Tag: Israel-Hamas War

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the storyline, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run of events from 27 September to 10 October 2025: Peace at last in the Middle East; Terror in the UK; a killer stampede in India; and an expert on Chimpanzees climbs a higher tree.

PEACE

United States President Donald Trump, taking along Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hammered and forged what appears to be a comprehensive 20-Point Plan to end the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. It is the best attempt, so far, at stopping this over two-year old war, and perhaps progressing to everlasting peace in the region. Since the Plan was first in made in end September, it has now crossed many deadlines, but without any significant changes in the points. It included a ‘go to hell’ deadline of 5th October if Hamas did not accept.

All 48 hostages-alive and dead are to be released within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance. That was many 72 hours ago. The Hamas side delayed, trying to draw thin wire from thick bar stock metal, even while almost all Arab nations and other countries approved the Plan. Then Trump had to deploy his special Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and outside Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner to squeeze out a breakthrough. And finally the signatures were made, and the ceasefire effected, with Israel’s forces withdrawing to the first, of many lines of control – a Yellow Line – on Friday, 10th October. This marks the beginning of the 72 hour count-down to the release of all the hostages.

There was instant jubilation on both sides: while Israel began making preparations to receive the hostages, the Palestinians began crawling back to Gaza. At this stage, Israel still controls about 53% of Gaza.

All the living hostages are to be transferred to the Red Cross, then to Israeli custody for medical care and reunification with families. This is expected to take place on Monday, 13th October. The remains of slain hostages will be returned to Israel with full military honours and forensic identification. A special Israel Defence Forces (IDF) engineering unit will inspect every coffin to ensure they do not contain explosives.

Now, with the first point kicking-in, Israel on its part gets ready to release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans. Israel will not free members of the Nukhba Force—Hamas’s elite commando unit responsible for the 7th October massacre and mass kidnappings—nor Marwan Barghouti, the mastermind of the Second Intifada, who is currently serving five life sentences.

Other points of the Plan are as follows.

Those, of Hamas, who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Those who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage. For the other Gazans, no one will be forced to leave and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. People will be encouraged to stay and use the opportunity to build a New Gaza. Full aid will be immediately sent into Gaza through the United Nations and Agencies not associated with Israel or Hamas. Gaza will be made a ‘deradicalized’ terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours. And Gaza will be redeveloped. The IDF will withdraw to the agreed upon lines, starting from the release of the hostages. During this time, all military operations will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.

Gaza will be governed by a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering day-to-day running of public services. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the ‘Board of Peace,’ which will be headed and chaired by Donald Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals.

A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have created modern miracle cities in the Middle East. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.

Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed-not rebuilt. Gaza will be demilitarised under the supervision of independent monitors. The New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with its neighbours. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and its factions, comply with their obligations.

The US will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza in consultation with Jordan and Egypt. This force will be the internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces.

Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control, the IDF will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarisation that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the Guarantors, and the US. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it now controls to the ISF. This will be according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat. In the event Hamas delays or rejects the Plan, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.

An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasising the benefits that can be derived from peace. While this advances and the reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood – the aspiration of the Palestinian people.

UNITED KINGDOM: TERROR

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar. It is a solemn time of fasting and atonement, thought to be the day God seals the fate of each person for the coming years. Traditionally, Jews ask for forgiveness for wrongdoings over the past year, from both God and fellow humans. Work is forbidden on the day and is set aside for prayer and reflection.

This year on 2nd October Jews were gathering for a prayer service at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area in north Manchester. A man-later identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie- driving a car rammed it directly at people outside the Synagogue, got down and began stabbing people before being shot dead by Police who arrived within seven minutes of a call being made to emergency services. The Police gave the attacker, then holding a knife a couple of warnings before they opened fire, killing him.

Two members of the Jewish community died, while a fourth has been hospitalised with severe injuries.

The head of Counter Terrorism Policing says they believe Jihad Al-Shamie may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology. The attacker was on police bail for an alleged rape before this incident-he was yet to be charged with the crime.

INDIA: A KILLER STAMPEDE

On 27th September a tragic crowd crush occurred during a political, ‘Meet The People’ Meeting, organised by the newly formed Political Party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam(TVK) ahead of the State Assembly Elections due in 2026. TVK is founded by popular Tamil film actor Joseph Vijay. 41 people were killed and over a 100 were injured, which included 18 women and 10 children (aged 5 to 15).

The tragedy happened in Velusamypuram, on the Karur–Erode Highway, Karur District, Tamil Nadu. This was the third leg of Vijay’s bellowing campaign tour, following successful, staggering, crowd-pulling events in districts like Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Namakkal. The Karur rally was permitted by the Police between 3pm and 10pm, with an expected crowd of around 10,000–15,000, but turnout swelled to over 25,000.

TVK organisers initially proposed venues in densely populated areas of Karur town, which the Police rejected for safety reasons, suggesting Velusamypuram instead. Supporters began arriving from 9am from neighbouring areas-mostly to see the Actor rather than listen to him-creating early congestion on the arterial roads. TVK announced Vijay’s arrival at noon, but he reached the venue around only 7pm. This delay was seen as a cause for restlessness in the crowd.

When Vijay’s convoy finally reached the venue, a massive surge occurred. Supporters rushed toward his campaign-bus to catch a glimpse, causing people to squeeze sideways and trample each other. People climbed nearby trees and mounted the tin-roof of shops for a better view. The crowd pushed toward an electricity generator enclosure, triggering a power outage that plunged the area into darkness and heightened panic, exacerbating the chaos. Ambulances in the vicinity were pressed into service to carry away those fallen or fainted and providing a getaway path for them became a serious challenge for the Police. In this melee, the stampede unfolded rapidly around 7.20 pm while Vijay was beginning his speech. The Police were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the crowd. The incident lasted minutes but resulted in suffocation, crush injuries, and trampling.

Vijay was quickly escorted away to de-escalate the situation and he ‘fled the scene’, taking a chartered plane from Tiruchi Airport to Chennai. It appears that this was done to prevent ‘see crowds’ gathering again and enable relief efforts?

Should Vijay have stayed back and helped get the injured to Hospital instead of abandoning them? I think he should have stood his ground and ensured every possible relief to the affected, at that point of time. Never mind, he could be lynched, but then he has his safety bouncers around him. And what is a Hero for?
A one-member commission under retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan was formed to probe and submit its findings within two months. On 5th October a Madras High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by IPS officer Asra Garg, began investigations.

Will this yield results and a means of ‘Lessons Learning’? The illicit liquor tragedy which occurred in June 2024, when people in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district consumed illegal liquor contaminated with methanol, leading to the deaths of 68 people is still under investigation.

Actor Vijay alleged a vendetta by the ruling State Government ahead of elections, questioning why the incident happened only in Karur (a stronghold of the Govt). TVK blamed a power outage, police lathi charges, and stone-pelting, slipper throwing incidents. A probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being sought to unravel the reasons behind the stampede.

It is said that the request for a Meeting at the same, for another Political party, was denied on the grounds of that Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for such kind of meetings was under development. Whatever, we should know once the reasons are found and are published.

This incident highlights risks in celebrity-driven politics: over-reliance on star power without robust second-tier leadership or safety protocols. It echoes past tragedies like the 2024 Hathras stampede but underscores Tamil Nadu’s history of actor-politicians managing crowds. The probe’s findings could impact Vijay’s 2026 prospects, with calls for stricter rally guidelines. TVK maintains the ‘truth will emerge’ vowing to continue with greater strength. Families continue to grieve, with ongoing treatment for survivors.

Responsibility for safety at Election Meetings is a shared one, the Party Meeting Organisers, the Police, and the people themselves. Ultimately the buck stops at the desk of the Chief Minister of the Govt, for maintaining law & order – they have the experience to tackle such crowds. It’s their job to gather intelligence and make swift changes or even cancel a Meeting seeing a seemingly uncontrollable surge in crowding. And law & Order has failed time and again in multiple dimensions in Tamil Nadu.

On the other hand, Vijay’s TVK cannot absolve themselves. If he cannot ‘govern’ a meeting, how can he govern the State? Serious questions! The TVK chooses Saturdays for its Meetings and Vijay is hardly a talker. He doesn’t seem to have built up a political team around him and appears to be a one-man show. The second-rung of leadership is glaringly missing. This could well be a wake-up call.

Finally, nothing beats self-control: the people are driven crazy and lose control of themselves ‘to see their Star Leader’.

Another reason for the stampede is abysmal civic facilities – an open sewer swallowed kids and people falling in them! Infrastructure should be able to absorb any ‘growth in people’. And the Government has a responsibility here as well.

People, especially in Tamil Nadu, should shun the frenzy to see movie stars – their outward glamour and shine does not help in anyway. Watch the movies, whistle and shout in the theatres, but when you return home you must learn to forget the stars and focus on living your life well. Become the star of your own life.

JANE GOODALL

Over six million years ago lived the last grandmother of humans and chimpanzees – Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind.
On 1st October, primatologist, ethologist, conservationist, animal advocate, and educator Dr Jane Goodall died at age 91. Goodwill founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and is a United Nations Messenger of Peace. She passed away in her sleep due to natural causes in Los Angeles, California, while on a speaking tour in the United States.

The JGI promotes understanding and protection of the Great Apes and its habitat and its goal is to inspire individual action by young people of all ages to help animals, other people, and to protect this shared world of ours.

JGI’s research continues the world’s longest-running field research on chimpanzees. This research provides ever-new insights into the daily lives of chimpa nzees, and has developed a deep knowledge of the lives and behaviour of over 200 chimps since Jane’s early work in it’s over 55 years of study. The research plays a unique role in understanding our closest living relatives, providing essential information for the conservation of chimpanzees and contributing to a myriad of other scientific discoveries that benefit humans and chimpanzees alike.

Jane Goodwill is considered the world’s preeminent chimpanzee expert. And was best known for more than six decades of field research on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees in the Kasakela Chimpanzee Community at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Beginning in 1960, under the mentorship of the palaeontologist Louis Leakey, Goodall’s research demonstrated that chimpanzees share many key traits with humans, such as using tools, having complex emotions, forming lasting social bonds, engaging in organised warfare, and passing on knowledge across generations. This redefined the traditional view that humans are uniquely different from other animals.

While observing one chimpanzee feeding at a termite mound, she watched him repeatedly place stalks of grass into termite holes, then remove them from the hole covered with clinging termites, effectively ‘fishing’ for termites. The chimpanzees would also take twigs from trees and strip off the leaves to make the twig more effective, a form of object modification that is the rudimentary beginnings of toolmaking.

Goodall set herself apart from convention by naming the animals in her studies of primates instead of assigning each a number. Numbering was a nearly universal practice at the time and was thought to be important in avoiding emotional attachment to the subject being studied. Among those whom Goodall named during her years in Gombe were: David Greybeard, a grey-chinned male who first warmed up to Goodall; Goliath, a friend of David Greybeard, originally the alpha male named for his bold nature; Mike, who through his cunning and improvisation displaced Goliath as the alpha male; Humphrey, a big, strong, bullysome male; Gigi, a large, sterile female who delighted in being the ‘Aunt’ of any young chimps or humans… to mention a few. Wonder, if there was an Uncle around?

Said about her by the CEO of the National Geographic Society, “Dr. Jane Goodall brought so much light into this world, demonstrating beautifully what one person can achieve. To know Jane was to know an extraordinary scientist, conservationist, humanitarian, educator, mentor and, perhaps most profoundly, an enduring champion for hope”.

Goodall was married twice. In March 1964 she married Baron Hugo van Lawick, a Dutch nobleman and wildlife photographer in London. She was known during their marriage as Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall. The couple had a son. They divorced in 1974. The following year, she married Derek Bryceson, a member of Tanzania’s parliament and the director of that country’s national parks. Bryceson died of cancer in October 1980. Owing to his position in the Tanzanian government as head of the country’s national park system, Bryceson was able to protect Goodall’s research project and implement an embargo on tourism at Gombe.

Goodall said that dogs, and not the chimpanzees she studied, were her favourite animal.

LAST WORD

US President Donald Trump had probably set himself the goal of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. And he seems to have almost done it with the Israel-Hamas Peace Plan , which is slowly beginning to shape-up.

Meanwhile, the Noble Peace Committee thought it could not wait any longer and awarded the prize to Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, who promptly dedicated the Award to Donald Trump. Did the Nobel Committee miss something here?

On 10 October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado, who it said is ‘a brave and committed champion of peace – to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness’. She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

Venezuela’s authoritarian regime under Nicolas Maduro has been in power since the death of former President Hugo Chavez, in 2013. In the Election held in 2024, Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate, but the regime blocked her candidacy. She then backed the representative of a different party, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, in the election. And though the Opposition won in a landslide Maduro refused to accept the results and only tightened his grip on power.

The next STOP for Trump must be the Russia-Ukraine War. If he indeed does it, he might have just booked himself the next Nobel?

