Author: Kumar Govindan

I am the first Graduate - an Engineer - in the family; the first to be employed in the Government Sector, India; the first to go overseas for work - USA; the first to throw it all and become an Entrepreneur (and fail); the first to get back to work - this time with the Tata Group, India - after 4 years of chasing 'business dreams'; and, the first to pick-up the Entrepreneur thread again. I now run a Women's Apparel design and styling Boutique - Mavira Designs - along with my wife. The objective of my Blog is to tell my story, intermingled with news stories from all corners of the World, with wit and pun - to squeeze a few laughs, perhaps a smile. I'm sure you will enjoy the reading.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-3

About: the world this week, 14 January 2024 to 20 January 2024; Middle East tensions; Taiwan’s Elections; The World Economic Forum; Monkey cloning; Red Ants of Australia; Emmy Awards, and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India.

Everywhere

The Israel-Hamas war moved further south in the Gaza Strip with Israel striking this region. In northern Gaza, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets into Israel, signalling that it is just another day. The Palestinian death toll rose to over 24,285 people and on the Israel side the count is around 1,200. This week, Qatar brokered a deal between the warring parties for delivery of critical medicines to the Hostages – that count still stays at 136. There is near-total communications blackout in Gaza with no signs of abating. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed calls for a post-war Palestinian state, adding to tensions with the United States.

Last week, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom launched air and submarine strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen for their attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This week, the Houthis fired missiles at another US-owned commercial ship, just hours after a new round of US military strikes against them.

Then Iran launched its own kind of air strikes, hitting a militant group in western Pakistan. This is Iran’s third air strike on another country, after previous attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria. The operation hit two sites in Balochistan linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice)- an ethnic Baloch Sunni group that has carried out attacks inside Iran as well as on Pakistan’s forces. Pakistan called Iran’s air strike illegal and warned of ‘serious consequences’. And later in the week, followed through with a tit-for-tat retaliation, launching attacks on, what it claimed, was terrorists and separatists based in Iran: the Baloch Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front.

Simmering beneath the surface, there could be other reasons. Iran is a hardcore Shia Islamic country, at the centre of the strategic ‘Shia Crescent’. On the other hand Pakistan, which started out as Sufi-leaning, evolved and adopted a hardcore Sunni ideology. And has been home to a range of Sunni terrorist groups. Pakistan’s aspiration of becoming the flag bearer of Islam has rattled Iran in many ways. And a major irritant is the Shia-Sunni divide, and the separatists in both countries. This despite cordial relations between the countries.

Well, with these two Islamic nations striking each others terrorist bases, maybe they are doing the civilised world a huge favour?

Tension across the Middle East is shooting-up, with more than 100 days of the unprecedented war between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the Russia – Ukraine war ambles on. The World is becoming a battle-ground, with agendas being driven brutally by perceived wrong-doings.

In Presidential Elections held in the ‘Republic of China’ –Taiwan -The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won an unprecedented third term and Lai Ching-te has been elected President, with 40% of the vote. The other parties in the fray were Kuomingtang (KMT), and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The DPP seeks Taiwan’s independence from ‘The People’s Republic of China’ – China. And the KMT, China’s oldest political party, is the party favouring unification with China. Since no party in Taiwan commands a parliamentary majority, the system of checks and balances will likely continue for the next four years. The KMT’s message of accommodation with China resonates less and less with the people of Taiwan, who have an increasing sense of local identity-distinct from that of mainland China. Remember, China has not set foot on Taiwan even for one minute since 1940. Whatever, this is certainly a spot to watch in the years ahead.

The annual conference of The World Economic Forum 2024, from 15 to 19 January, is on its last legs at the Ski Resort of Davos, near Zurich, Switzerland. About 3000 carefully selected delegates and speakers from global business, government, civil society, and academia gathered to brain-storm, and think-aloud on the most pressing issues of the day, and the shape of things to come.

This year’s themes are: Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World; Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era; Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society; and A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy.

Another hot-topic discussed was, ‘Disease X’ – what if a new disease, called X (no relation of Elon Musk) arises and spreads across the world, much like Covid-19 did, and threatens the world economy? Let us wait for the outcomes, in the week ahead.

While Disease X, was being thrown around, Scientists in China announced that they have cloned the first healthy rhesus monkey –macaca mulatta. The rhesus monkey, named Retro, was cloned by tweaking the somatic cell nuclear transfer method that was previously used to create ‘Dolly the sheep’ – the first ever clone of an adult mammal. Experts say such clones can become test subjects for treatments to cure Alzheimer’s and cancer. Retro, who is over three years old, was brought into the world on 16 July 2020.

Australia is known for all kinds of weird animals – native or imported- which are constantly floated on the headlines. Now, in the news is clever fire ants, which have resorted to a ‘new stunt of forming ‘rafts’ to travel on flood waters, across storm-ravaged Australia, aiding the spread of one of the world’s most invasive species. Considered a ‘super pest’, fire ants can cause major ecosystem changes and agricultural loss by feeding on native plants and animals. Their stings can also kill people. The unusual rafting behaviour is evidence that fire ant densities are increasing in Australia. They have already infested about 700,000 hectares of land in the cane farms south of Brisbane.

Solenopsis invicta, the red ant – called Rifa or the fire ant – is an extremely invasive species, so called because of its powerful sting. They are particularly good at ‘staying alive’ and spreading. They can survive underground for years; forming rafts in floods, travelling to colonise new ground. They have moved around the world in infested soil attached to containers and shipments. Ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm in size, individuals are copper-brown in colour with darker abdomens. Their nests look like small mounds of loose, crumbly dirt, and are most often in direct sunlight on lawns, near concrete paths, taps, and bodies of water, or along fence lines.

When 10 or more ants get close together in water, a property of surface tension called the ‘Cheerios effect’ pushes them together —despite their best efforts to avoid contact. Then their legs entangle, making a stable hold – and a fire ant raft is born. The Cheerios effect is just a form of capillary action, which forces a liquid in a narrow channel to flow, even against gravity. Surface tension and the attraction between the liquid and solid materials combine to push the liquid forward through the channel.

Native to South America, red imported fire ants were first detected in Queensland in 2001 and have largely been contained within the state’s borders. How they entered Australia remains a mystery, but it is most likely they came via shipping containers, from the United States.

In November, local authorities reported that several new fire ant nests had spread into New South Wales from the Queensland border for the very first time – prompting a nationwide funding boost for eradication efforts. Fire ants are most commonly spread through contaminated soil and materials brought into new areas by people. Winged fire ant queens are capable of flying several kilometres at a time but can travel much further when blowed by wind currents.

Australia’s unique climate and lack of natural predators make it the perfect home for fire ants, which could inhabit the entire continent, except for the most extreme coldest locations, if not contained, according to biosecurity authorities. One of the biggest fears shared by experts is that they could one day get into the nation’s Murray-Darling River system and then move rapidly into new states and territories. A three-year-old colony can hold as many as 100,000 fire ants, and a mature queen can lay up to 5,000 eggs per day.

In recent decades, fire ants have spread across the US, China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. Ants could become Australia’s worst pest.

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards saw the biggest names in the world of movies and television show-up. After the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, the Emmy Awards got underway at the Peacock Theatre, downtown Los Angeles on Monday. The awards Function, which was postponed by four months because of the Hollywood strikes, finally came on stage.

Following the pitch of the Golden Globes, the last season of the TV drama, Succession scooped major awards’ such as Outstanding Drama Series; Lead Actor Drama, for Kieran Culkin; and Lead Actress, Drama, for Sarah Snook.

The Bear won six, and The Beef bagged five-including outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. I’ve briefly talked about ‘Succession’ and ‘The Beef’ in World Inthavaaram-2. Now, it’s time for ‘The Bear’.

The Bear is an American comedy-drama television series created by Christopher Storer starring Jeremy Allen White as an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother’s sandwich shop: it won Outstanding Comedy Series, best Lead Actor, Comedy, for Jeremy Allen, among other wins.

Trevor Noah’s, The Daily Show, bagged an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show. This year’s Emmys also honoured classic TV shows with cast reunions and tributes. Tributes poured for I Love Lucy and Carol Burnett. The cast of Grey’s Anatomy was up there on the stage drooling out the nostalgia. So were, The Sopranos, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, SNL Weekend Update, All in the Family, and Ally McBeal.

The Red carpet spinned the trending bow, and one of the best was Suki Waterhouse who flaunted her baby bump stunning onlookers with a custom red Valentino gown. The singer, actor, and songwriter is engaged to ‘Harry Potter’ Robert Pattinson and the couple is expecting their first child.

In India, this week, there is a spiritual buzz in the air, and a frenzy of activity dominating the lives of Hindus. In an awesome build-up, all roads seem to be leading to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the Pran Prathistha(consecration ceremony) to be held on 22 January 2024 at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. ‘Pran Pratishtha’ means imbibing the idol with divine consciousness and is a must for every idol that is worshipped in a Hindu temple. The Ram Temple will be inaugurated that day and is considered as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

This would mark a new beginning for Hindutva in India, following the peaceful end of the 500 year old conflict over the birthplace of Lord Rama, in which enough bloodshed has been shed across the country. Including the 6 December 1992 demolition of the Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure-standing over the original Ram Temple-by a gathering of near 200,000 karsevaks (someone who offers his services for a religious cause), which subsequently led to deadly communal riots across the Indian subcontinent.

The Supreme Court (SC) verdict of 9 November 2019 brought to an end, decades of uncertainity, and means of realising a long-awaited dream of Hindus in India. In a landmark judgement, the SC unanimously ruled that the entire disputed Ram Janmabhoomi land belonged to the deity Ram Lalla (infant Rama)- the Hindus. And ordered it to be handed over to a Trust to build a Ram temple. It also ordered the Government to give an alternate five-acre tract of land for building a mosque. The judgement – based on available records and substantial Archaeological evidence – established the fact of the original Ram Temple in Ayodhya. That was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1528 and a Mosque called the Babri Masjid, built over the ruins of the temple is the birth spot of Rama.

Ram Janmabhoomi is the site of the birthplace of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu – one of the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. The epic Ramayana states that the location of Rama’s birthplace is on the banks of the Sarayu River in a city called Ayodhya. Modern-day Ayodhya lies in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, formed on the Orders of the Court, began the first phase of construction of the Ram Mandir in March, 2020. The Bhoomi Puja was performed and the foundation stone of the Ram Temple was laid in Ayodhya on 5 August 2020, leading to the present stage of ceremonies and celebrations.

More spiritual stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Build with World Inthavaaram .

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-2

About: the world this week, 7 January 2024 to 13 January 2024; Israel changes tactics; the Houthi Movement; France’s new Prime Minister; Bangladesh’s old PM; India’s oil find; the Golden Globe Awards; and passing of Football superstars.

Everywhere

Israel is shifting its war against the terrorist Hamas to a different level: to a new kind of tactical urban guerrilla warfare. And once their goals are accomplished, I am sure there will be no army like Israel’s Defense Forces. There are still 136 hostages out there, since 7 October 2023, under unimaginable duress, and Israel is fighting hard to bring them home.

On another front, the United States and the United Kingdom launched a massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The strikes were from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen, in response to the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea. And this is a dramatic regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Houthis have, more than two dozen times, attacked commercial vessels since mid-November 2023, triggering an international challenge. The US and UK said their action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.

The Houthi Movement, officially known as ‘Ansar Allah’ is a Shia Islamist political and military organisation that emerged in Yemen in the 1990s. The leadership is drawn largely from the Houthi Tribe, hence the name. In the formative stages, it was mainly an opposition to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Salem, who they accused of corruption and being backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States. What began as a moderate theological movement that preached tolerance and held broad-minded views evolved into a violent organisation, over the years, largely influenced by the Hezbollah of Iran. In the year 2003, the Houthis adopted their official slogan as, ‘God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, A curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam’. This slogan is often portrayed on a white flag, with the written text in red and green: the pro-islamic statements in green and the anti-America & anti-Israel ones in red. The Houthis aim to govern all of Yemen and support external movements again the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. They have a complex relationship with their own people-the Sunnis- in Yemen.

This Tuesday, France named a new Prime Minister: the youngest and the first openly gay person. Gabriel Attal, 34, takes over from his predecessor Elisabeth Borne following her resignation early in the week over turmoil on an Immigration law that strengthens the Government’s power to deport foreigners. Gabriel joined French President Macron’s political movement in 2016 and was Government Spokesman from 2020 to 2022, which made him well-known. He also served as Budget Minister and Education Minister in Macron’s Government. And is popular among the people besides being media savvy. France seems to be growing young, riding on the shoulders of the old. Macron himself became France’s youngest President at age 39 in the year 2017.

