First India-Ahmedabad Edition-08 November 2020

AHMEDABAD l SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

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FLEXIBILITY AND HUMILITY WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF STUDENTS: PM MODI AT IIT-DELHI CONVOCATION

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD 16°C - 34°C

RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 344

ARMED FORCES HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR HYBRID THREATS EMANATING FROM MULTIPLE FRONTS: BHADAURIA

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BIHAR KA NAYA KING KAUN? Mohd Fahad

180 seats for the RJD-led grand alliance, 55 for ost of the exit the NDA and eight for polls also pre- others. The majority dicted RJD to mark is 122.

India Today-Axis My again emerge as the single largest party in the India poll showed the 243-member assembly RJD-led block winning along with a clear dip in 139-161 seats, as against the seat tally of Bihar 69-91 for the NDA. It predicted 3-5 seats chief minister for LJP and Nitish Kumaralso 3-5 for led JD(U). others.

Counting of The ABPvotes for the exit t h r e e - p h a s e BIHAR ELECTION CVoter poll predicted Bihar assemEXIT POLLS NDA to get bly polls, 104-128 seats which ended and 108-131 on Saturday, will be held on Novem- seats for the opposition ber 10. Exit polls are grand alliance. It protypically based on feed- jected Chirag Paswanback from a limited led LJP to get 1-3 seats.

A similar trend was number of voters in select areas and none of predicted by Times Nowthem have a 100 per cent CVoter, which projected 116 seats for the NDA, accuracy record.

Today’s Chanakya- 120 for the opposition alCNN News18 projected liance and a single seat

M

2020

EXIT POLLS PREDICT MAHAGATHBANDHAN GOVT WITH RJD’S TEJASHWI YADAV AT HELM NEWS 18-CHANAKYA

INDIA TODAY-AXIS

Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan tests Covid positive Kochi: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has tested positive for corona on Saturday.

“I have tested positive for Covid-19.

But, there is no cause for concern. However, I request all those who had contact with me in New Delhi last week to test for Covid, or be under observation to be on the safe side,” reads the Raj Bhawan tweet.

We made changes and revamped training, and particularly polling station infrastructure, sanitizing protocols for one lakh polling stations and it was a challenging task —Election Commission After completion of elections

44 PERCENT PREFER

TEJASHWI AS CM

Yadav emerged as the numTberejashwi one choice for CM

with 44 per cent people going for him as per India Today-My Axis Exit Poll. In terms of parties’ vote percentage, Mahagathbandhan is projected to get 44 per cent votes, NDA 39 percent and LJP 7 per cent, GDSF may bag 4 per cent and others may bag 5 per cent vote share.

TIMES NOW-C VOTER

55

69-91

91-117

116

180

139-161

118-138

120

0

3-5

5-8

1

8

6-10

3-6

6

n NDA n MGB n LJP n OTHERS

n NDA n MGB n LJP n OTHERS

n NDA n MGB n LJP n OTHERS

n NDA n MGB n LJP n OTHERS

TOTAL SEATS 243 MAJORITY MARK 122 for the LJP. It predicted six seats for others.

Exit polls also predicted results for bypolls held in several

states. According to India Today-Axis My India exit poll, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh will survive as

Tejashwi to rout BJP-JDU as 3rd phase locks at 55.22% Patna: A voter turnout of 55.22 per cent was recorded at 6 pm as polling in 78 constituencies spread across 19 districts continued for the third and final phase of Bihar Assembly elections on Saturday. In this phase, the ruling NDA, which is battling the anti-incumbency factor, is locked in a fierce contest against the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). As many as 2.35 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 1,204 candidates today.

Seemanchal (Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar and Purnia), Kosi (Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura), Mithila (Darbhanga and Madhubani) and Tirhut (Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi) regions comprise the seats going for polls in the final round.

While the Seemanchal belt gives an advantage to the Mahagathbandhan, Asaduddin’s Owasi’s AIMIM, Turn to P6

REPUBLIC-JAN KI BAAT

it projected the party to win 16-18 seats, and Congress is estimated to bag 10-12 of the total 28 seats that went to polls. Simi-

larly, for bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, the exit poll predicted BJP to win 5-6 seats, SP 1-2 seats and BSP 0-1 seat, out of the

eight seats for which polling was held on November 3 last.

In Gujarat where voting happened for eight

seats on November 3, the same exit poll projected BJP to win 6-7 assembly seats and Congress a single seat.

Turn to P6

BIDEN TRUMPS

‘Will be President for all Americans’

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

KUDOS TO SUNIL ARORA-LED EC FOR SUCCESSFULLY HOLDING POLLS AMID CORONA PANDEMIC Dr Anita New Delhi: First things first, Kudos to CEC Sunil Aroraled Election Commission for conducting a successfully fair and smooth election in coronavirus era. Not to forget a rare election sans viloence in Bihar. When Munger simmered, EC was swift to show SP and DM the ext door and brought things under control. At the same time EC expressed gratitude to voters for coming out of their homes to exercise their franchise amidst pandemic looming large. It was world’s first biggesdt election since coronavirus spread and holding polls was no mean task. Taking on the challenge, EC issued strict COVID guidelines and ensured they were followed to the core on ground zero. ”We stand at a unique point of history. We had apprehensions how polls would be conducted during the pandemic. It is because of confidence of voters,” the EC said while thanking voters of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat where bypolls were held.

Indian-origin Kamala Harris becomes first Black woman elected US Vice President Washington: Democrat Joe Biden has been declared as the winner of the 2020 US Presidential election, defeating Donald Trump, according to news agency AP. He will become the 46th president of the United States, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped

TRUMP: ELECTION FAR FROM OVER Republican opponent Donald Trump, however, has refused to concede, saying the “election is far from over” and that he will not “rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and what Democracy demands”.

by historic pandemic. Biden (77) will

also be the oldest President in history.

His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through mailin votes that delayed the processing of ballots. Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania taking total votes to 290 against Trump’s 214.

Piplaj fire gets wheels turning at A’bad civic body AMC seals seven illegal chemical units First India Bureau Ahmedabad: In a case of “something’s better than nothing” and “better late than never”, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has kicked into high gear days after 12 people lost their lives in a fire that followed an explosion at an illegal chemical factory in Ahmedabad’s

Pirana-Piplaj area.

The civic body on Saturday sealed seven more factories operating illegally in the city, a day after it sealed six such units on Friday.

On Saturday, the Town Development Office and Estate Department team inspected the factories operating in Piplaj and Lambha areas and discovered that these factories have been operating without the approval of any government or civic body for a few years now. In addition, these factory units were also

A member of the AMC team looks into an unauthorized chemical unit.

found to have a large number of potentially hazardous chemicals in their possession. Plus, chemical processes were being carried out with little or no safety precautions--sometimes out in the open, under the shade of a tree. The team also found bags of dry chemicals and large blue drums.

Not only did the operators of these factories not have any government approvals, they also did not have any licences from the AMC, or no-objection

certificates from the fire department.

It is curious that these units managed to operate under the radar of the state government and even the Gujarat Pollution Control Board for so many years.

The AMC’s sealing drive follows the fatal accident at Sahil Enterprise in the Nanubhai Estate on Wednesday.

The blast affected nine nearby godowns and knocked down the roofs of three to four godowns, killing seven men and five women.

NEWS AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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02

PUSHYA NAKSHATRA BRINGS DIWALI SHEEN TO GOLD

Haresh Jhala

Ahmedabad: Customers returning to jewellery shops on the auspicious Pushya Nakshatra day have changed the mood of the gold and jewellery market, which had hitherto been hit badly by the ongoing pandemic.

Consumers with advance planning have purchased gold and jewellery that has changed the sentiment of the market.

Manoj Soni, of AB Jewellers, told First India, “It would be unfair to compare with previous years, but one thing is sure: consumers have started learning to live with the novel coronavirus, which is a good indication for the economy.

Festive and seasonal buying is back to almost 50-60% of usual figures, but investor buying is as low as 15-20% of normal.”

Investment buying is far lower than usual, but festival and seasonal buying is recovering

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

With customers thronging jewellery stores, jewellers admit that the turnout has been better than they had anticipated this year.

Soni said customers’ return to showrooms shows that they are be-

ginning to overcome the fear of the pandemic. “If this trend continues, the

State bans bursting crackers in public places

market will soon bounce back,” he said.

Ahmedabad Jewellers

Association president Jigar Soni estimates that around Rs100 crore

worth of gold and silver—about 175kg gold and 200kg silver—is sold

on the auspicious Pushya Nakshatra day.

Interestingly, jewel-

lers say that while the quantity of sales is considerably lower than that of last year, the value of gold and silver being sold this year make it a “good year”.

“Last year, the price of 10g gold was Rs38,000.

This year, it is Rs54,000.

The cost of silver is also considerably higher this year. Yet, consumers have turned up in good numbers. Even more surprising is that we had almost 50-70% advance bookings. So, value-wise, it is a good year,” said one jeweller asking not to be named.

Veteran player Shantilal Patel said that the market expects to see a fall of 25-30% demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he says is too small a drop to be considered a bad sign.

“Overall, the footfalls exceeded our expectations with consumers turning up to buy precious metals,” he said.

LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO GO

People shop for fireworks at Ahmedabad’s Raipur cracker market on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Abiding by the Supreme Court’s earlier order, the state government has banned the bursting of crackers in public places. The Gujarat government has also banned the import and the bursting of imported fireworks in the state. To implement the decision, the District Collectors and Police Commissioners of four cities have issued public orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In addition, fireworks may not be set off between 10 pm and 6 am, and within 500m of a petrol pump or LPG bottling plant. Violators face serious police action.

