Indian Abroad - March 16-31, 2021

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

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Aus education sector struggles to bring int’l students back

Quad a force for global good, says Modi

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5 Female Motorcycle Riders ‘Braking’ Stereotypes - Page 4

My main strength is power packed punches: Boxer Vijender - Page 8

Pichai, Nadella engage in war over online news - Page 13

lthough Australia’s economy is on track to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s education sector remains a notable exception with insiders struggling to find a solution for the international student drought.

This week, a plan proposed by Treasurer of New South Wales (NSW) state, Dominic Perrottet to bring overseas students back put the stranded sector under the spotlight again, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Perrottet proposed to quarantine arriving international students in the island state of Tasmania, in a bid to get around strict limits on the number of overseas arrivals each Australian jurisdiction can process.

After the plan was rejected, the Treasurer asked for changes to the international arrival rules and to

rime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the quadrilateral grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia has “come of age” as he attended the first Quad leaders’ summit virtually.

use some of the caps to bring the international students back.

International education was worth A$40.3 billion in 2019, making it the country’s fourth-biggest export.

Last year, the border closure blocking international students from entering Australia cost the sector a loss in export revenue of nearly A$9 billion, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The grouping is being seen as a united front to counter China’s imperialistic aggression and expansion through trade and military occupation.

Modi participated in the virtual summit headed by US President Joe Biden along with Prime Minis-

Universities Australia said the varsities shed at least 17,300 jobs in 2020 and lost an estimated A$1.8 billion in revenue compared to 2019.

ter of Australia Scott Morrison and Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga.

Modi started his speech by declaring, “It is good to be among friends.” The four countries, he said, “are united by our democratic values and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.”

The agenda of the summit -- covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies -- makes the Quad a force for global good, he said.

Continued on Page 3

Millions of AstraZeneca Covid vax doses lying idle in US

In December 2020, the country welcomed only 230 international students, a 99.4 per cent drop from roughly 38,460 in the corresponding month of the previous year, the ABS figures showed.

Continued on Page 12

Australia marks IWD 2021 echoing global theme ‘women in leadership’ and ‘choose to challenge’

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UN Women Australia underscores importance of women in leadership

Court tells Mumbai police to file copyright infringement case against Kangana Page 28

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In the run-up to International women’s day 2021, UN Women Australia organised four live lunches in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra coupled with a concurrent breakfast in Perth on 5th

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Minister for women Marise Payne

Courtesy_Ausgovtwebsite

Anamika Khanna to open FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week - Page 15

nternational women’s day (IWD), which is celebrated on 8th March every year, was celebrated all across the globe with great aplomb, and Australia, which is one of the leading advocates of women’s rights and empowerment, left no stone unturned in making this year’s celebrations a resounding success despite many of the events being shifted on to the virtual platform due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

ven as severe supply constraints remain the biggest concern for many nations trying to accelerate the vaccine drive against Covid-19, tens of millions of AstraZeneca doses are lying idle in US manufacturing facilities.

March. These events live streamed on a virtual platform thereby making the event inclusive.

Minister for Women, Marise Payne delivered a speech welcoming the attendees among whom were

This is because results of the vaccine’s crucial clinical trial in the US are yet to be declared and the company has not yet applied for approval of the vaccine with the US regulators, The New York Times reported.

Continued on Page 12

And even though the doses remain

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unused in the US, the country is reluctant to release them for use in other parts of the world where the vaccine has been approved.

More than 70 countries have approved the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, the NYT report said on Thursday, citing a company spokesperson.

However, the unused vaccine doses have triggered a debate among officials in the US with some favouring their release, while others stress on their preservation.

Continued on Page 7

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Quad Summit

Quad a force for global good, says Modi Continued from Page 3 Describing Quad as a positive vision, the Prime Minister said that it is an extension of India’s ancient philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which regards the world as one family. “We will work together closer than ever before for advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Modi said.

Quad, he added, “is an important pillar of stability in the region”.

Modi’s statement was welcomed by a lot of India watchers in the US. Former US diplomat and Harvard academic Nicholas Burns praised the move, tweeting, “Today’s first-ever Quad leaders meeting - of the US, India, Japan and Australia - is a big deal. Led by the President of the United States Joe Biden, these four can lead on

vaccine distribution, strengthen democracies in the region and limit China’s assertiveness.”

There are reports that India will produce Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid vaccine shot as part of the first Quad initiative. The project will be financed by Japan and the US, while Australia will use its logistics capability to ship the vaccines to Southeast Asia and Pacific countries.

‘Quad has come of age’, says Modi at summit heralding broader agenda

Quad to harness India’s capability for massive vaccine diplomacy project

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he leaders at the Quad summit made a commitment on Friday to harness India’s manufacturing prowess for a massive vaccine diplomacy project to deliver 1 billion doses to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond as the four-nation group eyes broader agenda, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said.

Calling the Quad and “emergent institution”, he said on Friday: “These four leaders made a massive joint commitment with India, manufacturing US technology, Japanese and American financing and Australian logistics capability.

The Quad committed to delivering up to 1 billion doses to ASEAN. The Indo-Pacific and beyond by the end of 2022.”

India’s vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities put it in the driver’s seat in the project that is of imminent importance to the Quad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India’s formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region.”

“Today’s summit shows that Quad has come of age -- Modi said at the beginning of the summit with Prime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, and US President Joe Biden as the group reaches for a new role embracing development and cooperation beyond the four nations as a force for the global good.”

“It will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region,” Modi said.

Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the summit that was held virtually with Biden presiding from the White House.

Sullivan said that the leaders

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“ agreed to meet in person before the end of the year.

Biden is trying to give the Quad that is formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue an impetus to expand in other areas with a new model of cooperation.

Sullivan said at his briefing in Washington that the challenge posed by China figured in the talks and “they made clear that none of them has any illusions about China, but today was not fundamentally about China.”

However, Sullivan said: “The Quad is not a military alliance; it’s not a new NATO despite some of the propaganda that’s out there. What it is is an opportunity for these four democracies to work, and also with other countries on fundamental issues of economics, technology, climate and security.”

“Each of the leaders independently in the course of the meeting referred to this event as historic because it’s cemented, a group of strong democracies that will work together going forward to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Sullivan said.

The leaders discussed key regional issues including freedom of navigation and “freedom from coercion” in the South and East China Seas, the North Korea nuclear issue, and the Myanmar coup, he said.

A joint statement issued at the end of the summit said that the four countries will establish a vaccine working groups on vaccine and technology.

The critical- and emerging-technology working group will work to facilitate cooperation on international standards and innovative technologies of the future, while

the climate working group will seek to strengthen climate actions globally on mitigation, adaptation, resilience, technology, capacity-building, and climate finance, the statement said.

The statement also said, they will try “to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas”.

It said, “We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and also confirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees. As long-standing supporters of Myanmar and its people, we emphasise the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Sumona Guha, the National Security Council’s senior director for South Asia, also participated in the summit.

As the summit began, Biden said, “The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all of our allies in the region to achieve stability. This is a group particularly important because it is dedicated to the practical solutions and concrete results.”

“The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation,” he said.

Sullivan did not give further details of the vaccine plan. But some media reports said that the US would help India manufacture the one-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson that does not require ultra-cold refrigeration like other US vaccinations.

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The Quad has come of age,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Friday at the start of the summit of the leaders of the four nations to take the group to a next level of enhanced cooperation.

“We will work together closer than ever before for advancing our shared values and promoting our secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he said. “Today’s summit shows that Quad has come of age. It will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region.”

He said that the Quad working together as a “force for the global good” is an extension of the Indian creed of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ or that the world is one family.

“We are united by our democratic values and our commitment to a free and open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” he said in a reference to the regional threat from China.

Modi is participating in the summit along with Prime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, and US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation,” said Biden, who was presiding from the White House over the meeting held virtually with the other leaders appearing on video screens.

Of the new impetus for the Quad’s cooperation, he said: “We’re establishing a new mechanism to enhance our cooperation to raise our mutual interests.”

ed to the practical solutions, and concrete results,” he said.

He added: “We’re renewing our commitment to ensure that our region is governed by international law, committed to upholding universal values and free from coercion.”

Biden was flanked by Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Sumona Guha, the National Security Council’s senior director for South Asia, were also participating.

A free and open Indo-Pacific is essential, Biden said. “The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all of our allies in the region to achieve stability. This is a group particularly important because it is dedicated to the practical solutions and concrete results.”

As Biden said in his opening remarks this was the first multilateral summit he is participating in, showing the urgency with which he views the situation in the Indo-Pacific where an aggressive China is emerging as a challenge to both the soft and hard power of the US and its partners.

The push is now for the Quad to become a new model of multilateral cooperation that melds security interests with development.

It plans to start by harnessing India’s vaccine development and manufacturing capacity to project the new outlook.

Biden announced the formation of a new joint partnership that is going to boost Covid-19 vaccine production for global benefit and will help the entire Pacific too.

“This is a group is particularly important because it’s dedicat-

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Women’s Day Special

Women’s leadership under threat by pandemic: UN

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he latest data published UN Women, an entity of the world body working for the empowerment of women, shows that women’s rights and leadership are under threat, even more due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Current projections show that gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. This year’s International Women’s Day rings the alarm on rising threats to gender equality and highlights the need to build back better for a more gender-equal future, Xinhua news agency quoted UN Women as saying in a statement on Monday.

“We must remember 2021 as a global inflection point on gender equality, a year when women’s rights and leadership accelerated irreversibly. The Generation Equality Forum will be a catalyst for lasting change.

“A more equal world will be a different world. More inclusive decisions will be made, different voices heard, and different solutions created,” UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was quoted as saying in the statement.

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he World Health Organization (WHO) called for strengthening women’s leadership for an equal future in a post-coronavirus pandemic world.

Marking International Women’s Day and echoing this year’s theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world”, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Monday that progress on gender equality has regressed during the days of the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

“We have seen appalling increases in violence against women and reduced access to services for sexual and reproductive health. In relative terms, employment losses have been higher for women than for men.

The Generation Equality Forum is a civil society-centred, global gathering for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France.

Kicking-off in Mexico City on March 29-31, and culminating in Paris in June, the forum will secure a set of concrete, ambitious, and transformative commitments to achieve immediate and irreversible progress toward gender equality.

The landmark effort will bring together governments, corporations and change to define and

announce ambitious investments and policies.

This International Women’s Day comes at a moment where evidence is growing that the pandemic is having a disproportionate and severe impact on women’s rights, from their role as frontline healthcare workers often without adequate protection, to the loss of jobs as the informal economy shrinks, and the alarming spike in domestic violence and unpaid care burden, according to the UN Women statement.

worker infections, reflecting the fact that women make up roughly 70 per cent of the global health workforce.

“Women have also borne an additional and disproportionate burden of care for children and older people, and in social and health care,” he said.

To further advance gender equality, the WHO in February launched the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative to increase the proportion of women in health and care leadership, to promote equal pay and to ensure safe and decent working conditions for women health and care workers.

According to WHO’s records, however, women accounted for almost seven out of 10 reported health

To mark the International Women’s Day, Tedros announced on Monday that the WHO is launch-

Varun Dhawan: Real job will be done when we make our country safe for women

Major facts are that only three countries globally have 50 per cent or more women in Parliament, and the same amount have no women in Parliament at all; women under 30 years make up less than 1 per cent of parliamentarians globally; and women parliamentarians reported in one survey that they experienced nearly twice as much exposure to torture, ill treatment and acts of violence compared to men.

Research shows that when women are in power, overlooked policy issues, such as ending violence against women, childcare services and healthcare get more attention; there is often less government corruption and political parties are more likely to work together.

For example, in Liberia during her first term as President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf introduced a specialised court to prosecute violence against women; Norway’s former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both strengthened family leave provisions and increased funding for early childhood education.

The Generation Equality Forum’s Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership has developed plans to achieve gender parity in executive and legislative positions in 50 countries by 2026.

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WHO calls for strengthening women’s leadership

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hile it is okay to celebrate International Womens’ Day by posting pictures on social media, respect for women can be actually shown by making our country a safer place for them, feels actor Varun Dhawan.

Varun took to Instagram on Monday evening to share photographs with wife Natasha Dalal, his mother and sister-in-law. In one of the photos, Varun can be seen lying on his chest on a bed with wife Natasha climbing on his back.

“Happy women’s day. Bharatiya naari sab pe bhaari. It’s great that we all post pictures on social me-

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dia and make this day special but the real job will be done when we actually make our country safe for women because each woman is someone’s wife, mother or sister,” Varun wrote in the post.

The actor is currently shooting in Arunachal Pradesh for his upcoming horror comedy film “Bhediya”.

The Amar Kaushik directorial also features Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Banerjee and Deepak Dobriyal.

“Bhediya” written by National Award-winner Niren Bhatt is slated to release in cinemas on April 14 next year.

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Women’s Day Special

Sayantani Ghosh: Nothing I cannot do that a man does

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or actress Sayantani Ghosh, women’s empowerment means a healthy co-existence because women today are no way less than men.

“To me, women’s empowerment is more about equality and coexistence. I believe there is nothing I cannot do that a man does. Women’s Day is special as it celebrates the pure essence of womanhood, and we should celebrate it. I don’t believe in celebrating the importance of a girl for a single day but respecting and loving them all 365 days of a year,” says the actress, currently seen on the show, Tera Yaar Hoon Main.

Her mother is her biggest inspiration. “The special woman of my life is my mother for all the obvious reasons because she has always been my best friend and shopping

partner. Whenever I see the journey of my life, I feel that a sense of independence is a huge part of me, and my mother is the one who has instilled the same in me. I am short of words when I have to explain what my mother means to me and her importance in my life,” she says.

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elevision actor Pearl V. Puri revealed an interesting side of his persona on Monday, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The actor claimed he used to stand outside his coaching class for hours with friends just to nab eveteasers red-handed!

“As a kid, my friends and I used to stand outside our coaching classes to see if any guy is teasing a girl. We used to stand there for three to four hours, just to make sure if any guy teases a girl, we teach him a lesson,” said Pearl.

Sayantani adds that she hopes that people will respect and love the girl child more and help the world become a better place for women.

“The only message I would like to convey for everyone is to pay due importance to celebrate, educating, loving and respecting the girl child. I feel that we all should celebrate Durga and Kaali in every girl -- be it mother, sister or a friend and hope for a better society to live for the whole year

Pearl V. Puri: Used to stand outside coaching class to nab eveteasers

The “Bepanah Pyaar” actor goes on to say that the mindset of people won’t change unless law allows harsher punishments for crimes against women, including death penalty and life imprisonment.

and not specifically a single day of the year,” she says.

“The law of our country is undoubtedly doing a great duty, yet I feel it needs further strict rules to change the mentality of a man.

Crimes such as rape or molesta-

tion deserve death penalty and so does harassment. Dowry, too, deserves imprisonment for life.

Only then these will the demons learn their lessons and think a 100 times before harming a woman,” informed the actor.

Pearl appears in the second season of Ekta Kapoor’s supernatural drama show “Brahmarakshas”.

5 Female Motorcycle Riders ‘Braking’ Stereotypes

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nternational Women’s Day is about celebrating equality, progress and achievements of amazing women who help make the world a better place.

For as long as one can recall, motorcycling has mostly been associated with men as their passion, hobby, or even career. However, a community that was considered to be niche a few years ago for women, has immensely grown beyond proportions, in recent times.

The super-charged community of women riders in India, are living their passion in accordance with the code of a pure motorcycling philosophy.

herself through sheer will and got back to riding. She carried yoga with her through this time and feels that just like machines and motorcycles, we as humans also need maintenance and self-care.

Jesslina Nayyar, Delhi

lina cites that her day truly begins when she gets on her motorcycle, which gives her immense happiness and motivation to do things every single day. Each moment on her motorcycle is a memorable one. The fact that it always takes her to places through thick and thin is what makes it even more special. In her own words “Riding the motorcycle is one of those few experiences in life which allows you to take control over the handlebars and define your own path”

An avid traveler, cyclist ,storyteller, trekker ,artist, environmentalist, animal lover, writer, actor, dreamer, Royal Enfield rider by passion and a dentist by profession, Aparna is smashing stereotypes, and is an idol for many. In 2018, Aparna unfortunately suffered a sudden sciatic nerve injury which numbed her leg. For 3 months she was unable to move. She picked up yoga during this time and instead of going under the knife healed

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Rider mania 2019 was our longest ride together (Pune-Goa). In riding they love each other’s company!

Whenever there is a tough road she takes the lead and shows me the way and whenever the road is free she sets me free and let’s me take a lower more or less it’s how she has raised me in life.”

Manjari Biche and Gargi Biche, Pune

Kiran Moortha, Hyderabad

Archana Timmaraju, Bangalore

Here are few Indian women who are breaking the gender stereotypes, one ride at a time.

Dr Aparna Bandodkar, Mumbai

causes. In 2018, she rode from Bengaluru to Leh covering 8.400 kilometres in a single shot to spread awareness about sign language and deaf women’s empowerment.

Archana’s aim is to motivate future generations and dismiss all the stereotypes regarding disability, especially disabled women.

Jesslina Nayyar, a model, an influencer and an avid rider is an example of a woman who is breaking stereotypes to change her own life and inspire other women and girls around. She is a fashion model who’s a passionate Royal Enfield enthusiast. Turning her passion for travel and riding into her success story, Jesslina is breaking barriers and is up for any adventure. Jesslina has grown up living all over India since her father was in the Indian Army. Her motorcycle journey truly began at the age of 18, when she got her hands on her father’s motorcycle.

