The event was inaugurated with Lighting of the lamp by Ms.Jayashree Varadarajan and had a medley of songs/dances on Vasudevachar’s compositions, interspersed with informative pieces about his life’s journey narrated by the anchor Mahathi Srinath
An event of Classical music was organised by KBC Arts at the Auditorium of Mahalakshmi temple, London, to celebrate the life and works of Padma Bhushan Mysore Vasudevachar (1865-1961), the 20th century musician/composer who wrote about 200 compositions mostly in Telugu and Sanskrit. Most of his compositions were in praise of Lord Rama.
This is the 15th event by KBC Arts which holds musical events with a focus on a specific poet/Composer (The previous being Homages to Annamacharya, Ramdasa, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Balamuralikrishna, Narayana Theertha, Purandaradasa, Papanasam Sivan, Swati Tirunal, Oothukadu Kavi, Subramania Bharati, Meerabai, Balajim Bhaje Hum, Tulsidas/Ramdas/Surdas and Muthiah Bhagavatar).
The event was inaugurated with Lighting of the lamp by Ms.Jayashree Varadarajan and had a medley of songs/dances on Vasudevachar’s compositions, interspersed with informative pieces about his life’s journey narrated by the anchor Mahathi Srinath.
In all 15 items were presented by 50 artistes. Captivating dances were performed by Devananda Bibiraj, Ananya Sriram and Students of Liya Earath, Jeyaverni Jaganathan (PonSita School of Dance), Shruti Sriram (SanskritiUK).
The mellifluous performances of Dhriti, Mahathi Srinath, Asritha Devarakonda, Shruti Sriram, Divya Kasturi were mesmerising. The performances of Ainkaran Sivaaji on the Violin and Pramod Rudrapatna Prasanna Kumar on the Veena had the audience spell-bound.
The performers were accompanied on the Mridangam by a well-known professional Vijeyerajah Mylvaganam.
The successful program was enjoyed by a packed house of audience appreciative of the focussed efforts by the artistes and organisers.
Mrs Geetha Kaza, who conceptualised the event, thanked the performers, the team members and the audience. Photographs and videos were by Councillor Aaditya Kaza (Kaza Clicks).
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Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan delivered an inspiring speech on India’s rich cultural tapestry and the global appreciation of its diverse culinary traditions. He emphasised the significance of each state’s unique delicacies and their acceptance worldwide
The Saffron Group organised the Taste of India event at the Holiday Inn Bolton to promote India-UK business and cultural relations. The event was supported by the Consulate General of India in Birmingham, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Preston Hindu Community, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, and several other business organizations.
This vibrant event showcased India’s rich cultural heritage and culinary diversity, attracting numerous dignitaries and prominent figures from the North of England. The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including the Deputy Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Mohammed, the Leader of Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio lead for Digital City-Region, Councillor Nick Peel, and Director of Place, Bolton Council, Mr. Jon Dyson, among others.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and Mrs Murugan with Bipin Patel
Mr. Bipin Patel, CEO of The Saffron Group, extended a warm and grand welcome to all dignitaries.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan delivered an inspiring speech on India’s rich cultural tapestry and the global appreciation of its diverse culinary traditions. He emphasised the significance of each state’s unique delicacies and their acceptance worldwide. The event highlighted the challenging journeys, successes, and opportunities of businesses and key guests closely associated with India.
Attendees enjoyed a showcase of Gujarati food and delicacies, experiencing the delectable Taste of India. The rich food and culture of the Gujarati community in the North captivated and delighted all present. The event, ‘A TASTE of INDIA,’ not only celebrated the flavours and traditions of India but also reinforced the strong cultural and economic ties between India and the UK. The event was a resounding success, leaving attendees with a deeper appreciation of India’s culinary and cultural richness.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and Mrs Murugan with Bipin PatelConsul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and other dignitories on stageConsul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and other dignitories on stageTaste of India at BoltonTaste of India at Bolton
London’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre hosted the 2024 GBS Graduation Ceremony. Almost 1,500 graduates have received their certificates. Key speakers include Lord Bilimoria, Mr Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute and Research (UNITAR) and Seema Malhotra MP, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office
The GBS Graduation ceremonies are a special occasion for students, marking the culmination of their educational journey with us. The presence of VIP guests would not only be an honour but also an invaluable inspiration for graduating students as they embark on their professional endeavours.
