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Showing posts from January, 2023

Clive Lloyd among great batsmen Alan Border, Javed Miandad, Rahul Dravid,Ted Dexter

By Harsh Thakor  Few batsmen struck a cricket ball with such vengeance or contempt as Clive Lloyd, who was the ultimate embodiment of power. Perhaps no left-hander batted more like Gary Sobers. Hard to think of any left hander in is time, with such wide range of strokes or at best batting in a more cavalier or imperious manner. At his best Clive could take domination to the scale rarely transcended and was a spectacle to witness.. It is hard to do justice to the joy Clive radiated out on the middle. Clive Lloyd nurtured and knitted a bunch of talented individuals to transform into possibly the best test team ever in the 1980's.Literally led a renaissance or gave a new dimension to Caribbean cricket. Never did West Indian cricket nurture such father figure.  Clive made a great contribution in elevating the morale or epitomising the spirit of the Afro-American West Indian Community and image of black people in the eyes of the white Community. As a cricketer he gave the ultimate knock

Observe World Interfaith Harmony Week and International Day of Human Fraternity

Statement by Fr Anthoniraj Thumma, Secretary, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Office for Dialogue & Desk for Ecumenism, Nellore, on observing World Interfaith Harmony Week and International Day of Human Fraternity: *** Greetings of Peace and joy to you from the CBCI – Office for Dialogue! Kindly allow me to bring to your notice the significant days related to interreligious dialogue occurring in the coming month of February 2023: 1. World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) – February 01-07: The World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) was adopted by the UN General Assembly resolution (A/RES/65/5) on 20 October 2010 declaring the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony week. In the resolution, the General Assembly, pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their Faith. Recog

Investigate into allegations against Adani group in report of Hindenburg Research

Statement demanding investigation of Hindenburg Research Report on Adani Group, signed by Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress: *** In a shocking revelation Hindenburg Research, an investment research firm has published a research report on Adani Group claiming that the conglomerate has engaged in “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades”. Presenting evidence the report says that the seven listed companies of Adani Conglomerate are 85% over valued. Report of the Hindenburg research is of a serious nature. The report has come out with substantiating evidences of accounting fraud and stock manipulation. It goes on to allege that inflated stock values are pledged with the banks to raise loans. The report also claims to have investigated a complex web of offshore entities and shell entities linked to Adani group. If the allegations are proved to be true, the ramifications will be very serious given the size of stocks inv

Elites, their leaders creating isolationist frameworks for checking climate change

By Bharat Dogra  Two most prominently stated facts about climate change are—firstly, it is extremely important to check climate change and secondly, that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced very significantly at a very fast pace, as scientifically determined. Both of these statements are absolutely correct. However if we confine ourselves just to these statements, then by themselves these can only give us a reductionist and isolationist understanding which, while technically correct, is not very helpful either for resolving this problem or for creating a better and safer world. There is an urgent need to reformulate the climate change framework, a task to which this writer has devoted much attention and effort in recent times. On the basis of this study and effort I would like to reformulate the basic issue as follows—Climate change is a critical survival issue which should be resolved on the basis of urgency by creating a world based on peace and disarmament, justice and equality

Brutal assault on Delhi Univ students as fear grips present rulers on rise of dissent

By Arhaan Baaghi  Various democratic student organizations (bsCEM, fraternity, DSU, SIO, AIRSO) had planned a screening of the BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question" in the Delhi University Arts Faculty, but the guards of the university and the Delhi police along with paramilitary forcefully detained the students just because we were trying to watch a documentary that scrutinizes the role of Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots. At first when the students started screening the documentary, the electricity of the department building was cut down. Students were brutally beaten by the police and university guards. Female students were also brutally manhandled and beaten. This whole incident shows the Brahmanical Hindutva fascist nature of the government and the university authority that is working as its puppet. An activist of bsCEM was manhandled by a male security guard, who tried to pull out his T shirt. Also various female activist were dragged by male security guards and their h

Forced, unsafe migration of minority populace, non-implementation of govt schemes

Kirity Roy, Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), writes to the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission: *** On the eve of 61st Republic Day, I want to bring your urgent attention to a case of unsafe and insecure migration of villagers of Koiladangi of North Dinajpur district of West Bengal due to livelihood issues. Due to social and economic insecurity and degrading life conditions these villagers are being forced to undertake these migration efforts for a better life. But, due to the hazardous conditions under which these people are undertaking migration, instead of having a better life they are falling prey to numerous hostile situations. Thus, I would describe the situation to you, and demand for some positive and fruitful actions. I hope that after reading the details of the case you will take steps with utmost empathy to secu

Vishwanath has been unfairly excluded from global list of 100 best cricketers

By Harsh Thakor  Gundappa Vishwanath scaled zones in batting artistry or wizardry unparalleled amongst Indian batsmen. The best of his batting was a manifestation of the divine. He was also the epitome of cricketing sportsmanship. Sadly 40 years ago he unceremoniously bid farewell to the International cricket world, after the concluding test at Karachi in 1982-83., in January end. Very hard to visualise a character like Vishwanath being reborn today His memories are embedded in cricket lovers today when sportsmanship and grace have virtually been relegated to oblivion with the game of cricket turned into a commercial commodity. Today agro and unsporting behaviour is a routine feature Vishy shimmered cricket’s spirituality. His behaviour on the cricket field was grace personified, No one in his age defined cricket more as a gentleman’s game, than Vishy. Vishwanath could execute strokes that were surreal with his steel wrists. His strokeplay resembled the touches of a painter’s brush,

