Tag: Tariffs

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 27 July 2025 to 14 August 2025: All kinds of wars; the great Cholas of India; the best of Chess, Football, and Cricket.

Wars: Tariff Included

US President Donald Trump continues his relentless one-minded drive on imposing tariffs on friends and foes alike, ostensibly to improve the US Economy by opening the flood gates of tonnes of cash flow into the country. This time it hit India when he signed an executive order slapping 25% additional tariff over the purchase of Russian oil. This is on top of the 25% tariff that Trump had previously imposed on India on 31st July, as part of the broader rollout of tariffs on more than 60 countries. This will come into effect on 27th August.With this, India faces at total of least 50 %-among the highest in the world. This will come into effect on 27th August. However, for goods shipped before 27th August previous tariff rates will apply until 17th September.

The tariff sledgehammer comes after days of Trump slamming India its purchase of Russian oil and accusing India of funding the Russian war on Ukraine. He said India remains the largest buyer of Russian oil along with China “at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine”. With such purchases, he said India does not care “how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine”. Since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has bought discounted Russian oil.

India hit back, exposing the hypocrisy and double-standards of the US and Europe. In a clear written statement, India pointed out that the Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron & steel and machinery, and transport equipment. The United States itself continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers, as well as chemicals. India held that it began importing from Russia, in the first place, because traditional supplies from Europe were diverted to within Europe after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War. And India works for the best interests of its people, just as the US does for its people.

On another front, India and the US are engaged in complex negotiations for a free trade agreement. As with trade deals with other countries such as the United Kingdom, India has sought to keep the politically sensitive agriculture and dairy sectors out of a deal, Trump has rejected the proposal and has pushed for their inclusion. He has also pushed for India to import genetically modified (GM) crops under the deal. India considers GM crops illegal.

In the ongoing physical wars, Israel is making plans to take complete control of Gaza City with its cabinet approving the intent. And the 50 hostages still remain in captivity. Meanwhile, Australia announced that it would recognise a Palestinian State in September.I would say that countries -including India -should announced that they would ‘de-recognise’ Palestine, if the 50 Israel hostages are not released by September.

Ukraine and Russia continue making fire and a Trump-Putin Summit scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August, hopes to break the ceasefire deadlock. Russia is expected to demand Ukrainian land for a peace deal, which Ukraine steadfastedly refuses. Trump would probably be ‘all ears’ on a listening exercise. And Putin is a tough customer.

The Great Cholas of South India

Indian history does not cut enough into the meat of the mighty Chola Dynasty of South India, which ruled for an unbelievable 1500 years, between 300 BCE and 1279 CE(AD)- one of the longest ruling dynasties in world history. They remain grudgingly unknown, and if at all in bits and pieces. The Cholas ruled Southern India in two stints as, the Early Cholas, and the Medieval or Imperial Cholas.

This is an attempt to shed bright sunlight, on the great Cholas, who considered themselves as descendants of the Sun.

Other names, in common use, for the Cholas are, Choda, Killi, Valavan, Sembiyan and Cenni.Killi comes from the Tamil ‘kil’ meaning dig or cleave- a digger or a tiller of the land. Valavan is connected with the Tamil ‘valam’ fertility and means owner or ruler of a fertile country. Sembiyan means a descendant of King Shibi – a legendary King whose self-sacrifice in saving a dove from the hot-pursuit of a falcon figures among the early Chola legends. The story flies like this, ‘As King Shibi sat in court one day, a sparrow sought refuge in his lap, while being chased by a falcon. The falcon demanded the King release the sparrow, as it constituted its means of subsistence. Accepting the falcon’s right, the King offered his own flesh in order to fulfil his sovereign duty of protecting his subjects’. The later Cholas claimed to have descended from King Shibi. The Tamil name for Shibi is Sembiyan, a name assumed by many Chola kings.

The Early Cholas ruled in Uraiyur (now Tiruchirapalli) and Kaveripattinam, Tamil Nadu, during the period 400 BCE to 200 AD. This includes the Sangam Period, which legendary literature reveals the first authentic evidence of the Chola dynasty. The Sangam is the literary gathering of Tamil poets and scholars who were first patronised by the Pandyan kings of Madurai. The Sangam era is significant in the development of early Tamil literature and provides valuable insights into the social, cultural, and political landscape of the period.

