First and foremost, much of the discourse surrounding women’s liberation stems from Western ideologies, particularly among individuals educated in the West, where historical oppression of women was prevalent. For instance, Switzerland granted voting rights to women only in the 1960s.

Many modern proponents of women’s liberation often come from non-traditional family backgrounds, such as dysfunctional or single-parent households. Some espouse beliefs that view family obligations, children, and marriage as burdensome or oppressive.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Western television played a significant role in shaping societal norms, portraying the “ideal” family as comprising a father, mother, two children, and perhaps a pet, perpetuating the notion of the “happy family” archetype. This ideal often excluded extended family members, such as in-laws or relatives.

This portrayal served the interests of big business, as smaller families meant increased consumption of household goods. Thus, the promotion of nuclear families over joint families became advantageous for economic reasons.

Certain feminist movements even associated menstruation with impurity, a stark contrast to cultural practices in regions like South India, where a woman’s coming-of-age is celebrated as a grand occasion, second only to her wedding. Traditionally, during menstruation, women were given a break from household chores and pampered by other women, acknowledging the importance of rest and rejuvenation.

Unfortunately, some activists perpetuated the belief that only paid employment constitutes legitimate work, thereby diminishing the value of homemaking and caregiving roles. This coincided with the introduction of sanitary napkins in the Indian market, transforming a natural process into a commercial opportunity while perpetuating notions of female impurity and oppression.

As a result, women found themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, including work outside the home, domestic duties, and managing biological stress, all under the guise of modernity and empowerment.

It is essential for all women, regardless of their employment status, to have dedicated rest periods, akin to maternal leave, to prioritize their physical and emotional well-being.

Furthermore, there has been a push towards promoting alternative family structures, such as single-parent households, labeled as “proton families,” influenced by Western ideals and economic interests.

Hindu mythology celebrates powerful goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali, embodying strength, wisdom, and transformative energy. By drawing inspiration from these divine feminine figures, women can find empowerment within their cultural and spiritual roots

Sathya Narayanan is a freelance writer and businessman. 

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I studied in one of the best ICSE/ISC schools in my district. The syllabus was so tough that getting high marks was very difficult. If you got 80% in Maths and sciences, it was seen as a big achievement. However, 80% was insufficient for me to get into the state medical colleges where students studying state syllabus could easily get 200/200. But ISC prepared me to crack any top medical entrance exams in the country. I cracked three. CMC, Vellore, JIPMER Pondicherry and St.Johns, Bangalore. Eventually, I chose CMC, Vellore, as I could stay in my hometown.

History Of Entrance Exams In Tamil Nadu

Till 1989, students could get into a medical college through an interview but, that was found to be inadequate, and TNPCEE was first introduced in 1989 by Anna University. This was actually a very good filtering mechanism where students would be given admission based on a combination of 12th marks and the marks they secured in TNPCEE. The DMK government scrapped TNPCEE in 2006, and students got into medical colleges solely based on their 12th marks.

Problem With Current Education System In Tamil Nadu

After scrapping TNPCEE, another disturbing thing done by the then DMK government was to introduce Samacheer Kalvi, which did more harm than good. It further diluted the quality of the syllabus, thereby making it virtually impossible for students to crack tough competitive exams. With students getting into medical colleges solely based on their 12th marks meant the quality of doctors started getting poorer day by day. The other problem is that students can chase their papers easily, get 200/200 in important subjects, and get into a medical college.

Medical Entrance Exams In Other Countries

Cracking medical entrance exams is mandatory in most developed countries. For example, in Singapore, students have to crack the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to enroll in a medical program. This is similar to NEET in India.

Importance Of Medical Entrance Exams

Unlike engineering, where you learn the basic concepts once, and they don’t change much (except for some new software), medical education is always a continuing process as new diseases and medicine keep emerging. That is why there is something called continuing medical education (CME). Hence, students who aspire to become medical doctors need to have high aptitude, and entrance exams play a key role in evaluating that aptitude. That is why I am always in favour of medical entrance exams, especially for UG. Right now, with no filtering mechanism I place in Tamil Nadu, NEET is the only option available to test the caliber of potential doctors. At the same time, I feel there is no need for NEET for PG and other specializations because the aptitude of students is already tested once. MBBS graduates should be allowed to choose their PG based on their MBBS marks, and perhaps an additional interview would suffice.