This week, South Korea’s Parliament passed a landmark ban on production and sale of dog meat, bringing to an end a centuries old practice. Until now, eating dog meat was neither explicitly banned nor legally permitted and has long been viewed as a source of stamina on hot summer days.

In India’s immediate neighbourhood, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,76, secured a record fourth straight term-her fifth at the top job-with her Awami League Party winning two-thirds majority in Parliament. The voter turnout was miserly at 40% and could be due to the main Opposition Party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Allies, boycotting the General Elections. They were angry over the harsh crackdown on the opposition and human-rights violations. Hasina herself won her seat for the eight time, since 1986, and her nearest rival secured just 469 votes.

Hasina has been in power since 2009 and has remarkably transformed the economy of Bangladesh. Its garment sector is one of the world’s most competitive. She has staved off military coups, controlled Islamic militancy, and raised the profile of her country. And she is best friends with India.

Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was the architect of separation from parent Pakistan, and founding Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971 – with India’s help. The Father was assassinated in August 1975. Hasina herself has survived a total of 19 assassination attempts on her life. She has a son and a daughter. Hasina’s niece – the daughter of her only living sibling, Sheikh Rehan is Tulip Siddiq, the UK politician serving as Member of Parliament for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency.

India is beginning to get rich in many ways. It’s already the owner of the largest ornament gold in the World and as if the shine of this yellow isn’t enough, India discovered one of its best Black Gold – Crude Oil – finds ever. India’s Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) announced the discovery. A total of 26 wells were found, and 4 wells have just begun production, capable of pumping out 45,000 barrels per day by May or June this year. This would meet about 7% of India’s total oil requirements. The discovery is 30 kilometres from Kakinada’s coast, nestled within the Krishna Godavari basin, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh State.

The 81st Golden Globes Awards Ceremony 2024, hosted by comedian Jo Koy, was held at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, US, on 7th January and the award winners were announced. The Golden Globes is one of the few Award ceremonies which include achievements in both motion picture and television. Oppenheimer and Barbie, between them, won most of the nominations and the awards, reminding us that ‘Barbenheimer’ are quite a pair, still running together on the big screen. Oppenheimer had 8 nominations and 5 wins: best Film-drama, best Actor-drama for Cillian Murphy, Best male actor in a supporting role for ‘Iron Man’ Robert Downey Jr, Best original score, and Best Director for Christoper Nolan.

Barbie was the most nominated film in 9 categories and won 2 Globes. It won the first-ever award for Cinematic & Box Office Achievement, introduced this year. Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig set records and hit over USD 1 billion in global box offices. The second award was for Best Original Song. Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell won for their emotional track, ‘What Was I Made For?

Best Film-musical or comedy went to Poor Things: about a young woman living in Victorian era London who, after being resurrected by a scientist following her suicide, runs off with a debauched lawyer to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation. The best animated film went to The Boy and the Heron: follows a boy during the Pacific War, who discovers an abandoned tower in his new town after his mother’s death and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron.

The best non-English Film award went to Anatomy of a Fall: a French courtroom drama thriller about as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death.

Best Television Series-Drama went to Succession: the ups and downs of a dysfunctional American global-media family. Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television went to Beef: about two strangers whose involvement in a road rage incident escalates into a prolonged feud. Ali Wong and Steven Yeun became the first actors of Asian descent to win for their meaty roles in the series.

Major fashion and dressing trends were unleashed at the Golden Globe Awards. And individuality still ruled the Red Carpet. The 50s ankle-length cocktail dress—the sheath and lavender was there. Bangs (locks of hair that fall over the scalp’s front hairline to cover the forehead, usually just above the eyebrows) were a big-bang sensation, going by Taylor Swift’s ‘Kissing the Brow Bangs.’ Carey Mulligan’s blunt cut, which some call the bob, also did the rounds. Large glam curls were seen on Jennifer Lopez and Brie Larson, which provided a soft look. Selena Gomez and Helen Mirren went for the traditional bun, while Billie Eilish and Lily Gladstone did some exciting things with the layers. Ponytails were back. Florence Pugh’s fluffy reverse duck-tail was chic and could start a trend with women. Barbie’s Margot Robbie came in a pink Armani dress inspired by the classic ‘Superstar Barbie’ doll of 1977. She continued playing Barbie.

What about the men? They were simply suave.

In the world of Men’s Football, only three players have won the FIFA World Cup, both as player and as a Manager. Franz Beckenbauer of Germany, Mario Zagello of Brazil, and Didier Deschamps of France.

This week, on 9th January, Franz Beckenbauer died at the age of 78. Late last week, on 5th January, Mario Zagello, died at the age of 92. That’s two legends leaving the football field forever, within the span of a week.

Beckenbauer, known in Germany as ‘Der Kaiser (the Emperor) is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He helped Germany win their second world title as a player and Captain in 1974 and later as a Manager in 1990, in their third win.

Born in Munich in 1945, he captained Germany to the 1974 World Cup title on home soil when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Munich final; then managed the team that beat Argentina 1-0 in Rome to lift the trophy at Italia’90. He was named European footballer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He played a pivotal role in some of the country’s greatest sporting achievements. But, in later years, his legacy was tarnished by his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Mario Zagello was in Brazil’s winning team, playing alongside the legendary Pele, in the 1958 and 1962 World Cup, and ‘managed’ Pele and the Brazilian team in 1970 when Brazil won the World Cup for the third time. He wore the nickname of ‘The Professor’ throughout his coaching career due to his tactical awareness and commanding presence on the bench. Brazil went on to win the world in 1994 and 2002 – an unsurpassed record five times. Brazil is quickly followed by Germany with 4 FIFA World Cup wins in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014 and Italy also with four wins in 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006.

More real and reel stories coming up in the weeks ahead. Watch with World Inthavaaram .

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-1

About: the world this week; Rockets in the air and space; worshipping the Sun; Earth Shakes; Flying safely on fire; a Queen abdicates; woke and DEI; Pirates of the Arabian Sea; and sizzling Lakshadweep.

Everywhere

While most of us shot-out New Year messages and even bursted crackers to announce the arrival of the New Year, the terrorist Hamas lighted-up the sky with real rockets fired into Israel. Is this a signal of things that will go on despite a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip? Squirrelling away food and essentials in underground tunnels and waiting to be flushed out like rats, by the Israeli Defence Forces?

In perhaps a tactical move, Israel began withdrawing its armed forces from the war-front: about five brigades and thousands of troops – what I call a ‘Ulysses’ strategy. The focus will be on more targeted and precision attacks; also to rest the Reserves. And in signs of things to come, this week, the deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau and the commander of the group’s military wing in the West Bank, was assassinated in a precision Israeli drone attack, in Beirut. And Israel also began targeting the Lebanon based militant group, the Hezbollah, who also being extremely fond of rockets, have been doing the Hamas thing – firing rockets into Israel.

Meanwhile, India did not want to be left behind in rocket launching. On the first day of the new Year, the ‘fast and frugal’ Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), designed to study black holes and neutron stars. The satellite was launched by ISRO’s star performer, the PSLV, and exactly positioned in a low earth orbit of 650 kilometres. While India is hoping to bring out colourful information on Black Holes, its Sun-study Satellite, Aditya-L1, launched in early September last year, is all set to reach its intended destination L1 -Lagrange Point- on 6 January 2024. The Universe is becoming a smaller place. You don’t mess with India’s ISRO – they have the Moon, the Sun, and Back Holes under their grip.

Then in a follow through, on a different level, India high-lighted a spiritual seam in the New Year, for health and unity. In the State of Gujarat over 4000 people coordinated in such manner as to perform Surya Namaskar – a salutation to the sun- simultaneously at 108 venues including the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, Gujarat. Turned out to be a Guinness World Record, with the Record Keepers hanging around to do the counting, verification, and stamping.

Why 108? In Hindutva (previously called Hinduism) Vedic mathematicians consider 108 to be a number signifying the wholeness of existence. It connects the Sun, Moon, and the Earth. The average distance of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is 108 times their relative diameters. Typically, ‘Malas’ (a string of beads) used for recitation of mantras, have 108 beads – with an additional ‘Meru’ bead, which when reached prompts one to count in reverse order. The number 108 also means the 108 attendants of Lord Shiva, or the 108 followers-called Gopis-of Lord Krishna; the Sudharshana Chakra, the shining discus weapon of Lord Vishnu has 108 serrated edges; and to wind-up, in Hindutva there are 108 Upanishads- the sacred texts of wisdom of ancient sages.

The message is, stay enlightened, and count your blessings, in the new year – 108 is not just a number.

Breaking to the East, Japan was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake which left the country shaking and stirred. And warnings were sounded that it could trigger a Tsunami – about 5 metre high waves – on the west cost of the country. However, the waves kept their height within the metre, and the ocean behaved. About 250 people are missing, and the final toll could be high.

Just when Japan was finding firm ground, a Japan Airlines A350 bursted into flames on landing at Haneda Airport on colliding with a Coast Guard plane, which was getting ready for take-off. All 379 passengers were safely evacuated, but all except one, on the Coast Guard plane were killed. The crew of Japan Airlines earned the cheers of the world with their remarkable handling of the evacuation of passengers, who stayed calm and composed. And left behind their baggage. It took the 12 member crew, 18 minutes to get 367 travellers and themselves off the plane and safely accounted for. The A350-900 is certified for a full load of up to 440 passengers who can be evacuated within 90 seconds with only half of the exits usable. What portion of the 18 minute operation was used to get passengers physically out will be known as more details emerge. The world was unanimous in their appreciation of the crew, for following the evacuation drill to text-book perfection. The next time you are on an aircraft, invest in listening to the safety instructions again and again- it could save your life, and that of others, one day. Make safety an involuntary habit.

Flying to the middle of the Earth, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe-II who is the longest serving monarch in Europe, announced that she will abdicate on 14 January 2024, after 52 years of sitting on the throne. The Queen will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, 55. This was made during her New Year’s message to the Danes. Prince Frederik was known as a Party Prince in the early days of growing-up, but when he became the first Danish royal to complete a university education with a masters in Political Science, people took notice, seriously. Later, he served in the Danish Navy and earned a nickname of ‘Pingo’ -his wetsuit filled up with water during a scuba diving course, forcing him to waddle like a penguin. The Prince is also known to be a daredevil – with lots of battle scars to show off: he took part in a four-month ski expedition across Greenland, besides being hospitalised in sledging and scooter accidents. The Prince is married to Australian-born Princess Mary who grew up on the island of Tasmania and was working as a lawyer when the pair met in the year 2000, at a bar in Sydney, during the Olympic Games. They have four children – a daughter, son, and twins – and in them, Denmark has strong line-up for the future. Down under, Australia is celebrating: it has finally got into the Queen-making business.

In America, Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned, ending a six-month tenure marred by allegations of plagiarism and recent backlash over her congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus. Claudine Gay was one of – what I call -‘Three Musketeers’, along with UPenn President Liz Magill (resigned first) and MIT President, Sally Kornbluth (under pressure – still thinking). The trio infamously could not confirm ‘calling for the genocide of Jews’ violated University Rules and pouted, “should be seen in context”. This, in the background of growing Wokeism and a wrong turn of DEI.

We have just started the new year and already competing for the word of the year is probably Wokeism, and DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It is a term that describes policies that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals: people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. It also covers people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and expertise. But then DEI appears to have been hijacked by the ‘Woke Gang’ and right now, it’s oozing with antisemitism.

This week, on the high seas, the ‘Pirates of Somalia’ were in for a rude shock when they tried to hijack a Liberia flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk, off the Somalia coast in the northern Arabian Sea. An Indian naval warship INS Chennai rushed to the spot, deployed predator drones and Naval helicopters. And the Indian Navy’s Elite Marine Commandos– MARCOS- stormed the Vessel neutralising the pirates in a daring operation. All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians were evacuated safely. Probably, for the first time in recent History, an Indian warship has overpowered the Somalian pirates in the Somalian waters. The hijacking of commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea regions resumed in December this year after a six-year lull, by which time India trained and prepared to protect the seas from these slippery pirates.

