Quick to understand market dynamics, Raina notes that people now want to eat and explore regional cuisine; they’re happy to have ‘Nadru Yakhini’ and ‘Haak Saag’ or try traditional lotus stem fritters…reports Asian Lite News
“Kashmiri food is more than Wazwan, and both Muslim and Pandit cuisines of the region need due recognition,” says celebrity Sanjay Raina, who is on a mission to change traditional perceptions about Kashmiri food and its preparation.
A name to reckon with when it comes to the business of food — be it as a restaurateur, a hotelier or an award-winning celebrity chef — Raina’s labour of love is to provide the finest quality home-cooked Kashmiri cuisine and make it available across the country without ever having to compromise on quality and taste.
“It has taken me a few years to put Pandit cuisine on the map… It took a lot of information sharing, educating customers and social media posts to achieve this. I feel vegetarians always feel short changed when it comes to eating out, so I have tried to change this.
“Whether it’s at our restaurant, or food festivals or catering, the vegetarian components are as important as any other dish. With Kashmiri Pandit cuisine, I get the opportunity to highlight vegetarian options and really make them shine,” states Raina.
The chef’s culinary skills were shaped at the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa, New Delhi. Born and brought up in Srinagar, Raina is a self-confessed ‘ambassador of Kashmiri cuisine’.
Quick to understand market dynamics, Raina notes that people now want to eat and explore regional cuisine; they’re happy to have ‘Nadru Yakhini’ and ‘Haak Saag’ or try traditional lotus stem fritters.
Raina goes on to clear the misconception that Kashmiri food should be avoided in summers, clarifying, “When you think of Kashmiri food, you think of spices and oil. But think about it, Punjabi food like butter chicken is rich with cream and cashew nuts but it’s eaten all year round.
“Kashmiris all over the world eat their food daily, so there is no such thing that it should be avoided in a particular season. Kashmiri food is unique, and the spices are local to the region, so the fennel powder or red chilli used in our food comes directly from Srinagar and is customised to meet specific requirements.”
Being optimistic about the restaurant industry, which was one of the worst hit during the pandemic, Raina states, “I hope the worst is behind us, but it gave us an opportunity to learn a lot. The business of food really evolved during that time and what we learnt will see us through the coming years.”
To take patrons on a delectable journey, the chef is hosting ‘Paradise on a Platter’, a food festival at Four Points by Sheraton, New Delhi, from April 27-30, a must try for all food lovers.
To this extent, the book is based more on the social and economic impact of legislative pro activism since 2015 than on theoretical research…writes Vishnu Makhijani
Pro-active legislative action since 2015 has brought fair play and social justice in the Indian economy and the returns surpass the economic reforms of 1991, says Vivek Sood, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, whose new book, ‘Progress Of The Indian Economy’ was released by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday evening.
“I came into the legal profession in 1992 and have seen the significance of the 1991 economic reforms that globalised the Indian economy. After 25 years in the profession, from 2015 onwards, I have seen the progress of the Indian economy in terms of fairness, equality of opportunity for every citizen to build unicorns and other successful enterprises, and economic justice for the common man through legislative pro-activism,” Sood told IANS in an interview of his sixth book in 22 years on socio-legal issues, which has been published by Thomson Reuters.
Legislation such as RERA, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, Commercial Courts Act, Arbitration Amendments, Fugitive Offenders Act, Amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act thereby giving public servants to take bold decisions without the fear of prosecution “is game-changing and has led to real progress of the Indian economy beyond statistics, thereby surpassing the economic reforms of 1991”, he said.
“This theme caught my attention and motivated me to write this book. Today, there is economic justice in the Indian economy. The Modi era since 2015 will be remembered as the era of economic justice,” he added.
To this extent, the book is based more on the social and economic impact of legislative pro activism since 2015 than on theoretical research.
“It’s based on the significant impact of post-2015 legislative action that has brought economic justice in India; how pro-active legislative action since 2015 has brought fair play and justice in the Indian economy. The Indian economy was a debtors’ paradise and creditors’ hell before the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2015. Home buyers had weak legal rights prior to RERA. However, these legislations have ushered economic justice to creditors and home buyers,” Sood explained.