Going back in time, the earliest known Chola King was Kantaman, perhaps mythological, said to be a contemporary of the Hindu Sage Agastya, whose devotion is believed to have brought the River Kaveri into existence (from the water pot of Agastya). Then came the Chola King Dharmavarma who first developed the shrine of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple– A Vaishnavite shrine dedicated to Lord Ranganatha (a form of Lord Vishnu and his consort Ranganayaki – a form of Goddess Lakshmi) near present day Tiruchi. The temple is a thriving place of Hindu worship of Vaishnavism. Flooding of the River Kaveri destroyed the temple, and later, his descendant, King Killivalavan rebuilt the temple complex. The Temple site is on an island bounded by the Rive Kaveri and River Kollidam. Later Chola Kings built upon and expanded the Temple structure. The Temple is nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest functioning religious complexes in the world.

In 190 AD Karikala Chola or, Karikala The Great, stands out, unsurpassed, along with another King Kocengannan. Karikala was the son of the great warrior Chola King Ilamcetcenni – of many beautiful chariots. Karaikala is mentioned as the descendant of a King who compelled the wind to serve his purposes when he sailed his ships on the great Oceans. ‘Karikala’ means ‘elephant feller’ or ‘charred leg’. He had charred his leg in a fire-accident while escaping when he was deposed and imprisoned. He then fought his way back to the throne to create History.

Karikala Cholan was one of the greatest kings during the Sangam Age in South India. He led the Chola empire successfully to unify the three South Indian kingdoms of Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. Karikala gained immense wealth trading with the Roman Empire, which he used to fund his military campaigns and to build towns and cities. He is known for decorating his capital city of Kanchipuram with gold, but his legendary act of fame was building, ‘The Grand Anicut’ – Kallanai Dam – on the River Kaveri.

Kallanai Dam is a massive dam of un-hewn stone, 329m long, 20m wide, and 4.5m high built across the main stream of the River Kaveri. It is the oldest water-diversion or water-regulating structure in the world, which is still in use. The dam cleverly diverts the waters of the Kaveri River across the Thanjavur delta region for irrigation through a canal system which originally irrigated near about 69,000 acres. In the 18th century, the Kallanai Dam was modified with hydraulic structures and now, after such alterations, irrigates over one million acres.

Upon the end of the Sangam Era, in the period from 300 AD to 600 AD there is almost a total black-out of the history of Southern India, Tamil Nadu in particular. Elsewhere, during this time in India, the Gupta Empire was established and flourished, rising to great heights. Kalidasa, the author of Shakuntala, was a poet in the Gupta court. Mathematician Aryabhata lived in the period. Zero was invented. The ancient Gupta text Kamasutra by Indian scholar Vatsyayana, in Sanskrit, came into being. Nalanda University was established. Chess was developed during this time. Meanwhile, outside India, Islam came into being in the sixth century AD.

Then in the eight century, the Cholas rose from obscurity to hit the headlines, again. Vijayalaya Chola, a descendant of the Early Cholas founded the Imperial Chola Empire in 848 AD, finding his own ground in the then ongoing conflict between the Pandya and Pallava Empires. He captured Thanjavur and made it his capital. His son Aditya-I teamed-up with the Pallavas to defeat the Pandyas of Madurai in 885 AD, and later went-on to defeat the Pallavas themselves. In 925, Aditya’s son Parantaka-I conquered Sri Lanka. Then there was a mild set-back with Cholas’ heir apparent Rajaditya Chola killed in battle. Subsequently, the Cholas quickly found their feet, and recovered power during the reign of Parantaka II (Sundara Chola). Sundara Chola had three children, crown Prince Aditya Karikalan (Aditya -II), Princess Kundavai and Prince Arumozhivarman (the future Raja Raja Chola I) the youngest. The Cholas, under the command of fearsome Aditya-II, defeated the Pandyas and further expanded the kingdom. Aditya-II died under mysterious circumstances -he may have been assassinated. On the death of Sundara Chola, his brother’s son Madhurantakan was crowned King with the title Uttama Chola. Arumozhivarman ascended the throne in mid 985 AD and adopted the regal name Raja Raja, meaning ‘King among Kings’.

The story of Arumozhivarman is the plot of the famous novel Ponniyin Selvan by Tamil author Kalki, which to a great extent brought out and kept alive the story of the Cholas.The story ran through real historical sites and galvanised interest in the Cholas.

When Raja Raja Chola -I came to power, he inherited a small kingdom centred around the Thanjavur–Tiruchirappalli region, the heart of traditional Chola territory.