London’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre hosted the 2024 GBS Graduation Ceremony. The graduation day has been divided into three significant segments: a morning ceremony 10:30 to 12pm, a VIP lunch from 12:00 to 13:30, and an afternoon ceremony from 2pm to 4pm. Almost 1,500 graduates have received their certificates and guest speakers at this grand ceremony are the key speakers were Lord Bilimoria, Mr Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute and Research (UNITAR) and Seema Malhotra MP, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Lord Karan Bilimoria addressing the GBS Graduation Ceremony in London
Some of the VIP guests were Baroness Pola Uddin, Mr James Murray, Labour MP, Mr Anwar Choudhury, Former Governor Cayman Islands at Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Former British High Commissioner, Mr Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London, Virender Sharma, former Labour MP, Mr Rajesh Agrawal, former Deputy Mayor of London, Sir Graham Brady, former MP, Mr Stanley Johnson, Sir Tim Lankester, member of GBS advisory Board, representatives from the British Army, Royal Navy and many more.
The founder of GBS and Our GEDU Group CEO Dr Vishwajeet Rana, GBS CEO Prof Ray Lloyd and GBS Deputy CEO James Kennedy have attended the ceremony to support and celebrate the achievements of our students.
Our student community, with an average age of 37, live in some of the UK’s most underrepresented areas for higher education. They have demonstrated remarkable dedication to self-improvement, committing to a better future for themselves and their families while contributing to the progress of their local communities.
GBS has diligently crafted a learning environment that supports our students in balancing education with work and family commitments, enabling them to realise their full potential. Many of our graduates exhibit a strong entrepreneurial spirit and through GBS are now equipped with the tools to advance their own ventures.
These incredible individuals are from humble beginnings, and their stories exemplify the power of education in a supportive environment. We are steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality teaching, guidance, and support, ensuring that our students receive the education they truly deserve.
GBS has experienced significant growth in the past three years, with over 35,000 students across ten campuses in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and the creation of more than 1,500 jobs. However, our success is grounded in our mission of changing lives through education and widening access to opportunities in communities that need it the most.
A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih ruled that Section 125 CrPC applies to all women, and divorced Muslim females can claim maintenance from their husbands under it…reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) applied to all married women including Muslims and they can claim maintenance from their husbands under these provisions.
The top court also echoed that the time has come for Indian men to recognise the role and sacrifice of ‘homemakers’ who are the strength and backbone of an Indian family and they must provide financial support to her by having joint accounts and ATMs.
A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih ruled that Section 125 CrPC, which deals with a wife’s legal right to maintenance, applies to all women, and divorced Muslim females can claim maintenance from their husbands under it.
“Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all married women including Muslim married women. Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all non-Muslim divorced women,” the top court said.
“Insofar as divorced Muslim women are concerned, – i) Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all such Muslim women, married and divorced under the Special Marriage Act in addition to remedies available. If Muslim women are married and divorced under Muslim law then Section 125 of the CrPC as well as the provisions of the 1986 Act are applicable. The option lies with the Muslim divorced women to seek remedy under either of the two laws or both laws. This is because the 1986 Act is not in derogation of Section 125 of the CrPC but in addition to the said provision,” the top court said.
If Section 125 of the CrPC is also resorted to by a divorced Muslim woman, as per the definition under the 1986 Act, then any order passed under the provisions of 1986 Act shall be taken into consideration under Section 127(3)(b) of the CrPC, the court said.
The 1986 Act could be resorted to by a divorced Muslim woman, as defined under the said act, by applying thereunder which could be disposed off in accordance with the said enactment, the court said.
