by admin | May 25, 2021 | Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Women Entrepreneur
By Sugandha Rawal,
New Delhi : For Sania Mirza, becoming a mother has been “the most eventful thing” in her life, but she is now working on getting herself back on the tennis court. The tennis star says playing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics seems like a realistic goal, but she doesn’t want to put too much pressure on herself.
“Being pregnant and having a baby was probably the most eventful thing that happened to me, but having said that, it has been over two months now, and I am coming back in shape and losing all the weight,” Sania told IANS on the phone from Hyderabad.
“My fitness trainer is coming in February. And the goal, hopefully, is to try to get back at the end of the year and start playing competitive (tennis) again,” she added.
Sania and Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik were blessed with a son last October. They have named the little one Izhaan Mirza-Malik.
Her game has always been a priority in her life and she is not losing sight of it even now.
“As a tennis player, life changes very quickly. We don’t know what we are doing from one day to another. But most definitely, it (playing at 2020 Tokyo Olympics) is at the back of my head. Honestly, in 2016, if you asked me if I will be making it to the next Olympics, I would have said ‘no’ and I think I did say ‘no’.
“But now if I do come back at the end of the year, which is the plan, it looks like a realistic possibility. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself because I do have an infant in my house.”
The star athlete wants to balance it out.
“We will see how it goes. The goal is to try to get fit again. I have lost a lot of weight already and (to) start training (soon) and getting back into shape… is still a long way ahead. That is why I am giving myself (time till the) end of the year,” said Sania, who got married to Shoaib in a traditional Hyderabadi Muslim wedding ceremony on April 12, 2010.
At the moment, she is enjoying being a mother to Izhaan. She says embracing motherhood has helped her stumble upon some of her own hidden personality traits.
“As women, while we are growing up, we always know that we will get married one day and have kids. And I think we underestimate what our bodies can do — that is produce another human being. And I think that is a realisation you can have when you actually are in that position,” she said.
Sania says earlier everything was about herself as her profession demanded a lot.
But, she added: “Motherhood and pregnancy have made me realise that I can be a very selfless person and I don’t need to put an effort into it.
“I want everything in the world for my child — more than I want for anyone else, including myself. And I think that selflessness you figure out that you have inside you, only after you have the baby.”
The star says motherhood was an “overwhelming (experience) in the beginning”.
“Now I am getting used to it. We both are getting used to a pattern. But this is probably the best feeling that I ever had. Every time he looks at me and smiles, it is the most amazing feeling ever,” she said.
On the drastic changes that motherhood has brought about, Sania said: “As athletes, our whole life revolves around ourselves, our training, our food, our matches and our sleep. And right now it is not. It is the most selfless thing in the world. Everything revolves around him.”
(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in )
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
SDPI National general secretary Abdul Majeed
By Pervez Bari, Maeeshat.in,
Bhopal: The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has described the 106th Indian National Science Congress, held at Phagwara in Jalandhar, Punjab recently, as the theatre of the absurd. It can also be correctly said “Indian Science Circus”, the party said.
SDPI national general secretary Abdul Majeed in a statement said that Indian Science Congress is nothing but a Mela (fair) if not a Circus as a Scientist noted. It is high time it is closed and a new organisation purely Scientific is formed with least interference from Government.
Abdul Majeed said the atrocious claim made by Andhra University VC Nageswara Rao at the Indian National Science Congress that the Kauravas of Mahabharata were born out of stem cell research and test tube fertilisation process and that Raavana had more than 24 types of aircraft, the Pushpaka Vimana just one among them, has left the scientific community stunned.
Abdul Majeed sad that in one fell swoop, AU’s VC, Mr. Nageswara Rao has outdone Narendra Modi who once claimed that India was advanced in years of yore that Indian scientists transplanted an elephant’s head on a human body which happens to be lord Ganesh worshipped by Hindus. He has also pulled ahead of Home Minister and physics Lecturer Rajnath Singh who is also renowned for such preposterous statements as: Heisenberg Uncertainty principle is based on Vedas. So, VC Nageswara Rao is in good company!
He has hailed the joint letter signed by 37 distinguished science academics and communicators who were appalled by such statements against the “unscientific claims” made at the Indian Science Congress this year. The letter was sent to the general president of the Indian Science Congress Association expressing their deep shock and agony that false claims, based on confusing episodes in mythology as science. They lamented that scientific presentations made to the Children Science Congress wherein such claims tarnish the image of Indian science globally, and also undermine the credibility of the genuine contributions of the great science personalities of yore, that too, in front of young and impressionable minds.
