Tag: Hamas

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-42

About: the world this week, 13 October to 19 October 2024: Hamas’ head knocked off; Indian Railways-accident prone; Nobel Prizes; India-Canada row; Mumbai gangsters; Lady Justice; and a retirement in Tennis.

Everywhere

Israel Eliminates Hamas’ Head

Israel confirmed that after a year-long pursuit, this 16th October, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the terrorist organisation Hamas, in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel has accused Yahya Sinwar for orchestrating the savage barbarism of 7th October 2023 leading to the ongoing war. Over the years, he has promoted the Hamas’ ideology against Israel, both before and during the war, and was responsible for the murder and abduction of countless Israelis.

Yahya Sinwar had been hiding for the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground in the Hamas tunnels, in the Gaza Strip. It was said that he used to surround himself with the hostages-as human shields. However, when he was killed in a dilapidated building, there were no hostages around him.

In recent weeks the IDF, under its Southern Command, has been operating in the southern Gaza Strip, following intelligence of suspected locations of senior members of Hamas. IDF soldiers of the 828th Brigade (Bislach) identified and eliminated three terrorists during one such routine operation. After completing the process of identifying the bodies it was confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was surprisingly one among the three terrorists. Sinwar was killed by an infantry soldier only 9 months into his service, who wasn’t even in uniform on 7th October 2023. Not special forces, not the Air Force. Someone said Yahya Sinwar died like a dog, throwing a stick at an approaching drone, with one hand battered and mangled. The end was dusty, brutal, and bloody, The world is free off yet another personification of evil, a terrorist master-mind joining the ranks of Osama Bin Laden.

What next? Israeli is probably into the last legs of getting the 101 hostages back home. Israel’s Prime Minister (PM) once again asked Hamas to surrender, lay down arms and release the hostages, to end the war. He also guaranteed the safety of those who return the hostages. With the top rung of the Hamas and Hezbollah leadership knocked-off, the war is not over until the hostages are released and the rocket-firing into Israel stops. And the war enters yet another phase. The beginning of the end; or is it the end of the beginning?

Meanwhile, the world awaits Israel’s retaliation to Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

Indian Railways: Right or Wrong Track?

In a deeply worrying (and growing) trend, train accidents are reaching the ‘Headline Stations’ more often than ever before. And they seem to be following a track-misguided, though.

At least seven people were injured in a train collision on 11th October in the southern State of Tamil Nadu when the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmathi Express slammed into a stationary goods train at Kavaraipettai, in north Chennai.

The Bagmathi Express is a superfast train running between Mysore in Karnataka, and Darbhanaga in Bihar, covering a distance of 3047 km. It passes through Bengaluru, Chennai, Vijayawada, Nagpur, and Patna.

The Bagmathi Express entered a loop line instead of the main line at around 8.30 pm on Friday and rammed into a parked goods train on the secondary track. The severe collision resulted in the derailment of 12 bogies of the passenger train. Some coaches caught fire, and others derailed. Fortunately, no deaths were reported, but some passengers suffered injuries, with three grievously admitted to Hospital and four treated for their injuries.There were over 1,300 passengers on board, all except the injured left for Darbhanga on a special train, last Saturday.

A Southern Railways Official explained the collision, “It was not supposed to stop a Kavaraipettai station, so it was to pass through it. After leaving Chennai, green signals were given for this train. The driver was following the signals correctly, but the train should have taken the main line. Instead, it took the loop line at the switch, which is where the error occurred.”

Nobel Prizes 2024

Between 1901 and 2024, the ‘real’ Nobel Prizes, and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences (also called the Economics Nobel), in memory of Alfred Nobel, were awarded 626 times to 1009 people and organisations. With some receiving the Nobel Prize more than once, this makes a total of 973 individuals and 28 organisations. Here, we are in the year 2024.

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton, ‘for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks’.

John Hopfield was born in Chicago, USA, and works in Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Geoffrey Hinton was born in London, United Kingdom, and works in the University of Toronto, Canada.

This year’s physics laureates used tools from physics to construct methods that helped lay the foundation for today’s powerful machine learning. John Hopfield created a structure that can store and reconstruct information. Geoffrey Hinton invented a method that can independently discover properties in data and which has become important for the large artificial neural networks now in use.

All this leads us to the mesmerising world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is impacting the way we work, like never before.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three Scientists: one half to American David Baker ‘for computational protein design’, and the other half jointly to Britain’s Demis Hassabis and American John M. Jumper – both working in London – ‘for protein structure prediction’. It’s all about proteins this year, life’s ingenious chemical tools, those complicated molecules made up of a chain of amino acids. David has succeeded with the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins. Demis and John have developed an AI model to solve a 50-year old problem of predicting the complex structures of proteins. These discoveries hold enormous potential.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Americans, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun ‘for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation’. MicroRNA is a new class of tiny RNA molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation. Their ground-breaking discovery in the small worm C.elegans (a kind of round worm) revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation. This turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans. MicroRNAs are proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function.

The Nobel Prize in Literature went to South Korea’s Han Kang, 53, ‘for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life’.

A citation said, she has unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and her poetic and experimental style has become an innovator in contemporary prose.

Han Kang is the first South Korean writer and the first female Asian writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Han Kang was born in South Korean’s Gwangju before, at the age of nine, moving with her family to Seoul. She comes from a literary background, her father being a reputed novelist. Alongside her writing, she has also devoted herself to art and music, which is reflected throughout her entire literary production.

Han Kang began her career in 1993 with the publication of a number of poems in the magazine, ‘Literature and Society’. Her prose debut came in 1995 with the short story collection ‘Love of Yeosu’, followed soon afterwards by several other prose works, both novels and short stories. Notable among these is the novel, ‘Your Cold Hands’, which bears obvious traces of Han Kang’s interest in art. The book reproduces a manuscript left behind by a missing sculptor who is obsessed with making plaster casts of female bodies. There is a preoccupation with the human anatomy and the play between persona and experience, where a conflict arises in the work of the sculptor between what the body reveals and what it conceals. ‘Life is a sheet arching over an abyss, and we live above it like masked acrobats’, as a sentence towards the end of the book tellingly asserts.