In the good old days, in my part of the world, when you wanted to book a seat in a Bus, which just entered the Bus Stand, you ran alongside it and dropped a handkerchief through the window on a seat – to occupy it – while you body-massaged yourself through the crowds. I reckon Donald Trump did just that. Hope the hankie stays its course.

More war and peace stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay alive with Freewheeling.

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the storyline, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run of events from 15 August 2025 to 31 August 2025: Trump & Putin; Trump & Europe; India’s dogs; Israel goes all-out; Putin-Modi-Xi axis.

Trump-Putin: Alaska Stays Cold

United Sates President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met across the Bering Strait in Alaska – almost a Putin swag walk from Russia. A reminder that that America and Russia are so awfully close – just a Strait away.

The Summit was broadcasted as a vital step towards peace in Ukraine and the blue background banner of the Trump-Putin Press briefing had the title, ‘Pursuing Peace’.

Trump waited for Putin on the red carpet, clapped a ‘welcome back to the world stage’ message, and shook hands before Putin accepted a lift in Trump’s armoured Presidential Limousine. Ever since Russia’s war on Ukraine, Putin had almost become a pariah- sanctioned and shunned by the West. And this was probably his comeback moment. That broad laugh on the back-seat of The Beast said it all.

There was no cease fire announced on the Russia-Ukraine War and the talks ended sooner than expected with Putin gathering all his English and telling Trump, ‘Next time in Moscow’. In Trump parlance, “There were many points that we agreed on” and adding that great progress had been made in an extremely productive meeting, ending with “We didn’t get there”.

The wide grins, firm hand-shakes, and B2 Stealth Bombers ‘guarding Putin’s head’ were the key takeaways. I reckon tomorrow is another day!

Back to School

Following the Alaska Summit, Trump called over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House for a chat on the next steps. Zelensky needed armour and several European leaders who also flew to Washington to attend the meeting provided exactly that. The scene of all of them seated in the Oval Office was much like a School principal meeting with his School Teachers, was a memorable photo – one that would hang around for a long time to come. Peace or no-peace.

Given his trenchant previous visit to the Oval Office in February, the Ukrainian President went to considerable lengths to charm his American host – including a flurry of six ‘thank yous’ within the first few minutes of the meeting. This time, Zelenksy was wearing a dark suit rather than his traditional military garb, which caused Trump to quip, “all dressed up today”.

Again, nothing significant was achieved beyond the Super Star gathering of Heads of European Countries. There was no concrete commitments to security guarantees or steps towards a peace deal. Trump told Zelensky the US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal to end the war, without specifying the extent of any assistance. Trump did not offer US boots on the ground.

The Next would probably be a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky to find that elusive, shielded cease fire button. President Donald Trump said he thought it’d be better if President Zelensky and Russian President Putin meet without him. That sure is Great Thinking.

Israel

In the Israel-Hamas War, Israel has scaled-up the offensive and is going all-out in seizing control of Gaza City and hoping to rescue the remaining 48 hostages in the process. Preparations are underway to fully capture Gaza’s biggest city after nearly two years of war, despite warnings the campaign will have disastrous and unbearable consequences for Palestinians in the besieged region.

The bodies of two hostages, Ilan Weiss and Idan Shtivi, who were killed in the 7 October 2023 savagery by Hamas, have been recovered on 29th August. Initially, Idan Shtivi could not be identified, but after analysis at Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, it was confirmed. Weiss’ wife and daughter were kidnapped on 7th October, but released during the first ceasefire in November 2023.

Israel’s pain grows every day.

India’s Dogs

In recent times, India’s Supreme Court has been barking louder than ever before. And what better opportunity when the issue of stray street dogs, prowling the streets of New Delhi and The National Capital Region, stands before it on all legs! It ordered all of them to be caught and housed in Dog Shelters. Stories of children and all kinds of people being attacked by street dogs, blood flowing on the streets, and the scare of Rabies was the sound in the air.

The Dog-lovers, instead of putting their tails between their legs, began squealing and fighting for the right of dogs to bite and to be fed.

This is a comprehensive failure of the administration, which should have kept the dogs under leash. In India, everything goes to the Supremes. What next, I go to court on a sewage overflow?

Then in a second coming, the Supreme Court modified its previous Order directing that all healthy stray dogs be sterilised, vaccinated, and returned to their original locations, in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules. Rabid or aggressive dogs, however, are to be kept in separate facilities. The court also ‘nudged’ the creation of feeding areas for dogs in each ward.

That sure was a denouement. Long live the dog in the Country of the Dogs?

India’s Honest Elections

India’s Leader of the Opposition decided that he cannot win elections without fraud and challenged the Election Commission of India on its cleanliness. A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being conducted in the State of Bihar -ahead of Legislative Elections in November this year. And of course, it was challenged in the Supremes, which barked rightly and said ‘go ahead’. And it said that it’s actually an inclusive exercise. The opposition called it ‘vote dacoity’ and that the exercise is being used to manipulate the vote list in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

If indeed that was the case, then how did the BJP fall short of a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, and how did the Opposition clean-sweep some States? Tamil Nadu, for example!

The SIR Electoral Roll is a unique voter list verification process, and its importance is ensuring accurate, fraud-free elections through comprehensive voter validation. The process is still ongoing, with the first draft already published.

In the first findings, about 22 lakh names have been marked as deceased, 7 lakh voters were found registered in more than one place, and about 35 lakh people were untraceable or had permanently moved away.

Such is the scale of fraud: certainly this needs to be brought under control and voter data updated to make elections more accurate and meaningful.

Tariffs and India

US tariffs of 50% -among the highest in the world -on goods from India kicked-in from Wednesday, 27 August, as Donald Trump sought to punish India for buying Russian oil and weapons.

India shrugged-off the Trump Tariff mania and cooly continued its purchases, calling the tariffs unfair and vowing to choose the best deal on buying oil to protect its people. But fears lurk that exports and growth could suffer with India trying to improve its ‘world’s fifth largest economy’ status. The US was, until recently, India’s largest trading partner.

The tariff setback has sent India into (fire) fighting mode, with an aggressive positive stance.

Earlier this month, India’s Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi promised to cut taxes to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, which will disrupt millions of livelihoods across the country’s export-driven industries that supply everything from clothes to diamonds and shrimp to American consumers. He used his 15th August Independence Day Address, from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort, to drive home confidence and healthy fight-back measures.

PM Modi promised Next-Generation Goods & Service Tax (GST) reforms by Diwali-a Diwali gift in the form of a massive tax bonanza- which will reduce taxes on daily essentials, benefiting MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Scale), local vendors, and consumers, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth and creating a more efficient, people-friendly economy. Modi also urged small shop owners and businesses to put up boards of ‘Swadeshi’ or ‘Made in India’ outside their stores. “We should become self-reliant-not out of desperation, but out of pride,” he said. “Economic selfishness is on the rise globally, and we mustn’t sit and cry about our difficulties, we must rise above and not allow others to hold us in their clutches.”

A Task Force for Next-Generation Reforms will be formed, which will evaluate all current laws, rules, and procedures related to economic activities. The Task Force will work within a set timeline to: reduce compliance costs for startups, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs; provide freedom from fear of arbitrary legal actions and ensure laws are streamlined for ease of doing business.

Over the past years, India has undertaken a historic wave of reforms, abolishing over 40,000 unnecessary compliances, and repealing more than 1,500 outdated laws. Dozens of other laws were simplified in Parliament. In the recent session alone, over 280 provisions were removed, making governance simpler and more accessible to the people.

A High-Powered Demography Mission will be launched aimed at ensuring India’s unity, integrity, and security, tackling both strategic and social challenges.

India will launch ‘Made in India’ semiconductor chips by the end of 2025, reflecting the nation’s growing strength in critical technology sectors.

And in a grande finale rebuff to Trump’s flagrant behaviour, PM Modi visited China to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The meeting was in China’s port city of Tianjin. Putin called Modi his ‘dear friend’ and gave him a lift in his armoured limousine. Lots of armoured lifts and rides these days!

China and India are the biggest buyers of crude oil from Russia. And despite Trump, there is no sign that India or China are going to stop buying cheap oil, anytime soon.

PM Modi welcomed recent efforts aimed at stopping the war in Ukraine, which he hoped would end as soon as possible. And reaffirmed his support for a peaceful settlement during a telephone conversation with Ukraine’s President Zelensky.

Well, if PM Modi can magically bring about a ceasefire, literally out of the Magician’s Turban, he will give Trump a run for his Nobel Peace Prize ‘case-building’.

More wagging and biting stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay solid with Freewheeling.

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the storyline, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a flight of events from 3 July 2025 to 26 July 2025.

America: the Big, the Rap, the Flash; guilty Russia; Wimbledon Tennis; Israel, Syria, India, Spain, and Moon Landing.

America

The Big

President Trump’s sweeping legislation-over which he and Elon Musk sparred and went to war-the so called ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ was passed by the Republican Party controlled House on 4th July by a razor-thin margin, delivering Trump a major legislative victory. It’s expected that the bill will slash almost USD 1 trillion from Medicaid-which could leave nearly 12 million Americans uninsured by 2034-while locking in tax cuts, mostly for the wealthy, and adding USD 3.3 trillion to the deficit. The bill then headed to the President’s desk for signature and after the great, beautiful scrawl it was made into Big Law.

Meanwhile, exasperated by the workings of Trump and the twists and turns of party politics, Elon Musk announced the launch of a new Political party called the ‘America Party’. It challenges the two-party system of Democrats and Republicans. And Musk said the Third Party will focus on deficit reduction and will be fiscally conservative. The party’s platform is to reduce debt, modernise the military with Artificial Intelligence(AI), cut regulations, and encourage more births -the human population is in decline, and we are heading toward extinction! The America Party would focus on two or three Senate Seats and eight to ten House Districts to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, and represent the general will. Musk said the Party would run in the 2026 elections, comparing his strategy to that used by the Greek General Epaminondas in the Battle of Leuctra, “a concentrated force at a precise location on the battlefield”.

Trump brushed it off as ‘ridiculous’ and said, Elon Musk has ‘run off the rails’ and is a ‘train wreck’. Great, big colourful words that only Trump uses best.

A third Political Party or Front, has never made headway in America. Will ‘America Party’ break the two?

The Rap

In September 2024, American Rapper, Record Producer, and Music Mogul, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested in the Southern District of New York and indicted on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He was held in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

This year, after seven long weeks of star testimonies and vigorous nods and combing of evidence, a jury (of mostly men) found Combs not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking-the most serious charges against him. But they convicted him on two lesser charges of transporting someone for prostitution. Prosecutors claimed that Combs led a criminal organisation for over two decades, forcing people around him into ‘freak-offs’, and using his status to fulfil his sexual desires. His defense team didn’t deny the drug use or domestic violence but argued the other allegations were overblown. In the end, the jurors said the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he forced anyone to engage in non-consensual acts. Combs, who maintained his innocence, pumped his fist in the air and thanked the jurors. Bail has not been granted, as yet, and Combs remains in jail and faces up to 20 years in prison, which will be known in October 2025 when the sentence is to be pronounced. What else remains to be combed?

The Flash

In one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history, Flash Floods in Texas saw water swell like never before and swallow trees, bridges, and roads. By the end, one could see a bridge overwhelmed and overtaken by raging water, and debris slamming into it. That was not rising water: it was a wall of death. 10–15 inches of rain fell in hours. The ground couldn’t absorb it. The rivers couldn’t hold it. Gauges failed. It hit hard and fast. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes and crested at 39.50 feet, early in the morning while people were sleeping. This wasn’t ignorance. This was sudden, violent and unstoppable. No one saw the severity of this coming. No one could stop it. It was an act of God.

Over 130 have died in the flash flooding. 27 young girls, teenage counsellors and staff perished after a wall of water surged through Camp Mystic, a Christian Summer camp for girls, being held on the banks of the Guadalupe River, in Kerr County. At Camp Mystic, like elsewhere in the county, residents were reliant on an outdated and patchwork early warning system of alerts. Some were from the National Weather Service (NWS), which many concede, they never received. Other messages came from local authorities, some sent only after an inexplicable delay, which others along the Guadalupe’s banks say they did not see in any case. Investigators of the catastrophic Hill Country flooding may never be able to pinpoint a precise moment that sealed the fate of the camping girls.

While we explore the skies and beyond, we certainly need to take a closer look at dear Earth. By this time, should we not be able to read Planet Earth like the plan of our hand?

Russia is Guilty

On 9th July, Europe’s top Human Rights Court found that Russia shot down a regular civilian flight, Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, Flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members. The European Court of Human Rights also delivered damning judgments against Russia in three other cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands accusing Russia of atrocities in Ukraine going back more than a decade.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur-was shot down on 17 July 2014, using a Russian-made BUK 9M38 surface-to-air missile. This was fired during the war in Donbas, Eastern Ukraine, from territory controlled by separatist rebels backed by Russia-fighting the Ukrainian Government.