Before that she would go out with her friends who had their motorcycles and ride for hours from Noida-Gurgaon, to and fro, with her friend as a pillion rider. Jess-

Bengaluru resident Archana Timmaraju, rides with a sticker on her bike that reads: ‘Rider is deaf. Failure to cooperate with verbal commands means I am not hearing you’. The 36-year-old arts and metal sculpture teacher at Mallya Aditi International School, Bengaluru, who claims to be India’s first woman deaf biker, is passionate about motorcycling and has undertaken various expeditions to raise awareness about sign language and deaf women’s empowerment. Archana is also the co-founder of a company called Silent Expeditions for bikers with an emphasis on those with disabilities. She has undertaken many expeditions to promote various

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Famous mother-daughter duo Manjari and Gargi Biche, who have been riding for years now are an inspiration to many. In Gargi’s words “My mom started riding in her 20s. She was staying in Talegaon and she was the First Lady Rider of the town, everyone would look at her in awe, people perceived her as a Police woman!

She has always been a dare devil and an adventurer! She had the guts to fight with misogynistic people to marry the love of her life! She is also a chairperson of Maharashtra’s well known engineering firm Orbittal Electromech!

My mom made sure I learnt how to ride a bike when I was 18! Before teaching me how to ride a moped she taught me the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500. I am so happy to have those adventurous genes in me. We usually ride to Lonavala, Pawna, Bhor, Mahabaleshwar, Kolhapur, Vashi etc. Royal Enfield

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Kiran, like most of us, has a regular job. She is a psychologist by profession and a voracious reader who would want to own a mini library at her place. She has a knack for music, dance, and loves playing guitar in her leisure time.

Kiran may be a perfect example of how she is breaking stereotypes in this world of motorcycling predominately spearheaded by men. She recalls her incredible first ride to Kanyakumari to Kashmir which coincided with the world motorcycling day. She cruised herself up to Kanyakumari through the rains and her eagerness was to reach Kashmir by July 18th as it happened to be her birthday.

She covered approx. 14000 km in her maiden ride and became the first woman from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to have covered Kanyakumari to Kashmir in her first solo trip. Her convenient escape on her Watson (her Royal Enfield Thunderbird motorcycle) are the mountains in Coorg, Madikeri, and Western Ghats. She rode solo to Khardongla and is the second woman in India to have achieved this feat. She feels that Motorcycling is an Art and how riding can be both liberating and meditative.

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Farmers Protest Continous

Women take centre stage at Tikri border on Women’s Day

Rain adds to farmers’ woes at Ghazipur border

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he scene at Tikri border on Monday was refreshingly different from other days as the stage was exclusively reserved for the women agitators to mark International Women’s Day.

The move was to celebrate the spirit of womanhood and show symbolic solidarity with equality for women. The dias was managed and used to address the crowd by women only. The farm leaders even refrained from speaking off-stage.

“It’s their (women) day, focus on them only,” said Sanam Singh, the state coordinator of Punjab Kisan Manch.

The celebration started at around 9 am and went on till 5 pm. Women, who arrived at the Tikri from far-off places in Punjab and Haryana gave fiery speeches, recited poems of revolution and shared their opinions on farm laws while addressing the crowd.

“The speeches were never this interesting. Our sisters are rocking it,” said Kiranjit Panna who was sitting among the audience.

35-year-old Sandeep Kaur, who is an Assistant Professor in a college, came along with her younger sister from Mansa, Punjab to attend the celebration.

Her whole family is participating in the agitation at Tikri for over two months. Sandeep remarked the move as a welcome change.

“It was in-waiting. For months, our women are supporting the men from the background. The momentum is building that we should now be allowed to lead from the front,” she said.

“If we have to break the arrogance

of the government which is hellbent on imposing the farm laws that we don’t need at all, women should be allowed equal participation in the movement,” Sandeep commented “So far, we have been largely limited to spectators. Now is the time to share the leadership,” she said.

Akin to Sandeep, many women arrive at the border to share the celebration of the day which comes once in a year. 26-year-old Parminder Gill, who is pursuing her career in poetry, recited poems about various agitations and struggles which demanded extreme sacrifice but eventually evolved into a catalyst of change across the world.

“Even our very own freedom struggle from the British colonialism was full of sacrifice and hardship.

Men and women equally participated there. We need to shed-off the burden of patriarchy and reclaim our spaces whether in our homes or in a social movement like this,” she said.

The eagerness to get heard was such that the stage managers had to decline many requests.

“It seemed that they have not been listen to for ages. It’s natural since most of the communication and agenda is set by men. We were bound by time otherwise each one of them would have received a chance to speak,” said Jasbir Kaur, state committee member of Punjab Kisan Union.

The women also saw this event as a ray of hope in the community, especially falling in Haryana where in remote towns, women do not even step outside without permission from male members of their family.

“It took us generations to break the shackles of Sati tradition to reach this stage. It may take us many more years but we will be leading the world one day,” said Jagroop Kaur, president, Kheti-Kisan Union.

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he change in the weather conditions on Friday morning in the national capital added to the problems of the farmers sitting at the Ghazipur border in protest against the three contentious farm laws.

As rain lashed the area, the farmers rushed to secure the food items kept in tents from getting damaged. All the beddings kept in the tents also got drenched, which were later replaced with fresh ones to make sure that the agitating farmers are not inconvenienced.

The farmers said, “We are encountering some problems here with the change in the weather. The same thing happens with us while we work in the fields. We encounter such situations everyday in our lives.”

Meanwhile, the commuters had a difficult time while walking on the national highway and many vehicles were stranded. Adding to the

problem is the ‘Langar Seva’ which was started on the highway. All the waste, including the oily material, gets spilled on to the road, making it slippery.

Farmers have been sitting at various borders of New Delhi since November 26 in protest against the farm laws.

“And as far as this protest is concerned, we will not budge down, we will not turn away, till the black laws are scrapped,” she added.

Akhilesh, Jayant to address Kisan Mahapanchayat on March 19

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amajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and RLD Vice President Jayant Chaudhary will jointly address a Kisan Mahapanchayat at Bajna in Mathura on March 19.

This will be the first time when the two leaders will share the stage in support of farmers’ agitation.

SP and RLD have been in alliance since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and though the results did not favour either of the parties, they have continued their relationship.

According to RLD national spokesperson Sunil Rohata, Jayant and Akhilesh will jointly address the gathering at Mathura which prom-

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ises to be one of the biggest in recent times. The two parties have started making joint preparations for the panchayat.

Ahead of the Mahapanchayat, Akhilesh will address a party training camp that begins in Mathura on March 17.

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

The Great Vaccine Rush Millions of AstraZeneca Covid vax doses lying idle in US Continued from Page 7

US President Joe Biden had earlier said that by the end of May, there should be enough vaccine doses for every adult in the country.

“If we have a surplus, we’re going to share it with the rest of the world,” Biden told reporters on Wednesday, as he spoke on vaccine supply in general terms.

“We’re going to start off making sure Americans are taken care of first.”

The US in May 2020 secured 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine by pledging up to $1.2 billion if the vaccine proves to be effective.

According to the NYT report, about 30 million doses are currently bottled at AstraZeneca’s facility in West Chester, Ohio.

Another company called Emergent BioSolutions with which AstraZeneca has pact to produce its vaccine in the US, has also manufactured enough vaccine for tens of millions more doses, said the report.

It was earlier believed that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will be one of the first to be approved for emergency use in the US. But this has not happened as the company has been slow in disclosing the results of clinical trials in the US.

The US has already approved three Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use and if the supplies of these vaccines and others that might get approval ramp up, the need of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country may become much less than earlier predicted.

A number of countries like Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Romania and Thailand have suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine after it was linked to blood clots in recipients, while Austria and France have decided to continue using it.

The World Health Organization is assessing the current reports on the vaccine.

Vax-induced antibodies may be less effective against new Covid variants

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eutralizing antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines were significantly less effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants first described in Brazil/Japan and South Africa, say researchers.

“When we tested these new strains against vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, we found that the three new strains first described in South Africa were 20-40 times more resistant to neutralization, and the two strains first described in Brazil and Japan were five to seven times more resistant, compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Balazs added.

According to the study, published in the journal Cells, neutralizing antibodies work by binding tightly to the virus and blocking it from

“The WHO is always very concerned about export bans on products that will help to end the acute phase of this pandemic,” Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said at a virtual press conference on Friday.

“We’ve been pushed very hard from the COVAX side to ensure that any vial that comes to us will be used and put to work immediately,” he said, referencing the global WHO-led initiative to ensure vaccine equity.

Both countries have denied the accusations, Xinhua news agency reported. entering cells, thus preventing infection.

Like a key in a lock, this binding only happens when the antibody’s shape and the virus’s shape are perfectly matched to each other, the researcher said.

If the shape of the virus changes where the antibody attaches to it -- in this case, in SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein -- then the antibody may no longer be able to recognize and neutralize the virus as well. The virus would then be described as resistant to neutralization, they added.

Currently, all approved Covid-19 vaccines work by teaching the

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France, Germany, the UK and the US, said the researchers, while most likely what you would receive would not be an effective, valid dose.

The majority of sellers came from

The research showed that majority of these underground sellers have made between 100 and 500 transactions, indicating that they have

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should be stockpiled at Friday’s press conference, Bruce Aylward, Senior Advisor on Organizational Change to the WHO Director-General, also advised against the practice.

In a newsletter on Tuesday, European Council President Charles Michel said: “The UK and the US have imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory.”

body to produce an immune response, including antibodies, against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. While the ability of these variants to resist neutralizing antibodies is concerning, it doesn’t mean the vaccines won’t be effective.

“The body has other methods of immune protection besides antibodies,” said Balazs.

“Our findings don’t necessarily mean that vaccines won’t prevent Covid, only that the antibody portion of the immune response may have trouble recognizing some of these new variants,” Balazs added.

Covid vax for sale on darknet for $250 to $1,200 ybercriminals have posted sales advertisements for three major Covid-19 vaccines and the prices per dose range from $250 to $1,200, with an average cost of about $500, said a report from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

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ollowing reports of Covid-19 vaccines being restricted for export, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have expressed their disapproval against the practice.

“So the WHO very much discourages the use of this type of measure,” she continued.

The team used their experience measuring HIV neutralizing antibodies to create similar assays for Covid-19, comparing how well the antibodies worked against the original strain versus the new variants.

“We were able to leverage the unique high-throughput capacity that was already in place and apply it to SARS-CoV-2,” said researcher Alejandro Balazs from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.

WHO discourages Covid vax export bans

been completing sales but what exactly darknet users are purchasing remains unclear.

For the study, the security researchers examined 15 different marketplaces on the darknet and found advertisements for three major Covid-19 vaccines -- Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca and

/IndianAbroadNews

Asked about whether vaccines Moderna.

Communications are made via encrypted messaging apps like Wickr and Telegram, while payments are requested in the form of cryptocurrency, primarily Bitcoin.

It is not clear how many of the vaccine doses being advertised online are actual and how many advertisements are scams.

“You can find just about anything on the darknet, so it’s not surprising sellers there would attempt to capitalise on the vaccination campaign. Over the past year, there have been a whole host of scams exploiting the Covid topic, and many of them have been successful,” Dmitry Galov, security expert at Kaspersky, said in a statement.

“And that is really the mantra we’re trying to drive right throughout the entire response, is that every vial of vaccine as it comes off, as it becomes available off the production lines, that is immediately put to work,” he said.

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Program, said at the press conference that success in protecting a country’s population should not result in the lack of access of other countries, which will give more permanent protection to the former, because no one is safe until everyone is safe. vaccine off the darknet,” Galov added.

The report comes at a time when production shortages have been a major hindrance for accelerating vaccination drive against Covid-19.

The researchers noted that darknet shopping is risky business, and it is clear from the past year that scammers have been all too eager to profit off the current crisis.

That means no one can be at all confident they will actually receive anything after transferring bitcoins, let alone a real vaccine dose that was stored properly and is safe to take, Kaspersky said.

“Right now, not only are people selling vaccine doses, but they’re also selling vaccination records pieces of paper that can help you travel freely. It’s important for users to be cautious of any ‘deal’ related to the pandemic, and, of course, it’s never a good idea to buy a

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INTERVIEW

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Adarsh Gourav: ‘Feels strange to be nominated next to Anthony Hopkins’

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darsh Gourav was just exiting his local gym in Mumbai when the smartphone buzzed. That was the moment he learned that he had been nominated for a BAFTA in the Leading Actor category, for his role of Balram Halwai in “The White Tiger”.

“It was basically on a group of me, Priyanka (Chopra Jonas) and Raj(kummar Rao). While the nominations were being announced, I read the message that the film had been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and I sent a few emojis,” says Adarsh, recalling how “exhausted and tired” he was while leaving the gym, so he didn’t read the congratulatory messages on the group with attention.

“A friend called and informed me that I had been nominated for Leading Actor. I checked the group and noticed that everyone was congratulating me, and my name was also in that message along with the Best Adapted Screenplay nomination!” he tells IANS.

The 26-year-old describes the immediate rush as a “strange feeling”, not surprising because he has been nominated alongside stalwarts Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen and the late Chadwick Boseman.

“It is actually a strange feeling to see my name next to someone like an Anthony Hopkins,” he says adding that he learnt a lot from the 83-year-old actor in his “formative years”.

“He has had a huge influence on me, and I remember being in awe of Dr. Hannibal Lector in ‘The Silence Of The Lambs’ and other subsequent movies featuring the character. I have immense gratitude to just be nominated alongside him, and others such as Mads Mikkelsen,” he says.

Adarsh says he identified with Balram Halwai’s “helplessness” before the powerful and privileged around him in “The White Tiger”, as his protagonist is subjected to a

world of discrimination and class divide.

“I won’t say I was the best choice to play Balram, but I understood the character. I have grown up in Jamshedpur, So, I could understand the culture and language of the character. I understood the scale of the film,” he says, specifically pointing at the sequence where Balram is forced to sign a confession so that his bosses, played by Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, can get away from being convicted for a crime.

“That was something I related the most with. I mean, we see and read so many news reports where people from underprivileged backgrounds are blamed, even if they are not a part of that crime,” he says.

“I related to that sense of helplessness of Balram, who couldn’t even go and complain to higher authorities because he doesn’t

have the power to do so. I related most with that moment, when he is going through that turmoil, where he cannot even ask for help, because he comes from a village,” he adds.

Despite its release on Netflix, which meant “more people could see the film”, Adarsh admits he never imagined it would become a darling of the critics.

“The last one-and-a-half months have been incredible, ever since this film was released. I think because it was released on an OTT platform, it meant that more people could watch it. I have had so many people tell me how Balram’s journey has affected them. Every response has been different. Some said it made them uncomfortable, while others spoke of how it changed their outlook on how to treat people around them, still others talked about how it empowered them,” he says.

“I am just incredibly thankful that

I got to be a part of the project. I hope this nomination translates into more work. I hope to audition for some wonderful things in future,” he signs off.

My main strength is power packed punches: Boxer Vijender

Seven years after winning the historic middleweight bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, ace boxer Vijender Singh turned professional in 2015. Since then the poster boy of Indian boxing has fought -- and won -- 12 professional bouts. His next bout is against Russian Artysh Lopsan on March 19 in Goa.

The last pro bout of Vijender, 35, was in November 2019. But before that he had taken a plunge in politics. He contested - and lost - for the South Delhi Parliamentary seat on a Congress party ticket. But even at the time he had insisted that he would never leave boxing.

Then, Covid-19 pandemic stopped all sporting activities in almost the entire last year; it also shrunk resources, says Vijender.

In 2015, when Vijender -- a 2009 World Championships bronze winner and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games gold medallist -- signed a deal with a London based professional boxing firm, he had the luxury of having a team of experts to chalk out his plans, ranging from his training to his diet. But he could not get his support team to India due to the pandemic situation in England.

And since neither Vijender could go overseas for training, he has largely been dependent on a talented pool of boxers from Haryana as his sparring partners. He even engaged his long-standing friend and training partner, Jai Bhagwan, a two-time Asian Championships medallist and the 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze winner, as coach.

Excerpts from the exclusive interview: Q: How have you been training for

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the March 19 bout?

A: It is an eight-round bout. So, I trained for 10 rounds in one session. Moreover, we changed sparring partners after two or three rounds to have a fresh opponent that could test my skills.

Q: You said there is some injury problem. Could you elaborate?

A: I hurt my nose during training.

Initially it was bad. Now it’s better.

Q: You have just one week to go for big match. Is the injury a worrying factor?

A: No. I’m doing icing. It should be fine.

Q: Your opponent (Artysh Lopsan) is taller than you at 6-foot-fourinch. You are six-foot tall. How do you plan to tackle him?

A: I did sparring sessions with boxers taller than me to build up muscle memory. One of them was a Youth Asian medal winner from Jhajjar in Haryana. He wasn’t as strong as senior the athlete, but technically it helps to learn how to stay out of the reach of your rival, and go inside to score.

Q: Any advantage you have over your rival from Russia?

A: I guess I’m more experienced than him. I have played 12 bouts and trained in America and England. My last bout was in Dubai (November 2019). All that will play a vital role in winning.

Q: What will be your main strategy against Lopsan?

A: I don’t want to reveal the details.

In the first round, I will be able to observe him and then I will plan for the remaining seven rounds.

Q: What is your main strength?