Noting that the Indian economy has always been judged by statistics, he said: “GDP growth and inflation numbers has been an obsession with economists. I have questioned this over-emphasis on numbers. Why don’t we judge our economy in terms of equality of opportunity for all, fairness, and economic justice?”
After culling out the parameters of economic justice from a series of Supreme Court judgments, Sood, in the book, writes that the “stage is set for testing the various government schemes on the anvil of economic progress and justice for the common man as laid down in the Constitution”.
Among these are the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, National Skill Development Mission, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan, and Sart-up India.
The book also cites the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in a chapter titled “Integrating Kashmir with Indian Economy” as an example of economic justice for the people of the union territory.
“The political integration of J&K with India through Constitutional amendments as well as promising elections is nourishing the roots of democracy and making participatory democracy a reality for the people of J&K. Making J&K a part of the Indian economy ushers economic justice in the lives of the people. With the political and economic merger of J&K with mainstream India social justice is achieved as We The People Of India (as the Preamble to the Constitution states) are finally One Nation, One Economy. Is this not progress and socio-political-economic justice,” Sood writes.
What next? What’s his next book on?
“My next book is a hard-hitting critique on the criminal justice system in India which is likely to be released in August 2022. The book speaks of criminal injustice in the criminal justice system and cries for reforms. The Supreme Court has time and again said that judges rely on God and luck to administer criminal justice!
“I am also writing a book on Hindutva in the voice of the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister. The book is on how the Apex Court views Hindutva. Also, while our Prime Minister is a devout Hindu, he is most secular when it comes to state policy. His ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ state policy doesn’t discriminate on grounds of religion or caste. As the Prime Minister, he believes in equality of opportunity and justice for every citizen of India. He is the true restorer of Hinduism in India while being a secular Prime Minister. This is the theme of the book in progress,” Sood concluded the interview.
Citing the example of her father who explored multiple creative avenues, the actress said, ” My dad is not only an actor but also a film director, a writer, a theatre artist and he is also into music…reports Asian Lite News
With two web series on release – ‘Guilty Minds’ and ‘Murder In Agonda’ – actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, says how her parents taught her to be focused on her craft instead of indulging in the debate of nepotism.
In a conversation , Shriya, daughter of two veteran actors Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar, shared that even though she is aware of the privilege she has, opting for an independent way to create her space in acting was completely her choice.
Shriya told IANS: “I think one of the most important things my parents have taught me without teaching me anything is, the life of an artist is filled with uncertainty and only talent is not rewarded to achieve success, fame and stardom.”
“It is a combination of talent, opportunity and luck. But we can remain an artist by expanding our creative horizon.”
Citing the example of her father who explored multiple creative avenues, the actress said, ” My dad is not only an actor but also a film director, a writer, a theatre artist and he is also into music.
“When our mind is so happily occupied with creative work, we do not find room for dull moments. Rather we start enjoying the journey. I know it is a privilege to be born into a family of artists and well-versed with reality, as opposed to someone who is a complete outsider but every artist has a journey.”
Considering the fact that the actress set her journey quite slowly and with each of her acting projects in film and shows like ’13 Mussoorie’, ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Beecham House’, ‘Crackdown’, film ‘Fan’, ‘House Arrest’, ‘Kaadan’ – she also expressed her opinion on existing nepotism.
She said, “If we take the example of Alia Bhatt, she is a superstar for sure and an incredible actress and no one can deny that. Alia is pure talent.”
“Yes, how you are starting your journey and how filmmakers are casting an actor is their choice, but I also believe that the more work you do, you become visible. The more visible you are, our fraternity notices you, and gives you work.”
“If the talent and craft are not there, an opportunity cannot be justified. So, my ambition is to work with all my favourite directors and I know that is only possible if I keep working. It is only natural that we try to work with someone whose work we have already seen and liked. That is why I focus on the journey and not too much on the destination,” Shriya signed off.
Created by Arre Studio, directed by Vikram Rai, the five-episode series ‘Murder In Agonda’ also features – Aasif Khan, Kubbra Sait and Lillete Dubey, released on Amazon miniTV.