Han Kang’s major international breakthrough came with the novel, ‘The Vegetarian’ Written in three parts, the book portrays the violent consequences that ensue when its protagonist Yeong-hye refuses to submit to the norms of food intake. Her decision not to eat meat is met with various, entirely different reactions. Her behaviour is forcibly rejected by both her husband and her authoritarian father, and she is exploited erotically and aesthetically by her brother-in-law, a video artist who becomes obsessed with her passive body. Ultimately, she is committed to a psychiatric clinic, where her sister attempts to rescue her and bring her back to a ‘normal’ life.

The Nobel Peace Prize goes to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo ‘for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating, through witness testimony, that nuclear weapons must never be used again’.

Nihon Hidankyo is a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, founded in 1956, also known as Hibakusha (bomb-affected people). Its main activities include sending delegations to international conferences and events and holding speaking tours where survivors share firsthand accounts of the horrors of nuclear weapons. The extraordinary efforts of Nihon Hidankyo and other representatives of the Hibakusha have contributed greatly to the establishment of a nuclear taboo-stigmatising use of nuclear weapons.

The Nobel Prize for Economics, was awarded to America’s, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, and James Robinson, University of Chicago ‘for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity’. They provided an explanation of why some countries are rich and others poor. And insights into why there are such vast differences in prosperity between nations. One important explanation is persistent differences in societal institutions. They have developed theoretical tools that can explain why differences in institutions persist and how institutions can change.

India-Canada Row

Relations between India and Canada reached a nadir with each country striking hot at the each other, through Diplomats. Relations between the two countries have been fraught since last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader -designated as a wanted Terrorist by India-Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, in his country. In June 2023, Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. He was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland Khalistan carved out of India. The Khalistan movement is outlawed in India.

Canada said it has clear and compelling evidence that agents of India engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. And that India used organised crime elements, specifically naming ‘the Bishnoi Group’, which is connected to India’s agents.

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) says Lawrence Bishnoi is the head of an organised criminal syndicate operating along with his associate Goldy Brar – a Canada based Indian Gangster. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in Sabarmati Central jail, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, since 2014, awaiting trial on terrorism charges. Wonder how he is able to run a murderous network from Jail?

The situation escalated when Canada identified six Indian Diplomats in the Indian Embassy in Canada as ‘persons of interest’ in its investigation into the killing of Nijjar. India quickly announced that it is withdrawing the Indian High Commissioner to Canada and ‘other targeted diplomats’, citing security concerns.

And then in a sharp escalation, and a tit-for-tat move, India on Monday ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats. And issued a hard-hitting response to Canada’s ‘preposterous imputations’ warning that India ‘reserves the right to take further steps in response’.

Mumbai Gangsters

It was a murder unlike anything Mumbai had seen in almost three decades.

Former Maharashtra State Minister, Baba Siddique, 66, was waylaid by three persons in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar area, just outside his Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) son Zeeshan Siddique’s office, and shot dead last Saturday night. He was getting into his car in the affluent neighbourhood of Bandra when the air filled with firecracker smoke. As shots rang out, fired by three hooded assailants hiding close by, six bullets hit Siddique in the chest. He fell to the floor in a pool of blood. By the time he reached hospital, Siddique was declared dead.

Siddique himself was a MLA in the Vandre West Assembly constituency, Maharashtra, for three consecutive terms, in 1999, 2004, and 2009, and had also served as Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies and Labour in the State Government.

Responsibility for the killing was quickly claimed by one of India’s most notorious gangsters, Lawrence Bishnoi, who continues to control one of the country’s largest criminal empires-from behind bars. His so-called ‘Bishnoi Gang’ has been linked to several high-profile killings in India, including of a famous Punjabi rapper, and is also accused of being involved in transnational terrorism in Canada.

Siddique was not only a well-known political face in Mumbai but was also known for his close relationships with Bollywood stars, with Actor Salman Khan chief among them. It was this friendship, suggested one alleged Bishnoi gang affiliate in a Facebook post after the killing, that resulted in the politician’s assassination, linked to a feud going back to the 90s. “Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you made our brother lose his life,” said the post.

India’s Lady Justice

Typically, Lady Justice representing the moral force in Judicial Systems, is depicted as a blindfolded lady with scales in one hand, and a sword in the other. She balances the relative substance and value of the available evidence and arguments on both sides of a dispute impartially (being blindfolded), and tips the scale on the side of justice. The sword represents that justice can be swift and final.

This week, India’s Supreme Court did a makeover of Lady Justice-to do away with India’s colonial legacy-replacing the sword with India’s Constitution and removing the blindfold. Signalling a new era for Indian Justice. Said India’s Chief Justice, “the law is not blind: it sees everyone equally”.

Tennis

Tennis ace, Spain’s Rafael Nadal, 38, announced his retirement from professional tennis leaving the Court open for ‘younger guys’ to serve and stroke their way to glory. He will longer stand in their way. Nadal revealed that he would last be in action in Spain’s Davis Cup tie versus Netherlands, in November.

Nadal has been ranked world No. 1 in Singles for 209 weeks, and has finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. He has clinched 22 Grand Slam Singles titles, which includes a record-haul of 14 French Open trophies. Nadal also has won 92 ATP-level singles titles, and an Olympic gold medal.

After Nadal’s retirement, Novak Djokovic will be the only active player from the Big Three. Roger Federer has already retired, and said he could feel a ‘change of guard’ in both women’s and men’s tennis.

More forceful stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay watchful 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, 2023-44

About: the world this week, 29 October to 4 November 2023; Israel goes all out on terror; a bomb blast in India’s Kerala State; and the popular American TV series ‘Friends’ loses a friend.

Everywhere

Israel’s War on Terror

Israel got cracking with the second phase of its war on the terrorist Hamas. The ground attack began slowly unfolding keeping in mind the safety of the hostages and the treacherous network of Hamas’ underground Tunnels. And the land attack was supported with force from the Air and the Sea.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also made their first successful rescue of one hostage, freeing a female Israeli soldier, Ori Megidish. Recall that Hamas has released four hostages since the horrific attack on 7th October.