A: I believe in power packed punches. Endurance is the other

weapon I rely on. I like to stay calm even if my opponent is aggressive.

Q: What was the reason for engaging Jai Bhagwan as your coach/ trainer?

A: He was the best choice under the given circumstances. We know each other and he knows how to push me beyond the limits.

Q: Since your training sessions were quite strenuous, did you follow any specific diet plan?

A: As an athlete, I have good eating habits. I stick to it. But when I was training in England in 2015, there were a lot of emphasis on nutrition.

Q: How challenging has it been to

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stay fit in times of the pandemic?

A: It was a different kind of experience to cope with. I have learned a lot to do with limited resources. There were issues of niggling injuries in the build up to the main event. All I can say is it was an uphill task to get back into top fitness.

Q: During lockdown it was difficult to train. Did you put on weight?

A: Not much. I’m close to 79kg. I should be able to reduce at least three kilograms in the coming week.

Q: For some time you have been seen in different roles. Like supporting farmers’ agitation and training at the same time?

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A: Whatever I do I do with my heart.

I try to go all out.

Q: What have you learnt for the farmer’s agitation?

A: Every day is a new learning experience. I’ve desire to learn more.

Q: What about your plans of setting up a boxing academy in Haryana?

A: The plans are still there but I haven’t got the land from the government.

Q: Could you share your experience on the professional circuit?

A: It is very simple. You have to be super strong to survive in the pro circuit.

8

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Surgeries by Ayurvedic medics will create havoc: SC seeks Centre’s reply

Sensational Delhi murder accused nabbed after shootout

IMA’s plea filed through advocate Amarjeet Singh.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing IMA, argued that the regulation will create havoc if Indian medicine practitioners are allowed to do surgeries without training.

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he Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice on a plea by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), demanding withdrawal of a Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) notification that authorises postgraduate Ayurveda practitioners to be trained to perform general surgical procedures.

Amendment Regulations 2020.

The IMA said this notification would result in creating havoc in the established system of medical care and treatment being provided to the citizens of the country.

The IMA contended that the 2020 Amendment notified on November 19, 2020, amending the 2016 Regulations, has rendered the 2016 Regulations ultra vires, illegal, manifestly arbitrary and unreasonable.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian after a brief hearing in the matter sought response from the Centre.

The plea challenged the legality and validity of the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations 2016 as amended by the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education)

“The CCIM has no power or jurisdiction to prescribe these Modern Surgical Procedures to be performed by the persons holding Post Graduate Ayurveda Degrees under the 1970 Act, which is confined to the system of Indian Medicine”, said the plea.

“The impugned Regulations seek to illegally permit and legalise usurpation of the Modern Medicine system for the practitioners of Indian Medicine in a completely impermissible manner, which if allowed to be enforced, would result in creating a havoc in the established system of medical care and treatment being provided to the citizens of the country”, said the

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the government will file its response in the matter. The top court said it will hear the matter after four weeks and asked the parties to file their replies.

The IMA has argued that uninformed and hapless patients would be at the mercy of persons who do not have the knowledge, experience or training in performing complicated modern surgical procedures.

“The impugned Regulations present an extremely dangerous and critical situation where now, the attempt has been made by the CCIM to permit persons possessing qualifications under the Indian system of medicine to perform complicated modern surgical procedures which have a direct bearing on the health and right to life of millions of hapless patients,” submitted the plea.

The IMA has argued that the CCIM has sought to permit practitioners of the Indian system of medicine to perform complicated modern surgical procedures, which is impermissible in law, beyond the powers and its jurisdiction.

2.1 kg gold seized from Dubai-Goa passenger: DRI

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wanted criminal in a sensational murder last year that went viral on social media was arrested by Delhi Police on Saturday.

The accused, Kamal Gahlot, was injured in a shootout in Delhi’s Bakkarwala when the Special Cell of Delhi Police surrounded him. He was wanted in a murder case in Mohan Garden area.

Gahlot was the man who murdered Vikas Mehta on October 22 in Uttam Nagar’s Nawada Housing Complex on the 55 Foota Road.

The crime was captured in a CCTV camera that showed the murderer in yellow T-shirt taking photographs of the victim with his cellphone, seconds after pumping at least three bullets into him. The video of the murder had gone viral on social media.

“During Saturday’s shootout, Kamal Gahlot was injured and was moved to the hospital,” said Sanjeev Yadav, DCP Special Cell. “Arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession. Gahlot was wanted in the murder of Vikas Me-

hta of Mohan Garden,” he added.

Gahlot’s father Pawan Gahlot was already arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the murder.

Pawan’s brother Praveen was killed by one Vikas Dalal in May, 2019.

However, Dalal was also killed in an encounter later.

Dalal and Mehta were the members of the Pradeep Solanki gang.

So, Pawan Gahlot suspected Mehta’s involvement in the conspiracy in his brother’s death and wanted to avenge him.

On October 22 last year, when Pawan Gahlot saw Mehta, he hatched the plan. He informed his son using his servant’s phone about Mehta’s presence in the area. His son came there and killed Mehta. Kamal Gahlot was absconding ever since.

The Special cell used technical surveillance apart from its human intelligence network to corner Kamal Gahlot at Bakkarwala and arrested him after the shootout in which Kamal received a bullet injury to his leg.

5 of Bihar family commit suicide in Supaul

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small-time Bihar coal trader and his family committed suicide in Supaul district, an official said on Saturday.

The deceased, identified as Mishrilal Shah, his wife and three children were found hanging in one room on Friday night. The incident spread a shock wave across the village.

“We have called a forensic team to collect every evidence from the house to get out any clue about the reason for the extreme step. The timing of the incident will come out after post mortem report. Further investigation is on,” SP said.

The incident took place in Gaddi Chowk village under Raghopur police station. The deceased family was last seen alive when they visited the village a week back.

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45-year-old passenger from Bhatkal in Karnataka, who had arrived in Goa on Saturday from Dubai by air has been detained and 2.1 kg gold has been seized, an official statement issued

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Supaul SP Manoj Kumar said: “It is an extremely shocking incident.

The villagers said that the Shah family was undergoing a financial crisis. This could be the reason for taking the extreme step. A detailed report will emerge after the investigation.” by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said.

has been seized from him,” the statement said.

“The accused Akbar Abubakar has been detained. 18 gold biscuits weighing 2.1 kg worth Rs. 97 lakh

“He had travelled to Goa’s Dabolim international airport from Dubai by air,” the statement added.

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Shah was a small trader of coal in his village for the last two years.

Villagers said that the family had been in seclusion over the last few days. Mishrilal Shah also sold a piece of land recently.

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Bonding with Quad YouTube pulls 30k videos with amplifies India’s Covid vax misinformation Strategic Autonomy W doctrine ith the aim to demotivate false claims about Covid-19, video-streaming platform YouTube has removed over 30,000 videos for sharing misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines over the last six months.

According to a report by Axios, the video-streaming platform has taken down more than 800,000 videos containing Covid-19 misinformation since February 2020.

The videos are first flagged by either the company’s AI systems or human reviewers, then receive another level of review.

Videos that violate the vaccine policy, according to YouTube’s rules, are those that contradict expert consensus on the vaccines from health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO), the report said.

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riday’s first summit of the Quad grouping comprising India, the United States, Australia and Japan is amplifying India’s “strategic autonomy,” which nails New Delhi’s policy of simultaneous engagement with countries belonging to rival camps.

While China will be the elephant in the room during the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue at the highest level, India will continue with its selective, cautious and calibrated engagement with Beijing, so long as it promotes New Delhi’s core national interests.

However, with the disengagement with China in eastern Ladakh far from complete, India is expected to adopt a cool and pragmatic approach towards Beijing, especially till the time China takes practical steps to address Indian key concerns, including concrete moves to settle the border and dropping its resistance to India’s inclusion in the UN Security Council as a permanent member. India is also looking for concrete steps that China has reversed its Middle Kingdom mentality of self-assumed superiority over fellow civilizational states and recognise New Delhi geo-cultural influence in Asia.

Nevertheless, India will dialogue with China in international fora such as the Brazil- Russia- India- China- South Africa (BRICS) grouping.

“BRICS as a group has a lot of relevance when it comes to economic cooperation notwithstanding the fast-changing geopolitical contours. It is important to push Quad

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Other platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, have also rolled out policies to reduce the spread and reach of such content. but it is also incorrect to see it as anti-China. BRICS has a different orientation from Quad but both are extremely relevant,” Narendra Taneja, energy expert and spokesperson of the BJP said.

A government official said that the focus to boost QUAD should not suggest that India wants to disengage itself from other groupings, where it is a lead player.

“Not just the big groups, India will also aggressively push for its Neighbours’ First policy, in which countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal will play a major role.

New Delhi’s thrust on its neighbours shows that it is keen to take the smaller countries with which it shares its borders along while it engages with the so-called big groups,” Joyeeta Bhattacharjee, senior fellow at Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said.

India and China Sources also said that New Delhi has not taken any knee jerk reaction in terms of its foreign policy despite the rising anti-China narrative.

Trade between India and China have remained steady, despite the political turbulence in the relationship. An ORF report published last month noted that China’s share in Indian imports for intermediate goods, capital goods, and final consumer goods is 12 per cent, 30 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. India depends on China in many key industries from electrical machinery and appliances to pharmaceutical drug active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), it added.

Recently, the micro-blogging platform Twitter introduced a strike system against misleading tweets about Covid-19 vaccination and five or more strikes will result

in permanent suspension of the account.

Since introducing the Covid-19 guidance, Twitter said it has removed more than 8,400 tweets and challenged 11.5 million accounts worldwide.

While one strike will cause no account-level action, two strikes will lead to a 12-hour account lock;

three strikes in another 12-hour account lock; four strikes in a 7-day account lock and five or more strikes means permanent suspension of the account.

Labels will first be applied by Twitter team members when they determine the content violates the platform’s policy.

Female bouncer Mehrunisa: A ‘punch’ at orthodox mentality

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f people think that only men can become bouncers to tackle unwanted situations, then Mehrunisha Shaukat Ali is an iconoclast for this orthodox mentality.

34-year-old Mehrunisha works as a bouncer in a nightclub, and besides handling frequent quarrels she also keeps an eye on female customers.

people say if there is a daughter, she should be like Mehrunisha. It’s all because of her hard work and ‘never-give-up’ attitude.

No one can predict from Mehrunisha’s politeness, which she adopts towards the customers, that a strict bouncer is hidden inside her. She has six siblings at home -- three brothers and three sisters.

Interestingly, one of her sisters is also following her footsteps.

She has responsibility of her family on her shoulders, but she cannot do anything as there are no jobs available in the market.

Mehrunisha hails from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. She started working as a bouncer in 2004 when she was studying in Class 10.

However, initially she was treated as a security guard instead of bouncer, which she opposed strictly.

Mehrunisha told IANS, “I am the first woman bouncer in the country, I fought a lot to get this status.

I used to get very angry when I was called guard. But after bitter a struggle I got the status of the first woman bouncer in the country.”

Although her father was unhappy with this work, he used to ask her to leave this job following taunts and comments from people. But the time has come when the same

/IndianAbroadNews

However, Mehrunisha has no work at the moment, she lost her job due to the corona pandemic and as private events were not taking place, she has no part-time job as well.

would have said yes at that time, I might have been a Sub-Inspector by now,” she regrets.

She further said, “There was so much struggle in my life that I could not even get married. After a road accident my sister’s husband left her, after which the responsibility of their children came upon me. I received marriage proposals but nobody is ready to take the responsibility of children.”

Mehrunisha has been felicitated with many awards so far. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, she was also honoured by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Not only this, a book is also being written on him.

Despite receiving so much accolades, she is not happy. She said that she could not get the thing that she deserves as per the kind of struggle she did in her life. And the situation is that she has no job at this moment.

Mehrunisha further said, “I faced a lot of trouble in the beginning, neither the family used to support me nor anybody else. I was overweight too, after that I joined NCC. I wanted to join police force or Army but father was not liking it.”

“I also appeared for the police exam and succeeded. If my father

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10

WORLD

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Biden spokesperson US Defence Secy to visit defends statement India to discuss partnership ‘Indians taking over’ US

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n the heels of the Quad summit, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit India next week to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as Washington focuses on China as an emerging threat, according to a Pentagon official.

In New Delhi, Austin will “discuss operationalising the major defence partnership that we have with India, including through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, defence trade, and cooperation in new domains”, Acting Assistant Defence Secretary for Indo-Pacific, David F. Helvey said on Friday after the Quad summit.

He said India is “an important strategic partnership that involves cooperation with like-minded nations committed to protecting the rules-based international order”.

Reflecting President Joe Biden’s strategic priority focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific, India is included in Austin’s first trip abroad that also has US treaty partners Japan and South Korea in its itinerary.

During the past year, India has faced border incursions by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and clashes, with one in May 2020, resulting in the deaths of soldiers on both sides.

During Friday’s Quad summit of Biden and Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Yoshihide Sugo of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia, they discussed freedom of navigation and “freedom from coercion” in the South and East China Seas, which are basically about China.

The North Korea nuclear issue and the Myanmar coup also figured in the summit agenda.

Helvey said that Austin has “signalled a very early interest in focusing the department on China. He has identified China as the pacing threat and the pacing challenge for the Department”.

“His initial steps kind of demonstrate that this is going to be an

S President Joe Biden’s spokesperson has defended his assertion that Indian Americans are “taking over the country” against criticism that it could play into the hands of racists.

Jen Psaki said on Thursday: “The President was just recognizing and honouring and valuing -- or this was his intention -- the incredible contribution of Indian Americans to science.”

area of continued focus, and the participation in this trip, follow-on travel to India, will provide an opportunity for exchange of views early on with key allies and partners about how we can work together and expand cooperation to support a rules-based international order.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be with Austin for a part of the trip when they hold 2+2 meetings of the top defence and diplomacy officials in Tokyo and Seoul.

But Blinken will not be coming to New Delhi, where a 2+2 dialogue was held last October.

At that meeting between Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and former Defence Secretary Mark Esper and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the US and India signed the landmark defence pact, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation.

The agreement enables the militaries of the two countries to share high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data.

The two countries were already signatories to the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and the Industrial Security Agreement (ISA), which sealed close defence ties and paved the way for

interoperability of the equipment of the defence forces of the two countries.

Furthering these elements of cooperation will be on the agenda of the meeting between Singh and Austin, according to Helvey.

India was designated as a major defence partner by the US in 2016 allowing it access to some defence hi-tech that would normally be available to only allies.

Austin, who retired as a four-star general after a 41-year career in the US Army, has not served in Asia and, therefore, does not appear to have had involvement with India.

However, in his last military position of the head of the Central Command he has dealt with Pakistan.

Even before Austin’s trip was officially announced, China reacted to speculations about the visit with a veiled threat in the Global Times, a Chinese publication that mirrors the Communist Party thinking.

It quoted Yang Xiyu, senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, as saying: “New Delhi cannot afford the cost of provoking China by publicly taking sides between Beijing and Washington.”

Reflecting the unease in China, the article quoted several Chinese experts who asserted that military alliance between India and the US will not work.

CBS paid $7 mn for MeghanHarry interview: Report

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he widely anticipated 90-minute interview of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with American talk show host Oprah Winfrey reportedly cost the American broadcasting network CBS several million dollars.

According to a report in People magazine, the American network paid Winfrey’s company, Harpo Productions, a licensing fee between USD 7-9 million, which also

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included the rights to license the special interview abroad as well.

The report also said Meghan and Harry were not paid to be a part of the interview, previews of which have already generated a lot of buzz in the world media. It is scheduled to air in the US on CBS this Sunday evening and it would be aired in the UK the coming Monday on ITV.

sked by a reporter at her briefing in Washington about the criticism, she said that what he had said “was a reflection of his belief that Indian Americans have made a great contribution to the fabric of society, whether it’s science or education or the government and that was what he was trying to convey”.

Biden had told Swati Mohan, the NASA engineer who guided the Mars rover Perseverance to a soft landing on the Red Planet, during a virtual meeting last week, “It’s amazing. Indian of descent Americans are taking over this country. You, my Vice President, my speechwriter Vinay (Reddy). But I tell you what, thanks. You guys are incredible.”

For context, while Biden’s statement is taken as a compliment in India and by many Indians, in the ethnic cauldron of the US such comments are viewed with caution as they could lead to a backlash against Indian Americans, who are a minority.

For example, any such statements about Jews, however well-intentioned, are considered anti-Semitic as these claims have historically been used to foment violent attacks against them leading up to the holocaust in Europe.

In the US, such assertions about Jews have led to physical attacks and institutional measures like elite educational institutions imposing quotas to limit the admission of Jews and are, therefore, considered anti-Semitic.

The US State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism includes “stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective -- such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.”

immediately going to assume control of the federal government, or is stupid enough to believe Indian Americans are the majority of America.”

Trying to introduce context, Psaki said, “He was speaking to an Indian American woman who is, of course, a scientist and an important part of the NASA team.”

She added, “And he also was, of course, recognising the incredible contribution of his own Vice President, Kamala Harris.”

Indians and other Asians are already facing a backlash in academia because of their outstanding performance. Many elite universities require them to score as much as 140 points more than Whites in the entrance exams while also rating them low on subjective evaluations like personality by marking them as less “widely respected” to lower their rankings.

Four Indian American organisations joined other Asian groups that sued Harvard University alleging that it violated the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings by discriminating against Asians in admissions.

A federal appeals court ruled against them last year and the groiups plan to appeal to the Supreme court.

