a clear effort by King Charles to draw a line under one of the monarchy’s most damaging scandals in modern times As Andrew retreats further from public life, questions remain over his future role, if any, within the royal fold The move, while sym-

Dramatic raids track thousands of illegal workers

A maj or and unprecedented

U K- w i d e c r a c kd ow n on illega l workin g has led to a rec ord surge in arrests, wi th th ou s a n d s o f fo re i g n

n at i o n a ls d e ta i n e d b y

Im mi gra ti on Enforc em en t off ic ers The m assi ve operati on saw arres ts for ille ga l worki ng sky rocket b y 63% in the last year, ma rk ing the

h i g he s t le v

f e n fo r c emen t sinc e records began Un d e r O p e r a t i o n

St e r l i n g , t h e g o v e r n m e n t invested heavily in enforcement efforts, resulting in over 11,000 raids and more than 8,000 illegal migrants

LONDON)

the ability to get on with everyone Salary + Accommodation, other amenities and benefits come to £1800 pm

c r a c kd o w n p r i m a r i ly t a rgeted sectors notorious for employing undocumented l a b o u r, i n c l u d i n g t a keaways, fast food drivers, car washes, and beauty salons Ho m e S e c re t a r y S h a b a n a Mahmood conf irmed the government's tough stance, stating that illegal working creates a harmful incentive for people attempting to a

unlawfully

The government is also introducing new legislation to close loopholes, expanding the legal requirement for right-to-work checks to cover the gig economy and temporar y worker sectors Employers who fail to comply face severe penalties, i n c l u d i n g f i n e s o f u p t o £60,000 per illegal worker and potential jail sentences of up to f ive years So far, o v e r 1 ,

UK

Zarah Sultana Jeremy Corbyn

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

A lesson for The Royal Family?

Prince Andrew, once a prominent member of the British Royal family, has been stripped of his Royal title and will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor His reckless behaviour has cost him the respect and honour he once enjoyed There is a significant difference between living freely as a common person and behaving irresponsibly while being part of The Royal family As a member of a family that once ruled much of the world, his public duties were far greater Yet, Prince Andrew, once Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite son and a hero of the Falklands War, tarnished his own reputation through an irresponsible lifestyle

The incident with Prince Andrew has imparted an important lesson to the British Royal family At a time when more people in Britain are questioning the need for a monarchy, the Royal family must now work to rebuild their bond with the public Each member of The Royal

F

integrity The issues raised by the Andrew case go to the heart of the unwritten understanding between the Royals and the public The Royal Family enjoys many privileges and high status in British society, but in return, they are expected to carry out their public duties with dignity and humility, while setting high standards in their private lives Both at home and abroad, people expect The Royal Family’s behaviour to uphold the honour and reputation of the United Kingdom

The late Queen Elizabeth II understood this concept very well During her long and historic reign, she upheld the dignity of the monarchy and brought honour to both The Royal Family and the United Kingdom, at home and

around the world However, her family has not maintained that legacy Prince Andrew damaged his own reputation with his behaviour while Prince Harry by washing his dirty linen about his fall out with Royalty over Meghan Markle in public Even earlier, the troubled marriage of the current King, then Prince Charles, and Princess Diana, along with his affair with Camilla, had already brought shame and discomfort to the Royal family

But even in today’s world, the unwritten bond between the British public and The Royal Family carries immense importance Though public support for the monarchy is no longer guaranteed, it continues to carry a ‘vintage charm’, that makes it unequivocally attractive for the rest of the world People still visit England, especially London, curious to learn about the Royals, have a glimpse of that fairytale of a life But in the current scenario, it is no longer without blemishes, losing its magic to hold people in awe Hence the duty of King Charles III and his heir, the Prince of Wales, William, should be to quickly uphold and strengthen this delicate relationship They must demonstrate transparency not only in their public and personal behaviours but also in their financial dealings, as modern –especially younger citizens no longer tolerate secrecy as an inherited privilege The Royals must recognise that to win back the trust and affection of the people, they must raise the standards of both their public service and private conducts

The British public still largely stand by the monarchy, but the Royals, in return need to turn a new leaf, and fulfil their current and future responsibilities with honesty, integrity, and a renewed commitment to duty

The worrying return of the nuclear shadow

The world s major powers are once again beating the nuclear drums US President Donald Trump's decision to restart nuclear testing has raised fears of a new global arms race His announcement came soon after Russia tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile during the ongoing Ukraine war, adding to international tension

Though neither Russia nor China has conducted an actual nuclear test, Trump's statement about testing nuclear weapons instead of just missiles has caused concerns and confusion The US often tests missiles, but testing nuclear weapons is a far more serious move, one that could threaten global peace and security

In 1992, the United States conducted its last nuclear test just a week before then-President Bill Clinton issued an order for a temporary halt on nuclear testing That suspen-

w

t h D o n a l d Trump s recent announcement about resuming nuclear tests, it's feared that the biggest beneficiary may not be Russia, but China

This move could also push other nuclear-capable nations to abandon the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and restart their own nuclear programs Trump's statement even hinted that Pakistan might be preparing for a nuclear test If Pakistan goes ahead with such a move, India will not be far behind, sparking a new nuclear arms race in the Indian subcontinent

On the other hand, China is steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal According to Trump's claims, China has now reached a level comparable to that of the United States and Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons to deter the West from supporting Ukraine If tensions between NATO and Russia escalate further, there is a growing fear that Putin might actually resort to using nuclear weapons

It is believed that this possibility may have prompted Trump's decision to reactivate America's nuclear capabilities as well The two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II unleashed such devastating destruction that the world was forced to rethink the use of nuclear weapons Yet, in the pursuit of geopolitical dominance, the great powers still seem willing to go to any lengths

If Russia and China follow America s example, global tensions could rise dangerously high Pakistan, India's neighbour, has repeatedly threatened nuclear attacks, adding to the risk In such tense conditions, any country might take to using nuclear weapons

Once again, reckless leaders are putting the future of humanity in danger Trump has even claimed that the US has enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet 150 times Such careless and frightening remarks only increase global panic

Redefining India’s cricket glory

Indians have many religions - one of the biggest being cricket And what the Indian Women’s Cricket Team showed on Sunday, is no less than a miracle

Sky Sports Cricket's Nasser Hussain in a commentary said that India's victory in the Women's Cricket World Cup has firmly established them as a formidable force in women's cricket India set a challenging target by scoring 298-7 and then bowled out South Africa for 246 in the 46th over, securing a 52-run win

Amol Muzumdar, the architect behind India's Women's ODI World Cup success, never had the opportunity to make his international debut despite scoring over 11,000 runs in First-Class cricket Muzumdar remains one of Indian cricket's most fascinating figures and a giant in domestic cricket Raised in the cricketing hotbed of Mumbai, he attended S h a r a d a s h r a m V i d y a m a

c

h Ramakant Achrekar, who also mentored Sachin Tendulkar Muzumdar shared his early cricketing years with a young Sachin, and schoolboy achievements hinted at future greatness

Upon retiring in 2014, Amol Muzumdar didn't just step away from the game; he transitioned into coaching with the same passion that defined his playing career He took on mentoring roles for India's U-19 and U-23 teams, served as a batting coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL from 2018 to 2020, and even acted as the interim coach for South Africa during their 2018 tour of India In 2021, he returned to Mumbai as the head coach, focusing on developing the next generation of cricketers The most significant chapter of his coaching career began in October 2023 when the BCCI

appointed him as the head coach of the Indian women's team And the rest is history

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India's women cricketers for their "historic" victory With increasing investment in the women's game, more Indian girls are now viewing cricket as a viable career option At the highest level, gender equality has been a key focus for former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who implemented equal match fees for both men and women This initiative has played a crucial role in promoting fairness in cricket and inspiring more women to take up the sport professionally

Despite the victory, women's sports in India still face significant challenges, and the impact of the World Cup win may be gradual The gender gap is stark, especially during adolescence and early adulthood, according to the 2024 State of Sports and Physical Activity report, supported by global consultancy firm Dalberg, as per a report by France 24 "The largest gender gaps unsurprisingly occur when caregiving responsibilities increase, it adds, citing household chores and the care of children or the elderly

As the BBC points out, India's victory has the potential to elevate the women's game to unprecedented levels in terms of reach and investment The shift around stadiums in India is evident in the sheer number of boys and men wearing

Harmanpreet The crowds have been electric for the hosts' games The Women's Premier League, India's T20 franchise competition, has started the game-changing process with the salaries on offer to players Based on this sensational semifinal, that could prove to be just the beginning

Thought for the week

“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all

Should British-born children of immigrants have different rights or obligations toward Britain than ci tiz en s whose families have lived here for gen erations particularly in their freedom to critici se the country?

Citizenship is supposed to be indivisible In law, a child born in Britain to immigrant parents is as British as one whose ancestors fought at Agincourt Yet in public life, equality often ends where ancestry begins When minorities criticise Britain, they are told to be grateful; when long-settled Britons do so, they are praised as patriots

This double standard mistakes inheritance for ownership Under the British Nationality Act 1981, rights are equal by birth or naturalisation To assign moral gradations of belonging by lineage would reintroduce hereditary privilege in civic form John Rawls’s Theory of Justice reminds us that behind a “veil of ignorance” no rational citizen would accept fewer rights because of their parents’ birthplace

The common argument that descendants of immigrants owe special gratitude to Britain collapses under scrutiny Gratitude is a virtue, not a contract; coerced gratitude is servility Post-war immigrants were not passive beneficiaries but active builders of the nation: they staffed hospitals, drove buses, paid taxes, and raised the children who now sustain the economy Their offspring’s citizenship was earned twice by birth and by contribution

Criticism, moreover, is not ingratitude but engagement Michael Walzer’s idea of the “connected critic” captures this: the loyal citizen improves the community by confronting its failings Those who straddle two worlds often see Britain’s contradictions most clearly inequality, racial bias, and unfulfilled promises of fairness Their dissent strengthens democracy’s immune system; silencing it weakens the body politic

Yet social perception lags behind principle A white Briton lamenting “broken Britain” is a reformer; a brown Briton saying the same is a malcontent This reveals an anxiety about ownership: that Britain belongs more to some than to others In truth, every generation redefines t

extend Britishness rather than dilute it

Freedom of speech carries duties of accuracy and civility, but those obligations bind all citizens equally Isaiah Berlin’s notion of positive liberty self-mastery through participation means that genuine belonging requires the freedom to question Silence is not loyalty; it is fear

To claim that some Britons must speak softly while others may shout loudly is to mistake democracy for inheritance The child of immigrants owes Britain what every citizen does: honesty, engagement, and the courage to help it live up to its ideals

In a confident nation, dissent is not betrayal but proof of confidence itself The measure of Britain’s maturity will be whether it stops asking its newest citizens to prove their love, and starts listening when they express it critically

Alpesh Patel

Call to punish parents for children's crimes

Pare nts could face l egal

an d fi nan ci al p ena lties for thei r childre n ’ s crimes i f a ne w la w proposed by Peter Be dford , MP for Mid Leicestershire, i s approve d The proposa l follows the tragi c killi ng of 80 -ye ar-old pen si oner

Bh im Kohli in Braunstone Town last y ear

Mr Bedford has introduced an amendment to a Bill currently going through Parliament that would empower the Government to issue “parenting orders” and impose fines on parents of young offenders His campaign was inspired by the case of two minors convicted of manslaughter for

attacking Mr Kohli in Franklin Park in September 2024 The 14year-old boy involved was sentenced to seven years ’ detention, while a 12year-old girl received a three-year rehabilitation order after their trial concluded at Leicester

‘Birmingham

gang’ jailed for brutal stabbing attacks

A viciou s Birmingham g ang h as been handed leng thy jail sentences after carrying out two brutal attacks involving knives and baseball bats that left v ictims with life-changing injuries

Crown Court in June this year

Working with Mr Kohli’s daughter, Susan, Mr Bedford has been calling for greater parental accountability and tougher justice for young offenders He is also proposing a second

amendment requiring that anonymity be lifted at the point of sentencing for those under 18 who receive prison terms of four years or more This follows a High Court decision to prevent the press from naming the boy convicted in the Kohli case Mr Bedford said, “Bhim Kohli was a muchloved and well-respected man in the community, and what happened to him was nothing short of abhorrent As a parent, it is your job to ensure your children grow up to be law-abiding, functioning members of society If you cause extreme harm, then you should face the consequences ”

City chase unlocks couple's quarter-million drug haul

I N B R I E F COLLEGE NEAR COLLAPSE AFTER LOAN ABUSE CLAIM

A college that closed its Nottingham site after facing accusations of abusing the student loan system has admitted it could collapse due to the resulting financial consequences Oxford Business College (OBC), which had a campus on Carlton Road in St Ann s, was told its students were no longer eligible for support loans by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, last April The accusations stemmed from concerns the college was failing to ensure students had basic English skills or attended lectures

Although OBC won a legal victory in August, overturning the government's ban on future student finance applications, the move prevented it from enrolling new students, forcing the Nottingham campus to close the same month Its survival now hinges on quickly selling or refinancing properties and establishing new university partnerships The embattled college is also suing the Department for Education for millions of pounds claiming the de-designation destroyed its finances and caused nearly all 5,000 students to leave

UNIVERSITY REDUNDANCIES THREATEN 150 JOBS

second

Drug d ealer and his partner hav e been jailed after a reckless police ch ase in Leicester led to officers uncovering a m

Audi A4, which was regis-

a backpack containing crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin

Around 150 jobs are at risk at the University of Leicester as the institution moves forward with a formal redundancy consultation The job cuts are set to impact a large number of staff across several departments The University and College Union (UCU) also stated that all academic staff in the Modern Languages and Film Studies departments face redundancy with further losses expected in College Operations support teams The University of Leicester confirmed it is in formal consultation but declined to specify the exact number of at-risk staff or departments publicly

In the first incident on January 5, 2022, the gang lured a man in his 20s to Yew Tree Road, Aston The victim was rammed in his c a r , d r a g g e d o u t , a n d severely beaten with bats before being stabbed three times He suffered a fractured jaw, missing teeth, a b

narrowly missed his heart

Just over two years later, on February 29, the group was involved in

tions for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent, the gang members received hefty terms at Birmingham Crown Court, Aramaan Azam was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years; Hubaish

worth

£250,000

Usmaan Rehman was jailed for 20 years; Farhaan Azam

Suheel Ellahi was jailed for

Joshua Hawkins, 35, was driving the wrong way up a one-way street in Leicester city centre, June 23, in a desperate attempt to evade officers who recognised him as a

H e refused to stop and fled on foot after abandoning the car in Mercury Close Just over an hour later, Hawkins was arrested near his home, which he shared with his partner, Aliyah Amin, 23 A subsequent search of Amin's

Both pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine, c

intent to supply Hawkins also admitted to dangerous driving They appeared at

tenced to 10 years in prison, and Amin was jailed for six years The investigating officer praised the arrest, noting Hawkins' "no regard for other road users" during the pursuit

The UCU local branch has announced its members will take 10 days of strike action next month in response to the news

The union is also planning a national demonstration in Leicester, arguing that the job cuts are a disaster for students, for the university and for the affected staff They warn this could be just the initial phase of cuts, with a second wave of restructuring expected in early 2026

£45M INVESTMENT SECURES NEW HOMES FOR LEICESTER'S HOMELESS

Leicester City Council has invested £45 million over the last 18 months to purchase 350 houses and flats in an effort to tackle the rising number of homeless families and individuals The major programme aims to secure homes for use as both emergency and permanent accommodation The investment has secured over 100 traditional family houses including two and three-bedroom properties with a further 15 set to be completed soon An additional 134 temporary accommodation units have been secured for single people

The council confirmed that the investment has already reduced the number of people in B&B accommodation for over six weeks by 93 per cent Councillor Elly Cutkelvin Deputy City Mayor for housing said the move would also save the council millions annually by reducing reliance on costly pay-by-night alternatives However, the council noted that despite these efforts, the overall number of families needing temporary accommodation continues to rise

Drug line brothers get ten-year jail terms

an ac c o m pl i c e w h o ra n a County Line drug network between B irmi ngham an d Solihull have been handed significant jai l sentenc es Raheel Khan and Ansir Khan were key figures in the daily operation of the

killed

cocaine and heroin between 2023 and 2024

after executing a series of warrants last June Phone records linked the trio to the main hotline number, w

Suheel Ellahi, Aramaan Azam and Farhaan Azam

Hubash Khan and Usmaan Rehman

Joshua Hawkins and Aliyah Amin

L-R: Raheel Khan Ansir Khan and Leon Matthews

Bhim Kohli

Peter Bedford

A

The Cambridgeshire train attack

Fear, identity, and a nation on edge

br u t a l st a bbi n g s p r e e

a bo a r d a L on d on -bo u n d

t ra in from Pe te rbor ough ha s left Brit ain shak en , re open -

in g old a nx ietie s about safe -

t y, ide ntit y, a nd viole nce in p ublic spaces e ven as sta tist ics suggest k nife cr ime is fa llin g The attack unfolded on a

q u i e t S a t u r d a y e v e n i n g , w h e n a 3 2 - y e a r - o l d m a n , now identified as Anthony Williams, boarded the train

a n d l a u n c h e d i n t o a 1 4 -

m i n u t e r a m p a g e , s t a b b i n g passengers seemingly at ran-

d o m E l e v e n p e o p l e w e r e injured, including an LNER staff member who remains

i n c r i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n a f t e r t r y i n g t o s t o p h i m Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as passengers locked themselves in

a g a i n s t d o o r s , a n d u s e d clothes to stem the bleeding of victims

W h e n p o l i c e s u b d u e d

W i l l i a m s w i t h a T a s e r a t H u n t i n g d o n s t a t i o n , h e reportedly shouted, “Kill me, kill me, ” and muttered, “The devil always wins ” Officers

l a t e r c o n f i r m e d h e w a s a

B r i t i s h n a t i o n a l f r o m Peterborough, charged with t e n c o u n t s o f a t t e m p t e d murder and possession of a bladed weapon

Missed wa rnin gs a nd a syste m unde r st ra in It has since emerged that Williams had been involved in multiple knife incidents in the 24 hours before the attack including assaults at a barbershop and the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy Police had been alerted but failed

t o l o c a t e h i m Cambridgeshire Police later referred themselves to the I n d e p e n d e n t O f f i c e f o r Police Conduct, though the c a s e d i d n o t m e e t t h e threshold for investigation

s i n c e t h e v i c t i m s h a d n o prior contact with officers

T h e r e v e l a t i o n h a s renewed criticism of police responsiveness and resource shortages, emblematic of a w i d e r s t r a i n o n B r i t a i n ’ s public safety infrastructure Many now question whether stretched forces, burdened with budget cuts and case

b a c k l o g s , c a n a d e q u a t e l y prevent such tragedies

Pa nic, politics, an d pe rception

The public reaction was

a n y t h i n g b u t m e a s u r e d Within hours, social media was flooded with alarm and s p e c u l a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y from right-wing commentators asking whether it was still safe to travel by train or even to go out at all

In the early hours, before police confirmed details, the information vacuum filled quickly with rumours and conjecture Was the attacker an immigrant? A foreigner?

A terrorist? Only later did officials clarify that he was U K - b o r n a n d o f b l a c k

C a r i b b e a n d e

Y e t rather than easing tensions, t

a t i o

s e d a deeper societal fault line: a tendency to link acts of violence to “the other”: the outs i d e r , t h e f o r e i g n e r , t h e imagined threat

P o l i c e l a t e r e x p l a i n e d that they disclosed the suspect’s ethnicity and nationality specifically to prevent f a r - r i g h t m i s i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m s p r e a d i n g o n l i n e

Former Metropolitan Police commander Dal Babu, told T h e G u a r d i a n t h a t p o l i c e having to disclose the race of suspects in incidents involving people of colour was an “unintended consequence ”

“ W h e n t h e n e w g u i dance was issued, I warned that there was a danger that there will be an expectation for police to release information on every single occasion,” he said

“I have sympathy for my f o r m e r c o l l e a g u e s i n t h e police They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t They are under pressure because there is such intense speculation from the f a r r i g h t o n s o c i a l m e d i a after every major incident a b o u t t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f suspects

“You will not find press u r e o n s o c i a l m e d i a t o name the ethnicity of suspects when black players are b e i n g r a c i a l l y a b u s e d o n social media, for example We are in a position in our country where race is being amplified by far-right racist groups and the police are being forced to respond It is a worry ”

A mir ror to a fra cture d societ y

This rhetoric reveals a t r o u b l i n g i n s t i n c t : t o respond to chaos by seeking a target rather than a cause

A violent act by a UK-born man of Caribbean heritage does not fit the far-right narrative of “imported crime,” but the outrage persists- less about fact, more about the need to assign blame Had police delayed disclosing his b a c k g r o u n d , t h a t v a c u u m would likely have been filled with xenophobic conspiracy

Even now, his identity as a B

scrutiny and prejudice

Experts warn that this pervasive fear distracts from the real issues: the erosion of mental health services, a culture of casual knife carrying, and the chronic underfunding of policing and prevention

What Britain needs most now is clarity, accountability, and empathy; not panic or scapegoating The perpetrator must be treated as an i n d i v i

symbol Because the truth, as this attack reminds us, is painfully simple: the knife

Fear did

Police probe as Green Party leader faces racial abuse at London station

The Metro politan Po lice hav e launched an inv estigation after Green Party dep uty leader Mothin Ali rep

ted

London

Ali, a Leeds councillor, said he was wearing tradi-

when a man approached him on Wednesday and shouted that he should be “deported” before threatening to “smash [his] head in ” Sharing the incident on social media, the 43-year-old described the attacker as a

“racist thug” and said such hostility had become “too

The Met confirmed it

tions of racial abuse” and

phone footage and station C C

police have urged anyone with information to come forward I

recalled: “Outside Earl’s Court station, I was subjected to an Islamophobic hate crime A man walked towards me shouting, ‘I

and I should be deported When I pulled out my phone to record, he backed off still

head in

He said the encounter mirrored the racist rhetoric he frequently sees online,

being radicalised by extremists, politicians, parts of the media and oligarchs ” S

BBC, Ali said he decided to go public after encouragement from a friend, warning

other minorities are being deterred from entering poli-

and abuse

Mothin Ali

CB Patel

A Tale of Two Indians

In the ev er-ev olv ing land scape of g lobal lead ersh ip, sto ries sh ap ed by mig ration, heritage and hard work continue to inspire

In this week’s co lum n, I wish to reflect on two such rem arkable indiv iduals Starting with The Rt Hon Rish i Sunak MP, wh ose jou rney from Southampton to 1 0 Dow ning Street em bodies p ersev erance and purp ose and wh ose life reflects th e enduring v alues of his Indian heritag e Rishi Sunak was born

o n M a y 1 2 , 1 9 8 0 , i n Southampton, England, his

e a r l y l i f e s h a p e d b y t h e story of migration and hard

w o r k H i s g r a

e

India, to East Africa and his parents later settled in the

U n i t e d K i n g d o m i n t h e 1960s His father worked as a GP with the NHS and his mother was a pharmacist

w h o m a n a g e d h e r o w n small chemist shop

Sunak’s upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents’ commitment to community service Watching his father care for patients and his mother run a small business instilled in him a strong sense of discipline, empathy and responsi-

b i l i t y H

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford and went on to earn an

H

including summer jobs and h

pharmacy, taught him the v a l u e o f h o n e s

and humility, qualities that later defined his political career

Sunak made history at the age of 44 as the United K

w h i t e P r i m e

At just 34 years old, Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has already made history as the first South Asian man to serve in the New York State Assembly, as well as the first Ugandan and only the third Muslim ever to hold that position Despite having no executive experience, Mamdani’s progressive and people-centric agenda has caught national attention, positioning him as a serious contender to lead America’s largest city, one with a workforce of over 300,000 and a $116 billion budget

B o r n i n K a m

a l a , Uganda, Zohran is the son

deeply thoughtful parents, P

Mamdani, a distinguished Ugandan academic, author and political commentator from the Gujarati Ismaili community and Mira Nair,

upbringing was a blend of intellect and empathy, his father grounded him in critical thought and social justice, while his mother nurtured creativity and compassion The f

Zohran was seven, giving him both a global identity and a deeply local sense of purpose Mamdani belongs to the Ismaili Khoja community, followers of

Minister A devout Hindu, he fasts on Mondays, doesn’t drink alcohol or eat beef a n d l i v e s b y t h e H i n d u p r i n c i p l e o f Dharma, doing one ’ s duty sincerely, without being attached to the outcome Even after stepping down as Prime Minister, Sunak stayed in Britain rather than withdrawing from public life, a decision that reflected both character and conviction His children’s choice to celebrate their 21st birthdays in the UK further reflects the family’s grounded connection to the country He currently serves as the Member of P a r l i a m e n t ( M P ) f o r R i c h m o n d a n d Northallerton In addition, he holds the position of Senior Adviser at the investment bank Goldman Sachs, as well as with l e a d i n g A I c o m p a n i e s M i c r o s o f t a n d Anthropic Recently, he has also begun writing as a columnist for The Sunday Times business section

Rishi Sunak represents integrity and resilience in modern politics The British, especially the English, have a remarkable ability for self-correction and it wouldn’t be surprising if Sunak, with his credibility and composure, makes a political comeback in the near future In fact, an online campaign calling for his return has already gained momentum

A similar story of Indian excellence is now unfolding across the Atlantic, in New York City The city’s mayoral elections, scheduled for 4th November 2025, have brought to prominence Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a rising political figure whose journey reflects the same spirit of service, conviction and diversity that leaders like Rishi Sunak embody

Mundan ceremony of little Dhyan unites family and faith in Sutton

Jay Himanshu Patel, 12 Years, Hungerford T h e M un d

first haircut, usually pe rformed bet ween t he ag es of one and

A g a K h a n T h o u g h relatively small in number, this community has earned global respect for its emphasis on educa-

indelible mark in com-

business across the US,

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was also born into an Aga Khani Ismaili Khoja family before later embracing Ithna Ashari (Shia) Islam To this day, Pakistan continues to face internal challenges of identity and inclusion, from its strained recognition of the Ahmadiyya and Ismaili communities to the marginalisation of Muhajirs, the Indian migrants who settled largely in Sindh after Partition Despite their prominence in trade and industry, their voice in politics, the economy and the

Pervez Musharraf being a rare exception

As for Zohran Mamdani, it remains unclear how central faith is to his personal

Muslim Yet, that is not the defining point of his story What truly stands out is the extraordinary dispersal, diversification and excellence of the Indian diaspora From the Prime Minister of Portugal to leaders in Northern Ireland, the UK, and now New York, people of Indian origin continue to rise to global prominence, shaping politics,

integrity and a deep sense of purpose

Whether it is Rishi Sunak in Britain or Zohran Mamdani in New York, no matter that they were born and raised on foreign soil, their connection with India remains

virtue, of discipline, duty and dharma, shines through in their actions, leadership a n

nations with values deeply rooted in Indian culture and conscience

Gujarati This ritual isn’t just about grooming; it carries profound spiritual and cultural significance Hindus believe that the hair a baby is born with carries remnants of past karmas and energies from previous lives By shaving it off, the child is symbolically cleansed, allowing them to begin their journey in this life with purity, blessings, and a fresh start The ceremony is often accompanied by prayers, mantras and family celebrations, making it a joyful occasion that blends spiritual intention with cultural pride This is one of the actions to make a baby sanctified by God himself Many other sanskars are performed such as the naming ceremony A Mundan ceremony was held at the Thomas Wall Centre in Sutton for my cousin

brother Dhyan, the son of my paternal aunt, Hrushikaben Around 350 guests attended the joyous event, making it a memorable family celebration Such occasions in a foreign land beautifully reflect that, although we have settled abroad, we continue to preserve and cherish our values and culture While many youngsters in India are increasingly drawn towards Western lifestyles, we, living here, take pride in holding on to our rich cultural traditions Ja i Swa minar ay an!