The Donbas War is a phase of the Russian-Ukraine War which began in April 2014, when Russian paramilitaries seized several Ukrainian Towns. Ukraine launched an operation against the separatists but failed to re-take territory. Due to the armed conflict in the region some airlines had began avoiding eastern Ukrainian airspace, in early March 2014.

The Court said that the evidence suggested that the missile had been intentionally fired at flight MH17, most likely in the mistaken belief that it was a military aircraft. The Court found that Russia’s refusal to acknowledge its involvement in the Flight MH17 disaster violated international law and its failure to properly investigate the matter significantly aggravated the suffering of the relatives and friends of the dead. In May, the United Nations’ Aviation Agency also found Russia responsible for the disaster.

Russia excels at being the ‘grizzly’ bad-boy of the world and gets away with everything?

Wimbledon 2025

This year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament saw new Champions walking the grass carpet and creating new records, new firsts, on a green background.

In a comeback, after recovering from cancer, the Royal Patron of Wimbledon, Catherine-Kate Middleton-Princess of Wales, handed over the Trophies, bouncing on court and making blue and white fashion statements with young Royals in tow. Something to watch besides the balls?

Kate became Patron of the All England Tennis Club in 2016, taking over from Queen Elizabeth. As Patron, she regularly attends the Women’s and Men’s Finals. However, she wasn’t there when Barbora Krejcikova defeated Jasmine Paolini for the women’s title, last year. And she was catching-up, quickly.

This year, the Women’s Singles Title winner is Poland’s, Iga Swiatek who defeated America’s Amanda Anisimova, with a brutal 6-0, 6-0 scoreline, in just 57 minutes. This is the first double bagel in a Wimbledon final, since 1988, and only the second in a Grand Slam Final in over a century. Iga Swiatek is the first Polish woman to claim the Wimbledon singles champion in the Open Era. The defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, lost in the third round to America’s Emma Navarro.

In the Men’s Singles, Italian Jannik Sinner demonstrated superb resilience by recovering from a set down to win his first Wimbledon title. It was a phenomenal performance, toppling the two-time defending champion, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 6-4. Sinner is the first Italian Wimbledon singles champion in the Open Era, and he now stands as a four-time Grand Slam Champion. He breaks his ­overall tie with an assortment of famous names, including Arthur Ashe, Andy Murray, and Stan Wawrinka. Perhaps, most important, he ends his rival, Alcaraz’s, run of five consecutive wins against him, adding a new dimension to a rivalry that seems set to decide the majority of major tournaments in the near future. This is also Sinner’s first Grand Slam title away from hard courts, after two victories at the Australian Open and last year’s US Open.

Then, there is a ‘sin’ angle. This is Sinner’s first grand slam victory and overall title since his three-month doping ban between February and May this year. Sinner had tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol last year before successfully arguing, during his initial tribunal in August, that the positive test had been a result of contamination, receiving no suspension. After the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) chose to appeal the case, Sinner’s team and WADA eventually entered a case resolution ­agreement, essentially a ­settlement, agreeing on the three-month suspension.

The prize money for the Wimbledon Championship is a record £53,500,000 with the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles, each receiving £3,000,000. The runner-up receives £1,520,000.

Other Stories

The Ukraine-Russia War plods on with US President, Donald Trump, mediated loud ceasefire attempts falling on deaf ears, and failing to inspire Russia. Now, the US is arming Ukraine to the teeth, to fight Russia, tooth and nail!

The ongoing Israel-Hamas War, to avenge the 7 October 2023 barbarism on Israel, rescue the 50 remaining hostages, and obliterate the terrorist Hamas, is still a hard work in progress. Israel is going in for the kill while humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip gets strangulated: the usual blame-game between the United Nations (UN) and Israel. But the UN can do better with tons of aid already in the Gaza remaining undistributed.

Over the past weeks, France said it plans to recognise Palestine as a State at the UN General Assembly Meeting in September, which drew fire from those on the side with Israel. Wait until the Palestine State actually comes into being, said Italy.

In Syria, a fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence erupted with fighting in the province of Suweida between Druze and Bedouin militias-two groups with long-running disputes-as well as government forces ‘joining the party’. The latest violence started on 13 July with the abduction of a Druze merchant. A few days later, Israel launched air strikes on Damascus, Suweida, and Deraa seeking to protect the Druze against government-affiliated forces. One week on, more than 1,100 people have been killed in Suweida. All sides – Druze, Bedouin and Syrian Government forces-have been accused of atrocities, but mainly the Government.

The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs. Half of its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population. Druze in Israel are largely considered to be loyal to the state, owing to their participation in military service. There are some 152,000 Druze living in Israel and the Golan Heights.

Towards the end of July, Thailand and Cambodia’s decades old border dispute escalated into deadly clashes after both sides accused each other of opening fire, and then exchanged fire along the disputed border. More than a dozen people have been killed and more than 135,000 civilians evacuated from the region. Tensions between the Southeast Asian neighbors have been boiling for months over disputed sections of their 800 km land border, demarcated partly by Cambodia’s former colonial ruler France, and which runs near several archaeologically significant Hindu religious sites that both countries claim.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out on a historic 5 nation – Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, Namibia-visit, between 2 July and 9 July. This was to fill the period gaps left by other PMs, deepening trade and improving bilateral hand-shake and hugging ties, and attending the BRICS Summit in Brazil. This was also the longest diplomatic visit outside India, in 10 years, by India’s PM.

The first visit to Ghana in 30 years; the first visit to Trinidad & Tobago in 27 years, where India’s PM also picked-up the nation’s highest national award – The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago; the first diplomatic visit to Argentina in 57 years; and in the final leg, the first visit by an Indian PM to Namibia, in nearly 30 years. That’s decades of ‘distance generating love’, and the visit heats it up. Did India get that far from all these countries?

Then on returning, in a brilliant reverse swing, PM Modi topped-up with a visit to the United Kingdom(UK) on 24 July where he signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement between the countries. This will see growth in every part of the UK-delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.The deal will see tariffs lowered so businesses can expand more easily in one of the fastest growing economies in the world-India, while UK consumers will benefit from lower prices and greater choices. India’s PM also welcomed nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins, which will create 2,200 jobs across the UK. For Britain, eager to score a post-Brexit win, the deal is its most economically significant trade agreement since leaving the European Union. For India, it marks its first major free trade pact outside Asia. For both countries, the agreement signals a long-term economic partnership.

It’s not over, not yet. Before returning to India from Britain, the PM dropped-in at Maldives, to warm-up things up after a period of cold unfriendliness crept-in between the nations over the past year. Cheers to that!

Spain’s Pain: Brutal heat scorched Spain in the first week of July, a blistering reminder of the climate change that is battering the world-stretching finances even a government debt climbs to new heights.

Humans landed on the moon for the first time 56 years ago on 20 July 1969, which is celebrated as Space Exploration Day, the anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. On this Day in 1969, the Apollo 11 crew of America’s NASA, successfully accomplished the first human landing on the Moon, touching down in the Sea of Tranquility. Six and a half hours later, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history as the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. Armstrong took the first step with that that iconic phrase, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

More scorching stories about giant leaps coming-up in the weeks ahead. Watch that step, with Freewheeling.

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the story, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run from 22 May 2025 to 1 June 2025. Stories from Israel, Ukraine, India, and France.

Israel

On 21st May, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC were shot and killed outside the Jewish Museum in an act of antisemitic terrorism. The shooter, 30 years old Elias Rodriguez-living in Chicago-was quickly arrested, even while he was squealing, “Free Palestine”. After the cold-blooded murder, Elias had pulled out a keffiyeh from his bag and said, “I did it. I did it for Gaza”, and then shouted “Free Palestine”.The moral decrepitude in America-the land of the American Dream-is alarming and coupled with its gun-culture just about anybody can be shot dead-for the weirdest reason.

The lovely young couple, Yaron Lischinsky, 28 and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who were murdered, were about to get engaged. Yaron had bought Sarah a ring to propose next week in Jerusalem. Instead of walking down the Aisle they have walked to their graves-for no fault of theirs. And for every fault of World Leaders tacitly supporting the terrorist Hamas and the Palestine cause.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF), began a new offensive in the Gaza with the objective of capturing 75% of the Strip in 2 months. The IDF mobilised forces and launched extensive attacks to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip. This is part of the opening moves of ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots’. And the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, to achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the remaining 58 hostages and the defeat of Hamas. Imagine, these hostages are in captivity for over 600 days!

Since early March, Israel had forbidden all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, saying Hamas was stealing and profiting from it. And why should one feed the enemy? But, Israel has relented and in the week of 18th May, a limited amount of food was delivered to the desperate people of Gaza, for the first time in a long time. Trucks loaded with food and supplies were allowed to enter Gaza. More than 90 trucks carrying flour, baby supplements and other food began dispersing aid into Southern Gaza. The United Nations, true to word, said this supply was ‘nowhere near enough’.

Ukraine

Despite persistent talks about a ceasefire, the Russia-Ukraine war only intensified and escalated to a new level. About two weeks ago, Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv killing at least 30 Ukrainians and injuring over 160 others. This caused United States President Donald Trump to flare, resulting in the US and Russia quarrelling in public. Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin was ‘playing with fire’, even as Russia amassed over 50,000 troops on Ukraine’s Border.

Then it was the turn of Ukraine. In a brilliant, incredible Trojan-horse style of historic strike, Ukraine smuggled in Drones in wooden crates deep into Russia, putting them in cargo trucks driven by unsuspecting Russians, where the roof would open remotely. And then launched the drones on Russian air fields with devastating effects destroying 41 Russian bomber aircraft across 4 air fields, some over 5000 kms from Ukraine. Ukraine called it ‘Operation Spiderweb’, which could well be the boldest and most brilliant mission in modern history.

Ukrainian drones struck four separate Russian strategic bomber bases, taking out Russian strategic aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 bombers.

Russian bases struck include Belaya (4700 km from Ukraine), Dyagilevo (700 km), Olenya (2000 km), Ivanovo (900 km). Operation Spiderweb took over a year and a half of planning. Personally overseen by President Zelensky, executed by Vasyl Maliuk and the team at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Sources say all Ukrainian operatives involved are safely back in Ukraine.

Trump’s promise of ending the Israeli-Hamas War and the Russia-Ukraine War appears to have been made on water: both wars are galloping at an unhindered new pace. What next, a fight with Elon Musk?

India

Following the stupendous success of Operation Sindoor, India sent out various diplomatic teams to all corners of the World to explain the good of India, the bad of Pakistan, and the ugliness of terrorism. The diplomats were chosen across Party lines. And a stand-out selection was the flamboyant, eloquent-word smelling, Sashi Tharoor of the Opposition Congress Party who created a winsome stir. His own Congress Party did not name him, but India’s Prime Minister pulled ‘The Good’ Sashi by his medium-long locks and used him as a Trump card to hunt gold in America and the nearby regions.

Incidentally, the iconic spaghetti western masterpiece film directed by Sergio Leone, ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly’ turns 50 this year. It starred Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach-roles etched in our memories forever. Its all mighty influence can still be felt in films made today.

Meanwhile, India began pulling rabbits out of the magical hat and showcased the immense damage done to Pakistan. Turkey, which supplied drones to Pakistan, faced the brunt of cancellation by Indian Tourists. It was also revealed that about 3000 Agniveers – recruited for a short stint in India’s Armed Forces among widespread criticism by the Opposition -did a fabulous job supporting various parts of Operation Sindoor.

India proved itself in unbelievable ways, and confidence is oozing through every pore.

Naxalism

India’s Home Minister had been promising for quite some time that he would bring India’s Naxalism menace to an end by the year 2026. He seems to be gunning for the year, and Naxalities are being gunned down in dozens.

On 14th May, India’s internal security forces achieved a historic success, towards a Naxal-free India. Thirty-one Naxalites were killed in the biggest-ever 21 days operation against Naxalism, in Karreguttalu Hill, at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. And the best pat is, that there were no casualties among the security forces. Maoist General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, was also killed in a 50-hour operation in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad forests, dealing a major blow to the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist, CPI(Maoist), leadership and network. Basavaraju, the most-wanted Naxal in the country with a bounty of INR 15 million on his head, was the ideological and tactical brain behind some of the deadliest Maoist attacks in India, in recent times. His death is being hailed as a decisive blow to the Maoist insurgency.

Karreguttalu Hill was the unified Headquarters of major Naxal organizations where indoctrination, Naxal training, use of weapons, and strategies for creating unrest in the country were carried out.

The birth of Naxalism can be traced to the uprising of 1967 in Naxalbari Village, West Bengal. The village that gave its name to the movement, was the site of a peasant revolt, instigated by communist leaders against land owners of the State. While India had obtained independence from the British in 1947, the country had retained the colonial land tenancy system. Under the British system, indigenous landlords were granted pieces of land in return for their collection of tax revenue and as in Medieval European feudal systems. These landlords subleased their land to peasants for half their yield. As brought out by India’s 1971 census, nearly 60% of the population was landless, the lion’s share of land being owned by the richest 4%.