However, surprisingly, the Gujarat government—unlike many other states—has not placed a blanket ban on crackers this Diwali, even as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to all states on the issue.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Friday had said that the state would abide by the NGT directive if it came in the form of an order. Until then, the issue is not being discussed at the cabinet level, he said.

Government sources say the state’s hesitance to implement a blanket ban follows the view that bursting crackers might help citizens regain a sense of normalcy, which has been missing since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Diwali might not be until next weekend, but Ahmedabad is gearing up for the festival on all cylinders. Seen here, clockwise from top left: customers shopping for new diaries and accounting books ahead of the Gujarati New Year, as well as a potter with his diyas, the Mehta family polishing their antique brass and copperware, people shopping for lights and a shopkeeper arranging auspicious ‘pavitra phool’ in his shop.

—PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

NO REST

CONGRESS STARTS THREE-DAY MARATHON MEETING State in-charge Rajiv Satav will likely meet regional leaders, MLAs, and MPs during his Gujarat visit First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The results of the state Assembly by-elections may still be days away but the Congress is not wasting any time in beginning preparations for the next poll bat-

tle—the civic body and panchayat elections, which are likely to be held in January.

Gujarat Congress in-charge Rajiv Satav is on a three-day visit to Gujarat from Saturday, during which he will hold meetings

Rajiv Satav

—FILE PHOTO

with agendas ranging from appointments in the state structure of the Gujarat Congress to election management.

According to Congress sources, Satav and senior party leaders may meet with regional leaders, MLAs, and MPs with a view to filling vacancies in the party structure of the region. Satav will also review the possible by-election re-

sults and consult with the regional leaders here on the same.

It is to be noted that, even as the Congress party has continued their preparations, the BJP is in rest mode after last Tuesday’s by-election for the eight vacant state Assembly seats.

Congress sources told First India that the party leadership is also discussing probable candidates

for the local body elections.

“Other than the main issue for the election, we discussed the candidate. Our list of candidates will keep in mind caste, education, and gender equations. More preference will be given to women and youth, this time,” said a source.

It is to be noted that there is a 50% reservation for women in the local body seats.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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PM TO LAUNCH RO-PAX SERVICE

BETWEEN HAZIRA & GHOGHA

03

Dip in temperature likely next week as ‘cold’ winter sets in

Staying warm will be extra important this season since winter is conducive to the spread of Sars-CoV-2.

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

The Ro-Pax service will include multiple options for passengers including Cambay Lounge (14-person capacity), Business Class (78 persons), Executive Class (316) and Economy (92).

—FILE PHOTO

New service will use a 90km sea route, thus cutting down travel time by about five hours from the current nine hours it takes to traverse the 370km distance by road First India Bureau

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

—FILE PHOTO

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday flag off a Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat via video conferencing.

The service is expected to reduce a distance of 370km to 90km through the sea route, thereby saving time and fuel and boosting eco and religious tourism in the Saurashtra region of the state, a release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

ROUGH START

Modi will flag off the service at 11 am and also inaugurate a terminal at Hazira. He will interact with local users of the service via video conferencing, it said, adding that Union Minister of State for Shipping Man-

sukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will be present on the occasion.

The three-deck RoPax Ferry Vessel ‘Voyage Symphony’ connecting Hazira in Surat district and Ghogha in

Shop owners rush to get Antigen tests in Ahmedabad

Steep rise continues in the state, as Saturday brings 1K+ new nCoV cases

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: In a dramatic coincidence, the state has again reported more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 just a day after a petition was filed in the High Court in support of holding local body polls without delay.

While the Election Commission postponed the local elections by three months, the petition asked the court to quash the order, since Bihar held its Assembly elections despite having more cases than Gujarat.

Ahmedabad: Ahead of the Diwali festival, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has made it mandatory for all shop owners to undergo COVID-19 tests.

Following the local civic body’s latest instructions, a large number of shopkeepers in the city reached walk-in centres for COVID-19 tests.

Rapid tests for the virus are being conducted in Vastrapur, with lengthy lines expected.

Many have expressed fear that such lines without social distancing, coupled with the crowds at the traditional markets ahead of the festive season, will further increase cases of novel coronavirus infections in the city.

AMC sources are also of the opinion that there should be restrictions on public gatherings as the new cases are increasing.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad city and district has reached 43,397.

First India Bureau

Eight patients in Ahmedabad have been served notice for violating home quarantine.

—FILE PHOTO

1,046 cases, 5 fatalities take state tally to 1,79,679 cases, toll to 3,756

The state has now witnessed a total of 1,79,679 cases and 3,756 fatalities due to the Sars-CoV-2 virus. However, it maintains that it has achieved a recovery

Bhavnagar has a load capacity of 30 trucks, 100 passenger cars, and 500 passengers plus 34 crew and hospitality staff, it said.

Captain Devendra Manral, CEO of ferry operator Indigo Seaways Pvt. Ltd, told the media that 3,800 passengers have so far shown interest in booking 800 cars, 400 bikes and 500 trucks.

Initially, the service will make three trips a day, and transport 550 passengers, 100 two wheelers, 75 small trucks and 30 big trucks per trip.

rate of 91.15%. There are 12,146 active cases in the state with 71 patients on ventilators.

The highest number of fresh cases came from Surat (192), Ahmedabad (182), Vadodara (120) and Rajkot (113).

Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has found that eight patients had violated home quarantine. When the health teams reached their homes, they were not there. They were served a notice and taken to the COVID-care centre, where they will have to pay for their treatment.

Ahmedabad: As the state enters another crucial phase in the fight against COVID-19, weather predictions for the upcoming months do not provide much solace. Not only is winter said to create favourable conditions for further transmission of the novel coronavirus, this season is set to be colder than usual.

The India Meteorological Department predicts that the temperature is likely to start dipping in the state from the second week of November. It has previously forecast a colder-thanusual winter in the country this year due to a weak La Niña effect in the Pacific Ocean.

The core cold-wave zone will cover the northern regions of Jammu, Kashmir,

Season will be colder than usual due to weak a La Niña in the Pacific Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and extend through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Telangana.

Across the state, Valsad recorded the lowest minimum temperature which was 14 degree Celsius, while Ahmedabad recorded 34.3 degree Celsius maximum temperature and 17.5 degree Celsius minimum temperature.

In the weather bulletin, the IMD has mentioned that on Saturday weather was dry over the Gujarat region and over Saurashtra and Kutch.

TAKING CHARGE

Kamla Chavda made history when she became the first-ever female Dalit Leader of the Opposition in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

EXTENSION SOUGHT

NSUI protests as GU announces dates for examinations Exams for Semesters 3 and 5 of UG courses and Semester 3 of PG courses are slated to begin on December 08 First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The Gujarat University has announced that examinations for undergraduate students in Semester 3 and Semester 5 will begin on December 8. In addition, the post-graduate semester 3 ex-

ams will also on the same day. The last date for students to fill out online forms for these exams is November 21.

The internal examination for GU colleges will be completed five days before the university exams. The announced has sparked

Gujarat University.

—FILE PHOTO

outrage among students, who have also been supported by the National Students’ Union of India. The students have asked for both the dates of the exam and the last date for submitting online forms to be extended.

The NSUI has backed he protesting students in the matter and also demanded for the exams to be postponed. It is to be noted that the university has an-

nounced Diwali vacations from November 09 to November 21. Some students said that the Diwali vacation could be very stressful for them as the last date to fill out the form is November 21.

Notably, the exams for these courses will start on December 8 in two phases. With this, NSUI has complained to the university administration to extend the exam dates.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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OPENING UP EDUCATION

IN-DEPTH

EXIT POLL SHOCKER FOR JD-U, BJP IN BIHAR

SOME THOUGHTS MEENAKSHI HOOJA

The writer is a Retd IAS officer and former Member, Central Administrative Tribunal

F

rom Pennsylvania and Nevada, it is now time to move to Purnea and Nawada, in other words, Bihar where voting ended on Saturday evening. The moment the last vote was cast pollsters took over to analyse the exit poll data to predict what lies ahead for the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal-United combine. Shockingly, the exit poll numbers don’t augur well for the three-time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as not one but almost all the exit polls were unanimous in giving the “double engine”, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented on Tejashvi YadavRahul Gandhi combine, the lead over the double engine sarkar of BJP and JD-U. Modi and Nitish reminding voters of Lalu Yadav’s “jungle raj” does not seem to have swayed voters. Nor did the prime minister’s attempt to corner Rahul Gandhi over Pakistan’s role in Pulwama have an impact. What may have worked in favour of the ninth standard pass Tejashvi Yadav was his promise of 10 lakh jobs and the anti-incumbency factor against Nitish. On Tejashvi’s job promise the ruling combine could only ask from where he will get those jobs in the absence of industry. The factor of economic distress caused by a long spell of lockdown in view of the pandemic may also have played a role.

Even before the exit poll results began to be discussed, Nitish Kumar’s statement at the end of campaigning for the last phase that this was his last election and the prime minister telling voters that he needed Nitish as CM for Bihar’s development suggested that the JD-U had, in a way, conceded defeat. PM’s remark came to a tad late as Nitish saw BJP hand in Chirag Paswan challenging his leadership.

Of course, exit polls can go wrong the way they did in America where Donald Trump was predicted to be swept aside. So the Chanakya’s projection of 180 (plus, minus 11) seats for the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) led by Tejashvi Yadav should be looked at with some reservations. Chanakya gave BJP-JD-U 55 seats. The numbers projected indicate that Lalu Yadav’s party now helmed by his son has gone beyond the traditional Muslim-Yadav votes to now enjoy the support of upper castes, OBCs other than Yadavs, and, more importantly, the youth.