This week it took a fully-clothed Indian Prime Minister (PM) to show us the raw, naked blue-lagoon beauty of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea. It is India’s smallest Union Territory -an archipelago consisting of 36 islands, known for its exotic, sun-kissed beaches, and lush green landscape. Most of the islands are uninhabited and consist of coral atolls. The PM even went snorkelling, showing a beautiful underwater world. And found the tranquility mesmerising.

More new and inclusive stories in the New Year. Stay mesmerised with World Inthavaaram and head to Lakshadweep for your next vacation.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-52

About: the world this week, 24 December to 31 December 2023; War & No Peace; Argentina; Zombie Deer Disease; a Captain departs; and celebrating Kwanzaa.

Everywhere

War & No Peace

This week, Egypt floated an ambitious plan to end the Israel-Hamas war. The plan called for a phased release of the hostages held by Hamas and the formation of a Palestinian ‘Government of Experts’ to administer the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Egypt and Qatar would work with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, to agree on the establishment of such a government. And this government would rule Gaza and the West Bank for a transitional period, while the Palestinian factions work towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

Israel and Hamas gave cool public receptions to the proposal. But stopped short of rejecting the plan altogether, raising the possibility of a new round of diplomacy.

The Egyptian proposal does not measure up to Israel’s declared goal of crushing Hamas to the bone. It also appears to be at odds with Israel’s insistence on maintaining military control over Gaza for an extended period, after the war. The rising death toll of Israeli soldiers during the ground operation also threatens to undermine public support for the war. More than 160 Israeli soldiers have been killed thus far.

Meanwhile, the terrorist Hamas continued with what it does best: launching a barrage of rockets, this time into the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel. Most of them were intercepted by Israel’s rocket defence system. Israel, on its part, expanded ground operations to the central part of Gaza. And almost every day kept discovering massive tunnel networks beneath Hospitals and Schools, used by Hamas to carry out terror activities against Israel. Most of them were promptly destroyed.

The other war, the Russia-Ukraine War, is only getting older, with no end in sight. There were some mumblings by Russia about leaning towards holding talks for a cease-fire. But it did not gain traction.

This week, Ukraine struck a large Russian landing warship, Novocherkassk, in Crimea, with cruise missiles in an overnight attack that killed at least one person, and could hinder any Russian attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast. Russia admitted that the large landing ship was extensively damaged. Satellite pictures showed the ship partially submerged alongside its pier. Then, in a revenge act, Russia launched its biggest air-attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, using about 158 drones and missiles to strike targets in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

If only these two wars would come to an end, the World would ‘appear’ more peaceful!

Argentina Rises

Argentina’s newly inaugurated President Javier Milei, is going great guns flashing his deadly uncombed hair-locks. He has brought-in sensible laws in what promises to be a shock & awe presidency. He had prohibited governmental institutions from using the word ‘free’ to promote any state service. Milei considers the use of the word ‘free’ a lie and feels citizens should not be lied to, since the service is always paid by someone, typically tax-payer money.

Then he has proposed a new law, that Argentina presently does not have, which affirms a right to self-defence. This would apply when someone tries to cause bodily harm to another person or where they try to invade his property. It also affirms that if the attacker dies in the process, their relatives cannot sue over the fact of defending oneself.

Oh Deer!

Since the Covid-19 saga, we are not done with the list of possible outbreaks of new diseases: the spillover from animals to humans. Joining this ever-growing list is ‘Chronic Wasting Disease’ (CWD), sometimes referred to as ‘Zombie Deer Disease’ which mainly affects free-ranging deer, elk, and moose. The affected deer is often called ‘Zombie Deer’ due to the neurological signs of the disease, which are, weight loss, lack of coordination, listlessness, and drooling. Although there have been no infections in humans, scientists are warning that the disease is a ‘slow-moving disaster’ for humans. And it is more transmissible to humans from animals – say Deer – than was previously thought.

CWD can have an incubation period of over a year, and signs of the disease may develop slowly. Scientists believe the disease spreads through contact with contaminated body fluids and tissue, or through the environment, including drinking water, and food.

Recall, ‘The Mad Cow Disease’ outbreak in Britain provided an example of how, overnight, things can get crazy when a spillover event happens from livestock to people.

Beware of Deer crossings!

A Captain Departs

This week, on 28th December, Tamil Actor and Politician, Vijayakanth passed away at age 71 due to pneumonia and Covid-19 complications. Over the past 4 years, he has been in and out of hospital on prolonged illness. In 2017, he had undergone an organ transplant. In June 2022, his toes were amputated following prolonged diabetes. In recent times, he had difficulty in walking and speaking, and if at all, his speech was often incoherent due to a liver ailment and a paralytic stroke. He is said to have a drinking problem. In early November of this year, he was admitted to a Hospital in Chennai and then again in December, finally succumbing to Covid-19.

Vijayakanth who started his film career as a ‘poor man’s Rajinikant’, was popularly known as ‘Captain’, ‘Karuppu MGR’ (dark MGR- because of his dark complexion) Puratchi Kalaignar (revolutionary artist).

Vijayakanth is one of very few Tamil actors to have stuck himself only to Tamil films – 154 of them – throughout a career spanning over three decades. Most of his films revolved around corruption, honesty, and honouring promises; playing the role of a patriotic, village do-gooder, and dual-role acting. He has played the highest number of roles by an actor-20 times-as a Police Officer.

He was best known for low-budget films that showcased gravity-defying stunts in which he would single-handedly beat his enemies to pulp. And he had a trademark ‘evil back-kick’, which he used to disastrous effects on villains. In the song & dance sequences, typical of Tamil films, his dance moves and gestures were a mimic’s delight.

Vijayakanth was the President of the South Indian Film Artistes’ Association between 2000 and 2006 during which time he achieved the remarkable feat of clearing all debts of the Association, by organising Celebrity Shows abroad. Until then, the Association was completely in the red.

Vijayakanth is known to have a heart of gold, always ready to answer a cry for help, with a natural philanthropic bend of mind. He was regarded as one of the most diligent actors of his era, even doing three shifts a day and working on multiple projects simultaneously to make sure none of his projects got canceled and his Producers did not lose sleep. He would claim his salary only after the success of his movies and often agreed to take a pay-cut if the movies didn’t perform well at the Box Office. Vijayakanth never charged for cameo appearances or supporting roles in some of his friends’ movies.

Some of his biggest movie hits were, Vaidehi Kaathirundal, in 1984; Amman Koil Kizhakkaale, in 1986; Pulan Visaaranai, and Chatriyan, in 1990; Chinna Gounder, in 1991; Sendhoorapandi, in 1993; Ramana, in 2002.

Then in the year 2005, he decided to kick himself out of cinema before the movie-goers did. And in September that year he founded a political party called the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in Madurai, as an alternative to the two Dravidian parties of, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), who between them, ruled the State for decades. He worked as the DMDK’s founder President until the time of his death. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) twice from Virudhachalam, and Rishivandiyam.

Vijayakanth aimed to become Chief Minister one day, but the closest he could get was, Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, within six years of launching his party: the only actor-turned-Politician in Tamil Nadu to have achieved such a feat!

The DMDK made its electoral debut in the 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. The party contested independently and managed to win a significant number of seats, establishing itself as a force to reckon with. In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the DMDK scripted history, winning more seats than the DMK and emerged as the principal Opposition Party that year. He had formed an alliance with the AIADMK contesting in 41 constituencies. His party saw stunning success, winning 29 seats. Vijayakanth himself became a MLA for the second time.

Vijayakanth did not have the cinematic charisma of MGR, or even, for that matter, of his own contemporary Rajinikanth, who has flirted with politics over the years, without ever joining a particular party and gave-up on the brink of starting one. Nevertheless, the DMDK debuted in the 2006 assembly election with an impressive vote share of around 8% and followed it up with a 10% share in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Both results made observers sit up and take notice. But it has been a downslide since then.

Vijayakanth was born, Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami, on 25 August 1952 Madurai, Tamilnadu. He and was one among four children of K N Alagarswami and Aandal. When he was an year old, his mother Andal passed away. With many children to take-care of, his Father was forced to re-marry, and thereafter had seven more children from his second wife. That’s a count of 10 siblings. And sibling rivalry was not heard of in the Captain’s family.

Vijayakanth studied up to Class 11 after which he quit School to look after his father’s rice-mill business. During this time he collaborated with a friend to take-up Film Distribution, which probably spawned a desire to become an Actor. He refused to heed to his father’s advice to continue running the family’s rice mill, and instead packed-up to sail to Chennai to try his hand in tinsel world.

After initial rejections and a struggle, mainly because of his poor dialogue delivery, in the year 1979, he was booked in his first film ‘Inikkum Ilamai’ (sweet youth), where he debuted as a villain. It failed at the box-office. After this, he acted in three other films, which did not bring noteworthy success. Then in 1981, he got a breakthrough hit in the film ‘Sattam Oru Iruttarai’ (the law is a dark room), which became a blockbuster success. It was later made in Hindi with his ‘richer version’, Rajinikant playing his role and Amitabh Bachchan doing a cameo, along with Hema Malini. This propelled him to fabulous movie hits, and the offers came in a flood.

Vijayakanth’s 100th film, in the year 1991, earned him the sobriquet ‘Captain’ after he portrayed an upright Indian Forest Officer sent on a mission to nab an elusive forest brigand complicit with a corrupt administration. After the yesteryear Tamil filmdom stalwarts of M G Ramachandran (MGR), Sivaji Ganesan, and Jayalalithaa, he was the only actor to have achieved a silver jubilee hit in his 100th film.

Meanwhile in the world of Politics, Vijayakanth’s public conduct has not left him with a very flattering image. Talks about a drinking problem have surfaced repeatedly and he was extensively criticised for getting drunk during public meetings. His wife has denied the drinking problem and even threw a challenge for tests to be done on him. His explosive and unclear speeches and ‘red eyes’ were hard to decipher causing confusion. He has also gotten into squabbles and brawls with his own party members and the media, many of which have been caught on video and circulated widely online. Apart from this, he was irregular in his attendance of legislative assembly proceedings in the decade or so that he was in politics. Increasingly, over the years, he was seen as a comic figure rather than a serious political player. Maybe he squandered an opportunity to captain Tamil Nadu?

He leaves behind his wife Premalatha, who he married in 1990, and two sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakar Alagarswami. A week ago Premalatha was made the General Secretary of the Party, maybe foretelling the Captain’s end was near. She, along with her brother, L K Sudheesh, have been steering the DMDK during the illness of the Captain. The ‘Captain Group’ runs TV Channels in the name, owns an Engineering College, among other businesses.

Whatever, Vijayakanth leaves behind a rich, colourful legacy, and perhaps there will be none like him.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an African American-Pan-African holiday created in 1966 by Africana Studies Professor Maulana Ron Karenga. His goal was to give Black people an alternative to the existing holidays; give them the opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practices of the dominant society.

All the concepts of the holiday are traditionally expressed in Swahili, which is where the meaning of ‘Kwanzaa’ is derived from: ‘matunda ya kwanza’ which means first fruits. President Bill Clinton was the first US President to recognise it as a holiday.

Kwanzaa follows seven principles. When you see the table set in a Kwanzaa-celebrating home, you’ll notice a Kinara – a candle holder carrying three red candles on the left, one black candle in the middle, and three green candles on the right. Those candles are lit one by one, starting with the black one, as the seven days of Kwanzaa progress and each of them represent the seven principles of the holiday: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

Families do a number of things to celebrate the holiday, from creating art, donning African garments, attending festivals, or giving gifts. However, the biggest component to Kwanzaa festivities is the food. You can always count on a special meal being made while incorporating the flavours of Southern Caribbean, South American, and African dishes.

No person of any specific religion chooses to celebrate Kwanzaa. It’s not about religion. It’s more about Black people embracing one another, the rich culture they’ve created and the roots from which it comes from, as well as uplifting one another to learn and grow into the best ‘black-beauty’ version of themselves.

One more reason to celebrate. Strive to create a new and better version of yourself. Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year 2024.

More new stories in the New Year. Celebrate with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-51

About: the world this week, 17 December to 23 December 2023; Israel and Hamas; Shooting in Prague, Czechia; Earthquake in China; the Pope and LGBTQIA; Parliament shakes in India; Floods in Southern India; and the Coronavirus and Kerala.

Everywhere

Israel-Hamas War

Late last week, in a tragic accident, Israel admitted mistakenly killing three hostages during a search and rescue operation.