While the 1967 Uprising marked the beginning of the Naxalite movement, as we know it today, its emergence and growth is a result of the various fragmentations of communist ideologies in India, over time.

The Naxalite insurgency started after the 1967 Naxalbari uprising and the subsequent split of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-CPI (M)-leading to the creation of a Marxist–Leninist faction. The faction splintered into various groups supportive of Maoist ideology, claiming to fight a rural rebellion and people’s war against the Government. The armed wing of the Maoists is called the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army, mostly equipped with small arms. They have conducted multiple attacks on security forces and government workers, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 civilians and 2,500 security force personnel since the 2000s. The area of Naxalite influence, called the Red Corridor, consists of about 38 Districts, most of them in Central and East India. As of 2025, six districts–Bijapur Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra have been declared as ‘most affected’ by Naxalism.

The ‘father’ of Naxalism In India, is Charu Majumdar, a Communist leader, and founder and General Secretary of the Communist Party of India-CPI- (Marxist-Leninist). Born into a progressive landlord family in Siliguri in 1918, he became a communist during the Indian independence movement.

Majumdar initially joined the CPI, which was founded in December 1925. During the mid 1960s he organised a leftist faction in the CPI (Marxist) and following the Naxalbari uprising, this group came to be known as Naxalities. Mazumder argued that the ‘revolution’ must take the path of armed struggle, on the pattern of the Chinese Communist Revolution, emphasising that quotations from China’s, Chairman Mao Zedong should be studied and read aloud by illiterate peasants.

Majumdar was arrested in July 1972 and died in custody – in unclear circumstances.

The CPI (Maoist), simply called the Maoists, is banned in India as it aims to overthrow the Republic of India through protracted people’s war. In 2009-and onwards-India designated the party as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Naxalism is a futile effort by misguided people and India being a thriving democracy has evolved to solving its problems – including land-in a reasonable manner. And not through any armed struggle.

An Ever Growing Economy

On 25 May 2025 India officially became the 4th largest economy in the world sliding over Japan – now in the 5th place – and looking-up at Germany, China, and the United States ahead. India’s GDP is at USD 4.187 Trillion, and quickly behind is Japan at USD 4.186 Trillion. Germany is at USD 4.744 Trillion; China at USD 19.231 Trillion; and the United States, way up, at USD 30.507 Trillion.

Other over 1 Trillion Dollar economies-there are 19 of them-are the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, France, Russia, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union (includes Poland, Switzerland, Netherlands).

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is an estimate of the Total value of finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders during a specified period, usually a year. GDP is commonly measured by using the expenditure method, which calculates GDP by adding the spending on new Consumer Goods, new Investment Spending, and the value of Net Exports.

France

The 78th edition of the annual Cannes Film Festival, 2025, held in Cannes, France, concluded on 24 May-having started on 13 May-with the Closing Ceremony. And it wasn’t an accident that coveted award, the Palme d’Or, was presented to Iranian Jafar Panahi for the film, ‘It Was Just an Accident’.

The Festival opened with the French comedy film, ‘Leave One Day’. And on the closing day ‘electricity left for a while’-a power outage, caused by arson, disrupted the morning screenings sessions.

The Cannes Jury was chaired by director Juliette Binoche to select the best of 21 films in the Competition. The jury consisted of Hollywood Actress Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia (Indian Director and screenwriter), Alba Rohrwacher, Leila Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas, and Jeremy Strong.

Jafar Panahi is one of Iran’s best known Directors. He is known to have consistently criticised the Islami Republic in his works, which landed him in jail too. His winning film is about 5 ex-prisoners who kidnap a man they think is the Officer who brutally abused them in jail. They contemplate the morality of killing their captive and whether he is actually who they believe him to be.

Some of the best films of the Festival are: Amrum, Bono:Stories of Surrender; The Chronology of Water (directional debut of Hollywood Actress Kristen Stewart); Eddington; Highest 2 Lowest; Homebound (India’s Neeraj Ghaywan’s Hindi-language tale about impoverished young men trying to escape their circumstances); The Love That Remains; The Mastermind; My Father’s Shadow; Resurrection; The Secret Agent; Sentimental Value (a layered family drama); Sirat; Sound of Falling; Urchin. Look out for them, the next time you go to the movies.

Well, who remembers the films? We all carry memories of the Red-Carpet walk and those amazing unbelievable, jaw-dropping, designer outfits-talking on their own -making style statements. Some of the best-dressed were:

Elle Fanning -in a sequinned aqua Armani Prive gown with pink roses and a crystal-lined neckline, a short train paired with diamond earrings; India’s Alia Bhatt – wearing an ivory-nude Schiaparelli gown with floral details, a tulle train, slick bun, day make-up, pearl studs, and a diamond ring; Eva Longoria – in a clear hour-glass dusty rose embellished gown from Tamara Ralph’s Collection; Dakota Johnson -in a cotton-candy pink fringe Gucci gown; Jennifer Lawrence – strapless white Dior Gown with a fan-like bodice; Heidi Klum- lost in a world of pink gradient organza petals; Romee Strijd – in a cream strapless ruffled feather dress. That sure ruffled a lot of us!

I wasn’t the least impressed by former Miss World India Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who I think wears Oprah Winfrey’s oversized clothes, or carpets, or fabric-hurriedly pulled off the shelf-that needs a ton of stitching. Maybe conscious about this, she wore sindoor on the first day: to cause a distraction? Nearby, on the nearby water front, the French Riviera, husband Abhishek Bachchan was having dinner with Mom.

More fashionable, spider web stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay the course with Freewheeling.

FREEWHEELING

About: A break free commentary on events on our Planet, anchored on the news of the world. Any comments beyond the story, are entirely mine, without prejudice -take it or leave it. This is a run from 23 April 2025 to 21 May 2025. Superpower India; a New Pope; Old Wars; Eurovision, and the Met Gala 2025.

India: Pahalgam Terror

It was a beautiful, quiet Tuesday afternoon on 22 April 2025, cool breeze in the air, in India’s ‘mini Switzerland’, Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, about 95 km east of Srinagar in India’s Jammu & Kashmir State. It was a full-blown tourist season. Hundreds had flocked to the accessible-by-foot-only spot, either on foot or climbing-up a pony for a ride. Honeymooning couples were doing Instagram reels, and children were frolicking on the lush green grass.

Suddenly, a group of gun-wielding and body-camera mounted Islamic (as identified later) terrorists, wearing Army fatigues, emerged from the dense pine forests surrounding the scenic spot. They approached the group of unsuspecting tourists and started firing indiscriminately, triggering fear and confusion. The men folk were rounded up: made to stand in a line, names asked, and their pants pulled down (to check for circumcision). They were told to recite the Kalma (a formal declaration of Islamic faith) and when they couldn’t, proving they were not Muslim, and that they were Hindu, the men were shot dead at point-bank range, leaving out the women. Recounted a woman survivor, after the killing of her husband she asked the attackers to kill her too. One of them responded -“I won’t kill you. Go tell this to Modi”.

By the time the Police/Army arrived the terrorists had vanished. It was about 20 minutes of unalloyed mayhem: one of the bloodiest Islamist attacks on Hindus in India- 26 men killed in cold blood. The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the Pakistan-based and sponsored, Laskhar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the bloody attack.

India was quick of the retaliatory-block spewing a volley of ‘potential energy’ loaded measures to strangulate and bring Pakistan to book. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT)-said to be unfair to India from the beginning-signed in 1960 was suspended indefinitely; Pakistan’s Diplomatic mission in India was downgraded reducing the level of official engagement; Pakistan’s military diplomats and Intelligence Officials declared as persona non grata; the Wagah-Attari Border was closed and the ceremonial beating the retreat parade was suspended; all currently valid Pakistan visas were revoked and Pakistanis asked to leave India within 24 hours; Indian airspace was closed for Pakistani commercial aircraft; trade ties snapped; shipping ties suspended; postal ties kept at abeyance; and a crackdown was launched on Pakistani origin digital and broadcast content.

The World Bank-brokered IWT allocates the waters of 6 rivers in the Indus Basin. India controls the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) with unrestricted use, while Pakistan has primary rights over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), though India can use them for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower. With the suspension of the IWP, Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, key agricultural hubs, would face severe water shortages followed by reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and economic losses. The Wagah border crossing, near Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan), is a key trade and cultural link, famous for its daily flag-lowering ceremony. Closing the vital trade route will particularly impact trade in agricultural products and cement.

Meanwhile, India prepared for kinetic action and launched a very appropriately named ‘Operation Sindoor’. Sindoor is the vermilion, married Hindu women wear on the forehead, near the hairline, to signify that they are married.

Operation Sindoor: India Rises

On 7 May 2025, in a focused, measured, and non-escalatory manner, India’s Armed Forces struck nine places of Terrorist infrastructure-indoctrination, training and logistics facilities-inside Pakistan. Military facilities of Pakistan were deliberately not targeted with India demonstrating superb restraint in selection of targets and method of execution in its first kinetic response to the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

About 100 terrorists were smoked out of their dens and killed. But this was just the beginning. Pakistan vowed revenge, on the grounds that it has been attacked. The question of what will Pakistan attack in India was the ‘Elephant In The Room’ – with India having ‘no terror bases to boast’.

India then sent another strong and significant message by holding a Press Briefing to disseminate outcomes of the action by the Armed Forces. Two lady Officers, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with the Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri engaged with the media. The women took the lead, sharing details of the military’s precision strikes on terror targets in Pakistan. And they became instant hits on social media. It was a spectacular performance and my chest swelled with pride.

The next day, on 8th May, Pakistan retaliated with a massive drone swarm attack across India’s western states. India’s multi-layered air defence network-domestically built and augmented by Israeli and Russian systems-effortlessly neutralised nearly all of them. With this unwarranted attack, Pakistan had crossed a line. Should not they fight the terrorists rather than India? And Pakistan Army Officers were seen attending the funerals of the dead terrorists! Does India need more evidence of Pakistan’s complicity?

Then on 9th May, India took the fight to Pakistan, with additional strikes on six Pakistani military airbases and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) coordination hubs.

Meanwhile, India went on a war mode waking up its territorial forces and doing mock war drills across major cities. It declared that any further attack will be treated as an ‘Act of War’ and the response will be swift and brutal. India’s Prime Minister gave the Army Forces a free-hand to strike Pakistan at a time and place of their choosing. The Navy- targeting Karachi-the Army and the Air Force- other parts of Pakistan- were fully mobilised to beat the living daylights of Pakistan.

India not only defended its own airspace with a robust, layered architecture, but also in successfully penetrating the Chinese-made systems fielded by Pakistan. It’s a reminder that defence is not about what you buy—it’s about what you integrate. And after differentiation, India has integrated well.

On 10th May, an overwhelmed and bewildered Pakistan pleaded for a temporary halt in firing, which India thoughtfully accepted. India did not call it a ceasefire: the military referred to it as a ‘stoppage of firing’-a semantic but deliberate choice that reinforced its strategic control of the situation. Then, India declared that any further talks with Pakistan will be only on two issues: (1) Terror, and (2) the return of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) to India.

After just four days of calibrated military action and precision strikes, it was objectively conclusive that India achieved a massive victory. Operation Sindoor met and exceeded its strategic aims-destroying terrorist infrastructure, demonstrating military superiority, restoring deterrence, and unveiling a new national security doctrine. This was not a symbolic force. It was decisive power, clearly applied.

India handled this crisis without seeking international mediation. It enforced a doctrine on sovereign terms, using sovereign means. And it was not about occupation or regime change. It was a limited war executed for specific objectives.

Initially, I was disappointed by the quick ‘stoppage of firing’. I thought that India should have gone deeper, for the kill, ‘finishing Pakistan’ and retaking POK. But then, strategic success isn’t about the scale of destruction-it’s about achieving the desired political effect. India was not fighting for vengeance. It was fighting for deterrence. And it worked.

India’s restraint cannot be seen as weakness: it is evolved maturity. It imposed costs, redefined thresholds, and retained escalation dominance. India didn’t just respond to an attack. It changed the strategic equation. India also showcased ‘Made in India’ weaponry, which performance exceeded expectations (and killed the doubting Thomases). The Indian armed forces, under the leadership of veteran commanders, employed a powerful combination of air strikes, drone warfare, cold intimidation by a ready-to-strike Nadu, and ground intelligence to ensure maximum impact with minimal collateral damage.

In an age where many modern wars spiral into open-ended occupations, ‘forever wars’ or political confusion, Operation Sindoor stands apart. This was a demonstration of disciplined military strategy: clear goals, aligned ways and means, and adaptive execution in the face of unpredictable escalation-that too will a nuclear Power. India absorbed a blow, defined its objective, and achieved it—all within a contained timeframe. That kind of clarity is rare in modern war. The world could learn.