History Of NEET

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET, was first tabled by the UPA II government in 2013 in which DMK was a coalition partner. It was taken up by the NDA government and implemented in 2017. Most of the states have embraced it, and students have started preparing for it and it has become a norm now. Even though there are problems in Tamil Nadu around NEET, 4 out of 10 students who crack NEET are Tamils which shows our innate fighting qualities.

Problem In Cracking NEET In Tamil Nadu

The main problem students in Tamil Nadu face in cracking NEET is the mismatch between their syllabus and the expectations from NEET. The questions asked in NEET are totally unconnected to what students studied until then, forcing them to take up NEET coaching, which has now become a big industry on its own. If I had taken up NEET today based on my ISC syllabus, I am confident I would have cracked NEET without undergoing any special coaching.

Politics Around NEET

As mentioned earlier, despite Tamils being successful in cracking NEET, sporadic suicides have made NEET a political issue. The current DMK government has used this issue for political dividends without addressing the crux of the issue. They have continuously given false promises to people that they will get an exemption from NEET. Exception from NEET is definitely impossible as the central govt, Supreme Court, and most state governments are in support of it. As mentioned earlier, as a doctor, I personally feel a competent filtering mechanism should be in place for medical courses. When all Congress state governments have accepted NEET, DMK promising that it will get Tamil Nadu exempted from NEET once the Congress govt comes to power in 2024 is really funny.

Possible Solution

The main problem around cracking NEET is the Tamil Nadu state syllabus which is subpar compared to CBSE and ICSE/ISC. With TNPCEE scrapped, we don’t have any option but to have NEET as the only filtering mechanism. What the Indian government in collaboration with the state government can do, is to bring a single syllabus across India that is formidable enough to crack any competitive entrance exam (NEET, JEE, etc). Maybe this can be addressed in the new education policy (NEP) introduced by the central government.

Conclusion

NEET is here to stay, and it is the responsibility of the state government to prepare its students for the exam rather than hoodwinking people that they will ban NEET, which is not going to happen at all. If there is one government responsible for NEET-related suicides, it has to be the current DMK government. Udhayanidhi is neither a scholar nor a doctor to understand this. I hope Tamil Nadu can be saved from him!

Dr. Praveen Kumar is a clinician-turned-scientist who is passionate about writing on current affairs.

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I have insisted several times that Tamil Nadu was and still is one of the most spiritually inclined states in India. But this innate spirituality has been derailed consistently through concerted efforts right from the days of the EVR-led Dravidian movement and the subsequent DMK governments.

The Dravidian movement also created the North-South divide through the bogus Aryan-Dravidian theory what has been debunked umpteen times.

When the very base of the state has been shaken for decades, we need a permanent solution to address this issue.

Earlier, people saw ADMK as an alternative especially till Ms. Jayalalithaa was alive. That situation has changed drastically. Is this the best time for BJP to grow and rise to power in Tamil Nadu in 2026? Yes I believe so.

Why BJP And Why Not other parties?

I have always yearned for an alternate brand of politics in Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately after AIADMK was formed in 1972, power has shuffled between DMK and AIADMK all the time. The only three occasions where there was a possibility of having a non-Dravidian party capturing power was in 1989 (Congress unwilling to align with Ms. Janaki’s faction), 1996 (Mr. Rao unwilling to go alone despite support from Mr. Rajinikanth) and 2021 (Rajinikanth backing out of politics).

2026 presents a tremendous opportunity to break the jinx. I don’t see anything other party capable to providing an alternative to the Dravidian parties other than BJP, especially from a spirituality standpoint, which is very close to my heart.

Today’s BJP is not the same BJP we saw few years back. Ever since Mr. Annamalai took over as the State President, there is no doubt that the part has revigorated under his leadership. The resounding reception his yatra is receiving and the natural and organic support he has garnered on the ground are testaments to the remarkable growth of the party in Tamil Nadu.

We should not forget the contributions of Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan who laid the foundation for this growth (Do read this on Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan that I wrote).