It’s also used in medicines and cosmetics. Studies show that coriander can help combat Food poisoning too…Ranveer speaks with N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
“If you have cooked something today, the highest chances are that you have reached out for this, chopped and tossed it into your dish or used its bright green leaves as garnish. Coriander or the several names Indians call it lovingly, dhania, kothamali, cilantro is the superstar of your kitchen. This herb is packed with flavours. It can spice up any dish you are making. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, every Indian loves coriander in almost all dishes,” reads a petition which has been to confer coriander as India’s national herb.
Making a headline with his latest campaign Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar speaks to IANSlife. He talks about how the Herb which makes every delicacy flavourful and sparks joy in our hearts must get the glory it truly deserves.
Ranveer Brar Read Excerpts:
What was it that pushed you to promote this idea and the petition?
Ranveer Brar: Actually, it started with a light-hearted social media post with me holding a placard saying Petition to make ‘Dhaniya’ a national herb. It garnered so much positive engagement that Change.org approached me to take it a step forward and make it an official cause. The signatures stand at 25K plus and counting and I am just happy people are supporting it. What are the health advantages of coriander consumption?
Ranveer Brar: Coriander in all its forms, the leaves, stems, root, and seeds even, are nothing short of superfoods. They aren’t just meant to enhance flavours, but they have a natural antioxidant, anti-depressant, anti-microbial, and anti-hypertensive properties as well. They are known to help control Diabetes and cholesterol too.
Coriander is widely grown and used all over the world; what are some other easy ways to incorporate coriander aside from cooking?
Ranveer Brar: Coriander is surprisingly popular for its non-culinary uses too. For instance, coriander oil is an excellent pain reliever due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also used in medicines and cosmetics. Studies show that coriander can help combat Food poisoning too.
While many people enjoy the aroma of the herb, what advice would you give to those who can’t stand the fresh, citrusy scent?
Ranveer Brar: I have read about that! According to research, some people’s olfactory-receptor genes are attuned to perceiving the aroma of coriander in a different way, sometimes akin to Soap. As an alternative, one can use coriander seeds instead, they are just as nutritious and lend a woody flavour and nice texture to any dish. You can also cook the coriander leaves or mince them or have them as chutney, which also brings in other spices and herbs, that will help mitigate the strong aroma of coriander.
What next after a successful petition?
Ranveer Brar: Well, there’s a lot more to discover with my Priya mitr Dhaniya (my dear friend coriander). Who knows what may pop up at the next corner… he smiles.
Now, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have become the world’s largest party. ..speaks Santosh Kumar Patak
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy says that the BJP will form the government in Telangana in the coming days.
The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism & Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) also held the Congress responsible for every problem in the country, and said that Sonia Gandhi has “no right” to criticise the BJP.
In an interview with Santosh Kumar Pathak, the BJP leader and MP from Telangana expressed his views on a range of topics, including the party’s foundation day, Vikas Yatra and prospects of BJP’s expansion in south Indian states, among others.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
What’syour take on the message that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave to the party cadres on BJP’s Foundation Day?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the concerns of crores of workers and people of the country… Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the NDA government is working in 18 states. In the coming days, our goal is to make India a world leader again.
We have to make the country powerful by eliminating poverty and unemployment. For this, he (Prime Minister Modi) called upon all the workers to work together. He has asked the people of the country to stay away from family or individual-centric political parties because such parties have no principle and can do anything for power.
BJP’s journey started with only two Lok Sabha seats and today you have coalition governments in 18 states, with 301 MPs in the Lok Sabha. For the first time, the party’s tally in the Rajya Sabha has crossed 100. How do you see this journey of 42 years?
When our journey started with just two seats, people made fun of us but we kept working hard under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. Our workers worked hard, and sacrificed relentlessly.
Now, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have become the world’s largest party. Today, the BJP is the number one party in the Lok Sabha as well as in the Rajya Sabha. We have governments in maximum number of states. The BJP is at the forefront in terms of number of SC, ST and women MLAs and MPs. Finally, a nationalist government is in power which is working in the interest of the country.
The BJP is yet to make its presence felt in a big way in the south. Amit Shah has said on many occasions that the golden age of BJP is yet to come. What are the party’s views in terms of expansion in south India?
You are right… At present we have government in two southern states — Karnataka and Puducherry. In the coming days, we are going to form government in Telangana as well. The BJP will also emerge stronger in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as people are angry with family and individual-centric parties in these states.