India showcased its ability to strike any target in Pakistan at will—terror sites, drone coordination hubs, even airbases. Meanwhile, Pakistan was unable to penetrate a single defended area inside India. That is not parity. That is overwhelming superiority. And that is how real deterrence is established.

Once the dust and the smoke settled, it was apparent that Pakistan had suffered Himalayan losses, and India had probably struck its nuclear bases, which unleashed a radioactive fear causing them to beg for an immediate ‘stoppage of firing’.

India easily won the war, but Pakistan made some ground in establishing a false narrative – which was lapped by foreign media and a few inside India- about Indian jets being downed, despite the Indian Air Force declaring that all Pilots returned safety to their respective bases.

The world with that deer-caught-in the headlights look woke up to a different India. Many countries tried to down-play India’s surgical war victory. And thanks to Pakistan’s devilish response, India got a fabulous opportunity to test its strategies, indigenous weapon systems, intelligence gathering and modern warfare techniques. Pakistan just woke up a sleeping Giant. And it’s never going to be the same again.

Other Wars

On 13th May, the terrorist Hamas released the last known living American Hostage in Gaza, Elan Alexander, 21, ending an 18 month ordeal that began on 7 October 2023. This decision by Hamas coincided with US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East. Probably to please him?

A native of New Jersey, Alexander was serving in the Israeli military near the Gaza border when he was abducted by Hamas. With this release, there are still 58 hostages out there. And Israel has decided to capture and fully control the Gaza Strip by mounting an unprecedented attack with the goal of ‘total victory’, to end the War.

Meanwhile, the Palestine Authority Leader of the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas unloaded on Hamas, yelling, “Sons of dogs—hand over the hostages!” In a rare public rebuke, Abbas demands Hamas release captives, disarm, and cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. He also slammed Hamas for giving Israel the excuse to destroy Gaza and warned of a new Nakba (ethnic cleansing of Palestine Arabs).

In the Russia-Ukraine war, both countries, goaded by the US President, are struggling to meet to find peace and end the war. A cease-fire hangs in the air, but the tough customer that Russia is, it would probably be on its terms.

Habemus Papam! We Have a Pope

On 7 May 2025, under the domed ceiling of the Michelangelo painted Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, 133 Cardinals gathered to vote and elect the Catholic Church’s 267th Pope. Of the 135 eligible Cardinals, two-from Spain and Kenya-could not attend due to health reasons. 89 votes was required to obtain the two-thirds majority to elect a new Pope.

Once inside the Chapel, each one of the Cardinals took an oath of secrecy with one hand resting on a copy of the Gospel. This precludes them from ever sharing details of how the new Pope was elected.

Since the Conclave began in the afternoon, on Day One, only one set of Ballot Papers was distributed to the Cardinals, which ended-up in a black smoke off the Chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The morning session of Day Two began with two ballots and once again black smoke emerged signifying that no Pope was elected – this after three rounds. Then after lunch, after the fourth round of voting white smoke appeared in the evening, signifying the election of a new Pope. Habemus Papam. That was awfully quick!

Then it was announced that the 69 years old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, accepting to be Pope, and choosing the name of Leo XIV would be the next Pope – the first American Pope. Keeping with tradition, the new Pope stepped onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and greeted the world with the blessing, ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (to the City-of Rome-and the World) followed by a message in Latin and Spanish.

The new Pope-known as Bob to his friends- also the new Bishop of Rome – was born on 14 September 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.

Prevost grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, studied and earned a Degree in Mathematics at the Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He also studied Philosophy. In August 1981 he took his solemn vows and went on to receive his theological education-a Diploma-at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquina, where he was ordained a priest on June 1982. Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984 and thereafter spent decades as a missionary. He speaks multiple languages and plays amateur tennis besides reading, walking, and travelling-to new and diverse places.

Prevost spent 20 years in Peru, where he is a naturalised citizen and served as a Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023. He is a dual citizen of the US and Peru.

The late Pope Francis made him an Archbishop in January 2023 and created him a Cardinal in September that year, assigning him the Diaconate of Saint Monica, which he officially took possession of in January 2024.

The choice of regnal name aligns him with a lineage of Pope known for strong leadership and doctrinal clarity.

The newly-minted Pope looks fresh and full of energy, and I’m hoping he spreads the right Word across the world.

Music and Gala

Austrian Singer Johannes Pietsch (stage name JJ), 24, won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Switzerland on 17 May 2025, Saturday with the song ‘Wasted Love’, which features operatic, multi-octave vocals with a techno touch, coming from JJ’s classical music training. JJ said that his song is about failed romance conveying the message that ‘love is the strongest force on planet Earth, and love persevered’. He is the first Eurovision winner with Filipino ancestry, and to be identified as homosexual.

Israeli musician and pop music singer Yuval Raphael, 24, was placed second for the song, ‘New Day Will Rise’, but topped the Eurovision Public Vote. Her performance was marred by tensions over Israel’s participation amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Over the past year the European Broadcasting Union, which conducts the Eurovision, steadfastly refused any and all calls for Israel to be barred from the competition.

Fashion’s biggest night out, The 2025 Met Gala was held on 5 May 2025 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, United States, with the theme, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ focussing on black dandyism and its various iterations. The dress code of, ‘Tailored for You’ centred on menswear challenged designers to reinterpret tailoring traditions for their female clients. It sought to examine the importance of clothing and style to the formation of black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.

Celebrities included Zendaya, Demi Moore, Diana Ross, Rihanna (showing off her third baby bump), Colman Domingo, Formula One Star Sir Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, Dapper Dan, Kylie Jenner, Halle Berry (in a stunning sheer mermaid gown with an endlessly plunging neckline and strategically placed stripes), Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Cynthia Erivo, Cardi B, Pop legend Madonna (in a cream tuxedo and cigar combo)… to list a few. Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh, in a first appearance, emulated an early Indian dandy of the 20th century. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan walked in with a cane and statement jewellery hugging his neck.

A slick array of blazers, pants, and ties abounded. Whether shorts suits formal tailcoats, or vests worn without jackets, suiting dominated the night in all different forms and iterations. Zendaya’s Louis Vuitton three-piece cream suit and wide-brimmed hat was a standout tailored look. A few gowns and skirt looks also stole the show. A memorable one was American rapper Andre Lauren Benjamin (Andre 3000) showing-up with a black and white piano strung to his back and a black trash bag as a purse.

Overall, it proved to be one of the most stylish, memorable Met Gala carpets in history.

The most popular star was a 28-year-old debutant, Lalisa Manoban, K-pop star Lisa, best known for her stint with the band ‘Blackpink’ who ruled the roost, with a staggering USD 21.3 million in Media Impact Value (MIV). This means that her red carpet appearance at the Gala earned her USD21.3 million through just social media.

Lisa appeared dressed in a Louis Vuitton (Lisa is Global Ambassador for the brand) outfit, a black bodysuit with an eyelet long-sleeved jacket over the top. She paired the bodysuit with a pearl and gold waist chain, a pair of Vuitton branded tights and a black and white bowler bag. Lisa faced some backlash for featuring American civil rights activist Rosa Park’s face on her underwear. But the controversy did help Lisa trend on social media for a considerable amount of time, potentially leading to her topping the Power Rankings this year.

More stylishly tailored and precision stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Freely wear Freewheeling.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-51

About: the world this week, 15 December to 21 December 2024: the wars; death of a tabla titan; Top Gun honours for Tom Cruise; India – State and Parliament; Test Cricket, and a fabulous Indian spinner retires.

Everywhere

The Wars

A top Russian General accused of using chemical weapons on the battlefields in Ukraine was killed in a bomb blast in Moscow early Tuesday-an attack swiftly claimed by Ukraine.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who headed Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces was killed, along with an assistant, by a remotely detonated bomb planted in an electric scooter outside an apartment building. This came a day after Ukrainian prosecutors sentenced Kirillov, in absentia, for Russia’s use of banned chemical weapons in the ongoing war.

With Hamas down but not out, Hezbollah almost out, and Syria staring a grim possibility of returning to the Stone Age, Israel turned its sights on the Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen.

This week, the Houtis launched a ballistic missile into Israel’s Tel Aviv damaging a school, but no injuries were reported. The missile was intercepted by Israel. Within hours, in a quick response Israel completely paralyzed three Houthi-controlled Ports in Yemen during airstrikes, targeting capital Sanaa for the first time. Dozens of fighter jets, along with refuelling aircraft, hit targets up to 2,000 km from Israel.

Wonder how Israel plans to deal with the ‘Mother Ship’ – Iran.

On another front, news floats-in that hostage deal negotiations between Hamas and Israel are nearing conclusion. As part of the deal, Palestinian terrorists convicted of murder will be exiled to Turkey and Iran. Discussion is ongoing regarding the names and sentences of the Palestinian prisoners who will be freed as part of the deal. The deal being worked on would consist of three phases. The first phase, which would last 45 days, all Israeli civilians and female soldiers being held hostage in Gaza would be released and Israel’s troops would withdraw from the centre of cities, coastal roads, and an area along the Gaza-Egypt border. In addition, residents of northern Gaza would return to their homes. In the second phase, the remaining hostages would be freed, and the Israel would complete its withdrawal from Gaza. The third phase would be a permanent ceasefire and the end of the current war. Will it work out this time?

Wah Ustad!

This week Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qureshi the legendary tabla virtuoso and global ambassador of Indian classical music died, aged 73, in San Francisco, United States. His death was due to health complications. Besides being a percussionist, Zakir Hussain was a music composer, music producer, and film actor.

The tabla-a pair of drums used in Indian classical music-is historically viewed as an accompaniment to the main performance.

Think Tabla, and Zakir Hussain flashes across the mind with those trademark long curly locks of hair, which danced to his fingers that made music in the iconic Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea advertisement, of the 1980s. Taj Mahal Tea was a premium Indian tea brand launched in 1966.

The advertisement opens with Hussain seated against the backdrop of the beautiful Taj Mahal, effortlessly playing the tabla. Later, he sipped on a cup of Taj tea. When a voiceover praises him saying, “wah ustad, wah” (Wow Ustad – as skilled musician- Wow!) he responds, “Arre huzoor, wah Taj boliye!”( Come on-annoyingly- sir, praise the Taj). This exchange, though brief, became iconic, drumming itself in the collective memory of Indians. At a time when television was still a novelty in India, the advertisement resonated with viewers for its simple yet impactful message and Zakir’s humble charisma. The television commercial portrayed the perfection in playing the tabla as the result of hours of dedicated work, just like the work of a master tea blender. Wow indeed!

Zakir Hussain was the eldest son of tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi. Two of his brothers Taufiq Qureshi- a percussionist-and Fazal Qureshi-a tabla player-are also in Indian classical music. He spent his early days in Mumbai training, under his father; studied at St. Michael’s School Mahim, Mumbai; and graduated from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He moved to the United States in 1970, where he lived and ‘played’, up to his death. And kept the long hippie locks!

Zakir Hussain was a child prodigy and collaborated with Indian classical icons like Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Shivkumar Sharma and global musicians like John McLaughlin and George Harrison. His journey, from a child prodigy to an internationally celebrated percussionist, is a masterclass in balancing tradition and innovation.

Hussain played on George Harrison’s (lead guitarist of the famous Beatles) 1973 album ‘Living in the Material World’ and John Handy’s 1973 album ‘Hard Work’. He also performed on Van Morrison’s 1979 album ‘Into the Music’ and ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’s (an American Band) 1983 album ‘Powerlight’.

Hussain joined Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead(an American Rock Band) to create the special album ‘Planet Drum’, featuring drummers from different parts of the world including Vikku Vinayakram (known as the God of Ghatam) from India. The first Planet Drum album, released in 1991 and went on to win the 1992 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album – the first Grammy ever awarded in this category. In later years the same team came together to make the album ‘The Global Drum Project’, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st Grammy Awards Ceremony in 2009.

Awards came by the beat to Zakir Hussain. He won a total of four Grammys over his career. India awarded him the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan besides the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for contributions to Hindustani Classical Music.

Hussain composed, performed, and acted as Indian music advisor for the Malayalam film ‘Vanaprastham’-a 1999 Cannes Film Festival entry, and won awards at the 2000 Istanbul International Film Festival, Turkey; 2000 Mumbai International Film Festival in India, and 2000 National Film Awards, India.

He has composed soundtracks for several movies, most notably ‘In Custody’ and ‘The Mystic Masseur’ by Ismail Merchant. And has played tabla on the soundtracks of Francis Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’, Bernardo Bertolucci’s ‘Little Buddha’, among other films. He starred in several films specifically showcasing his musical performance both solo and with different bands, including the 1998 documentary ‘Zakir and His Friends’. Hussain co-starred as Inder Lal in the 1983 Merchant Ivory film ‘Heat and Dust’, for which he was an associate music director.