In New York City, the former Schools Chancellor Richard Carrenza campaigned against Asians accusing them of dominating the high-performing schools by outperforming them on admissions tests and tried to abolish the tests and created ill-will against them.

Asians have been subjected to violent attacks in the city and elsewhere in recent months by mostly other non-Whites. The situation got so bad in the New York that a special police unit has been set up to tackle anti-Asian violence.

In 2008, Biden faced criticism for the opposite reason. He had played into another stereotype of Indian Americans as low-level store employees when he said, “You cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.”

Criticising Biden, a rightwing publication RedState said that if former President Donald Trump had made such a statement about Indian Americans he would have been denounced as “racist”.

RedState said, “Show me one sane person who believes an unknown group of Indian Americans are

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11

AUSTRALIA

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Australia marks IWD 2021 echoing global theme ‘women in leadership’ and ‘choose to challenge’

Grace Tame

Courtesy_UN Women Australia

advocate for survivors of sexual assault spoke on the need to raise awareness and push reforms to protect women and girls.

Continued from Page 12 Governor-General David Hurley; Australian of the year, Grace Tame, one of the keynote speakers and members of the UN Women Australia Board.

Announcing this year’s theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world”, she lauded the growing contribution and involvement of women in leadership roles asserting that the recognition of four courageous women through the Australian of the year award bears testament to this fact. Grace Tame, one of the recipients of this honour for her brave work as an

Marise Payne further stated, “Putting women in our Indo-Pacific region and globally, front and centre, is a key to our economic recovery from COVID-19. Our international response, Australia’s international response on COVID-19, Partnerships for Recovery, prioritises the needs of women and girls. Women leaders across the world have stood out for their success in responding to COVID-19 as teachers, nurses, doctors, scientists, community workers and in unpaid caring roles. Women have been, and are, at the forefront of pandemic responses.

“On International Women’s Day, we have a special and important opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary work that women across the world and in this country do – the contributions that all women make – and to celebrate women’s leadership. With women’s voices and with women’s full participation in all aspects of life, we can overcome the challenges

International Women’s Day

Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

International Women’s Day has occurred for well over a century with the first gathering held in 1911.

Marked annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to: • Celebrate women’s achievements • Raise awareness about women’s equality • Lobby for accelerated gender parity • Fundraise for female-focused charities What’s the theme for International Women’s Day? The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose To Challenge’. A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So let’s all #ChooseToChallenge.

What’s the history of International

that face us today and in today’s COVID-19 world.”

Dr. Kirstin Ferguson, an Australian non-executive director, leadership expert, author, commentator and creator of the #CelebratingWomen campaign also spoke at the UN International Women’s day event in Brisbane. Praising women who had the courage to voice their objections when being subjected to sexual harassment, be it physical or verbal, Dr. Ferguson underpinned the need to speak out against it rather than staying silent by saying that in virtually every case of sexual harassment, the fault lies with the perpetrator and not the victim. She also went on to give a personal account of a recent case which left her shaken yet resolute in the aftermath to combat sexually inappropriate conduct.

A campaign decrying disrespectful behaviour against women During another public speech commemorating IWD 2021 on March 8th, Minister for Women, Marise Payne urged the government and community to So make International Women’s Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

bring about transformations in behaviour with respect to treating women deferentially both in the domestic and workplace environment. The event also launched the ‘Stop it at the start campaign’ which vows to counter disrespectful conduct against women which escalates to violence against women.

The minister feels that those who are in government can play an instrumental role in catalyzing change and reducing the incidence of violence against women.

She also states that the complementary efforts of government and community members will be paramount in fostering gender equality in all domains and ensuring the secure existence of women and children.

EEAA takes up the ‘choose to challenge’ theme The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) commemorated the International women’s day 2021 on 4th March which was aired live from Chippendale. Delving into the #ChoosetoChallenge theme, a Do we still need an International Women’s Day? Yes! There’s no place for complacency. According to the World

What colors symbolize International Women’s Day?

panel of prominent speakers extolled the remarkable contribution of women in business events. The chief executive of EEAA, Claudia Sagripanti stated that the motive behind this year’s event being conducted virtually was twofold- the first being pre-emptive measures against Covid-19 and the other one being an opportunity for everyone in the industry to congregate together to recognize the dynamic talent pool and also the incredible knack for reinvention and transformation.

The panel of speakers included Simone Allan, social entrepreneur, businesswoman and champion of women’s rights; Stephanie Selesnick, an international panelist from International Trade Information and many others. Under the #ChoosetoChallenge theme, the speakers had a thorough discussion on feasible measures for women to take leadership positions and for organisations to promote a culture that encourages equal opportunity, this being particularly important as the business events industry is predominantly female.

Economic Forum, sadly none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes, and nor likely will many of our children. Gender parity will not be attained for almost a century.

Purple, green and white are the colors of International Women’s Day. Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolizes hope.

White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. The colors originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908.

Who can support International Women’s Day? International Women’s Day is not country, group, nor organization specific. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network, or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Aus education sector struggles to bring int’l students back

Continued from Page 12 The announcement by the federal government earlier this month to extend the border closure for at least another three months to

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mid-June, as well as the current arrival caps, further extended the predicament.

With international students still shut outside, the international ed-

ucation sector is estimated to lose a further 5.5 per cent or A$2 billion in 2021, according to Universities Australia.

ranked second only to China as the top source country of foreign students studying in Australia, also witnessed a great drop.

The Indian students market, which

The number of new Indian stu-

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dents enrolling to study at Australian universities dropped by more than 80 per cent in the second half of 2020, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

12

BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Indian space firm invites Pichai, Nadella industry to make rockets engage in war

over online news

S

tate-run NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to make polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) rockets by Indian industry for carrying communication or observation satellites into the earth’s lower orbits, an official said on Friday.

“We have recently issued an RFP to manufacture the entire PSLV rocket by the Indian industry, which has been making various subsystems and components for rockets launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) over the years for carrying multiple satellites into the earth’s orbits,” NSIL Director D. Radhakrishnan told IANS here.

Unlike in the present set-up, where ISRO procures various parts from the industry and assembles them into a rocket at its Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh for integrating and launching satellites, a consortium of Indian firms will make and assemble the rocket at their plants for integration at the launchpad with satellites.

As the commercial arm of the space department, NSIL plans to initially procure five rockets from the industry for launching multiple satellites of Indian or foreign customers from the spaceport.

“As part of the space reforms process, we have been mandated to own and operate space assets, including satellites and launch vehicles (rockets) and provide endto-end services on a commercial basis,” said Radhakrishnan, who is in-charge of the company’s technology and strategy.

The state-run NSIL was in the news

recently for launching Brazil’s earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 on February 28 from the Sriharikota spaceport on board ISRO’s PSLV-C51 rocket along with 18 other satellites.

Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

“The new mandate also envisages a paradigm shift in providing space-based services to a demand-driven model from the present supply-driven model,” said the company in a statement.

NSIL was formed in March 2019 with a paid-up capital of Rs 10 crore and an authorised capital of Rs 100 crore as a state-owned central public sector enterprise to take over the production and operation of launch vehicles from ISRO. “We have also undertaken transfer of technologies to the Indian industries from ISRO so as to enable them to make rockets and satellites for domestic and overseas

customers and for launching them from the Sriharikota spaceport,” said Radhakrishnan.

The RFP mandates the consortium to procure subsystems and components from the vendors, who have been making and supplying them to ISRO’s PSLV and GSLV (geo-synchronous launch vehicle) rockets that carry heavy satellites into the geo-stationary orbit, about 36,000 km above the earth.

NSIL Chairman G. Narayanan said: “We will soon finalise the needs for new satellites with multiple users and start procuring, owning, launching and providing spacebased services, primarily in the communications sector.”

The 2-year-old company is in talks with the Department of Space to take ownership of two new communication satellites to be launched by ISRO soon for providing direct-to-home (DTH) services and broadband services in Ku band by private operators.

Dorsey to donate $2.5M from sale of his 1st tweet in Bitcoins

T

witter CEO and billionaire Jack Dorsey who last week announced to sell his very first tweet of March 6, 2006, has said that he will donate the money in Bitcoins to charity.

The highest bid for the tweet, put up for auction as an NFT (non-fungible token) on a platform called Valuables, is currently $2.5 million and there auction will end on March 21.

“Ending this March 21st. Will immediately convert proceeds to #Bitcoin. And send to @GiveDirectly Africa Response,” Dorsey said in a tweet late on Tuesday.

NFT is a digital good on the Ethereum blockchain.

The very first tweet by Dorsey on

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March 6, 2006 read: “just setting up my twttr”.

exchange it for another thing of equal value.

According to Valuables, “What you are purchasing is a digital certificate of the tweet, unique because it has been signed and verified by the creator”.

S

undar Pichai-run Google has launched a scathing attack on Microsoft, accusing the Satya Nadella-run enterprise of willing to break the way the open web works in an effort to undercut a rival.

The attack came as Microsoft President Brad Smith, who on Friday issued a testimony for the House Committee on the Judiciary looking into antitrust and commercial aspects of competition for a free and diverse press, and slammed Google for hampering the growth of news organisations.

“News organisations have ad inventory to sell, but they can no longer sell directly to those who want to place ads,” Smith said in a statement.

“Instead, for all practical purposes they must use Google’s tools, operate on Google’s ad exchanges, contribute data to Google’s operations, and pay Google money.

All this impacts the ability of news organisations to benefit economically even from advertising on their own sites,” Smith noted.

Kent Walker, Google’s head of global affairs, hit back late on Friday, saying this latest attack marks a return to Microsoft’s longtime practices.

“It’s no coincidence that Microsoft’s newfound interest in attacking us comes on the heels of the SolarWinds attack and at a moment when they’ve allowed tens of thousands of their customers to be actively hacked via major Microsoft vulnerabilities,” Walker said in a statement.

However, the fact is that this tweet has been publicly available for free for nearly 15 years on the internet.

NFTs allow people to buy and sell ownership of unique digital items and keep track of who owns them using the blockchain.

The artist Grimes recently sold several NFT items for nearly $6 million. An NFT of LeBron James making a historic dunk for the Lakers garnered more than $200,000.

“They are now making self-serving claims and are even willing to break the way the open web works in an effort to undercut a rival. And their claims about our business and how we work with news publishers are just plain wrong,” he added.

Non-fungible mean you can’t

Google and Microsoft are at odds

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over whether publishers should have more control over a digital ad industry dominated by the search giant and Facebook.

In January, Google threatened to remove its search engine from Australia in response to the News Media Bargaining Code that would force the company to pay news publishers for their content.

Australia passed the law last month and Microsoft are out in full support of the law, slamming both Google and Facebook.

Walker said that Microsoft is the second-largest company in the US but “their track record is spotty”.

“They have paid out a much smaller amount to the news industry than we have. And given the chance to support or fund their own journalists, Microsoft replaced them with AI bots,” he argued.

“Microsoft’s attempts at distraction aside, we’ll continue to collaborate with news organisations and policymakers around the world to enable a strong future for journalism”.

On Friday, a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing focused on the way Google and Facebook distribute news, and a new bill introduced earlier this week has already found Republican support.

It’s one of the biggest legislative threats to tech that’s come out of the years-long antitrust debate, and much of its political force comes from the precarious state of local journalism.

“The crisis in American journalism has become a real crisis in our democracy and civic life,” Cicilline said in his opening remarks Friday.

The fight between two tech giants came as the US is debating a new bill, introduced earlier this week, that would allow news organisations to collectively negotiate with platforms like Facebook and Google the terms in which their content is distributed online.

13

LITERATURE

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Five Indian women authors share their path to getting published

A

s more and more women take to writing as a career, do they still feel reminded that they are female writers? Five authors reveal the kind of comments they have received over their years of writing, relating to gender or not, and how they dealt with them.

Kavya Sharma, All Seasons Alike

outstanding literature in the world is created by women. Most famous best sellers are women. Women are vocal, expressive and creative.

“I must say women have to work ten times harder than men to create a niche for themselves in a given profession. It’s more challenging, as they are not only working outside, they are working inside the homes too. Women are tugged emotionally on all levels. They are torn between their families and work places. I experienced the same struggle. I handled criticism in stride. Took it easy and improvised on the pointers levelled at me from time to time. Sometimes identified criticism as baseless work of art and moved on!”

Raina Singhwi Jain, The Golden Bird 2.0

“Some people said ‘ahh, the privileged sex, you can of course afford to become a writer.’ Some people have said ‘People will only buy your book for how you look, you can get away with bad writing’. Honestly, it did initially bother me a lot as it would anyone who works hard on their art. I answered back and fought with a lot of people for such things; but as I matured I realised that none of these people matter and I cannot waste my energy trying to make them understand.

The best way to fight them was to continue working on my art.”

Anuradha Prasad, Two Winters and 365 Days “Most of the famous writers and

W

hen WHO first declared Covid-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, there was a great deal of apprehension about how India -- the country with the highest TB cases and diabetes, inadequate health infrastructure and a population of 1.3 billion -- would fare.

ity looms over. I always keep an anchor thought as my inspiration.

My anchor thought is my reason to choose writing express with utmost authenticity and honesty.

“Authenticity is a deep value in itself. Be fearless and honest. It might be difficult to find people who will support you. Nonetheless, go after your dreams and the right people are sure to accompany you.”

Arushi Vats, Oasis in the Desert and Other Stories

“People judge you not only for your art and the kind of profession you’ve gotten into, they also assume as a woman you have it easy and this presumption is what creates discord. Some people also assume that as a woman your experiences are limited which further limits your writing arena. There are these huge writing groups who favour a few over others and those same set of people keep getting seen at various events and launches.

“When I was following the path of my dreams, there were many people who made every attempt to belittle my dreams or discourage in some way or other. They would give their unsolicited opinion of how being an author wouldn’t do me good. Nonetheless, I cared less and turned a deaf ear to them. I was confident in my ability to go after my dream of becoming a published author and I am proud that I never bothered to hear those harsh words and demotivate myself.

“As a working professional, one has to deal with criticism. It is however upto us to pay attention only to constructive criticism that can help us improve our skills. My father was the inspiration behind this book. A lot of the ideas mentioned in the book were a result of active debates with my father. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by highly supportive family and friends who enabled me to focus on the book.

Unravelling the India Covid story

“When I decided to publish my first book, there was no one to give me prior guidance of how to find a publisher or pitch your story.

There’s always room to improve.

But, the thrill of doing things on your own with all the struggles and experiences gave me some confidence that I can be a writer. I realised that with time writing skills get sharpened and you only get better. Never underestimate yourself, you have the potential and the calibre to do it, so go ahead and do things with unwavering strength.”

Between the Janata Curfew and the first vaccinations, a massive machinery has been working as seamlessly as possible to make sure that, despite some missteps and missed infections, India conquers what has been the greatest challenge the world has encountered in decades.

Covering the pandemic from the start, the author, Abantika Ghosh has had a ringside view of India’s battle against the pandemic. A thrilling tale of unnamed thousands battling against a little-understood virus from the frontlines, “Billions Under Lockdown” (Bloomsbury) brings that gripping theatre and its dramatis personae to life.

“Journalists are usually accused of having very short memories. Of course, this is not unfair criticism as we, far too often, look at issues only fleetingly, and superficially.

Having said that, in the twenty years that I have been in this business, 2020 was the first year in which, for ten months, I followed one story: Covid-19. I may even go so far as to say, that I lived in a Covid bubble. I was reading about it, writing about it, and, in whatever time I had left, I was answering questions from friend and family,” Ghosh writes.

“I have tried to keep my own opinions at a minimum to tell India’s Covid-19 story that lies somewhere between the official statements, scientific hypotheses and conspiracy theories. It is not yet fully understood, and some of what appears in this book may change

over time,” Ghosh adds.

To that extent, starting from the government’s first Covid-19 meeting (it was not yet called that) on January 8, 2020 to the approvals of the two eMade in India’ vaccines on January 3, 2021, the book attempts to cover all the major aspects of the pandemic through the year, with the world view in the background.

The book is a valuable contribution to the growing narrative on the pandemic and how it has affected every sphere of our lives.

Abantika Ghosh is passionate about public health and popular science communication. After graduating from Presidency College, Kolkata, she did her masters in Physiology from the University of Calcutta and has worked with The Statesman, The Times of India and the Indian Express in the past. Currently, she is with The Print, where she heads the team covering Covid-19. She is keenly interested in non-cricket sports, is a voracious reader and loves to explore the intersection of politics and society. She lives in New Delhi with two dogs and some books.

“Don’t be overwhelmed by your ambitions and goals, just take the first step and new opportunities will automatically start coming your way.”

Janhavi Bhat, Ashes of Desires “Struggles are a part and parcel of life. Without hardships it is impossible to reach anywhere. The biggest hindrance in my journey was my failure to realise my self-worth. Often times when one chooses a different path and sees a future that’s inconceivable by the majority, a sense of negativ-

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14

FASHION

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Bollywood Mr & Miss India beauty pageant announces 4th season

5 quick wardrobe maintenance tips for fresh clothes

M

ost of the time, we concentrate on cleaning the items placed inside the wardrobe but not the closet itself.

But, maintaining a clean wardrobe definitely is a road map to your clean clothes. Here are the five quick wardrobe maintenance tips for fresh clothes, shared by Roopa Hariharan, Co-founder PureCult, an eco-friendly home cleaning products maker.