Sonia Gandhi is criticising your government, alleging that the BJP is working on a divisive agenda. Your take…
Sonia Gandhi has no right to criticise the BJP on this issue. It is the Congress that has divided the country in the name of religion, caste, language and financial status. Whatever problems the country has today, the Congress is responsible for them.
Vegetarianism, Mehta asserted, is a very clean and healthy way of eating and living “because there is no scientific paper ever published on eating meat for health”…reports Vishnu Makhijani
Vaccination alone is not the panacea for disease because the regeneration of the human body “also depends on the calm and composure of our mind” says leading holistic health guru Mickey Mehta who has combined ancient Indian sciences like Yoga and Ayurveda with modern concepts in association with renowned Chef Sanjeev Kapur for ‘Immunity-Plus’ — a book that will help you “Revitalise in 28 Days” and is slowly acquiring cult status.
Considerable thought and research has gone into the writing of the book, with the impetus being provided by Dr. Ali Irani, the Head of the Physiotherapy Department at Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital and the physiotherapist for the Indian cricket team from 1987-97, who says its “flavour of spirituality is like the cherry on the cake”.
“Today, immunity is all about taking vaccination, but yes, alongside vaccination one must also eat healthy, clean and green; eat as per the rules for the carcardian rhythm of the body; eat as per seasons; eat as per regions. Never overeat, don’t eat like an animal and don’t work out like an animal – and that’s the first step of immunity,” Mehta told in an interview.
“As for immunity for tomorrow: Remember one thing that our cellular regeneration also depends on the calm and composure of our mind. So there’s a need for meditation, calming yourself, composing yourself, integrating yourself, practicing silence and quitetude. Science says that in this way, aging markers come down, diabetes and blood pressure comes down and not just that – your immunity goes up,” he added.
Then, there’s immunity for the day after.
“Alongside with all the things mentioned for today and tomorrow, the day after will be born out of today. Be in seamless continuity today and tomorrow for your day after to be perfect. This comes through psychological and emotional well being, laughter, singing, dancing and most importantly, philanthropy.
“You will be surprised what philanthropy, good work, good kriya, good karma, good dharma, good karya has got to do with immunity. Fulfillment of your spirit and joy of your mind will turn around the functions of the endorphins (chemicals released by the body to relieve stress and pain). Thus, your bio chemistry, bio electricity, bio mechanics will all translate into your immunity,” Mehta elaborated.
All this, combined with cleanliness, hygiene and purification not only prevents infection but “deep breathing and steaming is very important, as also is the practice of ‘langhanams’. This includes fasting from activity, from food, from thoughts and from all ‘kleshas’ (the ill effects of the mind). This is a very good way of preventing infections”, he maintained.
Vegetarianism, Mehta asserted, is a very clean and healthy way of eating and living “because there is no scientific paper ever published on eating meat for health”.
“Health is only all that which heals, all that which integrates you and makes you whole, all that soothes you, calms you, makes you perfect. So there are theories and philosophies of becoming vegan. As much veganism is a good trend today, it is slightly an extreme measure which is very difficult to attain and maintain,” he cautioned.
While there is “nothing like it if you can become a vegan”, Mehta also pointed out that milk, curd and ghee from cows “which are not abused by medicines, hormones and antibiotics and are not pushed for over yields are a blessing for healing, fortifying and integrating you”.
Ultimately, he said, good health depends on the long-term commitment to four important pillars of a yogic lifestyle: “achar” (healthy regular activities), “vichaar” (right thoughts and attitude), “ahar” (healthy nourishing diet), and “vihar” (proper recreational activities to relax body and mind) – not to forget “vishram”, the rest that all of us require.
“Dhyana” (prolonged meditation) and sadhanas are beneficial too as they help “correct bodily malfunctions, disorders, disease, and align us back with wholeness. It helps to bring our memory back to wholeness by healing us”, Mehta maintained.
Vedic philosophies, he reiterated, are the true strengths of wellness and wellbeing.
“With ‘samarpan’ (dedication), you will achieve ‘santulan’ (perfect equilibrium). From this, you get universal ‘samarthan’ (support), followed by ‘saamarth’ and ‘saksham’ (potential/ability) and ‘sankalp’ (spiritual determination). This gives you ‘siddhi’ (power of manifestation), which leads to ‘samruddhi’ (prosperity),” Mehta explained.