In case of an illegal divorce as per the provisions of the 2019 Act then, relief under Section 5 of the said Act could be availed for seeking subsistence allowance or, at the option of such a Muslim woman, remedy under Section 125 of the CrPC could also be availed, the court said.
Adding further to it, the top court directed if, during the pendency of a petition filed under Section 125 of the CrPC, a Muslim woman is ‘divorced’ then she can take recourse under Section 125 of the CrPC or file a petition under the 2019 Act.
“The provisions of the 2019 Act provide remedy in addition to and not in derogation of Section 125 of the CrPC,” the top court said.
The top court’s ruling came on an appeal challenging the High Court of Telangana order dated December 13, 2023 which modified the family court decision. HC decreased the quantum of interim maintenance payable by the Appellant herein from Rs 20,000 per month to 10,000 per month.
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Meanwhile, Triple Talaq activist and Vice Chairperson of Uttarakhand Women Commission Shayara Bano said that the ruling is in the favour of all Muslim women. “This will improve their financial condition and will also reduce triple talaq cases. Besides, the social status of Muslim women will also improve,” said Bano, who herself is a victim of triple talaq.
Zakia Soman, women’s right activist and co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan , said that such progressive judgments will pave the way forward for equal legal rights of Muslim women within marriage and family. “With such judgments, we should celebrate because it is like a march forward,” Soman said.
“In the ruling, Justice Nagarathna has unequivocally said that all married women are entitled to maintenance and that includes Muslim women. The clear messaging is that no woman can be barred on account of religion,” she said.
Hasina Khan, founder of Bebaak Collective, said that the verdict ensured that all divorced Muslim women are entitled to a decent maintenance. “It is a historic ruling because the court said that maintenance is not a matter of charity but a fundamental right of married women. This will be a setback to the conservative section which doesn’t want women to get alimony under a secular law,” she said.
Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan: rights body(IN)
The everyday experiences of religious minorities in Pakistan, is an unending saga of violence, discrimination and exclusion. They suffer from a lack of access to education, sanitation, transportation and health care, to occupational discrimination and more direct experiences of violence such as abductions and forced conversions, accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, and frequent attacks on their places of worship …. Writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
The Pakistani ambassador’s elicitation of the inauguration of the much-awaited Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the United Nations received what it deserved, a caustic response. India’s permanent envoy to the world body, Ruchira Kamboj, said that Pakistan, like a ‘broken record’, remains stagnant while the world progresses. In her blistering counter, Ambassador Kamboj declared that Pakistan had a ‘limited and misguided’ perspective on matters related to India. She said, “It is unfortunate indeed to witness this delegation’s limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership, perhaps not the forte of this delegation.”
In a highly hypocritical move by Pakistan, its ambassador spoke deprecatingly about the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram temple, while speaking about combating Islamophobia. In her response to the Pakistani delegation’s duplicitous stance on religion, India’s ambassador stressed that India strongly condemns all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as much as it stands against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments.
Pakistan’s perfidious policy of attacking India, is an attempt to distract from its own systematic violation of human, political, and economic rights of the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan. The Baloch ethnic group, comprising a third of the population, has faced long-standing marginalisation due to discriminatory policies by the Pakistani government. Balochistan witnesses arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of political and human rights activists. These actions by state agencies have escalated tensions and violated fundamental human rights.
Furthermore, reports highlight the daily dumping of mutilated bodies of missing persons, enforced disappearances, and inhumane torture of Baloch political activists since 2005. Baloch activists have also criticised Pakistan for exploiting Balochistan’s resources without regard for its citizens’ lives. Amnesty International has expressed concern about human rights violations in Balochistan province, which have escalated in recent months.The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reports have found numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture, extrajudicial executions, and ‘disappearances of Baloch people. Victims include women, children, and political activists.
Most recently Pakistani intelligence agencies are behind the enforced disappearance of Sargodha Medical College student Khudadad Siraj. Even as the Pakistani Ambassador was preaching on human rights at the UN, Baloch Students at the University of Sargodha have been protesting against Siraj’s enforced disappearance, demanding that the Pak state release their fellow student.