Lisa Nandy unveils new cultural festival competition

C u l tu re S ec re tar y L i s a Nandy has launched a new U K To wn of C ulture comp e ti ti o n, sp e c if i ca ll y d e si g ne d to c ele bra te t h e c o ntr i bu ti o ns o f s m al le r places that often miss o ut o n na ti o na l rec o g n it io n T he initiati v e, targ eted at s m al l an d m ed iu m -s i ze d to w ns , w ill ru n al on g si d e th e ex i st in g U K C i ty o f C ulture program me

Nandy stated that too many communities have felt l e f t o u t o f o u r n a t i o n a l story, and this competition provides an opportunity to c h a n g e t h a t b y s h i n i n g a spotlight on the unique cultural life and history across the country The inaugural

w i n n i n g t o w n w i l l b e a w a r d e d £ 3 5 m i l l i o n t o deliver a bespoke cultural programme during the summer of 2028 Additionally, shortlisted towns will each r e c e i v e

ensuring the process itself b e n e f i t s l o c a l a r e a s Applications will be assessed

based on three key criteria: the town’s unique story, the i n

i v i t y o

c u l t u r a l programme, and its ability to deliver a successful event The government is building on the proven success of the C i t y

which has delivered signific a n

n t , a n d increased tourism, to previous winners such as Hull, Coventry, and the current holder, Bradford Simultaneously, the UK City of Culture 2029 competition has opened, with the winning city now guaranteed a substantial £10 million cash prize for the first time

Mother’s voice boosts premature baby brains

A new study suggests that th e so u n d o f a m o th e r ’ s voice may be crucial in shaping th e d ev eloping brains of prematu re babies, offering a simple w ay to boo st their future langu age skills The res e arc h , p u b li s h ed i n F ro nt ie rs i n H u m an Neuroscience, is the first to show a causal link between early speech expo sure and ne ur o lo g i c al d

preterm babies who, unlike f u

d their first weeks in a quiet hospital environment, largely missing the continuous sounds of conversation and t

would have experienced in

Mothers in the intervention group provided recordings

played to their babies for a total of just over two and a half hours a day for several weeks MRI scans later revealed that the babies who heard their mother’s voice showed m

ment in the

processing and understanding speech

Zohran Mamdani

Rt Hon Rishi Sunak going through Asian Voice during his election campaign as the leader of the Conservative Party and UK Prime Minister

L-R: Hrushikaben, Dhyan, Griva & Mohanbhai Patel

Jay Himanshu Patel

Lisa Nandy

Less than half of Britons value diversity, survey shows

Britons are significantly tougher on immigration and divers ity th an th eir

Am eric an co u nter p art s, ac co rdin g

t o ne w re s e ar c h c h a l l en gi ng t h e

no tio n that th e UK is more s ocially l iberal than th e U nited States

A study by the National Centre for Social Research (NCSR) revealed that 42 per cent of Britons support legal action to deport people living in the country without permission, a notably higher proportion than the 33 per cent of Americans who share that view

When it comes to diversity, the contrast is equally stark Nearly twothirds of Americans (64 per cent)

b e l i e v e d

y stronger, compared to fewer than half (49 per cent) of Britons

The study also highlighted polit-

found to be even more hardline on immigration than Donald Trump supporters in the US Almost eight in ten (79 per cent) Reform supporters said illegal migrants should not be allowed to stay, compared with seven in ten Trump voters

R e s e a r c h e r s s a i d t h e f i n d i n g s were designed to “better understand how public attitudes in the UK compare with those in the US, and the extent of polarisation in the two countries ” Alex Scholes, Research Director at NCSR, said the results undermine t h e l o n g - h e l d a s s u m p t i o n t h a t Britain is more progressive than the US on social matters “The idea that

Britain is more socially liberal than America doesn’t hold up across all issues,” he said “While the UK is clearly more liberal on questions to do with family, sexuality and religion, attitudes to immigration and d i v e r s i t y s h o w t h e o p p o s i t e p a ttern ” He added “People in the UK are less likely than those in the US to see diversity as a strength, or to think that openness to people from other countries is essential to who we are as a nation Our findings suggest that polarisation in the

two countries looks very different In the UK, the sharpest divides are around immigration and national identity; in the US, they’re around social issues and the role of government ” According to Scholes, these differences will continue to shape the political climate in both nations “While both countries are grappling with questions of identity and belonging, the lines of division are drawn in very different places and that will define political debate for years to come, ” he said

Tory MP backs India's sovereignty over Kashmir

Co ns erv ativ e M P Bo b Blackm an has introd uced a significant Early Day M otion (EDM) in the British Ho use o f Com mons, wh ich publi cl

and t err it

Jamm u and Kashm ir (J&K) The mov

is seen as a major d iplomatic end o rs em ent, ti med to coinci de with the annual observance of J&K Accession Day on Octo ber 26

recognises the historical significance of the 1947 Instrument of A

Hari Singh, which legally complet-

Winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025 announced

So ciety (RCS ) has announced the

Co mp etiti on ( QCE C)

world’s o ldest internatio nal writing competition for sch ools

53,434 entries from across 54 of the 56 Commonwealth nations,

Submissions came from countries

Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Sri

Kingdom, and the Maldives

The winners were selected by an esteemed international judg-

ing panel that included Sir Ben

, Caroline Haines CC, Ntsika Kota, Portia Subran, Maria Samuela, Dr Paul Edmondson, and Joanne C Hillhouse

2025 Winners and Runnersup included senior winner Kaira Puri (17), Gurugram, India; Junior W i n n

, Mumbai, India; Senior Runnerup Pandora Onyedire (17), Lagos, Nigeria; and Junior Runner-up Lakshmi Manognya Achanta (14), Singapore

gratitude to all participants, the

hundreds of volunteer judges, and t h

across the Commonwealth whose passion and commitment made this year ’ s record-breaking competition possible For over 140 years, the QCEC has provided a platform for young people to express their ideas, aspirations, and experiences through creative writing Each year, the c o m p e t i t i o n e x p

e s t h e m e s inspired by Commonwealth values, encouraging youth to engage thoughtfully with global issues, from climate change and equality to leadership and empathy, fost e r i n g d i a l o g

, c r e a t i v i t y , a n d understanding among future generations

voice in support of New Delhi’s long-held constitutional position, directly countering ongoing diplomatic and political narratives challenging India's claim

The motion was co-signed by Democratic Unionist Party MP Jim

party support for the initiative Blackman, a dedicated advocate for stronger UK-India ties, used the motion to encourage peaceful c

Indian diaspora in the UK, urging them to promote historical literacy and cultural exchange This parliamentary action firmly aligns the UK's formal legislative processes with the principle of respecting sovereign boundaries, marking a notable moment in bilateral political relations

Bob Blackman

Preston’s Gujarat Hindu Society shines bright with Diwali celebrations

The Gujarat Hind u Society in P reston marked Diwali, th e Festiv al of Lights, with heartfelt devotion and vibrant celebrations sp read ov er several days

On Monday, 20th October, the mandir remained open all day, inviting devotees to offer prayers and seek darshan The occasion also provided a joyful opportunity for the community to come together, exchange greetings, and share in the festive spirit

On Tuesday, 21st October, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky in the centre’s car park, attracting over 500 attendees

The dazzling half-hour show created a vibrant atmosphere of joy, unity, and celebration

The festivities continued on Wednesday, 22nd October, Hindu New Year’s Day, as devotees gathered at the mandir from early morning for darshan and the first arti at 9:00 AM, attended by around 150 people President Dashrathbhai extended warm New Year greetings to everyone, followed by blessings from the pujari, who offered prayers for peace, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year

from Radio Lancashire and the ‘Lancashire Evening Post’, allowing the joy of the celebration to reach the wider community

and Tulsi Vivah on Sunday, 2nd November

Jalaram Jayanti and Tulsi Vivah celebrations at GHS P reston

Scottish Hindu Foundation marks Diwali with unity and celebration

The Scottish Hindu Foundation, in collaboration w ith th e Scottish Parliament, hosted its A nnual Diw ali ( Deepav ali) Celebrations at Queen Elizabeth Ho use in Ed inburgh, uniting comm unities, leaders, and well-wishers to m ark th e Festival of Lig hts, a celebration of h ope, unity, and renew al

The Annkut celebration was beautifully organised between 10:30 and 11:30 AM, showcasing an impressive array of 108 food items offered to the deities At 12 noon, the curtain was drawn open for darshan, marking a moment of devotion and reverence

Among the special guests were Adrian Phillips,

The main arti was performed at 12:30 PM, followed by hourly artis throughout the day, concluding with the final one at 6:00 PM Later, the Annkut Prasad was displayed in the main hall, where devotees gathered to admire and partake in the wide variety of offerings

Over 1,000 devotees visited the mandir during the celebrations The society expressed heartfelt gratitude to all devotees and volunteers for their generous support towards the Annkut Prasad and fireworks display With the

On Saturday 1 November, GHS Preston celebrated Jalaram Bapa Jayanti From 10:00 AM onwards, devotees began arriving to pay their respects The celebration commenced with Ganesh Puja performed by the yajman, followed by

the delicious prasad prepared by the ladies’ team Jalaram Bapa, revered worldwide, continues to reside in the hearts of his devotees His birthplace, Virpur, remains famous for Bapa’s divine prasad

The following day, on Sunday, 2 November, the community came together once again to celebrate Tulsi Vivah, marking the end of the Hindu year and the beginning of the auspicious wedding season This year ’ s yajmans were Pratimbhai and Manishaben Soni and Bipinbhai and Chhayaben Chavda

live coverage

Hindu New Year underway, the community now looks forward to the upcoming festivities, Jalaram Jayanti on Saturday, 1st November,

bhajans from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Over 200 devotees gathered to sing praises of Jalaram Bapa and to enjoy

To mark the joyous occasion, a Sanji Night was held on Friday, where over 200 people participated in singing and dancing The Tulsi Vivah ceremony itself drew more than 400 devotees to the main hall, where the pujari conducted the sacred wedding ritual of Tulsi Mayya and

The atmosphere was filled with spiritual energy and devotion All attendees enjoyed a delicious meal sponsored by President, Dashrathbhai, who expressed heartfelt appreciation to the yajmans for their dedication and effort in making the Tulsi Vivah such a grand success He also congratulated the ladies’ group for their excellent cooking and the volunteers for their tireless service

The evening opened with soulful kirtans by Prana Prabhu Ji and ISKCON devotees, followed by a traditional ceremony led by Pandits and Acharyas from Scotland’s Mandirs, who shared the spiritual meaning of Diwali through sacred hymns

A diya-lighting ceremony by Mandir presidents across Scotland symbolised unity, followed by a graceful classical dance by Siddharth Bhagchandani in tribute to Lord Ganesh, celebrating new beginnings and the removal of obstacles

Ms Kirsty McNeil opened the event by highlighting the strong partnership between Queen Elizabeth House and the Scottish Hindu Foundation, now in its fourth year of hosting the Diwali celebration She reflected on the festival’s timeless message, the triumph of light over darkness and the strength of community, and congratulated Dr Sinha on receiving an MBE in 2025 for her work addressing Hinduphobia

Dr Richa Sinha MBE spoke about the Scottish Hindu Foundation’s vital role in safeguarding and representing the community, noting that while much of its work happens quietly, milestones such as tackling Hinduphobia and the success of Scotland’s International Yoga Day reflect its lasting impact

Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP delivered an inspiring keynote, sharing the personal meaning of Diwali for him and his family, a celebration of light, hope, and compassion that should guide everyday life

Former MP Martyn Day reflected on celebrating Diwali with his Hindu family, praising the festival’s warmth and values while commending the Foundation’s tireless advocacy for Scotland’s Hindu community

The evening featured a captivating ‘NrityaChitram’ performance by National Award–winning artist Debabrata Pal, a unique fusion of live painting and classical dance that beautifully blended art and spirituality It also celebrated outstanding community contributions through the Scottish Hindu Foundation Annual Awards

Mrs Brij Gandhi MBE received the ‘Guiding Star Award’ for nearly five decades of dedicated service and leadership in charitable initiatives, while Ms Sowparnika Gopalakrishnan was presented with the ‘Rising Star Award’ for her exceptional work supporting Hindu students and co-founding the Edinburgh Universities Hindu Society

Niveditha, CEO of GoKrsna, for pioneering sattvik and sustainable food practices in Glasgow The ‘Shooting Star Award’ honoured Dr Pradeep Dhvij, a neuroscientist integrating Ayurvedic wisdom with modern wellbeing and technology

A Diwali-themed quiz brought a joyful close to the evening, with Mr Ali from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community winning the grand prize The celebration ended with a vote of thanks from Mrs Naina Penman, Vice Chair of the Scottish Hindu Foundation, followed by sattvik food, chai, and desserts that fostered warmth and togetherness

The Foundation thanked all partners, guests, sponsors, and volunteers for making the event a true celebration of Scotland’s multicultural spirit

Chief Executive of Preston City Council, and John Coxhead, Headteacher of St Stephen’s School The event received

Shaligram Bhagwan

Radhakrishna Murti

John Coxhead (Head Teacher) Adrian Philips (Chief Exec PCC) Ishwer Tailor (Vice-President) Cllr Mathew Brown Cllr Nweeda Khan (Deputy Mayor) Cllr Peter kelly Ashitbhai Jariwala (Secretary), Dashrathbhai Nayee (President)

Devotees gathered for the Annkut Arti

Dr Richa Sinha MBE (fourth from left) with fellow committee members at the Diwali celebration event

A beautifully decorated altar at Queen Elizabeth House Edinburgh during the Scottish Hindu Foundation’s Diwali 2025 celebrations

Women carrying the idol of Bal Gopal

Community members pose together during the celebration

Untold story of V.K. Krishna Menon comes alive on screen

T he upcom ing English-lan-

ag

Fr eed o m F ri end

l au n ch e d at

I

d i an YM CA earlier th is m onth

D

Award-winning filmmaker

R Sarath and co-written by

T

uncovers the untold story of V K Krishna Menon and his British allies in the India League, who championed India’s freedom movement from London, blending hist

truths

Also present were pro-

flew in from Riyadh for the launch, Chief Guest Rishi Madlani, Camden Councillor, and Indian YMCA CEO Leonard Salins The film is coproduced by Gourav H Singh and Shweda Das of For Your Entertainment (Ireland), with post-production supported by India’s National Film Development Corporation

The film follows his journey from a determined student to a key leader of the India League, the London-based organisation that c h

British rule

The filmmakers are also collaborating with the Film Conclave team from India Week, which supports Indian-origin filmmakers with UK-based fundraising and production

‘

struggle through the lens of V K Krishna Menon’s transformative years in London

Set in the early 20th century, the film captures Menon’s rise from humble beginnings to political prominence, balancing his devotion to India with the solitude of exile Blending history with emotion, it portrays a man torn between duty and desire, a visionary who bridged East and West, embodying both the hope and the personal cost of India’s fight for freedom

Vishv Umiya Foundation delegation to visit UK for ‘Global Connect Tour’

A delegation from the V

n (VUF), led by Founder and President Shri R P Patel, w i l l v i s i t t h e U n i t e d Kingdom from 9th to 20th November 2025 as part of the ‘Global Connect Tour’

The delegation, which i n c l u d e s S h r i D N G o l ( V i c e P r e s i d e n t ) , S h r i Chintan Panara (Chairman

Shri Kapil Patel (Chairman

Digital Promotion), aims to engage with Indian community leaders and organisations across the UK to explore opportunities for collaboration and collective contribution toward community welfare

T h e V i s h v U m i y a Foundation’s (VUF) visit to the United Kingdom aims to strengthen connections

with the Indian diaspora and Sanatan devotees, discuss the vision of establishing a community temple, a n

n

youth empowerment The delegation will also explore b u s i n e s s n e

w

n g opportunities for Indiano r i g

n e n t r e p r e n e u r s a n d create a constructive platf o r m f o r s p i r i t u a l u p l i f tment and national develop-

ment

W i t h M a a U m i y a ’ s blessings, the Vishv Umiya Foundation (VUF) is dedicated to expanding its global mission by building Jagat Janani Maa Umiya temples in various countries, inviting collective support and participation in this sacred endeavour H

e o f Jagat Janani Maa Umiya, VUF stands as a symbol of faith, unity, and energy, a step toward creating a united and empowered global family rooted in Sanatan values If you wish to contact them, you may reach out to Deepak Patel, Convenor – VUF UK, at 07900 588 727

Director R Sarath and producer Jolly Lonappan

R P Patel

D N Gol Kapil Patel

Chintan Panara

When the inquiry itself becomes the crisis

The national investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation, launched after years of pressure from survivors, is now mired in turmoil At least two survivors have resigned from the oversight panel, saying the process is being shaped by the same institutions that once failed them Candidates for the chairmanship have also withdrawn amid mounting controversy, leaving the inquiry without clear leadership and the government struggling to defend its credibility What was meant to be a reckoning is beginning to resemble a crisis of trust

The withdrawals are not mere formalities but warnings Survivors have long argued that the process was designed to manage, not expose, the truth In meetings, they say, discussions were steered by police and council officials, while survivor voices were sidelined As one survivor put it, the institutions that turned a blind eye to systemic abuse are now setting the terms of its investigation

The inquiry’s scope has become another source of tension Should it focus narrowly on so-called grooming gangs, or expand to cover all forms of group-based child sexual abuse? Survivors fear that widening the remit will bury accountability in bureaucracy Ministers insist the inquiry’s focus will remain intact, but with every resignation, its legitimacy erodes further When those who once failed children are seen to be shaping the process of justice, it ceases to be justice at all The inquiry must be rebuilt from the ground up, led by people fully independent of the institutions under scrutiny Survivors must not merely be consulted they must lead Anything less is not a reckoning but a performance

Dr Nar sin hbha i Pa tel

I consider myself very fortunate and lucky to have seen (I would say “darshan”) Sardar Patel in person at the tender age of six, when he came to his native place, K a r a m s a d , G u j a r a t , I n d i a , t o p e r f o r m t h e o p e n i n g ceremony of Sakarba Kanyashala, a girls’ primary school

Though I was born in Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa, my father sent my mother, Maniba, with all her children to Karamsad for educational purposes and also to take care of my father’s aunt, who had become a widow at a very young age

One beautiful morning, my mother woke me up early, got me ready, combed my hair, and asked me to wear khaki shorts and a white half-sleeve shirt I was very excited, and my aunt, Kashifoi, took me to the Kanyashala lobby, where we all sat cross-legged at the end of the hall My aunt told me that when Dada (grandfather), referring to Sardar Patel, arrived I should bow my head with folded hands to do Namaste I did so, as there were big cheers and roars when he entered Everyone stood up and shouted, “Jai Hind! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”; glory to Mother India

I still vividly remember that atmosphere It was filled with patriotic energy, as India had very recently gained independence from British rule

My grandfather, Motibhai Patel, and Sardar Patel studied in the same Boys’ Primary School of Karamsad, where later my father, Raojibhai Patel, and I also

education at Vallabh Vidyanagar, while growing up,

Some of us are blessed to be born Hindus and be part of the traditions of Sanatan Dharma Dharma that is the very manifestation of cosmic reality Dharma that does not convert by way of force, lies, or threats of genocide Dharma that rejoices and values humanity in all its forms Dharma that does not put the fear of God into you, just to control you, your thoughts, and your action Dharma that is so diverse that it spread right across Bharat Varsh by sheer devotion and love Dharma that still survives and flourishes even after centuries of persecution Dharma that showed us that tendencies exhibited by Ravana will rear their ugly head because the human condition of kaam (lust), krodh (wrath), lobh (greed), moh (attachment) and ahankar (ego or excessive pride) always leads to the rise of evil, immorality and unethical behaviour

Lord Rama stood for Dharma and brought Ravana to heel This week the world celebrated Diwali And whilst Diwali is a wonderful family celebration, I fear that all too often too many of us tend to forget its real significance

In the 21st Century we are witnessing the ten heads of Ravana making a show of strength again, and they are systematically dismantling the very fabric of human society

The fight of good against evil has continued in every century since Ravana was defeated, and I sense the surge of evil has become exponential recently

What do these ten heads of Ravana looks like today?

victory

Golden triumph: Indian women’s cricket team clinches historic World Cup

Indian Women’s Cricket has been on a remarkable upward journey in recent years, consistently challenging and defeating top-tier teams like England, Australia, and South Africa

But November 2, 2025, will forever be etched in golden letters Indian cricket history On this unforgettable day, the Indian Women’s Team lifted the Cricket World Cup, marking a monumental achievement and a proud milestone for the nation

The final match was a gripping contest, befitting the grandeur of a World Cup South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt stood tall with a valiant century, offering fierce resistance Yet, it was India’s resilience, teamwork, and spirit that ultimately prevailed A particularly heartwarming subplot is the journey of Amol Mazumdar, the team’s head coach Once hailed as one of the finest players never to represent India at the international level, Mazumdar found redemption and glory by guiding the women ’ s team to World Cup victory

Beyond the scoreboard, the Indian Women’s Team displayed gestures that touched hearts across the cricketing world In a beautiful moment of unity and gratitude, they invited all support staff to share the spotlight during the trophy celebration and official photo shoot Equally moving was their tribute to Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, legends of Indian women ’ s cricket who came close to World Cup glory in their playing days but never crossed the final hurdle Holding the trophy alongside the current champions was a deeply emotional moment for them, symbolizing the culmination of years of dedication and sacrifice

The emotions were palpable from the players to the staff, each face reflected the immense effort and passion poured into this campaign The nation too joined in the celebration, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi opening his recent speech by congratulating the team, underscoring the pride and inspiration they’ve brought to millions This victory is more than just a sporting achievement; it’s a testament to the growing strength, unity, and recognition of women ’ s cricket in India The future looks brighter than ever

Devang Bhatt

A

dignitaries, politicians, ministers of state and central

Sardar Patel’s house They came to see how the son of a farmer grew up, lived, and studied with only a few basic amenities and limited means Not only Sardar Patel, but also his elder brother, Veer Viththalbhai Patel, and younger brother, Kashibhai Patel, achieved remarkable things through the sheer love of education and strong commitment, even in adverse conditions

Veer Viththalbhai Patel went to England and earned a law degree, while Kashibhai Patel became a district pleader Veer Viththalbhai Patel was an Indian legislator and co-founder of the Swaraj Party During British rule,

Assembly and in 1925 became its President This serves as an example for today’s youth – one can achieve a lot with very little if they have a strong desire for education Vallabh Vidyanagar, an educational township, was built in a rural area on the lands of farmers from Karamsad, Bakrol, Mogri, and Anand, who generously donated their farmland Contributions also came from donors in Gujarat and East Africa, so that students from rural areas could study in various colleges at minimal cost Because of this educational foundation, thousands of students have earned degrees in their chosen fields and settled into successful careers and businesses, not only in India but also in East Africa, the USA, Canada, England, and New Zealand

Last but not least, Sardar Patel was featured on the cover of Time magazine in its January 27, 1947 issue, with the headline: “India’s Vallabhbhai Patel: A Bald Dilemma and Sharp Horn ” He was referred to as “The Boss” by Time for his role in uniting India, describing him as the political leader who translated Gandhi’s ideas into practical politics and built a powerful political machine

humble suggestion for our beloved newspaper

I am writing this letter in my capacity as a regular reader of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar Your publications have consistently stood by the community through both good and challenging times, serving as a true source of pride for the Indian diaspora There is no doubt that you and your weeklies have accomplished outstanding work, which everyone acknowledges and deeply appreciates

We received the Diwali special issue, which was truly outstanding, filled with insightful and informative articles, an eyecatching layout, and excellent printing quality that added a refined touch to the entire edition As a reader, I must say, it was a delight to go through, especially the contributions from experts across various fields

However, one thing caught my attention On opening the cover page of the Diwali issue, I noticed CB Patel’s photograph alongside the editorial note on the first page While there is absolutely nothing wrong in featuring your photo as the publisher and editor, I personally felt that this space could have featured an image of Vighnaharta Lord Ganesh instead

CB often mentions that if we ever notice any oversight in our publications, we should bring it to attention and that’s precisely why I am sharing this suggestion

Also a reminder for the team that over its 53 years of publication, Gujarat Samachar has built a proud and distinguished tradition, one that should continue to be maintained with the same dignity and values

A nant Mehta

ISRO Bahubali

In the grand arena of space, ISRO's Bahubali rocket soars like Prabhas's Bhallaladeva, conquering the cosmos with unyielding might! Our Amarendra Baahubali scientists, backed by Devasena's grace and Avantika's precision, shatter earthly bonds This ISRO's success will ignite India's youth to dream big, defy limits, aim for the stars That's our Tamannaah!