If these projected numbers do come true and Tejashvi Yadav becomes the chief minister, apprehensions about Bihar’s future will rise again. It is a fact that Lalu and later his wife Rabri Devi allowed the state to be ruled by mafia, kidnappers, and extortionists. The development came to a standstill as blatant loot of public money by Lalu and his supporters became the order of the day. In terms of governance, Nitish was the exact opposite of Lalu and Rabri. An unsuccessful cricketer, Tejashvi took on the PM, Nitish, Yogi Adityanath, and other big guns with mature confidence to put his alliance ahead, at least for now.

H

The open education system or what used to be called correspondence courses can easily be given importance at the higher education level, reducing the problem and the extreme adverse consequences of cut-offs and frustration

igh cut-off marks for entrance to some of the prestigious colleges in India, even going up to 100%, is a worrying trend that does not show any signs of change. The rising cut-off trend reflects poorly on access to higher education in the country and on many aspects of school education that profoundly impact students, families, and society.

Many commentators, educationists, scholars, and various reports have repeatedly pointed out that education in schools today has become rigid and very taxing. In theory, education incorporates wide-ranging goals like personality development, learning and enjoying, becoming seekers of knowledge, encouraging creativity and originality, and developing a student’s relationship with the social, economic, and natural environment. But the reality is that it has become focussed on marks, examinations, and trying to imbibe lots of information and data even if it means learning by rote and cramming up. The students and their families come under tremendous pressure, and thus a substantial section of the society is adversely affected. Access to a quality education itself has become a sort of a competition because good quality schools are few and far between and tend to be concentrated in cities and metros.

It is strange but true that it has almost become necessary to take tuitions for children seeking admissions to good nursery kindergarten schools. As a child moves up the classes, tuitions become more and more a part of the study system, and somehow the teaching in schools generally falls short or is inadequate to cover the prescribed syllabus.

Instead of a child or a student being in a school and able to cover the academic syllabus and participate in a co-curricular and extracurricular activity, he/she and the parents have to spend a good time getting to and from tuition centers.

The above-mentioned related problems are well known, but one has to think about some practical solutions. In the first place, considering the diversity, the geographical spread, and the inability of many families to access education and the problem of admissions, it is worth its while to seriously consider giving a fresh impetus and boost to open school systems. As the open school involves flexible systems of time and age as well as learning and examination, they are very suitable for students coming from families where uninterrupted education and daily attendance often become a problem. It would also relieve the extreme pressure that our present typical education puts on the students and families.

The open education system or what used to be called correspondence courses can easily be given importance at the higher education level, reducing the problem and the extreme adverse consequences of cut-offs and frustration. Keeping in view the flexibility and more comprehensive range of subjects and choices introduced by the New Education Policy, a good quality open college system can overcome the stress generated by the present campus and fixed examination system. It can lead to learning becoming a joy and encourage creativity, bring out the best in the individual, and reduce the very high stress of competi-

AN OPEN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION WOULD APPEAR TO BE EASIER TO CARRY OUT NOW. WITH THE PANDEMIC OF COVID 19 ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING AND WORKING HAS BECOME MORE COMMON AND WIDESPREAD

tiveness and fixed time tables, which the present system generates.

An open system of education would appear to be easier to carry out now. With the pandemic of COVID 19 online teaching and learning and working has become more common and widespread. Even in villages, children and students are endeavouring to learn this way.

There is, of course, no real substitute for campus education. Hopefully, in due course, physical interactions and cultural and educational activities can take place in schools, colleges, and universities. This environment facilitates personality development and selfconfidence in an individual; therefore, as education and gaining of knowledge have

Here’s why so many people still believe in ghosts

H

alloween seems an appropriate time of year to share the story of the Chaffin family and how a ghost helped decide a dispute over an inheritance. James L Chaffin of Monksville, North Carolina, died after an accident in 1921, leaving his estate in full to his favourite son Marshall and nothing to his wife and three other children. A year later Marshall died, so the house and 120 acres of land went to Marshall’s widow and son.

But four years later, his youngest son James “Pink” Chaffin started having extraordinary dreams in which his father visited him and directed him to the location of a second, later will in which Chaffin senior left the property divided between his widow and the surviving children.

04

The case went to court and, as you’d expect, the newspapers of the time went mad for the story.

The court found in Pink’s favour and, thanks to the publicity, the Society for Psychical Research investigated, finally coming to the conclusion that Pink had indeed been visited by his father’s ghost.

Pink himself never wavered from this explanation, stating: “I was fully convinced that my father’s spirit had visited me for the purpose of explaining some mistake.”

Unlikely as it might seem in the cold light of day, ghosts and hauntings are a mainstream area of belief. Recent studies by YouGov in the United Kingdom and the United States show that between 30% and 50% of the population says they believe in ghosts.

Belief in ghosts also ap-

pears to be global, with most (if not all) cultures around the world having some widely accepted kind of ghosts.

The existence of a ghost as an incorporeal (body-

less) soul or spirit of a dead person or animal is contrary to the laws of nature as we understand them, so it seems there is something here that calls for explanation. We can look at the

worlds of literature, philosophy and anthropology for some of the reasons why people are so keen to believe.

The desire for justice and the belief in some

form of supernatural protection (which we see in more major religions) address basic human needs.

Ghosts have long been thought of as vehicles for justice.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his murdered father seeking revenge on his murderer. In Macbeth, meanwhile, the murdered Banquo points an accusing finger at the man responsible for his death.

This idea has its equivalents today in various countries. In Kenya, a murdered person may become an ngoma, a spirit who pursues their murderer, sometimes causing them to give themself up to the police.

Or in Russia, the rusalka is the spirit of a dead woman who died by drowning and now lures men to their death. She may be released when her death is avenged.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

such immense value for society, it is also a good idea for society to come forward in the development of quality education. There have been several instances of social organisations setting up good institutions, and there is no dearth even today. Still, they fall far short of the ever-growing requirement and quest for education. Therefore the various organisations can either open their institutions or contribute through the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or help out in other ways.

Government institutions have the most expansive reach in villages and cities, and small towns.

Social and corporate organisations’ contribution in these areas would facilitate access to quality education and reduce the rush and pressure to seek admission in cities where living conditions are already quite congested and challenging.

There is no doubt that the Governments, both at the Union and State levels have their constitutional obligation to provide quality education to its citizens. Yet, proactive steps by society, it’s the social and corporate organisation, giving a boost to the open system of education and focusing seriously on quality in existing institutions aided by online systems would reduce many of the ills and problems would contribute to improving the system substantially.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda Congratulations to @isro for the successful launch of PSLV-C49 carrying EOS-01 along with 9 satellites from other nations.

The astounding achievement is a major step towards self-reliance & shows the consistency in India’s scientific accomplishments in these testing times.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal 5 years ago, PM @NarendraModi ji had fulfilled his commitment to provide economic security to exservicemen by accepting the four decade old demand of ‘One Rank, One Pension’. Govt is committed to the welfare of armed forces & their families. #5YearsOfOROP

Spiritual SPEAK

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

—Proverbs 19:20

Vol 1 Issue No. 344 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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PM MODI ATTENDS IIT-D CONVOCATION

‘Flexibility will enhance your skill’ The Prime Minister also said technology will play the biggest role in the post-COVID world New Delhi: Flexibility and humility will enhance the ability of students, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the 51st annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on Saturday.

Addressing the event through video conferencing, the PM advised students to never shed their identity but also be open to working together in a team. “You are all students with exceptional abilities.

After all, you passed one of the toughest exams, the JEE! And then you came to IIT. But, there are two things that will enhance your ability even more. One is flexibility and the other is humility,” PM Modi said.

“By flexibility, I refer to the possibility to stand out and fit in. At no point of your life must you shed your identity. Never be a ‘Lite Version’. Be the original version. At the

COVID-19 has taught the world one more thing. Globalisation is important but along with it, self-reliance is also important. The Atmanirbhar Bharat mission is important for providing youth, technocrats, tech enterprise leaders with new opportunities.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

5 YRS OF OROP

Modi salutes soldiers for bravely protecting nation

PM, Narendra Modi addressing the 51st Convocation of IIT Delhi, through VC, in New Delhi.

same time, never hesitate from fitting into a team. Individual efforts have their limits,” he said.

Elaborating on the topic of humility he said, “You must be rightfully proud of your

Tribal burnt alive for not returning Rs 5k taken in lockdown

Bhopal/Guna: A 32-year-old tribal man was allegedly burnt alive for not returning Rs 5,000, which he borrowed from an accused during lockdown in Guna district, 214 km north of Bhopal, on Friday late night, said police.

The victim, Vijay Sahariya, a resident of Ukawad Khurd village of the district, was rushed to a district hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

Police arrested the accused Radheshyam Lodha, a resident of Ukawad Khurd village, under section 302 (murder) of the IPC and under relevant sections of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities)

Act on Friday late night, said Rajesh Kumar Singh, superintendent of police (SP), Guna.

The SP said, “The farm labourer Vijay Sahariya had borrowed Rs 5,000 from a farmer Radheshyam Lodha, who used to give money to people on interest, in May this year as the former was facing a tough time due to lockdown.

“On Friday night, they again had a discussion and after a heated argument, Lodha beat Sahariya up. Lodha brought a can of kerosene oil from his house and set Sahariya on fire. When Sahariya cried for help, the villagers rushed to spot and tried to douse the fire,” said the officer.

