About: the world this week, 28 April 2024 to 4 May 2024: an extraordinarily generous proposal; India’s Elections and a sex scandal; Old Beauty; and a lifetime in the movies.

Everywhere

The Hostage Situation

The ever going-on behind-the-scenes diplomatic drive to bring at end to the Hamas-Israel war saw booming activity this week. Hamas was urged to swiftly accept Israel’s latest proposal, called an ‘extraordinarily generous’ one by the negotiators, for a Gaza truce and to secure release of the hostages. Israel offered a deal to accept the release of fewer than 40, of the 130 hostages, still held in captivity, in exchange for freeing Palestinians jailed in Israel, and a second phase of truce consisting of a ‘period of sustained calm’. Hamas has been insisting on a permanent cease-fire. And there is no word from them, as yet, on the decent proposal.

Meanwhile, the unrest in University Campus’ of the United States continued with woke, pro-Palestine students creating ruckus’ and preventing Jewish students from entering Colleges. The Police swung into action, making arrests and getting tougher with the protesters.

India’s Elections: the Gowdas

The heat around India’s ongoing long General Elections only grows hotter almost every week. And most often, a new match lights a new fire, which rages on until it gets doused on its own, and then forgotten – until the next fire story burns the headlines.

Over the past week, a massive sex scandal has shaken the southern State of Karnataka. The grandson of ‘accidental’ former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, 33, is in the eye of the storm, of a horrendous scandal. He is accused of sexual harassment and abuse of numerous women, over many years, going by leaked videos of the man himself, in action. A former car-driver of the MP, who leaked the videos, has confessed that he handed over a pen-drive containing the videos to a Party leader.

Prajwal Revanna’s father, HD Revanna, is Deve Gowda’s elder son and a former minister, also the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the State’s Holenarsipura. Revanna’s mother Bhavani Revanna was a member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat. His brother, Suraj Revanna, is a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). Prajwal Revanna is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-of which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a part – candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls, in the second Phase, on 26th April.

Prajwal graduated in mechanical engineering from Bangalore Institute of Technology in 2014. He joined a master’s degree programme in Australia but discontinued to join politics. In 2019, he was appointed as the State General Secretary of the Janata Dal (Secular) Party – JD(S).

The accusation is that girls and women from various backgrounds – government officials, TV anchors, models, minors, maids-have been sexually exploited, with graphic details of the acts recorded on video – shot by Prajwal himself. Apparently the faces of the victims are shown, while Prajwal remains hidden in most of the scenes. Why would an MP do this?It turns out that he not only molests women but also enjoys recording their humiliation on camera, going by media reports of thousands of videos circulated through pen-drives in Karnataka. By some estimates, there are at least 3,000 video clips in circulation. It is hard to say how many women feature in the videos, but the number is estimated to reach hundreds.

A 47-year-old woman who worked as a house-help at Prajwal Revanna’s residence has accused him and his father of sexually assaulting and harassing female workers. She claimed that women would be summoned the storeroom where they would be touched inappropriately, and sexually assaulted by removing their sari pins (allowing the sari to fall). “After four months of joining, Revanna kept calling me to his room. There were six women workers in the house and everyone said that they were scared when Prajwal came home. The male workers in the house also alerted the women workers to be careful,” She said.

There are women of all ages, from teenagers to those in their 60s. What they have in common is that they are mostly vulnerable and largely defenceless. The molestations seem to be a symbol of Prajwal’s power over them. In one video, an elderly woman is heard begging him not to assault her, saying that she has served his family for years and has even fed his father.

The JD(S) has suspended Prajwal from the party until further investigation. His uncle and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy has distanced himself from the MP. The Government in Karnataka has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of sexual abuse.

The case is yet another example of the moral bankruptcy of politicians and abuse of their positions. The disgrace and horror is heightened when it involves democratically elected representatives like MPs and MLAs, whom people approach with their grievances expecting resolution. The selective outrage of political parties and their leadership against crimes against women is equally abhorrent. Prajwal Revanna is perhaps the sleaziest MP in the history of India.

All over the country, men abused, molested, hurt, raped, and killed women because they thought they could get away with it — and most of them did. The Indian justice system is so lax that they rarely faced the retribution they deserve. And politicians do nothing to make the streets safe.