An Israeli soldier stationed in a building in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighbourhood, identified three suspicious people exiting the building several dozen meters away. All three were shirtless, with one of them carrying a stick with a makeshift white flag. The soldier, who believed the men moving toward him was an attempt by Hamas to lure Israeli soldiers into a trap, immediately opened fire and shouted “terrorists!” to the other forces. The hostages either managed to escape Hamas captivity or were abandoned, before they were mistakenly shot dead.

This is in the tense background of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) having encountered several, seemingly unarmed civilians in the area, who turned out to be Hamas suicide bombers. There have also been countess attempts by Hamas to trick soldiers into an ambush. This is an awfully difficult and unforgiving war.

Over the week, Israel offered the Terrorist Hamas a deal, “Release 40 hostages – the old, woman, and children – and we stop bombing for a week”. Hamas did not take it.

Shooting in the Czech Republic

This week on the 21st December, in the deadliest attack in modern Czech history a gunman shot dead 14 people and injured another 25 at Prague’s Charles University.

The shooting started at the Faculty of Arts building, on Jan Palach Square. The gunman, who was studying Polish history at Charles University, murdered his father before shooting his classmates in a killing spree, and in the end possibly killed himself, after being shot-at by the Police. The motives were not immediately known.

The Police, who discovered a large arsenal of weapons at the building where the shooting took place, were tipped off earlier in the day that the suspect was likely heading to Prague from his town in the Kladno region, outside the capital, with intentions of taking his own life.

The gunman later identified as David Kozak had a gun permit and owned several weapons. He is also suspected of killing a man and his four-month-old daughter in Prague, a week ago. Police are also probing any connection between Kozak and a series of Russian-language messages posted on Telegram. One of the messages indicated that the attack may have been influenced by two previous mass shootings in Russia: one this month at a school in Bryansk near the Ukraine border, and the other in 2021 in Kazan. David Kozak was an excellent student and had not criminal history.

The Czech Republic has relatively liberal gun laws compared to the rest of Europe. To obtain a gun legally, a person needs an official licence, which requires a medical examination, a weapon proficiency exam, and no previous criminal record.

Charles University in Prague, founded in 1347 is the oldest and largest University in the Czech Republic -Czechia – and one of the oldest institutions in Europe.

Bless LGBTQIA

This week, Pope Francis relaxed controls, making the Church a little more LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) friendly. He is allowing Priests to bless same-sex couples. This is a forward-looking step, and a walk back on a 2021 Vatican Ruling that banned blessing Gay couples, because ‘God cannot bless sin’. However, reading the fine print, the new rule clarifies that a blessing, which is typically, a prayer, should not be given at a Gay Wedding or Civil Ceremony. It also reaffirmed that marriage is between man and woman.

China’s Earthquake

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous region in northwestern China, resulting in at least 127 deaths and over 700 injuries, making it the deadliest earthquake in the area in nine years. Gansu province is severely affected, along with the neighbouring Qinghai province.

The affected area in Qinghai province is adjacent to the Tibet Himalayan region, prone to frequent earthquakes because of continental plate shifts.

Preliminary analysis shows that the quake was a thrust-type rupture, one of three above magnitude 6 to have struck within 200 km of the epicentre since 1900. At least 32 aftershocks were reported in the hour after the quake hit.

Infrastructure was severely impacted, leading to power and water supply disruptions, damage to rural roads, railway lines, and the cracking of a bridge across the Yellow River.

India’s Parliament: A Tumultuous Week

This week India’s Opposition Parties created a ruckus in Parliament, displaying placards, shouting, disruption the proceedings, and not allowing Parliament to function – all against the rules. They were demanding a statement from the Home Minister on last week’s ‘Smoke in The Eyes’ security breach, which was not forthcoming. This forced the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, respectively, to take punitive action on the errant Members of Parliament (MP) by suspending them.

The string of suspension of Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha grew to a mammoth total of 146 – a first-time record. That’s almost two-third of the Opposition kicked-out of Parliament, for bad behaviour.

To make matters worse, the suspended MPs sitting on the steps of the Parliament premises got into a ‘College-Times Strike’ mode. They were entertained by one of the MPs mimicking and mocking the Vice-President (VP) of India, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The VP called it an insult on his background as a farmer and Chairman. Another MP was seen nonchalantly filming the episode on his mobile. This created a huge social-media storm that drowned other news, for days.

Meanwhile, the Government cooly went about its law-making business, slipping in path-breaking new Laws to replace the British-era colonial laws. And got them passed, ‘without breaking into a sweat’, in both Houses.

New criminal law reforms, replacing the old are: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill (BNSS) replaces the Indian Penal Code,1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (BSS) replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill (BNSSS) replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

With these changes, the criminal justice system of India is significantly reframed, finally growing out of a colonial mindset. The old laws were centred around punishment and deterrence: the new bills shift the emphasis to justice and reformation, in keeping with the changes of modern-day India.

Some highlights of the new Laws:

Twenty new offences have been included in the BNSS. These include organised crime, terrorist acts, hit-and-run, mob lynching, sexual exploitation of a woman by deceitful means, snatching, abetment outside India, acts endangering the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of India, and publication of false or fake news.

In a first, the government has included ‘community service’ as a punishment for theft of less than INR 5,000 and five other petty offences. Adultery and homosexual sex are not listed as crimes. Attempting to commit suicide will no longer be considered a criminal offence.

The sedition law has been repealed, and the sedition provision has been redefined to contain actions against India-deshdroh– instead of actions against the Government-rajdroh. One is free to criticise the Government, but not say anything to demean the nation.

Police will have to register a First Information Report (FIR) within 3 days of the complaint and in cases involving a punishment of 3 to 7 years, the FIR is to be registered after preliminary investigation. Chargesheets will have to be filed in 180 days and the Magistrate will have to take cognisance within 14 days. Forensic science has been given a lot of importance in evidenced gathering, as is electronic evidence.

The Government said that it had received a total of 3200 suggestions from 18 States, 6 Union Territories, the Supreme Court of India, 16 High Courts, 27 Judicial academics, several MPs, and bureaucrats, in the mammoth exercise to make the new laws. And 158 meetings were held to consider the suggestions.

Also passed was the Telecommunication Bill 2023, replacing the 138-year-old colonial-era Telegraph Act, 1885, and other allied laws.

The Govt will allocate spectrum for telecommunications through the Auction Method and for Satellite communications through an Administrative Method. Companies will require an authorisation to start services instead of Licences that are issued at present. It is mandatory to issue SIMs after capturing verifiable biometric data of the applicant to prevent misuse. Obtaining a SIM or any other telecom resource through fraud, cheating, personation will entail a jail term up to three years or a fine upto INR 50 Lakhs per person.

India’s Down South Floods

The South Indian State of Tamil Nadu is having a tough time. Cyclone Michaung had unleashed mayhem in Chennai more than a week ago and just when the State was limping back to normalcy it was hit by the rains again – this time in the southern districts.

Unprecedented rains caused by a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal battered the districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari, inundating roads, flooding houses, affecting train services, and leaving authorities scrambling to rescue those stranded. Helicopters in the air, and boats on the water were pressed into service.

Tamil Nadu received almost 50 mm of rainfall between this Sunday and Monday, compared with the 2.50 mm that would be normal at this time of year. Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin received more than 95 cm in 24 hours, which sank the Town. Tuticorin City grappled with about 5 feet of water. More than 10,000 people had to be rescued. About 150 people have died, succumbing to the fury of the floods.

Entire neighbourhoods remained submerged, with houses appearing like lonely islands surrounded by murky, brown water. Lakes were overflowing and rivers were in spate. Towards the end of the week, the waters began receding, slowly.

There is this heart-warming story of a Train, which left Tiruchendur Station on Sunday at about 8.30 pm bound for Chennai. About 34 km into the journey it was stopped at Srivaikuntam Station by alert Railway Staff, when it began raining heavily, following a cloud burst. The Railways decided not to allow the train to go any further, which proved to be a wise decision. The rains then intensified and subsequently it was found that about 12 km of track was washed-away due to land eroded by the rains, in the route ahead of the Station. The Station itself was completely isolated as a water island after about 300 passengers had been evacuated. The remaining had to stay put in the Train as the escape route was cut-off. And the Railway Station staff did their darnest until help came, only after the waters receded. Food was dropped-in by Helicopters. Imagine, about 1000 lives would have been lost that day, if it weren’t for the Railway Men. Cheers to them.

Questions on better preparedness and early warning are being asked and hope to see a flood of improvements next time around.

COVID-19 Again, and Kerala

The SARS.CoV-2 coronavirus is on the prowl again, growing its family and trying to spike our lives. Reminds us that the virus continues to evolve in different ways.

This week, what is called the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus was detected in India for the first time.

The JN.1 is a descendant sub-lineage of BA.2.86 or Pirola sub-variant of Omicron, and carries an additional mutation on its spike protein. After Kerala, the JN.1 was found in Goa, then Maharashtra, Karnataka, and in some other States. A total of over 595 Covid-19 cases have been reported.

The JN.1 was first detected in Luxembourg in August this year and later reported in The United Kingdom, Iceland, France, and the United States.

JN.1 was previously classified a Variant of Interest as part of its parent lineage BA.2.86, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has now classified it as a separate Variant of Interest. Talk about a grown-up leaving the parents’ home, fully armed to take-on the World?

WHO said current vaccines will continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus. And it is best to continue to hold on to the masking and hand-washing techniques, learnt and executed so well.

Often, the State of Kerala is the first to detect a disease outbreak, wondered why?

Kerala recorded India’s first JN.1 Covid sub-variant in a 79 years old woman at the beginning of this month. Earlier, the State also recorded the first cases of Nipah virus, Monkeypox, and other diseases. There are many other reasons as to why Kerala is the first to record diseases and subsequently becoming a hotbed of them.

Kerala’s geography contributes to the frequency with its sizeable forest cover and intense monsoon pattern making it prone to outbreaks. The State has witnessed several zoonotic outbreaks owing to the shrinkage of natural habitats and proximity to human settlements, in a densely populated region. Take for example, the Nipah virus: a special investigation found that humanity’s drive for resources is destroying the wildlife habitat of bats – which carry tens of thousands of viruses – and creating conditions ripe for a bat-borne disease to spill over to humanity. Civet cats have almost become urban animals as their natural habitats have been wiped out. These animals are believed to be the mediators for the pathogen that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Bats, which lost their natural habitats, moved into human habitations. These animals are now considered as the reservoirs of Nipah and Ebola virus.

Another reason for Kerala being the home of such diseases is the State’s population. People of Kerala are spread across the globe, with a large number of students studying medicine and many expatriates working as doctors or nurses around the world. They face the occupational hazard of viral attacks and may unwittingly spread undiagnosed diseases to others when they return to India.

There’s also the State’s management and health system. The State has rigourous testing and its population is also highly aware. For e.g., when the first case of monkeypox was reported from Kollam in Kerala, the concerned person who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) underwent a test. This, after he learnt that his contact abroad had tested positive, even though he was asymptomatic.

Many a time, Kerala has been criticised for reporting an outbreak. Experts say that should not be done. Its active surveillance mechanism, capacity-building exercises for healthcare workers, frontline staff, community engagement and strategic interventions have not just been helpful in detecting viruses, but also in keeping the disease outbreaks in control.

It is left to be seen if COVID-19 does make a strong comeback in the State, but Kerala is known for handling outbreaks and, in fact, virologists and epidemiologists have hailed its robust surveillance.

More stories will rain in the weeks ahead. Hold on to World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-50

About: the world this week, 10 December to 16 December 2023; the United Nations tries for a cease-fire; India’s new State Chief Ministers; Jammu & Kashmir; and smoke in India’s Parliament.

Everywhere

The United Nations, Israel, and America

Late last week, the United Nations (UN) Security Council met to discuss and pass an immediate, cease-fire Resolution in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. The Security Council consists of 5 permanent members, and 10 non-permanent (elected for a two-year term by the UN’s General Assembly) members. Only the permanent members have a veto, and for a resolution to be adopted all permanent members must vote in agreement. And a Resolution passed by the Security Council is binding.

The meeting was convened after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter which says, he may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Security Council failed to adopt the cease-fire Resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, due to a veto by the United States, following a debate earlier in the day. Thirteen Security Council members voted in favour while the United Kingdom abstained.