And under Raja Raja -I and his son Rajendra I, the Chola Empire reach its Imperial state. At its peak, the empire stretched from the northern parts of Sri Lanka northwards to the Godavari–Krishna river basin, up to the Konkan coast, the entire Malabar Coast, in addition to Lakshadweep and the Maldives islands. The Cholas wielded a formidable navy, securing extensive maritime routes and expanding their influence into South East Asia.

Rajaraja Chola I was a dynamic ruler who applied himself to the task of governance with the same diligence and zeal he had shown in waging wars. He integrated his empire into a tight, administrative grid under royal control and strengthened local self-government. In 1000 AD, Raja Raja conducted a land survey to effectively marshal his empire’s resources. He built the iconic Brihadeeswarar Temple, in Thanjavur, in 1010. Raja Raja Chola died of natural causes in 1014 AD, after ruling for 30 years, and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola-I.

Rajendra Chola-I took off from the strong shoulders of his illustrious father, scaling even greater heights and is easily the greatest Chola King who ever lived.

Rajendra conquered Odisha and his armies continued north into Bengal, and reached the Ganges river in northern India. Rajendra successfully invaded the Srivijaya kingdom in Southeast Asia, which led to the decline of that empire. This expedition left an indelible impression on the Malay people of the medieval period where his name is mentioned in the corrupted form as Raja Chulan. Rajendra’s territories included the Ganges–Hooghly–Damodar basin, as well as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The kingdoms along the east coast of India up to the river Ganges acknowledged Chola suzerainty. Diplomatic missions were sent to China in 1016, 1033, and 1077. Rajendra Chola commanded the largest blue water navy in Indian history, which he used it effectively to subdue Srivijaya, a southeast Asian kingdom that lay 3000 km away.

Realising that the traditional Chola capital of Thanjavur was literally bursting at the seams, and could not hold his dreams, Rajendra built himself a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which served as the Chola capital for the next 250 years. He built the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in 1025 AD, symbolising Chola victory over the northern kingdoms and the successful Gangetic conquest. To anoint his new capital city with water from the sacred River Ganga he sent his army on a long expedition from Thanjavur all the way to modern day Bangladesh. His army defeated many kingdoms en route, and brought back water from the Ganga. He poured this holy water into a lake he built, the Chola Gangam, one of the largest manmade lakes in India. Gangaikonda Cholan literally means the Chola king who conquered the (plains of) River Ganga. Born on 26 July 971 AD, Rajendra Chola died in 1044 AD at age 73.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is a masterpiece of Chola architecture with unmatched architectural grandeur, embodying spiritual and cultural brilliance. It reflects Dravidian temple architecture with an emphasis on vertical elevation, axial symmetry, and Shaiva symbolism. It is inspired by the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur (built by Rajaraja Chola I), but with a shorter yet broader vimana (temple tower). Elaborate sculptural friezes, including depictions of Shiva in various forms, sophisticated hydraulic engineering in temple tank design, showcasing advanced water management techniques, subtle Tamil inscriptions in Grantha (script) and Tamil scripts, preserving Tamil heritage. That the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a testament to the Chola dynasty’s power and architectural prowess.

Both Saivism (worship of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavism (worship of Lord Vishnu) flourished during the Chola period. A number of temples were built with the patronage of Chola kings and queens, which remained centres of economic activity.

Much of Tamil classical literature and the greater Tamil architectural monuments belong to the Sangam period, which also saw a revival of Shaivism and the development of southern Vaishnavism.

During the reign of Rajendra Chola, the Chola Empire reached its zenith in the Indian subcontinent; it extended its reach via trade and conquest across the Indian Ocean, making Rajendra one of only a few Indian monarchs who conquered territory beyond South Asia.The Chola fleet represented the peak of ancient Indian maritime capacity. The 1,000-year legacy of the Bhakti movement, maritime diplomacy, and temple-based urban culture that flourished under the Chola Empire.

Around 1070, the Cholas began to lose almost all of their overseas territories but the later Cholas (1070–1279) continued to rule portions of southern India. The Chola empire went into decline at the beginning of the 13th century with the rise of the Pandya dynasty, which ultimately caused the Chola’s downfall.

Now, coming over to the present.

India celebrated, with gusto, the millennium birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola-I on 26 July along with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival held between 23rd July and 27th July 2025 at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, near Jayankondam, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the celebrations and brought back focus and much deserved ‘attention to the matter’ on the great Cholas. He repeated the Rajendra Chola act of bringing holy water from the Ganges.

Here is a more detailed essay on the outstanding, mind-boggling contribution by the Cholas in art, architecture, and literature. Also to kindle your interest on the unforgettable Cholas. Sit back, and enjoy a time-machine return to India’s magnificent, ancient history.