A similar situation of discrimination and human rights violations exists in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Residents are deprived of their fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development. Peaceful activists, members of civil society, and even religious minorities face targeting by state and law enforcement agencies, often with impunity. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has earlier raised serious concerns about human rights violations in PoK. There are fears that those subjected to enforced disappearances from PoK may have been detained in military-run internment centres within Pakistan.
There is credible information about enforced disappearances of people from PoK. These include individuals who were held in secret detention, as well as those whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown. Some of the disappeared individuals were associated with Pakistani security forces, and in many cases, victim groups attribute these disappearances to Pakistani intelligence agencies.
A peaceful march led by women human rights defenders in Islamabad, known as “the Baloch Long March,” has aimed to raise awareness about ongoing repression and human rights violations in Balochistan. However, Pakistani authorities have always responded with excessive force, including tear gas and water cannons.
Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), has a region with a complex history of grappling with issues related to legal rights, democratic representation, and the well-being of its population. Local body elections have not been held in GB for the past 14 years, affecting democratic representation and governance. Throughout 2022-23 protests erupted across GB against land grabbing, cuts in subsidised wheat, and long load-shedding hours. The Pakistani state has responded by arresting protestors on false terrorism charges. Journalists like Muhammad Ali Alam and Ali Mujeeb faced intimidation, threats, and even kidnapping attempts by the Pakistani state for highlighting human rights violations.
Recently while speaking at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Chairman of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, highlighted the issue of the worsening human rights situation in POK and GB. He lamented that in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, “residents are deprived of their fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development. Peaceful activists and members of civil society are targeted by state and law enforcement agencies, and extremist outfits with impunity.”
Jamil Maqsood, the secretary of foreign affairs for the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) highlighted the challenges faced by the people of PoK and GB stating that, instances of restricted political freedoms and limited representation are a symptomatic of Pakistan’s policy in the region and that “despite the region’s strategic significance, there is a pressing need for inclusive development policies that prioritise the well-being of the local population. Socially, the people of these regions deserve equitable access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.”
The percentage of Hindus in Pakistan has witnessed a persistent decline due to ongoing discrimination and forced conversion. Instances of forced conversions and marriages are rampant in rural and backward areas. Disturbing cases have emerged where Hindu women are kidnapped, raped, or forcibly converted to Islam. Overt, state-sponsored discrimination persists, depriving Hindus of their fundamental human rights. Authorities often fall short in providing adequate protection and holding perpetrators accountable. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have an oppressive impact on religious minorities. These laws are often misused and lead to severe consequences for those accused.
The gruesome lynching of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot, Punjab province, underscores the danger of state-sanctioned religious hate. Priyantha Kumara, a Christian, was brutally killed by a mob for removing stickers featuring Quranic verses from factory machinery. The incident reveals how far the nation has descended into an abyss.
A flood-affected woman prepares food in Jamshoro district in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Sept. 8, 2022. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)
Pakistan was the first, and so far only country to officially declare Ahmadis as non-Muslim. Subsequent policies have served to reinforce their outsider status. For example, in order to receive a passport, all Pakistani citizens are required to sign a formal declaration of heresy toward Ahmadis, proclaiming the leader of the Ahmadi movement to be an “imposter prophet” and his followers non-Muslim.
Even as spiritual month of Ramzan is being observed around the world, in Pakistan a video now gone viral on the internet shows a mob beating up a#Christian sanitary worker in the city of Gujranwala.
While Islamabad claims its Hindu community is safe, reports of their leaving persist, and many Pakistani Hindus seek refuge in India due to safety concerns. For instance, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan were granted Indian citizenship during a camp organised by the district collector’s office. Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, conferred citizenship upon these individuals and encouraged them to contribute to India’s development journey. So far, 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have been granted Indian citizenship. The Indian government has relaxed norms for Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities who seek refuge in India.