Meanwhile, Israel confirmed the death of Shani Louk, a 23 years old German-Israeli citizen who was captured from the music festival during the 7th October attack on Israel. Her lifeless body was paraded, in a gruesome manner, on the back of a pick-up truck, in Gaza.

Every day, a new revelation on the chilling savagery of Hamas’ 7th October attack is being put-out by Israel, based on facts gathered and bodies of the dead identified and accounted for. And what crosses one’s mind is, ‘can a human being go to this extent of heinous cruelty. Why this blood-curling hatred for jews?’

The US Secretary of State shared this during a testimony:

“A family of four. A young boy and girl, 6 and 8 years old, and their parents around the breakfast table. The father’s eye gouged out in front of his kids. The mother’s breast cut off, the girl’s foot amputated, the boy’s fingers cut off – before they were executed. And then their executioners sat down and had a meal. That is what this society is dealing with.”

Head of Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine, said: “In 28 years, I can’t recall such infernal damage. Babies, young children, without heads, without legs. I can’t understand how the entire world doesn’t grasp the sheer cruelty of this situation”. His department is faced with the arduous, heart-wrenching task of identifying the dead. And each body-bag tells a story of unfathomable barbarism by Hamas.

Key to Israel’s goal of comprehensively defeating and disarming Hamas is destroying the extensive tunnel network, which Hamas has been secretly developing for decades. And allows it to smuggle goods, people, and weapons, and plan attacks on Israel. All at the cost of development of the civilians living above, on the land. By its own account, Hamas boasts more than 480 kilometres of tunnels, dozens of feet or more below the ground, snaking under the small strip of Gaza and invariably running under civilian residences, hospitals, and schools.

On another front, humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza, and since 21st October a total of over 300 trucks have entered loaded with water, food, and medical supplies. There is always the fear that Hamas ‘may tunnel these resources’ for making yet another attack on Israel.

Hamas still holds 242 Israeli and foreign hostages – including at least 30 babies and children – in Gaza, and their safe release is of paramount importance. And there seems to be ‘no light’ at the end of the tunnel-of their release.

Trouble in God’s Own Country

The Indian state of Kerala became known as ‘God’s Own Country’ taking-off from the tagline coined by a Creative Director, Walter Mendez, of the Advertisement Agency, Mudra Communications Limited (now known as DDB Mudra Group). This was in 1989, when the Kerala Tourism Department tasked it to spread the word on the natural beauty of Kerala, across the world. This is one of the longest, sustained iconic campaigns in the world, and promoted tourism in Kerala like none other.

The term turned out to be a natural fit for Kerala, blessed with lush green landscapes, crystal clear beaches, natural beauty, and ecological diversity. In another dimension, Kerala was actually created by the Gods, as per mythology.

Sage Parashurama, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (creator of the World) – one of the holy Trinity of Hinduism’s Gods – created Kerala, with his axe. He threw his axe in the water, which receded as far as it reached to make the place of land, which is modern Kerala. The land which rose from the sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation, hence Parasurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki, who spat out the holy poison and converted the soil into fertile land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land.

According to another mythological account, King Mahabali once ruled Kerala. He was a benevolent and generous king who ruled without discrimination, and people were honest, healthy, and happy under his rule. Even the Gods were jealous of the prosperity and wealth in the kingdom of those days.

Mahabali came to temporarily possess Amrita -nectar of eternal life- which allowed his subjects to bring him back to life after his death in one of the may wars he waged. Thus, Mahabali was immune from death and became invincible, eventually conquering heaven and earth. The Devas (celestial beings) approached Lord Vishnu to save them from complete obliteration. Though reluctant in the beginning – Mahabali being his ardent devotee – Lord Vishnu eventually relented, to re-establish the natural order of things. Mahabali was tricked and sent to the underworld through an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, called Vamana. However, Lord Vishnu granted Bali a boon whereby he could return to his homeland once every year. The harvest festivals of Balipratipada and Onam are celebrated to mark and commemorate the memories of King Mahabali’s yearly homecoming. It is the state festival of Kerala and is celebrated every year with joy and zeal.

Kerala also leads the country in various aspects like literacy rate-the highest in India at about 99%, sex ratio, lowest population growth, and travel & tourism. Kerala is the only Indian State ruled by a majority Communist Party, The Left Democratic Front (LDF), also known as Left Front (Kerala) which is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016.

Now, there is trouble brewing in God’s Own Country. And I wish King Mahabali was around.

Early this week, on Sunday, two women and a child were killed and over fifty injured after multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Kalamassery area of Kerala’s Kochi. It was confirmed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) caused the explosion. The blast took place in the central part of the hall, at Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Surprisingly, the case was quickly resolved, when a few hours after the incident, a man named Dominic Martin who claimed to be a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses said that he was responsible for the blast. And that he belonged to the same group, which held the prayer meeting. He then voluntarily surrendered to the Police.

Dominic Martin published a video message on a social media platform claiming responsibility for the blasts and giving reasons for the same. He provided evidence to support his claims and the police are examining everything in detail-to confirm that it indeed is him. The man alleged that he took the decision as the teachings of the organisation were ‘seditious’. Martin further alleged that the organisation and its ideology were dangerous for the country and therefore, it had to be put to an end, in Kerala. He claimed that he had told the organisation several times to correct its teachings, but it was not ready to do so. And he took this extreme step.

Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold a number of traditional Christian views, but also many that are unique to them. The Witnesses’ teachings stress strict separation from the Government. Although they are generally law-abiding, they refuse, on biblical grounds, to observe certain laws. They do not salute the flag of any nation, believing it an act of false worship; they refuse to perform military service; and they do not participate in public elections. They are known for door-to-door evangelism.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have significant presence in Kerala. In 1986, India’s Supreme Court backed its followers, ruling that their children could not be compelled to sing the national anthem in schools.

Learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses at:

https://kumargovindan.com/2023/03/11/world-inthavaaram-2023-10/

Please Yourself

Friends

Late last week, Matthew Perry, the 54 years old star who played ‘Chandler Bing’ in the famous TV sitcom series, Friends died in his home in California, United States.

The news of Perry’s death came almost one year after he published his memoir, opening up about his experience in Hollywood and his decades-long struggle with addiction. Investigators said there was no sign of foul play after Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his home.

Friends is an American television series created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from, 1994 to 2004, lasting ten Seasons. It starred Jennifer Aniston(Rachel), Courteney Cox (Monica), Lisa Kudrow(Phoebe), Matt LeBlanc(Joey), Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer( Ross): six unique friends in their 20s and early 30s who live in Manhattan, New York City. The series follows the eventful day-to-day lives of the group of Friends as they live, work, and love in the city. The show’s timeless humour allows people of any age demographic to relate to the characters and laugh at their jokes. Though it explores issues of friendships, family, love, and heartbreaks, the soul of the show lies in the superb comedy.

Friends, won six Emmy Awards, including outstanding comedy series, and from its second season until the end of its run maintained a top five or better Nielsen rating, hitting number one in its eighth season.

Chandler Bing is a fictional character portrayed by Matthew Perry. Chandler is notoriously sarcastic and has a terrific sense of humour, developed as a defence mechanism to overcome the trauma of his parents announcing their divorce to him, over Thanksgiving Dinner, when he was only nine years old. He was an only child born to an ‘erotic romance novelist’ and a ‘gay female impersonator’ and star of a Las Vegas drag show.

He works in ‘statistical analysis and data reconfiguration’, but loathes it, although it pays well. He is the highest earning member of his friends’ circle on account of responsible income management, having learned the value of money from a young age. Chandler suffers from commitment issues, but later marries Monica at the end of Season 7. In Season 10, Chandler and Monica go on to adopt twins.

The Friends theme song, ‘I’ll Be There for You,’ performed by the Rembrandts, was a minor pop hit in its own right.

Here are some memorable ‘Friends one-liners’:

Look at me, I am Chandler, could I be wearing any more clothes?

Well, the fridge broke, so I had to eat everything.

That’s a great story, can I eat it?

They don’t know that we know they know we know.

She’s your Lobster. It’s a known fact that Lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You can actually see Lobster couples walking around their tank, holding claws’.

Lips moving still talking.

More moving, words talking, stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Be friends with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-42

About: the world this week, 15 October to 21 October 2023; Israel’s War; Australia’s Voice; Poland’s Vote; India – Space, Trains, a Murder, and same-sex marriage.

Everywhere

Israel Strikes Back

The Israel strike back -Operation Iron Swords-on the terrorist Hamas, following the savage barbarism of 7th October in Israel, is in a ‘pregnant next stage of attack’ phase. And this week there was a hullabaloo over a rocket striking a Gaza Hospital -Al-Ahli-al Arabi Baptist Hospital -and claimed to have killed over 500 people. Hamas- and the general media-quickly blamed it on Israel, but evidence shows that it was a failed Palestine Islamic Jihad rocket launched towards Israel that fell back on Gaza. And only the parking lot of the Hospital was damaged with the Hospital buildings itself standing tall without significant damage. And the number of people killed is nowhere near as claimed.

United States (US) President Joe Biden made a dash to Israel to stand with them. And then based on convincing evidence shown by Israel that ‘we did not do it’, declared that Israel is not to blame, and the other side did it. Later, the US National Security Council (NSC) released a statement publicly, which it said is based on all available data, currently: “The IDF is NOT responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday.” The assessment is based on the following, according to the NSC: Overhead imagery; Intercept; and Open Source information. (IDF – Israel Defense Forces).

Meanwhile, Hamas continues using people as human shields and galvanising the Islamic world against Israel in the name of religion-right or wrong, apart. And still keeps pumping rockets into Israel. Many counties across the World saw mostly pro-Hamas rallies (despicable) and some pro-Israeli rallies of support. Countries bordering Israel, such as Egypt and Jordan refused to allow Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip into their counties. Israel has been continuously announcing the those in the Northern part of Gaza must move towards the South of the Gaza River as it plans to attack Hamas hideouts in the Northern Gaza. And it went about surgically eliminating the leadership of Hamas, one by one.

Towards the end of the week, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also made a dash to Israel with a plane load of supplies, to show solidarity.

Hamas still holds 200 plus Israeli hostages in the Gaza and their release is key to starting the process of ending the War. On another front Hamas’ partner in crime, the Lebanese based Hezbollah – a political party and militant group, began shooting rockets into Northern Israel, and Israel is busy fending them off as well.

Meanwhile, Israel closed down its Embassies in the Middle East: Egypt, Turkey, Jordon, Bahrain, and Morocco, and has recalled its diplomatic staff citing deteriorating security in the region.

Humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip is deadlocked at the Egyptian Border-Rafah- and a frenzy of negotiations are underway to allow them to pass. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared at the Border and made an emotional appeal for aid trucks to move into the besieged enclave.

Tensions in the region at their highest level ever.

The Voice of Australia

Australia has overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to indigenous people in a Referendum, dubbed ‘The Voice’, held on 14 October 2023.

All six states voted ‘No’ to a proposal to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations People and create a body for them to advise the government. The referendum was Australia’s first in almost a quarter of a century. With the ballots counted, the ‘No’ vote led ‘Yes’, by 60% to 40%. This is the first attempt at constitutional change in 24 years.

The Voice was held with the questions for a Proposed Law: (1). To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. (2). Do you approve this proposed alteration? Yes or No.

Supporters of the losing ‘Yes’ said that entrenching the indigenous peoples into the constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era. Supporters of the winning ‘No’ said that the idea was divisive, would create special ‘classes’ of citizens where some were more equal than others, and the new advisory body would slow government decision-making.