The US told the UN Security Council: “We do not support this resolution’s call for an unsustainable ceasefire that will only plant the seeds for the next war.”

The US and Israel opposed the ceasefire, saying it would only benefit Hamas, which Israel has vowed to annihilate in response to the deadly 7th October cross-border massacre of Israeli civilians.

Later, the United Nations, while still trying to build a consensus, adopted a non-binding resolution in the General Assembly: 153 votes for to 10 against, with 23 abstentions, to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. The same vote in October had got 120 for, 12 against, and 45 abstentions.

More than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed during the latest Israel-Hamas war. And as humanitarian concerns continue to rise, Israel and Hamas do not appear any closer to resolving the conflict than they were at the start.

Meanwhile, in America, over last weekend, University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) President, Liz Magill resigned. It comes almost a week after she, along with the Presidents of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), participated in a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. And was unable to confirm that, ‘calling for the genocide of Jews’ would violate University policies on bullying or harassment. Harvard has said its President will not step-down, on account of this testimony. MIT is still thinking.

India’s New State Chief Ministers

This week, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rolled-out its choice of Chief Ministers (CM) for the three States it overwhelmingly won when votes were counted and results declared last week.

In the State of Chhattisgarh, the BJP picked Vishnu Deo Sai, 59, a prominent tribal leader, as the next CM: he was elected as leader of the BJP’s legislative party. Sai comes from a family of former Jan Sangh -a precursor to the BJP- leaders, where two elder brothers of his father were MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly). He started his political career as a village Sarpanch and rose to become Union Minister – Minister of State Steel & Mines – in an earlier BJP Government. He is a four-time Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and also the Chhattisgarh BJP President for about 4 years.

In the State of Madhya Pradesh, the BJP chose Mohan Yadav, 48, the Ujjain South MLA, as Chief Minister. The BJP legislature party elected him to replace Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the four-time outgoing CM. Mohan is a three-time MLA and worked as the Higher Education Minister in the outgoing Government. The party also named two Deputy Chief Ministers, Jagdish Devda, and Rajendra Shukla – the first time the State has such a combination.

Then, as if two surprises weren’t enough, the BJP came-up with a third: choosing first-time MLA, Bhajan Lal Sharma, 55, as Rajasthan’s next Chief Minister, ending days of speculation.

Bhajan Lal worked as the General Secretary of the BJP Rajasthan Unit, for four consecutive terms. In the year 2003, he contested the Assembly Elections for the first time from Nadbhai, Rajasthan. However, he finished fifth and lost his deposit with a vote share of 6.28%. This time, he won from the Sanganer Constituency. Diya Kumari, a member of the Jaipur royal family, and Prem Chand Bairwa were added as Deputy Chief Ministers in Rajasthan – in this surprising new CM + 2 Deputies ‘combo-offer’ of the BJP.

Jammu & Kashmir

The State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has a deep troubled history going back to the time of India’s independence. In August 1947, the British partitioned India into the present-day India, and Pakistan, on religious lines – Hindu and Muslim respectively – before handing over governance and leaving. Freedom, it was, from colonial rule of 89 years, which began in the year 1858.

India, at that time, consisted of 562 Princely States, which had to be brought under the Indian Union by signing an Instrument of Accession-voluntarily, by a polite nudge, tough coercion, or even brute force. It was a Himalayan task successfully and deftly accomplished by the unforgettable ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and his Home Ministry team.

The State of Jammu & Kashmir had a majority Muslim population and was ruled by a Hindu King, Maharaja Hari Singh. There was a tussle between India and Pakistan for possession of this State, and finally, after initial dithering, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947-making it a part of India. The Maharaja was hesitant to join any side, had ‘independent’ ideas, and signed only after Pashtun tribals, aided by Pakistan, invaded J&K and India agreed to help on the condition of accession. The Schedule appended to the Instrument of Accession clearly gave the Indian Parliament power to legislate for J&K on only three subjects – defence, external affairs, and communications.

Later, when the Constitution of India was written and came into force on 26 January 1950, Jammu & Kashmir was mostly exempted from the Indian Constitution – by Article 370, which was a ‘temporary provision’ that provided special status to the State.

J&K was allowed a Constituent Assembly for framing its constitution and restricting the legislative authority of the Indian Parliament. And the future of the State was to be determined by a ‘reference to the people’. Temporary also meant that except Article 1, which declared India as a ‘Union of States’, and Article 370 itself, no part of the Indian Constitution would apply to J&K. Article 370 itself could not be amended or repealed—unless the Constituent Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir consented.

After a five-year process, on 17th November 1956, the Constitution of J&K was made and adopted with a declaration: ‘The State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India’. On the same day, having completed its task, the Constituent Assembly of J&K dissolved itself.

Over the years there was unusual, persisting violence in J&K, mostly ‘angry’ Pakistan sponsored terrorism from across the border and supported by parties inside J&K, enjoying the special status. And a portion of J&K was occupied by Pakistan-Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK)-which India could not get back despite a War. India had to settle with a ‘temporary’, Line Of Control (LOC) drawn by the United Nations, which was called to resolve. The UN also passed a Resolution that Pakistan must vacate POK, which was never implemented. The Indian Army had a permanent presence in the State due to the volatile situation.

The present Indian Government embarked on a mission to get the bits and pieces of J&K’s history together. It had to navigate a minefield of officialese in documentation and interpretation, to fully integrate it with India, and pushed hard for a solution, culminating in Jammu & Kashmir’s complete integration with India in 2019. And its actions were legally approved by the highest court of India, this week, this year.

On 5 August 2019, the Government revoked the 70-year-old special status, or autonomy, granted to J&K under Article 370, bringing it into the fold of mainstream India, just like any other State. Jammu & Kashmir no longer has its own Constitution, flag, or anthem, or its people provided dual citizenship, as a result of the repeal of Article 370. J&K now abides by all legislation made by India’s Parliament. This was a decisive action by the Government, which no other Government attempted, or could not do, since India’s Independence.

On 6 August 2019, The President of India formally issued an order under the power of Article 370, overriding prevailing Orders and nullifying all the provisions of autonomy granted to J&K. The Home Minister introduced a Reorganisation Bill in Parliament, to divide J&K into two union territories to be governed by a Lieutenant Governor and a unicameral legislature. The resolution seeking the abrogation of Article 370 and the bill for the state’s reorganisation was debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament -Rajya Sabha, the upper house, and the Lok Sabha, the lower house – in August 2019. The original State of Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. That is how it stays today.

The Government’s decision was challenged by Parties opposed to the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of J&K, in the Supreme Court (SC) of India. This week, the SC, after hearing arguments, pronounced its verdict – a historic one – to complete the last remaining unfinished business of partition and legalise the Government’s actions. There is no going back.

The SC unanimously upheld the Government’s 2019 decisions to scrap the special status for Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370, and also approved bi-furcation of J&K. The question of relegating J&K to the status of a Union Territory was left for another discussion, as the Centre has promised to restore its statehood as soon as possible.

The five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud held that the President’s exercise of power under Article 370(3) to abrogate this Article was not mala-fide; that Article 370 was meant for constitutional integration and not for the disintegration of J&K with the Union of India; that the Article was temporary in nature, and that there was no need to hold consultations or collaborate with the elected Government of J&K before ceasing its operation; and that J&K didn’t retain any element of sovereignty when it joined the Union of India.

I’m glad the Supreme Court approached the complex issue in a clear Top-Down manner: Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India – last words by its now dead Constituent Assembly. All other word-play, Articles, procedural aspects, and other angles, in which this could have been done, does not matter, and at best is a subject of academic discussion.

Smoke in the Eyes

It was on 13 December 2001, when India’s Parliament came under a sudden and unexpected terrorist attack. Five armed terrorists drove their vehicle into the Parliament premises and began shooting, resulting in the deaths of six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, and a gardener. All the five terrorists were killed by security forces. No lawmakers were hurt.

This year, on 13th December, on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament Attack, the New Delhi weather was getting awfully cold with the onset of winter. And Parliament was in session in a spanking new Parliament building, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and security. It was a business as usual day. All was quiet on the Parliament front.

Then suddenly inside Parliament two people jumped into the well of the Lok Sabha from the Visitors Gallery, armed with yellow coloured smoke canisters, which they set-off. Meanwhile, outside Parliament two others began chanting slogans after releasing red coloured smoke from similar canisters. The canisters used were over-the-counter colour smoke release canisters, often used in Indian festivals.

The two – one could be seen monkey jumping over the desks – inside were quickly subdued, bashed-up, and manhandled by muscular Members of Parliament and handed over to the Security staff. The two outside were promptly arrested and led away by Police.

The stunning breach of an iron-clad Parliament security system took some time to sink-in, even while the yellow smoke, inside, and the red smoke, outside, settled down and dissolved in the much polluted New Delhi air.

The investigations began at a fantastic speed and the Police began knocking doors across the country. It came to light that an almost pan-India Facebook Group called the ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club’ had been working on the plan for about a year, timed with the anniversary of Parliament Attack. And the plan to breach parliament security began with obtaining Parliament Visitors Passes – in this instance issued by the ruling BJP’s Member of Parliament from Mysuru, Karnataka. Looks like the motive of the Group was to highlight the unemployment problem in the country, inspired by Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara. At lease one of the Group had done a recce during the Budget Session of Parliament, when they learnt that security personnel did not not ask visitors to take off their shoes or check them. The smoke canisters were cleverly hidden in specially-made thick-soled shoes.

The members of the Group: Manoranjan from Mysuru, Sagar Sharma from Lucknow, Neelam Azad from Haryana, Amol Shinde from Maharashtra, and the believed-to-be kingpin Lalit Jha, a Teacher from Bihar, arrived in Delhi by separate means, and were hosted by one of their associates, Vikram and his wife, in Gurugram, early in the week. On the day of the episode, Sagar collected the passes from the MP’s Office and the Group – except Vikram – met at India Gate. Amol handed over one canister to each member. All of them then deposited their mobiles with Lalit Jha, before the intrusion. He fled the Parliament area soon after, when a man-hunt was launched to nab him.

In the middle of the week, Lalit Jha was arrested after he turned himself in at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, accompanied by another key suspect, Mahesh Kumawat.

The array of slogans bellowed by the Group, Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Long live mother India), Jai Bheem (Victory to Ambedkar), Tanashahi Nahin Chalegi (Dictatorship does not work), have been battle cries of diverse groups who have been often at odds with each other. And the slogans do not follow any particular pattern. Details are awaited on the actual motive and the real persons behind the Group.

The sensational episode has exposed loop-holes in what is claimed to be one of the strongest security arrangements in the country. Whatever, this should serve as yet another wake-up call for security agencies.

More sensational stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Keep the smoke out of your eyes and stay with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-49

About: the world this week, 3 December to 9 December 2023; Depends on context antisemitism; Ukrainian Sniper; new Woman Chess Grandmaster; India State Election results; Chennai underwater; TIME’s person, athlete, and CEO of the year.

Everywhere

Last week, the temporary halt in the Hamas-Israel War was just that and Israel got back to raining its fire-power on Gaza. There are still 138 hostages – including men, woman, and children in the captivity of Hamas.

Meanwhile, every day, new heart-wrenching details of the savagery of Hamas was made public by Israel based on reports of the released hostages. And the stories of barbarism is blood-curling and horrific. Can humans ever do this to another of their kind?

Israel is now expanding its military operations to the South of Gaza and has also come up with a plan to flood the Hamas’ underground tunnels with sea-water pumped from the Mediterranean Sea, so that the Hamas rats would emerge from their holes.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have stormed into the City of Khan Younis and are now operating in the heart of the City. It’s mostly house-to-house combat at this stage. The IDF has surrounded the house of Yahya Sinwar – the Leader of Hamas in Gaza – believed to the mastermind behind the 7th October attack on Israel. It’s a matter of time that they flush him out.

On Thursday the sea-water did its work and about 100 terrorist rats were caught, stripped down to their briefs (to prevent a show of any suicide vests) and taken way for ‘grilling’ and imprisonment.

Over 1200 people have been killed since the resumption of fighting.

‘Depends on the Context’

This week, the Presidents of America’s Ivy League Universities, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Pennsylvania (Upenn) spoke before America’s Congress. They were given one simple question to answer, “Does calling for genocide of Jews break the University code of conduct, and is it considered harassment?” It should have been a simple ‘Yes’. Instead, they said it ‘Depends on the Context’ and it depends on whether the speech turns into conduct. This damning reply caused a huge uproar and brought forth outright condemnation from America’s Leaders, across fields. Their failed moral leadership has led to moral decay of University campus culture. And these antisemitic incidents are seen as not just a mere anomaly.