Enforced disappearance represents a continuing violation of various rights, including the right to life and the prohibition of torture or cruel treatment. The situation in Balochistan, PoK and GB remains deeply concerning, and efforts to address human rights violations must continue to ensure justice and accountability.
The everyday experiences of religious minorities in Pakistan, is an unending saga of violence, discrimination and exclusion. They suffer from a lack of access to education, sanitation, transportation and health care, to occupational discrimination and more direct experiences of violence such as abductions and forced conversions, accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, and frequent attacks on their places of worship.
In fact duplicity manifests itself in many forms, which are palpable in Pakistan’s internal and external relationships. While talking about Islamophobia in the UN, the Pakistani government is in reality practising an unannounced ban on international Christian missionaries visiting Pakistan. Furthermore Pakistan never criticises or highlights the brutal way in which Beijing is repressing Uyghur Muslims.
Islamabad’s charade of trying to project itself as the global leader of the anti-Islamophobia crusade begs exposure.
Students' Federation of India (SFI) members stage a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, at Ambedkar University in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta)
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination… writes Kamalesh Kumar
On March 11 the ministry of Home Affairs implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across India. The CAA was passed by the Parliament on December 11, 2019, and was notified on December 12 of the same year, however the rules under this law are only now being implemented. After over four years of amending the act, the union government has recently notified the rules for the CAA, indicating its commitment to implementing the law.
It is unfortunate to see how the matter of protecting minorities from neighbouring countries has has become politicised. Before understanding the modalities and inherent justice of the CAA, it is important to understand what the act is trying to achieve and why it the ongoing national discourse surrounding it.
Refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan stage a protest against Congress over their alleged anti-CAA remarks, near AICC headquarters in New Delhi. (ANI Photo/Amit Sharma)
The Citizenship Amendment Act aims to protect individuals who have sought refuge in India due to religious persecution. It offers them a shield against illegal migration proceedings. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014. CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014. It specifically targets individuals who were forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion. The 39-page Rules notified in the e-gazette recently has prescribed the modalities and procedure for eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship. The Rules specify what documents and paperwork are required for putting forward and considering a claim of citizenship.
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination.
The United Nations, US government and several other countries have expressed concerns about the alleged discriminatory nature of the CAA. Defending the CAA against its international criticism by certain countries, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has stated that it is unfair for Western nations to criticize it when they had implemented similar immigration policies in the past. Refering to riteria followed by USA and various European countries he asked, “Show me a country in the world which says everyone in the world is welcome.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has strongly backed the CAA pitching that it protects the rights of migrants, reduces the number of stateless people and does not discriminate against minorities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land, that the government’s commitment to implement the CAA. Some state government like the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the CAA. Mr. Shah launched a scathing attack on Ms. Banerjee for misleading people on the issue of CAA, “At times, she tries to mislead the people, the refugees, whether CAA will be at all implemented in the country or not. I want to say this clearly that CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop its implementation. This is the commitment of our party.”
It is crucial to illuminate the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 through the constitution and human rights jurisprudence perspective. There are important humanitarian reasons why immigrants of certain religious communities from neighbouring countries should not be treated as illegal and should be given speedier access to citizenship. They have suffered persecution and require these protections. The CAA provides a legal pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities from specific countries, aiming to address their plight and protect their rights in India.The 2019 amendment to the CAA further relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation, reducing it from twelve years to just six years.
In the Indian Constitution, the jurisprudence on “equal protection” in Article 14 characterises this as being at best a case of “under inclusion”. To draw an analogy, if the government wants to solve a problem like malnutrition, it can take some steps without eliminating hunger entirely. Similarly, if it wants to protect migrants from religious persecution, it can do so by protecting some migrants and not all of them.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) supporters protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Patna. (ANI Photo)
Before criticsing CAA on the constitutional merits, it must be noted that Article 15 does not apply to non-citizens. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. While, under Article 14, laws can rationally differentiate between people on the basis of whether they pay taxes or breach contracts, they can’t differentiate between them merely on the basis of Article 15 characteristics.