Spot clean the wardrobe with detergent or cleanser to avoid dry and irremovable stains

March 10, 2021 (IANSlife) Studio 19 Films has announced the fourth season of the beauty pageant ‘Bollywood Mr and Miss India’, to be held this year in Delhi.

Yash Ahlawat, actor and founder of Studio 19 Films has called for applications for the competition which is slated to be held around August-September. The auditions are being organized in 64 cities across India and will continue until

August.

“We at Studio 19 Films have been working hard to bring the fourth season of Bollywood Mr & Miss India. Due to the pandemic, we didn’t have an edition last year, therefore, this season will be organized on a grand scale. We believe that this lockdown gave an opportunity to the people to polish their skill and enhance their talent.

The auditions will be held in 64

cities and we are looking forward to seeing some tough competition on the stage,” said Ahlawat.

Studio 19 Films’ Bollywood Mr. And Miss India was ideated by Ahlawat with an aim to provide opportunity for all aspirants to live their dream of winning a title and taking the first step for being recognized as a brand.

Anamika Khanna to open FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week

A

namika Khanna is set to present her latest collection ‘Timeless the World’ on March 16 at the opening showcase at joint fashion week FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) being organised by Lakmé & RISE Worldwide (formerly IMG Reliance); and Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).

The opening show will be presented jointly by FDCI and LFW and will kick start the five-day Phygital fashion event. Anamika’s collection is modern while recognizing the timelessness of Indian heritage.

Talking about the collection and upcoming virtual showcase, the designer said, “It’s an honour to be doing the opening show for FDCI x LFW’s joint fashion week. The past year has been a challenging one to say the least, and I am glad that to have the opportunity to use this platform to showcase my work, and the incredible artists I work with. My collection is a collaboration of art and textile and will be an homage to the fact that what is created will one day perish. What is left behind is legacy, and what matters most is what you do with it.”

The five-day Phygital fashion extravaganza will comprise a host of varied virtual showcases. Each created using state of the art

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technology during an extensively designed and carefully planned on-ground shoot in Delhi led by FDCI and in Mumbai led by Rise Worldwide.

Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI said, “We are thrilled to have Anamika Khanna as the designer to open FDCI x LFW. She always outdoes herself, and we’re looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us all, this time around. The Delhi shoot at the FDCI studio has been yet another unique experience, that has been executed keeping in mind the highest level of safety of all those involved. We look forward to supporting this joint initiative by bringing forth the best to the

Based upon the material your closet is made up of, you can use a detergent, soap or cleanser to remove the stains immediately.

The regular stains that wardrobes or cupboards have are because of dust accumulation in the corners and crevices. But spills are also another reason to form the spots.

Clean them immediately to avoid dry and glossy stains.

Combat the moths out of the wardrobe to save your woollen wear Moths are mostly drawn to sweat, hair and body oil left on clothing, particularly those made out of natural fibres. Even though we clean all the clothes before placing them in the wardrobe, the leftover scents are enough for them to settle over.

Place dried rosemary, cloves, lavender, or bay leaves into a small cloth bag and hang them in your wardrobe or your drawers. The essential oils form of these herbs, spread on contaminated areas of the closet, can also repel moths.

You can use an essential oil diffuser alongside to eliminate them.

Pick good thick wooden hangers to hang your clothes in the wardrobe

Not all the clothes require a smooth iron and fold to place them back. Few require a free flow of air. You can hang such delicate pieces with hangers. Ensure you are picking good thick wooden hangers set to hang your clothes.

The wooden hangers will help you maintain the shape of the shoulder. Also, maintain an inch between each piece of clothing while hanging them in a wardrobe to let your costumes breathe.

Practice wardrobe organization and storage habits to increase the span of your wardrobe and clothes Whether you have a cool walk-in closet or just a couple of shelves, the way you store clothes can make them last for years. Follow the basic principles like folding heavy sweaters onto the top shelf, buttoning the buttons and zipping the zippers to maintain the shape before placing. Placing them at the right points will make your wardrobe less messy and fewer stains in the end.

Freshen up the wardrobe with the fragrance of lavender and geranium essential oils Feel the fresh and relaxing aroma from your closet by placing the mixture of lavender, geranium and basil essential oils. They freshen up your wardrobe and keep it light and aromatic every day.

A fresh and clean closet is everything you need for your perfect clothing and accessories storage.

Follow the above easy tips to ensure you have a refreshing closet and refreshing clothes henceforth!

table.”

Ashwath Swaminathan, Head of Innovations, Lakmé India said, “We are delighted that Anamika Khanna is opening this season of FDCI X Lakme Fashion Week. Looking forward to her virtual presentation.”

Jaspreet Chandok, Head – Lifestyle Businesses at RISE Worldwide said, “It’s always a pleasure to work with Anamika Khanna and we are glad to have a designer of her stature kick off this historic event. The Delhi shoot at FDCI headquarters is the start point of our actions for the season as we build on each other’s strengths to present this joint initiative.”

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15

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Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

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17

ARTS-CULTURE

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Delhi Contemporary Art Arundhathi Subramaniam, Anamika, M Veerappa Moily win Week from April 8-15 Sahitya Akademi Award

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oets Arundhathi Subramaniam and Anamika, and politician and writer M Veerappa Moily are among the twenty writers who will be conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2020.

Announcing this on Friday, the Akademi said that Subramaniam has won the award for her poetry collection ‘When God is a Traveller’ (English) while Moily for his poetry ‘Sri Bahubali Ahimsadigvijayam’ (Kannada).

The list includes four novels, seven poetry books, two plays, five short stories, an epic poetry and a memoir in twenty Indian languages.

The awards for Nepali, Malayalam, Rajasthani and Odia languages will be announced at a later date.

Besides, Subramaniam, those who won in the poetry category include Anamika (Hindi), Harish Meenakshi

(Gujarati), Irungbam Deven (Manipuri), Rupchand Hansda (Santali), and Nikhileswar (Telugu) and RS Bhaskar (Konkani).

Novelists who have won include Nanda Khare (Marathi), Maheshchandra Sharma Gautam (Sanskrit), Imaiyam (Tamil) and Hussain-ul-Haque (Urdu).

Apurba Kumar Saikia (Assamese), late Dharanidhar Owari (Bodo), late Hiday Koul Bharti (Kashmiri), Kamakant Jha (Maithili) and Gurdev Singh Rupana (Punjabi) have received the award for short stories.

The Akademi has named Gian Singh (Dogri) and Jetho Lalwani (Sindhi) the winners for their plays.

Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay (Bengali) has received the award in the memoir category.

The award, comprising a casket containing an engraved copper

plaque, a shawl and Rs 1,00,000, will be presented at the award presentation function, to be held at a later date.

Indian classical talent hunt announces winners

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oung Indian classical talent shone through as an online international talent hunt organised in association with the Ministry of Culture announced winners in different Indian classical dance and music forms.

The 4-month long talent hunt titled Sur Taal, Hunar Ka Kamaal was organised by Kathak exponent Dr

Rekha Mehra-led Urvashi Dance and Music Art Cultural Society, supported by ICCR and Sandeep Marwaha’s ICMEI. According to the organisers, in the Junior Kathak category, Virti Gujralis is the winner followed by Anahita Soy and Avantika Alreja as first and second runners-up respectively. In the Senior Kathak category, Svetlana Nigam

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emerged winner, Prerna Bighamal as first runner-up and Himani Gautam as second runner-up.

Swara Sagar Raut, Srujana Suresh and Kavya Rama Krishnan were announced winners in the Classical Bharatanatyam category.

Archisha Arya and Svetlana Gadalina took the winner title in the Classical Odissi dance. Alexander

350 people have registered, said organisers.

Vodaplyanova was the winner in the Classical Mohiniattam dance category.

to connect with various talents and today we are presenting the winners of our online talent hunt.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Ministry of Culture, all the eminent artists and people who stood by us and guided us to reach where we are today and make this show success.”

The semiclassical music category had three winners - Sohini Saha, Urmila Soni and Sarvagya Sharma.

The winners of the talent hunt will be given a chance to perform live at any auditorium in Delhi.

The international online hunt saw an immense response with around

Talking about the finale of Sur Taal, Hunar Ka Kamaal, Dr Rekha Mehra said, “This platform provides an opportunity to those who want to put their creativity and energy towards dance. With everything going virtual due to the pandemic, we thought why not to go virtual

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he fifth edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) will run from April 8-15 in the national capital, and is among the first collective, large scale art venture post-pandemic and a celebration of the spirit of artists and art institutions across South Asia as they overcame the many challenges presented by the global pandemic.

Organized by seven Delhi based galleries, DCAW focuses on contemporary art, showcasing a new wave of South Asian artists under one roof.

With an innovative approach to programming, spread over an 8 day period, this years DCAW will be interspersed with talks, walkthroughs and a range of activities for art collectors and enthusiasts including a musical evening, said the organisers.

This year’s edition of DCAW is at heritage building Bikaner House, and will be spread across the Main Ballroom of Bikaner House as well as the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

In addition to the curated exhibition spaces of each partner gallery, there will be a specially curated exhibition by accomplished young curator Reha Sodhi, in the Main Ballroom’s side wing. As well as the multiple exhibition spaces

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at Bikaner House there will be exhibitions at each of the DCAW partner’s individual galleries, creating a citywide fervor around contemporary art, the organisers said.

“The diverse variety of South Asian and international artists on display at DCAW make this a great opportunity for the collector to expand their aesthetic tastes and proclivities, and acquire emergent bold new works that have never been exhibited before.

“Adapting to the socio-economic condition which have unfurled post-pandemic have been most challenging for all sectors, not least the arts, moreover with an already languished state-sponsored infrastructure. A silver lining has been offered by private ventures, pumping life-blood back into the local art scene. This resolution phase spells an exciting opportunity for the collector of Indian art, to be a part of the decisive moment that we have come to understand as the contemporary, and determine its future course,” said organisers.

They added that they are taking strict precautions against the spread of covid-19, including moderation on the number of people simultaneously inside the gallery space.

18

ARTS-CULTURE

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Declare NSD an institute of national importance, says Paresh Rawal

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he National School of Drama (NSD) in the Capital is pushing several major initiatives to strengthen the present system of imparting theatre education and reaching out to more practitioners and theatre enthusiasts across the country.

Along with infrastructural development, the vision is to recruit highly trained faculty, increase the number of workshops and sessions by theatre veterans and introduce new courses and centres across the country.

The new structural push and design is under preparation after several rounds of meetings between Paresh Rawal, Chairman, NSD, Director In-charge, Registrar, faculty members and members of NSD society.

Speaking to the media, Rawal said that the status of ‘Institute of National Importance’ will further strengthen NSD by enabling it to award degrees, introduce new courses like playwriting, costume designing, property making etc, and also open up new centres.

“We are talking to the Government of India to expedite the matter.

Also, the proposal of re-development of the existing NSD campus is under consideration. The issue was brought to light in a meeting with Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri last week,” added Rawal.

He also said that a request had been received from the Lieutenant Governor of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha for opening a centre there. “This will soon be discussed with NSD society members and the government. Hopefully, we will have a concrete plan to do it soon. In fact, we are keen to set up centres in the states of Gujarat, West Bengal, and Maharashtra,” he said.

Currently, the NSD has regional centres in Varanasi, Bengaluru, Agartala and Gangtok.

on introducing new short term courses on various aspects of theatre art.

There are also plans to digitalise the NSD archive. At present, thousands of in-house productions and plays are stored in old format. Once converted to digital, they will be used as study material for mass usage. The plans may include sharing of digital content with other major theatre education institutes worldwide.

Laying emphasis on introducing new short term courses on various aspects of theatre art, Rawal said that there was a need to have National Repertory and Theatre in Education Companies across the country. “We appeal to the government to open four National Repertories and the same number of Theatre in Education Companies in the country on the occasion of the 75th year of Indian Independence. This will go a long way in developing quality theatre in the country. The aim of this step will be to craft out the young talent from the remotest parts of the country and preserve the regional theatre forms. We are also proposing to establish one National Repertory Co. at Kevadia which shall showcase quality theatre productions to the visitors at Statue of Unity.” he said.

On the occasion of India’s 75th year of Independence, the NSD is also planning to collaborate with various theatre directors in the country to produce 75 plays on the theme of freedom struggle and freedom fighters. “The details are being worked out in consultation with the Ministry of Culture.

We are of firm view that there are many illustrious works by Sahitya Akademi awardees which should be staged. NSD will take necessary steps in this direction in coming years,” said Rawal.

The Chairman also laid emphasis

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19

BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Forest Essentials launches Katrina Kaif looks new make-up range forward in 2021

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ith game nights, workout videos and fun with family and friends, Katrina Kaif’s social media platform has been followed avidly by fans. The actress recently spotted in PepsiCo India Slice’s newly launched TVC which encourages consumers to take the ‘Sabse Thick Sabse Tasty’ challenge thereby reaffirming its position as the thickest and tastiest mango drink in India.

IANSlife caught up with the star to talk about the shoot, her days in lockdown and what she’s looking forward to in 2021.

dding to its artisanal makeup collection curated with natural, ingredients and nourishing herbs and oils, Forest Essentials has introduced a new range of products in the Artisanal Beauty collection for facial adornment.

The collection comprises Som Rasa Silk Skin Tint, a luminous lightweight formula to enhance the complexion for buildable coverage, Noor Nikhar Cheek Tint providing a youthful flush of colour and Nayantara Clear Lash and Brow Serum to help repair and restore lashes and brows to their original beauty.

Som Rasa Silk Skin Tint (Price Rs 2,750): TheSom Rasa Silk Skin Tint is a lightweightformulation for facial adornment to softly blur outimperfections and replenish moisture. The base of this lightly textured and silky tint is enriched with freshly hand-pressed oils of Moringa, Almond, Sunflower and Green Tea. A fermentOil Complex,this decoction helps ensureconcentrated vitality to strengthen and protect the skin barrier, unlike other conventional, pore- clogging foundations Noor Nikhar Cheek Tint (Price: Rs 1,350) : The Noor Nikhaar Natural Cheek Tint is named after its beneficial qualities for the skin.

‘Noor’ translates to ‘light’ while ‘Nikhaar’ translates to ‘glow’.

The Noor Nikhaar Cheek Tint is a mousse-like blush, blended to

How does it feel to be back to work after months of lockdown?

specifically provide a youthful flush of colour to the skin. Mirroring the effect of a naturally sun-kissed look, this cheek tint enhances your original complexion. It is crafted with a melange of fresh Ayurvedic ingredients, herbs and pigments including that of Rose and Beetroot, which are mixed with softening, hand-pressed oils of Sweet Almond and Moringa.

Nayantara Clear Lash & Brow Serum (Price: Rs 1,225) The Nayantara Clear Lash & Brow Serum naturally

strengthens and fortifies the lashes and brows with nurturing Ayurvedic ingredients that lend a slight glossy finish. The name ‘Nayantara’ translates to sparkling eyes that shine with a nourished ‘Ojas’.

Enriched with pure Castor oil, Amla, Fenugreek, organic Beeswax, Ceramide III and Liquorice, a naturallyeffective ingredient complex, this serum protects the hair shaft from irritation whilst strengthening and thickening the hair shaft from the root.

Prepare your hair before styling it

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reparing hair a great look is challenging. In all the excitement of looking your best, one loses grasp of reality and tends to go over the top, which can be unappealing.

Shampoo and Conditioner- After oiling, cleansing is necessary to remove all oil, dirt and sweat from hair and scalp. Beyond all the obvious reasons, shampoo is mandatory because it adds more volume, gorgeous shine, and extra moisture. Keep a note in your mind of applying the shampoo only with the added benefit of the fragrance that is as good as your favourite

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Do you feel there is a difference between shooting in a pre and in a post-COVID world?

Kaif: There surely is a difference as maintaining social distancing and various other precautionary norms are a must unlike before. But all the sets I’ve been on have made sure that the crews’ safety is a priority which makes it a very safe working place, giving us artists the creative liberty needed.

International travel is on standstill... did you manage to take a holiday or a getaway and how was it?

Kaif: I actually made a trip to Maldives during the pandemic for the shoot of Slice’s new ‘Sabse Thick Sabse Tasty’ campaign. I had mixed feeling when I was getting ready for the trip – on one hand I was excited about the shoot post the lockdown and on the other hand, I was nervous about traveling in the ‘new normal’ and

Agnes Chen, Technical Head, Streax Professional, lists down some tips to keep in mind while prepping your hair for a special occasion.

Oiling- Massage oil into hair and scalp and leave it on overnight.

Oiling moisturises and nourishes hair, reducing frizz and irritation in the scalp. Your hair requires intensive care before you address concerns like coarseness, fineness, dandruff, dry scalp, excessive frizz should not ado you.

Kaif: As much as I have learnt and grown internally during the lockdown I really did miss the hustle and bustle of my job. While the lockdown was critical at that point, I made sure I spent quality time on things I rarely get to do, but now that work has gradually begun with all the necessary precautions, I cannot be happier. The joy of filming is irreplaceable.

perfume. Conditioner plays a vital role in smoothing and detangling the hair, reducing breakage and split ends. Don’t forget to nourish your hair with the help of serum.

Hair Spa- Deep conditioning is one of the enormous benefits of hair spa treatment. It gives an effective remedy, making hair quite soft, glossy, and shiny. If your hair is in terrible shape, go for a hair spa that will bring life back to your hair.

It gets the best out of your colour

and adds an incredible amount of shine and gloss to your hair. It is also a calming therapy session.