Who are the ‘First Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders’ of Australia’?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the first peoples of Australia, meaning they were here for thousands of years prior to conquest and colonisation. ‘Aboriginal’, refers to the indigenous inhabitants of the continent-people who lived on the Australian mainland and surrounding islands for tens of thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived in the early 17th century. Aboriginal people may choose to identify with their language groups and traditional lands, for example, Gunditjamara people are the traditional custodians of Western Victoria, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation are from Sydney, and the Yawuru people are the traditional custodians of Broome in Western Australia.

Torres Strait Islanders are the indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal peoples of the rest of Australia, they are often grouped with them as Indigenous Australians. The Torres Strait region is located between the tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea and is made up of over two hundred islands. Seventeen of these islands are inhabited. There are also two Torres Strait Islander communities, Bamaga and Seisia, on the northern peninsula area of mainland of Australia. The Torres Strait is also home to the Aboriginal Kaurareg Nation who are the traditional inhabitants of Muralag (Prince of Wales Island), Kirriri (Hammond Island), Ngurupai (Horn Island) and Waiben (Thursday Island).

In 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples made up just 3.3% of the Australian population. Of that group, the majority were under the age of 25. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live in urban, regional and remote areas and are present in all communities, not necessarily on their traditional lands.

There are varying estimates for how long Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on the Australian continent. However, upwards of 60,000 years is what current research reveals. They find no specific mention in Australia’s 122 years old Constitution.

The Vote of Poland

The Parliament of Poland, like the legislature of most democracies around the world, is bicameral. It is composed of an upper house -the Senate- and a lower house -the Sejm. Both houses are accommodated in the Sejm complex in Poland’s capital, Warsaw.

Members of the Sejm and the Senate are directly elected by the people, usually every four years. The Sejm has 460 members, while the Senate has 100. To become law, a bill must first be approved by the Sejm and then the Senate, but the Sejm can override a Senate refusal to pass a bill.

Since 1990, the President has been elected by the people. However, the President is still sworn in before the National Assembly, which is also the only organ which can declare the President’s permanent incapacity to perform his duties, or bring an indictment against him. From 1992 to 1997, the National Assembly drafted and passed a new Constitution, which was approved by a national referendum on 25 May 1997. The Government of Poland is a unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic, with the President as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government.

Poland went to the polls this Sunday, 15th October, between 7am and 9pm for electing members of the Sejm and the Senate, with 231 seats in the Sejm needed for a party to clinch power outright. The turnout was an impressive 74% and the highest since the collapse of communism in 1989. Parties was successful in galvanising a large number, especially the younger votes, for the first time. The campaign was marred by harsh, divisive rhetoric, reflecting deep polarisation with Polish society.

With the counting of votes, Poland’s opposition is on course to remove the populist ruling party from power, however with no absolute majority for a single party-setting the stage for weeks of high-stakes negotiations to form Poland’s next government.

The incumbent Law and Justice party, known by its Polish acronym PiS, won the biggest share of the vote with 35.38%, which translates into 194 seats in the Sejm. However, it lost parliamentary majority, according to official results released by the National Electoral Commission.

PiS, led by Jarosław Kaczynski, finished ahead of opposition party Civic Coalition (KO), led by former Polish Prime Minister and European Council President Donald Tusk, on 30.7%, which is 157 seats. The close result made the centrist Third Way and left-wing Lewica parties kingmakers; both groups are opposed to the hardline PiS and have indicated they will seek to form a new coalition government with Donald Tusk.

The combination of KO – 157 seats, the Third Way – 65 seats, and the New Left- 26 seats, have won over 54% of the votes and 248 seats, enough for them to form a stable government in a coalition.

In the Senate, KO won 41 seats to PiS’s 34 seats, and along with the Third Way’s 11 and Lewica’s 9 seats, commands a majority here too.

The situation points to an end to PiS’ divisive eight-year rule, which saw a drastic overhaul of Poland’s democratic institutions and grave warnings that the country was lurching towards populist authoritarianism. Tusk had promised to restore democratic norms in Poland and cooperate with Western European allies, among whom Poland was fast becoming a pariah.

According to the Polish Constitution, the President must call a new parliamentary session within 30 days of the election. Then, he has 14 days to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister, after which the nominee has 14 days to win a vote of confidence in parliament.

If Donald Tusk does eventually take charge of Poland, he will face a monumental task in reversing PiS’ illiberal reforms of the country’s judiciary, public media, and cultural bodies. He will also seek to re-establish Poland as a major player in the European Union (EU), and likely look to smooth over tensions that emerged between Poland and Ukraine over the imports of Ukrainian grain.

PiS, which has been mired in bitter spats with the EU during its eight years in power, was seeking a third consecutive electoral success- an unprecedented feat since Poland regained its independence from the Soviet Union.

Some voices said, “Poland is back. By far the most important election in Europe this year is the Polish national election. It ended tonight with a victory for democracy.”

India Potpourri

Flying on the success of Chandrayaan 3, this week India set itself two ambitious Space Goals: one to send a Man to the Moon by 2040; and two, to set-up and Indian Space Station by 2035. And even before these two goals, India will send three astronauts into space in 2025 to get the hang of things.

In a first move towards this end, this week the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will be launching Gaganyaan spacecraft to demonstrate that the capsule carrying humans can safely return home. Called, Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (or TV-D1) ISRO would be testing the spacecraft’s ‘crew escape system (CES)’ to see whether the crew can safely escape the craft in the event of a malfunction.

Watch this space.

This week, RapidX, India’s first Rapid Rail Train Service (RRTS) was inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh State’s Ghaziabad in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. A RRTS corridor of 82km is expected to be operational by June 2025. The trains this section, which are capable of running at speeds up to 180 km per hour, will eventually cut the journey time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour. Authorities said it is a ‘transformational’ regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes, according to requirement.

Sowmya Vishwanathan was a 25 years TV Journalist working with Headlines Today (now, India Today) in New Delhi as a News Producer. She has stayed back late to help with a breaking news event. And in the early hours, 3.05 am, on 30 September 2008 she left her Office at Jhandewalan to drive to her home in Vasanth Kunj. She, phoned home to say, “I’m reaching home in five minutes. Keep my breakfast ready”. That would be her last call. Later her body was found in her car, on the stretch of Vasanth Vihar’s, Nelson Mandela Road. She had died from a headshot wound.