TS Karthik

America with its aim for world dominance continues It makes up laws that suit it

It ignores all sensibilities, and we witness weak nations pandering to their infantile whims and shenanigans

C hina has risen to a position of dominance It being a dictatorship gives it the advantage of total control domestically, and internationally it throws as much money as it takes to buy whole nations to pander to their demands Islamists have vowed to establish a caliphate And to this end we witness terrorist attacks on many nations right across the world Infiltration by Islamists in western societies, including western governance is striking by their success They will use lies, fake emphathy, violence, as well as diplomacy, to secure their objectives

M ulti-Billionaires who have become more powerful than whole nations They buy out politicians and others to serve their need for power, control, and of course to make even more money

Technolog y has now reached a stage whereby those who control it are likely to control huge populations by creating narratives to suit the needs of their masters AI (Artificial Intelligence) is now on the cusp of giving these shady characters, as well shady nations, immense power of command and control

C ommo dities such as rare earth minerals are driving companies and nations into making immoral decisions to secure supplies at any cost

A rms race is out of control We now have enough fire power in the hands of the few who can unleash devastation that can destroy billions in a matter of minutes And with that, destroy other life forms that bring beauty and balance to our fragile Earth

Pollution is the silent killer As we churn out trillions of tonnes of toxic pollution, it’s only a matter of time before we reach that critical stage when it will cascade to our self-destruction

Th e Ch ristian m afia emanating out of the Vatican cannot be ignored either It has maintained incredible control over nations, and billions of people around the world for centuries At the same time, harbouring their ultimate aim of converting all heathens to their ‘right’ path

Th e m ed ia is now under control of a few high-powered individuals (and some nations) The 24/7/365 narration of what these media Moghuls believe to be the truth infiltrates the mindset of billions around the world Fake news is now a commodity that sells well to the deluded

The world is passing through one of its most testing phases All the elements now exist whereby I would not be too surprised if some form of World War 3 takes place in the near future And it will not take much to trigger it

America thinks it can do whatever it wants anywhere in the world China is ready with its finger on the button Russia might be stretched in Ukraine, but this makes them even more dangerous since their only option might be to press that button as well Thank God for the commonsense approach of India, but when nukes are unleased, it will suffer as well

It is difficult to see who the puppet masters are, and who the puppets might be since the web of lies and fake narratives shield those who really control these elements

At this time, maybe we are in need of intervention by the forces of Kalki How these might manifest, I don’t know, but I suspect if we follow the path of Dharma, then Kalki will bring about a global change that will save humanity Much will be lost before we all realise the error of our ways However, after all is said and done, I am convinced that it will be Sanatan Dharma that will prevail

Kapil Dudakia

Jai Hind, g lor y to India

Jai S ar dar, g lor y to Sar dar S uresh and Bhavna P atel

The day I met Sardar Patel

From Mansion Tax to Market Moves: The New Winners in UK Prime Property

Ev e ry leg is l ati v e c h an g e o r m ar ket

shift w ill create win-

ners and losers in th e property w orld A s we all know , plenty o f political and economic headlines have had a profound impact in recent weeks The latest of w hich

c o ul d c re ate o p p o rtu ni ty for an entrepreneurial few Rumours and leaks are coming out thick and fast a

Chancellor is now consid-

properties valued over £2m

A 1% levy will be applied, so a family with a £2 5m home will be hit with a yearly bill of £5,000

Should this tax (or likely others like it that are probably being worked on b

o t s p o t s w i l l emerge that’ll be particu-

l a r l y a f f e c t e d A s t o b e expected, areas in central London have the highest concentration of high value

p r o p e r t i e s I n

K n i g h t s b r i d g e , B e l g r a v i a , and Hyde Park, some 62% of homes are valued over £2m

A f f e c t e d h o m e o w n e r s and property investors will be forced to react to this and in all likelihood, more taxes will push house prices downwards In fact, there’s

e v i d e n c e t h a t o u r p r i m e housing markets are adapting to all the pressures that have already been applied

P r i m e h o u s e p r i c e s have softened In Q3 2025, p r i m e L o n d o n p r o p e r t y prices fell by 6 6% They are d o w n 2 3 % c o m p a r e d t o

t h i s t i m e l a s

r , a n d 10 5% below their peak Our most prestigious areas are trading at significant disc o u n t s , w i t h p r i c e s i n S

, a n d prices in Knightsbridge & Belgravia 22 1% below their peak

These shifts aren’t conf i n e d t

E n g l a n d , S o u t h e r n England, and Wales are also on the decline

While this does sound troubling at first glance, it is leading to positive results in the market With prices c o m i n g d o w n , m a n y w e a l t h y U K f a m i l

l London from the suburbs and the Home Counties

F u r t h e r m o r e , w i t h d i scounts available, we ’ re seeing foreign national investment in the UK property market ramp up

Notably, our market is attracting investment from t h e I n d i a n s u b c o n t i n e n t Hamptons’ data shows that the proportion of foreign

nationals buying BTL properties in the UK is growing, and expected to rise further Around 67,000 new BTL companies could be set up by the end of the year, and some 13,500 of these will be owned, at least partly, by non-UK nationals I n d

T h e r e w e r e a r o u n d 6 8 4 new companies founded by Indian nationals in the first

place was Nigeria, with 647

horse in the global property

they’ve been taking

keen

Anoopam mission gets green light for Denham plans

A lo n g - ru nn in g p l an ni ng disp ute in Buckingh amsh ire h a s fi na ll y c o nc l u d ed , p a v i ng th e w ay fo r th e A n o o p am M i s s io n H i nd u tem ple in Denh am to mo ve f o rw ar d w it h s i g n if i ca nt ex p an si o n p la ns B u ck s C o u n ci l h a s fo r m al ly approved the final build ing details for a new, faith-spec if ic cre m ato riu m an d an as s o c ia ted d in i ng h al l, marking a d efinitiv e victo ry for th e charity after a protracted legal battle

The comprehensive proposal, situated on The Lea, Western Avenue, was initially rejected by the local council in September 2020

H o w e v e r , t h e A n o o p a m M i s s i o n s u c c e s s f u l l y c h a ll e n g e d t h i s d e c i s i o n , u l t imately securing permission v i a T h e P l a n n i n

canteen building is planned to include showering facilities for ritual washing and communal eating for

details This week, the council confirmed that the proposed choices for brick, timber fins, doors, and glazing materials were acceptable

Sophia Duleep Singh exhibition to mark 150th birthday

In March 2026, Kensington Palace w ill open a new exh ib it io n ti tle d T h e L as t Princesses of P unjab, celebrating th e 150th birth day of P ri n ce ss S o p h i a Du l eep S i ng h , a P u nj a bi p r i nc es s and pio neering s uffrag ette w h o w as g o d d au g h ter to

Queen Victoria The exhibition d elves into th e lives of So phia and th e influential w o m e n w h o s h ap e d h er each rep resenting different f ac ets o f w o m a nh o o d , pow er, and royalty

Sophia is renowned for h e r a c t i v i s m s u p p o r t i n g women ’ s suffrage in Britain

Highlights include an original copy of The Suffragette n e w s p a p e r , f e a t u r i n g t h e

iconic image of

S o p h i a s e l l i n g p a p e r s o u t s i d e Hampton Court

P a l a c e , w h e r e s h e l i v e d b y g r a c e o f t h e

Queen The disp l a y a l s o includes her 1911 c e n s u s f o r m , m a r k e d “ N o

V o t e , N o C e n s u s , ” a n d a photograph of Sophia and Catherine at a suffrage dinner in 1930, underscoring their pivotal roles

The exhibition, staged at Queen Victoria’s childhood home, also illuminates the S i k h E m p i r e ’ s h i s t o r y through treasured jewellery

and personal letters Visitors will e n c o u n t e r t h e l a y e r

d h e r i t a g e of a royal family c a u g h t b e t w e e n Empire and ident i t y , e x p l o r i n g themes of resist a n c e a n d e m p o w e r m e n t C o n t e m p o r a r y voices from British South A s i a n w o m e n w i l l o f f e r reflections on legacy, identity, and activism, making the e x h i b i t i o n a p o w e r f u l homage to these extraordinary women and their lasti n g i n f l u e n c e T h e L a s t Princesses of Punjab opens March 26, next year

estate has retuned after a few quiet years

opportunity for those who want to expand their portfolios with discounted luxury housing, as well as the brokers who can help buyers move quickly For both borrowers and brokers, the specialist market is there to o

s u pport

Over three decades of dedicated customer service from a leading high street travel agency

F o r m o re t h a n t h r ee

decades, Travlin Style has been a familiar name on t h e h i gh st ree t, w ith i ts p hysical sho p forming the co rnerstone o f its identity

Acc ordi ng to Vi kesh and A lp a S h a h , D i re ct o rs o f T ravlin S tyle, thi s vi sible p resence i s wh at makes the agency instantly recognisable to clients and deeply roo ted in the lo cal community

“ I n a w o r l d f u l l o f u n c e r t a i n t y a n d o n l i n e scams, there’s a huge sense

o

meet their travel consult a n t f a c e

c

,

s

y s Alpa “Booking a holiday is one of the most exciting and important purchases people make, often involvi n g s i g n i f i c a n t s u m s o f money That human interaction builds trust, offers security, and allows us to share in the excitement of p l a n n i n g s o m e t h i n g s p ecial ” Travelin Style believes that the physical environment of a travel agency still m a t t e r s g r e a t l y S m a r t shopfronts, clear signage, a n d w e l l - p r e s e n t e d d i splays help create a welcoming first impression that d r a w s p e o p

the people inside who truly make a travel agency stand out “ L o o k i n g

believe the high street trav-

time when many business-

faceless, digital-only interactions, customers increasi

expertise, and the confi-

, Vikesh and Alpa insist, it is

they’re trusting with their holiday plans

Paresh Raja, CEO Market Financial Solutions

Sophia Duleep Singh

KING AND QUEEN VISIT NEASDEN TEMPLE ON ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Their Majesties were welcomed by Jitu Patel, Chair of the Board of Trustees This was Their Majesties’ first visit to the Mandir as King and Queen, following previous visits as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, reflecting the Royal Family’s longstanding and warm relationship with the Mandir and the BAPS Hindu community

Since its opening in 1995, Neasden Temple has become an internationally acclaimed spiritual and cultural

landmark, welcoming millions of visitors and worshippers from around the world and contributing to British society through initiatives in child and youth development, elderly welfare, health, and humanitarian relief

During their visit, Their Majesties met volunteers and community members and learned about the Temple’s charitable work, including its longstanding

“The atmosphere during the Royal visit to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan mandir, Neasden was positive and welcoming, and the event was beautifully planned from start to finish I was honoured to be invited to speak to the Queen about the long-standing partnership between the British Museum and Neasden Mandir This has involved collaborations on a range of projects and events at the museum, including at Diwali Her Majesty was interested and curious about my work with Neasden, asking questions about what it entailed, and even wanted to come and see the exhibition which was lovely!

“Most recently, our partnership with Neasden focused on my exhibition ‘Ancient India: living traditions’ which also inspired the museum ’ s high profile Pink Ball Tilak Parekh a PhD student at Cambridge University who is also associated with the mandir joined our Community Advisory panel which was made up of practicing Hindus, Buddhists and Jains from the UK’s diaspora communities Over two years we all worked together to inform the exhibition from the display of devotional sculptures to the films showing contemporary religious veneration and practice here in the UK, and even the products sold in the shop

“I enjoyed the special moment with Her Majesty and the whole event After the conversation, we all went into the main hall where children waved flags welcoming the King and Queen and sang devotional verses A message from Mahant Swami Maharaj was shared and gifts given to the Royal couple It was a wonderful visit and very special to be part of it ” - S ushma Jansari

Historian and T abor F ound ation C urator,

partnership with The Felix Project – a Londonbased charity that redistributes surplus food to alleviate hunger for the vulnerable – which also forms a part of His Majesty’s Coronation Food Project

Along their tour, Their Majesties also learned about the upcoming BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris –the first traditional Hindu temple in France –opening next September,

while meeting key members of the project team

Yogvivekdas Swami, Head Swami of the Temple, remarked, “It was an honour for the community to welcome Their Majesties to Neasden Temple on this historic occasion

We are deeply grateful for their friendship and their continuing interest in our services for the community ”

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, 92, the spiritual leader of BAPS worldwide, conveyed his prayers and blessings through a video message sent from India He said, “Across your decades of public service, you have valued faith and fostered harmony between religions, and your presence today is a testament to that In a personal letter, His Holiness added, “May all of the UK continue to progress and prosper ”

“Meeting His Majesty King Charles III at BAPS on the 29 November was one of the most touching moments of my life His gentle presence, humility, and kindness left a deep impression on my heart It was more than just an honour it was a moment of inspiration and connection that I will treasure forever

“It was an unforgettable moment His warmth, grace,

Nitin Palan MBE, founder of the Golden Tours company and the Palan Foundation, interfaith champion and community leader associated with the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, particularly in the UK meeting His Majesty King Charles III at Neasden Temple

“Feeling truly honoured to have met Her Majesty at BAPS Neasden on 29 October It was a privilege to share

important work we do to empower and support

aheli

Their Majesties learning about the upcoming BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris the first traditional Hindu temple in France opening next September

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla visiting BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden London

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla watching abhishek ritual at the Neasden Temple

Yogvivekdas Swami Head Swami of the Temple tying a sacred thread on the wrist of His Majesty King Charles III

‘Ramayana – The Grand’ mesmerises London audience at The Bhavan

swept thr oug h The Bha

Prod uct ions, in a ssociat ion with The Bhava n,

re tellin g of India

epic

for The Bhavan to host such a p o w e

n d ’ beautifully blends our cultural heritage with modern storytelling,” said Dr M N N a n d a k u m a r a M B E , Executive Director of The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

integrity, courage, and com-

Abhiyogi Ji (SSUK) reflected, “In its cosmic rhythm, we found timeless truth, may it

performances, the production transported audiences

h

i n t o

Ramayana, celebrating dharma, courage, and devotion

T h e e v e n i n g o p e n e d w i t h blessings and cultural reflections and concluded with a standing ovation, marking it

a s o n e o f L o n d o n ’ s m o s t m e m o r a b l e I n d i a n s t a g e productions of the year

“Ramayana is not just a s t o r y i t ’ s a m i r r o r f o r every generation Through this production, we wanted audiences to feel the dharm a , t h e c h o i c e s , a n d t h e divine strength within,” said Nimit Shishodia and Sunit

D h i w a r , F o u n d e r s o f E p i c

Timeless Productions

“It’s a moment of pride

“ W h a t w e w i t n e s s e d today is the power of India’s living civilization, where art becomes devotion and devotion becomes message, ” said Anuradha J from the High Commission of India (UK) E

and unity in diversity, it’s heartening to see our youth embrace dharma so creatively ” “‘Ramayana-The Grand’ is a living scripture on stage, education through emotion, d

added Nabhi Nandan Ji of t h

Vedic Education

Dr Vivek Kaul Ji of the

divinity within every soul

Padma Shri Garikipati Narasimha Rao Inspires UK Audiences at BITSS Events

The British Indian T elugu Sanskrithi Sang ham (BIT SS) recently h osted one o f the most celebrated T elugu scholars and orators Padma Shri Garikipati Narasimha Rao for inspiring discourses in Birm ing ham and London T his marks his first m ulti-city tou r of th e UK since his last v isit in 20 08, making this return a deep ly aw aited mom ent for devotees and ad mirers alike

contributing meaningfully to nation-building

The events featured bhajans and classical dance

was more than a stage production, it signalled

expression

new

The stellar cast included Truptesh Kanvinde as Ram, Priyanka Kanvinde as Sita,

show featured stage direc-

ment by Nirish Gohil, and

London Institute of Vedic Education (LIVE)

Jalaram Jayanti Mahotsav at Shree

Jalaram Jyot Mandir, Sudbury

Jalaram Jyot Mandir, Sudbury celebrated 226th Jalaram Jayanti Mahotsav on Wednesday 29 October 2025 Devotees gathered in large numbers at Shree Jalaram Jyot Mandir Sudbury to celebrate Jalaram Jayanti Mahotsav with great devotion and joy The temple was beautifully adorned for the occasion and the highlight of the day was the Annkut Darshan

The celebration included bhajans, kirtans, Maha Arti cake cutting and sadravat prasad creating an atmosphere of faith and unity Families, devotees, and community leaders came together to pay homage to Shree Jalaram Bapa

L-R: Prityben Kishor Varsani Kishorbhai Dhanji Varsani Pushpaben Murji Hirani Murjibhai Mavji Hirani Priest Chandreshbhai performing

Thousands gathered to experience his captivating blend of literary brilliance, humour, devotion, and philosophy His Birmingham discourse focused on moral and spiritual values inspiring introspection and ethical living, while the London session explored how the Telugu diaspora can embody dharmic (righteous) principles while

performances, celebrating art and cultural heritage

Speaking at Nagrecha Hall in East London, Garikapati garu emphasised the true purpose of performing artsdances not as mere ornamental displays but as living expressions of India’s timeless heritage In his trademark witty style, he touched upon the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, cautioning

against its misuse and urged NRIs to give back to India through initiatives such as village adoption and other community contributions that strengthen the homeland

The event also featured introductions of the BITSS team and volunteers by Suresh Mangalagiri, followed by heartfelt acknowledgements to sponsors and supporters who made the event possible More events are planned in Manchester and other cities

of Tulsi, the sacred basil plant (pers

Lakshmi), with Lord Vishnu

signifies the end of monsoon, and the beginning of wedding season in Hinduism

Cast members of ‘Ramayana – The Grand’ with dignitaries at The Bhavan, London

Felicitation of Garikapati on stage by BITSS Team

Gopichand Hinduja, titan of global industry, passes away at 85

The second of the four legendary

H i n d u j a b

, G

, fondly known as “GP”, followed in t

brother, Srichand Hinduja, who died in 2023 The two younger brothers, Prakash and Ashok, survive him A graduate of Bombay’s Jai Hind College and recipient of

Richmond College, GP embodied a rare blend of vision, discipline, and understated power

W

business in 1959, few could have imagined the scale of the empire that would rise under his and his brothers’ stewardship Together, they built the Hinduja Group into one of the world’s most diversified

c

halls of IndusInd Bank With an estimated fortune of £35 3 billion, the Hinduja family consistently topped the Sunday Times Rich List, their wealth reflecting not just success but generations of relentless enterprise

After moving to London in the 1980s with his late brother, GP became the quiet architect of the f

o n Reserved in demeanour but commanding in presence, his word carried weight across boardrooms from Mumbai to Mayfair He was

imprint could be seen on every major deal and diversification the Group undertook

Among his proudest achievements was the £1 4 billion transf

Old War Office on Whitehall into The OWO, a magnificent hotel a

OWO will be my greatest legacy to L o n d o n , ” h e o n c

o

d t h e Financial Times; a statement that now resonates as both prophecy and epitaph

The Hinduja family, according to Financial Times, said in a statement, “He was humble and joyful, and a friend to everyone he met He will also be remembered for his formidable work in building the Hinduja Group over the past 70 years into the global success it is today ”

Much like his elder brother, GP was a masterful networker, a man who moved with ease among p o l i t i c a l a n d b u s i n e s s c i r c l e s across the spectrum Known for his warmth and hospitality, he hosted some of London’s most

talked-about gatherings, including his annual Diwali celebration at his opulent mansion, an event regularly attended by Asian Voice Through triumphs and trials a l i k e , G o p i c h a n d H i n d u j a remained the unflinching custodia n o f h i s f a m i l y ’ s e t h o s : h a r d work, integrity, and solidarity His passing marks the end of an era: t h e d e p a r t u r e o f a m a n w h o

b r i d g e d c o n t i n e n t s , i n d u s t r i e s , and generations, leaving behind a legacy that indelibly shaped the Indo-British economic landscape He is survived by his wife and three children

T ributes pour in

A s n e w s o f G o p i c h a n d

Hinduja’s passing spread, heartfelt t r i b u t e s h a v e p o u r e d i n f r o m across the world from business

l e a d e r s a n d p o l i t i c a l f i g u r e s t o friends and community members whose lives he quietly touched “Through his remarkable leadership, the Hinduja Group became a symbol of Indian enterprise and g l o b a l e x c e l l e n c e , ” steel tyco on an d I nd i an M P N av e en J in d al wrote on X N Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, who was visiting L o n d o n a n d o n M o n d a y a n n o u n c e d $ 2 3 b n w o r t h o f i n v e s t m e n t c o m m i t m e n t s f r o m the Hinduja Group in his state, called Hinduja a “visionary indust r i a l i s t ” , a c c o r d i n g t o F i n a n c i a l Times “ H e w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e g r o u p i n t o a truly global conglomerate,” Naidu said on X “His leadership saw landmark achievements, from the acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984 to the revival of Ashok Leyland ” C B P atel, ed itor- in-C hi ef of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar said, “It is with deep sadness that I express my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Shri Gopichand (GP) Hinduja, a remarkable leader, v i s i o n a r y i n d u s t r i a l i s t a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n w h o s e c o n t r i b utions have left an indelible mark on the global stage “ M y a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e H i n d u j a f a m i l y d a t e s b a c k t o N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 2 a n d

v

r t h e decades, I have had the privilege of k n o w i n g a l l f o u r b r o t h e r s , Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and A

level Our friendship extended far

beyond social circles; togethe

, w e s h a r e d

c o m m o n vision and collaborated on numerous events and initiatives that focused on community engagement, philanthropy and social upliftment “ S h r i G P H i n d u j a ’ s humility, wisdom and unwavering commitment to both b u s i n

human values made him

H

legacy will continue to guide future generations, not only

n d

f a m i l y but across the global Indian diaspora

“I offer our deepest sympathies to the Hinduja family during this time of immense loss Om Shanti ” L ord Nav nit Dho lakia, paying his respects, said, “I am deeply s

Gopichand Hinduja He was a pion e e r i n d e v e l o p i n g t h e H i n d u identity both in India and the United Kingdom We shall always remain grateful to him for his contribution towards this end His early days in Iran and later in the

U K c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e d h i s attachment to Hinduism with his

belief in Jainism He has been connected with a plethora of projects towards this end No event was

there

“Who can forget the key presence of cabinet ministers at his Diwali celebrations I once said that at times it would be helpful to

Gopichand lived

“His charitable work knew no bounds No event was complete w i t h o u

r c o n t r i b u t i o n from the Hinduja family, No temp l e s c a n c o m p l a i n a b o u t n o t r e c e i v i n g a v i s i t f r o m H i n d u

this end

“We all pray ohm shanti shanti and may God give him everlasting Peace ” R u p an ja na D u tta

Association said, “GP Hinduja and family have always supported the Indian Journalists’ Association in its efforts and maintained a cord i

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e p a s t Presidents

“During my tenure as the IJA President (2020-2022), not everyone could support us as usual Covid had affected businesses and organisations across Britain and money and resources were not in abundance When I reached out to GP in summer of 2022, just before our annual dinner, he was in between travels But he picked up the phone, and without hesitation and exception extended his

generous support for the event and magazine, commemorating 75 years of the IJA

“I am saddened to learn about his passing It is a great loss for the community My deepest condolence to his family, friends and loved ones Om Shanti ” Lord Rami Ranger FRSA said, “Mr GP Hinduja was one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends, with a passion for serving He was a family man, a religious man, and a role model for us His passing marks the end of an era, as we have lost a well-wisher of the community, a guiding force and a global icon

“ H i s a r r i v a l i n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom brought a tremendous s e n s e o f p r i d e i n t h e B r i t i s h Indians He helped galvanise the Indian community in the United K i n g d o m b y b r i n g i n g t h e m together I had the privilege of knowing him over many years; his qualities were unique a tremendous sense of humour, and a commitment to the community and to his countries, India, and the

United Kingdom He always supported good causes

“He has left an enormous vacuum behind that will be difficult to fill While we mourn his passing, we will continue to celebrate his legacy May he rest in peace in heaven, and may the Lord give courage to the family to bear their unfulfilling loss ” Lord Do lar P op at also shared h i s c o n d o l e n c e s s a y i n g , “ G P Hinduja’s passing marks the loss of a towering figure, a steadfast pillar of the British Indian community whose influence reached

far beyond business

“As Chairman of the Hinduja Group, he exemplified the spirit of enterprise, integrity, and serv i c e , m

e c onomic, social, cultural, and phil a n

Britain His vision and leadership

strengthened the bonds of the British Indian diaspora

“As a Hindu faith believer, he was deeply committed to the ideals of hard work, fairness, and compassion, GP Hinduja was also a proud advocate for British values, dedicating his life to sup-

countless lives, and his unwavering belief in unity and progress inspired many

“GP Hinduja always led by example and, his legacy will continue to shine through the institutions he built and the communities he uplifted He was a dear friend and will be greatly missed

and gratitude

S ukhp al Ah lu walia, a British

what can be done by people with very humble beginnings ” He added that Hinduja was “jovial, the soul of the party”

The Hinduja brothers: Gopichand Hinduja, Srichand Hinduja (sitting), Prakash Hinduja, Ashok Hinduja (L-R)

Lord Navnit Dholakia Lord Rami Ranger FRSA

Naveen Jindal

Lord Dolar Popat

N Chandrababu Naidu

Sukhpal Ahluwalia

Rekesh Chauhan BEM

Sardar Patel’s Legacy One India, Great India

CB Patel, Publisher & Editor

Respected read ers and elders, warm greetings on this speci al occasio n of S ard ar Jayanti

As India proudly celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the great architect of national unity, it’s worth remembering how his legacy continues to inspire millions Once sidelined by political bias, Sardar Patel has now been restored to his rightful place of honour, thanks to the efforts of Swami Shri Sachchidanandji, whom I often call a “ revolutionary saint ” I t w a s S w a m

w

a k e n e d Gujarat’s pride in Sardar Patel nearly fifty years ago through his books, speeches, and writings The seed he planted has today

grown into the 182-metre Statue of Unity, standing tall beside the Sardar Sarovar Dam Just as Swamiji recognised Sardar’s greatness early on, he also saw Narendra Modi’s leadership qualities long before he became Chief Minister Few would disagree with that Narendra Modi, in turn, has always had deep respect and affection for Swami Sachchidanandji, a bond that still continues today, and one I have personally witnessed

Let me share an interesting and littlek n o w n f a c t W h e n C h i e f M i n i s t e r Narendra Modi took up the project to reno v a t e t h e G u j a r a t L e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y building, he sought advice from experts and respected figures from different fields about its design and important features Among them was Swami Sachchidanandji If I remember correctly, the dome that tops the new Assembly building was inspired by Swamiji’s vision

Now, coming back to the main story, Swami Sachchidanandji was deeply disturbed by how Sardar Patel’s great contributions and sacrifices were being ignored Determined to change that, he called a m e e t i n g a t h i s K o b a A s h r a m , b r i n g i n g together several prominent personalities from across Gujarat With strong facts and heartfelt emotion, he said Sardar Patel’s legacy must be honoured properly By the end of that meeting, everyone agreed to build a grand statue of Sardar Patel They even pledged 150 crore for the project and donors were identified

Dear readers, I share this because I was personally a witness to these events The magnificent Statue of Unity that stands today has its roots in those early visionary d i s c u s s i o n s a n d

o n o f Swami Sachchidanandji and his supporters

Everything was planned except one question, where should the statue be built? A monument of such importance needed a p r o m i n e n t l o c a t i o n S w a m i

Sachchidanandji therefore sent a message to the Chief Minister’s Office, requesting an appointment with Narendra Modi to discuss the site He mentioned that 150 c

Did you know about

the Sardar Patel National Museum?

Did you know that nestled i n t h e h i s to ri c to w n o f Bardoli, Gujarat, th e birthp l ac e o f I nd i a ’ s fa m ed Bard oli S atyag raha, stand s th e S ard ar Pa tel Nati o nal

M us eu m , a treas ure trov e d e d ic at ed t o th e l if e and leg acy of India’s Iron Man, Sard ar Vallabhbhai P atel?