Benefits Of Having a BJP Government In Tamil Nadu

PM Modi’s victory in 2024 is a foregone conclusion. With BJP continuing at the Centre, it would only be pragmatic to have a BJP government in the state as well. This will lead to more projects, more infrastructure developments, more jobs, more GDP and overall development of the state. Eventually, when BJP forms a government in Karnataka it will be very easy to have discussions and consultations on issues such as Cauvery. I strongly believe, a BJP government will provide the alternate brand of politics which I have been longing for, for an inordinate time. Corruption will also be contained significantly when a brand-new party and a brand-new leader takes over.

Who Should Be The Face Of BJP And The CM Candidate?

Natural choice is Annamalai for the following reasons. He brings in a fresh face when the electorate is fatigued with the existing options. He is very young, bold and daring, traits which I saw in JJ, a person I had immense admiration for. He can read, write and speak fluently in both Tamil and English. His articulation skills have been commendable so far even on sensitive issues.

Just like PM Modi, Annamalai is from a lesser privileged caste so you can expect him to be intolerant to caste atrocities against the downtrodden as opposed to caste-based domination by DMK leaders. This way BJP can really be a social justice party. He has unalloyed support and backing of PM Modi and hence coordination between the PM and the CM will be very smooth. He is a Tamil and you can expect genuine concern for Tamils and Tamil Nadu from him. Even though not significant as a voting bloc, Annamalai has the backing of majority of the Brahmins in Tamil Nadu.

What Should BJP Do To Come To Power?

For BJP to rise to power and Annamalai to become the CM of Tamil Nadu, supporters and cadres of BJP should understand and do the following after 2024 elections are over!

Setting Up Infrastructure

BJP must understand yatras are as good as conferences. They don’t fetch you 30% votes. You need minimum 30% votes to come to power. In a four-corner fight, BJP can capture power with 30% votes like how MGR did in 1977. Get PM Modi to travel to Tamil Nadu as frequently as possible and campaign in the run up to the 2026 elections. If you recall, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi campaigned extensively making multiple campaign visits to Tamil Nadu in 1989. Build the party infrastructure with aggression. You can learn from Mr. Rajinikanth and how he did it in 2-3 years where 80% was completed. Right now BJP doesn’t have an infrastructure in place except for certain pockets like Coimbatore and Kanya Kumari. Get the booth committees appointed and keep them engaged in some or the other activity at the local level. There are 65000+ election booths in Tamil Nadu. Take the achievements of PM Modi to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu and what kind of alternate politics BJP will provide!

Go It Alone From Now On

Now that the AIADMK has exited from the BJP-led NDA, don’t look back. Contest alone, don’t ever compromise. If possible lead a front (without corrupt and casteist parties) as an alternative to DMK and AIADMK. Never go as a junior partner in any alliance. Have one party worker every street talking to people about day-today issues. Take up solid issues and keep raking them everywhere.

Don’t Antagonize Minorities

Even though the PM Modi-led BJP government has not spoken ill or discriminated against the minority community, an image has been formed that the BJP is a saffron party. We can defeat about the preconceived notions of people by only reaching out to them. Minorities are very vigilant and they create powerful narratives. Most importantly, they have a decentralized system and delegate powers. They are currently voting en-masse to DMK-Congress. That needs to broken.

What Will Be The Role Of NTK In The State?

While I don’t see eye to eyes with NTK and Mr. Seeman on issues the border on Tamil extremism such as his support for the notorious Veerappan, LTTE taking center stage in his campaigns, I must admit I have a soft corner for that party. I feel if Seeman can tone down his Tamil rhetoric he can position himself to challenge Annamalai. His party’s election manifestos have been one of the best that the country has ever seen. He has experimented some unique ideas like giving 50% seats to women. The truth is that BJP and NTK are the only two parties that have strong ideologies in Tamil Nadu today.

In the long run when the two Dravidian parties wither off, I would like to see a BJP Vs NTK battle in the state. Seeman can become the opposition leader with Annamalai being the CM. They both have mutual admiration for each other and we can expect decent politics.

Conclusion

2026 is definitely going to witness a watershed election and presents a great and rare opportunity for BJP to form a government in Tamil Nadu. With Annamalai’s growth through his Yatra and solid backing from PM Modi, there is hope for a change in Tamil Nadu in the coming years. Even bitter critics like ‘Savukku’ Shankar have admitted that Annamalai is a leader material and youth would like him more in comparison to someone like Udhayanidhi. Right now, the focus should be on making Tamil Nadu contribute in PM Modi’s victory.