For a great bounce, nothing will help you more than a hair spa. It makes your hair strands look far healthier. So, when you are really in the mood where you cannot understand what to do or need a little pampering, a hair spa can be the best thing for both your hair and your mood.

ensured I took all the right precautions, throughout the trip – COVID tests, ensuring social distancing, using face masks. Shooting in Maldives was such an exhilarating experience and it was one of the best shoots I had.

Women’s day is around the corner, the lockdown has been especially tough on women, how do you feel they should celebrate this Women’s Day? Kaif: I feel everyone has their own struggles to deal with, men, women, kids as well as senior citizens.

The lockdown has been challenging for everyone. We should be so grateful for our lives of privilege and these times have been really hard for so many people. However, I’m glad to see how women have realised the importance of “me time” and hope they continue to take time for themselves even post the lockdown.

What are you looking forward to in 2021 and what is the one lesson of 2020 you will carry with you forever?

Kaif: While 2020 has reminded me about the joys of little things, 2021 is a very exciting year for me as well. I’m thrilled about the work I’m doing and cannot wait to share it with the world.

Last and certainly not the least why is Slice your go to drink in the summer?

Kaif: My association with Slice goes back a long time – it gives me pure, indulgent joy to drink Slice. Slice is my favorite mango drink and I am beyond excited to launch the new ‘Sabse Thick Sabse Tasty’ campaign that exudes my confidence in the brand. I cannot wait for my fans to take the taste challenge and discover the pleasure of drinking the thick and tasty Slice themselves.

Speaking on the new campaign, Anuj Goyal, Associate Director, Tropicana and Slice, PepsiCo India said, “Consumers have expressed immense love for Slice which is a testament to our confidence in the product. However, we wanted to take a step further and encourage our consumers to take the new Sabse Thick Sabse Tasty blind taste challenge to bolster Slice’s position as the tastiest and thickest mango drink in India. We are excited to reach out to our consumers this summer through this campaign featuring the incomparable Katrina Kaif.”

The TVC film, set against the beautiful backdrop of a beach, shows brand ambassador posing the ultimate taste challenge to a fan. The blind taste challenge set off by Katrina urges him to make a choice and take up the taste challenge to discover the thickest mango drink in the market.

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20

BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Man’s Guide to the Best in Grooming & Wellness While picking the right products can be a daunting task, men are serious about grooming, self-care and wellness routines. With the changes the world has seen, in the last one year, men got more time to realize the need to be well groomed.

There is a shift in mind-set from looking attractive to feeling confident, and presentable. Self-confidence is a key motivator when it comes to grooming, and over 40 percent of Indian men resonate with this.

To help you get your swag on and TLC Nykaa Man has curated a gentleman’s guide with a detailed regime for the amateur to the pro.

So, level up in in 2021.

sebum that’s collected in your pores – whether it’s from outdoor dust and pollution or the dead skin cells and bacteria. Start your day (and end it too) by massaging a deep cleansing, foam-based facial cleaner onto your face, and washing it off with lukewarm water.

Next add a few drops of serum and moisturiser, and then finally a good sunscreen.

Shampoo For Hair With onion & Plant Keratin

Smell good, feel better: The last step and probably the most important one, is making sure you always smell good! Musk, Vanilla, Wood, Ylang Ylang and the list goes on- but fret not as we sort all your fragrance needs under one roof. Either layer fragrances or just use a single one, level up your game with our top picks:

Clean slate, fresh face Clinique For Men Charcoal Face Wash

Smell good, feel better BVLGARI Man In Black Eau De Parfum

NIVEA Sun - Moisturising Lotion SPF 50+ Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Absolu Eau De Parfum

MCaffeine Naked & Raw Coffee Face Serum

United Colors of Benetton United Dreams Be Strong Deodorant

bearded look, use beard oils, beard wax or styling balms.

Shave or No Shave Gillette Flexball ProGlide Combo Pack - Flexball Razor with 4 Flexball Blades Save Rs.499 Philips 8-in-1 Multigrooming Kit for Face and Hair (MG3730/15) Ustraa Beard Growth Oil Advanced Truefitt and Hill Beard Balm Beardo Beard and Mustache Wax Extra Strong

Clean slate, fresh face: A good skincare regime can be quite daunting to figure! It’s a no-brainer that the first step to any skincare starts with thorough cleansing. You need to get rid of the dirt, grime,

Shave or No Shave: No man can do without a good shaving or beard trimming tool, right? However, when picking a razor be sure of the design that suits your hand movement! For those donning the

Bid adieu to bad hair days: Body wash & shampoo are imperative for overall grooming. Moisturising yet cleaning, a good body wash & shampoo can boost your confidence multi folds. Feeling fresh & smelling equally fresh are very crucial. Goodbye oily, itchy, flaky scalp and say hello to healthy hair.

Bid adieu to bad hair days Bath & Body Works Noir 2-In-1 Hair + Body Wash

Kiehl’s Magic Elixir Hair Restructuring Concentrate With Rosemary Leaf And Avocado Oil Axe Dark Chocolate Temptation Body Wash

Spray For Men Jaguar Classic Black For Men Deodorant

Mamaearth Onion Hair Fall Control

Adapting to a green beauty routine

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voiding beauty products that contain chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates can help you transition to a green beauty regime. In addition to this, using multi-purpose beauty products as well as committing to zero-waste beauty regime is a healthy way to make a change, suggests Naina Ruhail, Co- founder Vanity Wagon.

Ruhail shares few tips to help you achieve a sustainable beauty routine.

Tip #1 Read labels thoroughly

We really need to start questioning the products we’re putting on our skin and not just assume they are safe. While making a purchase, pause, read all the ingredients and put down products that contain chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or fragrance to name a few. These are considered

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to be detrimental to skincare and subsequently our planet.

Tip #2 Adapt to multi-purpose beauty products

It’s pretty simple! In this era of minimalism, adapt to multi-purpose beauty products with less packaging. Look for clean products that work 2- in-1 like lip and cheek stains or maybe a beeswax lip balm that can also be used to calm your cuticles. This initiative will help to keep 2 extra products out of the landfills.

Tip #3 Reduce your carbon footprint We all know that our environment is severely affected. That makes it all the more important to choose products that are free from ingredients that can cause further damage. Switch to products with plant based or non-toxic ingredients. Try and follow zero waste

practices and pick products that reduce waste and use of plastic for instance, bamboo toothbrushes, wooden combs, jute bags, shampoo bars, tin cans, etc.

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Tip #4 Recycle Your Empties Empty, rinse, dry the container and recycle. These extra steps might sound tedious, but they can prevent your products from ending up in a landfill. A lot of brands

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including Vanity Wagon have a recycling program which enables users to send their empties, get them recycled and rewards them for the same. This sustainable step can effectively help reduce your carbon footprint.

21

SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Kohli’s string of ducks a worry Greatest ever shot: for India Pietersen on Pant reverse scoop I ndia skipper Virat Kohli was on Friday dismissed for a duck for the third time in his last five innings against England.

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ishabh Pant’s reverse scoop for a six off the bowling of Jofra Archer earned the India wicketkeeper-batsman accolades in a match where nothing else went right for India.

Kohli, struggling to get off the mark after four balls in the first T20 International, tried to muscle an Adil Rashid leg-spinner over the 30yard circle only to be caught by Chris Jordan for a five-ball duck.

This followed a duck in India’s only innings in the fourth and final Test in which he was removed

by Ben Stokes and a duck in the first innings of the second Test in Chennai. He made a fighting 62 in the second innings of the second Test and 27 in the only innings of the pink-ball Test against England.

“Kohli is obviously a dangerous batter and to see the back of him early so many times is a real bonus. I think it probably might have dampened their camp a little bit,” pace bowler Jofra Archer, who was man-of-the-match in the first T20I, told the media in an interaction.

Kohli’s dismissal on Friday pushed India into a difficult position, at two wickets down for three runs. It was a position from where they could

never recover to post a competitive total.

Asked about his inability to get a big score in the last few innings, Kohli said after Friday’s match, “It is part of the whole journey in international cricket. If we play long enough, we will have ups and downs and you have to accept that as a batsman.”

The 32-year-old India batsman said that he will continue to bat with intent and stick to his plans as a batsman.

“On your day, you will probably

end up scoring more. Important thing is to stay true to your intent, to your plans as a batsman. Accept as batsman that as a bowling team, they will come out and [sometimes] execute their plans better than your plans. For me, it has always been about going out there and trying to be as positive as I can,” said Kohli.

Kohli had batted well through the T20I and ODI series in Australia and followed it up with a 74 in the pink-ball Adelaide Test against Australia.

Pant, who had walked in at No. 4 to replace skipper Virat Kohli, was facing the seventh ball of his innings in Archer’s second over.

Pant moved away to his leg and scooped an Archer good-length ball over the wicketkeeper to get six runs for himself and the team.

India were eight for two at that time and the audacity so early in his innings is what surprised everyone.

“Holy smokes! Pant has just played the greatest shot that’s ever been played in cricket. Reverse sweeping/lifting Archer with a brand new white ball at 90mph for 6,” tweeted former England batsman Kevin Pietersen while giving in to hyperbole.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman too tweeted his admiration for the shot.

“What a(n) incredible shot from @ RishabhPant17 Looking forward to him bailing the team out this terrible situation just like he did in the last few Tests. #INDvENG,” wrote Laxman on twitter.

Another former India batsman Yuvraj Singh, who was known for his hard-hitting, said, “This is the new

generation!! Absolutely fearless!

Reverse sweep or shot I don’t know what to call it ! But @RishabhPant17 hats off to you to hit a fast bowler like that ! Game on !! #IndiavsEnglandT20.”

Pant’s knock however, could last for 23 balls in which he scored 21 runs as the England pace bowlers restricted his strokeplay after that initial burst. He could hit no more six.

The left-handed batsman had played a similar shot against fast bowler James Anderson off the second new ball during the fourth and final Test in Motera although that shot fetched him a four. He bailed out India then but failed to do so on Friday.

Football referee urinates on field, caught on camera

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here have been head-butts, fouls and even blood on a football field before, but not urine.

However, all that changed after a football referee was caught on camera relieving himself in the centre circle of the playing field ahead of a local match in Brazil.

Certain section of local media claimed that Serafim had run out of time to use the toilet in the change room before heading on to the pitch.

While Boavista beat their opponents Goias 3-1, the referee’s act grabbed all the limelight.

Denis da Silva Ribeiro Serafim peed without pulling his shorts down before the start of the Copa de Brasil meeting between Boavista and Goias on Thursday.

The incident happened while the commentator was introducing him and his fellow linesmen. The commentator had, however, failed to pick it.

The viewers, however, were more sharp and caught urine running down the referee’s leg. Soon the footage went viral on social media.

The video showed the referee loosening his shorts after looking behind his back briefly and urinating close to the match ball. A wet patch was visible on his shorts soon afterwards.

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22

SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Kohli pays tribute to wife, Aussie Damien Wright daughter on Women’s Day appointed Punjab

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ndia cricket captain Virat Kohli on Monday posted a touching message to his wife Anushka Sharma and their newborn daughter, Vamika, on the occassion of International Women’s Day. “Seeing the birth of a child is the most spine chilling, unbelievable and amazing experience a human being can have. After witnessing that, you understand the true strength and divinity of women and why God created life inside them. It’s because they are way stronger than us men.

Happy Women’s Day to the most fiercely, compassionate and strong woman of my life and to the

Kings bowling coach

one who’s going to grow up to be like her mother. And also a Happy Women’s Day to all the amazing women of the world,” wrote Kohli on Instagram handle.

Kohli, who became a father on January 11 this year, posted an image of Anushka and Vamika along with his message.

Kohli recently led India to a 3-1 win in a four-match Test series against England. The result helped India qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. India will face New Zealand in the final to be in June.

Mithali Raj gets to 10,000 runs, tributes pour in

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nown as the “Sachin Tendulkar of Indian women’s cricket” for the longevity of her career, Mithali Raj became only the second woman player in the world and the first from India to get to 10,000 international runs during Friday’s third ODI against South Africa women.

The former cricketer, who represented Tasmania for a large part of his career, was also the coach of Hobart Hurricanes. He also served as the head coach of the Bangladesh under-19 cricket team.

“I am delighted to come on board as bowling coach for Punjab Kings.

The team looks great and there is tremendous potential in this squad and I look forward to working alongside an amazing support staff team this season of the IPL,” said Wright after taking over the position.

The 38-year-old Raj, who is in her 22nd year of international cricket, made her debut for India in June 1999 when the Indian men’s team was still led by Mohammed Azharuddin and had just a few days before her debut exited the 1999 World Cup in the Super Six stage.

“As far as skill levels go, you can develop as you go along. But such a long career requires discipline and dedication which is visible from the fact that she is playing, scoring and putting in the hard yards even when there is no cricket,” Anjum Chopra, a former India teammate of Raj who witnessed her debut, told IANS. “Unlike men’s cricket, women’s cricket is not that frequent. So there are phases where there is no cricket. The fact that she has been able to keep herself going for so long despite that is what stands out. Her cover drives, backfoot punches are all the same but she has added more skills like using the long handle. To keep following a routine day in and day out requires dedication and discipline, especially if you are a woman pursuing sport in India. That is commendable,” added Chopra, who represented India in 127 ODIs, 12 Tests and 18 T20 Internationals.

Raj had made a century in that ODI debut in Milton Keynes vs Ireland, scoring 114 while opening partner and fellow debutant Reshma Gandhi made 104 as India won by 161 runs.

The two set a few records in the course of that partnership.

“Mithali and I were drafted into the playing XI after the regular players

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unjab Kings appointed former Australia first-class cricketer Damien Wright as the new bowling coach for the IPL 2021 edition.

failed in the previous matches.

So they thought why not try the newcomers. We did well in the opportunity given to us,” recalled Gandhi to IANS. Her unbeaten opening partnership of 258 with Raj was a world record then.

“With age, your reflexes slow down.

But the great thing with Mithali is that she is technically sound and still has tremendous amounts of patience,” added Gandhi who is from Ahmednagar but is now settled in Delhi.

Raj has so far scored 6,974 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 50.53 with 2,364 runs in T20Is at 37.52 and 663 runs in Test cricket at 51.00.

She has also scored a whopping 75 half centuries and eight centuries.

“To be frank. I couldn’t have imagined (someone would make 10,000 international runs in women’s cricket). In our days, we hardly played that much cricket,” said former India women’s team captain Diana Edulji, who brought Raj into Indian Railways in Secunderabad. Edulji got her a job in Railways with relaxation, even though Raj hadn’t yet turned 18.

“I knew her calibre, when she was a youngster. Knew she had potential to go big. She played a number of years under me, and I am happy,

that one of the Indians is on top along with Charlotte Edwards (the only other to have 10,000 international runs),” added Edulji, whose international career lasted from 1976 till 1993.

Edulji says Raj’s biggest quality is her temperament and patience.

Anil Kumble, the Punjab Kings head coach and director of cricket operations, said, “We are pleased to announce that Damien Wright will join us as bowling coach at Punjab Kings. He brings in a great deal of experience and will definitely help strengthen our team. We look forward to working with him this edition of the IPL.” Apart from Kumble and Wright, Punjab Kings also have Jonty Rhodes (fielding coach), Wasim Jaffer (batting coach) and Andy Flower (assistant coach) among other big names.

Wright, a right-arm pace bowling all-rounder, picked 406 wickets in 123 first-class games and scored 3,824 runs.

Vijender to face Russia’s Artysh Lopsan in comeback bout

“Temperament, patience and determination to stay at the wicket and score runs. She had a big appetite for runs,” added Edulji while speaking to IANS. “Off the field, she used to love sleeping. That was her best pastime.”

Raj has played plenty of great innings throughout her career.

Her greatest Test knock was back in 2002 when she made 214 at Taunton against England. That is her only Test hundred apart from four fifties.

But it is in the ODIs that she has an enviable record - scoring seven centuries and 54 half-centuries in 212 matches.

In T20Is also, she has scored 17 half-centuries in 89 matches.

Sachin Tendulkar too tweeted on the milestone.

“Heartiest congratulations Mithali on completing 10,000 runs in International Cricket. Terrific achievement... (Emoticon: clapping hands). Keep going strong,” tweeted Tendulkar.

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ndian professional boxer Vijender Singh will face Russian Artysh Lopsan in his first bout in over a year on March 19. The super-middleweight bout will take place on the rooftop of a casino ship docked in the Mandovi river in Goa. The 35-year-old 2008 Olympic bronze medallist has fought 12 bouts in his professional career and holds a 12-0 record. Vijender’s

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last bout was in November 2019 in which he beat Ghana’s Charles Adamu in Dubai. He is the reigning WBO Oriental Super Middleweight and WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight champion.

The bout against Lopsan will be Vijender’s fifth in India, following successes in New Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.

23

TRAVEL

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Seychelles to open up to the world from March 25

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eychelles, the Indian Ocean island destination has announced that it will be welcoming visitors from across the globe, irrespective of their vaccination status, as from March 25, 2021.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde at the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) conference room at Botanical House following the Tourism Task Force Committee meeting.

Visitors will now only be required to present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement nor restriction on movement upon

entry into Seychelles. Additionally, the minimum stay in establishments upon arrival will no longer be applicable.

However, visitors will still be required to adhere to other public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic these will include wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular sanitisation or washing of hands. The new measures also give visitors access to all communal area within the hotel premises inclusive of bars, swimming pools, spas and kid’s clubs.

Minister Radegonde said that the decision to review and relax the entry procedures in the country

has been made possible in view of the success registered in the aggressive vaccination campaign that the country embarked on earlier in the year.