W h i l e m a n y k n o w o f

Patel’s towering role in uniting over 560 princely states to form modern India, few know that Bardoli, where he first earned the title “Sardar” (leader), houses a museum that brings his remarkable

been arranged with confirmed donors

vision’s significance Rather than asking Swamiji or his representatives to come to Gandhinagar, he sent senior officials

took shape, not just as a statue but as a monumental tribute to India’s Iron Man

the efforts of offi-

Rajagopalan, the Statue of Unity became reality

I clearly remember those days when many critics, including the Congress and i

earthquakes, soil strength, even the dam’s

another arose Yet, despite all the scepticism, vision and determination ultimately prevailed

My emo tio nal bond with this land

I have had the privilege of visiting the Sardar Sarovar Dam area many times over the years, and I must say, I feel a deep personal connection with this land I have spent years in Karnali and Chanod Once, this entire region was considered underdeveloped, but today, it’s alive with the footprints of lakhs of visitors

The area now boasts a range of hotels, including five-star ones and the steady rise in tourism has brought remarkable economic growth With six-lane roads, buses, trains and taxis offering great connectivity, thousands of people now earn their livelihood directly or indirectly from tourism

The Statue of Unity which was inaugurated on 31 October 2018, stands as a living symbol of national unity and pride It has t u r n e d t h e o n c e - b a c k w a r d N a r m a d a region into a thriving hub of tourism and development With more than two crore visitors since opening It’s now one of India’s most-visited landmarks, bringing growth to nearby Vadodara, Bharuch, and Surat

Sardar Patel’s message remains timeless: Indi a mu st rise above caste, class and divi sions His ideals live on in the project’s theme - One India, Great India Prime Minister Modi, while dedicating the statue in 2018, rightly said, “A golden chapter in history has been illuminated by giving due honour to Sardar Patel, a symbol that will inspire future generations with unity and integrity ”

Today, when India speaks, the world listens, because our economic strength and national confidence continue to grow on the very foundation Sardar laid

story to life The museum, l o c a t e d j u s t a f e w h o u r s from Surat, is part of the Sardar Smarak Bhavan complex and serves as both a historical archive and a cultural landmark

Visitors are greeted with galleries showcasing rare photographs, letters, and p e r s o n a l b e l o n g i n g s o f Sardar Patel, each piece offering a glimpse into his journey from a freed o m f i g h t e r

exhibits use multimedia installations and 3D disp

y moments from the freedom struggle, including

that made him a national hero

museum reflects Patel’s values of unity, discipline, a n d s e l

serene premises, set amid lush gardens and sculptureson grounds where the Iron Man himself once walkedinvite visitors to pause and

reflect on how one man ’

p e d shape a nation

So, next time you think of Sardar Patel, remember that his story isn’t just told in books or at the towering Statue of Unity It quietly lives on in Bardoli, where it all began

How the world saw Sardar Patel

I n th e ye ars s u rro u nd i ng India’ s independence, as th e subco ntinent wrestled with i ts de s ti ny , o ne l ea de r c au gh t th e wo rld’ s attention; not through eloquent sp eech es or lo fty ideals, but through results

S a r d a r V a l l a b h b h a i Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, was the man who transformed the chaos of partition into the cohesion of a united nation To fore i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s s t ationed in India during the 1940s and early 1950s, Patel emerged as the “Iron Man”, a l e a d e r o f u n f l i n c h i n g resolve, whose pragmatism stood in striking contrast to the idealism of his contemporaries

T he realist in a land of dreamers

W h i l e J a w a h a r l a l Nehru’s charm and global s o p h i s t i c a t i o n c a p t i v a t e d

W e s t e r n a u d i e n c e s , P a t e l

c o m m a n d e d r e s p e c t o f a different kind A 1948 report

i n T h e M a n c h e s t e r

G u a r d i a n f a m o u s l y described him as “the man w h o b u i l d s w h i l e o t h e r s debate ” British correspondents, still grappling with the end of empire, saw in Patel a kindred spirit of order and discipline, an administrator who understood power not as a privilege but as a duty

H i s s w i f t i n t e g r a t i o n o f

m o r e t h a n 5 6 0 p r i n c e l y states into the Indian Union impressed even those sceptical of India’s democratic experiment

F o r m a n y i n t h e

W e s t e r n p r e s s , P a t e l w a s

I n d i a ’ s b u l w a r k a g a i n s t anarchy In a region fractured by religious violence and political uncertainty, he appeared as the stabilising f o r c e e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e newly born Republic did not crumble under the weight of its diversity

T o t h e A m e r i c a n s , h e symbolised reliability amid

C o l d W a r a n x i e t i e s T h e New York Times likened his political firmness to that of

A t a t ü r k i n T u r k e y o r Chiang Kai-shek in China

l e a d e r s w h o m a r r i e d nationalism with the discipline of statecraft

“ Th e Iron Man” takes sh ape

T h e m o n i k e r “ I r o n Man” began circulating in Western media after Patel’s

f i r m h a n d l i n g o f t h e

H y d e r a b a d c r i s i s i n 1 9 4 8

T i m e m a g a z i n e ’ s p r o f i l e that year painted him as “ a b a l d i n g b a r r i s t e r w h o s e firmness saved India from disintegration ” T h e D a i l y T e l e g r a p h

c o m p a r e d h i s r e s o l v e t o C h u r c h i l l ’ s w a r t i m

These portrayals were not mere journalistic flourishes they shaped the international perception of Patel as a symbol of unity and

authority

Yet not all commentary was laudatory Some liberal B r i t i s h p u b l i c a t i o n s expressed unease at what they viewed as Patel’s cent r a l i s i n g t e n d e n c i e s T h e N e w S t a t e s m a n w a r n e d t h a t “ u n

democratic cost ” But even such critiques a c k n o

Gandhian simplicity,

man

power, lived with Spartan restraint Th e wo rld’ s farewell When Patel passed away in December 1950, tributes

globe The Times of London called him “the silent

wrote, “If India stands today as one nation, much of the credit belongs to this quiet man of strength ” In retrospect, the world’s portrayal

consistent:

of few words but decisive action,

became a moral example Through the eyes of foreign correspondents, Patel’s s

n India’s, it became a global lesson in unity, duty, and the quiet power of conviction

The bust of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel in the museum

Quotes by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Swami Sachchidanandji

Statue of Unity

India pays tribute to Sardar Patel at Statue of Unity

Prim e Minister Narend ra Mo di o n F riday led th e nation in comm emo rating th e 150th birth anniv ersary of Sard ar

P atel at the Statue of U nity in Gujarat

Observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), the occasion featured a series of ceremonial and cultural events celebrating India’s unity and honouring its first Home Minister Arriving at the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district, at 8 AM, the Prime Minister offered prayers and floral tributes to the Iron Man of India The event, Ekta Diwas Samaroh, showcased India’s strength in unity, discipline, and diversity

“After Independence, Sardar Patel accomplished the seemingly impossible task of integrating over 550 princely states For him, the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat was paramount We will uphold his vision,” said PM Modi in his address

He added, “Today, crores of people took the oath of unity We have resolved to promote actions that strengthen our national fabric Every thought or deed that weakens our unity must be rejected this is the need of the hour for our country ”

The celebration included the inauguration of the Ekta Parade, featuring a Guard of Honour, flag march, and award-winning contingents led entirely by women officers Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), National Cadet Corps (NCC), and band contingents participated, joined by mounted units with horses, camels, and dogs

The event also featured women ’ s weapon drills, martial arts and unarmed combat displays, daredevil motorcycle stunts, and a special NCC performance

Adding colour and cultural vibrancy, tableaux from various states and the armed forces were presented, along with school band performances and a cultural segment organised by the Ministry of Culture The Indian Air Force brought the ceremony to a close with an impressive air show

Ahead of the celebrations, PM Modi took to X to greet t h e n a t i o n , s a y

Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th Jayanti He was the driving force behind India’s integration, shaping our nation’s destiny in its formative years His unwavering commitment to national integrity, good governance, and public service continues to inspire generations We reaffirm our collective resolve to uphold his vision of a united, strong, and self-reliant India ”

The Making of Sardar Vallab

Prof Chandrakant Patel

Three contemporary lead ers of Ind ia, Mahatma Gandhi, J aw a h arl al Ne h ru and Vallabhbhai Patel, all became barristers All three went to Londo n in their time Back then, one would go to London to study law right after completing matriculation (11th standard) America existed on the map, of course, but India had very little con-

under the British Empire and naturally, people’s attention and aspirations were directed towards England

Mohandas, the son of a Diwan, didn’t have to worry about the cost of studying abroad His father paid for his education and he became a barrister without much difficulty Later, when a well-

Africa, Gandhi went there as

He left God hra and mo ved to Borsad

In Godhra, Vallabhbhai’s elder brother, Vithalbhai, was practising law He was very knowledgeable, honest and

statements into English for the lawyer

known, the son of Motilal Nehru, a wealthy lawyer who was close to British officials For him, going to London to become a barrister was quite easy The third among them, Vallabhbhai, also aspired to become a barrister But his

barrister He had completed all the necessary preparations a n d p a i d t h e f e e s Vallabhbhai was waiting for the admission letter

Finally, the admission let-

straightforward, but the local magistrate didn’t like him

Because of this, the magis-

judgments against his clients As a result, Vithalbhai began losing cases, his clients left him and his reputation suffered

When Vallabhbhai heard about this, he felt very sad He left his successful practice

himself facing

corruption

helped him, but Vallabhbhai refused to take the case F

plan, the magistrate’s lawyer advised him that Vallabhbhai would never go against his elder brother “If you want help, ask Vithalbhai to recommend you, ” he said The m

Vithalbhai and asked for his s u p p o r t A

e r t h a t , t h e h a r a s s m e n t s t o p p e d a n d Vallabhbhai had successfully solved his brother’s problem He became a Laksh man, a loyal and d ev oted younger brother Vallabhbhai left Godhra and came to Borsad for his

B e f o r e c o m i n g , h e h a d already been corresponding to go to London to become a

Kashibhai’s wife had passed away, leaving behind a little daughter Kashibhai had to both prepare for his matric

would

While staying with him, Vallabhbhai not only studied but also helped care for the child, changing her clothes, rocking her to sleep and feeding her milk Like Kashibhai, Vallabhbhai too developed a

and affection for children

Years later, when his own wife, Jhaverba, passed away leaving behind their daughter Maniben and son Dahyabhai, Vallabhbhai drew upon that same experience He took on both parents’ roles, raising his children with love and care, never feeling the need to remarry After passing his

went on to qualify as a pleader (lawyer) I

s a v i n g s a n d e v e n h i s o w n domestic happiness

A saintly soul

In 1909, Jhaverba passed a w a y d u e t o a n i n c u r a b l e i n t e s t i n a l i l l n e s s , l

twenty-five, he began practising law in Godhra His elder

elder brother, he chose not to practise in Borsad He went to Godhra instead

Within a short time, his

Godhra To fulfil his dream of becoming a barrister in the future, he began living frugally and saving money for the necessary expenses Between

1 9 0 0

rupee was equivalent in value to the dollar, he managed to

rupees

This shows that his law practice was doing well His intelligence, quick thinking and deep knowledge of the law earned him respect even from the judges It was said that if Vallabhbhai accepted a case, the client was considered as good as won

ter arrived in the name of “V Z P a t e l ” I t w e n t t o Vithalbhai Since both brothers ’ names were written the s a m e w a y i n E n g l i s h , V i t h a l b h a i t h o u g h t , “ S o , V a l l a b h b h a i h a s s e c r e t l y made all arrangements to go to London and become a barrister!”

When he showed the letter to Vallabhbhai, he said, “This letter is yours; you ’ ve got the admission But I want to go Once I return, you can go anytime you wish But I don’t think I will get such an opportunity again It would b e g o o d i f y o u l e t m e g o instead ” Feeling a deep sense o f b r o t h e r l y d e v o t i o n , l i k e Lakshman towards his elder brother, Vallabhbhai happily agreed All of his savings were spent on his elder brother’s expenses for becoming a barrister

I n a d d i t i o n , w h e n Vithalbhai went to England, he took his wife, Diwaliben, along with him Vallabhbhai’s wife, Jhaverba, often had differences with her sister-inlaw, Diwaliben, whose temperament was irritable as she had no children To avoid c o n f l i c t s a n d t o e n s u r e Diwaliben didn’t feel offende d , V a l l a b h b h a i g e n t l y explained to his wife and sent her to her parental home To s u p p o r t h i s b r o t h e r , Vallabhbhai sacrificed all his

Maniben and son Dahyabhai Vallabhbhai was then thirtyt h r e e y e a r s o l d H e w a s a young man of stature and good family background, if he had wished to remarry, many fathers would have felt h o n o u r e d t o h a v e h i m a s t h e i r s o n - i n - l a w B u t Vallabhbhai chose instead to dedicate his life entirely to raising his two young children He lived his whole life w i t h p u r i t y a n d s e l f - d i s c ip l i n e , n e v e r a l l o w i n g h i s name to be linked with any woman

Can Jawaharlal’s children speak of him with the same pride?

Becoming a Barrister

After spending all his savi n g s o n V i t h a l b h a i , Vallabhbhai began living very f

i n H e earned his livelihood by taking up new and difficult case and winning them In 1910, he went to London to study a n d b e c o m e a

When he arrived at the port of London and got off the steamer, the customs officer found a ball of tobacco used for smoking hookah in his

belongings The British offic e r a s k

W h a t i s t h

With a quick wit, Vallabhbhai replied, “It’s an Indian sweet You may taste it if you like ” The officer popped a piece

d ahead in the crowd! Even in London, money was tight He would travel

and from the library, where he studied, reading the books there or borrowing them, as he couldn’t afford to buy his own Despite such hardships,

months of living and boarding expenses On top of that,

Vallabhbhai

Ekta Parade in Kevadia to commemorate Sardar Patel Jayanti

The Prime Minister with the members of Sardar Patel’s family in Ekta Nagar, including his grandson Gautam Patel, granddaughter-in-law Nandita, son Kedar, daughter-in-l

On the eve of Sardar Patel’s 150th Jayanti a special coin and stamp were released as a tribute to him

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Statue of Unity, Kevadia

Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel

Brothers Vithalbhai and Vallabhbhai

Maulana Azad Jamnalal Bajaj, Patel (third from left, in t Subhash Chandra Bose and other Congressmen a

Mahatma G Kasturba

bhbhai Patel

he even won a prize of fifty pounds Neither Jawaharlal nor Gandhiji had faced such

shown such brilliance Both had studied at their fathers’

e

earned much distinction or success in legal practice

Returning ho me and turning to the Nation In 1913, after becoming a

India and began living in Ahmedabad to practice law H

cases and won them His

practice prospered greatly In 1917, due to excessive r

returned from South Africa, started a movement to get

which led him to become involved in the activities of

A r o u n d t h a t t i m e , Bhailalbhai Patel, who later founded Vallabh Vidyanagar and became the first opposition leader of Gujarat, was the Chief Engineer of the Sukkur Barrage project in Sindh Vallabhbhai wrote to h i m , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t h e should come to Gujarat and s e r v e h i s h o m e s t a t e

Bhailalbhai then left Sindh, c a m e t o A h m e d a b a d a n d became the Chief Engineer of the Municipality Thus, t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f Ahmedabad’s development w a s l a i d t h r o u g h Vallabhbhai’s vision Becom ing the Sardar

D u r i n g t h e B a r d o l i

S a t y a g r a h a , V a l l a b h b h a i went from village to village in Bardoli Under the blazing sun, he walked through t h e f a r m e r s ’ f i e l d s , u n d eterred by thorns, stones or r o u g h p a t h s T h o u g h h e came from the comfortable l i f e o f a b i g c i t y l i k e

Ahmedabad, he roamed the countryside fearlessly His

the Congress In the end, the government had to give in Gandhiji and Vallabhbhai b e c a m e t h e l e a d e r s o f Gujarat

A f t e r t h i s , f r o m 1 9 1 7

o n w a r d s , V a l l a b h b h a i b e c a m e a c t i v e i n Ahmedabad’s politics and in the Congress In 1921, under his leadership, the 37th session of the Congress held in Ahmedabad was a great success As a result of his excell e n t o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s k i l l s , the first major public hospital in Ahmedabad, Vadilal

S a r a b h a i H o s p i t a l , w a s

e s t a b l i s h e d L a t e r , Vallabhbhai became active

i n t h e A h m e d a b a d Municipality

c o n d u c t a n d h i s w o r d s ignited a new spirit among men and women alike His speeches infused new life and inspired courage

T h e l a t e U t t a m c h a n d

S h a h , w h o p r e s e r v e d h i s speeches, described them as

s h a r p e r t h a n a r r o w s a n d

s t r o n g e r t h a n w e a p o n s They were later published in book form His words were so powerful that they could breathe life into lifeless bodies

India House marks 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel

The High Com mission of In dia in Lon don celebra ted R ashtr iya Ek ta Diwas to ma rk t he 150th birth a nn iv er sa ry of Sa rda r Valla bhbhai Pa tel, In dia’s fir st De puty Prime Min ist er a nd a drivin g for ce behin d the n at ion ’ s postin depe nde nce un ificat ion

Held at India House in collaboration with the Sardar Patel Memorial Society (UK), the event was attended by Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for the Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra MP, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, Deputy High Commissioner Kartik Pande, Lord Rami Ranger,

and former MP Virendra Sharma The dignitaries jointly lit the ceremonial lamp and offered floral tributes to Sardar Patel Krishna Pujara, Secretary of the Sardar Patel Memorial Society (UK), delivered the welcome address, highlighting ongoing efforts and new initiatives to honour and preserve Patel’s enduring legacy High Commissioner Doraiswami described Patel

as “ a timeless symbol of unity; not only of land, but of purpose and spirit,” noting that his vision of inclusion and harmony continues to shape India’s democratic ethos and guide the Indian diaspora worldwide Lord Rami Ranger hailed Patel as “the true architect of a united India,” emphasising that national unity had been essential at the time of independence He added

that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India was “reclaiming its golden era ”

Presenting his keynote address, Lord Rami Ranger, paid heartfelt tribute to Sardar Patel’s monumental legacy, saying, “Sardar was the architect of a united India and the catalyst for the revival of Sanatani civilisation, which had been under attack for thousands of years due to India’s disunity Without unity, India would have remained vulnerable to foreign powers

The success of India today is the result of the unity achieved through immense challenges by the Iron Man of India We owe him a huge debt of gratitude ” In her keynote address, Seema Malhotra reflected on Patel’s “ rare ability to transform insurmountable challenges into opportunities for unity and peace ” Drawing a link between his early years as a barrister in London and his

later statesmanship in India, she said Patel’s values continue to inform modern India–UK relations

Malhotra described the bilateral relationship as a “living bridge” strengthened by the contributions of the Indian diaspora and announced her forthcoming visits to Bengaluru and Chennai to deepen engagement in her ministerial capacity

High Commissioner Doraiswami presented Malhotra with the Unity Award in recognition of her public service and contributions to India–UK relations, while Pujara honoured her with a traditional shawl

The celebration concluded with a reaffirmation of Sardar Patel’s timeless ideals of unity, inclusion, and national integration; values that continue to inspire generations and strengthen the bond between India and its global diaspora

Indian-American community honours ‘Iron Man’ with Unity Walk

In one such gathering at the small village of Kharod, t h e a u d i e n c e w a s d e e p l y m o v e d b y h i s s p e e c h Overwhelmed with emotion, a f a r m e r n a m e d K u n v a r j i Durlabhji Patel stood up during the address and began walking toward Vallabhbhai, s a y i n g w i t h f o l d e d h a n d s , “Forgive me, my dear and b r a v e o n e ! Y o u a r e o u r Sardar, our leader! You are our blessed Sardar!” Hearing t h i s , t h e c r o w d b e g a n t o chant loudly, “Sardar amara, ame Sardar na!” (“We belong to the Sardar and the Sardar belongs to us!”) The slogan “Jai Sardar!” echoed through t h e s k i e s I t w a s K u n v a r j i

D u r l a b h j i w h o f i r s t a d d r e s s e d V a l l a b h b h a i a s Sardar The title caught on a n d i n a l a t e r g a t h e r i n g , M a h a t m a G a n d h i h i m s e l f declared, “Vallabhbhai is our Sardar ” he foreground), t Wardha

Braving a crisp 50°F (10°C) morning, more than 60 members of the IndianAmerican community gath ered along Walking Lake at 950 West Sh abbat Road o n October 25, 2025, to take p art in a Unity Walk o rganised by the Federation of Indian Associ ations ( FIA) Chicago

The event formed part of global celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel where participants walked in solidarity, waved the Indian tricolour, and shared reflections on the statesman who transformed a divided subcontinent into a united republic The Unity Walk commenced with the national anthems of the United States and India

FIA President Hemant Patel welcomed the attendees and reflected on Patel’s enduring contribution to India’s unity, while FIA Executive Amar

Upadhyay paid tribute to Patel’s decisive role in integrating Hyderabad and Junagadh, which cemented India’s territorial integrity

“He didn’t just unite states, he united hearts,” said Upadhyay “Sardar Patel’s legacy is not confined to history books; it lives in the idea of India itself ” Community leaders Hari Patel, Dr Rashmi Patel, and Sanjay Vora proposed the creation of a Statue of Unity

replica in the Chicagoland area envisioned as a lasting tribute to Patel’s ideals for future generations of Indian Americans

A poignant moment came when 89-year-old FIA Trustee Kanti N Patel shared personal recollections of Sardar Patel’s influence, recalling how his leadership inspired rural communities to stand against colonial rule and reclaim their dignity His words, laden with

emotion, drew heartfelt applause from the crowd, which soon echoed with chants of “Long Live Sardar Patel!” and “Jai Hind!” as the tricolour fluttered in the autumn breeze

As the Unity Walk concluded, participants stood in solemn silence to honour Sardar Patel’s contribution to India’s unity and to reaffirm their commitment to uphold his timeless ideals

L-R Kartik Pande CB Patel Virendra Sharma Lord Remi Ranger HE Vikram Doraiswami and Seema Malhotra

Seema Malhotra and HE Vikram Doraiswami put garland on the bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

andhi with Vallabhbhai Patel at the Satyagraha a Gandhi could be seen sitting behind Gandhi

AHistoric inauguration of the 1914 Sikhs Ceremonial Marching Troop marks a moving moment

s Rem embrance Sunday ( 9 Nov) and Armistice Day (11 Nov) to honour those British and Com monwealth sold iers who

d ied in the line of d uty during the First World War near, the gro und s of Welling ton Barracks in L ond on came alive w ith a ceremony th at was as poig nant as it was historic, m arking the official inauguration

o f th e 1 9 1 4 S ik h s C e rem o n i al M arching Tro op to honour the serv ice of Sikh soldiers in th e First World War

H o s t e d b y t h e S ik h M i li ta ry

Fou nd ation in partnership with the

B r i t i s h A

October, the inaugural event saw a troop of 18 serving Sikh service personnel, community leaders and senior

r

m e d Forces come together to honour the bravery of more than 100,000 Sikh

s o l d i e r s w h o f o u g h t f o r B r i t a i n between 1914 and 1918, making up nearly 20% of the force in France and Belgium

Despite the steady autumn rain, there was a quiet sense of joy and pers e v e r a n c e a m o n g t h e a u d i e n c e A

, proud military tradition This isn’t about r e e n a c t m e n t i t ’ s about recognition It’s about making sure the courage and sacrifice o f S i k h s o l d i e r

, and carried forward by those of us still serving ” The sight of each

crowd of onlookers gathered outside the barracks to join in on historic moment

Major General John Kendall VR

A D C , D ep u t y C o m m a nd e r F i eld

A rm y, in his welcome address, reflected on the extraordinary courage and service of Sikh soldiers during the First World War, saying, “In 1914, the world was plunged into war and the Sikhs responded 1 5 million Indian soldiers came to fight in the First World War By late 1914, one in three soldiers on the Western Front was Indian Twenty per cent of those were Sikh solders, a remarkable achievement for the about two per cent of the Indian population ” He went on to recall the bravery of t h e 4 7 t h S i k h s o f t h e J u l l u n d u r Brigade, and highlighted the selfless heroism of Manta Singh and the gallantry of Thakur Singh Reflecting on the remembrance parade, he drew on the enduring faith expressed in the words of Hav ildar Hirram S ing h: “If I die, I go to paradise It is a fine thing to die in battle ” M arching troop

T h e S i k h s o l d i e r s , d r e s s e d i n authentic World War I Sikh infantry uniforms, marched proudly in precise formation onto the parade square to the stirring accompaniment of the Band of the Irish Guards, one of the oldest and most distinguished military bands in the British Army

T ro o p C a p ta in M aj D al ji n d er Singh í Virdee MBE VR RAM S, who is the driving force behind 1914 Sikhs, stated, “We formed this troop to unite

soldier wearing the distinctive khaki uniform and turbans styled in the m a n n e r o f S i k h

Great War, carrying period-accurate equipment such as the Lee-Enfield rifle, was a poignant visual reminder of their historic service

Most members of the troop are

e l f r o m t h e R o y a l Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force (RAF), each representing the enduring martial heritage of Sikh soldiers within the British Armed Forces The troop includes T roop Serg eant M ajo r SSg t Ranjit S ing h R Sig nals and T roo p Stand ard Bearer C pl Nish an S ing h RL C, supported by 15 soldiers in other ranks

Next was the inspection of the troop by Major General John Kendall VR ADC, Deputy Commander Field Army, and Gurp reet S i ng h A nand, Chair of the managing trustees at the Khalsa Jatha British Isles, who commended the troop for their exceptiona l b e a r i n g M a n y o f t h e o r i g i n a l founding part of the Gurdwara were B r i t i s h I n d i a n s o l d i e r s T h e t w o m o v e d d o w n t h e l i n e o f s o l d i e r s , exchanging words with each man as they stood tall with pride

People then stood up to join the troop for Ardas, a Sikh prayer, as the soldiers would have done, to seek a blessing before commencing battle, led by Sikh Chaplain to the Armed Forces, M and eep K aur The crowd stirred in emption as the troop gave the iconic Sikh war cry “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!”