The Gowda family is not new to controversy. Recently, Prajwal Revanna’s mother, Bhavani Revanna hit the headlines for taking on a biker for crashing into her luxury Sports Utility Vehicle. She told him, “If you want to die, you should have gone under a bus but not under my car. It costs INR 50 lakh to fix the damage. Will you give it ?” The Gowda family later had to clarify her behaviour, calling it a ‘post-surgery stress’. Wow, innovative things only politicians can come up with!

In the year 2006, the then 19-year-old Nikhil Kumarasamy son of HD Kumaraswamy created a ruckus in a Bengaluru Hotel for not serving him and his gang of friends food late at night, when they came riding-in. His father was then the CM of the State. Nikhil threatened the hotel with, “I am the CM’s son, I will get this hotel blown up”.

Now, let’s blow onto something cooler!

Old Beauty

Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, a 60-year-old lawyer from Argentina, emblazoned her name in the history books, after she was crowned Miss Universe-Buenos Aires. With this, she became the first woman of her age to win such a prestigious beauty title. She contested with 34 others, ranging from 18 to 73 in age, to win the beauty pageant that was held on 24th April.

Next, Alejandra begins preparations to represent Buenos Aires in the upcoming national selection for Miss Universe Argentina title in May 2024, which takes her to the Miss Universe 2024 Title Competition to be held in September in Mexico. Mexico has hosted the pageant four times in the past: 2007, 1993, 1989, and 1978.

In September 2023, the Organisers of the Miss Universe Pageant announced that there would no longer be age limits for contestants. And starting in 2024, every woman over the age of 18 can participate: in the past, only women aged between age 18 and 28 could contest.

Alejandra is from La Plata, the capital city of Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province. After completing high school, she embarked on a career in journalism before pursuing a law degree. Later, she transitioned into a role as a legal advisor for a hospital.

Nothing much is known about her family – for the moment, she is single and stunningly beautiful for her age.

Alejandra believed she had long aged-out of the worldwide beauty pageant, but when the rules changed in 2023 she thought she had a chance.

She credited her lifestyle to her appearance. Alejandra keeps her diet, and works-out three times a week; does intermittent fasting and includes copious amounts of fruits and vegetables in her diet.

“The basic thing is to have a healthy life, eat well, do physical activity. Normal care, nothing too extraordinary and a little genetics.” She said. “What I try to do is intermittent fasting, I think that helps a lot. Then I try to eat organic foods, a lot of fruit, a lot of vegetables, and use good creams.”

Will this take her to the Miss Universe Title? Why Not?

A Lifetime in the Movies

Late last week, on Saturday, Hollywood legends gathered to celebrate Actress Nicole Kidman, 56, receiving the American Film Institute (AFI) Lifetime Achievement Award at the 49th Gala Tribute, Hollywood, California.

She is the first Australian to receive the Award. Previous winners, which the AFI calls the ‘highest honour in American cinema’, include Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, and Steven Spielberg.

Actress Meryl Streep presented the Award and praised Nicole Kidman’s formidable talent and stunning range of work.

During the ceremony, Kidman teared up as her husband, singer Keith Urban, who came-up on stage, said she showed him “what love in action really looks like” when his substance abuse problems emerged soon after they married in 2006. “Four months into our marriage, I’m in rehab for three months,” Urban said, addressing Kidman and their two teenage daughters, Sunday Rose, 15 and Faith Margaret,15 who joined their mother on the red carpet for the first time. “Nic pushed through every negative voice, I’m sure even some of her own, and she chose love. And here we are 18 years later.”

Australian actors Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett also gave video tributes to the first actor from their country to win the award.

Nicole Kidman appeared on stage looking regal in a glamorous custom Balenciaga gown, from the Fall ’24 Collection. The fitted gown was embroidered with gold sequins and featured a long gold train. Her long strawberry-blonde hair was made in a side part with loose waves framing her face. And she looked irresistible, in a vision of gold.

Kidman was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001 with who she shares two children, Isabella and Connor. She married Keith Urban in 2006.

Nicole Kidman won an Academy Award for Best Actress in ‘The Hours’ (was nominated for ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Rabbit Hole’, and ‘Being the Ricardos’). In addition, she won two Prime-time Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Awards and a BAFTA Award. She also won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Nicole Kidman’s breakthrough in the world of movies came with lead roles in ‘Dead Calm’ and the Australian mini TV series, ‘Bangkok Hilton’, both in the year 1989.

Pure Gold!

More old and new beautiful stories coming in the weeks ahead. Wear gold, win awards with World Inthavaaram.