There is a severe call for President Claudine Gay(Harvard), President Sally Kornbluth (MIT), and President Elizabeth Magill (Upenn) to resign, or be fired from their positions. Or does it depend on the context?

Ukrainian Sniper

The Ukrainian Sniper had lain still for hours in near freezing temperatures when the command came to take the shot at a Russian soldier almost 4 kilometres away. ‘You can’, his Spotter said, and Vyacheslav Kovalskiy, 58, pulled the trigger. The rest, they say, is history.

The bullet took about nine seconds to reach its target – the Russian soldier doubled down and fell. Ukraine said the shot set a new sniping distance record, breaking the previously acknowledged mark by more than 850 feet.

The record was also a shot heard around the world of snipers, group of highly skilled shooters who have long pushed the boundaries of just how far a bullet can travel with accuracy.

This is also a morale boost shot for Ukrainian forces, fighting to hold their ground against the invading Russians. Distances can kill.

Chess Grandmaster (GM)

The young Indian Chess prodigy, GM, Rameshbabu Praggnanaandhaa,18, has been all over the news in recent times and his elder sister was feeling left out. Then she must have decided ‘enough is enough’ and late last week, the sister – Vaishali Rameshbabu – became India’s third woman Chess Grandmaster. She achieved this with two consecutive victories at the Ellobregat Open Chess Tournament in Spain, which made her ride past the 2500 mark ‘Elo rating’ to become GM.

She said, “For many years I was living as Prag’s (Praggnanaandhaa) sister. Now slowly, I think it’s getting to Vaishali. I am very proud of being Prag’s sister, but I also want my name. I think I would like to be remembered as one of India’s greatest Woman Chess Players”. Prag became GM in 2018 at the age of 12 – the second youngest at the time to achieve this.

Vaishali’s inspiration has been the first and second Indian Woman GM’s before her, Humpy and Harika. Koneru Humpy is the world’s youngest female player to become GM, in 2002, at the age of just 15. Harika Dronavalli became GM in 2011. And there are about 80 Indian players, in total, who became GM’s, and are in the same league.

Vaishali and Prag also become the first-ever brother-sister duo in the history of chess to be GMs. Also the first time that we will see a brother and sister playing together as candidates. This will happen in April 2024.

What is the ‘Elo rating’?

The Elo rating system measures the relative strength of a player in games such as Chess compared to other players. Its creator Arpad Elo was a Physics Professor in the United States (US) and a Chess Master who worked to improve the way the US Chess Federation measured player’s skill levels. Each player’s Elo rating is represented by a number that reflects that person’s results in the previous rated games. After each game, their ratings are adjusted accordingly to the outcome of the encounter. As a general rule of thumb a player who is rated 100 points higher than his opponent is expected to win roughly five out of eight (64%) games. A player with a 200 point advantage will presumably win 3 out of 4 (75%) games. Most Grandmasters have a Elo rating of between 2500 and 2700. International Masters have between 2499 and 2400.

The Elo rating system was officially adopted by the US Chess Federation in 1960 and by FIDE (The International Chess Federation) in 1970. World Champion, GM Magnus Carlesn holds the record for the highest Elo rating ever achieved by a human player. He reached an impressive 2882 in the year 2014.

India Election Results

Counting of votes for seats in the Elections to the State Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Chhatissgarh, and Telangana took place on Sunday, and it was a cool, thumping win for the Bharatia Janata Party (BJP). Most of the Exit Polls were off-target and at best they could sense the direction the wind was blowing. India’s grand old party, The Congress, won in the State of Telangana where the BJP, which was not expected to win, put up a good show, made inroads, and improved its seats from 1 to 8. The emphatic wins were also an affirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hold on the electorate. And he is hoping to see his party, the BJP, win a third consecutive term in the parliamentary Elections coming-up in 2024.

In Chhattisgarh out of the 90 seats, the BJP won 54 and the Congress 35; in MP out of 230, the BJP won a historic never-before 163 against the Congress’ 66; In Rajasthan out of 199 the BJP won 115 to the Congress’ 69. In Telangana the Congress won 64 out of 119 with the local Party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) winning 39 and the BJP 8. The BRS was in power for a decade, since the formation of the new State of Telangana, and had grown arrogant and corrupt – shown the door by the people.

The counting in the State of Mizoram happen on Monday and a local party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) won a spectacular mandate of 27 out of 40 seats becoming a party other than the Congress (1) or the BJP (2) set to form the Government. Its Leader Lalduhoma is an ex-Indian Police Force (IPS) officer and served as security-in-charge of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982.

He then quit the IPS and became a Congress Party Member of Parliament (MP) in 1984. He later, resigned from Congress and became the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law in November 1988. Lalduhoma played an active role in ending the insurgency in Mizoram, which paved the way for the signing of the Mizoram Peace Accord in 1986. He later formed the Mizo National Front (Nationalist) which was renamed Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) in 1997. In 2003, he won the assembly polls as a ZNP candidate. And later went on to form the ZPM as an alternative to the Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF), which between them, always ruled the State of Mizoram.

Congress’ Revanth Reddy took oath as Chief Minister(CM) of Telangana on the 7th December and so did Lalduhoma in Mizoram. The other States are still to produce their CMs.

The Chennai Deluge

Cyclone Michaung originated as a low-pressure area in the Gulf of Thailand and crossed into the Bay of Bengal becoming a deep depression on 2nd December. It then developed into a cyclonic storm and was named Michaung (pronounced ‘Migjaum), which means ‘strength and resilience’. The name was suggested by Myanmar and named by the World Meteorological Organization.

This week, Cyclone Michaung found its strength and resilience wrecking havoc in Chennai, floating the city and challenging the storm water drain works done to prevent such kind of flooding. Areas were inundated with water and the wrath of the Cyclone knew no bounds, submerging homes, and drowning cars.

As heavy rains brought the city of Chennai to a crying halt, ahead of Cyclone Michaung’s landfall the rainfall was called historic and unprecedented, a 47-year high. This is said almost every year, with the previous one being left behind in all aspects. The rainfall, surpassed the figures of 2015, when intense floods had claimed 199 lives. This time Chennai received 44 centimetres (cm) of rain in Perungudi area and 43 cm at Meenambakkam in just 36 hours.

Chennai’s Southern suburbs were most affected with more than 1000 people evacuated from their homes in Pallikaranai, Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, and Sholinganallur. They struggled under 5 feet of water on day 3.

India’s Prime Minister, who is the head of the National Disaster Management Authority (NMDA), was quick to sanction INR 561.29 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for India’s first urban mitigation project focussing on Chennai. And represents a proactive measure to address challenges posed by urban flooding and enhance Chennai’s resilience to natural disasters.

Meanwhile, boats were playing on the roads with food and essentials being delivered to people caught in the waters. It would take a few days for the flood-water to recede and then the State Government is expected to be taken to task and face tough questions.

TIME Magazine’s Athlete, Person, and CEO of the Year

This week, Argentina’s Football Captain, Lionel Messi, 36, was named as TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year. Messi played a star role in Argentina winning their first World Cup title in 36 years when they beat defending champions France in the final in December last year. Messi also won the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time.

Messi wins the TIME award for the football influence he has brought over to the United State (US) since joining Inter Miami and elevating the profile of the sport in the US

Lionel Messi had no shortage of offers when he left Paris St Germain earlier this year, choosing to sign for Major League Soccer (MLS) Inter Miami despite being linked with his former team Barcelona and a big-money move to Saudi Arabia’s side Al-Hilal. Messi shocked the globe by turning down a contract from a Saudi club reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year and announcing in June that he was signing with Inter Miami.

It wasn’t just the move that was stunning, but the size and scope of the deal. In addition to the more than USD 20 million a year Inter Miami would pay him, he would be granted an ownership stake in the team upon retirement and an unprecedented cut of revenues earned by a league media partner—in this case, Apple. It was a deal that not only reflected Messi’s undiminished talent on the field but also set a new standard for athlete leverage and empowerment.

Messi wearing a pink Inter Miami jersey made an instant impact at Miami, scoring 10 goals in seven Leagues Cup appearances as he spurred them to victory in the tournament which features MLS teams as well as sides from Mexico.

Messi’s arrival in the US also made waves off the pitch, causing a massive spike in searches for match dates and tickets to see him in action, with fans also buying up his official pink Inter Miami shirt. The price of tickets to Inter Miami games skyrocketed, while Apple TV, which has a 10-year partnership with the MLS, saw a significant increase in subscriptions.

TIME said, “Messi managed to do what once seemed impossible: turning the US into a soccer country.”

His games took on the feel of a religious revival. After Messi scored a goal against the New York Red Bulls in August, rapper Fat Joe posted on Instagram a video of himself, nearly in tears, shouting “Messi! Messi! Messi!”

TIME has chosen American Singer-Songwriter, Taylor Swift as Person of the Year, and OpenAI CEO since 2019, Sam Altman as CEO of the Year.

Taylor Swift’s, The Eras Tour – now made into a film – occupied much of this year 2023. It began in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023, and is set to conclude in 2024. Each show spans three and a half hours, with a set list of 44 songs divided into 10 distinct acts that conceptually portray Swift’s ten studio albums. The tour was a commercial success and received critical acclaim. It became a cultural and economic phenomenon, bolstered by globally unprecedented ticket demand and fan frenzy.

TIME has this to write , “While her popularity has grown across the decades, this is the year that Swift,33, achieved a kind of nuclear fusion: shooting art and commerce together to release an energy of historic force”.

Taylor Swift beat Barbie and King Charles-III to the title.

I have written about Sam Altman in last week’s post World Inthavaaram – 48.

https://kumargovindan.com/2023/12/02/world-inthavaaram-2023-48/

The Person of the Year, Athlete of the year, and CEO of the year, reflects TIME’s assessment of the individuals who most shaped the headlines over the previous twelve months, for better or for worse.

More timely stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Lift yourself with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-48

About: the world this week, 26 November to 2 December 2023; back to war; trouble in Ireland; artificial intelligence; rat-hole mining; Hindutva; and The Railway Men – TV series.

Everywhere

Farewell to Truce

The temporary pause in the Israel-Hamas war saw a steady stream of hostages, held by the terrorist Hamas, being releasing in painfully slow bursts, every day. In exchange, Israel also released Palestine prisoners held in its prisons. There cannot be a comparison between innocent civilians kidnapped, held in captivity and exchanged for convicted criminals locked-up in jails under the law. But then the terms are negotiated.

One of the released hostages revealed that he was held for nearly 50 days in an attic by a teacher from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees. The teacher who held him captive was a father of 10 children. He had barely been provided food or medical attention, and was locked away by the teacher. There is another story of a girl who was injured while being kidnapped on 7th October and was operated upon by a Veterinary Doctor, while in captivity. Then there is the story of two boys being branded on the leg by the heat of a motorcycle exhaust pipe so that they could be identified in case they escaped.

The hostages held in captivity has come down from 240 to about 140. And most of the women, children, and elderly have been released.

Meanwhile, Businessman, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of X, Elon Musk toured Israel with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to see a Hamas attack site, first-hand. The visit was also probably to set-right antisemitism accusations on Musk.

Musk agreed with Netanyahu that the only way for peace was to destroy Hamas, re-educate the people of Gaza, and bring prosperity. An awfully tough call.

In a horrific incident of terror in Jerusalem this Thursday, two heavily armed Palestinian terrorists opened fire on Israeli civilians waiting at a Bus Stop, killing three people – a 24 year old woman and two elderly persons – and wounding several others. However, the terrorists were quickly neutralised, shot-dead, by off-duty Israel Army personnel in the vicinity. Later, Hamas claimed responsibility.

The temporary pause in the war between Israel and Hamas, which was originally for 4 days was extended by 2 days and then by 1 more to its seventh day. And before anybody could think about further extension, Hamas violated the terms of truce and fired a rocket into Israel. Now it’s back to war and Israel has started its next stage of the fight with the objectives of getting back the remaining hostages, wiping out Hamas, and preventing a recurrence of such terror acts from the Gaza Strip.

Dublin

There is trouble brewing in Ireland’s capital, Dublin.