P re et K au r Gi ll , M P f o r Birmingham Edgbaston, commented

on the significance of the event, “It is wonderful to be here today And I want to thank the SMF for all the work they are doing c h a m p i o n i n g t h i s v e r y important cause, and of course, it is educational f o r o u r y o u n g o n e s a s w e l l , s e e i n g t h e 1 9 1 4

Sikhs in what was their attire in the past It’s a w o n d e r f u l e x a m p l e o f the contributions Sikhs have made ”

The inaugural parade concluded with the most symbolic moment of the day, when the 1914 Sikhs

S t a n d a r d , b e a r i n g t h e insignia of the Sikh regiments who served with distinction, was formally presented The troop is not just a re-enactment group

It stands as an important r e m i n d e r t h a t r e m e mb r a n c e i s n o t a b o u t t h e past alone, but also about the Sikh values that continue to be passed on, inspiring those who serve today Battle of Ypres

The ceremony also served as a remembrance service to mark the 111th anniversary of the First Battle of Ypres, one of the most defining and tragic moments of the Great War, w h e r e S i k h r e g i m e n t s s u ffered heavy casualties yet held the line with extraordinary courage

Readings were delivered by guests, reflecting on the bravery of those who fought in the mud and chaos of the Western Front, including a first hand account from Jamedar Inder Singh, a Sikh cavalry man from WW1 to his family by P u n j a b J as A t h wa l, M P fo r I lf o rd S o u th a l s o r e a d o u t t h e R o l l o f Honour, calling out with great respect the names of soldiers who have died in service

Everyone present on the parade square fell silent as a minute’s silence was observed in honour of the fallen

The 1914 Sikhs concept was first set up in 2010 by the late Harbinder Sing h Rana as part of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, but the project unfortunately dissolved when he passed away Now, it breathes a new life under the Sikh Military Foundation

The 1914 Sikhs troop will continue o n t o p

events across the UK, such as at The Cenotaph, The Commonwealth Gates and beyond at regular services held in France and Belgium, bringing visibility to Sikh contributions in British and Commonwealth military history

M ou signed

The evening concluded with the

Understanding (MOU) between the 1

Foundation, the British Army and the Sikh Defence Network, formalising

Charter formalised the historic day that served to celebrate the contribution of Sikh soldiers past and present, and to reaffirm the enduring bond between the Sikh community and the British Armed Forces

50th anniversary and Diwali celebration by Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj

Shree Kadwa Patid ar Samaj recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the U K, with a m ag nificent celebratio n o n Su nd ay, October 26, 2025

The event, held at the community’s impressive centre in Harrow, drew over 800 members and esteemed guests for a day of tribute to the community's rich history and enduring commitment to service

The celebration was graced by Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel, highlighting the Samaj's significant role within the local area

Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj was first established in the UK in 1975 by immigrants from East Africa and Saurashtra, India, and has since grown into a vital community pillar The history of the Samaj is a testament to the dedication of its founders and members

Key historical milestones commemorated during the jubilee include:

1992: Foundation stone was laid for the community centre by Shantilal Nathabhai Kansagra on behalf of the Kansagra family of Solia

1993: The magnificent Kadwa Patidar Centre on Kenmore Avenue, Harrow, was officially inaugurated by Govindbhai Virjibhai Dhulashia This was only possible with the generous funds donated by the community members

2012: The inauguration of the new annex by Pramodbhai Kalaria, expanding the centre s capabilities Golden Jubilee charity and com mitments

Reflecting its unwavering commitment to charitable work, the golden jubilee was a platform for significant donations, demonstrating Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj’s dedication to worthy causes:

The Samaj made several donations with £30,000 00 to various causes:

v A cheque of £2,000 00 was presented to the Mayor of Harrow's nominated Charities

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to Alzheimers Research UK

v A

Association

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to St Luke’s Hospice Harrow and Brent

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to Diabetes UK

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to Parkinsons UK

v A cheque of £4,000 00 was presented to Dementia UK

v A substantial donation of £50,000 00 (the first installm

Mission, West Drayton

The Samaj pledged a substantial donation of £109,000 to the Hindu Om Crematorium, Anoopam Mission, West Drayton

The Samaj is also working towards further contributions, with total recent and pending donations including:

v The £50,000 00 first instalment to Om Crematorium

v A second instalment of £59,000 00 is pending to Om Crematorium

The Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj is proud to serve the community by providing excellent facilities for various functions and making significant contributions to charitable work

Sikhs

Major General John Kendall VR ADC

Deputy Commander Field Army during welcome address

Preet Kaur Gill, MP commenting on the significance of the event

1914 Sikhs Ceremonial Marching Troop Band of the Irish Guards Major General John Kendall VR ADC Deputy Commander Field Army and WO1 Ashok Kumar Chauhan MBE

Cllr Suresh Kansagara Chairman Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj Mayor of Harrow Cllr Anjana Patel and Rajnibhai Kansagar President, Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj

Why South Asian men struggle to seek help Unspoken pain

Subhasini Naicker

al

nd societal exp ectations

From a young age, many are taught to be providers, problem-solvers, and emotional anchors; roles reinforced by patriarchal norms

with weakness

A

tions about emotional wellbeing are often suppressed, leaving men to internalise

s

South Asian context means

l l e n g i n g t h e s e l o n gstanding ideals and creating s p a c e s w h e r e e m o t i o n a l openness is seen as strength, not failure

“Sh am e is a po werful barrier to South Asian m en seeking h elp”

Dr Subodh Dave, Dean

a t T h e R o y a l C o l l e g e o f Psychiatrists, explained that t r a d i t i o n a l S o u t h A s i a n

e x p e c t a t i o n s a r o u n d m a sculinity, such as being the primary earner or appearing emotionally strong, significantly influence men ’ s will-

i n g n e s s t o s e e k m e n t a l

h e a l t h s u p p o r t “ C u l t u r a l factors always shape healthseeking behaviour,” he said “In many families, women make about 80% of health decisions, including when to seek medical help Men, on the other hand, are often conditioned from a young

a g e t o s e e t h e m s e l v e s a s providers, which makes it harder for them to acknowledge vulnerability or seek help ” Drawing on his experience in Derby, a multi-ethnic city, Dr Dave said these pressures are especially diff i c u l t f o r m e n s t r u g g l i n g w i t h s e x u a l i t y “ I ’ v e m e t

m e n p r e s s u r e d i n t o m a rriage despite being homosexual, forced to hide their i d e n t i t y f o r y e a r s B y t h e

time they seek help, they’re often in severe distress,” he s a i d “ W h i l e S o u t h A s i a n communities value interdependence, the deep sense of shame can be a major barrier t o s e e k i n g m e n t a l h e a l t h support ”

Dr Subodh Dave emphasised the need for families and communities to challenge patriarchal norms that e q u a t e m a l e v u l n e r a b i l i t y w i t h w e a k n e s s “ C u l t u r a l stereotypes about men ’ s and women ’ s roles persist, and w h i l e p r o g r e s s i s b e i n g m a d e , g e n d e r e q u a l i t y remains a global struggle, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h i n S o u t h Asian communities shaped by deep-rooted traditions,” he said

He added that men are more prone to conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and addiction, yet awaren e s s r e m a i n s l o w “ E a r l y intervention is vital, as most m e n t a l i l l n e s s e s b e g i n before age 24 and are treatable,” Dr Dave noted “Too often, families dismiss early w a r n i n g s i g n s , k e e p i n g s t r u g g l e s h i d d e n Knowledge and awareness

a r e k e y , a s k i n g t h e r i g h t questions early can make all the difference ”

D r D a v e s a i d c u l t u r a l representation in therapy is

v i t a l “ M o s t t h e r a p i s t s i n the UK are white, making it harder for South Asian men to find culturally sensitive

s u p p o r t t h a t u n d e r s t a n d s issues like shame or family expectations,” he explained

He noted that therapy’s focus on individual autono-

my can clash with South Asian communities’ collective values “Understanding how culture shapes emotions and identity is essential,” he said, adding that better representation and c o m m u n i t y o u t r e a c h through faith centres and t r u s t e d l e a d e r s c a n h e l p build trust and guide people toward professional help

C h a r t e r e d C l i n i c a

South Asian men shaped by childhoods of high expectations, strict discipline, and l

Traditional roles tied succ

high-achieving men feeling empty and unsure how to

tives and fears about ‘what others will say ’ make it hard to seek help, so emotional a

default, until the pressure becomes unbearable ”

She added, “There are few spaces for South Asian m

The silent epidemic of male loneliness

F or too long, lo neliness has been treated as a qu iet ache, s om eth ing to be endu red , not spoken about

But mounting evidence shows it has become a global public health crisis, one that cuts deeply into the lives of m

h the façade of confidence and composure, millions of men a r e q u i e t l y b a t t l i n g i s o l ation, disconnection, and the heavy silence of having no one to truly confide in A

world, this silent epidemic is s

i e s a n d towns, men sit in crowded pubs, bustling offices, and noisy households, yet feel profoundly alone In South Asia, too, the pressures of modern life, migration, and deeply ingrained notions of masculinity are creating a generation of men who suffer unseen

The numbers are staggering A 2024 report by the C

n t r e f o r S o c i a l J u s t i c e found that nearly six in ten adults in Britain, around 32 million people, feel lonely “most, often or some of the t i m e ” A m o n g t h e m , m e n

a r e e s p e c i a l l y v u l n e r a b l e

The Jo Cox Commission on L o n e l i n e s s e s t i m a t e s t h a t eight million men in the UK feel lonely at least once a week, and almost three million experience that feeling every single day

The roots of this loneliness run deep From childhood, men are told to “ man up, ” to be strong, stoic, and self-reliant Vulnerability is s e e n a

A d m i t t i n g

e l i n e s s c a n feel like a betrayal of one ’ s identity So, men bottle up their emotions, push away discomfort, and withdraw from those who might list e n W h i l e w o m e n o f t e n nurture emotional connect i o n s t h a t s

men ’ s relationships tend to b e b u

bonds

T

tion spans generations In the UK, older men living alone describe long, unbroken days with little human contact, while younger men confess to a gnawing emptiness in the middle of social media’s endless chatter A Nesta survey found that one in four young men regularly feels lonely For older men,

the shrinking of social circles and the loss of purpose c

n t o something more sinister

Loneliness is often the invisible thread running through

account for around threequarters of all suicides in the UK, a grim reflection of how

the epidemic carries social

bonds

Yet amid the bleakness,

chooses to listen Tackling

more than compassion; it

front deep-rooted cultural expectations Policymakers must treat loneliness as a public health priority, funding spaces where men can connect without shame or pretence Local initiatives,

belonging

The silent scourge every man must know

T h e r e a r e d is e a se s t hat de fin e ge nde r, such a s ov ar ian or br e a s t ca n ce r fo r w o m e n , o r la t e -

o n s e t h y p o g on adism for m en

Examination (DRE) A biopsy is then used to c o n f i r m c a n c e r a n d d e t e r m i n e i t

( G l e a s o n score)

T r e a t me n t p a t h w a y s a r e h i g h ly i n d i v i d ualised: Active Surveillance: F o r m a n y s l o w

tions While initiatives like Andy’s Man Club exist, they a

d

Many still lack awareness or

o p e n n e s s a b o u t m e n t a l health, and shifting gender roles have left some men feeling emasculated or criticised But it isn’t hopeless, w o r k i n g w i t h a q u a l i f i e d therapist can offer confidentiality and effective, evidence-based support ”

Not menopause, but Man-o-pause

E v ery o ne kno w s a bo u t m enopause, the sig nificant h orm onal shifts that wom en experience, often acco mpan i ed by h o t f lu s h es a nd m o o d s w i ng s B u t h o w m any of you are aware of

t h e m al e equ i v a le nt?

I t' s o ften called andropause or, m ore accurately, Late-Onset Hypog onadism (LOH), and w h ile i t d oesn't i nv olv e a co mplete shutdow n of fertility, it is a genuine cond it i o n c au s ed b y d e cl i ni ng h orm ones Wh at is the 'm ale m enopause'?

Unlike the sudden drop in female hormones, LOH involves a gradual and age-

related reduction in the production of testosterone, the m a i n m a l e s e x h o r m o n e H o w e v e r , t h e s

H

s u a l l y become noticeable in men aged 50 and over T he symptoms and solution

The symptoms of LateO n s e t H y p o g o n a d i s m (LOH) are often mistaken for general signs of aging or stress, leading to frequent m i s d i a g n o s i s T h e m o s t c o m m o n s i g n s i n c l u d e reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and fewer spontaneous erections, alongside decreased muscle mass and strength, increased body fat, reduced bone density, and

hot flushes Men experienci n g L O H m a y a l s o s u f f e r from fatigue, mood swings, i r r i t a b i l i t y , d i f f i c u l t y c o ncentrating, and sometimes depression If LOH is suspected, the first step is consulting a GP, who will confirm the diagnosis with a blood test to check testosterone levels The primary

R e p l a c

m e n t T h e r a p y ( T R T ) , a d m i n i s t e r e d v i a injections, gels, patches, or i m p l a n t s F u r t h e r m o r e , lifestyle adjustments, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction are crucial for managing this condition

But few conditions are as universally prevalent, yet as frequently misund e r s t o o d , l i k e p r o s t a t e c a n c e r I t r e m a i n s t h e m o s t c o m m o n l y d i a gnosed cancer among m e n w o r l d w i d e , a hidden threat often shrouded in the outdated myth that it only affects the very old or that it always shows obvious symptoms The truth? Every man, regardless of where he lives, is at risk, and the disease often starts as a silent, cellular mutiny deep inside the body

G lobal g ame of risk and d eat h

The prostate is a small, w a l n u t - s h a p e d g l a n d , t h e core function of which is to p r o d u c e s e m i n a l f l u i d

Prostate cancer begins when the cells here grow uncontrollably While it is true that t h e r i s k e s c a l a t e s s h a r p l y after age 50, it can, and does, strike men in their 40s and these earlier cases are often genetically linked and more aggressive This disease pres e n t s a p r o f o u n d g l o b a l paradox Data shows countries in Northern America, W e s t e r n E u r o p e , a n d t h e Caribbean often report the highest incidence rates This is largely attributed to the widespread availability and use of the Prostate-Specific

A n t i g e n ( P S A ) b l o o d t e s t , which detects many slowgrowing tumours early Conversely, regions like

S u b - S a h a r a n A f r i c a a n d parts of the Caribbean frequently report the highest m o r t a l i t y r a t e s W h y ?

Cancer is often diagnosed too late due to poor access to s c r e e n i n g a n d e f f e c t i v e t r e a t m e n t T h i s d i s p a r i t y highlights a crucial risk factor: men of Black African or Caribbean descent face a significantly higher risk of both developing the disease and d y i n g f r o m i t , o f t e n a t a younger age The subtle whisp ers of war ning

A s t h e p r o s t a t e g l a n d surrounds the urethra, the tell-tale symptoms typically involve the urinary system

a n d a r e o f t e n e a s i l y d i smissed as mere signs of ageing: N o c t u r i a ( w a k i n g f r equently at night to urinate)

Difficulty starting urination or a noticeably weak flow

A feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied Fight ing back: Dia gnosis and t rea tme nt

D i a g n o s i s u s u a l l y involves a conversation with a healthcare provider, followed by a PSA blood test

a n d a D i g i t a l R e c t a l

g r o wing, low-risk cases, doctors simply monitor the c a n c e r w i t h r e g u l a r checks, avoiding invasive treatment and its potential side effects R

: More aggressive cancers are treated with curative intent, u

removal) or Radiotherapy Hormone Therapy: This is used to block male hormones, which feed the canc e r , o f t e n f o r a d v a n c e d cases The most effective tool a g

remains awareness If you are over 50 or 45 with a fami

descent having a frank conversation with your doctor is a crucial, potentially life-saving step

You k now migra tion can also be a cause?

Yes Men who immigrate from low-risk areas (like parts of Asia) to high-

e the higher risk of their new home country, sometimes within a single generation

lifestyle/diet play a major role in accelerating the disease

Gurpreet Kaur

Subodh Dave

The great Indo-British economic boom

The United Kingdom and India are

forging an economic partnership of historic scale, driven by a surge of Indianowned enterprises establishing a formidable presence on British soil

The current landscape is defined by an unprecedented momentum, which has seen the number of Indian companies operating in the UK cross the onethousand mark for the first time In 2025, a record 1,197 Indian-owned companies were active, marking an increase of over 23% from the previous year, the highest annual increase since 2017

generates substantial wealth: these companies have a combined turnover of £72 14 billion and collectively employ 126,720 people The impact is further concentrated by the fourteen Indianowned businesses that each employ over

nearly 89,000 jobs across the nation

Record-breaking economic footprint

The growth story is not just about q u a n

Across the UK, 74 Indian-owned businesses achieved annual revenue growth of 10% or more, boasting an impressive average growth rate of 42% Leading this pack as the fastest-growing company was Wipro IT Services UK Societas, with its revenue soaring by a staggering 448%

While the Technology, Media, and T e l e c o m ( T M T ) s e c t o r r e m a i n s t h e most dominant, accounting for 31% of all Indian companies, investment is shifting from traditional industries to high-growth areas such as digital services, green energy, and AI This has resulted in a significant investment push, with Indian companies collectively investing £18 31 billion in fresh c a p i t a l f o r

research and development (R&D) in 2023–24 Notably, £7 5 billion of that fresh investment was dedicated solely to R&D

The geographical spread demons t r a t e s a c o m m i t m e n t t o r

London hosts the largest concentration, with 1,345 Indian companies, sign i f i c a n t g

Midlands, the North, and Wales This expansion focuses on advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and green energy, ensuring that the benefits of this economic partnership are distributed nationwide

The tangible impact of this invest-

ment surge is best seen through the

growth, which are not just tech startups but major employers across found

anchors in the UK economy, including industry giants such as Jaguar Land

Europe Limited, Airtel Africa Plc, and HCL Technologies UK Limited These

Investment UK, are among a group of fourteen Indian-owned businesses that each employ over 1,000 people The

notable deals including large stakes taken in UK institutions like British Telecom

Furthermore, the dynamism of the sector is demonstrated by companies such as Wipro IT Services UK Societas, which was recognised as the fastestgrowing company with a remarkable 448% revenue growth rate

The gateway effect and trade liberalisation

The foundation for this surge lies in the UK's attractiveness as a global business gateway Indian mid-market firms view the UK not merely as a domestic market, but as a crucial gateway to Europe and global markets They cite the strong financial and innovation ecosystem (69%), availability of a skilled workforce (63%), and the ease of doing business and regulatory environment (70%) as primary drivers for expansion This strong base led to India becoming the UK’s 11th-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching £42 6 billion in 2024

The culmination of this deepening relationship is the landmark UK–India

(CETA), concluded in May and signed in July 2025 This deal is projected to boost bilateral trade by £25 5 billion a year For Indian businesses, the key provision is the immediate duty-free access to 99% of Indian exports to the UK market, a feature that significantly

value sectors like textiles, apparel, and

accompanying Double Contributions Convention (DCC) streamlines mobility for professionals by removing the need for dual social security payments for up to 36 months, a move set to benefit 75,000 workers and 900 firms Navigating barriers to a £100 billion horizon

The future outlook for the corridor is one of ambitious growth, with bilateral trade projected to double by 2030, c r o s s i n g £

reach this potential, Indian businesses must navigate specific challenges on the ground Indian firms frequently cite the high cost of doing business, including property rents, and the high cost of regulatory compliance as significant barriers Furthermore, recent changes to UK immigration and tax policies, such as stricter visa rules and the revision of the non-dom tax regime, raise operational costs and impact investment decisions Despite these hurdles, the new FTA provides a framework for s

partnership The ongoing contribution of the Indian diaspora, now the largest ethnic minority group at over 1 86 million, continues to strengthen the busin

between the two nations

Anger as JLR’s £1.5bn governmentbacked loan remains untapped

Jaguar Land Ro ver (JLR) has yet to draw a p enny f rom th e £1 5 bill io n loan facility guaranteed by the U K go vernment, des pite ministers p ublicly claiming to h ave sup po rted th e c arm aker’s su ppl y ch ain af ter a devastating cyberattack

Britain’s largest automotive employer was forced to suspend operations across all its factories from 1 September for over a month when hackers crippled its IT systems Production only resumed partially in early October and is expected to return to full capacity by December Suppliers, who bore the brunt of the disruption, have privately expressed anger at the government’s portrayal of events “In some ways the government played a blinder with everyone thinking they bailed out JLR,” said one executive at a parts manufacturer “They did nothing ” Labour MP Liam Byrne, who chairs Parliament’s business select committee, has written to Business Secretary Peter Kyle seeking clarification on whether any funds were ever disbursed, or even requested, by JLR

The £1 5 billion loan, announced just

before the Labour Party conference in late September, was guaranteed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), covering 80% of potential losses for lenders HSBC, Mitsubishi UFJ and NatWest But the Financial Times reported that JLR only finalised the agreement this month, and multiple sources confirmed that none of the funds have reached either JLR or its suppliers

Instead, the carmaker relied on its own reserves to pre-pay suppliers in an effort to

(CBM), representing many suppliers, said government support had failed to reach those most in need; particularly lower-tier manufacturers who may face acute financial stress in the coming weeks as 60-day

quickly and decisively to put support in place for JLR through a loan guarantee at a c

groups say that while the guarantee may have boosted JLR’s credit standing, it has done little to ease the cash crisis across the wider automotive ecosystem

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Alpesh

Patel

Londoners’ monthly bills exceed £2,000 milestone

L ondon ers are now spendi ng more than £2,000 a month on essential bills an d li vi ng costs for the first ti me, as the cos t- of- li vi n g cri si s d eepen s, new research shows A c c

n g t o M o n e y S u p e r Market’s Household Money Index, the average Londoner spends 66% of their income, around £2,050 07 each month, on rent or mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, groceries, and subscriptions That’s a 13% rise from £1,807 74 in September 2024, equivalent to £68 40 a day Despite higher wages, Londoners’ average disposable income of £1,056 93 per month is only £34 more than residents in Manchester, even though they earn about £5,000 extra annually The findings come as the UK’s l a r g e s t s u p e r m a r k e t c h a i n s , including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, a n d M & S , h a v e u r g e d t h e Chancellor to scrap a proposed business rates surtax, warning it would push prices higher for shoppers and worsen food inflation

Ev ery ag e h as i ts o bsessi on Ou rs i s th e sc orebo ard

In v es to r s o nc e m eas u re d s u c ce s s by i nd e p end enc e, incom e, and security; tod ay, they measure it by wheth er they have beaten the index The S&P 50 0 has becom e not just a benchmark, but a m irror a reflectio n of id entity, competence, and self-w orth

This essay argues that the cult of ‘beating the index’ reveals far more about ego than economics In theory, markets reward efficiency; in practice, investors seek affirmation Benchmark-chasing endures not because it is rational the data show it isn’t but because it satisfies psychological needs: status, narrative, and control The index is less an economic tool than a modern confessional where investors prove virtue through relative performance

1. The Economic Case: The Arithmetic of Futility

Economically, the cult is indefensible The arithmetic of active management is merciless: before fees, the average investor is the market; after fees, the average investor underperforms it

The S&P SPIVA Scorecard (2024) reports that over 85% of active managers underperform their benchmark over ten years The mathematics of zero-sum markets make this inevitable: for every winner, there must be a loser, and the sum of fees drags the group below the index

Thus, “beating the index” is not a collective strategy but an individual fantasy Economically, the rational investor should seek sufficient return relative to goals and risk tolerance, not relative outperformance As Nobel laureate William Sharpe observed, “Before costs, the average active dollar must equal the average passive dollar; after costs, it must be less ”

explained by rational economics It must be explained by psychology

2 Ego Economics: The Desire to Win

Human beings do not seek sufficiency; they seek super

Kahneman, Thaler, Tversky has shown that utility is comparative, not absolute

Social comparison: Investors care less about their absolute gain than whether their neighbour’s portfolio performed better

Overconfidence bias: 80% of drivers and investors alike believe they are above average

Loss aversion: Underperforming a benchmark feels like a loss, even if wealth has grown

Thus, “beating the index” gratifies the ego ’ s need for validation It converts randomness into personal virtue When a portfolio outperforms, it confirms competence; when it lags, it feels like failure prompting riskier behaviour to reclaim pride

The index, in short, functions as a psychological sparr

investor’s victories meaningful

3 The Industry of Ego: How Finance Monetises Pride

The cult persists because the financial industry profits from it Fund managers, advisers, and platforms have turned benchmark-chasing into a service economy of vanity

Marketing language “Alpha generation,” “smart beta,” “market-beating funds” flatters investors’ egos while extracting fees

This is not finance; it is flattery with spreadsheets

High-fee managers like St James’s Place, whose portfolios consistently underperform passive indices, nonetheless retain clients through the theatre of expertise and the emotional comfort of “doing something ” Their product is not return; it is reassurance of status

4 Cultural Mirrors: Markets as Moral Arenas

The cult of outperformance is not confined to finance; it is a microcosm of Western individualism The American Dream has always conflated wealth with virtue, competition with progress The S&P 500 thus became capitalism’s liturgy the index as catechism of meritocracy

To “beat the market” is to prove moral worth in a secular religion of success This is why investors in the UK, Europe, and Asia, with different currencies and liabilities, still obsess over a dollar index It is not economics; it is cultural aspiration to win on the scoreboard of global modernity

As sociologist Pierre Bourdieu might note, the pursuit of outperformance is not about utility but symbolic capital the prestige of belonging to the class of winners

5. The Behavioural Cost of Vanity

Ego has a measurable cost The Dalbar Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behaviour (2023) shows that the average U S equity investor underperformed the market by 1 7% annually over thirty years, primarily due to poor timing The cause? Benchmark anxiety buying after rallies, selling after corrections

In other words, the desire to “beat” the index causes investors to lose to it Ego is expensive

Swathi Anil

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India meet British-Indian business leaders at Chequers Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

Air India seeks $1.14bn bailout after crash

A ir In d i a i s rep o r ted ly

f

S ons and Singapore A irlines ( SIA) This urgent plea for capital follows a d ev astating crash in June that claim ed o ver 240 liv es, p lunging the carri er into a m aj or cri sis

nd m odernise its fleet

The Tata Group-owned airline needs the substantial

operational excellence Any financial injection from the

majority stake in Air India,

owning the remaining 25 1%

establishing robust in-house

e n g i n

n d maintenance departments,

Apple registers record revenue in India

closely with Tata Sons to

assistance The request for funds comes days after Air

The owners are yet to decide whether the funding will be s t

free loan or a fresh equity

tragedy

Dubai-based DP World to invest

£4bn into India

World, the Duba i-based

ba

nn ounced a t India

M a r it im e W e e k , d r a m a t i ca l ly i n cr e a s e s t h e compa ny ’ s tota l in vestm ent in India , which a lr ead y st ood

a t $3 bi llio n ove r t he la st t hre e deca des The substantial capital i n j e c t i o n i s a i m e d a t strengthening the country's

e s s e n t i a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

b a c k b o n e , e n h a n c i n g

m u l t i m o d a l c o n n e c t i v i t y , a n d i m p r o v i n g I n d i a ' s competitive edge in global trade It forms a key part of DP World's strategy to lower logistics costs and expand m a r k e t a c

accompanied by the signing of five strategic agreements with Indian partners These include a deal between DP World's Unifeeder unit and

t

green coastal and short-sea s h i p p i n g F

agreement was reached with

Etsy names Kruti Patel Goyal as its new CEO

Maritime and Shipbuilding

industries

S

Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, stated that the initiatives are intended to help India "chart out

bold

World s existing network in India already spans over 200 sites and supports more than 24,000 jobs, cementing its role as a vital partner in the nation's economic growth

India's Narayana Health buys UK hospital group

N a ra ya na H e al th , t h e Bengaluru-based health care

p ro v i de r, h as ma de a s i g ni f i c an t e n tra n c e i n to the UK market by acqui ring P ra c ti c e P l u s Gr o u p H ospitals for £220mn Th is

l a nd ma rk a c q u i si t i o n i m me di a te ly p ro p el s Narayana Health into th e ranks of India’ s top th ree h ea lt h c ar e p r o vi d er s b y r ev en u e a n d dra m at ic a ll y expands its global footp rint

b e yo n d I n di a an d t h e Cari bbean

The UK-based Practice Plus Group is the country’s fifth-largest private hospital group, operating a network of 12 hospitals and surgical

c

specialise in high-demand areas, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and general

s u r g e r

Health access to a mature UK market characterised

participation and a surge i

procedures, particularly in day-care settings Dr

alignment in philosophy: both organisations aim to meet the demand for more

, which already leverages AI tools developed by its team of 50 software engineers to manage high volumes and

technology foundation to

integration is expected to create long-term value for patients and stakeholders in the UK

T h e g l o ba l o nl in e m arketplace Etsy, Inc h as appointed current Presid ent and Ch ief Gro wth Officer, Kruti Patel Goyal, as its next C h i e f E xec u ti v e O ff i ce r, ef f ec ti v e f ro m 1 J a nu ar y 2026 Th is p ivotal leadership chang e sees Kruti taking the helm of the Brooklyn-based e-co mmerce firm, and she will also join Etsy’s Board o f Directo rs K r u t i s u c c e e d s J o s h Silverman, who is stepping down after more than eight y e a r s i n t h e C E O r o l e S i l v e r m a n i s n o t l e a v i n g entirely, however, and will p r o v i d e c r u c i a l c o n t i n u i t y b y s e r v i n g a s E x e c u t i v e Chair through the end of 2 0 2 6 B o a r d C h a i r F r e d

forward will be on ensuring

Wilson will also step down from his role but remain a b o a r d m e m b e r I n a L i n k e d I n p o s t , K r u t i e x p r e s s e d h e r e x c i t e m e n t , stating she was incredibly honoured to lead a company she loves She highlighted her deep connection to the p l a t f o r m , h a v i n g b e e n a l e a d e r , s h o p p e r , a n d c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r , emphasising that "The joy of E t s y i s i n t h e h u m a n connections " A c o m p a n y v e t e r a n , Kruti was previously CEO of t h e E t s y - o w n e d r e s a l e platform Depop, where she w a s c r e d i t e d w i t h n e a r l y d o u b l i n g b o t h g r o s s merchandise sales and the b u y e r b a s e S h e b r i n g s extensive experience from her career, which began in M & A a t M

Mehli Mistry files caveat on removal from Tata Trusts

M

who

Ta

Trus ts boards was denied by a m ajority decis ion, has f iled a c

c o m m i s s i on e r in M um b ai reques ting an opportunit y to be heard bef ore any dec isions are m ade

The caveat was filed, days a f t e r h i s r e a p p o i n t m e n t a s a lifelong trustee failed to go through Mistry, the executor of Ratan Tata’s will, has also sent the caveat notice to all trustees of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, and Bai H i r a b a i J a m s e t j i N a v s a r i C h a r i t a b l e Institution, including chairman Noel Tata, whose wife Aloo is his first cousin Rules require the Trusts to file a report with the charity commissioner on the changes w i t h i n a m a x i m u m o f 9 0 d a y s o f s u c h developments Once the charity commissioner accepts the new board composition, only then

can the Trusts make changes in the signatories of their bank a c c o u n t s , o f f i c i a l correspondence, etc A t T a t a T r u s t s , r e a p p

requires unanimous consent of all trustees Mistry, who was

Tata Trusts by Ratan Tata in Oct 2022 for three years, had a tenure which expired on Oct 28, 2025 On Oct 23, the Trusts circulated a circular seeking trustees’ consent on his reappointment as a

chairmen Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh

Khambata and Jehangir Jehangir, favoured his reappointment Ratan Tata’s brother Jimmy Tata abstained from participation Since there was no unanimity, Mistry’s trusteeship was not renewed