In 2016, Hussain was among many musicians invited by President Obama to the International Jazz Day 2016 All-Star Global Concert at the White House.

Eight years after Zakir Hussain moved to the US, he met, dated and married Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and teacher, who was also his Manager. They have two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Anisa graduated from UCLA and is a film-maker. Isabella is studying dance in Manhattan. The story goes that Hussain married Antonia without telling his mother who had rigid views, and Hussain was the first to marry outside his community. But his father was there to marry him off. And took on the responsibility to explain to his mother to bring her on-board. In later years his mother met Antonia and grew to like her.

Hussain’s life revolved around rhythm from the very beginning. He leaves behind a timeless legacy that will inspire generations.

Top Gun Cruise

Tom Cruise, 62, was awarded the US Navy’s highest civilian honour for outstanding contributions to the military with his screen roles. The Distinguished Public Service Award was presented to Cruise during a ceremony this week at the Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. Tom Cruise expressed his gratitude for the ‘extraordinary acknowledgement’.

Cruise happened to be around in the neighbourhood, working on his next film, ‘Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning’, due for release in May 2025.

Tom Cruise’s lead role as a young naval aviator. Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, a in the 1986 smash hit ‘Top Gun’ shot him into celebrity status, and the film’s record-breaking success spiked military enlistment. The Navy thanked the action hero, who it said had “increased public awareness and appreciation for our highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make while in uniform”. The movie Top Gun was so influential that the Navy even set up recruitment tables in theatres screening the movie.

Tom Cruise reprised his role as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell in the 2022 sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, which the Navy said ‘reinvigorated’ military interest from younger audiences.

The prestigious civilian honour was previously awarded to Academy Award winners Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for their work in the World War II movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’.

Cricket, Rain, and Ashwin

The Third India versus Australia Cricket Test Match played at the Gabba, Brisbane, Australia, had a third force trying to get in to bowl, bat, keep, and howl. Rain wrecked havoc throughout the match, and ultimately had the final say. The Test ended in a draw, which saw India struggling at one point way behind Australia. And defeat was staring down on them. Thanks to the rain, ‘they escaped jail’.

Then there was a fourth force, well actually an announcement. India’s ace spinner Ashwin Ravichandran, 38 called it quits and announced retirement from International Cricket. Ashwin is widely regarded as one of the greatest spinners of all time. He represented the national team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy-where he bowled the match-winning final over. He plays for Tamil Nadu and South Zone in domestic cricket and for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

First, some mind-boggling statistics.

Ashwin took 537 wickets in 106 tests with 37 five-wicket hauls; made 3,503 Test runs with six centuries and 14 half centuries. He Played 116 ODIs and took 156 wickets and 65 T20s with 72 wickets. He was the fastest bowler to reach 300 test wickets in terms of number of innings. He is one of the only three players to have scored 3,000 runs and taken 500 wickets in Tests. As of September 2024, he is the highest-ranked bowler in the ICC men’s player rankings and the highest rated Indian bowler ever in Test cricket.

He played as a right-arm off spin bowler and a handy lower order batsman. Ashwin started as an opening batsman but dropped down the order due to limited success and turned into an off-break bowler. He made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in December 2006 and captained the team the following season. In 2011, Ashwin made his Test debut against the fiery West Indies and became the seventh Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut.

He had greater success with the turning tracks in the Indian subcontinent. He won the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year awards for 2016. He has been named five times to the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year and was named in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade 2011–20. In 2015, he was awarded the Arjuna award by the Government of India.

In his bowling, Ashwin produces several variations and flights the ball, thereby giving it more chance to spin and dip on the batsman. In addition to his normal off-breaks, he produces an arm ball and the carrom ball, the latter of which he uses frequently in the shorter formats. In IPL 2013, he bowled leg-breaks and googly as well. He evolved his carrom ball from the soduku ball, a finger-flicked leg-break used in tennis ball cricket on the streets of Chennai. However, he refrains from bowling the doosra as it requires him to bend and straighten his arm, which he finds difficult to do.

Ashwin resides in Chennai Tamilnadu. He married his childhood sweet-heart, Prithi Narayanan in November 2011, and the couple have two daughters.

I get that creepy feeling that Ashwin has placed his himself above the country. He could have waited till the end of the India-Australia Test series to announce his retirement. His Dad said he was humiliated, but Ashwin quickly called for it to be ignored. Whatever, good luck to him.

India Melange

State

There was outrage in Tamil Nadu, which saw the funeral procession of a convicted terrorist S A Basha attended by a huge crowd, with 2000 to 5000 police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel being deployed in Coimbatore City! SA Basha was sentenced to life for the 1998 Coimbatore Bomb Blasts.

On 14 February 1998, bombs went off at 12 locations in Coimbatore city, just ahead of BJP leader LK Advani’s visit, killing 58 people and injuring another 200. Basha was found guilty by the Courts and was sentenced to life imprisonment along with 12 others in 2007. Fundamentalist organisations including the Al-Ummah founded by Basha, the All India Jihad Committee, and Islamic Defence Force, were all held responsible for the 1998 bombings.

Basha founded Al-Ummah after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on in December 1992. As ties between Muslims and Hindus in Coimbatore and elsewhere became increasingly strained, Al-Ummah was able to radicalise young Muslims.

Basha was granted parole recently for undergoing medical treatment for an illness and died when he failed to respond to treatment.

It was a shame to see political parties such as Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) an Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Seeman, alongside many Muslim and Kongu leaders vying with each other to ‘condole the death’. These parties has earlier demanded the release of those sentenced for the 1998 blasts.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the state government for granting permission to Basha’s funeral procession, accusing it of ‘minority appeasement’.

Centre

India’s Parliament is working its Winter Session and conducting business has become a heated job with the Opposition Parties shouting-down the Government and disrupting proceeding over finicky issues. The Government introduced the ambitious ‘One Nation One Election Bill’ and promptly sent it to a Parliament Committee for more discussions.

Journalist Tavleen Singh (who I follow on X) described a controversy over a supposed insult to Ambedkar-architect of India’s Constitution-as nothing to do with him, but a juvenile high jinx more suitable to a rowdy school yard.

Towards the end of the week it became bloody with the Leader of the Opposition – Rahul Gandhi-accused of pushing a senior BJP MP leading to this fall and admission to Hospital.

India’s Parliament is a place to watch when in session: guaranteed entertainment. They seem to discuss everything, except what matters for the country.

More top-gun stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-45

About: the world this week, 3 November to 9 November 2024: Israel infighting; USA’s new old President; Amsterdam street-hunt; Cricket-Kiwis make ants of India; and Quincy Jones departs.

Everywhere

Israel: Infighting

This week, Israel’s Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, 14 months into the Gaza War, and the attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran.

Netanyahu said there has been too many ‘significant gaps’ between them over the management of Israel’s wars. He added, “In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the PM and the defence minister. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister”.

The two have regularly been at odds over the handling of the Gaza war. A previous attempt to fire Gallant, in March last year, led to widespread street agitations against Netanyahu, with opposition groups calling for mass protests.

This time, the ‘gallant’ sacking comes amid a backdrop of disagreements over drafting of ultra-orthodox students into the IDF, with Gallant deciding to send out thousands of draft notices. Leaders of ultra-orthodox Haredi parties in Netanyahu’s coalition Government have called for a law exempting full-time religious seminary students from service.

Religious young men are exempt from military service, which is compulsory for most Jews in the country. Many Israelis are annoyed the ultra-orthodox remain exempt from national service when so many of the country’s young men and women are fighting.

Yoav Gallant was replaced by Israel Katz, was previously foreign minister. Katz has nowhere near the military command experience of Gallant-who is so well regarded within Israel that when he spoke about the direction of the war, often in opposition to Netanyahu, people listened.

Amsterdam Hunt

Late this week Jewish soccer fans were ‘attacked and hunted like animals’ by Islamists, Pro-Palestinian mobs, and antisemitic hit-and-run squads who went on a rampage in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Israelis were abused and pelted with fireworks around the city, and riot police had to be called-in to protect them and escort them to hotels. At least five people were treated in hospital. Israel despatched its aeroplanes to the rescue and said it would fly many fans home. However at the end of the day all missing people were accounted for and Israel sighed in relief.

Dutch police said they had launched a major investigation into multiple incidents following the Europa League soccer game this Thursday night between Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch side Ajax.

Later, the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander said: ‘We failed the Jewish community during World War II, and last night we failed again’.

United States (US): a New Old President

The US has a peculiar, long-drawn process of electing its President and Vice-President, beginning from the nomination of candidates through Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions, and ending on Election Day. They are not chosen by a direct popular vote. The US Constitution requires that a process known as the Electoral College ultimately decides who wins the Presidential election. In all other US elections, candidates are elected directly by popular vote.

Each state gets as many Electors as it has members of Congress (House and Senate). Each state’s political parties choose their own slate of potential Electors. Who is chosen to be an Elector, how, and when varies from State to State.

After a voter casts his ballot for President and Vice-President, his vote goes to a statewide tally. In 48 states and Washington, DC., the winner gets all the electoral votes for that State. The States of Maine and Nebraska assign their electors using a proportional system. A candidate needs the vote of at least 270 Electors—more than half of all Electors out of a total of 538—to win the presidential election. In most cases, a projected winner is announced on election night in November after voting is completed. But the actual Electoral College vote takes place in mid-December when the electors meet in their States.

Electoral votes are awarded on the basis of the popular vote in each State. The Electoral College is not a physical place. It is a process which includes: the selection of Electors; meeting of Electors who cast votes for the President and Vice-President; and counting of the Electors’ votes by Congress.

This week on 3rd November, Tuesday, America voted to elect a new President and Vice-President for the next four years. Counting of votes begins on Election night and typically proceeds in a specific order: election day votes first, followed by early and mail-in ballots. Local election officials are tasked with verifying and counting votes, a process that is meticulously regulated to ensure accuracy and transparency.

In this year’s Presidential Elections, former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party trounced Vice-President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party to become the 47th President(Elect) of the United States. Trump won the Electoral and the Popular Vote: 295 Electoral votes and 50.8% of the Popular vote, to Kamala Harris’ 226, and 47.5% respectively. The vote for the Vice-President-the running mate- runs alongside that President. And J D Vance becomes Vice President-elect.

Donald Trump made history in many ways: he is the oldest President, at 78, to be elected; the first convicted felon; and the first Republican to win the popular vote in over two decades.

Trump’s strategy of courting a coalition of less engaged voters and minority groups, especially Black and Hispanic men, paid off. His messaging on immigration and the economy resonated with voters, giving him an edge, as many expressed dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s administration-baggage Kamala Harris struggled to shrug off.

Trump has proven to be political Teflon: no matter the scandal or issue, he has outmanoeuvred it and garnered support. Voters chose Trump despite the litany of offensive or racist remarks at rallies, concerns about his age, questions about his mental acuity, the fallout from the 6 January 2020 insurrection, and a colourful trial that ended with a criminal conviction.

In his first speech, Trump said the nation delivered “an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” while JD Vance called the election “the greatest political comeback” in US history.

How did Trump pull it off?

He had the fortune of running when Americans were frustrated by inflation, high prices and, to a lesser extent, illegal immigration across the US southern border. On the campaign trail, Trump said he opposed a federal abortion ban but that states are free to pass laws as restricted or unrestricted as they choose. He also became a vocal advocate for having insurers cover the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Trump’s emphatic win seems to be a revenge of the normal working class and a message by the ordinary man on the street to get the job done of making their lives easier, and better. And doing what he said he will do.

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk lent his entrepreneurial, start-up muscle techniques and his dollars, to the win, especially with the social media platform ‘X’. He endorsed Trump and set a winning narrative. Maybe, America has reached a fork in its destiny, worked, after all. Microsoft’s Bill Gates and a galaxy of Hollywood stars in turn endorsed Kamala, but they acted to a wrong script, ‘divorced from the mega reality’ and it was a flop show.

Those were the Trump’s signature issues, ones that proved to be anvils that weighed down Vice President Harris’ candidacy. The result was a quicker-than-expected set of returns that secured Trump an unbelievable, landslide victory.

India was not let down in ‘trying to place its person’ in the White House, or at least in the neighbourhood. If Indian origin Kamala Harris lost the Presidency, Indian origin Usha Chilukuri won the job of the Second Lady as wife of Vice-President J D Vance – that’s a family vote. Usha becomes the first Indian American, Telugu American, and Hindu Brahim American to reach the position. An elated Chief Minister of the Indian State of Andra Pradesh was quick to give a ‘shout out’, welcoming them home, sometime.

Usha Chilukuri, 38, is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Her father is a mechanical engineer from IIT Chennai and a lecturer at San Diego State University; her mother is a molecular biologist and provost at the University of California, San Diego.

Her parents’ ancestral village is Vadluru in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, though Usha grew up in a San Diego suburb.