—Agencies

WE ARE WORKING ON AIR POLLUTION: UP MIN, AFTER MAYAWATI’s REMARKS Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh minister Brijesh Pathak on Saturday reacted to the allegations of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav that the government is “sending farmers to jail in the name of environmental pollution.” Not saying much on the subject, the minister said, “We are concerned and working on the issue of air pollution.” BSP chief

Mayawati tweeted, “Atrocities on farmers, especially under the guise of pollution due to the burning of stubble, are extremely condemnable due to the pollution spread in Uttar Pradesh. Before taking any action in this matter, the government also needs to give them conscious and necessary help. This is the demand of BSP.”

success, your achievements. Very few people have done what you have. This should make you even more down to earth.”

The PM also said that it has been proven that technology is the

Nitish won’t be CM again, says Paswan Patna: The third and final phase of Bihar Assembly polls today will confirm that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will never become the chief minister again, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan said on Saturday. “I have worked on the ground, working hard for the party all alone. One thing is clear, both the phases have confirmed this thing and the third phase will put a final stamp on it, that Nitish Kumar will never become the Chief Minister again.

“The next government that will be formed will focus on development. I would like to appeal to everyone, to step outside and cast their vote. This is the only chance to make Bihar’s next five years better than the last 15 years,” he added. —ANI

most powerful medium to reach out to the most underprivileged classes and it will play the biggest role in the post-COVID world.

Students should keep a mantra for their workplace, he said.

—ANI

New Delhi: On the “momentous” occasion of five years of One Rank One Pension (OROP), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saluted soldiers for courageously protecting the nation.

“Today, five years ago, India took a historic step towards ensuring the wellbeing of our great soldiers, who courageously protect our nation. #5YearsOfO-

ROP is a momentous occasion.

India waited for OROP for decades,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted. “I salute our veterans for their remarkable service!” he added.

The Centre has disbursed over Rs 42,700 crore to 20.6 lakh retired Defence personnel under the OROP scheme since its inception, Defence Ministry said.

05

Nitish has played his innings, will be retired: Raut Mumbai: Amid the ongoing polling for the third phase of Bihar Assembly, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday took a swipe at incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that people will send him into retirement as the Janata DalUnited (JDU) chief has played his innings.

He said that Kumar is willing to retire and people should bid farewell to him with respect. “Nitish ji is a very big leader. He has played his innings. If a leader says that this is his last election, he should be given farewell with respect. The people of Bihar were waiting for the farewell occasion. People will send him into retirement in this election,” Raut told reporters here.

Earlier this week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that the present assembly poll in the state will be

RAUT SPEAK

“his last election” and “ant bhala to sab bhala”. He made the remarks on the last day of campaigning for the third phase of election in the state.

Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 8.13 % till 10 am during the final phase of state Assembly elections.

—ANI

IN THE COURTYARD ELGHAR PARISHAD CASE

SECOND DRUGS CASE

Swamy files plea seeking straw, Court sends Kshitij Prasad sipper in jail, court seeks NIA reply to 14 day judicial custody Mumbai: A Special court directed the NIA to file a reply on an application filed by 83-year-old Stan Swamy arrested in the Elgar Parishad case.

Swamy has been lodged at Taloja central jail since October 9, a day after he was brought to the city from Jharkhand. The application was filed seeking permission to allow a straw and sipper to be given to Swamy as he suffers from Parkinson’s disease and is un-

able to hold glasses provided to him by the jail.

The NIA has been asked to file a reply to the plea

by November 26.

Swamy is one of the oldest accused to be arrested on charges under the Unlawful Activities

KALANITHI MARAN CASE

(Prevention) Act. Last month, the court rejected his interim bail plea filed on medical grounds. NIA had opposed plea stating that Swamy “under the garb of the current situation on account of the global pandemic Covid-19 is trying to take undue benefit of the situation”. Swamy along with seven others was chargesheeted for his alleged role as a member of banned organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist). —PTI

Mumbai: Film producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad and African national Agisilaos Demetriades were on Saturday remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Mumbai court in connection with a second drugs case related to the recovery of cocaine from a Nigerian national.

Earlier, the two were taken for medical examinations as part of the procedure

on the completion of their custody to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Kshitij Ravi Prasad, the former executive producer of a digital content company was recently arrested and sent to NCB custody in connection with a case involving the recovery of cocaine from a Nigerian national in Mumbai. Prasad was arrested by the NCB on Sept 26, 2020.

RAJIV GANDHI ASSASSINATION CASE

SC stays order asking Only courts can decide on SpiceJet to deposit ` 243 cr release of convicts: TNCC Chief New Delhi: According October. However, the to media reports, the Supreme Court (SC) has stayed an order by the Delhi HC, which directed SpiceJet to deposit Rs 243 crore with the Registry in its ongoing arbitration case with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airlines.

The HC had directed SpiceJet to deposit the sum by six weeks, or 14

PUNJAB CM’S SON FAILS TO APPEAR BEFORE ED IN FEMA CASE Jalandhar: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s son Raninder Singh failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate at its Jalandhar office Friday in an alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act violation case. His lawyer and Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Raninder is indisposed, therefore, he could not appear before the ED on health grounds. “My client Raninder Singh is suffering from high fever, cold & cough.

He has given a sample for RT-PCR Covid test, the report of which is awaited.

deadline expired and no payment was received.

KAL then approached the Delhi HC, pleading attachment of Ajay Singh’s shareholding in SpiceJet. They sought appointment of a director to take over management of SpiceJet. SpiceJet then moved SC for relief, pleading against the HC order.

—ANI

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee leader KS Alagiri on Saturday said only the court can decide on the release of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and urged political parties from demanding the same.

In a statement, Alagiri said that if the con-

DELHI GOVT, MHA NOD TO PROSECUTE JNU’S KHALID, IMAM New Delhi: Delhi government has granted prosecution sanction against former JNU student leader Umar Khalid & PhD scholar at the varsity Sharjeel Imam in connection with a case related to the February communal violence in northeast Delhi, sources said on Friday.The police can now name them in their

supplementary charge sheet, an official said. In a statement, government said that this is a purely procedural matter, adding that elected government has no role to play in this.

“The law department has given its legal opinion after due diligence to home department of Delhi government. Elected government has no role to play in this.

victs were released, similar demands would prop up to release the other convicts who have spent more than 25

years in jail.

“If the court decides to release all the seven life convicts, we will accept it. However, it is not acceptable for the political parties to seek their release. Those who committed the murder should be seen as murderers and not as Tamilians,” the statement read.

—Agencies

ODISHA BORN ADITI PARIDA TOPS CDS II, 2019 EXAM (WOMEN) Bhubaneswar: Odisha born Aditi Parida has topped the Combined Defence Services (CDS) II, 2019 examination (women), the results of which were published recently, official sources said.

The merit list carrying a total of 241 candidates includes 174 candidates who cleared the exams for Officers Training Academy, Chennai for short service Commission Course (NT) (for Men) and 67 candidates who cleared the exams for Officers Training Academy, Chennai, Short Service Commission Women (Non-Technical) Course.

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‘Pak can use tension for trouble in border state’ Punjab MPs delegation meets Shah; seeks resumption of train services New Delhi: Amid the stand-off between the Centre and Punjab over farm laws and disruption in goods train services, the Congress MPs from the state held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, apprising him of their concern that Pakistan can use the tension to foment trouble in the border state.

Several MPs pointed out that the tension in the region due to nonoperation of goods trains and farmers’ agitation can be used by the enemy intelligence outfit ISI. “When the situation between the Centre and any state becomes tense, bad elements like Pakistan’s ISI take advantage of it and can mislead youngsters.

Punjab is a peaceful

Farmers protesting in Punjab on Saturday.

state and should remain so,” said Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

The MP added that Shah told them that he is mindful of the situation and is aware of the neighbouring country’s intention regarding Punjab.

“Punjab is a border state and there could be a serious problem if things aren’t resolved soon. Home Minister Amit Shah assured us that he is taking stock of Punjab and we will resolve the issues soon,” he added.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Another MP Jasbir Singh Gill said that the meeting took place in a healthy and positive environment. Rail services are expected to be resumed soon as the disruption has affected the economy of the state, he added.

Armed forces have to be prepared for hybrid threats: IAF chief New Delhi: The armed forces have to be prepared for hybrid threats emanating from multiple fronts, which mandates a high level of knowledge, dedication, commitment and sacrifice and leadership at all levels at all times, Indian Air Force chief RKS Bhadauria said on Saturday.

He was addressing the passing out parade for 217 cadets of the 139th course at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.

Addressing the cadets here, Bhadauria said that it’s an honour for him to review the 139th parade, adding that the excellent standard of parade displayed today “exemplifies the ethos of this great institution”.

“Our armed forces have to be prepared for hybrid threats emanating from multiple fronts. This mandates a

Arnab to remain in jail as HC reserves order

‘Centre should prepare to welcome ‘Bharat Ki Beti’ Kamala Harris’

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Saturday reserved its order on a plea filed by Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami challenging his arrest and seeking relief in connection with the 2018 abetment of suicide case.

A division bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice MS Karnik also granted Goswami the liberty to file a bail plea in a lower court and directed the court to decide on his bail plea, if and when filed, within a period of four days. Goswami and two others -Feroz Shaikh and Sarda

New Delhi: Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury today said that the government should prepare itself to welcome US vice-presidential candidate Kamal Harris stating that she is destined to lead the oldest democracy in the world. “#Bharat_ki_beti Kamala Harris is destined to lead the oldest democracy in the world USA as a Vice President and a probable President of that great country in the near future,” Chowdhury tweeted. “The

Notice to Maharashtra government -- were on Wednesday sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Alibag district magistrate court in connection with Anvay Naik suicide case.

Earlier on Wednesday, Goswami was arrested in the death case of interior designer Anvay Naik, who allegedly died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018.