Amazon restructure to affect jobs of 1,500 employees in India

Mehli Mistry

Kruti Patel Goyal

Bangladesh to host anti-India preacher Zakir Naik

D

of

is scheduled to visit Bangladesh from November 28 to December 20 This marks his first visit to the country and comes less than a year after he was hosted for a s i m i l a r n a t i o n w i d e t

Pakistan

I n d i a n

of

fol lowin g the 2016 Dhaka Holey

A

inspira tion from his speeches Naik, who is wanted in India

b

A g e n c y ( N I A ) f o r c h a r g e s i n c l u d i n g h a t e s p e

c h a n d inciting communal disharmony,

v

consistently flagged the rise of radicalisation in Bangladesh, and analysts suggest this trip is a wellplanned move The preacher is known for propagating radical Islam and his anti-India stance

During his visit to Pakistan, he was reportedly seen meeting with top commanders of the banned

designated as terrorists by the

20 killed, 320 injured as quake strikes Afghanistan

K A BU L : A pow erfu l 6 3 m ag nitud e earth quake struck near one of A fg hanistan's larg est cities, Mazar-i-S harif, in the wee ho urs of M ond ay, killing at least 20 and injuring around 3 20 p eop le The qu ake w as d etected near th e city of M azar-i-Sh arif and th e tow n of Khulm, and stru ck at a depth o f 23 kilometres, as per th e Na ti o na l C en ter f o r

Seism olo gy (NC S)

A Taliban health ministry spokesman confirming at least 20 deaths and 320 injuries The casualty figures reported are initial estimates and based on hosp i t a l r e p o r t s A f g h a n i s t a n ' s national disaster management agency earlier said assessments of casualties and damages would be shared later

Videos circulating on social

media showed rescuers trying to save people trapped under rubble, while images of fallen debris in buildings were also shared

O n e v i d e

dead bodies from rubble

Mazar-i-Sharif's famed Blue M

mark known for its vibrant tiles and one of the country's few remaining tourist spots, was also damaged, with pieces from one of its minarets breaking off and l y i n g a c r o s s t h e

grounds In August this year, at least 2,200 people were killed a

were injured after a 6 0-magni-

provinces in the eastern region of Afghanistan

$3mn gift to Rice University advances study of Jainism

HO U STO N, TE XA S: A group of Jain donors fr om India an d the Un it ed State s an d t he Acade mic Lia ison Committe e (ALC) of the Fede ration of Jain Associations in North Ame rica (JAINA), pa rtne red with Rice Univer sity in Houst on , Tex as, t o estab lish the Tirthank ar Shan tinath En dowed Profe ssorship in Jain Studies

The inauguration ceremony took place on October 19 at the Jain V i s h w a B h a r a t i ( J V B ) C e n t e r i n H o u s t o

attended by more than 100 members of the Jain community, university faculty, philanthropists, and civic leaders

Tthe 34th endowed chair or professorship at Rice University will reside within the School of Humanities, a hub of interdisciplinary study at one of America’s leading research universities

The new Bhagwan Shantinath Professorship will strengthen Rice’s offerings at the intersection of philosophy, ethics, public policy, medicine, artificial intelligence, industry, and environmental studies

The inauguration ceremony began with the Navkar Maha mantra, Jainism’s core prayer, recited by Samanijis Aarjav Pragyaji and Swati Pragyaji of JVB Houston

Swatantra Jain, Founder and Chairman of the JVB Houston Board of Trustees, welcomed attendees Jain, also a major donor, recognized 13 families from the US and India whose collective contributions of $1 5mn, matched equally by an anonymous donor to Rice University made this permanent endowment possible The professorship honors Tirthankar Bhagwan Shantinath, the 16th of the 24 revered spiritual

t e a

purification and liberation

Zakir Naik

United States His approval for a visit by the Yunus government, which is said to be influenced by

viewed as a sign of increasing radicalisation and a welcome sign

including the ISI Naik, who fled India in 2016 a

d e s i n Malaysia, has been denied visas by Britain and Canada due to his controversial rhetoric His impending grand welcome in Dhaka signals a dramatic shift

religious extremism and could potentially strain relations with India

Naik (60) left India in 2016 for Malaysia and has managed to get the permanent residency status there Naik has said that he would not return to India till h

prosecution"

Indian American to argue against Trump's tariff case in SC

W ASHI N GT O N : Neal Katyal, th e 5 4 - ye

attorney, is th e lead co unsel fo r p laintiff s in the landmark cas e th at wil l decide wh ether th e US p r es iden t

u th o rit y to impo se sw eep ing tariffs under th e 1 9

y Ec onomic P owers Ac t (IEEP A), o r wh ether, as Katyal will as sert, th e p ower of taxation and tarif fs rests with Co ngress

On his part, Katyal will pray before the court that it uphold the decision he won before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he represented the Liberty Justice Center to secure a 7-4 ruling that said the President lacked the authority to impose sweeping tariffs Indicative of the i m p

scheduled to last for an extended period of 80 minutes, which is

0 minutes for cases The courtroom is expected to be packed, with the eyes of not just Americans but the e n t i r e w o r l d g l u

proceedings

K a t y a l i s n o t n e w t o t h e limelight A celebrated attorney who has argued more than 50

cases before the Supreme Court, going back to year 2000 when he was co-counsel for vice-president Al Gore in the Bush v Gore case, he is a familiar figure in American legal circles, and in the eyes of m a n y , a “ T r u m p t o r m e n t o r ” F r o m c h a l l e n g i n g t h e T r u m p ’ s t r a v e l b a n t a r g e t i n g s e v e r a l

Muslim majority countries during its first term to arguing against t h e W h i t e H o u s e ’ s e f f o r t s t o expedite deportation efforts, he h a s b e e n a t h o r n i n t h e administration’s side, lacing his record in courts with trenchant commentaries on MSNBC

Son of a physician mom and engineer dad who emigrated from India, the Chicago-born Katyal attended Yale Law School, where he was mentored by Akhil Amar, a n I n d i a n - A m e r i c a n U S Constitutional Law legend While N e a l ’ s s i s t e r S o n i a K a t y a l i s a Professor of Law and co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology at UC Berkeley, Akhil Amar’s brother Vikram Amar was the Dean of University of Illinois College of Law and is currently a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California law school

Tanzania President sworn in after deadly election violence

D ODOM A : Tanzania P resid ent Samia Su luh u Hassan was swo rn into office fo r her first elected term after winning a land slide victo ry in an election that set off d eadly p rotests acro ss the co untry Hassan, who came to power in 2021 following the death in office of her predecessor, was declared the winner of last week’s election with 97 66% of the vote The result was announced by the national electoral commission just days after the vote, but it landed amid widespread violent protests, mass arrests, and an enforced nationwide internet shutdown The main opposition party, which was barred from contesting the poll, claimed that around 700 people were killed in three days of clashes with security forces This surge of public anger, with crowds in major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha chanting for the army to take over, represents what some describe as the most significant challenge to the ruling party since the nation gained independence in 1961 Decades of dom inance and the crushing of dissent

The roots of the present turmoil lie in the decades-long, uninterrupted dominance of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and its forerunner, which has governed Tanzania for over six decades The run-up to this latest vote saw authorities curb virtually all dissent Key opposition figure Tundu Lissu was jailed on treason charges, and his main party, Chadema, was outright banned from the ballot Rights groups also documented reports of abductions and intimidation of political opponents The situation is particularly frustrating for Tanzanian reformers, as President Hassan was initially viewed as a potential liberalising force when she succeeded her predecessor in 2021 However, that optimism has evaporated, with campaigners now accusing her administration of brutality and blatant election

in brief INDIAN ORIGIN PROFESSIONAL TO SEEK RE-ELECTION

Dr Priya Bhat-Patel a public health professional and two-term Carlsbad City Council member has announced that she will seek re-election to the City Council in November 2026 A daughter of Indian immigrants, Bhat-Patel made history in 2018 when she became the first Indian American ever elected to a City Council in San Diego County and the youngest person to serve on the Carlsbad City Council Her first victory was decided by just 270 votes underscoring the competitiveness of local races - a trend she expects will continue in 2026 “Serving the community I grew up in has been the honor of my life,” Bhat-Patel said in announcing her campaign

NEXT ROUND OF AFGHAN-PAK TALKS

Pakistan confirmed that the next round of talks with Afghanistan would be held on Nov 6 and expressed hope for a “positive outcome” from the dialogue Pak foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi also said that Pakistan does not wish to escalate tensions with the neighbouring country “Pakistan will continue to remain engaged in the mediation process and hopes for a positive outcome for the Nov 6 talks ” he said

MALDIVES BARS YOUNGSTERS FROM SMOKING

The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban on anyone born after Jan 2007, becoming the only nation with a generational prohibition on tobacco the health ministry said The move initiated by President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year will “protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation” it said The ban applies to all forms of tobacco and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale The measure also applies to visitors Maldives maintains a comprehensive ban on the import, sale, and possession of electronic cigarettes and vaping products Selling tobacco products to an underage person carries a penalty of 50,000 rufiyaa ($3,200)

LOUVRE HEIST PROBE: 7 ARRESTED

Five more arrests have been made in connection with the Louvre jewel heist case In a well-planned raid during daylight hours, thieves broke into the revered Apollon Gallery, making off with €88 million worth of jewels once worn by French royalty The magnitude and brazenness of the heist sent shockwaves among Parisians and global art aficionados In the days that followed, police detained two men Their partial confessions added crucial pieces to the puzzle The investigation took another leap when five more individuals were arrested across Paris bringing the number of suspects to seven

CENTRIST D66 PARTY CONFIRMED DUTCH ELECTION WINNER

Dutch centrist party D66 won the most votes in general election putting its 38-year-old leader Rob Jetten on course to become the youngest-ever prime minister in the Netherlands With almost all votes counted pro-EU liberal D66 can no longer be overtaken by the far right Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders, according to ANP, which collects the results from all municipalities in the Netherlands Jetten claimed victory based on ANP’s announcement and urged mainstream parties from the left to the right to unite “Voters have clearly indicated the need for cooperation,” Jetten told reporters “We want to find a majority that will eagerly work on issues such as the

market, migration, climate and the economy ”

L-R: JVB Samaniji Aarjav Pragyaji Samani Swati Pragyaji Dr Anne Chao Dean Kathleen Canning, D C Manjunath Swatantra Jain, Dr Sulekh Jain and Dr Anudeep Jain

in brief

US COURTS BLOCK DEPORTATION OF INDIAN WRONGLY IMPRISONED FOR 43 YEARS

Philadelphia: Two separate courts have ordered immigration officials not to deport an Indian-origin man who spent four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned Subramanyam Vedam 64 is currently detained at a short-term holding centre in Alexandria Louisiana that s equipped with an airstrip for deportations Vedam known as Subu , was transferred there from central Pennsylvania last week relatives said An immigration judge stayed his deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case That could take several months Vedam s lawyers also got a stay the same day in the US District Court in Pennsylvania but said that case may be on hold given the immigration court ruling Vedam came to the US legally from India as an infant and grew up in State College, where his father taught at Penn State He was serving a life sentence in a friend's 1980 death before his conviction was overturned this year He was released from state prison on October 3, only to be taken straight into immigration custody The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport Vedam over his no contest plea to charges of LSD delivery filed when he was about 20 His lawyers argue that the four decades he wrongly spent in prison, where he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates should outweigh the drug case

NOBEL LAUREATE SAYS HIS US VISA HAS BEEN REVOKED

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said that his non-resident visa to enter the US has been rejected, adding that he believes it may be because he recently criticised US President Donald Trump The Nigerian author, 91 won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to do so Speaking to the press Soyinka said he believed it had little to do with him and was instead a product of the US’ immigration policies He said he was told to reapply if he wished to enter again “It’s not about me I’m not really interested in going back to the US ” he said

PROBE INTO TRUMP ADMIN'S PRIVATE MESSAGING

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, alongside House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, has initiated a formal inquiry into the Trump administration s use of private messaging platforms for government business They sent records preservation requests to the CEO of Truth Social and officials at X The move comes after reports that a recent Truth Social post by President Trump, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, may have been intended as a private message – raising questions about the administration’s use of unauthorized apps and personal accounts for official communications

EGYPT UNVEILS MUSEUM ON ANCIENT CIVILISATION

Egypt inaugurated the long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum the world’s largest museum dedicated to an ancient civilization Two decades in the making the museum located near the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx showcases over 50 000 artifacts detailing life in ancient Egypt It will display the entire collection of treasures from the tomb of the famed King Tutankhamun for the first time since its discovery in 1922 President AbdelFattah el-Sissi wrote on social media that the museum will bring “together the genius of ancient Egyptians and the creativity of modern Egyptians enhancing the world culture and art with a new landmark that will attract all those who cherish knowledge ”

Mamdani leads New York mayoral race

New York: Polls suggest that Zohran Mamdani, the 34-yearold Democratic socialist, will easily win New York mayoral race, making him the first Muslim mayor of America’s financial capital and most populous city Mamdani argues that his meteoric rise shows the left has “won the battle over the soul of the Democratic party” as it takes the fight to Donald Trump

Such claims have sharpened an already intense debate within the Democratic party over the path it should take Some say that it should embrace the progressive,

middle ground where US elections are so often fought and won Corbyn supports Mamdani

Jeremy Corbyn urged New York voters to get Mamdani “ over the

phone-bank event for the demo-

city mayor

The intervention by former L

from the Trump administration after Corbyn’s own attack on the president for “unacceptable interference” in the 2019 Tory leadership contest

O

Corbyn’s record on antisemitism and previous condemnation of

foreign interventions in British elections Corbyn was suspended from the Labour Party in 2020 after accusations of antisemitism during his leadership He was formally expelled from the party in 2 0 2 3 A

mayoralty as an independent can-

Jeremy Corbyn, someone whose party was found to have committed unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish people under his leadership, phone-banking for Zohran Mamdani says everything you need to know ” The event with Corbyn was organised by the New York City

Socialists of America, a key mobilising force for Mamdani Corbyn also shared a photo which fea-

London 4 Zohran shirt,

nod to

Arsenal

New Yorkers look to exit

The founder of the Guardian Angels and longtime Republican candidate for mayor of New York, C

the suburban Staten Island will change “I think they will want to

“they”, he means the people of Staten Island, who have voted in the past to secede from the city, even if they were not, ultimately, allowed to leave Did Sliwa really think they would try again? He nodded cheerfully He is not a man prone to understatement

“You remember the movie with Kurt Russell, Escape From New York?” he said “They will make a sequel ” The entire island will go

Indian-origin CEO flees US after massive fraud

WA S HI NGT ON: In a financial scandal that has rocked the US p riv ate cred it market, Ba nki m Br ah m b h att , an I nd i a n- o ri g i n entrep reneur and founder C EO of US-based tel ec o m f i rm s B ro ad b an d T el ec o m a nd Bridg ev oice ( und er th e Bankai Gro up), is accused of orchestrating a m assiv e fraud using p hony accounts and fabricated emails to s ec u re a ss et - bas ed fi na nc i ng f ro m heav yweigh ts like Blackrock subsid iary HPS Inv estment Partners and BNP Paribas

The deception was unravelled when an HPS employee spotted suspicious customer e m a i

mimicking real telecom giants like TMobile and Telstra The ripoff spanned more than five years Probe by accounting and law firms

c o n f i r m

submitted invoices and email addresses were bogus

Very little is known about Brahmbhatt He is reported to have attended school in G a n d h

business career in 1989 with a push-button telephone manufacturing unit in India, later

receivers He was featured in Capacity’s 2023 Power 100 List for his work in the telecom industry Lenders claim Brahmbhatt built “ an elaborate balance sheet of assets that existed only on paper, ” with the Belgian telecom firm BICS, cited in the collateral, d e n y i n g a n y t i e s , a n d l a b e l l i n g i t

“confirmed fraud attempt ” H P S b e

s financing arm in Sept 2020, ramping up to $430 million by Aug 2024, with BNP Paribas covering roughly half the total exposure Confronted in July, Brahmbhatt reportedly d i s m i s s e d c o n c e r n s b e f o r e g o i n g incommunicado Months later, Broadband T e l e c o m , B r i d g e v o i c e , r e l a t e d e n t i t i e s Carriox Capital II and BB Capital SPV, and Brahmbhatt himself filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Aug 12 this year in the US Bankruptcy Court of Eastern District of New York Court documents confirm over $500 million owed, primarily to HPS and BNP Paribas Authorities believe Brahmbhatt may have fled to India

to New Jersey? Beside Sliwa a Republican city council member named Frank Morano, a younger man, interjected “Assemblyman Robert Auth in New Jersey has legislation to do just that,” he said

S

asked if they wanted to leave New York City in a 1993 referendum and 65 per cent were in favour

S

Island politicians have raised the possibility of leaving during argu-

entirely

Republican congresswoman for Staten Island, brought it up last year amid protests in the borough over the opening of migrant shelters New York politicians joke that “they would love to get rid of Staten Island,” she said “Well, this is your opportunity I think Staten Island would like to have an opportunity to self-govern ” As Mamdani seemed set to triumph in a landslide, President Trump threatened to cut federal funding to New York if he wins “If you have a communist running New York, all you ’ re doing is wasting the money you ’ re sending there,” he said In an interview with 60 Minutes, he gave a

n t o f Cuomo “If it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a commun i s t , I ’ m g o n

p i c k t h e b a d Democrat all the time,” he said

Businessman killed as he opposes stranger urinating on his car

E D M O NT O N: A rv i Si ng h S ag o o, 55, an I nd ian-orig in businessman in

onton, C

strang er who was fou nd urinating on his car S ag oo was returning to the car with his g irlfriend after dinner when th ey found th e strang er urinating on the car Sagoo asked the stranger, "Hey, what are you doing?", to which the man responded by saying, "Whatever I want " He then walked up to Sagoo and punched him in the head He fell to the ground after the attack, after w

brother said When the paramedics arrived, Sagoo was already unconscious Although he was taken to the hospital and placed on life support, he died five days later The accused has been identified as Kyle

aggravated assault Vincent Ram, a close friend of Sagoo, launched

fundraiser to support his children and to cover funeral costs and living expenses

Two Indian-Americans among youngest billionaires

W A SH I N G TO N : Thre e 2 2-ye ar- old high s c ho ol

Hiremath, and Surya Mi dha, co-founders of th

platform Mercor, achi eved the staggering feat after their company rec ently secured $350 million in fundi ng, valuing the firm at $10

cofounder Mark Zuckerberg, who became a billionaire at 23 The $10 billion valuation gives each of the three founders, who hold roughly 22% stakes, a net worth exceeding

emigrated from Karnataka, is the CTO; and Midha, whose parents emigrated from New

Delhi, is the board chairman The trio’s journey began at Bellarmine

school in San Jose, where they bonded over late-night preparations for national debate tournaments The skills they honed later

After high school, the friends scattered to elite universities: Foody to Georgetown for economics, Hiremath to Harvard for c

o Georgetown for foreign service, before they were reunited by the start-up siren call of Silicon Valley In early 2023, during their sophomore years, they launched Mercor even while they were apart The initial idea was simple: an online freelance marketplace to bridge the talent gap by connecting skilled software engineers in India - where coders are plentiful - with cash-strapped US startups hungry for remote help However, it quickly pivoted, fuelled by the explosive demand for “human-in-the-loop” services needed to refine foundational AI models like ChatGPT

Zohran Mamdani, centre right, walks across the Brooklyn Bridge with supporters on the final day of campaigning for the New York mayoral race Leading the group is a lady in a saree and bindi, symbolising strong community support for his campaign

From left: Adarsh Hiremath, Brendan Foody and Surya Midha

NORTH-EAST

9 killed in stampede at Andhra temple

HY DE R A BA D : Nine dev otees, including e i g h t w o m en a nd a c h i ld , d i ed i n a stam pede at a newly constructed temple in A nd hra Pradesh s Srikakulam last week At least 17 others were injured in the stam pede that erup ted d uring a heav y rush at the Sri V enkateswara Swamy tem ple in Kasibug ga o n the occasion of Ekadashi, an ausp icio us d ay for Hindus

V i d e o s f r o m t h e t e m p l e s h o w e d

massive overcrowding, with hundreds of women holding puja baskets jostling on a s

themselves Several bodies were later seen strewn across the temple premises

Many rushed to help the injured, while some tried to pull out others gasping for breath in the crowd Some women who had collapsed were shifted to ambulances, and medical workers tried to resuscitate them

The police later rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control

The Kasibugga temple, known as the M

government's endowments department that manages thousands of temples in the state

The temple authorities had not informed the local administration that such a huge rush was expected on Ekadashi, said government

sources Construction work was underway in the area where the stampede occurred It had just one entry-exit point

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered proper treatment for the injured, while his deputy, Pawan Kalyan, assured that

tragedy Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by the stampede deaths and a

200,000 each to the victims' families The injured will be given Rs 50,000

"The government has instructed district authorities to carry out immediate relief operations and will extend full support to

First Sikh jatha crosses into Pakistan for Gurpurb after Operation Sindoor

A M RIT S A R: A fter Operation Sindo or, th e first Sikh Jath a departed for Attari to cross i n to P

n

o f P arkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana Sahib

This year, the Central government has permitted only Indian citizens to be part of the Jatha Earlier, Non-Resident Indians ( N R I s ) w e r e a l s

pilgrimage Confirming the development, Palwinder Singh, in charge of the Yatra Vibhag of the SGPC, said he was unaware of the reasons behind the government’s decision

Over 2,000 members of the Sikh Jatha w o u l d c r o s s

A

o p a y obeisance at historic gurdwaras in Lahore and Nankana Sahib The pilgrims would return to India on November 13 after completing their spiritual journey The j a t h a a l s o i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l f i r s t - t i m e pilgrims who had long wished to visit gurdwara Janamsthan

Earlier, Centre had declined to send

N E W DE LHI : A delegatio n o f top BJP l e ad e rs kn o c k e d o n t h e do o r s o f t h e

E l e c t io n C o m m is s io n in De l h i w it h m u l t ip l e c o nc e r ns o v er a n d reco mmendations for th e SIR o n th e eve o f its roll out app arentl y to mount pres sure on th e ru ling Trinam ool C ongress, wh ic h h as made t he voter s cru tiny p roc ess a major is sue against th e s affron camp

In a five-page letter to chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the BJP alleged that several documents being used as proof of legitimate voter status had been forged in Bengal It asked the EC not to accept documents issued after specific dates and demanded that the EC verify them independently to ensure that voters were genuine Bengal residents and not infiltrators

“ W e

C o m m i s s i o n t h a t i

e g u l a r d o c u m e n t s have been issued in Bengal to regularise

However, the decision was later reversed after appeals from Sikh organisations to allow at least a symbolic Jatha to uphold the long-standing tradition

C

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak

transport 1,796 pilgrims from the Heritage Street near the Golden Temple to Attari The remaining members from other Sikh bodies will directly reach the border point

documents signed by officers who were

Malviya, BJP’s IT cell head and Bengal coincharge Malviya was accompanied by BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya, the

former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb, and senior leader Om Pathak

verification of documents such as birth certificates, residential certificates, caste certificates, and forest rights certificatesall of which would be used for inclusion of names in the post-SIR electoral rolls

rubbished the BJP’s allegations, claiming that the saffron party had floated a "false narrative" after realising that their plan behind the SIR had backfired in Bengal

inquiry will be conducted into this tragic incident, which took place at a temple managed by private authorities," Naidu aid in a statement

witness

heavy rush during

Hindu calendar, he urged the

"Adequate safety and security arrangements

deployment and medical camps should be organized to ensure devotees' safety," his statement read Union Home Minister Amit Shah, too,

recovery to the injured "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at the Kashibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple in S

condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives Praying that the injured may recover at the earliest," he said

Harjinder Dhami elected SGPC president for 5th term

A M RIT S A R: A dv ocate Harjinder S ing h Dhami was re-elected as the president of th e S hirom ani Gurdwara Parbandhak C omm ittee (SGPC ) for th e f i fth c o ns ec u ti v e t erm fo r th e 2 0 2 5- 26 session

In the election held on Monday, a total of 136 votes were polled, out of which Dhami secured 117 votes, while his opponent, Mithu Singh K a h n

s declared invalid

Along with Dhami’s re-election, other key office-bearers were also chosen Raghujit Singh Virk was elected as the senior vice president, Baldev Singh Kalyan as the junior vice president, a n d S h e r S i n g h M a n d w a l a

secretary

The SGPC also announced the names of interim committee members, which include Surjit Singh Garhi, Surjit Singh Tugalwala, Surjit Singh Kang, Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Diljeet Singh Bhindar, Harjinder Kaur, Baldev Singh Kaimpuri, Major Singh Dhillon, Mangwinder Singh Khaparkhedi, Jungbahadur Singh Rai, and Mithu Singh Kahneke

Kolkata chokes as Mamata, Abhishek lead massive Trinamool rally

KO LK ATA: A Tr inam ool r ally ag ainst the sp ecial intensiv e revisio n (SIR) p ro cess, led by ch ief m i ni st e r M am a t a B a ne r je e wi t h Tr i na m o o l g ener al secretar y and p art y l eader in the Lo k Sabha Abhishek Banerjee, fr om the statue o f BR A m be dk ar o n R ed R o a d t o t h e J o r a sa nk o Thaku rbar i ch oked the ent ire f iv e km stretch and al so spil led o v er to t he adjo ining p art s cent ral and no rth Cal cutta

and historic” plan to form a “United Singular Political Entity” - an initiative aimed at giving the region a unified and stronger voice in national politics Outlined in a joint statement

jointly signed by Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad K Sangma, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Bikram

Mmhonlumo Kikon, and People’s Party A

leaders asserted that the people of the North East “deserve to be heard, respected, and represented through a strong, unified,

national level ”Marking this as the “first step” of a larger journey, they announced the formation of a committee to deliberate on the modalities, structure, and future roadmap of the proposed entity

CENTRE CLEARS TWO NEW FLIGHTS FOR MANIPUR

Air travellers from Manipur are set to get some long-awaited relief as the Centre has approved two new flight services - one each on the Imphal–Guwahati and Imphal–Kolkata routes - to address limited connectivity and skyrocketing fares Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh shared the development on X, noting that the decision followed discussions between MLA Susindro and the Secretary of Civil Aviation in Delhi Officials from the Ministry confirmed that steps are being taken to introduce the new flights at the earliest Singh added that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is also working to cap airfares at around Rs 7,000, a move expected to ease the financial burden on passengers affected by steep ticket prices He described the decision as a reflection of the central leadership s commitment to addressing the genuine concerns of the people of Manipur “in a timely and positive manner ” Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, urging swift intervention to restore and enhance flight operations to and from Imphal

ZUBEEN’S DEATH A MURDER CASE, SAYS ASSAM CM

Vehicles were stranded along SN Banerjee R o a d , Q u e e n s ’ A v e n u e , J a n