The Chola reign marked a stupendous golden era in South India, blending religion, culture, and craftsmanship in monumental structures and intricate sculpture. The Cholas mastered metalworking techniques and perfected the art of bronze casting, producing precision detailed sculptures, particularly of deities. The iconic Nataraja sculpture of Lord Shiva, in the cosmic dance pose, is globally recognised for its depiction of motion and balance. Artisans realistically portrayed human figures, capturing physical beauty and emotional expression: the bronze figure of Sambandar – a child saint – is a testimony to this; the bronze figurines of Parvati (the consort of Lord Shiva) and Lord Vishnu showcase skill in representing ornate details such as garments and jewellery.

Art was deeply intertwined with religious themes, portraying complex symbolism in sculptures. The Ardhanareeshvara sculptures, which depict Shiva as half male and half female, symbolise the unity of opposites.

The Chola temples are adorned with magnificent sculptures that portray scenes from mythology and religious epics.The Brihadeeshwara Temple,Thanjavur, features numerous intricate carvings of gods, dancers, and animals. Chola art influenced classical Indian dance forms, particularly through depiction of divine dancers. The Nataraja in ‘Ananda-Tandava’ pose inspired traditional Bharatanatyam dance forms.

Chola art frequently depicted scenes from mythological texts, helping to preserve and propagate religious stories through visual art. Sculptures from the Airavatesvara Temple at Dharasuram, Kumbakonam, show scenes from the lives of saints and deities.

The Cholas perfected the Dravidian style of temple architecture, characterised by towering vimanas or gopurams (towering gateway structures at entrance of Hindu temples) The Brihadeeshwara Temple is a masterpiece of Chola temple architecture, standing as one of India’s largest temples.

The Cholas introduced gopurams – probably first thought of by the Pallavas but developed by the Cholas and later made better and bigger by the Vijayanagar Dynasty – that became an iconic feature of South Indian temples. Chola temples are known for their massive scale and advanced engineering techniques, especially in the construction of monoliths. The granite monolith of Nandi at Brihadeeshwara Temple weighs over 20 tons and is an engineering marvel. Cholas innovated by using both stone and brick in temple construction, allowing for more elaborate designs and stronger structures: again, the Airavatesvara Temple is a prime example.

Chola architecture extended its influence beyond India, particularly in Southeast Asia: The temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia portray features reminiscent of Chola architectural styles, reflecting their global influence. The Cholas incorporated water management systems like temple tanks and reservoirs into their temple complexes: the pushkarinis (a stepped temple tank) at Gangaikonda Cholapuram were essential for ritual purification and water conservation: The Chola architectural style laid the foundation for later South Indian dynasties, particularly the Vijayanagar Empire, which continued and expanded on Chola architectural innovations, especially the lofty gopuram style.

The Cholas, through their unparalleled contributions to art and architecture, left a legacy that continues to inspire admiration. Their innovations in bronze sculpture, religious iconography, and monumental temple architecture elevated the Dravidian style to its peak, influencing future generations. Although the Chola empire has faded, their artistic achievements remain immortal, showcasing the artistic and architectural brilliance of medieval South India.

The Cholas patronised and advanced Tamil literature, fostering distinguished poets like Kalladanar(Kalladar), Kamban, and Avvaiyar. Kalladanar’s Kalladam (of Lord Muruga) celebrated Lord Shiva, while Thiruttakkadevar’s Seevaka Cinthamani (one of 5 great Tamil Epics) introduced Jainism to Tamil audiences. The epic is the story of a Prince who is a perfect master of all arts, perfect warrior, and perfect lover.

Despite the Chola rulers’ support for Sanskrit, original Tamil works thrived, with Poet Kamban translating Valmiki’s Ramayana – as Kamba Ramayana- enriching Tamil literature’s evolution.

In the beginning of 10th century, a Nayanmar saint Nambi Aandar Nambi wrote the ’Tiruttoonar Tiruvandhadhi, which is a memoir on the lives of the 63 Nayanmars (Tamil Saivite Saints). In 11th century, Nambi Aandar Nambi as the court poet of Raja Raj Chola compiled the hymns of the Nayanmar saints in Tirumurai, which is considered to be one of the greatest text of Nayanmar saints. The Tamil ‘Naalayira Divya Prabandham’ – 4000 divine verses- was composed by Alvar Poigai during the Chola reign. Rajaraja I was instrumental in bringing back Thevaram (the first seven volumes of the Tirumurai, a collection of devotional poetry dedicated to Lord Shiva) in the Shaiva tradition.