This week, after 15 years, a Court in Saket, New Delhi, convicted four accused for the murder of Sowmya. The investigations revealed that one of the accused, Ravi Kapoor, first shot at her to stop the car in an attempted robbery, but when she did not stop, he shot her fatally. When Sowmya had overtaken him, he followed her noticing she that was alone in the car. He tried to intercept her, but she did not stop, leading to the shooting and her murder.

Ravi Kapoor was a brutal Killer who donned various attires: Policeman, Judge, Doctor, etc., to dupe and rob people on Vasanth Vihar’s Nelson Mandela Road. He also ‘acted ‘ as a Police Informer, which perhaps kept him off the Police radar. His many other crimes of killing an Information Technology Executive Jigisha Gosh, and a Cab Driver, caught up with him, providing vital clues that helped the Police piece together the crime.

This week, one of India’s Spiritual Gurus, Godman Bangaru Adigalar, 82, passed away due to a heart attack at Melmaruvathur – a Temple Town, 90 km from Chennai, Tamilnadu. He is the founder of the Melmaruvathur Aadhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam, which runs the Melmaruvathur Aadhi Parasakthi temple. He was called ‘Amma’ meaning mother in Tamil, by his followers and devotees. Adigalar was believed to be the Poorna Avatar (holding all 16 qualities of an Avatar of God) as well as the incarnation of the supreme power Aadhi Parasakthi. He treated his followers equally, regardless of gender, caste, or religion. He brought in revolutionary reforms such as paving the way for women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Shakti temples.

Bangaru Adigalar leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters, who manage several educational institutions owned by the family. He was conferred the Padma Shri award, one of the country’s highest civilian awards, in 2019. He also experienced an Income-Tax raid in his House and Businesses in the year 2010.

Aadhi Parasakthi or Mahadevi or Aadhi Sakthi is the supreme Goddess in Shaktism sect of Hinduism. This sect believes that all Hindu Gods and Goddesses are manifestations of this single great Goddess. Durga is one of the forms of Mahadevi.

Same-Same, But Different

This week, India’s Supreme Court (SC) declined to legally recognise same-sex unions, in a landmark ruling that also emphasised the rights of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community to be free of prejudice and discrimination.

Handing down the verdict, the SC struck-down legalising same-sex marriage saying it’s the job of Parliament to decide the validity of same-sex marriage. It went on to say that the Constitution does not grant a fundamental right to marry, and the institution cannot be elevated to the status of a fundamental right. Courts to steer clear of policy matters.

Stating that queerness is a natural phenomenon, the SC suggested that the government forms a committee on marriage rights and presents a bouquet of gay rights to the LGBTQ community. It also observed that gender cannot be the same as sexuality.

In summary, the SC ruled that the Same-Sex has: No right to marriage; no right to civil union-it can be only through laws; no right to adopt children; have the right to choose their own partner; transgender persons have the right to marry. Same-sex couples cannot claim a fundamental right to marry.

Queer persons are not prohibited from celebrating their love for each other, but have no right to claim recognition of such union. They have the right to choose their own partner and must be protected – by the Government- to enjoy such rights.

Striking down the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) regulation, the SC said the law cannot assume that only heterosexual couples can be good parents and that doing so would amount to discrimination. Unmarried couples, Queer can jointly adopt a child, and proceeds to say that CARA violates the Constitution.

More voice stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Adopt World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2023-41

About: the world this week, 8 October to 14 October 2023; Unfathomable terror unleashed on Israel; Afghanistan’s Earthquake; Nobel Prizes; Asian Games close and Cricket World Cup begins.

Everywhere

Israel Under Attack

Last Saturday, 7th October it was the Jewish Sabbah in Israel and also a holy festival day-the Sukkot. Families usually gather to spend time together, at home or in a synagogue, and friends just meet over for a chat. This year, excited music-lovers were looking forward to the Supernova Music Festival, held in the desert, in Southern Israel to coincide with the Sukkot. It was billed as ‘a journey of unity and love’ with ‘mind-blowing and breath-taking content’ in a place of stunning beauty. Thousands of young people signed up for the party but were not told of the exact location until a few hours before. It was Kibbutz Re’im, about 5 kilometres (km) from the Israel-Gaza border.

But out of the dawn sky, a hail of rockets signalled the start of an attack that, as it unfolded, was unprecedented in its scale and coordination. Shortly thereafter a steady stream of rockets began to rain on Israel. For years, Israel has fortified the border between itself and the small Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas-the Islamist militant organisation. But within hours, its impenetrability was exposed as flawed.

As the rockets rained, about 5000 of them, Hamas- designated as a terrorist group by the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), European Union, among others – was gathering terrorists where they had planned to penetrate the heavily fortified Gaza-Israel barrier. And within hours, the barrier had been breached again and again in several coordinated, direct assaults on barrier crossing points. And Hamas tried to bypass the barrier completely, including by flying over it on paragliders in the air, and also by boat in the sea.

Hamas terrorists swept out of Gaza in all directions into Israel, assaulted 27 different locations, apparently with orders to kill on sight. The furthest Hamas penetrated was to the town of Ofakim, which lies about 22 km east of Gaza.

Hamas posted the first images from the ground, taken at Kerem Shalom – the most southern of Gaza’s crossings: Terrorists overrunning a check point and the bloodied bodies of two Israeli soldiers on the ground; at least five motorbikes, each carrying two Terrorists armed with rifles, passing through a hole which had been cut in the wire fence section of the barrier; Israeli soldiers being pulled-out of a destroyed tank; one very disturbing video of a woman, whose lifeless and undressed body, face-down – later identified as German citizen Shani Louk- dumped on the back of a pick-up truck and human savages sprawled around her; another of a blood-soaked woman being dragged and pushed into a car.