A v e n u e , C R A

z a r , C e n t r a

n u e , A J C B o s e R o a d , Mallickbazar, and till Shyambazar in the north Trinamool supporters riding motorbikes made their way through the lanes around Central avenue leading pedestrian movement difficult The ruling Trinamool Congress has dubbed the exercise “silent invisible rigging” by the BJPl e d C e n t r e a n d t h e E l e c t i o n C

Thousands of TMC supporters thronged the rally route, waving the party flags, raising slogans and holding aloft colourful posters

Dressed in her trademark white cotton saree

occasionally stopping to greet people standing on balconies and pavements

Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore on Sept 19 has been officially treated as a murder case from day one Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said setting Dec 8 as the deadline for the special investigation team (SIT) to file its chargesheet with clearance from MHA Today, I am not calling it an accident, Sarma said As the state s home minister, I get to know what I need to know Whatever I say, I do so with conviction On whether that meant investigators had found evidence that Zubeen didn’t die in a swimming accident, the CM said, “This is not a new revelation from me Everyone currently in judicial custody has been charged with murder ” Sarma said he briefed home minister Amit Shah on the progress of the probe during his visit to Delhi and requested speedy clearance from MHA for the chargesheet to be filed The SIT, headed by CID’s special DGP MP Gupta, will write to MHA with details within 2-3 days “Since the incident occurred on foreign soil we need prior approval from the ministry before filing the chargesheet ” he said

I

225,000 Indians acquire OECD nationality in 2023

In dians top the list when it comes t o a cq u ir i n g

a dva nced economies, according to

( OECD)

The report shows that in 2023,

OECD member country, the highest among all countries of origin and a new record for India In 2023, about 2 8 million people acquired the nationality of an OECD country, a marginal hike from the earlier year ’ s figure of 2 77 million

n d i a , w a s Philippines as 132,000 of its nation-

92,400 Chinese M

acquired Canadian citizenship – it

was up from 59,405 in 2022 to 78,487 in 2023 A sharp rise from b a r e l y 1

report attributes this to policy stability, faster processing of perma-

15,666 young BAPS devotees master all 315 Sanskrit scripture

of

S wa m i n a ra y an S a ns t ha , aged between 3 and 13, have s ucc es sfully memorised all 315 Sans kri t verses of the 'Satsang D iksha' scripture

T he a c hi e v e me n t, w hi c h s urpas sed the i nitial goal of 10,000 children, powerfully r e s to re s th e a nc i e n t Sanatan Vedi c tradition of M u k hpa t h ( c o mp le t e memorisation) in a gadgetdominated modern age

T h e i n i t i a t i v e w a s launched by BAPS spiritual leader Param Pujya Mahant

S w a m i M a h a r a j d u r i n g Diwali 2024 The scripture

i t s e l f , a u t h o r e d b y t h e

s p i r i t u a l l e a d e r , i s a Sanskrit-Gujarati text that encapsulates the spiritual a n d e t h i c a l e s s e n c e o f Hindu Dharma, promoting v a l u e s s u c h a s v i r t u o u s

c o n d u c t , h o n e s t y , devotion, and respect for all faiths

A world record for memori sati on

The magnitude of the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t w a s

u n d e r s c o r e d b y t h e V i c e -

C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e I n d i a n Central Sanskrit University, w h o s u g g e s t e d t h e f e a t likely sets a world record for over 15,000 children of this age group memorising an entire Sanskrit scripture in

j u s t o n e y e a r T h e conclusion of the intensive

c a m p a i g n w a s m a r k e d b y

t h e ' S a t s a n g D i k s h a Homatmak Yagna' held at

t h e B A P S S w a m i n a r a y a n Mandir in Ahmedabad on

O c t o b e r 2 8 t

a p p r o

m

t e l y 1 , 5 0 0 children participated in the traditional Vedic ritual

The success is attributed

dedicated BAPS volunteers

Parents have reported that the memorisation effort led to significant improvements in their children’s memory

p

c i t y A grand felicitation ceremony, 'Mission Rajipo Abhivadan

M a h o t s a v ' , w a s h e l d t o honour the young scholars

Choksi challenges his extradition order in Belgium SC

F ugitive diamantaire Mehu l

C h o k s i h as c h a ll en ge d before th e Su preme Court

o f Belgiu m th e October 17

o rder o f th e Antwerp Court

o f A p p e al s , wh i c h h a d termed India's request seeki ng h is extraditio n “enforceable” , officials said In response to queries, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Antwerp said Choksi filed an appeal in the Court of Cassation on October 30 “This appeal is strictly limited to legal merits and will be judged by the Court of Cassation During this procedure, the execution of the extradition is s u s p e n d e d , ” K e n W i t p a s s a i d T h e C o u r t o f Cassation is the Supreme Court of Belgium

On October 17, a fourmember indictment chamber at the Court of Appeals

in Antwerp found no infirmity in the orders issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024, terming the arrest w

n May 2018 and June 2021 as “ e n

n g Choksi's extradition

The Court of Appeals ruled that fugitive Choksi, the main accused in a £1 3bn PNB scam, faces “ no risk” of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India

O f t h e £ 1 3 b n s c a m , Choksi alone has siphoned off £640mn, the CBI has alleged in its chargesheet Choksi, who escaped to A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a i n January 2018, days before the scam was detected, was spotted in Belgium, where he had purportedly reached

nent residency transitions, and the maturing cohort of Indian professionals who migrated during the past decade However, according to immigration experts, the statistics for 2024 may show a different picture, given the rising inflation and h

the strained relationship that has lately emerged between the two countries

India’s strong showing is not limited to Canada In 2023, nearly 52,360 Indians became American citizens (but this is a drop from 66,670 in 2022), and 40,361 Indians opted for citizenship in Australia, the earlier year ’ s figure was 30,160

across three countries – it constitutes 76% of all Indian naturalisations during 2023

Naturalisation, or citizenship acquisition, is both an indicator of long-term settlement and a catalyst for better integration outcomes W

migration, it also points to wide disparities in access Citizenship pathways vary considerably - from relatively short residence requirements in countries like Canada (3 years) and Australia (4 years) to stricter language, income, and integration tests in much of Europe Indians also continued to be on the move – be it as workers or students

3 women trekkers rescued after being stranded in Nepalese valley

T w o B ri ti s h n ati o na ls ,

C atherine Jane Wilson and E m i ly J ane C o at es o f

L on do n, alo ng w ith M ary

R eap e o f I rel an d , w er e re sc u ed af ter th ey w er e strand ed at a rem ote valley in Nepal for three days

The women were part of a g r o u p l e d b y t h e Kathmandu-based trekking a g e n c y S a c r e d H i m a l a y a

T r e k s a n d E x p e d i t i o n ,

T w e l v e g u i d e s w e r e reportedly with them when they were stranded O f f i c i a l s s a i d t h a t t h e group had been trapped in a n a r e a a b o v e M a r p h a

V a l l e y , a l s o k n o w n a s Hidden Valley, an isolated high-altitude basin beneath T u k u c h e P e a k i n t h e D h a u l a g i r i r a n g e I t i s a remote area that is popular among adventure trekkers, b u t n o t o r i o u s f o r i t s unpredictable weather and c h a l l e n

sought permission for

for seeking treatment

India sent an extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on

Mumbai

The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance

2024, seeking the enforce-

issued by the Mumbai court

Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, declared that the

enforceable, except for the order related to “causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime”

17 children rescued after hostage taker shot dead

A tense hostag e d rama at a Mumbai recording studio ended trag ically w hen police commandos stormed the prem ises and fatally shot the cap tor, a 45-year-old d ocumentary film maker from Pune The ordeal, lasting two hou rs in the Po wai neighbourhood , saw 17 children ag ed 12-1 5, a 75-year-old w oman, and a staffer held against th eir will after being invited for web series aud itions

The captor, identified as Rohit Aarrya, had moved to a relative's flat in Chembur recently Before the crisis, he released a chilling video to the media stating he was not a t e r r o r i s t b u t s o u g h t s i m p l e a n s w e r s t o unspecified questions, threatening to set the place alight if he was challenged In the clip, he starkly stated his motive for the act, Instead of dying by suicide, I have held some children hostage "

Police spent nearly two hours attempting to negotiate and understand Aarrya's demands, which remained largely vague,

even when a parent pleaded for the release of their daughter who suffered from seizures Police Commissioner Deven Bharti confirmed the dramatic end to the crisis, asserting that Aarrya fired first at police with an air gun, prompting the commando team to respond in self-defence by shooting him in the chest Following the death, legal experts called for a magisterial inquiry, as required by law, to verify the police's claim of retaliatory firing It later emerged that Aarrya had previously staged a hunger strike in 2024 against former school education minister Deepak Kesarkar over alleged £200,000 dues for a state-sanctioned cleanliness project The minister, while maintaining the official department's view that Aarrya had received s

The city crime branch has taken over the investigation

ED attaches £750mn worth assets linked to Reliance Anil Ambani Group

as attach ed as sets worth abou

£750mn all egedly linked to the Rel iance Anil Ambani Group in c o n ne c t io n w i th in v es t ig a ti o ns u n de r t h e P reventio n of Mo ney Laundering Act (PMLA), th e agenc y said

The assets include more than 132 acres of land of the Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, worth over £446 2mn in the Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) “bank fraud” case The ED is conducting the probe based on an FIR registered by the CBI against RCOM, Anil Ambani, and others

“RCOM and its group companies availed loans from domestic and foreign lenders from the period of 2010-2012 onwards, of which

total amount of £4 01bn is outstanding Five

banks have declared the loan accounts of the Group as fraud,” the agency said It had earlier provisionally attached over 42 properties of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group worth over £308 3mn in alleged

Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL), the ED said W

Infrastructure Limited, five of Adhar Property Consultancy Private Limited, four properties of Mohanbir Hi-tech Build Private Limited,

Vihaan43 Realty Private

(earlier known as Kunjbihari Developers Private Limited) and Campion Properties Limited

India and US sign 10-year defence framework to cement ties

India and the U S inked an

e xp a ns i v e n ew d efe nc e

f ra m ew o r k t o s tre ng t h en

th ei r strateg ic p artnersh ip o ver the next 10 years Th is com es amid indications that a trade deal is also in the w orks to douse th e rag ing tariff tensions between the two countries

The ‘Framework for the U S - I n d i a M a

Partnership’, inked during a m

minister Rajnath Singh and

sidelines of the Asean meet in Kuala Lumpur, supplants and builds on the one inked in June 2015

T h e 2 0 2 5

o r k aims to further transform the defence partnership by providing “ a unified vision a n d p o l

domains, including defence-

across land, air, sea, space and cyberspace, as well as maritime domain awareness, over the next 10 years

Officials said the intent

s t o

partnership in line with

emerging security challenges and priorities in the region,

safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific”

two decades has been the cornerstone of the overall

Pete Hegseth and Rajnath Singh

imposed 50% tariffs on New Delhi earlier this year and

between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade deals

The upward trajectory of the defence ties, however, was evident at the Singh-

framework will usher in

India to be 'lighthouse' for global maritime: PM Modi

W e ’ r e e n h a n c i n g o u r coordination, informations h a r i n g a n d t e c h c o o p e r a t i o n O u r d e f e n c e t i e s h a v e n e v e r b e e n stronger ” India, of course, remains c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e s i g n a l l i n g b y t h e T r u m p administration that its IndoPacific strategy to counter an aggressive China is no longer a top priority, even as d

to working closely with India to ensure the same T

eyeing more lucrative Indian defence deals, having bagged

i

M ari ti m e Wee k 2 0 2 5 i n M umbai, the PM showcased the dramatic growth in the n at io n 's s ea tra d e

c ap abi l it ie s o v er th e p as t d ecade

Modi highlighted several k e y p e r f o r m a n c e m e t r i c s demonstrating the sector's

e x p o n e n t i a l p r o g r e s s : t h e country's port surplus has risen nine-fold, and cargo

m o v e m e n t o n i n l a n d w a t e r w a y s h a s s u r g e d b y

7 0 0 % F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e

The government's push, e n c a p s u l a t e d i n t h e Maritime India Vision, has included significant policy reforms, such as enabling 100% FDI and treating large s h i p s a s i n f r a s

attract lower interest rates T

P M c i t e d t h

o p e r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n o f Vizhinjam Port, India's first d e e p - w a

trans-shipment hub, and the launch of a megawatt-scale indigenous green hydrogen

also stressed India's growing

number of Indian seafarers

w o r l d ' s t h i r d - l a r g e s t supplier He predicted that by 2030, one in every five seafarers worldwide will be Indian

n u m b e r o f o p e r a t i o n a l w a t e r w a y s h a s e x p a n d e d from three to 32 Efficiency has also seen a major boost, with vessel turnaround time halved from 96 to 48 hours, a n d c o n t a i n e r d w e l l t i m e n o w " b e

legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji

millions were signed at the

maritime future

Ramesh, sole survivor of Air India crash, still passing through trauma

Viswashkumar Ramesh, the B ritish cit izen an d t he on ly

s ur v i v or of t h e A i r I n d ia

F l ig ht 171 cr as h, sai d t ha t t rauma has b roken down his l ife The 40-y ear-old was the s ol e p e r son t o w a l k

wa y f r om t h e B o e in g 7 8 7 D r e a ml i n e r w r e ck a g e in Ahmedab ad, Gujara t, on 12 June, which kill ed 241 people onb oa rd Seat ed in t he fab led

s e a t 1 1 a , he ma n a g e d t o climb out of an emergency door, but tragicall y lost his y ounge r b rother, Aja ykumar, who was seat ed in a differ ent r ow Months later, Ramesh is

h o u s e b o u n d i n L e i c e s t e r , dealing with chronic knee, s h o u l d e r , a n d b a c k p a i n , alongside burns to his left

a r m H e s t r u g g l e s t o communicate with his foury e a r - o l d s o n , D i v a n g , a n d confesses he does nothing but think about his deceased brother His fishing business

Viswashkumar Ramesh

with Ajaykumar has ceased, leaving his extended family without income and facing an existential threat

His representatives state that a £21,500 flat interim p a y m e n t f r o m A i r I n d i a doesn't even touch the sides of his needs, reducing him to a number on a spreadsheet

m o r e t h a n j u s t c a s h , demanding that Air India's c h i e f e x e c u

Wilson, meet with Ramesh and other victim families to talk as humans and address the catastrophic effect the t r a g e d y h a s h a d o n t h e i r

lives A n A i r I n

spokesperson said: "We are

period Care for him

and indeed all families affected by the tragedy - remains our absolute priority

across Tata Group continue to visit families to express their deepest condolences An offer has been made to Ramesh's representatives to arrange such a meeting, we will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response W

s continues to be an incredibly difficult time for all affected and continue to offer the

strong defence partnership It is

signal of our growing

will herald

decade of

remain the major pillar of

Singh said

Hegseth, in turn, said,

our defence partnership, a

h e U SChina trade war took place on Thursday

Both Singh and Hegseth, h o w e v e r ,

commitment to

free, open a

Pacific at the meeting While S i n g h

partnership was “critical” to ensure the region remains free from coercion, Hegseth said the US was committed

Indian nurses save life of flyer en route to UAE

Two Indian nurse s, travel ling to Abu Dhabi to begin new c are ers in t he UAE, f oun d t he m s e l v es in a r e a l - l if e

m edic al em ergency when a f ellow pa sse nger suff ered a

c a r d ia

c a r r e s t m id -f l ig ht

Abhijith Jees , 26, and Ajees h Nels on, 2 9, bot h from K erala, were ab oar d a n Air Arabia f light from Kochi when the dram a unfolded Jees, who was already on h i g h a l e r t a f t e r h e a r i n g a f a i n t g a s p , d i s c o v e r e d a n

u n r e s p o n s i v e 3 4 - y e a r - o l d

man from Thrissur with no p u l s e , c o n f i r m i n g h e w a s

i n c a r d i a c a r r e s t

W i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , h e

i n i t i a t e d c a r d i o p u l m o n a r y

r e s u s c i t a t i o n ( C P R ) a n d

r a i s e d t h e a l a r m N e l s o n quickly joined him, and the two worked in perfect coordination to perform two i n t e n s e r o u n d s o f C P R "There was no panic," said Ajeesh "We just focused on what had to be done "

The passenger eventually regained a pulse and began breathing again A doctor on board, Dr Arif Abdul Khadir, t h e n s t e p p e d i n t o h e l p s t a b i l i s e t h e m a n w i t h I V fluids until the plane landed safely in Abu Dhabi The two nurses, who were travelling t o s t a r t n e w r o l e s w i t h Response Plus Medical, the U A E ’ s l a r g e s t e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r , d e s c

d t h e e v e n

surreal welcome to their new country "To be able to save a life before even starting our new jobs felt like the best w e l c o m e w e c o u l d h a v e received," said Nelson Dr Mohamed Ali, Medical D i r e c t o r o f R P M P r o j e c t s , praised the nurses' actions, highlighting the critical role o f p r o m p t C P R i n c a r d i a c e m e

passenger was reported to be in stable condition, and his f a m i l y e x p r e s s e d p r o f o u n d gratitude, saying the nurses gave their loved one "another chance at life " For Jees and Nelson, the unexpected mida i r o r d e a l s o l i d i f i e d t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e i r profession

With ‘Bahubali’ rocket, India puts heaviest satellite into orbit

te b y su cc essfu lly p lacing th e C M S -0 3 com municatio n satellite into orbit

The satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, flew onboard a new-generation, h o m e g r o w n L V M 3 - M 5 ' B a h u b a l i ' rocket, enabling the Indian space agency to achieve the rare feat According to ISRO, CMS-03 is a m u l t i - b a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n satellite and would provide services o v e r a w i d e o c e a n i c r e g i o n , including the Indian landmass

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the l a u n c h v e h i c l e s u c c e s s f u l l y i n j e c t

satellite into the required orbit He recalled that the rocket's previous launch was the " m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s C h a n d r a y a a n 3 , w h i c h brought pride to the nation " He also added that the rocket achieved "yet another pride" on Sunday after succeeding with the "heavier satellite "

Dubbed as ‘Bahubali' for its heavy launch capabilities, the LVM3-M5 is a three-stage launch vehicle with two solid motor strapons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25) All eight LVM 3 launches, including its experimental mission, have been successful, achieving a 100% success rate

PM Narendra Modi lauded ISRO in an X post, saying “ our space sector continues to m

scientists, it is commendable how our space

and

empowered countless lives,” he said

The satellite is a replacement for the GSAT 7 series, launched

Narendra Modi

India's unstoppable unicorn startup rise

India’s start-up ecosystem, now globally recognised as the third largest, is entering a transformative new phase This sentiment, highlighted by the Nawgati cofounder, underscores a profound shift: entrepreneurship is no longer the exclusive domain of the highly experienced or well-funded professional

Instead, a new, younger generation is identifying market gaps and building disruptive businesses

d

halls and high school workshops

The focus has moved from established, top-down innovation to a grass-roots, bottom-up revolution

t

country's economic future

From early innovators to classroom-led disruption

The journey of the Indian unicorn is a relatively recent but dramatic one The initial marker of this ascent was the mobile advertising platform, InMobi, which achieved unicorn status in 2011 This signalled India’s arrival on the global tech map, with early successes often stemming from second-generation entrepreneurs or experienced tech professionals These companies laid the groundwork, proving that large, scalable tech businesses could be

built out of India

However, the present narrative is entirely different The current boom is characterised by ventures emerging from far more basic, and often younger, beginnings The rise of companies like the quick commerce platform Zepto, whose cofounder was just 19 when the firm was valued over a billion dollars, or

Entrepreneurship is now a mainstream, viable career path, fueled by

increasing integration of innovation skills into India's formal education system Ideas that would once have been dismissed as academic concepts are now becoming com-

mercial realities at an unprecedented pace, validating the shift from the traditional corporate 'boardroom' to the energetic 'classroom' a

entrepreneurial launchpad

The digital pillars architecting India's Billion-Dollar future

The spectacular growth trajectory is underpinned by strategic

CEO and Founder of Winvesta He believes this remarkable expansion is down to three foundational pillars that make up the "India Stack," a digital public infrastructure that has made innovation cheaper and easier than ever before F

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) This system has profoundly revolu-

tionised digital transactions, offering seamless, instantaneous, and cost-effective money transfers By effectively dismantling the largest friction point in digital commerce, UPI allows start-ups to build highly scalable business models that can easily integrate small vendors and consumers in even the most remote Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities The second

Aadhaar system, which provides a robust digital identity framework This has been critically important for industries like fintech, transforming how businesses verify and onboard customers The ease of digital KYC has slashed operational

acquisition while maintaining secu-

Finally, India's achievement of having the world's lowest mobile data rates has been a monumental gamechanger By bringing hundreds of m

affordable internet access, it has unlocked an unprecedented market opportunity Start-ups are now able to reach customers across the entire country, enabling the creation of truly mass-market digital solutions This dynamic ecosystem is a powerhouse for employment and economic growth Start-ups are not only generating hundreds of thou-

sands of high-quality jobs directly but are also creating a powerful multiplier effect across supporting

Fintech, E-commerce, Edtech, and Healthtech Crucially, platforms in food delivery, logistics, and rides h a r

expanded the gig economy, creating flexible earning opportunities for millions who might otherwise be underemployed

focus on bringing technology penetration to traditionally underserved sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and traditional retail Additionally, sunrise

vehicles, and semiconductor production benefit from

strategic growth vectors Most

(AI) is expected to fundamentally reshape every industry The convergence of India's robust technical

implementation costs positions the nation to become a global exporter of innovation, further elevating its economic standing on the world stage PM

Modi and Japan PM Takaichi

to elevate strategic ties

direction The emphasis on

8 killed as passenger train rams goods train in Bilaspur

A t least eigh t people were killed and several others injured after a local train collid ed with a stationary go ods train near Bilaspur s tat i o n i n C h h a tti s

leading to the d erailment of m ultiple coach

es and su sp ension of rail traffic on the route

Officials said the preliminary investigation indicates that the MEMU local train overshot a signal and crashed into the rear of the goods train The impact was severe, damaging overhead wires and the signalling system

i c h i a s s u m e d office as Japan's first female premier According to a post

b y P M M o d i o n X , t h e

d i s c u s s i o n w a s w a r m a n d f o r w a r d - l o o k i n g , f o c u s i n g o n k e y a r e a s i n c l u d i n g economic security, defence

c o o p e r a t i o n , a n d t a l e n t mobility

A core component of the

c o n v e r s a t i o n w a s

c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e I n d oP a c i f i c r e g i o n T a k a i c h i

two nations' shared vision for a free and open IndoPacific Both sides view their partnership as essential for m a i n t a i n i n g a

geopolitical uncertainties

T h e c o m m i t m

follows a prior agreement, the 'Japan-India Joint Vision f o r t h e N e x

partnership, while the focus

resilient supply chains and

technologies The dialogue

continue under Japan's new leadership

US halts sanctions on Chabahar port till April

The Un it ed State s ha s provided a tempor ary r eprieve for In dia ’ s crucia l Chabahar port proje ct in Ira n by ex tending the ex isting sanctions waiver for another six months, pushing the dea dline t o n e x t A pr il Th

D elhi's ke y tran sit route from Washington’s b road sa nct ions against Te hr an

The US State Department had previously p

exception, which was specifically granted for the port that India has been developing to secure vital trade access to Afghanistan and C

revocation was scheduled to take effect in

strategic importance for India has grown, particularly as its ties with the Taliban regime

facilitate land trade via the port India signed a trilateral agreement with Iran and Afghanistan back in 2016 to establish

corridor, and has committed a line of credit of $250 million (in rupee equivalent) for its development Once the new waiver expires in April, however, entities operating the port u n

Proliferation Act could face US sanctions, p

extension buys India critical time to continue its work on the project, which is essential for its regional connectivity goals

Railway rescue teams, along with RPF personnel and local police, rushed to the spot to begin relief and evacuation efforts

Emergency medical teams are treating the i n

reached the site to supervise operations

Bihari Jaiswal said, “Five people are seriously injured; three are stable, while two remain critical Some passengers are still trapped inside the train, and efforts are on to rescue them using cutting equipment ”

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo

Collector and instructed immediate relief and assistance The state government stands firmly with the affected families ” T h e

s announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10,00,000 for the next of kin of those killed, Rs 500,000 for the seriously injured, and Rs 100,000 for passengers with minor injuries A detailed probe into the incident will be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to determine the exact cause and suggest corrective measures

Mysterious idol discovered in Nakhatrana

Th e discov ery o f a mysteriou s id ol fou nd al o ng th e Bh a d li – T h a rav ad a ro a d i n Nakhatrana taluka of Guj arat has beco me the talk of the region T he idol was discovered by local teach er and nature enth usiast Jagdish Vag hela while exploring a forest area

The four-armed idol, holding a Shivling and a Kamandal, appears at first glance to represent a goddess or a Sati Its divine symbols are remarkable, one hand holds an upward-facing Shivling, another carries a Kamandal, while the remaining two hands hold objects that are not yet clearly identifiable, prompting further research

Based on the craftsmanship, stone type and carving style, experts estimate the idol to be several centuries old Historians and archaeologists suggest that it could possibly be a depiction of Goddess Parvati

At present, the ancient idol has been placed in a secure location Vaghela has urged that archaeologists, historians and

Narendra Modi and Sanae Takaichi

Walking can significantly lower heart risk in older women

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 19 8 million deaths in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Older women, particularly those over 55, face an increased risk as they enter menopause.

Lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, and staying physically active, are proven ways to reduce cardiovascular risk One simple method is walking Previous research suggests that reaching 7,000 steps a day can lower heart disease risk, while even 3,000 steps a day may reduce major cardiovascular events by 17%

A

Medicine highlights that older women don’t need to walk every day to see benefits Researchers tracked over 13,000 women, averaging 72 years old, using accelerometers for seven days Over the next 10 years, participants were monitored for heart disease and mortality

Results showed that women who reached 4,000 steps on just one or two days per week reduced their cardiovascular risk by 27% and mortality risk by 26% compared to those who never hit 4,000 steps Those achieving 4,000 steps three or more days weekly saw mortality risk drop by 40% The study suggests that total step volume matters more than daily consistency, offering a flexible approach to heart-healthy activity for older adults

Antidepressants differ widely in physical side effects

Someantidepressants can cause patients to gain up to 2kg (4 5lbs) in just the first two months of treatment, while others may lead to equivalent or greater weight loss, according to a major review led by King’s College London and the University of Oxford.