How did the book, published by HarperCollins, come about?
“It all started many moons back when it occurred to me that immunity is fundamental to human health. This is understood by Vedic shashtras, Vedic science, Yoga, and Ayurveda and this prompted me from within to write a research paper on the same and to publish it,” Mehta said.
He approached his “very good friend” Dr Ali Irani and sought his support and “along with my assistant physiotherapist, Dr. Havovi Rana , we started on this journey and it turned out very well”.
While he was halfway through, some people suggested that research papers are not read by all so why doesn’t he expand it “and make it into a version of a scientific, philosophical and a to-do book”. So he approached another “very, very good friend”, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, to partner with him to contribute with the food for immunity “because there’s nobody better than him”.
“And here we are; this is an immunity plus plan for the world. It is a 28 day programme of vitality, initiating you into invincible immunity. Most importantly, it has optimal movement therapy which means all kinds of workouts, which includes yoga. It has breathing disciplines – all kinds of prananyama, it has food for four weeks as well and it has meditation for four weeks.
“It’s a perfect marriage of Vedic wisdom and modern scientific frontiers. So friends, embrace immunity for life, to get energized, maximised and immunised to get Mickeymised,” Mehta concluded.
Let’s give Dr. Ali Irani the last word: “This book is a masterpiece and a treat for every reader. Mickey, continue on with your services for humanity.”
As you know this industry is labour centric and the impact of this war would make for uncertainty on the job front…reports Arun Lakshman
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Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA) president Raja A. Shanmugham has said that the industry which is often referred to as the hosiery capital of South India and the Manchester of South is facing an acute crisis.
He said that the heavy increase in raw cotton prices had already affected the business and now the Russia-Ukraine war has taken the business to a new low.
Shanmugham, who is himself exporting to Europe, said that the market was slowly recovering from the Covid-19 crisis and they hope that the war will be over and prices of raw cotton will come down so that the industry gets back to normal providing employment to 6 lakh labourers and earning huge foreign exchange for the country.
The industry has a projected revenue of Rs 33,000 crore from the export business and Rs 32,000 crore from the domestic market with a total market cap of Rs 65,000 crore. He said that unless the government supports the exporting units and strictly monitors the raw cotton pricing, the industry will face the heat even after the war between Ukraine and Russia ends.In an interview, he expressed his concerns as well as expectations. Excerpts:
Tiruppur garment exports are facing the heat from the war in Ukraine. Please explain… Yes we are facing the heat but still the full impact is yet to be felt and we have to face it. Right now the already lingering container problem has got further escalated creating problems in exporting our merchandise as there is a huge shortage of containers.
Moreover, all the European brands do have garment stores both in Russia and Ukraine, now closed due to economic sanctions. Most of the reputed international brands have outsourced their work in Tiruppur and this has led to our industry getting crippled. Two things have a direct impact, the lack of containers and the showrooms of major European brands in Russia and Ukraine being shut down.
Another issue that affects the market is the increase in fuel costs in Europe due to the war which has disrupted the spending power of the Europeans. The fuel prices have increased by 30 to 40 per cent after the war.
The prolonged war has created a fear factor among all, particularly in the European region. Everyone is praying for it not escalating any further.
More than this buying garments is getting relegated to the last option. This will severely affect the quantum of trade in the coming season.
Is the increase in cotton prices a reason for the hike in production cost?
Yes indeed. The increase in cotton prices is a major reason for the hike in production costs. Other than that almost all the input costs have increased to an unprecedented level and have led to a major hike in production costs.
An increase in production costs and major markets shutting down are the reasons for the slump in business in Tiruppur. You see the raw cotton import duty is presently 11 per cent and we want that to be totally removed. With the import duty, the traders are making umpteen excuses to hike the price which is affecting our cost.
The farmers would already have sold all their cotton to the traders and there is a large presence of multinational companies (MNCs) in the cotton trade industry, they are raising the prices under the guise of this import duty. We want the government to remove that for a level playing field.
When do you expect a revival of fortunes in the trade?
Even as every exporter or for that matter every industry expects a revival of fortunes at the earliest, one or the other external factors are cropping up on a regular basis affecting our business. As everyone knows, the market is dominated by external factors and unfortunately we are facing the brunt of these factors.
While the Covid-19 pandemic took away two precious years, the sudden development in Europe has had a cascading effect on our fortunes. Anyway, we are expecting an immediate end to these crises and hoping the Tiruppur export industry regains its old health and vibrancy and provides more and more employment to the workers, earning foreign exchange for our country and the industry itself becomes profitable. Being an optimist, I feel that the worse will pass and the industry will regain its vitality.
As the industry is reeling under the effect of the Ukraine war, how is it affecting the labourers?
As you know this industry is labour centric and the impact of this war would make for uncertainty on the job front. But as of now, we all survive with the available orders in spite of a lot of challenges. We have a strong labour strength and there are around 6 lakh labourers who are directly employed in the industry.
We have labourers from across the country and in fact it’s a Pan India mix. There are around 2.5 lakh North Indian labourers in our workforce and we provide them with all facilities including lodging and a decent salary. We believe that the strength of the labourers is our strength and we move forward in this manner.
How are you planning to overcome the crisis?
We have chalked out a plan for survival by confirming orders in a no-profit situation. This will lead to our stocked materials being sold out and also help the buyers as the retail markets are all shut. We believe that we have to survive as a team and overcome this situation and with that understanding, we are proceeding ahead.
Do you feel that this would lead to other competing countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam takingadvantage of the situation?
This problem is for all the competitors too and we cannot say that one country is gaining advantage in this crisis. But our competitors do have other advantages like Foreign Trade Agreements (FTAs) through which they are constantly and continuously progressing faster than us.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on all the industries and businesses and after a slow recovery will the new development make a major dent in your industry?
We wish that not to happen. Tiruppur has already passed through lots of challenges in its forward journey and as optimists we hope that this will also pass soon.
What would be the annual turnover of the Tiruppur garment industry?
A. We are expecting a turnover of Rs 33,000 crore from exports this financial year and another Rs 32,000 crore in the domestic market. Altogether, the total turnover this financial year that we expect is Rs 65,000 crore.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is back in Britain after six-year detention in Iran, she became a pawn in the hands of Iranian authorities to retrieve their £400 million debt from Britain. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss confirmed the payment to Iran to settle a ‘legitimate debt’ on the same day Nazanin was released from Iran. The foreign secretary blamed US sanctions on Iran for the delay. Is that true?
Nazanin blamed five foreign secretaries to take a decision on a dispute which cost her freedom for six years. She was forced to stay away from her daughter Gabriella and her husband. Who is to be blamed for this fiasco? London Daily’s Azeez Anasudhin meets Sarosh Zaiwalla, senior partner at Zaiwalla, to find some answers. Excerpts:
What is your take on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release from Iran after six years’ detention?
I wholeheartedly welcome Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release from her long detention in Iran as I am sure does everyone in the UK. In addition to her physical suffering, she must have suffered enormous emotional pain from being away from her husband and her daughter for a long period. I wish her and her family all the very best. This is a piece of very good news at a time that we all needed it.
News agencies are saying the UK paid £380 million to secure freedom for Nazanin. Did the Iranians use Nazanin as a bargaining chip to secure the old payment to procure Chieftain tanks from the UK?
These reports are numerous and consistent to be sure. Many reputed journalists appear to be convinced this was the case. However, without seeing the evidence behind the reports I cannot say for sure.
The fact is that the British government was under a legal obligation to return the advance payment made by Iran in the 1970s for the purchase and delivery of Chieftain tanks. There is no dispute that the UK did not deliver those tanks in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979, and at least since the result of an international arbitration award in 2002. There is no doubt about the UK’s liability to pay the money to Iran if the government wants to pay.
It took six years to secure the release of Nazanin. The delay took a great toll on her family. The blame lies squarely on the government. Are they responsible to pay compensation for Nazanin’s sufferings?
The toll on Nazanin and her family was great. However, it is difficult to argue that the blame lies squarely with the UK government. It is of course true that they did not pay money that was owed to Iran. The current reports also suggest that the government’s argument that it could not pay the money because of sanctions may be questionable. However, it is the Iranian government who imprisoned her and, if the reports are true, effectively held her hostage for ransom. There also remains the question that Nazanin was convicted by an Iranian court for a crime which in all probability she did not commit.