Three young children and two other people were injured in a knife attack in Dublin, last Thursday, which sparked unprecedented riots in the city centre. The stabbing incident happened outside a primary school, on Parnell Square, a busy thoroughfare that connects to Dublin’s main boulevard, O’Connell Street. A five-year-old girl and a female creche worker in her 30’s were critically injured. A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were treated for less severe injuries.

Bystanders disarmed the suspect, who wielded a large knife, and pinned him to the ground until police arrived. He is being treated in hospital. Police said the motive remained unclear but ruled out any terrorist link.

As speculation about the suspect’s nationality spread online, anti-immigrant activists flocked to the city centre.

The suspect is originally from Algeria and has been an Irish citizen for many years. And the man who intervened and stopped the attack was a foreigner, from Brazil. Despite this, the anti-immigration rhetoric became high and grew violent. Bolstered by youth gangs, they breached the police cordon around the crime scene and roamed O’Connell Street, smashing windows, setting vehicles on fire and targeting some of the 400 police officers who tried to restore order.

“These are scenes that we have not seen in decades. But what is clear is that people have been radicalised through social media”, said an Official, who further described the rioters as, ‘a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology.’

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The company called OpenAI was founded in the year 2015 by American Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others, as a non-profit research lab, prioritising principles over profit. It wanted to develop safe and beneficial AI tools, for the benefit of humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to create financial return.

But in 2018, Elon Musk quit the Board of OpenAI after he said he had already invested USD 50 million. Then AI’s leaders realised that developing and maintaining advanced AI models required an immense amount of computing power, which was incredibly expensive.

A year after Musk’s exit, OpenAI created a ‘for-profit arm’, technically known as a ‘capped profit’ entity, which means Investors’ possible profits are capped at a certain amount. Any the remaining money is re-invested in the Company.

The Company created two contrasting tribes within OpenAI: ‘the serve-humanity and not-shareholders credo’, and the traditional Silicon Valley modus operandi of ‘using investor money to release consumer products as rapidly as possible hoping to corner or create a new market and becoming an industry pace setter’.

Sam Altman struck a middle ground by unveiling new OpenAI tools gradually, first to smaller groups, then to large ones, to fine-tune and refine before making them public.

Then, OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year, creating a seismic shift in the tech industry. The Company’s most prominent investor Microsoft greatly increased its financial stake to the tune of USD 13 billion. And despite its sizeable investment it did not have a seat on OpenAI’s Board.

This probably set the stage for Sam Altman’s exit as CEO as he was seen as becoming bigger than the Company. On 17th November the Board sacked him on vague reasons. This saw Microsoft and others flare up as they believed that Sam Altman was crucial and called upon the Board to re-examine its decision.

At first the Board refused to buckle, but then 702 of the 770 employees of OpenAI signed a letter addressed to the Board threatening to quit en masse unless Altman were reinstated -a move that must be followed by the Board itself stepping down.

After 5 days Sam Altman was restored as CEO and was back in control, with most of the Board sent packing.

Turns out some Open AI researches had been concerned by the capability of a new AI model being worked on, before Altman was fired. Called ‘Q-Star’ which was able to solve maths problems it had not seen before, representing a potential break through in technology. This and other reasons of the famous ‘Facebook’ kind could be the reasons for the company Board trying to grow out of its skin and get ‘really intelligent’.

Extraction: the Rat-Hole Technique

With the best of technology machines brought from all over the world to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel on the Yamunotri-Gangotri Highway of the Char Dham, in Uttarakhand since 12th November having failed, it was finally left to simple ‘rat-hole miners’ to finish the job. Of course they rode on the shoulders of machines and technology that drilled before them.

A team of 12 rat-hole mining experts began manual drilling, on 27th November, to reach the trapped miners through the debris. And they did it the next day by horizontally drilling through the final 10 to 12 metre stretch of debris in the collapsed section of the tunnel. It was a stunning display of local ingenuity. This became necessary as the large Auger Drilling machine got stuck at about 40% of the necessary 86 metres of vertical drilling required to get to the trapped workers.

The rescue team then successfully pushed a series of 900 mm steel pipes through the 60 metres of debris and extracted the workers one-by-one. All the 41 workers were rescued on the night of 28th November, promptly given necessary medical attention, and driven off in waiting Ambulances.

We had these tricks up our sleeves, in India, all the time and wonder why we never used them the first instance. Interestingly, Rat-Hole Mining was outlawed by India’s National Green Tribunal in 2014 for being unscientific and unsafe.

What is Rat-Hole Mining?

Rat-Hole mining-as applied in coal mining-is a method of extracting coal by digging very small pits not more than 4-feet wide. Once the miners reach a coal seam, tunnels are made sideways to extract the coal, which is dumped nearby and later transported out. In rat-hole mining workers enter the mines and use hand held tools to dig. This is a common method abundantly used in India’s north eastern State of Meghalaya, where the coal seam is very thin and any other method risks being economically unviable. One man does the drilling while another collects the rubble and a third places it on a trolley to be pulled out. They use shovels and other specialist tools. And for oxygen, they simply use a blower.

Australian tunnel rescue expert Arnold Dix, who had rushed to the scene in the early stages, won praise for his optimistic, level-headed, and articulate approach to the rescue situation. And so did India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – headed by the Prime Minister. India’s former Chief of Army Staff, General V K Singh, now a Minister of State in the Government, was on the scene bringing out the best of his soldier training. And standing shoulder to shoulder was the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand State, Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Arnold Dix, a lawyer and engineering professor is also the President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association. He said he did not hesitate when authorities got on the phone with him after the collapse 17 days ago.

Overall, the Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue has been an outstandingly well-coordinated rescue operation. Clarity of leadership ensured many agencies with overlapping capabilities worked seamlessly to rescue the trapped workers. Well done Team India.

Move over Hinduism, it’s now Hindutva

The World Hindu Congress (WHC) is a global platform for Hindus to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good. It is held once every four years. The inaugural WHC 2014 was held in New Delhi, followed by the second WHC 2018 in Chicago. The third WHC 2023 was held this year in Bangkok,Thailand between 24th and 26th November, with the theme ‘Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah’, meaning, ‘Dharma, the abode of victory’.

The WHC 2023 adopted a resolution embracing ‘Hindutva’, or ‘Hindu Dharma’, over ‘Hinduism’, stressing that these terms should be used while referring to the faith in English. Consequently, it renounced the word ‘Hinduism’.

The word Hindutva is more accurate as it includes the spectrum of all that the word Hindu encompasses. In contrast, Hinduism misrepresents the global Hindu community and its inherent goodness; ‘ism’ is a suffix used with terms to define an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief. In the mid-nineteenth century, in the United States of America, the phrase, ‘the isms’, was used to collectively refer to radical social reform movements and various non-mainstream spiritual or religious movements in a derogatory manner. The term Hinduism should be understood in such a context.

In the term ‘Hindu Dharma’, the first word, ‘Hindu’ is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is ‘Sanatan’ or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means ‘That, which sustains’. Hindu Dharma, thus, signifies all that, which eternally upholds everything; an individual, a family, a community, a society, and even nature–both animate and inanimate.

The word Hindutva it is not a complicated word and it simply means Hindu-ness. And Hindutva has been wrongly portrayed as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, because of hatred and biases against the Hindu community or for political agendas.

The term Hinduism was introduced in the popular lexicon by Sir Monier Monier-Williams, a British Scholar and Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University, in his book ‘Hinduism’ published in 1877 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. It is said that this intellectually dishonest terminology is the seed behind the vicious anti-Hindu narratives over the last 150 years. And it is for such reasons that the term Hindutva is now preferred over Hinduism. Others have used the alternative ‘Sanatan Dharma’, often abbreviated as ‘Sanatan’. Here, the term ‘Sanatan’ works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharma’s eternal nature.

On behalf of the global Hindu community the World Hindu Congress declared that malicious criticism of Hindutva, or Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan, or Hindu Dharma actually targets Hindu society and all that is beautiful, just, good, and noble in it. In reality, these are attacks against goodness itself. It strongly condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide for the manifestation of Hindutva through organised global efforts, and overcome those who are engaging in such anti-Hindu attacks and bigotry.

News Flashes

In India’s troubled State of Manipur, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) the oldest valley-based militant group of Manipur, has signed a peace agreement with the Centre. And there are signs that the State will return to normally following months of violent unrest.

This week, Charles Munger, American businessman, investment genius, philanthropist and Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway passed away at the age of 99. He is a close friend and right-hand business-partner of ace-investor Warren Buffet. He has timeless investing advice and wisdom to offer, and is considered a legend.

After 99 it is 100, and Henry Kissinger the former United States Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize winner died at the age of 100. His was a polarising legacy.

Please Yourself

The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984

Over last weekend, I sat down to watch the eminently watchable and brilliantly made 4-Episode mini TV Series, The Railway Men, on Netflix. It is a compelling saga and an incredibly moving tale of ordinary heroism.

The story is inspired by true events that happened on 3 December 1984 when a deadly gas called Methyl Isocyanide (MIC) leaked from Union Carbide’s Chemical Plant in Bhopal in India’s central State of Madhya Pradesh. The gas killed more than 15,000 people, in one of the worst chemical disasters in the world.

The story unfolds in the background of the assassination of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984, and the horrific Sikh riots that followed in which over 8,000 Sikhs were killed in a revenge act. Rajiv Gandhi had just taken over as Prime Minister and recall that he said, “when a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it shakes a little”.

After the deadly gas leak, brave Railway Workers risked their lives to save others in the face of the epic chemical disaster that engulfed the city of Bhopal.

The story serves to tell us how people in Industry deliberately overlook safety, how the Government failed in its paramount duty of safeguarding precious human lives, and failing to act with speed and common sense. And it’s left to simple ordinary people who steadfastedly and heroically do their jobs in the face of unbelievable Himalayan odds, to save lives. And how Indian lives were treated as if they did not matter at all.

The Series stars, Kay Kay Menon- the Station Master at Bhopal; R Madhavan – the General Manager (GM) of the West Central Railway; Divyenndu – the dacoit; and Babil Khan as the trainee locomotive driver, among others. It is created & directed by Shiv Rawali, written by Aayush Gupta, and produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF) Entertainment.

The story is inspired by heroics of real-time Bhopal Station Master Ghulam Dastagir, Rajkumar Keswani – Journalist, and Gauri Sankar- GM of Northern Railway at that time.

More stories will be rat-hole mined in the weeks ahead. Breathe the fresh air with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-47

About: the world this week, 19 November to 25 November 2023; Hostage release; Two fiery far-right Politicians win in Argentina and The Netherlands; Tunnel rescue; World Cup Cricket; and the Emmys.

Everywhere

The Hostage Release Deal

Israel’s Operation Iron Swords fights-on, and this week Israel began unravelling the tunnels beneath the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Video footage showed hostages being dragged into hideouts inside the Hospital, and it’s become a talking point that the United Nations and the Hospital Authorities knew all along that the Hostages were being held in the Hospital. And that there are certain portions of the Hospital that are strictly no-entry zones, with guns and ammunition being stored in them, and a command centre of the terrorist Hamas. But the onus is on Israel to prove it.

Israel on its part, arrested the Director of the Al-Shifa hospital and some Hospital Officials for interrogation and being complicit in allowing Hamas an ‘underground run’ of the Hospital.

During the week, Israel and the terrorist Hamas closed in on a deal to free hostages taken by the latter in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and a temporary truce in the Gaza war. The State of Qatar brokered the deal.

The deal will see the release of 50 women and children hostages held captive in Gaza by Hamas. In exchange, Israel will release 150 Palestine women and children held in Israeli prisons. Most of the Palestinian prisoners listed as eligible for release are male teenagers aged between 16 and 18 and a handful as young as 14, about 33 are women. The names published by Israel also lists the charges under which the prisoners are being held. Throwing stones and ‘harming regional security’ are among the most common, but others include support for illegal terror organisations, illegal weapons charges, incitement, and at least two accusations of attempted murder. Israel is currently holding about 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offences, according to Israeli and Palestinian rights groups.

The deal includes a complete ceasefire on the ground for four days, with Israel allowed to fly sorties over Northern Gaza for 18 hours a day. The deal also provides for between 100 and 300 trucks of food and medical aid, as well as fuel, to enter Gaza.

The first hostage release is scheduled for Friday morning. The truce will begin at 7 am., local time, with an initial group of 13 civilian hostages set to be released around 4 pm. They will be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross and escorted by Israeli soldiers.