At the music festival near Re’im, gunmen were firing at will at the large group of young people who had gathered to party and dance. The terrorists had a van loaded with weapons and spent hours searching the area for other Israelis. Hostages were taken from the festival and other locations and transported back into Gaza. Israel says more than 150 Israelis have been abducted and are being kept as hostages. Within just a few hours of the attack, hundreds of Israelis were dead. And it happened in a way no one thought was even possible.

Help was beginning to arrive to the stricken southern region of Israel within a few hours, but Hamas was in effective control of a large swathe of territory.

The speed and deadliness of the surprise attack stunned Israel. Questions over how it was able to happen will be asked for years.

It is completely unprecedented that a terrorist organisation would have the capacity or the wherewithal to mount coordinated, simultaneous assaults from the air, sea, and land. In addition, Hamas possessing the ability to keep its preparations unknown from a country like Israel that has among the most sophisticated intelligence services in the world strongly suggests that it had external state support, advice, and guidance in the planning and execution of the attack on Israel. Iran, accordingly, will be strongly suspected of being behind this.

Israel acknowledged it was ‘surprised’, but quickly got into the act of defending itself and began ferociously attacking the Gaza Strip. It declared it was at War with Hamas and called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists. And vowed a deadly retaliation under ‘Operation Iron Swords’. Hamas in turn threatened to execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a military operation that will be both massive and decisive, with the intention of permanently destroying and disabling Hamas’ ability to attack Israel again.

By the end of the week, after Israel regained control of areas invaded by Hamas, the horrors of Hamas’ attack on border communities and Kibbutz Beeri began emerging. And they are beyond human comprehension.

Children were found butchered, decapitated in a kibbutz, people were mercilessly burnt alive in cars, or hounded into bomb shelters and just blasted with grenades thrown-in. Our eyes see but our hearts refuse to believe that human beings can be capable of such savage cruelty – an inconceivable slaughter of hundreds of civilians in their own homes and at the scene of a party, the abduction of civilians, children, and the elderly, and sadistic psychological abuse of families.

Israel said, and at least 1300 civilians and soldiers were killed during the heinous terrorist attack. A further 3000 people were injured. This was the most harrowing murder of jews since the Holocaust – genocide of 6 million jews during World War-II by Hitler’s Nazi’s.

Then began the strike-back on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with Israel vowing to eliminate every Hamas terrorist. Israel pounded the Gaza with precision air-strikes taking down known Hamas hideouts, buildings and facilities. Israel cut-off water, power, and fuel supplies to Gaza, and its only power plant ran out of fuel plunging Gaza City into darkness. Israel has amassed its troops on the border with Gaza and is preparing for, possibly the deadliest assault on a terrorist group. And this Friday it issued a warning to civilians of Gaza City to evacuate – within 24 hours- to the southern part of the Gaza, south of Wadi Gaza, beyond the Gaza river so that civilians are not trapped in the War. That’s about 1.1 million people to move out.

Gaza has a population of about 2.3 million living in five areas called: North Gaza, Gaza City, Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah. The Gaza Strip is an area of 365 sq.km – about 41km long and 10km wide. There are actually two layers of Gaza, one- on the surface is the civilian community and two- below the surface in a maze of tunnels, forbidden to civilians where live the Hamas from where they carry our their nefarious activities and launch attacks on Israel. Hamas has deliberately embedded itself in every aspect of civilian life in homes with the tunnels running below mosques, schools, and markets, making them vulnerable military targets. They use civilians as shield and pawns in their fight against Israel – as a standard practice.

The US was quick to announce support sending arms and ammunition – especially refills for for Israel’s famous Iron Dome, which destroys incoming Hamas Rockets. The USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is the largest warship in the world was despatched to the Mediterranean Sea. The UK is also sending two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean in plans to bolster security. Support for Israel poured in from many countries, including India, unequivocally condemning the ravenous killing by Hamas as an inadmissible act of terror. Even Afghanistan’s ‘deadly and unforgiving’ Taliban has condemned the terrorist act of Hamas.

Hamas too got its share of ‘uncivilised’ support, around the world-more on that next week.

What and who are Hamas, how did they come to be? But first, a bit about Islam to understand the fundamentals.

After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in the year 632, a group of Muslims, who would come to be known as Sunnis, believed that Muhammad’s successor as Caliph of the Islamic community should be Abu Bakr, whereas a second group of Muslims, who would come to be known as the Shias, believed that his successor should be Ali.

Abu Bakr is the father-in-law of the Prophet through his daughter Aisha. He is known as the first Caliph – Al-Siddiq – of the Rashidun (rightly guided, perfect) Caliphate (an institution), which is the successor state to the Prophet’s domains. Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of the Prophet, was the last Caliph of the Caliphate. He was also a senior companion of the Prophet and considered to be the first Imam, the rightful political and religious successor to Muhammed. The Rashidun Caliphate was successively ruled by Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali – the last.

The vast majority of Muslims in various counties are Sunni Muslims with the Shia’s being about 10% of the Muslim community. Typical Shia majority countries are Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Bharain. All others are predominantly Sunni.

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believed it represents the words of God revealed by archangel Gabriel to Muhammad. Angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Archangels are the second level angels in the hierarchy of Angels. Gabriel is an archangel with the power to announced God’s will to men. That’s the religious background.

Now, about Hamas.

Hamas, officially the Islamic Resistance Movement was founded in 1987 by Palestinian politician, Ahmed Yassin. Its name is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya and is primarily a Sunni Islamist political and militant organization. It emerged out of the Mujama al-Islamiya (also founded by Yassin), which had been established in Gaza in 1973 as a religious charity involved with the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood. This was shortly after the first intifada – uprising, rebellion- against Israel. Yassin also created the Islamic University of Gaza, which is considered a hotbed of radicalism. This has since been destroyed and raised to the ground in the Israeli air-strikes, early this week.

The Hamas Covenant or Hamas Charter was originally issued in August 1988 and outlines the founding identity, stand, and aims of Hamas. A new charter was issued by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in May 2017.