If a law is providing for affirmative action why cannot it take into account historic discrimination? The additional protection provided by provisions like Article 15 forms a key part of equality law around the world, be it through the “protected characteristics” under UK’s Equality Act, 2010 or through the USA’s constitutional safeguards for “suspect classifications”. These structures operate in areas of historic discrimination and ensure that people don’t have to suffer for inherent traits that they did not choose. Thus it is valid to ask if there can be concern about historic discrimination within the country, why can’t the concern extend to a history of persecution in another country?
To draw a reference, in the case of caste, Indian constitutional law shows that valid identification of backward castes has always been backed by evidence. This is similar to the US jurisprudence on suspect classifications – these aren’t entirely prohibited, but the government is placed under “strict scrutiny” by courts and has to show that no less discriminatory alternative is available, or that the job cannot be done in a more equal way. If evidentiary burdens tend to determine legal outcomes, then the petitions challenging the CAA’s constitutionality are no exception!
Referring to the unnecessary discourse surrounding CAA External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar believes that it is a battle of narratives and Anglosphere papers played a prominent part in it, “Take this whole scaremongering that millions of people are going to lose citizenship — you tell people, saying look this was said — one year has passed, two years have passed, where are these people? After all, we are supposed to have a cataclysm in 2020. Even citizenship, when you start reasoning people, ask them–tell me do you not have criteria of citizenship; do you not use language– some people use religion, language, education; some even use income, ethnicity.”
Sikh refugees from Pakistan stage a protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his remarks on CAA, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)
According to sources, there will be over 30,000 immediate beneficiaries from the CAA once the rules are fully implemented. Critics fail to see that the CAA benefits members of some religions without actually harming anyone else. Every country including USA and in Europe have different citizenship criteria based on context and social criteria. Infact the word ‘minorities’ is not used in the CAA because if other countries change the definition of their minorities in future, India would not be able to give them citizenship based on religious persecution. The CAA does nothing to anyone’s detriment and is thus not against anyone at all.
She stressed that ‘gaana’ songs, ballroom beats and ‘mujra’ numbers in her debut album ‘Kattar Kinnar’ are her musical inspirations. Also Khushi Shaikh, who is someone she deeply respects…writes Sukant Deepak
She says everyone always wants her to talk about struggles, about how she might be suffering, and she feels that is what the audience wants to know.
“But for me, it is paramount that my music makes people dance, and celebrate, while also being honest and real,” said Kinari, recipient of the Toto Music Awards 2024, who has emerged as one of the foremost voices for the LGBTQ+ community in Delhi’s rap scene.
She stressed that ‘gaana’ songs, ballroom beats and ‘mujra’ numbers in her debut album ‘Kattar Kinnar’ are her musical inspirations. Also Khushi Shaikh, who is someone she deeply respects.
Kinari said, “Samples from her iconic vlogs and videos feature heavily as part of the sonic landscape of my album. This is why it was so incredible that she danced for my album’s party,” said Kinari.
The opening ‘mujra’ performance by Khushi Shaikh, a trans model and dancer who is quite popular on social media, and samples from Shaikh’s vlogs — a collaboration between ‘mujra’ and rap, both by trans artistes — was the first such commercial gig of its kind in Delhi that happened on March 3.
The album will be officially released in mid-March.
For someone who learnt casio at school, and is self-trained, Kinari said she has always been alive to the local music scene around her, including wedding bands outside her window in Khirki, or ‘gaana’ music playing in her hometown Chennai while growing up.
Listening to hip-hop from a young age, she feels it is the best medium to express herself.
“I cannot even think of choosing any other musical styles. There is much more to hip-hop than song and dance. Let us not forget that across the world, artists of this genre speak about social issues and bring contemporary realities alive with their music. Like MC Altaf says, ‘If you listen to hip-hop, become a good person/become a helping hand to wanderer struggling/do good work before you die’,” asserted this 25-year-old, who is Delhi’s first transgender rapper.