The Bombay HC on Saturday issued notice on a petition filed by Adnya Anvay Naik, seeking inquiry against those police officers filed closure report in the 2018 abetment to suicide case against Republic TV Chief, Goswami. A Division Bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik issued notice to the Maha govt.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

govt of India should prepare itself for according a warm, grand and tumultuous welcome in honour of her, being an Indian we are all proud of her. Hats off to Kamala Harris,” he said in another tweet.

‘Govt taking steps to combat air pollution’ New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar virtually inaugurated a compressed biogas demonstration plant in Pune for biomass production during a meeting held to discuss “steps taken for prevention of air pollution in Delhi-NCR with emphasis on finding a permanent solution” on Friday.

“Government is tak-

Prakash Javadekar

ing all steps to combat air pollution in Delhi and North India and we will be using all

possible technological interventions towards that. We have launched a demonstration plant

virtually at Pune which produces compressed biogas from biomass,” Javadekar tweeted.

“It’s my pleasure to be present on this occasion. Such technology (biogas plant) will take care of the issue of stubble burning especially in North India,” Prakash Javadekar said.

According to an official statement, top of-

RaGa congratulates Biden, Harris for US election win New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Joe Biden for winning the US presidential election on Saturday, hoping that the Democrat would unite the US and provide direction to it.

Gandhi also congratulated Senator Kamala Harris for becoming the first-ever woman vice president-elect of the United States. She will also be the first Indianorigin, first Black and

Rahul Gandhi

first African American vice president of the country.

“Congratulations to

President-elect Joe Biden. I’m confident that he will unite America and provide it with

a strong sense of direction,” Gandhi tweeted.

“Cong ratulations, Vice-President-elect @ KamalaHarris! It makes us proud that the first woman to serve as Vice President of the USA traces her roots to India,” Gandhi said. Biden defeated incumbent Republican US President Donald Trump in the closely-fought presidential election, according to American media projections.

—PTI

ficials of the Union Environment and the Health Ministries and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab attended the meeting. Dr MM Kutty, ex-secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was appointed as the president and Arvind K Nautiyal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment as a full-time member of the panel.

06

POWER Gallery HEERALAL SAMARIYA SWORN-IN AS INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

A former IAS officer, Heeralal Samariya, who was Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment in Government of India, has been swornin as Information Commissioner.

MS SAROJ PUNHANI SWORN-IN AS INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

BATTLESPACE

An IA & AS officer, Ms Saroj Punhani, who was holding the post of Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General (HR & Training) in Government of India, has been sworn-in as Information Commissioner.

UDAY MAHURKAR SWORN-IN AS INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

Uday Mahurkar, a veteran journalist, has been sworn-in as Information Commissioner. Top Prev Next Click here for Your.

18 OFFICERS OF MADHYA PRADESH AWARDED IAS CADRE

very high level of knowledge, dedication, commitment and sacrifice and leadership at all levels at all times.

This is what each service and nation expect from you,” he said.

Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha takes oath as CIC New Delhi: Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) on Saturday, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.

President Ram Nath Kovind has administered the oath of office to Sinha as the Chief Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, it said.

The post had been lying vacant for over two months after Bimal Julka completed his term on August 26.

Sinha, a former diplomat, joined as the Information Commissioner on January 1, 2019. He has served as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

Sinha, aged 62, will have a tenure of about three years as the CIC.

As many as 18 officers of the Madhya Pradesh State Civil Service have been awarded Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre for the Select List of 2019. The officers are: Kedar Singh, Rajesh Batham, Santosh Kumar Verma, Dinesh Kumar Maurya, Vivek Shrotiya, Rajesh Kumar Ogrey, Arun Kumar Parmar, Bharti Jatav Ogrey, Vikas Mishra, Ajay Shrivastava, Meenakshi Singh, Kailash Wankhede, Amar Bahadur Singh, Manish Sentiya, Neeraj Kumar Vashishtha, Kishore Kumar Kanyal, Roohi Khan and Pawan Kumar Jain.

WILL TAPAN MISHRA RETURN TO ACADEMICS?

Advisor to the ISRO Chairman, Tapan Mishra is likely to return to the Academics after his superannuation in January. Will he move to US or Khadakpur?

PRABAL BASU SKIPS BOARD MEETING, UNLIKELY TO GET EXTENSION AS CMD, BLC

Prabal Basu is reported to be conspicuous by his absence at Board meeting. According to sources, he is unlikely to get an extension to the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Balmer Lawrie & Co Limited (BLC). However, the Ministry has not issued any official instructions to the company in this respect.

DEPUTATION OF MUKESH CHOUDHARY EXTENDED

The deputation period of Mukesh Choudhary, working as Director, Ministry of Coal, has been extended upto March 16, 2023. He is a 1996 batch IOFS officer.

HUKUM SINGH MEENA AGAIN JOINS CENTRAL DEPUTATION AFTER A GAP OF TWO MONTHS

Hukum Singh Meena, whose central deputation tenure ended on August 17, 2020, was again deputed to the centre as Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resources on November 3, 2020. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

MS. RITU SINGH SHARMA RELIEVED TO JOIN AS JOINT SECRETARY, CBSE

Ms. Ritu Singh Sharma has been relieved to join as Joint Secretary in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi on deputation basis. She is an IRS-IT officer.

TIWARI LIKELY TO JOIN ED

Avanish Tiwari, who is presently posted as JD, ITD in Bhopal, is likely to join ED as JD. He is an IRS officer.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

FROM PG 1 Bihar ka...

In terms of vote share, Today’s Chanakya projected 44 per cent for the RJD-led opposition alliance and 34 per cent for the NDA. However, ABP-CVoter projected a higher vote share for NDA at 37.7 per cent followed by the grand alliance with 36.3 per cent and 26 per cent for others.

India Today-Axis My India poll showed 44 per cent of respondents prefer Tejashwi Yadav as the next chief minister, while 35 per cent would like to give another chance to Nitish Kumar. It projected

44 per cent vote share for the RJD-led alliance and 39 per cent for the NDA. In the last assembly elections held in 2015, the RJD had won 80 seats with a vote share of 18 per cent, while JD(U) won 71 seats with vote share of 11 per cent. The BJP had won 53 seats with 24 per cent vote share and Congress had 27 seats and seven per cent votes.

At that time, the JD(U) had fought the election in alliance with RJD and Congress among other parties, while LJP was in

the BJP-led NDA alliance. LJP had got two seats with five per cent vote share.

This time, JD(U) is back in the NDA, while LJP fought the election alone. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when both JD(U) and LJP were in the NDA, the alliance had won 39 out of 40 seats in the state.

Tejashwi to... contesting on 16 seats in this round, may cut into their votes and could win one to two seats. NDA also faces a tough fight in Purnia, Araria and Katihar. In

the Kosi belt too, the Grand Alliance looks ahead with only NDA veterans such as ministers, Bijendra Prasad Yadav (Supaul) and Narendra Narayan Yadav (Alamganj) looking good to retain their bastions.

Despite the pandemic, Bihar saw a considerable voter turnout with Phase 1 recording 54 per cent votes –– marginally lower than 54.75 per cent for the same seats in 2015 elections.

Similarly, Phase 2 witnessed 55.7 per cent voter turnout as compared to 56.17 per cent recorded last time.

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07

What we’ve learned from 20 years of the International Space Station Tracy Caldwell Dyson aboard the ISS

N

ovember 2 marked 20 years since the first residents arrived on the International Space Station (ISS). The orbiting habitat has been continuously occupied ever since.

Twenty straight years of life in space makes the ISS the ideal “natural laboratory” to understand how societies function beyond Earth.

The ISS is a collaboration between

25 space agencies and organisations. It has hosted 241 crew and a few tourists from 19 countries.

This is 43% of all the people who have ever travelled in space.

As future missions to the Moon and Mars are planned, it’s important to know what people need to thrive in remote, dangerous and enclosed environments, where there is no easy way back home.

ADAPTING TO SPACE LIFE

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio looks towards Earth from the Cupola in 2016.

Y

uri Gagarin’s voyage around Earth in 1961 proved humans could survive in space. Actually living in space was another matter.

Today’s space stations don’t spin to provide gravity. There is no up or down. If you let go of an object, it will float away. Everyday activities like drinking or washing require planning.

Spots of “gravity” occur through the space station, in the form of hand or footholds, straps, clips, and Velcro dots to secure people and objects.

In the Russian modules, surfaces facing towards Earth (“down”) are coloured olive-green while walls and surfaces facing away from

Earth (“up”) are beige. This helps crew to orient themselves.

Colour is important in other ways, too. Skylab, for example, was so lacking in colour that astronauts broke the monotony by staring at the coloured cards used to calibrate their video cameras.

In movies, space stations are often sleek and clean. The reality is vastly different.The ISS is smelly, noisy, messy, and awash in shed skin cells and crumbs.

There are some perks, however. The Cupola module offers perhaps the best view available to humans anywhere: a 180-degree panorama of Earth passing by below.

SOURCE: THECONVERSATION.COM

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORBITAL HABITATS

In Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, a spinning wheel-like space station creates gravity using centripetal force.

The fully assembled International Space Station.

T

he first fictional space station was Edward Everett Hale’s 1869 “Brick Moon”. Inside were 13 spherical living chambers.

In 1929, Hermann Noordung theorised a wheel-shaped space station that would spin to create “artificial” gravity. The spinning wheel was championed by rocket scientist Wernher von Braun in the 1950s and featured in the classic 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Instead of spheres or wheels, real space stations turned out to be cylinders.

The first space station was the USSR’s Salyut 1 in 1971, followed by another six stations in the Salyut programme over the next decade. The USA launched its first space station, Skylab, in

T

he ISS is massively expensive to run.