Usha graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in history and from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. After law school, Usha served as a law clerk for multiple federal judges, including Chief Justice John Roberts, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and Judge Amul Thapar. Usha married Vance in 2014, and in 2019 she was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and subsequently worked for a leading law firm handling civil litigation and appeals in cases involving higher education, local government, entertainment, and technology. She resigned from her law firm job in July 2024 to help her husband in the Vice-Presidential campaign. The Second Couple boast three children – two boys and a girl.

Cricket

The New Zealand cricket team’s tour of India ended with a perfect white-wash, topping-up with frothy white cream, to the already won 2 test matches, in the 3 Test Match Series. Words such as historic win, first-ever… etc., were hit to the boundary.

Indians expected their team to salvage some pride by winning the Third Test match played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, starting on the 1st November, but it was a huge disappointment. Set to chase 146 runs for a win, India disastrously floundered and lost by 25 runs. They left the stadium with their tails firmly between their legs while the Kiwis, who had no tail to wag, or wings to fly, sturdily walked home with the Victory Trophy. Feet firmly pitched on the ground.

‘Q’: You Were The World

This week, American record producer, songwriter, composer, and film and television producer, Quincy Jones, the man known simply as ‘Q’ died on Sunday at age 91. With reasons not being disclosed, we can assume that old age kicked-in.

Q worked with musicians ranging from Count Basie to Frank Sinatra and reshaped pop music with his collaborations with Michael Jackson in a music career spanning more than 65 years. There was little Jones did not do in his career. He was a trumpeter, bandleader, arranger, composer, producer and winner of 28 Grammy Awards.

Quincy Jones was a studio workaholic and a virtuoso at handling delicate egos. He shaped recordings by jazz greats such as Miles Davis, produced for Frank Sinatra, and put together the superstar ensemble that recorded the 1985 fundraiser, ‘We Are the World’, the biggest hit song of its time. That was to raise money for fighting famine in Ethiopia. Jones organised ‘We are the World’ along with Jackson and singer Lionel Richie. The huge all-star chorus featured Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson. Q set the tone for the recording session with a sign that said, ‘Leave your ego at the door’.

Quincy was also a prolific writer of movie scores and co-produced the film, ‘The Color Purple’, as well as the 1990s television show ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’, which launched the career of Actor Will Smith.

Jones’ most lasting achievements were in collaboration with Michael Jackson. They made three landmark albums – ‘Off the Wall’ in 1979, ‘Thriller’ in 1982, and ‘Bad’ in 1987 – that changed the landscape of American popular music. ‘Thriller’ sold as many as 70 million copies, with six of the nine songs on the album becoming top 10 singles.

Hits like ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’ and the title song made ‘Thriller’ the biggest-selling album of all time. It won three Grammys for Quincy Jones and seven for Michael Jackson. They followed that in 1987 with ‘Bad,’ which had five No. 1 hits, including, ‘Smooth Criminal’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’. Over to their music in Heaven!

More thrilling stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Listen to the music of World Inthavaaram (wish Q was here to make a recording).

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-43

About: the world this week, 20 October to 26 October 2024: Israel goads on; India-China relations; BRICS Summit 2024; India’s Airlines; and a gossip – a former Miss World.

Everywhere

Israel: Charged-up

Israeli continued its strikes across Gaza as its forces intensified a siege of northern parts, surrounding hospitals and refugee shelters, and ordering Palestinian residents to head south. This is with the objective of preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping. On another front, the pressure is being kept on the Hezbollah in Lebanon, who still manages to effortlessly fire rockets into Israel. A drone assassination attempt was made on Israel’s Prime Minister’s home, which failed. Israel’s operations have intensified since the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Al-Sinwar, a week ago.

In focus is the 101 hostages still held by Hamas for over 365 days. Where are they, and how does Israel rescue them?

At the end of the week Israel’s revenge act on Iran began: Israel’s Defence Forces began conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran. The fire and the smoke will have stories to tell.

India – China: Breaking Brick Walls

In May 2020, India and China had a ‘permitted-only’ fist-fight between their soldiers, in a wrestling skirmish on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Gulwan, Ladakh – East of Jammu & Kashmir State – a flimsy border area. Ladak is one of eight Union Territories of India. (Union territories differ from State Governments in that they are governed, in part or wholly, directly by the Government of India-the Centre).

Chinese forces objected to India constructing roads in the Galwan river valley: a melee and a fight ensued in June 2020 resulting in the deaths of Chinese and Indian soldiers – with actual ‘high’ numbers not being ‘thrown on the table’, on both sides. Then in September 2020, for the first time in 45 years, shots were fired along the LAC, with China and India blaming each other for the firing.

Amid the standoff, in what is seen as not buckling under the pressure tactics of China’s Army (People’s Liberation Army -PLA), the Indian Army held firm, matching the PLA, soldier for soldier along the LAC. India reinforced the region with about 12,000 additional workers to assist India’s Border Roads Organisation in completing the development of infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border. And signalled, through the Galwan clash and the army’s overall border positioning, that India was not going to back down, no matter the consequences.

Since then, both sides have been working silently and furiously to fortify their respective areas of control, while solidifying their stances in international forums. And a Cold War emerged from the boundaries, which became a millstone around the neck on India – China engagements.

This week, after over four years, 17 rounds of meetings on border affairs, 21 rounds of military dialogue, long-drawn, tedious and hard negotiations at many levels, India and China have finally come to an agreement on the tenacious border issue. This is in the Depsang Bulge area and the Charding Ningling Nullah Junction in Demchok, leading to disengagement of forces at friction points-Galwan, Khugrang, Dogra-Hot Springs and Pangong Too- and resolution of the dispute that arose in May 2020. The outcome, at the moment, is a Patrolling Agreement, where both sides can freely patrol their respective areas. This is a significant military and diplomatic win for India, and the two sides have gone back to the situation that existed on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the year 2020. The actual action on the ground will be seen in the coming weeks.

With this bridge built, India’s Prime Minister then headed to the BRICS Summit being held in Russia, where India can probably, ‘carefully hold hands’ with China – on the sidelines.

BRICS Summit 2024

BRICS is an intergovernmental Group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally coming into being to highlight investment opportunities, the grouping evolved into a geopolitical bloc, with member governments meeting annually at formal summits and coordinating multilateral policies since 2009. Bilateral relations among BRICS are conducted on the basis of non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit. It is often referred to as a counterweight to the Western-led world of developed economies. The BRICS Group represents 45% of the global population and 35% of the world’s economy.

The founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the first leaders summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009 under the name BRIC, with the respective leaders Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Dmitry Medvedev, Manmohan Singh, and Hu Jintao, attending. Following renaming of the organisation to BRICS, South Africa – which made the BRIC as BRICS – attended its first summit as a member in 2011, after joining the group in 2010.

The 2024 BRICS summit-the 16th Annual Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from 22 to 24 October 2024. This is the first BRICS summit to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE as members following their accession to the Group at the 15th BRICS summit. Saudi Arabia is yet to officially join, but participates in the organisation’s activities as an invited nation. Russia hosted 22 world leaders, including ‘hot favourites’, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On the sidelines, India’s Prime Minister conducted bilateral talks with several leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the lubrication should work well in times to come.

Currently, the West needs India more than India needs the West, to deal with China. The improvement of China-India relations without a mediator is the best proof of a geopolitical triumph in 2024 given the highly volatile global environment. Both India and China need predictability and stability in the bilateral relationship due to their shared, most important, goal of economic growth. Their cooperation within regional formats such as BRICS and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) represents an additional layer of engagement with the countries of the Global South. While India deepens ties with the West via QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – India, Japan, Australia, USA) and the European Union (EU). China deepens ties with Russia (DragonBear) and Central Asia as well as RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership- a free trade agreement). The biggest winner of the improvement of the relations between China and India next to their population is Russia because Russia strongly relies on the solid strategic ties and the growing trade volume with both countries to diversify away from Europe towards Asia and sustain its long-term war of attrition against Ukraine.

India’s Airlines

India is bracing for its busiest travel season -with the Festival of Lights, Deepavali, up ahead: and an unprecedented wave of fake bomb threats is creating turbulence for domestic airlines, threatening to affect not only holiday plans but the wider tourism economy, if the crisis continues.

Over less than two weeks until this Wednesday, various Indian airlines have received bomb threats affecting more than 120 flights. The threats were sent via social media, emails and even scrawled on washrooms, forcing airlines to divert flights or make emergency landings for safety checks. Seventy-nine flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats between Monday night and Tuesday. During this period, 23 flights from IndiGo, 23 from Air India, 21 from Vistara, and 12 from Akasa received such threats.

This took the total number of bomb threats received by airlines to 169 since 14th October 2024.

To combat the menace, the Government plans to introduce a law that would place hoax callers on a no-fly list under the Aircraft Security Rules. Authorities are also working on legal amendments to recognise such malicious calls as offences, with suspects facing possible investigation and prosecution without a warrant. Indian laws currently only recognise such offences while an aircraft is airborne and have few provisions to deal with offenders when planes are ‘standing still’ on the airport tarmac.

India’s New Chief Justice

India gets a new Chief Justice for the Supreme Court in early November. This Thursday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was appointed the 51st Chief Justice of India(CJI). He will take oath on 11th November, a day after the current CJI D Y Chandrachud retires upon attaining the age of 65.

As per convention, the outgoing CJI nominates the second-most senior judge as his successor, which recommendation has to be accepted by the Government at the Centre. CJI Chandrachud took charge on 9 Nov 2022 and his tenure will end on 10th November.

Justice Khanna will have a tenure of little over six months before he retires on 13 May 2025, again on reaching the age of 65.

The Centre notified the appointment of Justice Sanjeev Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India, effective 11th November 2024, through a gazette notification.

Gossip: On the Rocks

Over many years, the ever pregnant story doing the rounds is that former Miss World and Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her Actor husband Abhishek Bachchan are separating. And much of the talk is as if they have seen or read first-hand, the way-finding signals; as if one just walked out of the bed-room. A missing wedding ring here, a ‘separate’ appearance there, threads on social media – everywhere. And wild speculations, latching on to a sideline glance, or a diaphanous word. In the process we also learnt new terms such as ‘Grey Divorce’. More to come, start writing a dictionary?

To make matters worse, Aishwarya often appears in a curtain bag of Oprah Winfrey inspired flowing costumes, which conceals more than it reveals. And does not do justice to her fabulous beauty. And if at all there is a slit, grown-up daughter Aaradhya is nearby to cover-up, in a split second! Meanwhile, Abhishek wears that strong beard of greater growth than Dad Amitabh Bachchan’s French beard. The media has a hard time pulling hairline stories of such a ‘loose but tight’ case!

Aishwarya Rai married Abhishek Bachchan in the year 2007 and the couple have a daughter, Aaradhya, born in 2012. The last few months have been tough for the couple as rumours of their split and possible divorce have been creating headlines. Beneath the Red Carpet, both actors have maintained a ‘pregnant’ silence. Wonder what’s brewing and growing behind the scenes in their handsome-beautiful world?

More beautiful stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Hold-tight with World Inthavaaram.

WORLD INTHAVAARAM, 2024-41

About: the world this week, 6 October to 12 October 2024: Israel’s War; India’s Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir; Deadly Air Show in Chennai; West Bengal Doctors; and ta-ta Ratan N Tata.

Everywhere

Israel in Lebanon: What Next?

The suspense over Israel’s ‘revenge attack’ on Iran’s unwarranted 200 missile rain on Israel continues. Will Israel take down Iran’s nuclear facilities? Or will it be the Oil Fields? Will it be weapons facilities? Or will it be something the Middle East has never seen before? Thinking on the same lines, Israel has said, “the strike on Iran will be precise and unexpected; they won’t know what hit them”.

Meanwhile, Israel marked the 1st Anniversary of Hamas’ barbarism of 7th October 2023 by pounding Hezbollah bases in Southern Lebanon, to pre-empt attacks on its people in northern Israel. The ground forces discovered the ‘signature terror tunnels’ in Lebanon too-one even crossed the border into Israel. And Hezbollah still keeps slipping those rockets into Israel despite its leadership being in complete disarray. Nobody wants to be the Chief – that’s an easy Israeli target.

There are still about 101 hostages struggling in Hamas’ tunnels of hell in the Gaza Strip. And the fighting goes on.

India’s Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir

Counting of votes in the just concluded State Elections in India’s Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Haryana took place on 8th October. The results were shocking and beyond expectations, knocking the wind out of the sails of India’s Grand Old Party, the Congress, which believed that it would, without doubt, win. The unexpected results could probably be the final nail in the coffin of the exit poll industry.