Talking about her debut album, a sonic expression of life in Delhi’s Khirkee Extension that switches fluidly from Hindi to English, she highlighted her heritage by intertwining the beat of wedding bands outside her window with the coruscating pulse of ‘gaana’ songs and cuts of Mari Selvaraj films. The album is an expression of not just the sweet side of being a transgender.
“It is also about some bitter truths. It was written and produced in Delhi. I want to share with people the pleasure and power of Tamil ‘gaana’ and Delhi ‘mujra’ dance throughout the album, which has helped me keep going through the daily harshness of life in the city. My song ‘Baahar’ talks more about this, the dichotomy between my day-to-day life in Khirki Extension as a language teacher, and the nights as the Indian hip-hop scene’s exciting new rapper,” she said.
And did she face any roadblocks owing to her gender identity?
“The main difficulty is not being transgender in the music industry, but being one in Delhi. I make music that I love to make and listen to. I will keep doing this even if the industry does not accept it. I believe in staying close to music and not losing faith,” she said.
Raving about Miss Boogie’s latest album ‘The Breakdown’, she asserted that her inspirations keep changing over time.
“There are so many transgender and marginalised artistes who are making great music today,” concludes Kinari, who after the album’s release will be going on her first multi-city tour this summer.
On PM Modi’s poll promise of providing jobs to youths, the TMC MP from Asansol said, “They had said that when they come to power, the youth in the country will be empowered. They had said that they would give two crore jobs every year. Where is the guarantee?”…reports Asian Lite News
Days after Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh withdrew his candidacy from the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shatrughan Sinha asserted that the Ram Mandir already existed in Ayodhya, adding that BJP did Pran Pratishtha in an incomplete temple.
“They (BJP) have spent so much money for darshan in the temple. The temple was already there. Was Pran Pratishtha not done earlier? The temple was small. You (PM Modi) have only magnified it and that too, you also did Pran Pratishtha in an incomplete temple,” Sinha said speaking at a public meeting at Asansol on Tuesday.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electoral assurances, the actor-turned-politician at a public gathering in Asansol said, “PM Modi keeps talikng on giving guarantees. First, fulfil whatever guarantees you have given. You used to speak about inflation earlier. Today, inflation has risen to such an extent that it is at a 60-year high. Whether it is price of oil, fruits, vegetables or other edible items.”
On PM Modi’s poll promise of providing jobs to youths, the TMC MP from Asansol said, “They had said that when they come to power, the youth in the country will be empowered. They had said that they would give two crore jobs every year. Where is the guarantee?”
“The young generation is more than 60 per cent of the total demography today and among them, 60 per cent are unemployed. Imagine the frustration among them. Youth are committing suicide. And they are diverting people’s attention from real issues and sticking to temples and mosques,” Sinha said.
Sinha also hit out at the Prime Minister for promising to double farmers income by 2022.
The Mumbai Queer Pride March 2024 is scheduled to take place on February 3, organised by Mumbai Queer Pride (MQP), a collective of Queer (LGBTQIA+) individuals and organisations. The march will begin at 3 PM, next to August Kranti Maidan, the historic site of the Quit India movement.
The Mumbai Queer Pride March is:
• A celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community’s diversity and resilience
• A call for action on the issues and challenges we face
• A demand for rights like marriage equality and adoption for queer persons
• A demand for strong anti-discrimination and anti-violence laws
• A demand to set up functional Welfare Boards and Councils for protecting & furthering the rights of Transgender persons
• A demand to end stigma & discrimination against people living with HIV and provide them with access to health care, education, employment, housing, etc.
• A call to immediately end discrimination, abuse and violence of all sorts.
The march will feature volunteers, activists, artists, thinkers, movie makers, actors, and allies from various other social movements, as well as parents, teachers, students, and corporate goers supporting the above causes and beyond. The march is preceded by a month-long calendar of events, including workshops for advocacy and education, panel discussions, film screenings, book readings, performances and many more.