NASA’s costs alone are US$3-4 billion a year, and many argue it’s not worth it. Without more commercial investment, ISS may be deorbited in 2028 and sent to the ocean floor to join Mir. The next stage in space-station life is likely to occur in orbit around the Moon. The Lunar Gateway project, planned by a group of

The fictional ‘Brick Moon’ was constructed from bricks because they are heat-resistant.

1973. All of these were tube-shaped structures.

The Soviet station Mir, launched in 1986, was the first to be built with a core to which other modules were added later. Mir was still in orbit when the first modules of the International Space Station were launched in 1998.

Mir was brought down in 2001, and broke up as it plummeted through the atmosphere. What survived likely ended up under 5000 meters of water at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

The ISS now consists of 16 modules: four Russian, nine US, two Japanese, and one European.

It’s the size of a five-bedroom house on the inside, with six regular crew serving for six months at a time.

Oleg Kononenko in the Zvezda module in 2008, showing icons and heroes pinned on the wall in the background.

‘A MICROSOCIETY LIVING ALONE IN A MINIWORLD’

T

he crew use all kinds of objects to express their identities in this miniworld, as space habitats were called in a 1972 report. Unused wall space becomes like your refrigerator door, covered with items of personal and group significance.

In the Zvezda module, Orthodox icons and pictures of space heroes like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Gagarin create a sense of belonging and connection to home.

Food plays a huge role in bonding. Ritu-

THE FUTURE OF LIVING IN SPACE

space agencies led by NASA, will be smaller than the ISS. Crews will live on board for up to a month at a time.

Its modules, based on the design of the ISS,

are due to be launched into lunar orbit in the next decade.

One preliminary habitat design for the Lunar Gateway has four expandable crew

cabins, to give people a little more space. But the sleeping, exercise, latrine, and eating areas are all much closer together.

Since ISS crews like

to create improvised visual displays, we might suggest including spaces reserved for such displays in nextgeneration habitats.

In popular culture,

als of sharing food, celebrating holidays and birthdays, help form camaraderie between crew of different national and cultural backgrounds.

It’s not all plain sailing. In 2009, toilets briefly became a source of international conflict when decisions on the ground meant Russian crew were forbidden to use the US toilets and exercise equipment.

In this “microsociety”, technology isn’t only about function.

It plays a role in social cohesion.

the ISS has become Santa’s sleigh. In recent years, parents around the world have taken their children outside on Christmas Eve to spot the ISS passing overhead.

The ISS has shaped the space culture of the 20th and 21st centuries, symbolising international cooperation after the Cold War. It still has much to teach us about how to live in space.

A truely educated and mature person is as balanced in the face of criticism as in the face of praise.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

J

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

TAMIL NADU 11,324 DEATHS 7,41,488 CASES

Manmohan Singh-led UPA government was at the center then from which Bihar got a relief package of one thousand crores. But in this Kosi zone, there was a steady decline in Nitish’s popularity ever since. So, the NDA had to throw in everything here for damage control and just 18 minutes before the end of the third phase election campaign, PM Modi issued his forward letter and says’ If there is Nitish in Bihar then here the caravan of development will continue, the money will continue to come from the Center.” Notably, in this phase of the election, Nitish openly defied the ‘Citizenship Amendment Act’ but no big leader of BJP came out with a rebuttal. Yes, Yogi Adityanath did pick up the issue in public meetings wherein he mentioned ‘CAA’, but it was just the puny sound among thunder. So, in Bihar, the writings of people’s aspirations are written on the walls.

DEATHS

KARNATAKA 11,369 DEATHS 8,44,147 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

WILL NITISH BECOME VICE PRESIDENT? f Nitish Kumar fails to get Bihar’s throne for the fourth time, then what will be his future?

It is said that he has the choice that he can join the Modi cabinet if he wants as the cabinet reshuffle can happen anytime after Diwali. Since Nitish has information that BJP has also offered LJP leader Chirag Paswan to join the Modi cabinet, Nitish is in a dilemma as to how he should be in the same cabinet with Chirag?

If sources

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are to be believed, there is a unique proposal from the saffron camp in front of Nitish that if he wants, he can become the next Vice President of the country? What better offer can there be for a leader playing his last innings in electoral politics?

RAM MADHAV EYES RAJYA SABHA fter the death of BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka Ashok Gasti - due to Corona, the election on this vacant seat is to be held on December 1.

Ram Madhav is firmly asserting his claim on this seat, saying that his personal connections with the newly elected Vice President of America Kamala Harris are very good. It is said that Madhav is claiming his Tamil Nadu connection to Harris. At the same time, there is a section of the BJP which is

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saying that diplomacy does not run on a particular person. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also said to be in favor of the same opinion. Jaishankar’s father Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam is one of the foremost international strategists while his brother Sanjay Subrahmanyam is a worldrenowned historian.

BJP leaders are raising the question that if Ram Madhav really had such a good relationship with Harris, why did he not act to turn Harris’s stand on the Kashmir issue because he has been in charge of

RAJASTHAN 1,979 DEATHS 2,09,438 CASES

Jammu and Kashmir even during the removal of Article 370. Harris was also strongly opposed to the removal and has been calling Kashmir an international issue. Harris still made it an issue when Jaishankar refused to meet American Congressman Pramila Jeyapaul in December 2019.

YOGI’S ‘ADITYA’ AMBITIONS ttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is always worried about his image, so he has a special request for his publicity. In recent days, Yogi’s huge hoardings have been

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City’s expenses amount to Rs125 cr, a far cry from Ahmedabad’s Rs500 cr

First India Bureau spent Rs500 crore and Surat, Rs300 crore. The vast difference in expenditure can be put down to the limited number of private beds hired by the Vadodara corporation for the treatment of patients.

Education Secretary and Officer on Special Duty Vinod Rao told the media that private hospitals were asked to keep 50 beds reserved for COVID-19 patients.

However, if the beds remained unused, the Va-

—FILE PHOTO

Vadodara’s SSG Hospital.

dodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) would only pay 50%.

The civic body took a simple route to keep expenses low. For in-

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

stance, if “corona warriors” especially doctors got infected, they were kept at bullet train hospitals—where room rents were as low as

Rs2,500—instead of treating them at five- or seven-star hospitals.

The civic administration had raised Rs5 crore and 100 ventilators in donations, which also lessened the financial burden. In addition, the administration also did not provide Remdesivir and Tocilizumab injections to private hospitals, to the medical bills low. Per day, a maximum of 3,500 tests were conducted.

Yet, the civic body closely monitored bed availability and usage, so there was neither duplication nor wasted empty beds.

Cong accuses NAFED of seeking bribes from farmers First India Bureau Jamnagar: Officers of the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) were demanding bribes when procuring groundnut at minimum support price (MSP), according to allegations made by Congress. The matter came to the attention of the party’s leaders in Jamnagar.

Congress MLA Pravin Musadiya and other leaders examined the Kalavad market in the Jamnagar district. Musadiya told journalists that they had received complaints from farmers. The farmers claimed that although

TREMORS FELT

Earthquake of magnitude 4.3 rocks South Gujarat Another one, measuring 2.1, occured about 50km from Kevadia

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ter scale, occurred 50km away from Kevadia, at a depth of about a kilometre under the Earth surface, at 5.06 pm. The third, witnessed in Dubhai near Kutch, had a magnitude of 1.6 and an epicentre about 2km under the Earth.

The effects of the Bharuch quake were felt all the way over in Surat, where residents of Ada-

installed by the UP Vikas Nigam in 12 major metros of the country and thus Delhi’s metro has been painted in the color of Yogi. Sources reveal that 128 hoardings of Yogis have been installed in Delhi NCR alone, apart from this Yogi is also shining in the capitals of many South Indian cities, such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, etc. Now the people of South India may not be able to read the hoardings in the Hindi language, but they can understand that this individual is a ‘big leader’.

Yogi Adityanath

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Surat: The state witnessed three earthquakes on Saturday.

The most intense one, which registered at 4.3 on the Richter scale, occurred at 3.39 pm at a depth of 5.9km beneath the Earth’s surface about 36km away from Bharuch. The second, with an intensity of 2.1 on the Rich-

CONFIRMED CASES

Ram Madhav

Vadodara spent less than A’bad & Surat to treat patients with nCoV

First India Bureau

DEATHS

DELHI 6,912 DEATHS 4,30,784 CASES

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

Nitish Kumar

Vadodara: While Vadodara city and district were among the worst affected in the state after Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot in terms of COVID-19 cases, but has shown to be among the best performing districts when it comes to treatment-related expenditure.

Till date, the district has spent Rs125 crore on COVID-19 treatment, while Ahmedabad has

GUJARAT

1,253,151 4,99,64,598 1,26,077 84,95,202 3,756 1,79,679

MAHARASHTRA 45,115 DEATHS 17,14,273 CASES

WHY DID NITISH HAVE TO CALL IT HIS LAST ELECTION? ust before Bihar’s third and final phase of polling, ‘Good Governance Babu’ (Nitish Kumar) ran his trump card saying that ‘this is his last election’, but look ironically neither Trump could ‘score’ in the US elections nor Nitish’s emotional card in Seemanchal area worked. It is worth mentioning that the Yadav, Muslim, Dalit, and Mahadalit had the highest votes in these 78 seats in the last phase. It is said that when the Kosi river floods occurred in 2008, as a first-term CM Nitish did a good job.

The

INDIA

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A map showing the effects of the Bharuch earthquake.

jan and Jahangirpura rushed out of their homes and only returned when they realised that there had been no damage to property.