Opinion polls predicted a ‘hand’some victory for the Congress – only the margin was debatable. In the end, the Congress finished with 37 seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) comfortable majority of 48 seats in the 90 member Legislature. The BJP ducked the loud anti-incumbency factor and created history by winning a third consecutive term. This is unprecedented and record breaking. Haryana has become the 5th state where the BJP has won three elections back-to-back. Other States being, Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

In J&K, no party could secure a majority on its own and it will be a coalition with the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC)’s 42 seats and Congress’ 6 seats adding up to form a Government. The winner was actually the BJP coming-up with its best performance in the State so far, grabbing a vote share of 25.64% and winning 29 seats. The JKNC secured a vote share of 23.43% and the Congress 11.97%.

The fluent win in Haryana and the spirited fight in J&K destroyed the ghosts of the BJP’s unexpected loss in the Lok Sabha Elections where it fell short of a majority on its own and depends on allies to form the Government.

The renowned ‘Jalebi’ (a juicy sweet) in Haryana’s Gohana became an overnight sensation with Congress’ Rahul Gandhi campaigning that the BJP wasn’t allowing Jalebis to be made in factories. “If his(alluding to Mathu Ram – a famous sweets maker) Jalebi is and sold in other states and is also exported, then 20,000 – 50,000 people can work in his factory, one day”. Adding that traders like Mathu Ram have been hurt by the Centre’s tax policies.

The Jalebi is made of pure desi ghee, is crispy, yet soft. Each Jalebi tips the scales at 250gm and a box of four, about a kilogram costs Rs 320. The shelf life is about a week.

After the victory, the BJP promptly dispatched boxes of Jalebis to the Congress’ Offices. It’s not known how well they were received!

It was awfully disturbing that the Congress Party created a stir by refusing to accept the results blaming everybody except themselves for the poor showing and even the Electronic Voting Machines. They believed it was their right to win – victory ‘unfairly’ snatched away by the BJP. This has become a signature reaction of a falling, fumbling, and failing Congress.

Air Show: Death on the Ground

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was formally constituted on 8 October 1932, as an auxiliary force of Britain’s Royal Air Force. After India’s independence, this day came to be celebrated annually as the IAF Day. And various spectacular events such as Parades, Air Shows, and Exhibitions, that depicted the capabilities and advancements of the IAF are organised, to kindle and draw young Indians to join the IAF.

This year, 2024 – the 92nd IAF Day-the theme was, Bharatiya Vayu Sena- Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar (Potent, Powerful, Self-Reliant). In celebration, an Air Show was arranged on Sunday, 6th October, above Chennai’s iconic Marina Beach, in the space between the Lighthouse and Chennai Port. The clear blue Chennai sky was expected to provide a fascinating view of action in the skies.

The aerial display was indeed spectacular and captivating, showcasing the prowess and manoeuvrability of the IAF aircraft including the new supersonic Rafale. The Show commenced with the Special Guard Force commandos conducting a simulated rescue operation and freeing a hostage. Para-jump instructors making an accurate landing on the target area and the commandos slithering in to reach the target area held the spectators spellbound.

Nearly 72 aircraft took part, which is set to enter the Limca Book of World Records. About 50 aircraft indulged in a formation showering flares. Heritage aircraft, Dakota, Harvard, Tejas, Sukhoi Su-30, and Sarang participated in the aerial salute. The Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet performed the ‘Loop-tumble-yaw’ (rotating in mid-air while ascending at high speed) manoeuvre; the Suryakiran, the nation’s pride, the indigenously manufactured state-of-the-art Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and Light Combat Helicopter Prachand took part in the flypast and aerial display.

The grand finale was a breathtaking performance by the Sarang helicopter display team that performed a stunning aerial manoeuvre. The Rafale streaking across the sky and demonstrating refuelling capability, and the Dakota in action was a sight to behold.

Meanwhile, on the ground about 15 lakh people had slowly gathered, trickling-in from as early as 7am in the morning. And began packing themselves like sardines into the beach, under the unfettered sun, in the suffocating October heat, upto the start of the show at 11am.

The India Meteorological Department’s Meenambakkam weather station, about 7 km away, recorded a maximum temperature of 34.3°C, a degree over normal and a relative humidity of 80%, with the two combining for a steep wet-bulb value of 31.26°C-a level at which prolonged exposure to the heat, such as attendees at the IAF event were subject to, can be fatal. Enthusiastic families had gathered on the sands of the Marina beach, many holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the blazing sun.

This perfect storm of unseemly weather and administrative lapses coalesced, when five people died and nearly 100 were hospitalised following the air show at the Marina Beach. The muggy Chennai weather catalysed the crisis.

The Tamil Nadu Government claimed it was well-prepared, but somehow the arrangements were not enough and found wanting in many dimensions. The State Chief Minister attributed the deaths to ‘extreme heat and various medical reasons;’ and said that although agencies coordinated to avoid crowding, the number of people was ‘much higher than expected’. That’s a revelation. Better luck next time?

West Bengal Doctors

This Monday, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed its first charge-sheet in the horrific West Bengal, RG Kar Hospital, Kolkatta, rape and murder case, which shook the nation this August. It charged civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy-who was almost immediately arrested after the incident came to light-with the rape and murder of the trainee doctor. There was no mention of a gang rape and Roy was the only accused. The charge-sheet detailed the circumstances, nature of injuries, cause of death, and produced irrefutable evidence to pin-down Roy: examination by the Courts, and a final judgement is awaited.

On Tuesday, at least 48 senior doctors and faculty of the RG Kar Hospital submitted a mass resignation letter, and those at two other State-run facilities threatened a similar move, in support of the junior medics who have been observing an indefinite hunger strike since last week, demanding justice and better safety measures. By Wednesday, the stir by doctors intensified further with more senior doctors in various State-run hospitals tendering their resignation and junior doctors planning to take their protest to other parts of Kolkata.

Ratan Naval Tata: Titan Industrialist – a ‘Noble’ Legend

When asked on how he would like to be remembered Ratan Tata famously said, ‘I’d like to be remembered as a person who made a difference. Not anything more, not anything less”.

This week, the head of India’s foremost Industries behemoth – Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons – of the Tata Group of Companies passed away at the ripe old age of 86-due to old age related problems.

When Ratan Tata took over the Tata Empire in 1991 from JRD Tata, at the age of 53, it was run by ‘warlords’ with each one jealously guarding his fiefdom and smacking their knuckles at the new Tata kid on the block. Ratan faced stiff resistance from the heads of various subsidiaries, who had a large amount of operational freedom under JRD Tata. One of Ratan’s first acts as Chairman was to bring down the ‘tough three’ satraps: Russi Modi of the Steel division; Ajit Kerkar heading the Taj Hotel chain; and Darbari Seth in Tata Chemicals. The three ruled their ‘kingdoms’ without permitting any interference from the Tata Group Head Office at Bombay House, in Mumbai.

In response, Ratan Tata implemented a number of policies designed to consolidate power, including the implementation of a retirement age, having subsidiaries report directly to the group office, and contribute their profit to building the Tata Group brand.

Gradually, from a shy, under confident youth, whose credentials as a business executive were uninspiring at the start, Ratan blossomed into a larger-than-life chairperson of the Tata Group. He gave the Tata Group new visibility and prominence through a series of bold gambles. The simple ’T & wreath of leaves’ Tata logo got a trendy makeover, transforming into an oval blue tree of knowledge – a fluidity logo.

The year 1991 was also the year that the Licence Raj ended in India and path-breaking reforms were unleashed, which would forever change business in India.

Ratan Tata had worked his way up from the Shop Floor of Tata Steel and on rising up the ranks to a managerial Level had turned around a Tata Group subsidiary – National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) only to see it collapse during an economic slowdown.

During the 21 years Ratan led the Tata Group, revenue grew over 40 times, and profit over 50 times. When he took over, sales overwhelmingly comprised commodity sales, but at the end of his tenure, the majority of sales came from brands. He had Tata Tea acquire Tetley, Tata Motors acquire Jaguar Land Rover, and Tata Steel acquire Corus. These acquisitions repositioned Tata from a largely India-centric group into a cohesive global business, with over 65% of revenues coming from operations and sales internationally.

During his period, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) founded in 1968 by FC Kholi – widely acknowledged as the father of Indian Information Technology -grew phenomenally, entering the software industry, and later with S Ramadorai at the helm it became the kingpin of the Tata Group’s revenues. Ratan Tata boldly made TCS public in 2004, though keeping the majority of shares with Tata Sons.

Ratan Tata conceptualised and spearheaded Tata’s foray into passenger car manufacturing in India, first with the Tata Indica and then the Tata Nano. Even before this, he tinkered with cars, launching the Tata Estate and the Tata Safari, riding on the back of Tata Motors, which was already a formidable player in the Truck market in India making Trucks, Buses, and Vans.

As on 2023, Tata has products and services in over 150 countries, and operations in 100 countries across six continents. The combined market capitalisation of Tata Companies is USD 365 Billion as on 31 March 2024. Its revenue was more than USD 165 Billion in 2023-24.

Ratan Tata through the Tata Trusts contributes liberally to philanthropy supporting various programmes in education, medicine, and rural development.

Ratan Tata was the son of Naval Tata, who was adopted by Ratanji Tata, the son of the Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, who, besides several other pioneering ventures, envisaged India’s first steel mill, first hydroelectric plant and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.

Ratan Tata graduated from America’s Cornell University’s College of Architecture with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He joined the Tata Group in 1961, where he began his career, first working on the shop floor of Tata Steel.

JRD Tata famously started India’s first Airline, Tata Airlines, which later became Air India after being taken over by the Government, and returned to the Tata fold in a privatisation move during Ratan Tata’s tenure.

Jamsetji Tata, the founder, had two sons Dorabji Tata and Ratanji Tata who died childless; hence ‘enter the future Titan’, after JRD Tata – a first cousin of Ratanji Tata- who was also childless.

In 1948, when Ratan Tata was 10, his parents separated, and he was then adopted and raised by Navajbai Tata, his grandmother and widow of Ratanji Tata. He has a younger brother Jimmy Tata, and a half-brother, Noel Tata, from Naval Tata’s second marriage to Simone Dunoyer -Simone Tata – who became his stepmother. His biological mother was Soonoo Tata-the niece of Tata group founder Jamsetji Tata.

While in the United States he fell in love with a girl in Los Angeles but had to return to India due to his grandmother’s illness and could not progress the relationship to marriage. The girls’s parents refused to allow her to come to India at the time of the 1962 Indo-China war. Ratan Tata never married and had no children. In 2011, he said, “I came close to getting married four times and each time I backed off in fear or for one reason or another”.

Ratan Tata was known as an animal lover. His last venture was the Small Animal Hospital (SAHM), a clinic dedicated to pets, in Mumbai. It was the first of its kind in the country, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. He once skipped a prestigious lifetime philanthropic achievement award function in the United Kingdom as one of his dogs- Tango and Tito – had fallen ill and he could not leave. Then there is the story of ‘Goa’, a stray puppy that managed to climb into a colleague’s car in Goa and ended up in Bombay House – where there is an in-house kennel and stray dogs are treated like Kings!

Not much is spoken about Ratan Tata’s incredible sense of humour. Once, when asked by a young girl in the audience on what excites him most, he retorted, “How can I answer that it public?” He is also known to have exceptional mimicry skills, besides painting.

Ratan epitomised the Tata tradition of simplicity, in both business and his personal life. His lifestyle was modest compared to India’s Business magnates. He had almost no security outside his home. His business exploits earned Ratan such adulatory titles as ‘India’s best brand ambassador’ and ‘A model of corporate responsibility’. The two major Tata trusts are among the world’s largest philanthropic enterprises of which he is the chairperson.

Ratan Tata was unquestionably India’s most respected businessman, even though by the standards of India’s wealthiest billionaires he was relatively poor. But by virtue of his position as chairperson of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which own 66% of Tata Sons, the holding company for India’s largest and most prestigious business house, he was more powerful than any other Indian businessman.

There is hardly any noteworthy scandal about him barring a mild hiccup over the unceremonious sacking of the previous Chairman of Tata Sons, which the Courts have said is OK. And there is a story of the Radia Tapes Controversy in the Tata Teleservices case, which issue did not have meat.

Everyone is saying a good man passed away. In the end Rata Tata was a genuinely good person. And has set an example. It’s up to us to follow.

The Tata Family and the Future

Ratan Tata’s half-sisters, Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, are from their mother Soonoo’s second marriage to Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy. Information about their other sister, Geeta is unknown. Ratan Tata’s Half-brother, Noel Tata’s daughters, Leah Tata and Maya Tata are both involved in the Tata Group’s businesses. Leah works with the Indian Hotels Company Limited, while Maya, reportedly a favourite of Ratan Tata, has played a significant role in launching the Tata Neu App. Noel’s son Neville married Manasi Kirloskar, and they have two children, Jamset Tata and Tiana Tata. Neville focuses on Trent’s Zudio brand, while Manasi is involved in Kirloskar businesses.

Late in the week, Noel Tata was appointed as Chairman of Tata Trusts.

The Nobel Prizes are being announced and there are some interesting stories about them: that’s coming up new week.

More sweet and sour stories coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay with World Inthavaaram. Ta-ta.