The study analysed 151 clinical trials involving 30 commonly prescribed antidepressants and more than 58,000 patients, comparing effects on weight, heart rate, and blood pressure Results revealed notable differences: for example, agomelatine was associated with an average 2 5kg weight loss, whereas maprotiline led to around 2kg weight gain

Heart rate varied by up to 21 beats per minute between fluvoxamine and nortriptyline, and blood pressure differences reached 11 mmHg between nortriptyline and doxepin Dr Toby Pillinger of KCL said, “While many people benefit from antidepressants, they are not identical Some can lead to meaningful changes in weight, heart rate, and blood pressure in a short period SSRIs generally have fewer physical side effects, but other drugs may require closer monitoring ”

Prof Andrea Cipriani of Oxford emphasised the importance of shared decision-making, saying patients and clinicians should collaborate to choose treatments that align with individual preferences, goals, and health profiles

The researchers are calling for updated treatment guidelines to reflect these differences, helping ensure antidepressants are tailored safely and effectively to each patient

Gut instincts matter

Your gut bacteria follow a circadian rhythm, meaning their activity rises and falls in a predictable 24-hour cycle, much like our own sleep-wake patterns These microbial fluctuations influence digestion, nutrient absorption, and even hormone production Disruptions to this rhythm, caused by late-night eating irregular meal times, shift work, or poor sleep, can upset the balance of gut bacteria, potentially leading to digestive issues weight gain, or metabolic problems Maintaining regular sleep and meal schedules helps keep your gut microbiome in sync

Menopause to be included in routine NHS health checks

Millions of women across England will benefit from menopause being included in routine NHS health checks for the first time, a landmark step forward in women’s healthcare

address one of society’s most overlooked health challenges, ensuring

menopausal or menopausal symptoms receive accurate information and support By raising awareness earlier, more women will recognise the signs and seek help sooner

Dedicated menopause questions will be added to NHS Health Checks, free assessments offered to eligible adults aged 40-74 every five years,

women

For too long, women ’ s experiences of menopause have been min-

symptoms often mistaken for other conditions or attributed to stress or lifestyle The announcement brings menopause into mainstream healthcare conversations, delivering on the

build an NHS fit for the future

Commenting on this, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, "Women have been suffering in silence for far too long, with little encouragement to speak up about their symptoms Too often, they navigate menopause alone because an

recognise its impact

“No one should have to grit their teeth through debilitating symptoms or be told it’s just part of life This government is overhauling women ’ s healthcare and giving those experiencing menopause the visibility and support they have long been asking for "

NHS Health Checks are designed to identify risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia By including

awareness, build confidence in seeking help, and direct women to relevant services, information, and treatment options

Menopause affects every woman

symptoms can start earlier during perimenopause Around three-quarters of women experience symptoms, from physical changes like hot flushes, joint pain, and weight gain to cognitive effects such as memory issues and brain fog, which can last an aver-

age of seven years and significantly impact daily life Yet fewer than one in ten women feel they have sufficient information to manage it

This move marks a crucial shift in

clinicians to proactively address concerns that often go unrecognised and ensuring women feel heard and supported during what can be a challenging transition Questions for the health checks will be developed in consultation with health experts over the coming months

Four ways to get through menopause

1 Adopt a healthy lifestyle

• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and calciumrich foods like milk, yoghurt, and kale Take vitamin D supplements, especially in winter

• Limit processed foods, refined sugars, and excess caffeine

• Stay active with gentle exercise like walking or jogging Exercise reduces symptoms, improves sleep, boosts energy, lowers anxiety, and enhances mental clarity Free tools like the Couch to 5k app can make it fun

2 Ease hot flushes & try CBT

• Wear light, natural-fibre clothing, take cool showers, and use lighter bedding and fans at night

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help manage hot flushes by modifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, improving sleep, and reducing stress NHS talking therapy is available without a GP referral

3. Seek professional support

• Speak to your GP or medical professional if symptoms affect daily life

• NHS Health Checks now include menopause questions to encourage these conversations These free assessments for adults aged 40–74 also screen for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia

• Online GP appointments make it easy to ask questions or describe symptoms at your convenience

4. Talk to your employer

• Menopause symptoms shouldn’t force you out of work Discuss workplace adjustments with your employer and get GP support for any necessary documentation

Magnesium: The mighty mineral stepping into the spotlight

In the fast-moving world of supplements, magnesium is finally having its moment The global magnesium market is already worth nearly £3 billion and it’s projected to almost double over the next decade.

Though it makes up less than 1% of our bodies, magnesium plays a starring role in over 300 biochemical reactions, from regulating muscle and nerve function to supporting energy production and mood It helps balance blood sugar, regulate blood pressure, and move calcium and potassium in and out of cells, keeping our heartbeat steady

So, should we all just pop a magnesium pill and call it a day? It’s not that simple Supplements are most effective when there’s an actual deficiency but detecting one is tricky, since most magnesium is stored in bones and tissues

Research suggests magnesium can improve sleep quality, particularly deep and REM stages, promoting restoration and mental clarity Some participants report longer, more restful sleep and increased alertness the next day, though results vary

Safety matters, too Adults should aim for 320–420 mg

absorbed than magnesium oxide

Ultimately, magnesium isn’t a miracle cure but for those lacking it, this humble mineral can quietly boost sleep, muscle function, and overall wellbeing, especially when used thoughtfully under professional guidance

The hidden health costs of changing the clocks

As the nights draw in and we prepare to turn the clocks back, the promise of an extra hour in bed is tempting But research shows that even small shifts in time can impact our health

W

back in autumn may slightly increase depressive episodes, spring’s clock change, when we lose an hour, has been l

e a r t attacks, strokes, mood disorders, and even fatal car accid e n t s A m e

l y s i s found heart attacks increase b y a r o u n d 4 % , a n d r o a d fatalities in the US jump 6% after clocks move forward

The culprit is disruption to our circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock regul a t e d b y s u n l i g h t S u d d e n changes interfere with melatonin production at night and cortisol release in the morning, making it harder to fall asleep and wake natu-

rally

There are ways to reduce the impact Gradually shifti n g b e d

n d w a k e

u p time by 15–20 minutes in the w e e k l e a d i n g u p t o t h e change can help Prioritising sleep hygiene: keeping bedrooms dark and cool, limiting screens before bed, and sticking to a routine; supp o r t s c i r c a d i a n a l i g n m e n t Morning exposure to natural light and light evening activity instead of bright artificial lights can also help the body adjust While daylight saving was designed to maximise d a y l i g h t , a w a r e n e s s a n d preparation can help us reap its benefits without compromising health

Farah Khan recalls IVF struggle during ‘Om Shanti Om’, praises husband Shirish Kunder’s support

In a heartfelt revelation, Bollywood filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan opened up about her journey to motherhood through IVF

In a podcast with Sania Mirza on Serving It Up With Sania, Farah recalled how she was one of the first celebrities to talk openly about IVF, despite it being considered taboo at the time She also spoke about the emotional highs and lows of her treatment and her husband Shirish Kunder’s unwavering support throughout the process

Farah Khan recalled how IVF was once considered taboo, saying she was a m o n g t h e f i r s t c e l e b r i t i e s t o s p e a k openly about it Since giving birth to her triplets, she has encouraged others to consider IVF and egg freezing Sharing h e r e x p e r i e n c e , F a r a h s a i d c a r r y i n g triplets came with severe nausea, rashes, sleepless nights, and daily injections

“When it didn’t work the first two times, I cried for days,” she said, adding that S h a h R u k h K h a n ’ s s h o o t i n g b r e a k during ‘Om Shanti Om’ gave her the time she needed to focus on treatment

At 42, with only four eggs left, she remained determined and hopeful

Farah Khan also spoke about her husband Shirish Kunder’s unwavering support during her IVF journey, saying, “There wasn’t a single day he didn’t accompany me to the hospital He took complete care of me; bathing, washing, and comforting me, even when the IVF failed, he remained positive ” Farah and Shirish, who met during the making of ‘Main Hoon Na’ and married in 2004, welcomed their triplets Diva, Anya, and Czar in 2008 Despite her fame, Farah keeps her family life largely private

Sonakshi Sinha says she was cast in ‘Dabangg’ without her consent

After a string of box-office flops, Salman Khan made a grand comeback with ‘Wanted’ and ‘Dabangg’, the latter launching Sonakshi Sinha into instant stardom Yet, Sonakshi recently revealed she never planned to act or expected to be cast in the film

Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, she said, “I studied fashion design and wanted to work in that field, maybe fashion journalism or styling, but by chance, I became an actor ”

Sonakshi said acting was never part of her plan, despite Salman Khan urging her since she was 16 “I was overweight then and focused on fashion designing,” she recalled She also remembered meeting Salman at Lakme Fashion Week while volunteering for 3,000 “He laughed and said, ‘Take me out for dinner with your first salary ’ I told him 3,000 wouldn’t even cover his meal ”

Sonakshi revealed that the Khan family’s persistence eventually led to her landing ‘Dabangg’ before she even realised what was happening “After college, I lost a lot of weight, and the Khan family saw me at Amrita Arora’s wedding Arbaaz bhai told me he’d written a film and thought I was perfect for it I didn’t take him seriously, but soon he, the director, and writer came home to narrate ‘Dabangg’ to my parents, and before I knew it, I was on set,” she said

Daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi went on to star in ‘Rowdy Rathore’, ‘Son of Sardaar’, ‘Kalank’, and the critically acclaimed ‘Lootera’

Jaya Bachchan praises grandson Agastya Nanda after ‘Ikkis’ trailer

2025 has been a promising year for Bollywood newcomers, and December looks no different Audiences will soon witness ‘Ikkis’, the untold story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Maddock Films, the film marks Agastya Nanda’s big-screen debut after his start in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘The Archies’ He will star alongside debutante Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar’s niece

attached to ‘Thamma’ in theatres, then released online a week later Agastya Nanda impressed audiences as Arun Khetarpal, while Simar Bhatia’s charm captured hearts Ahead of the film’s December release, Jaya Bachchan spoke

Agastya is a fast learner Neither of his parents are actors, so he relies on his grandparents and his Maamu, Abhishek Bachchan, for guidance ” Jaya further shared, “You know me, I don’t usually praise anyone, not even my own family But Agastya is special He’s determined to carve his own path, just like I did He won’t follow the herd ” Son of author Shweta Bachchan-Nanda and

Bachchan, and nephew to Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

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Dhruv Vikram on subverting heroism in ‘Bison’:

“No room for slow-motion shots”

Dhruv Vikram is riding high on the success of ‘Bison’, his sports drama directed by Mari Selvaraj, which continues to perform strongly at the box office despite stiff competition from ‘Dude’ The film follows a kabaddi player from rural Tamil Nadu who faces castebased discrimination, marking Dhruv’s first collaboration with Mari Selvaraj.

When asked what drew him to the project, Dhruv said, “It wasn’t the physical intensity but Mari sir himself He believed I was right for the role that was the biggest opportunity of my life I was n e r v o u s , n o t a b o u t t h e i n j u r i e s b u t because kabaddi is a violent, aggressive sport, and I had never played any sport before this film ” When asked about Mari Selvaraj’s filmmaking and how ‘Bison’ feels like a spiritual successor to ‘Karnan’, Dhruv said, “I had watched all his work even b e f o r e k n o w i n g I ’ d c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h him I saw ‘Pariyerum Perumal’ and met him just before he started ‘Karnan’ ” Reflecting on the film’s social themes, he added, “The life I lived before and what I witnessed while making this film are worlds apart I got to truly understand the social fabric there and how discrimination still affects people every day, lessons I learned while working with Mari sir ” Dhruv Vikram shared his perspective on the portrayal of violence and heroism in ‘Bison’, saying, “The way we shot the fight scenes never made me feel liberated or heroic The fighters didn’t make it feel like I was being hit It wasn’t about slow-motion shots or walking out in swag, that would have felt off This time, it felt real and grounded ”

Parvathy joins hands with Don Palathara, Dileesh Pothan for new film

Actress Parvathy Thiruvothu is teaming up with acclaimed filmmaker Don Palathara for her next Malayalam film, co-starring Dileesh Pothan, marking her first collaboration with both Announcing the project on Instagram, Parvathy wrote, “Stepping into a world created by @don palathara with none other than my favourite @dileeshpothan!! #rollingsoon Can’t wait!” Further details about the film remain under wraps

Director Don Palathara shared on X, “Excited for the film with Parvathy Thiruvothu and Dileesh Pothan More details later ”

Pradeep Ranganathan’s decade-old post inspires fans; From dreams to 100-crore success

Actor-director

Pradeep Ranganathan

is the talk of social media following the success of his Diwali release ‘Dude’, marking his hat trick of 100 crore (8 6 million pounds) films An old 2015 tweet from his struggling days has now gone viral, offering a glimpse into the mindset that shaped his journey to success.

On October 7, 2015, at 1:39 a m ,

#CrucialDays #CinemaDreams Dono wat life has for me ” A decade later, he’s living that dream, with fans proudly sharing the post, calling him “ a 100crore hero today ”

Pradeep made his directorial debut with ‘Comali’ starring Jayam Ravi, followed by his acting breakthrough in ‘Love Today’, which grossed 100 crore H

y Aswanth Marimuthu, further solidified his blockbuster streak, nearing 150 crore (12 9 million pounds)

Pradeep Ranganathan’s third film, ‘Dude’, has crossed the 100 crore (8 6 million pounds) mark worldwide, making him the youngest actor to achieve a hat-trick of 100 crore (8 6 million pounds) grossers The same man who tweeted “I don’t know what life holds” a decade ago has now become an inspiration in Tamil cinema ‘Dude’ is also nearing 70 crore (6 02 million pounds) in domestic collections, following the success of his previous film, ‘Dragon’

Speaking to ‘Variety’, Parvathy said, “Don’s films hold up a mirror to how we live and love, often without judgment Stepping into that world is liberating and challenging it demands that you unlearn performance and simply be ”

Parvathy is best known for her acclaimed performances in ‘Bangalore Days’, ‘Take Off’, and ‘Koode’ Don Palathara, a regular at international film festivals, is known for films like ‘Shavam’, ‘1956, Central Travancore’, and ‘Family’ (2023), starring Vinay Forrt

Priyamani on pay disparity: “I charge what I believe I deserve”

Priyamani, known for her powerful performances across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema, recently spoke with News18 about receiving lower pay than her male co-stars The National Award-winning actress shared that while this issue once bothered her, it no longer does.

When asked about pay disparity, Priyamani acknowledged it, saying, “It’s true, but I don’t mind I believe in asking for what my market value is, and I charge what I feel I deserve I won’t ask for an unnecessary hike ”

She also compared working styles between North and South India, saying, “In the South, if we say 8 am, we start at 8 In the North, people arrive at that time, but the work starts later ”

Priyamani was recently seen in the Malayalam thriller ‘Officer on Duty’ and Revathy’s adaptation of ‘The Good Wife’ She will next appear in ‘Jana Nayagan’, Vijay’s final film before retiring from politics

Priyamani will also star alongside Manoj Bajpayee in the third season of ‘The Family Man’, created by Raj and DK, which also features Sharib Hashmi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur, Ashlesha Thakur, and Vedant Sinha The series will soon

Bollywood stars light up

Orry’s spooky Halloween bash

Bollywood celebrated a starstudded, spooky Halloween this year, and social media star

Orry shared a much-awaited glimpse from the glamorous Mumbai bash T

Akash Ambani, Shloka Mehta, R

Sebastian the crab from ‘The Little Mermaid’, while Nita

A m

H

bangs

Alia Bhatt channelled Lara Croft in a black tee, shorts, a n d

Padukone revisited her ‘Lady Singham’ look Ranveer Singh arrived as Deadpool though Orry hilariously mistook him

f o r S p i d e r - M a n A k a s h a n d

S h l o k a A m b a n i t w i n n e d a s

Gomez and Morticia Addams, and even the usually reserved

A r y a n K h a n m a d e a n appearance, dressed as Jake Gyllenhaal from ‘Brokeback Mountain’

In his caption, Orry asked followers to pick a winner

Ananya and Khushi Kapoor voted for “Nita aunty,” while Janhvi Kapoor added, “Nita aunty committed ” One fan summed it up: “This was the best reel of 2025!”

Across the US, celebrities embraced spooky season with striking looks Heidi Klum’s

King Khan turns 60, skips the balcony for the beach

For over three decades, Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday has been synonymous with a sea of fans gathered outside his Bandra home, Mannat, awaiting that iconic wave from the superstar’s balcony. But this year, as the “King of Bollywood” turned 60 on November 2, the ritual took an unexpected turn. For the first time in years, Khan did not appear before the crowds Instead, he issued a heartfelt message to fans on social media, explaining that he had been advised by authorities to stay indoors due to safety and crowd-control concerns

“Have been advised by authorities that I will not be able to step out and greet all you lovely people who have been waiting for me My deepest apologies to all of you, but I’ve been informed it’s for everyone ’ s overall safety,” he wrote on X Despite the announcement, hundreds of admirers still gathered outside Mannat, singing songs, cutting cakes, and celebrating their idol’s milestone in his absence

Reports suggest the area around Mannat is undergoing major renovation, and local police have restricted gatherings due to security hazards Instead of the usual fanfare in Mumbai, Khan marked his 60th in a quieter, more private celebration at his seaside farmhouse in Alibaug The exclusive event, attended by close friends and family, included long-time collaborators from the film industry Photos and snippets circulating online showed a relaxed Khan surrounded by loved ones in the lush coastal retreat

offered a striking transformation: Khan with grey hair, intense eyes, and a chilling calm In a gripping voiceover, he declares, “Kitne khoon kiye, yaad nahi Achhe log the ya bure, kabhi pucha nahi Bas unki aankhon mein yeh ehsaas dekha ki yeh unki aakhri saans hai Aur main uski wajah ”

The teaser hints at a ruthless, morally ambiguous protagonist, a far cry from the romantic hero who once ruled hearts Anand, known for sleek action spectacles like War and Pathaan, has described King as “ a new SRK experience,” blending highoctane action with psychological intensity Social media went into a frenzy after the teaser dropped, with fans calling it “next-level mass ” and proclaiming, “His retirement plan is to remind the planet who runs Bollywood ” Industry voices are already framing Khan’s 60th as a turning point, not a slowing down, but a reinvention

As The Times of India noted, this milestone marks his transition into the “senior statesman” era of Bollywood, yet his career momentum shows no signs of easing Analysts say King could define his next decade, just as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge defined the 1990s and Chak De! India redefined him in the 2000s

backlash for dressing as Jackie Kennedy in a blood-soaked replica of the pink suit worn

o n t h e d a y o f J F K ’ s assassination

B a c k i n I n d i a ,

recently gathered in Jamnagar for Isha and Akash Ambani’s birthday celebrations Ananya Panday, Disha Patani, Arjun Kapoor, and Karan Johar were among those spotted, turning the city into a glittering hub of glamour and music

While the actor’s decision to stay away from Mannat might have disappointed fans, it also symbolised a new phase in his journey, a more introspective, grounded version of the superstar who has defined Indian cinema for three decades

At 60, Khan remains not just relevant but resurgent Having dominated 2023 with massive hits like Pathaan and Jawan, he’s now stepping into an even bolder chapter with his next big project: King

On his birthday, Khan unveiled the title and teaser of King, directed by Siddharth Anand and produced under Red Chillies Entertainment in collaboration with Marflix Pictures The teaser

Shah Rukh Khan celebrated his 60th birthday in Alibaug, surrounded by close friends and family, including Farah Khan and Karan Johar Choosing privacy over spectacle, the superstar marked the milestone at his seaside farmhouse, a serene contrast to his usual fan celebrations outside Mannat in Mumbai

For millions of fans, SRK’s birthday has always been more than a date, it’s a celebration of charisma, connection, and cinematic legacy This year, though quieter, reflected the maturity of a man who continues to evolve while holding on to his crown From the balcony at Mannat to the sands of Alibaug, from love stories to action thrillers, Shah Rukh Khan’s reign at 60 remains, as ever, pure cinema

Once known as Bollywood’s “serial kisser,” Emraan Hashmi recently got a playful onscreen tribute in Aryan Khan’s directorial debut ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ He appeared in a viral cameo as an intimacy coach alongside Lakshya and Sahher Bambba, a role not originally written for him At HT City’s Stars in the City with Sonal Kalra, Emraan shared how the scene came about, praised Aryan’s talent, and offered a witty take on intimacy tips

Bollywood

taraf, Emraan

masterstroke by Aryan, Bilal, and the team Originally, the

premiere with Raghav singing about me, but a month before

reworked it into an intimacy coach scene Aryan called, and I said, ‘If

and

Praising the team, Emraan

Netflix called to say

tuning in just for that scene

When asked for intimacy tips, he quipped, “I charge for

India women cricketers create history

India

created history on Sunday as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup final at Navi Mumbai and clinched their maiden ICC Trophy Deepti Sharma snapped up 4 wickets including Laura Wolvaardt who was looking ominous with 101 runs Earlier, Shafali Verma’s robust

8 7 w a s f o l l o w e d b y c o m b a t i v e knocks from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before South Africa rallied to limit India to an underpar 298/7 Deepti’s run-a-ball 58 and Richa (34) provided the muchneeded late impetus with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket after India’s innings faltered in the m

Harmanpreet Kaur (20) failing to convert their starts

A plucky South Africa seemed to have spoiled India’s aim of a big f i r s t - i n n i n g s t o t a l w i t h r e g u l a r strikes, aided by a pitch which slowed down and provided grip to t h e s p i n n e r s a s t h e c o n t e s t progressed following a two-hour

r a i n d e l a y t o t h e s t a r t o f t h e match

Shafali showed great maturity with a knock that featured both aggression and deft rotation of strike

The right-hander used all her experience to lay the platform for India, putting up an opening stand of 104 runs with Smriti Mandhana

( 4 5 ) , w h i c h s e n t S o u t h A f r i c a scrambling for answers early on Shafali, who took charge from India’s leading run-scorer in the

t o u r n a m e n t , b e g a n w i t h a cracking four off Ayabonga Khaka ( 3 / 5 8 ) i n t h e s e c o n d o v e r a n d signalled her intent by coming down the track for a boundary off Marizanne Kapp in the fifth over, which was followed by another four with a flick off the pads

D e s p i t e S h a f a l i b e i n g t h e aggressor, Mandhana looked set for a big score but was denied a

began by giving away 29 runs in

comeback when she got Shafali after a set of deliveries with varied length Shafali was earlier dropped by Anneke Bosch in the 21st over o f f L u u s b u

missed out on a ton Star of India’s

s

m i f i n a l w i n o

g h t y Australia, Jemimah appeared to be prepping up for another long haul in the middle, but a superb low

c

W o l v a a r d t a t c o v e r o f f K h a k a foiled her plans in the 30th over With two set batters back in the dugout, India’s hopes were pinned on skipper Harmanpreet for a defining innings, but that was not to be Harmanpreet did well to put on 52 runs with Deepti but just when they were required to shift gears, India were jolted again

I n d i a ’ s t r o u b l e s c o n t i n u e d

w h e n t h e f i f t h - w i c k e t p a i r o f

D e e p t i a n d

) could also not trouble the scorers

m u c h , w i t h N a d i n e d e K l e r k ’ s brilliance bringing an end to it

Amanjot was deceived by the slow pace when she lobbed one straight towards the bowler and de Klerk flung to her right to take a onehanded catch

half century (58) earlier, Deepti Sharma took 5/39 in 9 3 overs,

making the final her own with both bat and ball while fashioning

e s t - e v

v

c t o r y i n women ’ s cricket - a first World Cup win

c r o w d , a l o n g w i t h t h e I n d i a n team, broke into celebration, with Harmanpreet and the women-inblue breaking into tears of joy Fighting back after suffering three defeats on the trot that put their World Cup campaign in danger, India won the three matches that mattered to cross the line at last Outclassing South Africa by 52 runs on Sunday night, India finally put an end to their long wait for an elusive World Cup

Jemimah guides India to final

Chasing an imposing target of 339 against mighty Australia in the second semifinal, India seemed to be sinking when they lost both openers early Pacer Kim Garth r e m o v e d P r

i k a R a w a l ’ s replacement Shafali Verma (10) a n d t h e i n - f o r m S m r i t i Mandhana But when it mattered

m o s t , l o c a l g i r l J e m i m a h Rodrigues produced the innings of her life, slamming a brilliant 127 n

memorable five-wicket win with nine balls to spare PM Modi leads tributes

Modi led the tributes to India’s women cricketers following their “

India level T20 series against Australia

I ndia beat Australia by five wic kets in the third o f th e five matc h T 20I s eries against Au stralia at th e Bellerive Oval in Ho bart on Sunday

With the res ult the series is al l s quare at 1- 1 Was hington Sundar was th e to p sc orer for I ndia with his 49 -run cameo and Nath an Ell is was th e pick of the bowl ers

The hosts posted 186-6 on the back of an explosive 74 from 38 balls from Tim David batting at No 4 and a Marcus Stoinis halfcentury Australia kept themselves in the hunt with regular wickets in India’s chase, before Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 49 from 23 got India home

O n h i s H u r r i c a n e s h o m e t u r f , q u i c k Nathan Ellis did his best to inspire Australia with 3-36, including the scalps of openers Abhishek Sharma (25) and Shubman Gill (15) But India were able to keep on top of the runrate to set up a crucial game four on the Gold Coast on Thursday Australia missed elite quick Josh Hazelwood, who took 3-13 in game two but is sitting out the final three fixtures of the series with the Ashes looming India spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2-33) suffered some punishment from David, but took two scalps in two balls including rattling

Mitch Owen’s stumps for a duck An inclusion a f t e r M

Singh was the pick of India’s bowlers with 3-35 and won player-of-the-match honours India’s chase got off to a strong start before twin blows to Ellis had them 62 for 2 in the sixth over The tourists lost skipper Suryakumar Yadav for an 11-ball 24 when he chipped a catch to Ellis off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis in the eighth over Sundar was immediately aggressive and to took the long handle to Sean Abbott with back-to-back sixes Australia could turn to Glenn Maxwell in game four The all-rounder has been given slightly longer to recover from a wrist injury after joining the squad for games three to five

c

would be a watershed moment for the women ’ s game in the country

“ T h e t e a m

tournament Congratulations to our players,” Prime Minister Modi s a i d o n s o c i a l m e d i a “ T h i s historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports ” T h e I n d i a n c r i c k e t b o a r d announced the team would receive a reward of 510 million Indian r u p e e s ( $ 5 8 m n ) f o r t h e i

Tendulkar said Sunday’s win was “ a defining moment in the journey of Indian women ’ s cricket ” “Today, our women ’ s cricket team has done something truly s p e c i a l T h e y h a v e i n s p i r e d countless young girls across the country to pick up a bat and ball, take the field and believe that they

too can lift that trophy one day ”

Mithali Raj, who led India to the 2017 women ’ s final, said the v

had made her dreams come true

Pichai, Nadella hail victory T

and Satya Nadella joined millions o

country’s maiden triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2

recognition of India’s victory

women ’ s world cup cricket final, memories of 1983 and 2011 indeed Congrats to Team India, am sure will inspire a whole generation

wrote, drawing

team’s triumph and India’s iconic men ’ s World Cup wins Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also saluted the champions in his post, declaring, “Women in Blue

chapters written, barriers broken, legends born ” His words reflected the broader sentiment that India’s win marks a new era for women ’ s sport globally

Gus At kinson Most of them are n ot all-roun der s Cameron Green is the name that all Australians will be screaming, and he is indeed a fine all-round cricketer who can bat with the straightest of blades and bowl with bounce and venom, but he has not bowled in Test cricket since March last year and his Test bowling average (35 31) is higher than his batting figure (34 02) You hope he does not slide down the same path as Shane Watson, whose body proved too fragile to fulfil his promise as an all-rounder

Australia’s relationship with all-rounders has always been a little different Miller, Richie Benaud and then Alan Davidson once

led the way, but there was a long period when they simply did not need to go looking for one Having Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne

m e a n t a f i f t h b o w l e r w

required and six specialist batsmen

c

trailblazing Adam Gilchrist as the

rounder in another interpretation of the role

It could be that for this Ashes, Australia pick two all-rounders in Green and Beau Webster, but England will be happy to select only one in Stokes, at least a fully fit one, because his ability to bowl could determine the series’ destination

A

synonymous with all-rounders – Ian Botham in 1981, Andrew Flintoff in 2005 (and Stokes in the drawn series in 2019) - but down under it has been a different tale Botham played his part in 1978-79 and 1986-87, as did Trevor Bailey in 1954-55, while Tony Greig battled bravely in a heavy defeat in 1974-75, but by and large Australia has been no place for Ashes all-rounders, just as it has been no country for old men

Sundar Pichai Satya Nadella

Narendra Modi

Ravindra Jadeja