Vaazhga Tamil Nadu! Valarga Bharatham! Jai Hind!

Dr. Praveen Kumar is a clinician-turned-scientist who is passionate about writing on current affairs.

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Image Source: Y20India.in

The Y20 India engagement group and its initiatives under India’s G20 presidency have been an extraordinary odyssey, one that truly kindles the spirit of our times. Y20, the official engagement group for youth of G20 member countries first found itself featured at the global arena about a decade ago. Undoubtedly it found itself at the centre of attention as India with the world’s largest youth population prepared itself to host the G20 Summit this year under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was tasked as the nodal Ministry, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation with its history of dedicated and yeomen service to the nation, headed by Dr. Anirban Ganguly was befittingly designated as the Secretariat for the Y20 engagement group for this year. 

Right from the word go, Y20 India pushed the resounding message of driving change against merely discussing change. The themes for the tracks under the engagement group that were finalised by the Secretariat reflect the solid commitment towards driving real change upon pressing contemporary issues that concern the youth of today.

First and foremost, “Future of Work: Industry 4.0” was a nod to the whirlwind changes that are expected to impact every single sector of our work lives in the coming days. 

“Climate Change & Making Sustainability a Way of Life” signified our commitment to a greener planet for ourselves and our future generations. 

“Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering Towards an Era of No War” tapped into our yearning for a more peaceful world, wherein armed conflicts become a thing of the past. 

“Shared Future: Youth in Democracy, Governance” delivered into the need for more active participation of youth in the democratic discourse.

Last but not least, “Health, Wellbeing & Sports” focused upon the crucial need for the overall, holistic development of the youth.

While the Curtain Raiser event at New Delhi was the first event for the Y20 Secretariat as a unit, my journey with Y20 India started with my participation in the Y20 Inception meet that took place at Guwahati, Assam. The confluence of minds from across the country immediately inspired us to do more as I found myself in the Coordination team soon. Tasked with the responsibility as the Y20 Secretariat Associate Coordinator, I was thrilled and equally zest to take forward the vision of Y20 India beyond Delhi’s diplomatic corridors. Organising a few outreach events in Tamil Nadu gave our team a first-hand experience of the challenges involved in pulling together such events. The events that we organised were usually based on the track themes of Y20 India.

Be it a major event, or a concise one within the four walls of a classroom, the message was loud and clear, “to provide an opportunity for every single youth of the nation to be a part of the dialogue”. One such outreach event that took place at Ramanathapuram in partnership with Amrita Vidyalayam, was held on the theme of Climate Change and “Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life.” The relevance of the theme to the coastal city that had already faced the wrath of a deadly cyclone, coupled with an ecologically sensitive coastal zone and rising water levels and sea erosion couldn’t be stressed more. And rightly so, such events gave us the immense satisfaction of imparting awareness to the youth with happenings and learnings from their own surroundings while also reassuring them about the global efforts being taken to tackle what’s happening in their neighborhood.

Through these outreach events, we also had the good fortune to host various towering personalities in their respective fields such as public administration, law, medicine, technology, and so on which made it a huge learning curve for all of us to learn from the best in the business.

Even as this outreach continued across the nation, the crucial Leh Pre Summit took place at Ladakh amidst stiff Chinese opposition and the success of this Pre Summit rightly symbolised India’s commitment towards protecting its own sovereignty whilst also fostering global dialogue and cooperation on the other hand.

After another leg of outreach events, we found ourselves in the historic city of Varanasi for the Y20 Main Summit. The entire Secretariat had worked day and night in anticipation of the grandeur event and the historic summit, much like the other G20 events, rightly echoed the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, i.e., One Earth, One Family, and One Future. It is with this spirit that youth delegations from all the G20 member countries, organisations, and observers gathered at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre at Varanasi. The Convention Center in itself stands tall as a symbol of global cooperation and goodwill as the same was constructed using Japan’s Grant Aid through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 

And rightly, the summit was a first-hand experience for all of us to engage in global cooperation and dialogue whilst promoting goodwill all along the process. The presence of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mr. Yogi Adityanath during the summit’s opening ceremony and the hospitality extended by the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Varanasi District Administration reflected the immense trust and confidence that the Governments had placed in the voice of the youth.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath in particular, whilst debunking those contemporary questions surrounding the capability of the youth went on to state, “It is painful when anyone questions the talent and skills of youth, as youngsters have been providing solutions and directions to society since ancient times.” As the deliberations kickstarter in the breakout rooms for each track, chaired by the respective track chairs, the main auditorium featured various presentations that also addressed pressing issues and themes that concern the youth of today.