He said that a Vice Chancellor talking like this in a Science Congress is absolutely ludicrous. Who let this clown mix mythology with Science? There are lots of great Scientists in India and allowing this type of non-scientific nonsense is just horrible. The problem is with people like the AU’s VC who hold positions of responsibility and influence, but whose beliefs are blinded with their passion for upholding Hindu mythology and asserting the fantastical bits as highly advanced scientific achievements of the ancients. The pity is that the numbers of such naive, irrational and unintelligent individuals seem to growing rapidly.
He said if this opinion had been expressed by a peon of the Andhra University, it would have been lamentable but perhaps excusable. If the VC of a university holds and expresses such an opinion-and that too at the meeting of a science conference–there is no hope for higher education, no hope for science or technology in India. It raises serious questions–who appointed him as the VC? On what basis are VCs appointed at a University?
Abdul Majeed suggested he Indian Science Congress should seriously evaluate the speakers who it invites to speak at its meetings. It should not become a laughing stock of Indian academia. Pity the students of Andhra University who will have his signature on their diplomas.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Media, News, Politics
M.J. Akbar
New Delhi : A Delhi Court on Friday concluded the recording of complainant witnesses in the defamation case filed by former Union Minister M.J. Akbar against woman journalist Priya Ramani who accused him of sexual harassment.
Testifying, Akbar’s former personal assistant Rachna Goel, his personal assistant Manzar Ali, a communication consultant and Tapan Chaki defended the journalist and said the former Minister’s standing had been was tarnished by Ramani’s allegations.
“This has damaged his reputation which he has built up over the years of his hard work,” Goel told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal.
Goel told the court that during her 10 years of working with Akbar, she found him to be a professional and never heard any complaint of inappropriate behaviour against him.
“Akbar has been very professional, very encouraging and has been very helpful in grooming and building up careers,” Goel said.
Chaki said that Akbar was a gentleman, a hard taskmaster, a man of impeccable credentials and very well mannered.
The three witnesses said that they were shocked after reading Ramani’s tweet.
The court will hear arguments on the issue of by summoning Ramani on January 22.
The court was hearing the defamation case against Ramani filed by the former Minister of State for External Affairs, a journalist-turned-politician who is now with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Ramani was the first in a long list of women journalists to accuse Akbar of sexual harassment.
The statement of seven witnesses including Akbar were recorded.
Akbar’s counsel Sandeep Kapur told the court that Ramani’s defamatory statements had damaged his image, lowering his esteem in the eyes of the public.
A Rajya Sabha member, Akbar has denied all the charges against him as “false, wild and baseless”.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : Describing the coming Lok Sabha elections as a “battle of two ideologies”, BJP President Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the proposed opposition grand alliance describing it as an “eyewash” and attacked the coming together of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh because they have realised that they cannot defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their own individually.
Asserting that 2019 will be a year of expansion for the BJP, he said Modi was leading the NDA that has 35 parties, the opposition does not have either a leader of a policy.
Sounding the poll bugle at the inauguration of the party’s two-day National Convention, he asked the BJP workers to resolve to bring Modi back to power in the general elections saying the people of the country will elect a “mazboot sarkar (strong government) and not a “mazboor sarkar” (compromising government).
Under pressure from the RSS and other members of the ‘Sangh Parivar’, Shah utilised the opportunity to assert that the government is keen on the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya in accordance with Constitutional norms but accused the Congress of creating hurdles.
“This ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) is an eyewash. Everybody is fighting for their survival. We defeated them in 2014 and it is time to defeat them again. Politics is not physics but chemistry in which when two compounds meet they can lead to unintended consequences. They have come together for their self interest and for power. This is a battle that will have a far-reaching impact for centuries to come. It is necessary to win it.”
Touching upon the proposed alliance between arch rivals in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP President asked “if bua-bhatija’ (aunt-nephew) come together what will happen. They did not want to see each other’s face a few months back. They cannot sit together.”
“We are ready to fight the battle to get over 50 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh. We will get not less than 74 seats (one more than what the BJP and its allies got in 2014). They have united because they cannot defeat Modi on their own. This is acceptance of our strength, of the strength of Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
“There was a time when it used to be Congress versus all. Today it is a matter of pride that it is Modi versus all. He is a pole of Indian politics on the strength of his hard work,” he said.
Calling upon the BJP workers to take a resolve for the re-election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, Amit Shah compared the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to the third battle of Panipat.
Shah said the party was gaining momentum in Odisha and West Bengal and he was personally keen to see a BJP government in Kerala.
Referring to the contentious issue of the Ram Temple, he said it was being said that the party has deviated from its earlier words.