The MQP welcomes the participation and solidarity of intersectional movements in the march. The organisers highlight that the upcoming Pride March is for LGBTQIA+ Pride and the Causes that intersect with it, and the attendees’ posters and messages need to reflect that.
The winners of the first-ever Rainbow Awards for Literature and Journalism will be announced and felicitated on Day 2. The Fest will also see queer-run enterprises at work through stalls and pop-ups. In addition, there would be a bookstore run by the ‘queer-friendly’ Kunzum…reports Asian Lite News
The Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer and Inclusive is set to take place on 9th and 10th December 2023 at the Gulmohar Park Club, New Delhi. Bringing together diverse voices from across the nation, the Rainbow Lit Fest seeks to discuss queerness, find common ground and stitch more informed narratives about the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year, over 60 speakers, entertainers and performers will participate in the festival. In about 30 sessions covering a wide variety of topics, they will celebrate queerness and love while encouraging inclusivity. The festival will open with a spotlight session with director Jaydeep Sarkar (maker of the new queer docuseries Rainbow Rishta). There will be more such spotlight sessions with Saurabh Kirpal (senior advocate & author), actor Kalki Koechlin, Seema Anand (London-based mythologist; intimacy columnist) and Hoshang Merchant (modern India’s first openly gay poet).
Other prominent speakers include Alankrita Shrivastava (Director & Writer), actor Mona Ambegaonkar, Jaya Sharma (queer feminist activist), Urvashi Butalia (author and activist), Akhil Katyal (poet and queer activist), Poonam Saxena (senior journalist, translator, author), Rituparna Borah (queer feminist, writer, founder – Nazariya – QFRG), Niladri R Chatterjee (author and translator) and Rohin Bhatt (lawyer and activist).
Exploring themes of love and the law, social hierarchies and identities, the relationship between mythology, literature and culture, the overlap between queer rights and feminism, among other things, the conversations will revolve around the Rainbow Lit Fest’s aim to unravel queer history, acknowledge present realities and work towards a hopeful future. Special ‘Spotlights on History’ include revisiting India’s first Stonewall moment with activist Arif Jafar, and another remembering historian and gay rights activist Saleem Kidwai.
Besides history and academia, the Fest delves into the sub-continent’s rich culture of folklore and fluidity to bring together an immersive two-day experience. Five films that cover different aspects of queerness will be screened at the festival, including the award-winning My Mother’s Girlfriend and Muhafiz, among others. Mumbai-based Tamasha Theatre is set to perform Be-loved, an intriguing saga exploring love and freedom through a queer lens, for the first time in Delhi. Performances by queer artists feature musician John Oinam and band, drag performer Lush Monsoon, Geetanjali & Katukaleen rendering Kumaoni folk music, trans performer Avatari Devi, and Gayathri Sharma & Bhadra Sinha in a Bharatnatyam production representing the Ardhanarishvara philosophy.
The winners of the first-ever Rainbow Awards for Literature and Journalism will be announced and felicitated on Day 2. The Fest will also see queer-run enterprises at work through stalls and pop-ups. In addition, there would be a bookstore run by the ‘queer-friendly’ Kunzum.
The festival is being supported by Delhi Queer Spaces, Naz Foundation, Nazariya – QFRG, Keshav Suri Foundation, Official Humans of Queer, The Pink List, The Q-knit, Queering in Chandigarh, Sweekar – The Rainbow Parents and Yes We Exist. Everything from the fest’s location – Gulmohar Park, which saw the early risings of the gay movement at the residence-cum-office of the Naz Foundation back in 2001 – to its belief system – that literature and art should speak for as many as possible, particularly those who aren’t usually heard – sets the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusiveapart.
Festival Director and Founder, Sharif D Rangnekar said, “After the Supreme Court verdict on marriage equality, there is a greater need for the community to come together and voice their views. Conversations around lived experiences are extremely essential in giving the community a sense of space, identity and belonging, while also informing the audience of queerness and the expanse of love and choice.”