“The vaccination campaign has been quite successful. The government has done everything in its power to make sure that the population is protected. We have now arrived at the point where opening

our borders further is the next step to allow for our economic recovery.

The measures being announced reflect broadly the recommendation of our tourism partners and have been done in full consultation with and the endorsement of our health authorities.”

The small island nation is situated off the east coast of Africa and has an economy based primarily

on tourism. The destination will continuously review the new entry measures to ensure that at all times the health and safety of the visitors and the local population are not compromised.

Visitors from South Africa will still not be permitted to enter Seychelles for the time being until further review.

Mandira Bedi on women, travel and being an Airbnb host

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ndian actor, fitness icon and entrepreneur Mandira Bedi says she is amazed to hear about women who are working hard, challenging norms, and gaining financial independence to become successful entrepreneurs supporting themselves and their families, against all odds.

“I believe women should choose to challenge every boundary and every obstacle that comes their way, that says they ‘can’t’ do something’,” Bedi, who recently became a host on Airbnb by putting up her Mud Island villa on the popular travel platform, said in a virtual

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panel discussion.

IANSlife speaks to Mandira Bedi about her journey of a new kind of hosting and her travel tales:

blessed that my work has taken me to some amazing destinations. Wherever I have gone, I have managed to stay on for a couple of days and explore the city.

Please tell us about your love for travel. When did you begin to travel first?

A lot of this exploration has happened solo because of work, but my family and I take a trip, if not two, in a year.

Bedi: The first time I travelled outside of India was I was after my 10th grade exams, my family and I went on a summer holiday. We did Europe and the United States.

Then, once I got to be a part of this business, my travel increased a fair amount, more so after cricket when I started hosting events within and outside India. I’ve been

Bedi: Solo travel is the most amazing thing (laughs), because I wear many hats at home, and when I get to travel on my own it is quite liberating, uplifting. You’re not asking anybody ‘should we do this’ or ‘should we eat here’. Choices

Is solo travel and revenue for self-discovery and introspection for you?

are your own and your discovery is your own.

villa with nice furniture, a little bit like my house and yet not.

You are also an Airbnb host now.

Can you tell us about that?

Are you excited to travel again?

Bedi: Yes, this is a new experience.

It has something to do with the lockdown also. So, my mum and I invested in the house about 15 years ago and we made it a shooting bungalow, which meant it was getting redone by different art directors. During the lockdown, I realised there is a beautiful house, just a drive away, and we don’t use it. I thought it could be used by the family as well. It required a massive overhaul. We put the last 6-7 months into it and now it’s finally ready. It’s a 4-bedroom beautiful

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Bedi: Yes, I’ve already started travelling again. I went to Maldives in September, then Dubai. I’ve made 6 or 7 trips to Bangalore, three trips to Delhi. For travel, I’ve done 18 COVID-19 tests so far. I have missed travel a great deal. We’re still not done with Covid-19. It’s still very much there. But we are in a better position to live with it.

What’s your safety mantra while travelling?

Bedi: When you’re out and about, touch anything, but don’t touch your face.

24

TRAVEL

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Top things to do when in Coorg March 7, 2021 (IANSlife) An authentic Coorg experience entails everything from soaking in the sunset at the lush green spot of Mandalpatti, to indulging in a traditional Kodava meal, and long walks in Madikeri’s many coffee estates.

Some of Coorg’s popular tourist attractions also include Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls and the Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple. For those interested in elephants and wildlife, Dubare Elephant Camp and Nagarahole National Park are the places to go! As a hot new luxury destination hours away from Bengaluru, a road trip from the city to Coorg’s hills is something to look forward to in itself, as the chatter of city life gradually gives way to the peace and quiet of this traveler’s paradise.

Last month, Airbnb and BMW India came together to curate the ideal Coorg experience. Here’s what we learnt about the top activities in Coorg: Bike Your Way Through Nature Trails

Spot these rare and exotic animals only in India

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ith over millions of species breathing on earth, the world celebrates Wildlife Day today, 3rd of March, to raise awareness of global flora and fauna. There are many rare and extoic animals that can be found only in India.

without a visit to its lush coffee plantations. Did you know it takes 3-4 years minimum for a coffee plant to mature, and reach a point where its beans can be turned into hot, steaming coffee? From red cherries to your coffee pot, learn all about the journey of the elusive coffee bean as you walk through the lush estates that dot the hill station. Not only are these walks great for the soul, you can also learn about sustainable tech-

up your favorite blend of coffee, grab some of Coorg’s famous local spices and don’t forget the chocolate that this region is famous for.

Try a traditional Kodava dinner The way to a tourist’s heart is through the stomach and a Kodava meal ticks all the checkboxes. Try the famous pandi curry, bamboo shoot curry, akki roti, koli curry, and kadambattu to truly understand the unique flavors of the hilly region. Airbnb Superhost, Preeth who owns the Udaya cottage in Madikeri can curate a scrumptious local Kodava meal for you on request.

Wildlife plays an important role for the earth, as it scientifically balances the environment and ensures harmonious co-existence amongst beings. Indian wildlife sanctuaries are home to rare, beautiful and elusive species of animals that can be found only in our country. From lion-tailed macaque in the Western Ghats of India to Sangai, subspecies of brow-antlered deer that holds cultural significance in Manipur, here are some wildlife sanctuaries worth visiting, curated by Booking. com curates to bring you a little closer to the beautiful species.

The Nilgiri marten, a small carnivorous mammal, is the only marten species native to India. They are found in moist and wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, living at altitudes of 150 – 2200 m. The animal that usually appears of dark brown colour with a yellow-coloured patch at its forefeet.

Their name has been derived from the Nilgiri Hills, however sightings have been reported as far north as Charmadi Ghat and as far south as the Neyyar. You can spot the Nilgiri marten at Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a pristine 958.59 sq.km reserve of tropical jungle, shola forest and grassland rising to 2400m and spilling over the Western Ghats into Kerala between Kodaikanal and Coimbatore 3. The Kashmir Stag in Dachigam National Park (Jammu & Kashmir)

1. Lion-tailed macaque, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala)

Take a savory tour to the Old Kent Estates

The countryside is best experienced either on foot or on two wheels. Take the BLive electric bike tour to explore the dense forests and learn about different brews, each of which has its own story to tell. While exploring the unforgettable views and unbelievable scenery, you can also speak to locals, and visit the charming little stores to understand the region more closely. This bike tour is a must-try for those wanting to experience the unexplored in Coorg and can be booked on Airbnb.

niques like regenerative farming and more.

Ainmane No trip is complete without stopping to purchase some of the best produce from the region and Ainmane, is the best place for this.

A local café and specialty store in the heart of Coorg, this store boasts of the best collection of food products from the highlands of Coorg and Western Ghats. Pick

Take a highly educational herb garden tour and indulge in a delectable meal featuring local and seasonal cuisines prepared with the freshest ingredients, mostly sourced from in and around the luxurious Old Kent Estate. Apart from the elegant hospitality and its old architecture, the meals are a good mix of local and English cuisines.

Dine at The Harvesters Local spices, local ingredients, and gourmet food. All the food on the menu is grown and produced in collaboration with the local farmers. So, if you want to try authentic food from the region, head to Harvesters. And with the Kaveri river gurgling by your side, it is bound to be more than just a dining experience.

As an Old World monkey native to the Western Ghats of South India, they rank among the rarest of the 250-species (approx.) of primates around the world. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in the Kollam district of Kerala houses and protects the highly endangered species. Spread over 172.403 sq.km, India’s first eco-tourism project, Thenmala Eco-tourism Project has been formulated in and around Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary. During your visit to the sanctuary, you can stay inside the forests in specially built camping houses and experience the majesty of the jungle by trekking, going on jeep safaris or bird watching, while getting a chance to spot the rare lion-tailed macaque.

2. Nilgiri marten in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu)

Soak in the Sunset at Mandalpatti Situated about 30 kms from Madikeri, Mandalpatti is also known as Mugilu-Pete, or an abode of the clouds. As is apparent from the name, it promises the most breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. It’s best if you can catch the sunset, but even otherwise, a 360-degree view of the clouds blending into the mountains is a memory that’ll stay with you for a lifetime.

Explore the Coffee Estates A visit to Coorg is incomplete

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The Kashmir Stag, also known as Hangul, is a subspecies of elk and is native to Kashmir. Only found in the dense riverine forests of Dachigam National Park located at 22 kms from Srinagar, the Kashmir Stag is listed as one of the critically endangered and rare species.

With their magnificent antlers, the stag is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir. In the 1900s, there were about 3,000-5,000 of these species found in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, but today, about 150 remain in the state. You can locate these majestic animals in the wild at the Dachigam National Park, where you can also spot leopard, hill fox and Himalayan serow, amongst others.

4. Sangai in Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur) The endangered subspecies of brow-antlered deer, called sangai, is only found in Manipur. They reside in about 15-20 kms area across the Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, the only floating park in the world. As the state animal of Manipur, its significance is seen in the cultural folklore where sangai is the binding factor between humans and nature and killing it was a sin. Today where a lot of conservation efforts are made to save and protect the species, one should not miss a chance to visit the park situated at the Loktak Lake and be in the company of these rare animals.

25

EVENTS

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

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26

HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Deepika Padukone on what fitness means to her

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ollywood actress Deepika Padukone believes that fitness is not just a person’s physical appearance, but a balance of mind, body and soul.

“I’ve always believed that fitness is far more than just one’s physical appearance. It is about balancing the mind, body and soul. It is about being fit physically, mentally and emotionally,” says Deepika.

“It is also about making better choices every day, which eventually allows us to become a better version of ourselves,” says the actress who has been roped as the ambassador of OZiva -- a plant-based nutrition brand.

Commenting on the association, she says:”Oziva’s products and philosophy both come from the

same school of thought; something I absolutely relate to.”

Deepika will be promoting the brand’s philosophy of ‘har tarah se a better you’ that aims to empower every individual’s journey to a fitter, healthier and better life with certified clean and plant-based nutrition.

Aarti Gill, Co-founder, OZiva says: “We started OZiva with the aim of touching millions of lives and enabling them to lead a healthier, fitter and better life with clean, plant-based nutrition. For us, it’s about creating a more inclusive and encouraging outlook towards overall well-being, by rewriting the traditional definition of fitness.

We are extremely happy to have Deepika Padukone come on board

on this journey with us and be a part of the OZiva family. She is the perfect embodiment of our values of striving to be better in every way and adopting a holistic approach towards overall health, physically and mentally.”

Study reveals cancer cells may evade chemotherapy myeloid leukemia (AML) tumours.

In the study, the researchers found that when AML cells were exposed to chemotherapy, a subset of the cells went into a state of hibernation, or senescence, while at the same time assuming a condition that looked very much like inflammation.

They looked similar to cells that have undergone an injury and need to promote wound healing -shutting down the majority of their functions while recruiting immune cells to nurse them back to health.

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Wearing face mask during exercise safe: Study

ancer cells can dodge chemotherapy by entering a state that bears similarity to certain kinds of senescence, a type of “active hibernation” that enables them to weather the stress induced by aggressive treatments aimed at destroying them, a new study suggests.

help explain why cancers so often recur after treatment.

The findings, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, indicated that this biologic process could

The research was done in both organoids and mouse models made from patients’ samples of acute

“Acute myeloid leukemia can be put into remission with chemotherapy, but it almost always comes back, and when it does it’s incurable,” said senior author Ari M. Melnick from Weill Cornell Medicine.

Further research revealed that this inflammatory senescent state was induced by a protein called ATR, suggesting that blocking ATR could be a way to prevent cancer cells from adopting this condition.

The investigators tested this hypothesis in the lab and confirmed that giving leukemia cells an ATR inhibitor before chemotherapy prevented them from entering senescence, thereby allowing chemotherapy to kill all of the cells.

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esearchers have found that wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise appears to be safe for healthy people.

of the disease, but there is no clear evidence on whether masks are safe to wear during vigorous exercise.”

This suggests that masks could be worn safely to reduce Covid-19 transmission between people visiting an indoor gym.

To address this question, the researchers worked with a group of healthy volunteers with an average age of 40.

For the study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, the researchers carried out detailed testing on breathing, heart activity and exercise performance in a small group of people while they were using an exercise bike with and without a mask.

Each person took part in three rounds of exercise tests: once while not wearing a face mask, once wearing a surgical mask (blue, single-use mask) and once wearing a ‘filtering face piece 2’ or FFP2 mask (white, single use mask believed to offer slightly better protection than a surgical mask).

Although they found differences in some measurements between wearing a mask and not wearing a mask, they said that none of their results indicate any risk to health.

The study was by a team of researchers including Dr Elisabetta Salvioni from Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy, and Dr Massimo Mapelli and Professor Piergiuseppe Agostoni from Centro Cardiologico Monzino and the University of Milan.

“We know that the main route of transmission for coronavirus is via droplets in the breath and it’s possible that breathing harder during exercise could facilitate transmission, especially indoors,” said Elisabetta Salvioni from Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico), Milan, Italy.

“Research suggests that wearing a mask may help prevent the spread

While the volunteers used an exercise bike, the researchers measured their breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and the levels of oxygen in their blood.

Results of the tests showed that wearing a face mask had a small effect on the volunteers. For example, there was an average reduction of around ten per cent in their ability to perform aerobic exercise.

The results also indicate that this reduction was probably caused by it being slightly harder for the volunteers to breathe in and out through the masks.

The team is now studying the impact of wearing a face mask while carrying out daily activities, such as climbing the stairs or doing housework, in healthy people and those with heart or lung conditions.

5 EU nations call for debate on vax distribution

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eaders from five European Union (EU) nations have called for a debate on the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the bloc.

In a letter sent n Saturday to European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the five EU leaders underscored the significance of European solidarity, which guarantees that all EU members, big and small, will have equal access to limited resources

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such as the Covid-19 vaccines, Xinhua news agency reported.

The five leaders are Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

They also recalled the conclusions of the January 21 video conference of the members of the European Council, according to which the

vaccines should be delivered simultaneously and should be distributed proportionately to the size of the population in the EU member countries.

They believed that, if the principle of proportionality was not observed, it could lead to very big differences among the countries, with some being capable of reaching herd immunity in a matter of weeks, while others will fall behind significantly.

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27

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Jackie Shroff’s ‘naked’ secret in ‘OK Computer’ Selena Gomez ‘grateful’ for

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ctor Jackie Shroff is excited about playing an unusual character in the upcoming sci-fi comedy series, “Ok Computer”, which revolves around the concept of artificial intelligence (AI).

The 64-year-old actor essays a man who is against technology and is vehemently “one with nature”.

“I was so intrigued by this role and this series, that I felt I should be wearing an outfit made of fallen leaves and flowers, but the creative team suggested the part about being bare naked, and I incorporated that into my character,” he says.

releasing her Spanish EP

“My character Pushpak understands technology as a necessity but not at the cost of harming or disrupting the environment. Along with technology, there should also be awareness about the environment for the sake of the next generation. I have really enjoyed playing this role. All the credit goes to my technicians and mainly the directors,” adds Jackie.

Written and co-produced by Anand Gandhi and directed by Neil Pagedar and Pooja Shetty, the show also stars Radhika Apte, Vijay Varma, Rasika Duggal and Kani Kusruti among others.

All six episodes of the series will release on March 26, on Disney+ Hotstar.

Court tells Mumbai police to file copyright infringement case against Kangana

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city court on Friday directed Mumbai Police to file an FIR against actress Kangana Ranaut in a copyright violation case, filed by Ashish Kaul, author of the book “Didda: The Warrior Queen Of Kashmir”.

Kaul has claimed that Kangana took material from his book without proper permission. His plea states that he holds exclusive copyright to the life story of Didda, and Kangana has violated it by attempting to make the film, “Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda”, based on her life, reports Film information.

Didda was the princess of Lohar

(Poonch), and the queen of Kashmir. Kaul is a descendant of the queen.

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In his statement, Kaul has also mentioned that besides his book, there is only one book in the world that mentions Queen Didda, and it is “Rajatarangini”, written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in 12th century CE. Kaul added that “Rajatarangini” only has two pages that talk about Didda, and the same information has been carried forward by other historians. So, every other book dealing with the subject carries forward certain errors of “Rajatarangini”.

London, March 12 (IANS) British television personality Sharon Osbourne has issued an official statement, after her discussion with “The Talk” host Sheryl Underwood on Piers Morgan Morgan went public. She has apologised to anyone who might have been hurt by her comments.

She goes on to say: “To anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said I am truly sorry. I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive & allowed my fear & horror of being accused of being racist take over. There are very few things that hurt my heart more than racism so to feel associat-

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cause obviously I’ve been wanting to do this for so, so long. And I’m just so grateful. So I hope you guys like it, and let me know what you think, but I’m just so happy!” she said in the video.

Gomez celebrated the launch with a video posted on her Instagram story, in which she thanked fans for listening.

The new EP, recorded entirely remotely amid the Covid pandemic, features seven tracks, and collaborations with Rauw Alejandro, Myke Towers and DJ Snake.

“I hope you guys like the album and have so much fun with it, be-

Sharon Osbourne issues apology for comments on ‘The Talk’

In the statement, which she posted on her Instagram page on Friday, Sharon wrote: “After some reflection, after sitting with your comments and sitting with my heart I would like to address the discussion on The Talk this past Wednesday. I have always been embraced with so much love & support from the black community and I have deep respect and love for the black community.”

inger-songwriter Selena Gomez has released her first Spanish EP, “Revelacion”, nearly two months after dropping her debut single in Spanish, “De Una Vez”.