Classical dances like Bharatnatyam flourished during the Chola period primarily due to the Devadasi system. Cholas also patronised the bamboo staff fencing marital art Silambam. The representation of Nataraja or Adal Vallan (king of dance) in the form of the idol was the motif of Tamil music, dance and drama with hymns composed by Nayanmars. e.g. Oduvars and Padikam Paduvars: They were appointed to sing in the temples to recite Thirumurai.

The Cholas decentralized administration, allowing local leaders and village assemblies (sabhas) to exercise autonomy. This allowed the empire to maintain control over vast territories while fostering strong local governance. The Kudavolai system was used for local elections. It involved writing names of eligible candidates on palm leaves, which where then dropped into a pot and drawn out by a young boy -selecting representatives.

On the commerce front, Ports like Nagapattinam became thriving centres of international trade, with the Cholas exporting textiles, spices, and jewels.

That’s a breathtaking history of the Great Cholas.

Flash Floods

A massive cloudburst triggered heavy rains and flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. A flood of water came down, swelling the Kheerganga river and sending tonnes of muddy waters gushing downwards on the hilly terrain, covering roads, buildings and shops in Dharali Village – a tourist spot populated with hotels, resorts and restaurants.

Sports

India’s Chess International Master (IM) Divya Deshmukh all of 19 years, won the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup beating fellow Indian Grand Master (GM) Humpy Koneru in the tiebreaks. Through this victory she also achieves GM status- and a new star is born. She is now the 44th woman to hold the GM title. It was a magnificent feat for the talented and mentally tough Divya.

Divya Deshmukh was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra and hails from a Marathi family. Her parents are both medical doctors.

England’s Women earned its place in women’s football history with a stunning penalty-shootout victory over Spain to retain their European title at Euro 2025, on 27 July. Chloe Kelly, who scored the iconic winner at UK’s Wembley Stadium in the final of Euro 2022, was the hero again as she converted the decisive spot-kick to seal victory after Spain had missed three in a row – England’s goal-keeper saved two of them. It is the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil – at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland -and seals manager Sarina Wiegman’s status as one of the world’s greatest with her third successive European title – achieved with two countries.

England’s Men came close to the winning ways of the women but India stole their thunder. The enthralling 2-2 draw for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India provided a dramatic start to the new cricket World Test Championship cycle. It was an epic contest, each of the five Tests going into the final day, four in fact into the final session, providing some of the best individual and collective performances the five-day format has seen in recent years.

Cricket pundits had predicted a clean sweep for England, what with the home advantage and India’s pre-series struggles. Whitewashed 0-3 at home by New Zealand, followed by a 3-1 drubbing by Australia down under in two preceding series, India looked vulnerable and wobbly.

The England-India Test series was a five Test one. And with the 4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester ending in a draw India came to the Oval in London trailing England 1-2 in the series. But then India won by six runs to level the series 2-2 in one of the most dramatic conclusions in Test Cricket history. England were denied a record-breaking run chase by an irresistible India.

How India held their nerve under immense pressure – driven by willpower, ambition, and skill – culminating in a thrilling comeback to win and level the series, is one of Test cricket’s most riveting tales. It also marks this Indian young team’s transition from apprehension and misgivings one of rich promise fuelled by ambition and excellence. The future looks bright for this Indian team.

More captivating stories blending the past with the present, coming-up in the weeks ahead. Stay 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 3 April 2025 to 14 April 2025: Trump mania, Dire Wolves, India’s Waqf Bill, and the Mumbai Terror mastermind.

Tariff Mania: Trumponomics

United States (US) of America’s President Donald Trump has been on a flamboyant James-bondish shake & stir roll ever since he took Office this January, and the momentum only gathers multiple hues every day.

Over the past many weeks, ‘Tariff’ has been the most used word in the world of Trade and has perhaps acquired a cult status. I reckon a kid’s first word might just be ‘tariff’, instead of mommy!

Tariff is tax charged, at a country’s borders, on goods imported from other countries. Typically, tariffs are a percentage of a product’s value. E.g., a 25% tariff on a USD 10 product would mean an additional USD 2.50 charge. Reciprocal Tariff would mean they are based on what countries already charge a country, say the United States, in the form of existing tariffs, plus non-tariff barriers such as regulations. Companies that bring foreign goods into a country have to pay such tax to the Government at the border points.

Trump says ‘tariff’ is his favourite word and for decades he has argued that the US should it to boost its economy. Tariffs will encourage US consumers to buy more American-made goods, increase the amount of tax raised, and lead to a huge spurt of investment in the country. The aim is to reduce the gap between the value of goods the US buys from other countries and the value of those it sells to them.

Trump’s rant is that America has been taken advantage of by ‘cheaters’ and ‘pillaged’ by foreigners.

The US slammed Reciprocal Tariffs on a host of countries-imports from the rest of the World. A unilateral 10% on imports from all countries was the first to kick-in with US Customs Agents beginning to make collections on 5 April 2025 at Seaports, Airports, and Customs Ware-Houses. This ushers in America’s full rejection of the post-World War-II system of mutually agreed tariff rates. The claim is that 10% tariff on all nations and much higher rates of up to 50% on individual countries will boost the US economy and protect jobs. However, many nations will face much higher tariffs, starting on 9 April 2025.

A Trade Lawyer said, “This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime. It is expected the tariffs will evolve over time as countries seek to negotiate lower rates. This is a pretty seismic and significant shift in the way that we trade with every country on Earth”.

These tariffs include 49% on Cambodian products, 46% on Vietnamese imports and an extra 34% on those from China (in addition to 20% tariffs previously announced). Goods from the European Union (EU) will be taxed at 20% and that from India at 27%. Trump’s higher Reciprocal Tariff rates of 11% to 50% are due to take effect on 9 April 2025.

On the sidelines, Trump’s buddy Elon Musk, told a political event in Italy that he hoped to see complete freedom of trade between the US and EU, which he described as ‘a zero tariff situation’. Canada and Mexico were exempt from Trump’s latest duties but still face a 25% tariff imposed recently on goods that do not comply with rules of origin under a North American trade accord.

While Trump’s Order exempted 1,000 product categories from the new tariffs such as pharmaceuticals, uranium and semiconductors, he is considering new duties on some of them. Later, it was announced that smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices were exempt from Reciprocal Tariffs.

The announcement sent the world into a tizzy hammering financial markets. And Stock Markets dived and plunged all over the World raising concerns of a recession. Many of them bounced back-some quickly others gradually, licking their wounds. Meanwhile, countries scrambled their best negotiators to fly to the US for talks. One of the first off the blocks, was Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu – hit by a 17% tariff – who ‘red-tied’ with Trump in the Oval Office. Netanyahu promised to eliminate Israel’s trade surplus with the US and also remove trade barriers. They showed-off their ‘best-friends equations’. The US is Israel’s closely ally and largest single trading partner.

China responded by imposing retaliatory Tariffs of 85% on America. And in turn America raised the bar even further going up to 120%. However, amidst the storm, Trump unilaterally called a 90 day ‘Tariff Cease-Fire’ with the rest of the world with the exception of China. India stayed calm and withered the Trump tempest for the present.

Wonder how all of this is going to end – call it crazy or is it disruptive deal-making?

Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi

I first came to know about Dire Wolves in the George R R Martin’s, fantasy novel A Game of Thrones (also a major TV series) where they are portrayed as a species of wolf, but much larger and significantly more intelligent than the normal wolves. Though considered as pets to the main characters they were much more. It was the animal featured on the House Stark sigil (an inscribed symbol considered to have magical powers) and thus incredibly important to the Northern Rulers of the mythical period. In ‘Game of Thrones’ premiere, a litter of Dire Wolves was discovered, with each Stark child allowed to care for one, and with the animals quickly bonding with their corresponding owners.

Touching ‘terra firma’, the Dire Wolf once roamed an American range that extended as far south as Venezuela and as far north as Canada, but then the species went extinct-not a single one has been seen in over 10,000 years.

Enter a company called Colossal Biosciences, which pulled off a staggering Jurassic Park Science feat and resurrected the extinct Dire Wolves, much like Dinosaurs came alive in the movie. Plenty of Dire Wolf remains have been discovered across the Americas, which presented the opportunity for Colossal Biosciences to bring them back to life.

Relying on deft genetic engineering and ancient, preserved DNA, Colossal Biosciences scientists deciphered the Dire Wolf genome, rewrote the genetic code of the common Gray Wolf to match it, and, using domestic dogs as surrogate mothers, brought Romulus, Remus, and their sister, 2-month-old Khaleesi, into the world during three separate births last year and early this year. In doing so, effectively, for the first time, de-extincting a line of beasts whose live gene pool vanished long ago.

The Dire Wolf genome that was analysed was extracted from two ancient samples: one a 13,000-year-old tooth found in Sheridan Pit, Ohio; the other a 72,000-year-old ear bone unearthed in American Falls, Idaho. The samples were lent by the museums that housed them.

Recall, the mythical story, Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf in Lupercal Cave before being rescued by a shepherd. Romulus went on to build the ancient city of Rome (they say after killing Remus). ‘Khaleesi’ means Queen and is derived from Dothraki (a fictional language in George R R Martin’s fantasy novels and Game of Thrones).

Romulus and Remus are enjoying their puppy life: chasing, tussling, nipping, nuzzling, and the kind. But what is very un-puppy like is their huge size and behaviour: the snowy white 6-month-olds already measure nearly 4 feet long and weigh about 36 kg. But the angelic exuberance puppies exhibit in the presence of humans-trotting up for hugs, belly rubs, kisses-is completely absent. They keep their distance, flinching and retreating if a person approaches. These pups were the first to produce a howl that hadn’t been heard on Earth in over 10,000 years!

The Dire Wolf isn’t the only animal that Colossal Biosciences, which was founded in 2021 and currently employs 130 scientists, wants to bring back. Also on their de-extinction wish list is the Woolly Mammoth, the Dodo, and the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger. Already, in March, the company surprised the science community with the news that it had copied mammoth DNA to create a Woolly Mouse, a chimeric critter with the long golden coat, and the accelerated fat metabolism of the Mammoth.

Since their births, the Dire Wolves are living on a 2,000-acre ecological Preserve at a location in the US that Colossal Biosciences keeps secret for obvious reasons. The Preserve is surrounded by a 10 feet fence and includes a smaller six-acre site with a veterinary clinic, an extreme-weather shelter, and natural dens where the wolves can securely retreat. A staff of veterinarians looks out for the animals around the clock. The wolves are fed a diet of beef, horse, and deer meat as well as liver and other offal, along with puppy chow to provide vital nutrients. When they were just weaned, the meat was served pureed, which is similar to the partially digested meat a mother will regurgitate to feed her young. Now the food is presented whole so the wolves can tear it apart as they would if they had hunted it down. So far, they have not actually killed any small, live prey that may have ventured into their enclosure.

Should extinct animals be brought back to life? Imagine if we bring back Dinosaurs and allow them to roam the Earth. And going a step further, how about our ancient cousins Neanderthals? While the scientific feat is surely spectacular should not we be circumspect and draw a line somewhere? Unless we want to make some new kind of species and release them on the Moon or Mars and allow them to evolve – hoping one day they fly back to Earth or welcome us on their Planet-as a bloodline Alien?

India’s Waqf Bill

The Background, Basics

The word ‘Waqf’ is from the Arabic word ‘Waqufa’ meaning, to detain or to hold or tie up. Waqf is the permanent dedication by a person professing Islam, of movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by Muslim/Islamic Law as pious, religious or charitable. And and any other use or sale of the property is prohibited. Once designated so, a Waqf property is considered inalienable, and cannot be inherited, gifted or sold and the ownership is transferred from the person making the Waqf to Allah- bestowing it to Him-making it irrevocable. ‘Waqif’ is a person who creates a Waqf. In the absence of a physically tangible entity, a ‘Mutawalli’ is appointed by the Waqif, to manage or administer a Waqf property.

In India, through The Waqf Act 1954, State Waqf Boards (SWBs) were created in every State, for the first time, to manage Waqf properties within the State. This Act led to the establishment of the Central Waqf Council (CWC)of India in 1964 to oversee and supervise State Waqf Boards and enable a centralised administration. Several amendments to the Waqf Act of 1954 were carried out in 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1984 to further improve the administration of Waqf properties.

Then came the Waqf Act, 1995, which repealed the 1954 Act and its amendments. It provided for the power and functions of the CWC, SWB, and a Chief Executive Officer, and also the duties of Mutawalli. It also created Waqf Tribunals -special courts with powers similar to civil courts – which decisions were final and could not be challenged in civil courts. The Tribunals were like kangaroo courts, and surprisingly were outside the purview of Indian Civil Law.

The Government estimates that Waqf Boards currently control 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India with an estimated value of 1.2 lakh crores. India has the largest Waqf holding in the World. Further, Waqf Board is the largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces, and the Indian Railways. There are 356,051 Waqf Estates registered under Waqf Board; 872,328 immovable properties and 16,713 movable properties registered under the Waqf Board.