As soon as they are out, Israel will release 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. If all goes well, this process will be repeated over three more days, until 50 hostages are released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, and a substantial increase in aid and fuel for Gaza.

With Hamas and Israel having ‘absolutely no trust between them’ and not seeing eye-to-eye on anything at all, the deal was forged and hammered-in by experienced negotiators in Doha, Qatar.

Late on Friday, the truce held and hostages consisting of 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and 1 Filipino were released in Egypt. And Israel released 39 Palestinian hostages on its part.

Making Argentina Great Again?

Argentina has a new President-elect and a very different one: swashbuckling in fact, with untamed hair that refuses the comb.

He is Javier Milei, a volatile far-right libertarian Politician, an Economist, an Author, who comes fully loaded with radical ideas such as, vowing to ‘exterminate’ inflation; using ‘a chainsaw’ to slash government spending; ‘blowing-up’ the Central Bank; and re-introducing the US dollar as Argentina’s official currency.

Javier Milei, often compared to America’s Donald Trump, secured 55.69% of the vote. Of course, Donald Trump was quick on the draw, congratulating him and saying he would ‘Make Argentina Great Again!’

Milei’s victory sends a clear message: Argentines wanted change, and he was the candidate most likely to deliver. His rise to the top was swift, and he was relatively unknown before winning the primaries back in August this year. But his brash manner, radical campaign proposals, as well as his unruly hairstyle, got the voters to notice him.

In a country mired in economic crisis, where annual inflation is now over 140% and two in five Argentines living in poverty, a drastic new approach to fixing problems is perhaps a clever move. Many Presidents before Milei have tried, and failed, to improve the situation, so there was nothing to lose. The challenge will be how Milei navigates a country in crisis, away from campaign promises, and deals with the reality of trying to improve the situation for millions of Argentines, not making it worse.

Milei is the son of a passenger transport businessman and a homemaker, and his childhood years were marked by a tense relationship with his father. The only family member with whom he has a close relationship is his sister, Karina Milei, who ran his campaign. He calls her ‘the Boss’, and has repeatedly characterised her as the architect of his rise to power.

When Javier Milei was growing up, kids called him ‘The Madman’ because of his energetic outbursts. At the age of 18, Milei, who was then a soccer player, gave up the sport to pursue a career in Economics. He became famous for debates where he would hurl insults at his rivals along with his ‘Madman’ energy.

In an incident in the year 2018, Milei called a journalist ‘a donkey’ and a local court ordered a psychological examination after he refused to apologise for exerting ‘gender violence’.

During his repeated television appearances, Milei didn’t just talk about Economics and Politics: he also delved into his personal life and once presented himself as an expert in tantric sex, openly discussing how he had repeatedly participated in group sex.

Milei hates wokeism, hates socialism, hates the media, hates excessive government spending, hates the political elite… and loves his country.

Javier Milei comes across as a snake-oil salesman who is promising to stare down inflation with drastic libertarian measures. Members of his party have already said they expect the drastic policies will result in massive protests.

The Netherlands

Quick on the heels of Argentina’s swing to the right, the Netherlands followed with its version of a ‘Dutch Trump’ – America’s Donald Trump, flowing hair ‘et al’, is indeed on an aggressive expansionist mode. And the Windmills are spinning.

This week’s General Election results in Netherlands shocked Europe and the world. Dutch voters have thrown their support behind the party of a far-right icon, Geert Wilders,60 years old, causing one of the biggest political upsets in Dutch politics since World War II, and one that is bound to send shockwaves through Europe. The Elections were held on 22 November 2023, for the 150 seated House of Representatives.

Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), has claimed victory. He is often called the ‘Dutch Trump’ because of his bouffant platinum blonde hair, his firebrand rhetoric, his far-right leanings, and his anti-Islam stance.

With nearly all votes counted, preliminary results saw Wilders take 37 seats with 23.6% of the vote in the 150-seat lower house of parliament, more than double the 17 he won in the previous election. A jubilant Wilders said on the win, “I had to pinch my arm.” The GreenLeft Labour Party alliance (GL/PvdA) led by former EU commissioner Frans Timmermans finished second with 25 seats, 15.5% of the vote, and the liberal-conservative Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) led by the outgoing Justice Minister got 24 seats.

While Wilders’ PVV has come out on top at the polls, he will need the support of ‘many others’ to reach the magic number of 76 to govern the country. And he is wasting no time to stitch-together a coalition. He called on other Dutch parties to work together to form a government stressing that his PVV can no longer be ignored.

In politics since 1988, Wilders founded the PVV – the third-largest party in the Netherlands in 2004, placing anti-Islam policies at the heart of his party. He was initially a member of the VVD, which he later left owing to the party’s mild stance on Islam and immigration. He attributes his profound disregard for Islam to the time he spent in a kibbutz in Israel and also the assassination of the radical anti-Islam film-maker Theo Van Gogh, in 2004.

Wilders was born in 1963 in Southern Venlo, close to the German border, in a Catholic family, and has two brothers and a sister. His mother is half-Indonesian.

While he is known for his hardline politics, Wilders is also known for his pets. His two cats, Snoetje and Pluisje, have their own account on X with nearly 23,000 followers.

The focus of Wilders’ PVV is all things anti-Muslim. His manifesto says, ‘The Netherlands is not an Islamic country. No Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques.’ He proposes banning the headscarf in government buildings. On immigration, he has maintains a sharp anti-immigrant tone. ‘Asylum-seekers feast on delightful free cruise-ship buffets while Dutch families have to cut back on groceries,’ his party’s manifesto reads. And he has proposed immigration measures such as restoring Dutch border control, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, returning Syrian asylum-seekers and re-introducing work permits for intra-EU workers. On foreign policy, the PVV proposes a ‘Dutch first’ approach that includes closing its representation in Palestine’s Ramallah and strengthening ties to Israel, including moving its Embassy to Jerusalem.

A ‘binding referendum’ on a ‘Nexit’ – the Netherlands leaving the European Union – is also in the manifesto, along with an immediate halt to development aid. Wilders is an outspoken Eurosceptic. He has also demanded the Netherlands stop sending arms to Ukraine.

Geert Wilders has often courted controversy for his opinions and even been convicted for his stance. In the year 2017, he called some Moroccans ‘scum’. “There is a lot of Moroccan scum in Holland who make the streets unsafe,” he had said. “If you want to regain your country, make the Netherlands for the people of the Netherlands again, then you can only vote for one party.” He was convicted in a hate speech trial over his promise to reduce the number of Moroccans in the country. His remarks and stance have made him a victim of death threats, and he has been living under round-the-clock protection for years.

In 2009, the British Government had refused to let him visit the country, saying that he posed a threat to ‘community harmony and therefore public security.’ He had been invited to Britain by a member of the House of Lords, to show his 15-minute film ‘Fitna’, which criticises the Quran as a ‘fascist book’.

Geert Wilders, is very popular in the American far-right circuit. In April 2015, he was invited to speak at the Conservative Opportunity Society, a coalition of right-wing politicians in the United States House of Representatives. “There is no moderate Islam. Islam has changed Europe beyond recognition,” Wilders had told the audience. “Our duty is clear: In order to solve the problem, we have to stop mass immigration to the West from Islamic countries.”

In India, Wilders gained prominence last year when he extended his support to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s, Nupur Sharma, who had received flak for her comments on Prophet Muhammad. Wilders had said that Sharma was speaking “nothing but the truth about Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha” and even posted in her defence on X, hailing her as a hero. In one post, he wrote, “Appeasement never works. It will only make things worse. So, my dear friends from India, don’t be intimidated by Islamic countries. Stand up for freedom and be proud and steadfast in defending your politician Nupur Sharma who spoke the truth about Muhammad.”

Tunnel Trap

The 41 workers (updated from 40) trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel on the Yamunotri-Gangotri highway of the Char Dham, in Uttarkhand since 12 November are beginning to see light at the end of their tunnel of suffering.

This week a crucial development in the rescue mission was the successful construction of a 6-inch diameter pipeline through the debris in the collapsed portion of the under-construction tunnel. And in a breakthrough a video was captured using an endoscopic flexi camera sent through a 6-inch pipeline, showing workers in yellow and white helmets receiving food items and speaking to the rescue teams, providing assurance about their well-being. This pipeline facilitated the delivery of food and essential items to the trapped workers, marking a significant progress in the operation.

The rescue operations are being carried out on a war-footing, and it is confirmed that all 41 will be rescued in the next few days. The authorities have kept 41 ambulances, ready at the tunnel site, and facilities are in place to airlift workers in serious condition. The trapped workers will be pulled out on wheeled stretchers one by one through the pipe that is being drilled to reach them. Some of them are expected to crawl out on their own.

World Cup Cricket

This Sunday was pregnant with expectations in every Indian home, that the Indian Cricket Team would win the World Cup given their superb dominating form throughout the tournament – they never lost a match. But then, Australia showed the world how seasoned they were and it appeared that the struggle to stay alive in the tournament provided the strength in their wings for the final flight.

Australia comprehensively defeated India in the World Cup final, first restricting India to a score of 241 in 50 overs – when the famous Indian batting line-up failed to crack the fireworks when it mattered the most.

Australia made a poor start to their batting innings, losing three batsmen for 47 runs inside the first seven overs. And India had the whiff of a win in sight and tails were up! However, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne then built a partnership, adding 192 runs in 36 overs. Australia were within two runs of victory when Travis Head was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for 137. Glenn Maxwell was the next batsman in, and hit the winning two runs to give Australia a 6-wicket victory.

One of the silent wonders behind the Indian team is Head Coach, Rahul Dravid – The Wall – who brought a calm and authoritative approach to the Indian Team. His influence resulted in India dominating the tournament except for that one bad day in office, in the Finals.

This is Australia’s sixth win – a record that would be hard to beat – and they have lots of lessons to teach India and the others aspiring to hold the World Cup.

Please Yourself

Emmys

The Emmy Awards or Emmys are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit in the American and international Television Industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, and most popular are the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Daytime Emmy Awards.

This week the ceremony called the 51st International Emmy Awards 2023 was held in New York City and awards announced. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented the Emmys to television creators and performers from nine countries.

India’s Actor and stand-up comedian Vir Das made it a night to remember, in New York. He was nominated for an International Emmy for the second time for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing. He was nominated alongside Le Falmbeau, El Encargado and Derry Girls Season-3 in the comedy category. Vir Das won and shared the prize with Derry Girls – Season 3.

Vir Das dives deep into his childhood in India, the perils of outrage and finding his footing in the world of his fourth Netflix stand-up special. Derry Girls – Season 3 is about a group of working-class teenagers coming of age in the 90’s in Northern Ireland.

India’s Amul Brand said it best in its typical special advertisement to mark such occasions, “Our Emmynent Comedian! AMUL wins everyday!” That’s the taste of India.

Vir Das is best known for his stand-up specials and has acted in films such as Delhi Belly, Go Goa Gone, and Shaadi Ke Side Effects.

India’s Ektaa Kapoor was presented the 2023 Directorate Award for her trailblazing career and impact on Indian Television. She is the co-founder of Balaji Telefilms. She received the award from the famous Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate, Dr. Deepak Chopra.

More stories will be landing here in the weeks ahead. Taste the news, with World Inthavaaram.

This is my Blog where I essay stories on life about and around me, on subjects that stir and shake me up, as I turn, and make life's pages count: hoping to inspire you to live your own story!

Everywhere

Everywhere

Everywhere

Everywhere

War & No Peace

Argentina Rises

Oh Deer!

A Captain Departs

Kwanzaa

Everywhere

Israel-Hamas War

Shooting in the Czech Republic

Bless LGBTQIA

China’s Earthquake

India’s Parliament: A Tumultuous Week

India’s Down South Floods

COVID-19 Again, and Kerala

Everywhere

The United Nations, Israel, and America

India’s New State Chief Ministers

Jammu & Kashmir

Smoke in the Eyes

Everywhere

Ukrainian Sniper

Chess Grandmaster (GM)

India Election Results

The Chennai Deluge

TIME Magazine’s Athlete, Person, and CEO of the Year

Everywhere

Farewell to Truce

Dublin

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Extraction: the Rat-Hole Technique

Move over Hinduism, it’s now Hindutva

News Flashes

Please Yourself

The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984

Everywhere

The Hostage Release Deal

Making Argentina Great Again?

The Netherlands

Tunnel Trap

World Cup Cricket

Please Yourself

Emmys

Menu