Basant Parekh, Surat’s fire chief, has nevertheless put his teams on standby. “We presume that when a tremor comes, another follows within 10 hours. Although it’s an assumption, we take no risks and have deployed our people on alert mode.”

According to a press release issued by the

state government, Institute of Seismological Research in Gandhinagar said that the epicentre of the Kevadia earthquake was about 50km away from the Sardar Sarovar Dam. However, no damage was caused to either the Sardar Sarovar Dam or the Statue of Unity, which are both “designed Designed to withstand an earthquake of 6.5 with an epicentre distance of 12km radius from Sardar Sarovar Dam.”

NAFED officers insist they have been following state guidelines while procuring groundnut at MSP. —FILE PHOTO

the state has granted permission to fill 25kg of groundnut in a 50kg bag, NAFED officers insisted on 30kg of groundnut.

They also alleged that NAFED officers were asking for bribes for promising not to raise quality issues and even fill correct quantities of

groundnut. They have also alleged that the officers are rejecting small farmer crops on the basis of quality and other issues so they can favour others. NAFED officers say they have been following state guidelines when procuring groundnut at MSP.

10K km of roads fixed in Gujarat: Nitin Patel First India Bureau Gandhinagar: The state government has repaired and resurfaced over 10,000 km of roads in district and state highways, says Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.

More than 75,000 km of roads have been affected by heavy rains and floods across the state.

Patel told reporters that during the monsoon season this year, the state received its highest rainfall in recent years, which caused floods in some parts of the state.

In some areas, even short spells of rains have damaged roads, he said.

Since September, 10,676 km of roads have been repaired. As much as 9,605 km of roads have been repaired by the various state agencies while 1,071 km has been repaired by contractors.

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AHMEDABAD, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2020

IMMORTALIZING

GLAMOUR PRASAD BIDAPA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

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Models showcasing fashion designer Suneet Varma’s designs

first met Suneet Varma in New Delhi in the late 80’s. This young man had just returned from his apprenticeship in Paris and was thinking of launching his own label. He went on to do just that and was soon seen as one of India’s most sophisticated designers. His extravagant and beautifully detailed ensembles seemed to marry India’s bridal silhouettes to French couture in extremely refined ways.

Suneet Varma is a name that immortalizes glamour and combines it with a timeless style. Using the most delicate of tints and a mastery of colour, his extravagant confections were presented at imaginative shows and events where he partnered with the best of international brands l i k e B M W, Moet & Chandon.

After getting his degree from Europe in 1986, he went on to work with renowned couturier

Yves Saint Laurent in Paris.

Meticulous craftsmanship, a strong design sensibility and undying love for sartorial research, the Varma brand exudes fantasy, sexy sophistication and unadulterated feminity for the woman of today.

For his International partnership with designer Judith Leiber, the world’s most renowned luxury brand for bejeweled handbags, Suneet created a beautiful and luxurious collection.

‘Suneet Varma for Judith Leiber’ minaudières are now being retailed across the world at the Judith Leiber boutiques in Los Angeles, Miami, Paris, Tokyo along with Harrods in London and Bergdoff Goodman in New York. Every season, his collection is unveiled at the Vandome Fair in Paris. His signature bags are carried by the ‘Sex and the City’ star Sarah Jessica Parker and Hollywood divas Mariah Carey and Jenifer Lopez. His designs are also very popular amongst the leading ladies of Bollywood, like Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra,

Suneet Varma

Kangna Ranaut, Preity Zinta and are featured on the International and Indian red carpet.

Suneet has also worked closely with the Bollywood film industry and dressed top actresses, socially and in high profile movies. His costume for the awardwinning movie ‘Monsoon Wedding’ was nominated for the Oscars. He created the look for Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori in the movie, ‘Kites’. He has also been awarded ‘Designer of the Year’ by MTV. Suneet is the Managing Director and owner of his company, Suneet Varma Design Pvt. Ltd. The company currently has a design studio facility and manufacturing operations employing over 200 persons.

ETC AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20 You can begin a steady movement forward this week as Mars, your ruling planet, begins to move forward after having been retrograde since 10th September. It has likely generated some frustration in this time but also encouraged you to correct matters. Interactions with others or the position they hold can become clearer.

Gains from unforeseen quarters await you. The unmarried can scout matrimony sites to find their dream partners and find success.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20 Communication with others can become more significant from now to early December.

Something can be finalised that may have been started in October but got nowhere. You are now in a better position to have your priorities taken into account than previously. There can be genuine interest in your future goals. Now is the time to let bygones be bygones; enjoy the present and be optimistic about the future. Some might even land a new job.

GEMINI

WEEKLY 8 TO 14 NOVEMBER

ANNE HATHAWAY CELEBRATES HER BIRTHDAY ON 12 NOVEMBER. THIS PERIOD IS THE CULMINATION OF A STAGE OF PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. EVENTS OCCURRING THIS YEAR MAY BRING VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS IN HER EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR SPIRITUAL LIFE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO A HEAD. RELATIONSHIPS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. THERE CAN BE INCREASED ACTIVITY IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC LIFE, CAUSING A CONFLICT WITH HER DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL GOALS.

LEO

LIBRA

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

If you feel something is too much to handle or that too much is expected of you, there is the perfect opportunity to sort this out once and for all, from now to early December. You will need to put consistent effort into it. This will be the only way you will convince other people that you are serious. Then you will have to stick to it. You will be generous and helpful this week. Don’t undervalue your contributions.

You will adapt well to change. Research scholars will excel in their chosen area. You could begin to either see results or what is possible in the future with something important to you personally where you set out in a new direction 2 years ago.

Progress can be made from now to early January.

It will require you to put your mind to establishing a solid underlying foundation to build upon to early December.

A turning point on the part of somebody else can be a relief to you, leaving you in a position to be able to establish greater balance in your own circumstances. You need to encourage them to move forward in their own way. Focus on your finances and anything that wasn’t fully sorted in October will be the case to early December. Selfless service is your motto this week. Lady luck will smile on you.

CANCER

VIRGO

SCORPIO

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SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 22

Greater clarity on what your priorities need to be will now require you to focus from now to early December on what you need to let go. You can realise that you will be freer to move forward in your own creative way, though that doesn’t need to be done in a hurry. There can still be things to surface, so have some patience. Some of you who have been going through emotionally traumatic times will recover.

CAPRICORN DEC 23 - JAN 20

It is back to focussing on your priorities from now to early December after initial considerations in October. Better opportunities may present themselves now. You might have changed your mind in some way as well.

Greater confidence should now be present to put matters in place, knowing that you can move forward with them. Do good even to your enemies; they will bring you indirect gains.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

Make definite decisions when it comes to commitments you are prepared to take on. This does not mean you have to agree with what is expected. You have had plenty of time since mid September to consider your options and gather any information necessary. This can have a lot to do with major new cycles you will enter just before Christmas. You will recover from an illness and will be able to work hard.

PISCES

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

FEB20 - MARCH 20

There is no holding you back this week; you will undertake challenges and succeed. The ability to take a balanced position when it comes to commitments that are worthwhile or those you wish to handle, is in play this week. Other people can be open to any creative ideas you put forward from now to early December. You should not hold back when it comes to anything you want to discuss either.

Take a break from your busy schedule and spend more time with your family. Definite decision making, particularly on any matter you may have tried to be final about in October will now be possible to early December. This may not alleviate somebody else pushing for what they want. You are in a good position to take a risk with whatever you feel will work. If you don’t try, you will never know.

Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, moves back into your own sign where it will remain until 2nd December. This is giving you the opportunity to make some final decisions and move forward with any matter affecting you personally. Don’t be distracted by anything going on behind the scenes. Focus on you.

Directions you can take in the future will have a more positive feel attached to them from now to early December. You may have tried without complete success during October. There was something to learn but now you a free to move forward. Greater insight or clarity can arise when it comes to what should take priority.

Health will be a cause for concern but you will recover.

ETC AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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FAR-OUTDOORS

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Grateful!

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Farhan Akhtar

B

ollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has shared a beautiful video on his Instagram handle that captures him doing scuba diving in the Maldives among the corals. The actor can be seen peacefully scuba diving in the video just like he did in his film ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. And it is so beautiful that it will surely give you travel blues. The actor did not mention in his post whether it was a throwback video or a recent one but it is winning our hearts. Farhan has also added calm music in the background of the video. While sharing the video on his Instagram handle, he wrote, “Feed your soul” followed with a few hashtags like #scuba, #ray, #maldives and #faroutdoors.

—Agency

hloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson recently made light of the 29-year-old basketball superstar’s cheating scandal with Jordyn Woods during the latest episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Thursday. During the episode, Khloe explained that she was grateful that Tristan stepped in to take care of 2-year-old daughter True while she quarantined with coronavirus.

“I’m so thankful that Tristan’s been here to help me take care of True, and then he’ll make me some food and leave it outside my door. Even though we’re not together, we’re just really good friends, and I’m really, really grateful for that,” she explained, adding that she created a funny massage pillow character named Quarantina.

—Agency

Cheryl and Liam Payne

Lashed out

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STUNNING LIGHT

Khloe Kardashian and her post

iam Payne, who is a dad to threeyear-old boy Bear Payne which he shares with ex-girlfriend Cheryl, had unfortunately not been able to meet his son as often as he would have liked in the past few months, owing to the nationwide lockdown in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, an interview with the British tabloid had the following headline: “’It’s not usual for me to be in and out of his life’: Liam Payne says he and Cheryl agreed he should take some ‘time away’ from son Bear.”

Not taking too lightly to what he considers to be a misleading title to his interview, Payne lashed out at the publication in a scathing post.

“Usually I let these things slide but this is completely out of context ... I couldn’t see my son because of the worldwide pandemic that is happening not because I had anything wrong with me like this headline hints at,” Liam clarified.