Hugh Grant claims watching ‘Nine Months’ led him to cheat on Liz Hurley

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n 1995, English actor Hugh Grant had admitted to cheating on his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley with sex worker Divine Brown. Back then, the police arrested him and Brown after nabbing them in a car parked near Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

cares about.”

Grant and Hurley continued their relationship for the time, but ended their 13-year-long partnership in 2000.

Grant has now claimed his action was an outcome of his watching his superhit film “Nine Months”. He says he was upset after watching a screening of the film and his bad mood led him to take such as step.

ed with that spun me fast! I am not perfect, I am still learning like the rest of us and will continue to learn, listen and do better.”

Sharon, who was invited on “The Talk” after she showed support to Piers Morgan, spoke to Sheryl on and off air about why she supported Morgan. Sharon had earlier tweeted to Morgan saying: “@piersmorgan I am with you. I

stand by you,” which had created an uproar.

The day after her tweet, Sharon explained that she didn’t “agree with what he said”, but supported her friend’s “freedom of speech”.

During the “The Talk”, Sharon and Osbourne had a heated argument about the former supporting Morgan’s comments against Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.

/IndianAbroadNews

“I was about to launch my first Hollywood film -- my timing was impeccable. My problem was -- that was my first Hollywood film and I’d just been to see it. ‘The film was about to come out a week or two after that, and I had a bad feeling about it. I went to see a screening.

Everyone in it was brilliant, but I was so atrocious that I was not in a good frame of mind,” he said, according to dailymail.co.uk, while speaking on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.

The actor added: “The film (Nine Months) did alright at the box office, in fact I think it did quite well, and that’s all Hollywood really

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28

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 3, March 16-31, 2021

Rana Daggubati: ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ has potential to bring audience to theatres

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ctor Rana Daggubati feels his upcoming trilingual film “Haathi Mere Saathi” has the potential to change the game for Bollywood, and pull crowds to the theatres in massive numbers.

Narayani Shastri: Our industry is full of egos

Rana plays the role of Bandev, a man who has spent his life in the jungle and is committed to protecting it. “’Haathi Mere Saathi’ is a story with a soul. It’s a movie rooted deep in emotions and an enormity that can be realised only on the big screens. Just like the Southern industry, I strongly feel that our movie has the potential to bring the Hindi audience to the theaters too,” the actor said.

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The film has been shot in the dense forests of Kerala and Thailand. Directed by Prabhu Solomon, “Haathi Mere Saathi” has background score by Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty.

“Haathi Mere Saathi” is titled as “Kaadan” in Tamil and “Aranya” in Telugu. The film is set to release

in theatres on March 26, and also stars Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilga-

onkar and Zoya Hussain.

Emraan Hashmi on working with Big B: I have achieved a milestone

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ctor Emraan Hashmi says sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in the upcoming thriller “Chehre” is a huge milestone in his career.

“I felt like the wait is over. We have grown up following Amitabh Bachchan sir and every artiste in the industry desires to work with him. It seems like I have achieved a huge milestone in my career,” says Emraan.

The actor goes on to say Big B’s sense of discipline has inspired for him.

“It is so amazing to see the discipline that Amitabh Bachchan

sir has even after being in the industry for over five decades. Our industry is not very discipline-oriented, which can be a little difficult at times. He has inspired me, and so many others, to walk the same path. He is extremely punctual, always reaches the set on time.

That is a practice I have always followed. It is motivating to see the respect he gives to his craft, which is why not only me but the industry, the audience, everyone has such high admiration and respect for him,” says Emraan.

“Chehre” is directed by Rumy Jafry, and also stars Rhea Chakraborty,

ctress Narayani Shastri has been part of the television industry for over two decades now, and she says the journey has taught her a lot. The biggest thing she inculcated was the ability to never undervalue herself.

“I believe that if you know what your worth is, you should not go down. If you don’t value yourself then no one will. You are not a vegetable that people can negotiate. If I believe that this is the money I deserve, then I will ask for that much,” she told IANS. The actress adds people need to be more understanding.

“Our industry is full of egos. If you tone down everyone’s ego, everyone will understand each other. I

did that with all my shows. I never worked for peanuts or something that I did not deserve. That was one of my conditions. If I am not happy and I think I am not getting paid enough, I will not put in my all,” she says.

On her show, Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha, Narayni says that she loves the mother-and-son relationship shown.

“The relationship between this mother and son is so special where she doesn’t believe that just because you have a small problem, your life should not change and depend on that. Her son is such a lovely boy, ideal son and their equation is beautiful,” she says.

‘The Boys’ spinoff series casts Lizze Braodway, Jaz Sinclair

Krystle D’Souza, Annu Kapoor, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Raghubir Yadav, and Siddhanth Kapoor. The film is set to release on April 9.

Vicky to ‘Uri’ maker Aditya Dhar: Your faith in me scares me

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icky Kaushal shared a birthday message on Friday for Aditya Dhar, director of the 2019 blockbuster “Uri: The Surgical Strike”.

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ctresses Lizze Broadway and Jaz Sinclair have been cast as the first lead stars of the ensemble cast in the untitled spinoff series of “The Boys”.

The film won Vicky a National Award as Best Actor, and Vicky is once again working with Aditya in the ambitious upcoming venture, “The Immortal Ashwatthama”.

Wishing the filmmaker, Vicky wrote on Instagram: “Years ago you called me after watching Masaan and said we’ll work together someday. You called me for your first film and we did Uri. Now we

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have commenced together again on the journey of making The Immortal Ashwatthama. Your faith in me scares me sometimes but it also brings out the best in me.”

He added: “Thanks for being that person in my life. Happy Birthday mere dost, mere bhai, mere director @adityadharfilms. Tum jiyo hazaaro saal yeh meri hai aarzoo!”

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Set in America’s only college exclusively for young adult superheroes, the yet-untitled spin-off is described as an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive ‘Supes’ as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to test, competing for the best contracts in the

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best cities.

In the Amazon Original series, Broadway will play the role of Emma, a young superhero. Her past TV credits include “The Rookie”, “Bones” and “Southland” among others. Sinclair will play Marie, another young superhero.

Sinclair most recently starred in “Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina” and has also been a part of “The Vampire Diaries”.

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Prateik Babbar inspired by Chris Bollywood celebs Hemsworth for new action role who chose to

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ctor Prateik Babbar plays the angry young police officer in the upcoming web series “Chakravyuh: An Inspector Virkar Crime Thriller”. He claims to have done all the action sequences by himself and adds that he was inspired by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth in his last release “Extraction”, in this context.

“In the show we have tried to do actions that are raw, rugged and real, and we got the inspiration from Chris Hemsworth’s ‘Extraction’. So yes, the action is very much like ‘Extraction’. I really put a lot of hard work and real-time action,” Prateik told IANS. In the trailer, one can see a few of Prateik’s action sequences. The

actor goes shirtless and flaunts a well-toned body.

“I wish that after watching the show, I can inspire our amazing hardworking police force to hit the gym, exercise and feel fit, look good. They already do so much for our protection, with a wellbuilt body they are going to look real-life heroes by all means!” he said.

The story of the show revolves around the investigation of a mysterious murder, and involves dark web.

Emphasising the relevance of the story in the present time, Pratiek said: “ We all know that social media is such an integral part of our life and we get connected with

so many people, communities through social media. There is a lot of positivity social media has to offer, but there is the flipside of toxicity, too. We know about trolling, abusive language, and negative content. In our show, we address the dark web, in which the crime rate is increasing. Innocent people are being exploited, even murdered, and when they enter that cycle they just do it unknowingly. I hope, after watching the show, people become more aware and conscious. The virtual world is part of our life but we really have to use the power of it responsibly.”

The show, also featuring Ashish Vidyarthi, Shiv Panditt, Simran Kaur, Ruhi Singh among others, streams on MX Player from March 12.

Amazon’s Prime Video app to get shuffle button for TV shows

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o address a unique breed of binger-watchers, Amazon is updating its Prime Video app on Android where they can play episodes of a TV series on shuffle.

Android Central reports that with the shuffle tool, the users will be able to start a series at any point, watching it in a random order that the usual chronological one.

The feature doesn’t let users shuffle through the entire show but only one particular season.

development can often happen asynchronously or even in documentaries where such things don’t exist,” the report said on Friday.

The Amazon Prime feature appeared to be somewhat limited though at the moment and has only been spotted on Android.

Earlier this year, Netflix announced it is working on a shuffle button.

According to the report, Netflix is also working on the similar feature.

Netflix COO and chief product officer Greg Peters said that sometimes users come to the service “and they’re not really sure what they want to watch.”

“It’s an excellent option for cutting down choice in sitcoms where character arcs and narrative

“It’s really working for us where our members can basically indicate to us that they just want to skip

browsing entirely, click one button and we’ll pick a title for them just to instantly play,” Peters said during the company’s Q4 investors’ call.

Delhi-based Antariksh release music video for ‘Quest’

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he Delhi-based project Antariksh have released the music video of their recently released single, “Quest”. Varun Rajput, brain behind the progressive rock project, feels that the song, which saw him collaborate with Megadeth guitarist Mary Friedman, needed an animated video, which can be interpreted in many ways.

“I’m really excited about how the visuals and story almost perfectly compliment the song and just can’t wait for people across the world to see it and interpret the story in their own ways,” Rajput tells IANS. He also talks about the “humbling experience” he had while working with Friedman for the song.

“The collaboration with Marty Friedman happened in a surreal and almost bizarre way when I met

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him at the Delhi airport. I somehow gathered the courage to ask him if he’d be up for playing a guest solo on one of our songs,” he says.

“Working and interacting with him was a really humbling and enriching experience for he is such a modest and affable person,” adds Rajput.

For Marty, this was his third collaboration with an Indian act, and it is clear why he loves collaborating with musicians from India, especially when he talks about his love for music by Pandit Ravi Shankar.

“As a kid, I learned a lot of melody sense and rhythmic things from sitar music. I learned only the surface, nothing deep, and I certainly did not master anything I learned.

But it taught me how to find things I like and steal just those things.

I did that with music from many

adopt, not buy pets

Mumbai, March 13 (IANS) Ditching the idea of spending a whopping amount on pedigreed pets, several Bollywood celebrities are giving shelter to stray animals in their homes.

John Abraham John, who is an ardent animal lover, adopted a stray dog in 2016 and named her Bailey. Just like her pet parent, Bailey is also an Instagram star and has an account on the photo-sharing website, which goes by the name Bailey & Sia, (Bailey’s pup) Abraham. John had reportedly adopted the threemonth-old pup, who was rescued from the streets by an animal adoption agency.

Alia Bhatt Alia is a cat lover. She had three cats -- Edward, Sheeba and Juniper. Of these, Sheeba passed away in January. The actress and her mother Soni Razdan had even mourned the death of their furry friend on social media.

Madhuri Dixit Nene Madhuri adopted a stray puppy and named it Carmelo Nene in 2019. She adopted it on her son Arin’s birthday. This was not the first time the actress adopted a stray. Her dog Riya was also adopted. In 2013, she had rescued seven puppies on the set of a reality show.

Raveena Tandon Raveena has always voiced her mind against animal cruelty.

She adopted a cat and named it Puma. The adoption story is very interesting, as Raveena has tweeted a video of the cat that came under her car in 2019 but survived. The actress then adopted the animal.

Sonu Sood Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood and his son Ayaan adopted a stray dog in March and named it Naruto. He made the announcement on social media, along with a picture of his son holding the new member of the family. He shared that his son adopted “this stray puppy who was all alone on the streets of Alibaug”.

Sunny Leone Sunny, an ardent dog lover, had adopted Lilu, an Indie dog from an animal shelter five years ago.

Kapil Sharma Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma adopted a labrador Zanjeer in 2014 when he was doing “Comedy Nights With Kapil”. According to reports he brought Zanjeer home after the animal was abandoned.

Kapil met Zanjeer at his friend’s place, whose wife ran an NGO, and also took care of abandoned animals. Zanjeer passed away in 2018.

other cultures. Playing in a real Indian project, the goal for me was just to get through it without anyone saying, ‘This guy is a fake! He is making a fool out of himself trying to play along with real Indians’,” Marty tells us.

“Something about Varun gave me the idea that he was the real deal, and once I heard the song I was in.

The song was really well thoughtout and I could feel that Varun and his band put a lot of energy and care into the detail,” he adds.

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Jeremy Edwards unhappy with comeback London, March 13 (IANS) Actor Jeremy Edwards was looking for a big comeback post Covid, but it isnt happening just yet.

thing or the other, they didn’t know where they were going with it,” the actor said on the podcast “Soap From The Box”.

Edwards says his return as Kurt Benson on the show “Hollyoaks” was supposed to be a big affair but ended up a disappointment.

“I was prepared to go for six months to a year but doing three months then not knowing my future? The fact is, Kurt’s alive, he can come back and they’ve said they want me back in future. But I’ve said, ‘Nah’,” Edwards added, according to thesun.co.uk.

“I was supposed to be back for much longer, then Covid struck. It would have been better to leave it alone because it wasn’t one

Why Jennette McCurdy walked away from acting my life because I didn’t like the projects that I was a part of,” she said on “Empty Inside” podcast, reported eonline.com.

McCurdy, who was known for her show “iCarly”, added that she was aware that children loved watching her on screen. However she was not able to identify herself with the roles she played.

Sriti Jha: Grasping Haryanvi diction for ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ difficult

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rasping Haryanvi diction for the daily soap “Kumkum Bhagya” has not been an easy task for Sriti Jha. The actress, who plays Pragya in the show, has currently entered the house in disguise, as domestic help Gayatri.

“Pragya has taken up this new avatar of domestic help Gayatri, and I have to say it has been challenging. Her diction, the Haryanvi language and all the nuances, have been difficult to grasp, but I am trying very hard to get it right. The creative team, the production team as well as my co-stars in ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ have been supportive, and have been giving me tips to portray it with the utmost conviction. I hope everyone enjoys watching me as Gayatri as

much as they like me as Pragya,” Sriti said.

As per the story, Abhi (Shabbir Ahluwalia), who was shot in the head, has returned home. Pragya tries hard to meet Abhi, but Aaliya (Reyhnaa Pandit) does not allow that to happen. To make sure Abhi is fine, Pragya had taken up the disguise of a domestic help.

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ctress Jennette McCurdy, who quit stardom a while ago, says that she was not happy with life as an actress and was not fond of the roles she did.

“I was a famous 19-year-old and making a bunch of money, and I felt like I had everything at my fingertips. But I was deeply unhappy, and I actually really resented

Pragya’s disguise as Gayatri has not only fooled Aaliya and other family members, but has also left the viewers confused, as Gayatri keeps her face covered and speaks in a different dialect. While performing household chores are not that difficult, reveals Sriti, the actress is actually having to work hard on the diction for the Zee TV show.

Internet sensation quintet MJ 5 out with debut single ‘Bawaal’

Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd returns to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

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he popular American show “Grey’s Anatomy” put out their latest teaser, which shows the return of Derek Shepherd, essayed

by Patrick Dempsey.

This came right after another popular character Andrew DeLuca, played by Giacomo Gianniotti, died on the show.

The teaser features Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek reuniting on a beach. Meredith is currently unconscious on the show, after being infected with Covid.

According to etonline.com, the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial

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“It’s a difficult thing to say because the shows that I was on were so loved by so many people and so many kids, and I hear constantly, ‘You made my childhood.’ And I think that’s great that they had that experience. But that just was not my experience, and I felt a lot of shame-that I wasn’t able to identify at the time-because I didn’t like waltzing onto an over-lit, cheesy set and shouting a line. It felt so pointless and shallow,” she said.

Hospital can be seen dealing with the trauma of DeLuca’s death, as he was stabbed. Dr Webber, essayed by actor James Pickens Jr, tries to encourage the doctors by saying: “Grey Sloan is a family and Andrew DeLuca was a member of that family,” Webber rallies the troops, as Owen picks up DeLuca’s badge.”

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nternet sensations and all-male dance quintet, MJ 5, released their debut single, “Bawaal” on Friday. The band comprises R. Kartik, Humanshu Gola, Rohit Singh, Vishnu Kumar and Dennis Anthony.

All the members are in their early twenties.

Composed by Dixant Shaurya and Nitish R. Kumar, the song is about adopting a happy positive mindset in the midst of negativity, and serves as an antidote for post-pandemic blues.

“Our debut track is an ode to all the heroes out there who emerged like warriors from a tumultuous 2020 and dived into 2021 with gratitude and optimism, looking towards a promising future devoid of restrictions and dismay. That darkness is behind you, and only happiness is ahead,” says the band’s founder R. Kartik.

Dempsey’s character was killed in season 11 of the show after a road accident. His was one of the most popular characters on the show and was also referred to as McDreamy in the story due to his good looks.

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Directed by Kishalay Tiwari and Nitish R. Kumar, who has worked along with AR Rahman for over a decade, the colorful retro-esque music video was shot in Maldives.

“While our dance work has been largely influenced by international artists like, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown and Usher, we have also been very fond of BTS and the cult legacy they have carved for themselves as a boy band in the millennial age,” says Kartik.

“As creative artists we never wanted to restrict ourselves to just dance and wanted to explore other avenues within the creative gamut. Our vision is to be one of the best millennial powerhouse boy band sensations and India’s answer to BTS and K-Pop musi,” he adds.

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