“The ideology with which we started in 1950, the journey is continuing in the same direction. The BJP wants that Ram Temple should be constructed at the earliest and a grand temple should be built at Ayodhya. We are trying that the issue is settled soon as per constitutional norms. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Congress is creating road blocks. We were and are committed for Ram temple,” he said.
He laid out the issues that will be the campaign themes of the party in the next three months including upper caste job reservation and welfare measures for the poor including toilets, gas, housing, Ayushman Bharat and financial inclusion.
Shah accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of “manufacturing” allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and talked of surgical strikes and said Modi had enhanced India’s stature in the world.
Speaking of the rise of the Marathas under Shivaji and subsequent warriors, he said they lost in the Battle of Panipat in 1761 and the country later came under the rule of the British for 200 years.
“That was a decisive battle. Today the situation is the same. The country’s politics saw several ups and downs in the last 70 years. The BJP started its journey from Jan Sangh and got full majority in 2014 under Narendra Modi. In 2014 we were in power in six states, today we are in power in 16,” he said.
He said the Modi-led government was transparent, decisive, sensitive and based on democratic values.
“When we went for election in 2014, we had cadre. Today we have nine crore active workers. There are 22 crore beneficiaries of government schemes. Last time people wanted to give Modi a chance, this time we are fighting on the basis of his performance.”
“We have leadership of the most popular, hardworking, transparent and visionary leader. I am working with him since 1987. He has never been defeated. There is no question of stopping. We will again make a full majority NDA government in 2019.”
He urged the people to have faith in Modi again and said no one else can give a strong government.
He said the Modi government had a “spotless record” and attacked Rahul Gandhi and his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
“Those who are on bail and are facing income tax notices are making allegations of corruption against us. People of the country are not going to believe this.”
He said the Supreme Court had said that there was no need to probe the Rafale fighter deal and answers were given in parliament but Rahul Gandhi was still making allegations.
“What is this frustration. Five years are about to end. If they do not rake up allegations, how will they fight. They (the Congress) has indulged in corruption in every defence deal. If Michel mama is caught, they start sweating.”
“The history of their four generations is marked by corruption and you are making allegations against us.”
Referring to fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, he said they were “in comfort” during the UPA rule but were forced to flee when the Modi government came to power.
“Chowkidar will bring all the thieves. It is only a matter of time. They will have to return the money pending against their names,” he said.
He said India is the fastest growing economy and the government had implemented its promise of giving farmers prices at 50 per cent over their input cost.
He talked of efforts to bring justice to various sections including the Sikhs and efforts to empower weaker sections including Dalits, women and tribals.
Shah said the NDA had made a difference to the lives of the poor by providing a record number of houses, toilets, banking, electricity and gas connections in the last five years.
He made repeated mention of the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward sections among the upper castes in education and government jobs and said the poor among the general categories will get their first opportunity for a slice of the pie of reserved government jobs.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Srinagar : Kashmiri Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shah Faesal on Wednesday said he had quit the coveted service to protest against unabated killings in Jammu and Kashmir and against the marginalization of Indian Muslims by Hindutva forces, “reducing them to second class citizens”.
Faesal made the announcement on his Twitter page as news of his decision spread.
“To protest unabated killings in Kashmir and the absence of any credible political initiative from Union government, I have decided to resign from IAS. Kashmiri lives matter,” he said.
He said he would address a press conference on Friday.
After topping the civil service exam in 2010, Faesal was allotted the home cadre of Jammu and Kashmir. He served as District Magistrate, Director of School Education and Managing Director of the state-owned Power Development Corporation.
He recently returned from the US where he had gone on a Fulbright fellowship from Harvard Kennedy School.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed Faesal’s decision to join politics. Abdullah tweeted: “Bureaucracy’s loss is politics’ gain. Welcome to the fold.”
Informed sources said Faesal was likely to join the National Conference and fight the Lok Sabha election from Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley.
Faesal also issued a detailed statement outlining the reasons for his decision.
“To protest against the unabated killings in Kashmir, and lack of any sincere reach-out from the Union government;
“The marginalization and invisiblization of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces, reducing them to second class citizens;
“Insidious attacks on the special identity of Jammu and Kashmir and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper nationalism, I have decided to resign from the Indian Administrative Service.
“I wish to remind the regime of the day that subversion of public institutions like RBI, CBI and NIA has the potential to decimate the Constitutional edifice of this country and it needs to be stopped.
“I wish to reiterate that voices of reason in this country cannot be muzzled for long and the environment of siege will need to end if we wish to usher in true democracy.
“I am thankful to my family, friends and well-wishers for supporting me in this amazing journey in IAS. One of my important tasks hereafter will be to train and guide aspiring civil servants to help them in achieving this dream.”
—IANS