From the need for the enthusiastic embrace of technology to making use of the MyGov portal for youth engagement, a wide range of presentations were presented. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering and coupling innovation and entrepreneurship amongst the youth also found resonance in the Y20 Summit as innovators from India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem presented their success stories.

Amidst this, we from the Coordination team also had the pleasure and privilege to be a part of the Organising Committee Breakout Session, wherein we reviewed and contemplated upon the thoughts and experiences pertaining to the entire summit’s organisation and the year-long outreach across the country amidst the presence of OC representatives from other nations.

Two days of intense diplomacy and dialogue effectively moderated by the very able Track Chairs resulted in the official Y20 Communique being adopted during the wee hours of 20 August 2023. The Y20 Communique, officially adopted and signed by all the delegates in the afternoon during a pompous ceremony, had various key points to its success. In particular, those who went on to address and amplify the Global South’s issues and concerns, true to India’s commitment, deserve a special mention.

One such significant resolution was to demand the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 which turned into reality in less than a month as during the G20 Heads of States Summit, the African Union was included into the G20, making 21 member entity thereafter. 

Moving ahead, as far as the engagement and outreach were concerned, it is indeed a matter of pride for all of us at Y20 India as we have emerged as one of the most successful engagement groups, conducting more than 3,500 outreach events in total across universities, colleges, and schools throughout India. From the far-flung villages and towns of Arunachal Pradesh to the borders of Gujarat and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Y20 India has impacted more than a million young people in terms of direct engagement. 

At length, being a part of the Y20 India has undoubtedly been an awe-inspiring experience. It has reaffirmed the belief in the incredible potential of youth to drive positive change on a global scale. This would not have been possible without the guidance and efforts of various personalities such as Y20 India Mentor, Dr. Anirban Ganguly, Advisors, Abhinav Prakash & Varun Jhaveri, Coordination Head, Mr. Pathikrit Payne, Y20 India Chair, Mr. Anmol Sovit, Special Coordinator, Mr. Priyank Chauhan and the entire Secretariat and Associates who worked tirelessly towards the success of this engagement group.

The spirit of G20 and Prime Minister Modi’s vision, backed by the unwavering enthusiasm and dedication of youth, has undoubtedly laid the foundation for a brighter, sustainable, and equitable future. The outcome and success story of Y20 India is one that transcends borders and generations as it shall continue to remind the world that when the youth unite, they have a voice and they have a say.

From the youth’s perspective, this will continue to inspire fellow youngsters from across the globe to join hands in creating a better world for ourselves and for the upcoming generations. The journey continues and we have miles to go.

(Pascal Sasil R was the Associate Coordinator at Y20 India Secretariat )

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One of the simplest but yet a towering God in the Hindu pantheon is Vinayagar or Ganesha. He is celebrated not just across the lengths and breadths of India, that is Bharat, but is revered as far as Japan. He can be found adjacent to a stream of river under a banyan tree and also as Siddhi Vinayak at the bustling suburb of Dadar in Mumbai. He can be prayed to by just molding wet turmeric paste or by getting an elaborate clay mold. Ganesha or Vinayagar is not just a God but is personalized as a buddy to many, to whom people go whenever they find themselves in trouble. That’s why before commencing any auspicious work, it is Ganesh who is invoked first, because his name ‘Vinayagar’ means the remover of obstacles.

To understand the symbolism of Ganesha as the elephant- headed God, we will have to explore the elephant family in itself. Mammoths are hairy extinct mammals of the elephant family with very long tusks that curve upward. The etymology behind the word Mammoth comes from the Russian language that literally translates to Earth.