I would be wary of having to argue that Nazanin’s imprisonment was a natural and foreseeable consequence of the failure to pay the debt, which is normally required to be established if a compensation claim is to be made. Of course, ultimately I cannot say at this stage whether or not the UK government would be held liable to compensate the Zaghari-Ratcliffe family for their suffering. I would say it is very unlikely the government will admit any sort of liability, but that does not mean it cannot take steps, including by paying money, to ensure that the family are put in as secure a position as possible now that Nazanin is back.
Is there any international law to prevent similar detentions?
There is no settled law that governs this question because it is simply too big a question. At heart, this would relate to the question of when a state may arrest a holder of a foreign passport for offences allegedly committed in that state’s territory. In principle, any state has the ability to do justice in its own way where an offence is said to have been committed within its territory and the accused is also within that territory.
There is international law that is designed to blocks states from arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning people without due process or fair trials. However, the enforcement of that law against a sovereign country from the outside is challenging, even in the most flagrant circumstances.
That is in my view the main reason why situations like Nazanin’s need to be handled at an international diplomatic level rather than adopting a strictly legal approach.
Are you happy with the way Prime Minister Boris Johnson handled this issue?
The most important thing right now is that the UK government has, it seems, finally paid the debt owed to Iran, and clearly, Nazanin has been released. Given that previous governments going back to 1979 have refused to pay, I believe credit should certainly be given to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for finding a way to pay the debt due to Iran. As matters stand however I have not seen any evidence of a key change in circumstances which means that the money which is not going to be paid could not have been paid in 2016 when Nazanin was detained.
I understand that it may be said this was the equivalent of paying a ransom to a kidnapper, however, the facts are that the money was actually a legally payable debt, and the UK has now decided to pay it. As such it seems it may have been possible to spare Nazanin her whole ordeal.
The British government blamed US sanctions for delaying the settlement of the legitimate debt. What’s your take on this?
The UK’s excuse for non-payment was that US sanctions on Iran and in particular the suspension of banking services to Iran prevented the payment. However, from my experience, this does not hold water. The UK government did make payment of very a large amount of money to Iran in respect of agreed damages in the case of Bank Mellat of Iran, in which my firm Zaiwalla & Co had acted for Bank Mellat.
Bank Mellat’s claim was settled following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the UK Government had acted both irrationally and unlawfully by including Bank Mellat as a named target of sanctions to prevent nuclear proliferation. In light of that, the UK could well have paid in the same way the debt owed to Iran in respect of these undelivered tanks. I understand that the USA has settled similar sorts of debts owed to Iran by flying cash to Iran. The debt could also theoretically have been settled by providing commodities and even medicine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is saying the debt refund will be used for humanitarian projects. Can we trust Iranians? If they are not committing to the promise, what will be the next course of action?
Until I have seen the terms of any agreement or undertaking by the Iranian government I cannot comment on whether it will be binding, nor whether it would be honoured. On the face of things, Iran was owed this debt and should be entitled to use the money however it wishes.
“We have a rich culture in astrology in India but I never followed,” said the pan-India star, who was ranked second in Times’ Most Desirable Men for the year 2017 and twelfth in 2018…Prabhas speaks with Durga Chakravarty
Superstar Prabhas, who has worked in blockbuster hits with a dollop of high-octane action, says he wanted to move away from his action image and do something different and that’s how his latest release ‘Radhe Shyam’, a lovestory, happened to him.
The ‘Baahubali’ star says ‘Radhe Shyam’ also has a sprinkle of thriller and is India’s first film with retro visuals, dresses and colour mix.
In a candid conversation , during the promotion of the film in the Capital, Prabhas revealed as to what enticed him to take up ‘Radhe Shyam’, which also stars Pooja Hegde.
“I wanted to do something different not like action, action and action… I wanted to do something different so that I could do some experiment more in the future. So, we thought we’d do a love story or something different. I heard 3-4 scripts and planned to do this,” said Prabhas, who is the first south Indian star to receive a wax sculpture at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum.
The 42-year-old actor hopes that the film lives up to the expectations.
“The promos and making videos got good response and finally after three different dates finally it’s getting released so hope it works,” he said.
Written and directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, ‘Radhe Shyam’ is a period romantic drama, which revolves around the story of Vikramaditya, a palmist who is conflicted between destiny and his love for Prerana, played by Pooja.