—Agency

DIAGNOSED

WITH MALARIA

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Karisma Kapoor

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ollywood diva Karisma Kapoor is ageing like a fine wine and there is no denying that. The stunning actress never fails to leave us in awe.

She manages to make heads turn with her stunning looks and sartorial choices. The talented star also enjoys a huge fanbase on social media. The Dil Toh Pagal hai star has shared an alluring picture of herself on the photo-sharing app. Alongside the photo, Karisma wrote, “Evening light.”

Karisma looks drop-dead gorgeous in the picture.

—Agency

SPOTTED! Kriti Kharbanda

riti Kharbanda is one of those Bollywood actresses who are often active on social media. Recently, the actress has been diagnosed with Malaria. She took to her Instagram handle to share an update about her health for the fans. Kriti has also shared a selfie with the post shared on her social media handle.

She has requested her fans to share funny memes as she wants to kill her boredom.

While sharing the selfie on her Instagram story, Kriti writes, ‘’Hi! This is my malaria wala face. Say hi world:) it’s just visiting, not here to stay coz I need to get back to work. To all those who are worried about me, I’m doing better today and hoping for an even better tomorrow. I am bored of resting. And bored of having nothing else to do.”

—Agency

Henry Golding and Liv Lo

EXCITING NEWS

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enry Golding just announced some very exciting news – he’s expecting his first child with wife Liv Lo! The 33-year-old Crazy Rich Asians actor revealed the news on his Instagram account by sharing photos where Liv‘s baby bump is

clearly showing. “2021 is already looking brighter,” Henry captioned the post on his account.

Liv posted photos on her page as well and said, “Such immense joy this little one has brought us already.

Now we get to share it with you. We love you!”

For the unversed, Henry and Liv met back in 2011 and they have been married since 2016. She is a television host and yoga instructor. You might also recognize Henry from his roles in A Simple Favor, Last Christmas, and The Gentlemen.

—Agency

SUGAR-FREE DATES DRYNUTS ROLLS

Malaika Arora

M

alaika Arora often gets photographed by the paparazzi whenever she steps out of her house. She was snapped in the evening as she took her dog, Casper out for a walk. Dressed in a grey sports bra and black track pants, the actress looked simple yet uber cool.

Her white sports shoes and braided hair completed her overall sporty look. To note, Malaika is a fitness enthusiast and she often steps out for a walk with her pet. Besides, she is also known for her fashion statement and never leaves a chance to stun the fans with her style.

—Agency

VRTIKA JAIN

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

INGREDIENTS: Seedless Dates/Khajur - 500 GM’s Ghee/ Clarified Butter - 2 Tbsp Khaskhas / Poppy Seeds - 2 Tbsp Mixed Nuts ( almonds, pistachio, cashew ) - 180 Gms Cardamom Powder - 1/4 TSP Nutmeg Powder - Pinch METHOD: Grind the seedless Dates in a Mixer till it comes in a coarse form ( without water)

Dry roast poppy seeds.

Keep poppy sides aside to cool.

Take ghee in a pan and roast all the chopped dry nuts. (for the crunchy flavour) Stir continuously so it doesn’t burn.

Keep them aside.

Now heat ghee in a pan and cook the dates mixture in it.

For 1-2 min on low to the mid flame. Till the dates become soft.

Now put all the dry nuts with the dates.

Now add Elaichi Powder, Nutmeg and a little bit of roasted khaskhas ( Poppy seeds ) Mix them all and make in a dough form and let it cool just a bit.

Now make a roll of this mixture Now spread the Khas Khas ( poppy seeds and pista ) on a slab.

Now roll the roll on the Khas Khas and pista. ( So that it looks very presentable ) Roll it on an aluminium foil and fold the aluminium foil on it.

Now let it cool in a refrigerator.

Now cut the roll with a sharp knife ( 1/2 to 1 inch thick pieces ) Now you can take the aluminium foil out.

It’s ready, you can store it in an airtight container. For 2-3 weeks

CITY BUZZ AHMEDABAD | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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CORONA FREE

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PRE-DIWALI SHOOT!

RAJ MANDIR Jagdeesh Chandra with (from left) Aaru Soni, Riya Suledia and Pooja Sharma at the pre-diwali shoot held at his residence on Saturday evening.

EVENTS! Image of Raj Mandir theatre, Jaipur City First

Elite Miss Rajasthan season-7 is going to organise the first round of Jaipur audition on 8 November, today, at Hilton Jaipur.

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he coronavirus pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our lives, resulting in adaptation of new safety techniques. Keeping this in mind, Raj Mandir has installed UVDR ultraviolet lights in all the theatre rooms, which will kill the coronavirus and 19 other germs. The FB Tech’s result is proven by Dr Sandeep Sharma. The products of FB Tech will reduce the spread of coronavirus with a ray of light, which is common-

HAPPY B’DAY!

Charvi Tanya Dutta

ly known as Ultraviolet rays.

The company has introduced a wide range of human care products in the field of UVC sterilization lamps, the UVDR

disinfection robots, ABS plastic Lamp, UV sterilization cart, pocket UVC and car & Ambulance UVC. All the products are certified with features of human care

sensor and protection.

The 44 years old Raj Mandir will re-open soon as it has become India’s first corona free movie theatre. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Uttar Pradesh: The trial of players of under-19 age group by Aligarh Sports Association began on Friday at Mahua Kheda ground, Aligarh. The UPCA zonal trial began after the introduction of the National Secretary, AICC, Vivek Bansal, with the players. Former railway Ranji player Sarvesh Bhatnagar and Former board cricketer Karan Kaushik took the trial of players.

DELHI: Neetu Bhatt from Jaipur won the title crown in the National Level Beauty Pageant ‘Mrs. India One in a Million 2020’ held in Delhi recently. Neetu represented Rajasthan in the show where celebrity judge and Bollywood actress Aditi Govitrikar honoured Neetu with crown and trophy.

Webinar on Public Health CITY FIRST

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Pawan Gangwar, Secretary Lucknow Development Authority celebrated his birthday on 7 November, Saturday. We wish him all the best!

he 13th international webinar on the topic ‘From AIDS to Covid: The Rocky Road of Public Health’ was organised by Poornima University, Jodhpur School of Public Health (JSPH), Indic Chain, Bedford Research Foundation and Medipulse Hospital, Jodhpur, where various health challenges and solutions were discussed by health experts from India and abroad.

HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur was the chief guest of this webinar. The webinar was chaired by Rahul Singhi, co-founder of host Poornima University; Anil Purohit, CEO of JSPH and Jagdish

Harsh, CEO of Mobiloitte Group of Companies. It was moderated by Dr Arvind Mathur, former Principal of Dr SN Medical College, Jodhpur; Roy Wadia, Media and Communication Specialist, Asia Pacific Regional Office of UNFPA and Rati

Godrej, Executive Council Member of PHFI, New Delhi.

Experts at the webinar talked about the difficulties and precautions of the Covid Crisis era and also discussed the ongoing experiments and research on the Covid-19 vaccine worldwide. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Neetu Bhatt

RAJ: Kahaani online is going to organise Diwali special feature on 8 November, today, at 11 am where story lovers will witness 2 hour-long Diwali special marathon to explore the magic of storytelling. The session will be held on the Facebook page of Kahaani online.

Partners’ Diwali Meet

...during the session CITY FIRST

R

ajasthan Studio organised a ‘Partners’ Diwali Meet’ on Friday, to bring together various artists to keep their festive spirits alive. The session witnessed three immersive artexperiences hosted by National Award-Winning artists from Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Partners’ Diwali Meet began with Jaswant Kumar Meenakar of Jaipur

who is a National & State Merit Awardee and the fourth generation to carry forward the rich legacy of his family. Meenakar conducted a brief session where he taught the basics of meenakari.

The second art experience was conducted by a motherson duo, Chanda and Mohan Lal Gujar from the blue city of Jodhpur. Having an extraordinary experience in making leather jutti, both of them have received National

Awards. While Mohan was explaining the process of cutting and refining different parts of the royal shoe such as sole, flap and ankle band, Chanda was mesmerizing the attendees with her thread embroidery skills on leather flaps.

In the third art experience of Pichwai Painting, participants worked along with the master artist Rajaram Sharma from Udaipur.

These art sessions were not just about creating the traditional Rajasthani art forms also learn about the long lineage of Rajasthani art through these three ancient artforms.

The concluding session of the Diwali meet saw artists keeping aside their colours and trying their luck with numbers in the synergic game of housie. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Role of a CS CITY FIRST

T

he Institute of Company Secretaries of India along with the Corporate Secretaries International Association organised an international webinar on ‘Convergence & Divergence of the role of a Company Secretary in various jurisdictions’, on 6 November 2020, where eminent leaders from various Governance Institutes and Corporations spoke on how the diverse regulatory regimes in the world converged and redesigned their approach towards transparency and accountability and how the role of Corpo-

rate Secretaries have evolved over the years.

Briefing on the regulatory reforms and the measures taken by ICSI to mitigate the risk of complacency, CS Ashish Garg, President, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, said “Company Secretaries globally are expected to guide the Boards, prepare minutes, report frauds and failures, certify documents, ensure that they reach the Regulatory Authorities in time and plenty more.” Karen Southgate, President CSIA, spoke about thought leadership and knowledge-sharing opportunities for member countries through webinar.

GUJ: An exhibition of traditional ornaments and garments was organised by Parul Thakkar at an art gallery, SG highway in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

GUJ: Pasawala Family members were seen cleaning their ancestral antique items at Khadiya area of the old city in Ahmedabad for the upcoming Diwali Festival on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI