What the State and Centre overlooked was, in order to avail the treatment, the prerequisite paperwork that had to be processed was simply beyond the reach for most. Manu Shrivastava observes that Pune’s Budhwar Peth zone’s sex-workers were hit the hardest by the state’s apathy rather than the Covid-19 pandemic itself. Sex workers and ragpickers were hit the hardest by government apathy during the pandemic On 2 July 2012, the-then Maharashtra Government launched the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana (RGJAY) in eight districts of Maharashtra (Phase 1). It later introduced it to remaining 28 districts of Maharashtra in Phase 2.…
Author: mindworks
India’s plural fabric is open to celebrate both traditional and modern festivals with equal zeal and devotion. The vast diversity of Indian states reflect the spectrum of tradition and customs that are widely appreciated. Manu Shrivastava takes a look at this colourful rainbow, most of them seen from the prisms of mythology and folklore. Festivals are an integral part of the fabric of Indian society. It is through these festivals that India displays the diversity in culture, cuisine, art, dance, music, etc. Just like spices effuse aroma and flavour to Indian cuisine, it’s festivals that lend character and flavour to…
Dilip Kumar’s contribution in the evolution of Hindi cinema should be a glorious chapter. From essaying the tragic roles – that became his hallmark in the earlier part of his career – to performing lighter roles later, he fit all characters with practiced ease. A voracious reader and a music connoisseur, his literary finesse and culture reflected in his speech and demeanor. Shoma A. Chatterjee pays tribute. Dilip Kumar, the most outstanding actor Indian cinema has ever produced, is no more. He passed away of old age complications and also from the last stages of pancreatic cancer that slowly ate…
With climate change a stark reality, India has seen rising cases of lightning deaths. Bharat Dogra provides data and says this is one natural disaster that needs to be addressed on war footing. He advocates better warning system and protection devices for those vulnerable. It was virtually a bolt from the blue for people in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh when more than 70 people were killed by lightning strikes on 12 July 2021. Barely a month before, on June 7 in West Bengal, 27 lightning deaths were reported. These are not isolated cases but…
Farmers feel marginalised as the government toes a line of corporatising agriculture. Tomato and apple growers demand damages but can do nothing but to wring their hands in despair as the government looks the other way. A policy shift to promote retail giants and big business houses seems to be the undoing of the farmers, opines Bharat Dogra. Even as the farmers and activists wake up to the adverse impacts of growing corporatisation of agriculture, the government policy seems in no mood to relent. The powers that be are clearly slanted towards increasing corporate control. Two reports published in newspapers…
The essence of nationalism is hugely relative in nature and, in that, lies the conflict. Nationalism, in the absolute oneness of the definition is driven probably by a singular ’cause’ like, for example, the struggle of freedom fighters striving for a singular ’cause’ or goal like Freedom. Gajanan Khergamker lays the issue threadbare. Nationalism, as a concept, is subjective in form and substance. Never before in the history of free India has the concept of ‘Nationalism’ been of more relevance than today when factions are deeply divided both in loyalty and in the interpretation of some basic concepts like Freedom,…
Nikita Shastri traces the roots of ‘Nationalism’ in the country, its early proponents and explains how the term has been defined and redefined with the passage of time. Discussing the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’, she points out that it is at the very core of Nationalism and how India’s independence movement was driven by it. Today, the idea and concept of ‘Nationalism’ has adopted several meanings. Nationalism is, by definition, the ‘identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests.’ It’s a movement that holds that the ‘nation should be congruent with the state.’ Nationalism promotes the interests of…
Social media platforms such as Twitter have become the modern-day tool for lobbying and furthering the agenda of motivated groups. Self-styled leaders with an army of Twitter followers ‘promote’ or ‘troll’ based on their agenda. It has reduced nationalism to a mere political posturing. Manu Shrivastava apprises how the Supreme Court has put paid to this hate-mongering. On 8 July 2021, the Supreme Court, coming down heavily on social media giant Facebook, said the digital platforms that which can ‘polarise public debates’ and ‘influence vast sections of opinions’ should remain accountable to those who trust them. The bench comprising Justices…
Citing the ‘Howdy, Modi’ even as a case study, Renuka Goel explains how India is being showcased globally to influence the wide Indian diaspora and how the Indian government’s new outreach has been a rip-roaring success. Bottom line: Striking new partnerships and forging long-term partnerships will be a good augury for Economy. September 22, 2019 was not any ordinary Sunday. On this day, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas in USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of about 50,000 people who came for the historic ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event. At the event, PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora…
Notwithstanding the jingoism that goes with it, ‘Nationalism’ is one bandwagon that masses and corporate entities have hitched on to productively. The concept has also gained prominence with slogans like ‘Vocal for Local’ as it synthesises well with patriotism. Brand Nationalism is being showcased and how, observes Ruchi Verma. The past decade has redefined India in more ways than one. Today, India is a brand in itself endorsed by several nations across the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a huge role in setting new goals for the nation and redefining what India stands for. A country that was…