The original Charter identified Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine and declares its members to be Muslims who ‘fear God and raise the banner of Jihad in the face of the oppressors’. The charter states, among other extremist things, the following: ‘our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious’ and calls for the eventual creation of an Islamic state in Palestine in place of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and the obliteration or dissolution of Israel; there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad; Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavours; Hamas is humanistic, and tolerant of other religions as long as they ‘stop disputing the sovereignty of Islam in this region’. The Charter adds that, ‘renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion of Islam’. The original charter was criticised for its violent language against all Jews, and an incitement to genocide.

Mahmoud Zahar, co-founder of Hamas, said in 2006 that Hamas “will not change a single word in its covenant.” In 2010, he reaffirmed a major commitment of the covenant saying, “Our ultimate plan is to have Palestine in its entirety. I say this loud and clear so that nobody will accuse me of employing political tactics. We will not recognise the Israeli enemy.” In summary, Hamas rejects Israel’s right to exist.

Hamas became increasingly involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict by the late 1990s; it opposed the Israel–Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Letters of Mutual Recognition as well as the Oslo Accords, which saw Hamas’ secular rival Fatah renounce ‘the use of terrorism and other acts of violence’ and recognise Israel in pursuit of a two-state solution. Hamas continued to advocate Palestinian armed resistance to end what it calls ‘Israeli occupation’. Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, gaining a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and subsequently took control of Gaza Strip from Fatah in 2007.

Since 2007, Hamas has fought several wars with Israel. The Hamas government has pushed through changes that gave greater influence to Islamic law in the Gaza Strip. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It has spent its entire time and money in building an arsenal to fight Israel.

Many Western countries and their allies have designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation, citing their usage of human shields; methods of hostage-taking of civilians; and history of violence against non-combatants, including massacres of civilian populations, suicide bombings, and indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli population centres. However, a 2018 attempt to condemn Hamas for ‘acts of terror’ at the United Nations failed.

Hamas is currently governing the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories. While it is headquartered in Gaza City, it also has a presence in the West Bank (the larger of the two Palestinian territories), in which Fatah exercises control. It is widely considered to be the ‘dominant political force’ within the Palestinian territories. Its main political rivals are Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Fatah.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major armed campaign dubbed ‘Operation al-Aqsa Flood’ against Israel, which resulted in the present barbaric terrorist outrage on Israel.

Going back into history.

The region of Palestine or the land of Israel was among the earliest civilisations in the world. During the Iron Age, 1200 BCE to 600 BCE, two related Kingdoms ruled much of Palestine-the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. A third called the Philistines occupied its southern coast. For a deeper understanding and the genesis of Israel-Palestine Conflict read:

https://kumargovindan.com/2021/05/15/world-inthavaaram-2021-20/

The inhumane, merciless killings of Jews by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists is akin to the mobile killing units of the Nazi Einsatzgruppen, which also went into villages to exterminate Jews during the Holocaust, and the ‘pogroms’ waged against Jews in the Russian Empire. Israel appears to be in no mood to be magnanimous about the murderers of innocents, including children and the elderly. And has vowed to finish the War on its terms. Israel have even right to defend itself living in close proximity to Hamas whose sole objective is Israel’s destruction.

Afghanistan’s Earthquake

Last Saturday was deadly in other ways.

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday 40 km west of the oasis City of Herat – the third largest in Afghanistan, and the capital of the western Herat Province.

More than 2,000 people have died as the nation reels from another quake at a time of deep economic crisis. The number killed is about 2400 people, with more 1300 hurt and 1,320 houses completely or partially destroyed. The toll could rise further.

The initial quake was also felt in neighbouring provinces of Badghis and Farah and was followed by multiple aftershocks.

Afghanistan has suffered significant damage from a series of recent earthquakes amid an ongoing dire economic and hunger crises, killing and displacing tens of thousands. The country has long been one of Asia’s poorest and has been ravaged by conflict for decades. But its ability to respond to natural disasters has been further hampered since the Taliban seized power in 2021 following the chaotic US withdrawal, an event that saw many international aid groups pull out.

It also led to Washington and its allies freezing about USD seven billion of the country’s foreign reserves and cutting off international funding. The situation has crippled an economy already heavily dependent on aid.

Noble Prizes

Last week the winners of Nobel Prize in Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace were announced.

This week, the Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 was awarded to Norwegian author Jon Fosse, ‘for his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unsayable’. His immense oeuvre written in the language Norwegian Nynorsk and spanning a variety of genres consists of a wealth of plays, novels, poetry collections, essays, children’s books and translations. While he is today one of the most widely performed playwrights in the world, he has also become increasingly recognised for his prose.

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023 was awarded to America’s Claudia Goldin ‘for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes’.

Claudia Goldin, provided the first comprehensive account of women’s earnings and labour market participation through the centuries, presenting new and often surprising facts. Women’s choices have often been, and remain, limited by marriage and responsibility for the home and family is at the heart of her analyses and explanatory models. She uncovered key drivers of gender differences in the labour market.

Over the past century, the proportion of women in paid work has tripled in many high-income countries. This is one of the biggest societal and economic changes in the labour market in modern times, but significant gender differences remain. It was first in the 1980s that a researcher adopted a comprehensive approach to explaining the source of these differences.

Sports

Asian Games

The Asian Games came to a close this Sunday and India finished fourth in the overall medals tally with its best ever performance of 107 medals Gold-28; Silver-38; Bronze-41. Indian athletes were honoured and warmly received all over the country in various moments of celebrations.

China won 383 medals, Japan-188, and South Korea -190. Uzbekistan finished fifth, after India, with 71 medals.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

The 13th edition of the Men’s Cricket World Cup, a quadrennial One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament contested by national teams and organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is underway in India. It is the first men’s Cricket World Cup, which India is hosting solely. The tournament started on 5th October and is scheduled to conclude on 19th November. England are the defending champions.

Ten national teams are participating: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. West Indies missing out on qualification for the first time in its history.

The tournament is taking place in ten different stadiums, in ten cities across India. The first and second semi-finals will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata respectively, while the final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

More good and bad stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Heal with World Inthavaaram.