This mammoth establishment created a plethora of issues such as, limited diversity in constitution of SWBs and CWC, misuse of power and non-maintenance of proper accounts by Mutawallis, lack of effective coordination with local revenue authorities, issues of removal of encroachments, registration and declaration of title of Waqf properties, sweeping power to Waqf Boards for claiming properties resulting in disputes and litigation, non-applicability of Limitation Act resulting in creating disharmony among communities, low and negligible income from Waqf properties, etc.

Over to the Present: Key Changes

India’s Parliament after intense debate passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 2 April 2025, with the lower House, the Lok Sabha passing it with 288 voting in favour and 232 against. The next day, the upper House, the Rajya Sabha approved the Bill with 128 in favour, to 95 against the legislation. The Rajya Sabha held a discussion on the Bill for around 12 hours before clearing it. Then the President of India signed it into law on 8 April 2025 and notified it for implementation in The Gazette of India.

The Waqf Amendment Act of 2025, allows Waqf to be formed by: declaration; or endowment when the line of succession ends (called Waqf-alal-aulad). Only a person practicing Islam for at least five years may declare a Waqf and the person must own the property being declared. It removes ‘Waqf by user’, where properties could be deemed as Waqf based solely on prolonged use for religious purposes. It also adds that Waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donor’s heirs including women. Any government property identified as Waqf will cease to be so. The District Collector of the area will determine ownership in case of uncertainty and put it up for approval by the Government.

The New Bill brings in representation for the Bohra and Agakhani Muslim communities in addition to the exiting Shia and Sunni, if they have functional Waqf. The SWB/CWC will have at least two women Muslims and two non-muslims excluding ex-officio members. This brings in wider representation – being property and does not interfere with religious practices.

The ‘kangaroo court power’ of the Tribunals was brought under check: a Tribunal’s orders may now be appealed in a civil High Court within 90 days.

The central government can make rules regarding: registration; publication of accounts of Waqf; and publication of proceedings of WBs. Under the Act, State government may get the accounts of Waqfs audited at any point.

The Waqf Amendment is a watershed moment in India clearing the grey areas in the law, which meandered outside it, bringing better accountability, representation, and control.

While most States in India remained calm, the State of West Bengal began boiling: violent anti-Waqf Amendment clashes erupted in Murshidabad. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) an off-shoot of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) appears to have played a significant role in instigating violence holding door-to-door campaigns ‘falsely claiming that the Centre was using the Waqf law to snatch everything owned by Muslims’. Central Forces were called-in to contain the violence especially against Hindus, who abandoned their homes in fear.

The Govt of West Bengal is failing to contain the loot, arson, and vandalism and its Chief Minister declared the State will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 -that’s a direct challenge against the law made by Parliament. This could have incited and instigated the violence and such speech should be abhorred.

The Return: India’s 26/11

In a superb diplomatic and security victory milestone for India, it got a stranglehold on on one of the master-minds and conspirators of the Mumbai Terror Attacks of 26 November 2008 (26/11). A total of 175 people died-including 9 of the attackers in that horrific, bloody attack, which shook India. A lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was physically caught by the unforgettable heroic Tukaram Omble – who gave up his life in the process, being shot by Kasab in close range, multiple times. Kasab was tried by India’s courts and hanged to death in the Yerawada Central Jail in 2012. Also in my memory stays Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the National Security Guards (NSG) who died in a heroic rescue mission by India’s Commandos in the Taj Hotel. The attackers belonged to the Pakistan based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), supported by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 64-year old Canadian citizen, of Pakistan origin was extradited to India on 10 April 2025, after 16years. A former Pakistan Army Medical Corps turned Immigration Consultant. Rana’s childhood friend and co-conspirator David Coleman Headley is in a US jail, sentenced to 35years for his role. Rana now faces justice under full-force of Indian law.

The man primarily responsible for getting Rana extradited to India is Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, who led India’s arguments in a US court. The proceedings, saw a spirited legal fight between Krishnan and another extradition veteran Paul Garlick QC, who represented Rana.

Tahawwur Rana provided the blueprint that helped LeT carry out the terror attacks in Mumbai. He helped David Headley obtain a multi-entry business visa to India. Both of them worked in close co-ordination with Pakistan’s ISI and had made a detailed attack plan to target Chatrapati Shivaji terminus, Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman House and the Cama & Albless Hospital. David Headley in India took the help of Hollywood Director & Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul Bhatt to reconnoiter places in Mumbai. Rana also provided Headley with the required finances for the operation.

The expectation is that Tahawwur Rana will be sentenced, after India coaxes out of him, more information, details, and names of any other conspirators.

More stirring stories ahead. Have a blast with ‘Freewheeling’.