Just 7% of global banks' energy financing goes to renewables, new data shows

By BankTrack  Major global banks are standing in the way of climate targets with new data showing just 7% of their financing for energy companies went to renewables between 2016 and 2022. The data, produced for Sierra Club, Fair Finance International, BankTrack and Rainforest Action Network, indicates major failings by financial institutions to help meet global commitments on net zero emissions by 2050 since it shows shockingly low financial support through loans and bond underwriting for clean energy. It calls into question pledges from the industry-led Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), whose commissioned research shows low carbon energy investments need to account for at least 80% of energy investments compared to fossil fuels (4:1) by 2030 to reach climate goals. However, no bank looks set to reach this very minimum requirement. Across the world, the picture is dismal: at $181 billion Citi and JP Morgan Chase each pumped the most into the energy companies examined bet

Ahmedabad’s public hospital budget for 2023-24 provides no information or accountability

Rupa Chinai, Dr. Nishith Shah, Jay Sheth and Brijesh Chinai, independent members, Chinai Maternity and Sarabhai General Hospitals, Board of Management, Ahmedabad, comment on hospital Budget for 2023-2024: *** The Budget for 2023-2024 raises some vital questions about utilization of the huge funds being allocated and the total lack of transparency or accountability on how money is being spent by the VS Board of Management. Last year’s Budget of Rs.179 crores for 2022-2023 has been increased in the current year to Rs.183 crores. Yet this year’s Budget Report is devoid of any information on the patients who benefitted from these extraordinarily huge allocations. Take the instance of Chinai Maternity Hospital (Page 5), where between 1.4.21 to 31.4.22 the Budget Report reveals that there was not a single patient of emergency delivery done in the Gynecology Department and not a single case of emergency surgery done in the Paediatrics Department. How is that possible? Medicines allocated

Belsonica workers protest retrenchment, cancellation of Union membership

By Harsh Thakor  Belsonica Mazdoor Union of Maruti's component manufacturing company Belsonica Plant at IMT Manesar, Haryana undertook a boycott of lunch for 6 days. The management had suspended a permanent worker for 6 days, against which union members protested. Belsonica Management had suspended a labourer named Sudhir Tripathi for 6 days. The management had asked Sudhir to leave his place of work and work at some other station. This was tooth and nail opposed by both the union and Sudhir. But the management remained adamant and suspended Sudhir, ignoring the demands of the workers and the union. The Belsonica union says that the management was employing a temporary labourer in place of Sudhir and Sudhir was being pressurized to work in place of a temporary labourer. When the union and Sudhir himself protested against this unjust practice, the management suspended him for 6 days. Ajit, general secretary of Belsonica Union, stated that for the last 6-7 months, Belsonica manageme

NHRC blindly followed BSF status report on fencing farmland off Indo-Bangladesh border

Kirity Roy, Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) writes an open letter of protest against the action taken status report on restriction imposed by the BSF personnel upon the villagers of Changmari near Indo-Bangladesh border: *** I have the honour to inform you that we received one action taken status report dated 11.01.2023 from your Commission in respect of the above referred case from where it is revealed that your authority closed the case based on the report of the concerned authorities. In this connection I again raise my voice as the enquiry in respect of the above referred case was not properly conducted. Hence I submit this open letter of protest for the ends of justice. From the action taken status report of the Commission dated 11.01.2023 it is reported that concerned authority submitted a report dated 18.01.2022 where it is reported that the concerned area comes under the OPS responsibility of BOP Chengmari, 62 Bn BSF and is highly susceptible to trans-bo

Undesirable political developments in Tamil Nadu enough to please gullible public

By NS Venkataraman*  Those who were born in Tamil Nadu and now living in Tamil Nadu or other states in India or outside India feel proud about the historical traditions, culture and value system inherent in Tamil Nadu for the last several centuries. Unfortunately, in the recent time, many undesirable political developments have taken place in Tamil Nadu that mar the image of Tamil Nadu as a cultured state. In the last eighteen months, some approaches of the Tamil Nadu government have caused considerable concern to the cross section of Tamil speaking people and now living in Tamil Nadu and across the world. The political party which won the last election and came to power made many promises in the pre-election campaign, most of which do not make any economic sense but are good enough to please the gullible public. After coming to power , while some minor promises have been implemented, several major promises could not be implemented , as Tamil Nadu ‘s finances are in

Every life is precious: religious beliefs have no place in blindsiding people to harm animals

  By Jay Ihsan  “Our human language is full of indications of how much dogs mean to us. Somebody who is not favoured to win is an “underdog”; a book that’s well worn is “dog-eared” and why is a “bitch” the most humiliating thing you can call a woman?” – Shirley MacLaine, American actress Social media platforms are cautious when articles touch on religious sentiments. But when virtues like compassion and mercy, extolled by religions, are no longer revered in the face of dastardly committed abuse against animals, does taking a knock at such preachings and teachings merit a rebuke? Every voice make a difference when it comes to highlighting ill-treatment. Yet, when houses of prayer that supposedly propagate unconditional care for the living look the other way, silence is no longer deafening. It says everything. When Malaysia was rocked by the collapse of an apartment block in 1993 which left 48 people dead, rescuers relied on dogs to sniff out dead bodies. More recently, on December 16, 2