Does Prabhas in personal life believe in palmistry and astrology?
“I never followed anything like that. We have heard many stories… In my family also we had heard many stories… This palmist told that this is going to happen and all my uncle said ‘he’s going to be big when I was born’ but I never followed any palmistry or astrology…”
“We have a rich culture in astrology in India but I never followed,” said the pan-India star, who was ranked second in Times’ Most Desirable Men for the year 2017 and twelfth in 2018.
Prabhas has previously done two romantic films such as ‘Darling’ and ‘Mr. Perfect’.
Asked about what attracts him towards the concept of romance, he said: “So, I did two romantic love stories in Telugu which I had good action image then also I did that and it worked very well… It’s called ‘Darling’ and ‘Mr. Perfect’.”
“So, after ‘Baahubali’ and ‘Saaho’… We thought better go with a love story with a small budget and I couldn’t get a proper script then ‘Saaho’ happened… for ‘Radhe Shyam’ we took a lot of care and drama…”
Added the actor: “We can say it’s a love thriller also in a way and with granduer aand first time in Indian-cinema — retro. We, never saw Indian cinema with retro visuals or dresses or the colour mix.”
Ahead of International Women’s Day, Airbnb celebrated the role of women Hosts in its growing host community in India. The platform hosted a panel discussion featuring actress Sayani Gupta and Tisca Chopra, and Airbnb Host Ranjana Patil…reports N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
The panellists spoke on #BreakTheBias, highlighting how they persevered in their unique journeys despite facing unprecedented challenges. This was exemplified by the stories of women Hosts on Airbnb that had begun their entrepreneurial journey on the platform, illustrating how tourism has played a key role in their journey to success as Hosts.
“I feel so proud and inspired to see how women across the world are breaking biases and dealing with various stereotypes. I have made some strong decisions in my life due to which, several challenges came my way, both personally and professionally. However, not backing down and ensuring that I put my voice out there, helped me get through every phase. I believe women should break these glass ceilings, take up any role that they truly desire and always aim to be financially independent,” says actress Sayani Gupta.
Read Excerpts:
To begin with why act? How did your family and friends react when you told them you wanted to start acting?
I’ve always been excited about theatre and dance. I have been a performer and worked in the theatre space all my life, so to my friends it was not a shock. My best friend who knows me all my life was extremely instrumental in convincing me to do something else in my life. So when I left my corporate job to pursue acting, none of my friends were really shocked.
When it comes to my family, it was of course a great shock to my mother. She reacted with a little bit of drama just like mothers do but eventually came around, she took a few years but now she supports me unconditionally. Acting is something that I love and I’m good at. I’ve been acting for soo many years that it became a part of me, it’s nothing that comes superficially.
Your favourite Airbnb and how your travels have aided your personal development?
The house in Veinna was also really cool; it was a really nice house. I’ve stayed at a number of Airbnb properties, each of which is unique and beautiful. I travel to replenish my soul, as actors, we are constantly pouring our souls and ourselves into our creative process. Only when you’re travelling, can you replenish your energy through the people you meet and places you visit.
Museums and admiring art is one of my favourite things to do. Seeing architectural genius, watching orchestra all of this is basically to replenish myself and it’s extremely important that I do it. Unfortunately, because of COVID it wasn’t always possible in the last two years, and I think I was just done with not being able to travel and this Europe trip came as a huge saviour; I can only thank Airbnb for that.
Women venturing into the entrepreneur space often raises eyebrows, what advice would you give from your experience to those striving despite all of the challenges?
There will always be people to tell you you’re gonna do something. All you need is to tell yourself that you can do it. There shouldn’t be any question because it’s your life and you decide what you want to do or can do. I don’t think if you really put your mind to something, you won’t be able to do it.
We are all human beings we have a decent amount of talent and aptitude, and hopefully education. It is never up to anyone else or anyone’s business, including your parents that it’s okay to do something or not okay to do it. So just go for it. Especially women we are fit for any professional life. I watch a lot of Shark Tank, it’s just so nice when all I see women entrepreneurs having struggled through and still able to make something incredible. It’s never easy and it shouldn’t easy, but to still be to do it is an incredible feeling.