The symbolism of Ganesha’s elephant head is intriguing. Elephants, as mammals, share certain biological traits with humans, including mammary glands for milk production. However, the choice of an elephant head over a human one in Ganesha’s depiction may be attributed to the unique nature of elephant brains. Elephant brains are significantly larger and more complex than those of humans, containing three times as many neurons. Their pyramidal neurons have distinct structures, resembling long-legged spiders with few branches, which sets them apart from other mammals, including humans. Elephants do indeed exhibit remarkable behaviors, such as their ability to identify languages, mimic human voices, and possess an extraordinary memory. These qualities further emphasize the significance of Ganesha’s elephant-headed representation in Hindu mythology. This intricate symbolism highlights Ganesha’s exceptional wisdom and intellect in Hindu mythology.

The elephants have extraordinary behaviours like identifying languages, mimic human voices and also an extraordinary memory. A song by Papanasam Sivan goes like this

mUlAdhAra mUrti gaja |
mukhane sharanam unadhu ubhaya caraNam

Oh, embodiment of the root chakra (root cause), Oh, elephant faced I seek your refuge (I bow to your feet), I seek your refuge you with eagerness.

In the realm of yoga and spirituality, Ganesha is associated with the Mooladhara Chakra, also known as the root chakra, which is often depicted with four petals and associated with the color red. The Kundalini energy or the serpentine energy is set to reside in this chakra. This chakra is believed to be the residence of Kundalini energy, often symbolized as a serpent. The connection between Ganesha and the number four, as seen in Ganesh Chaturthi (the fourth day of the lunar month), underscores his connection to this chakra.Ganesh Chaturthi as the name suggests explains that Ganesha has a lot of connection with the number 4.

Ganesha can also be seen as a symbol of national unity because Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the leaders of Indian National Movement invoked Ganesha as the icon of nationalistic movement. But centuries before, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the
Maratha empire, began celebrating Ganesha, since he was the Kuladevta (family God) of the Peshwa Empire.

May this Ganesh Chaturthi indeed bring immense joy, wisdom, and abundance to our lives, drawing upon the symbolism and spiritual significance associated with Lord Ganesha.

Shruthee MS is a masters student at Vethathiri Maharishi College of Yoga, Thiruvanmayur.

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The human memory is pretty standard for all. There are some things you remember – important occasions, birthdays of loved ones, embarrassing moments – and some things you forget – chores given to you by your mother before she goes out, the entire syllabus before your exam, etc. However, there is one day in life that only girls will have the opportunity to remember, something that is ingrained into their memory so thoroughly that, if asked, they could spout out the most mundane details about that day without hesitation.

The day a girl first gets her period.

I can still remember the day as if it were yesterday, down to the weather, my mood, and what I was about to do when the moment struck.

It was summer. The day was hellishly hot, the type of weather that requires all the fans to be turned on, much to the parents’ chagrin, whose primary concern always tends to be on the electricity bill. It also happened to be final exam season, adding to the misery. Even as a sixth grader, my ability to stress out until I sweat through my clothes knew no bounds. The hot weather did not help the situation.

My mother, seeing that my sister – who had her ninth-grade exams going on – and I were stressed, told us to take a break and go swimming for an hour to cool ourselves off. That’s when the irreversible moment took place. The moment that would define the next forty or so years of my life.

I was about to change into my bathing suit when I saw it. Blood on my underwear. I froze, my vision tunneling onto the spot of blood that felt like a blessing as well as eternal doom.

I had gotten my period. The visit from Aunt Flo, the crimson tide, the devil’s volcano. I’m not going to lie, when my mother and sister first explained the concept of periods to me, I was excited at the prospect of getting mine. To me, getting my periods meant that I was finally a woman, that I was finally mature. At that moment, however, all I felt was fear. It was like, suddenly, I had forgotten everything my mother had ever told me about periods. A myriad of questions assaulted my head at that moment: Am I sick, do I have some grave illness, do I have to be hospitalized, does this mean I won’t have to write my Hindi exam?

After the initial stage of utter panic, I finally came to my senses. I called out for my mother and sister (screamed more like) and showed them the evidence of my screeched words. My mother immediately went into action. She told my sister to get me a pad and make me a milkshake. She instructed me on how to put the pad on. Thus, started the second-worst part about one’s first period.

Pads. The devil’s advocate and the source of ridiculous discomfort for a girl during her first period. I’m not sure if it was just me or a universal Girl Thing, but all through my first period, whenever I changed my pad, I had to walk like a penguin for a few minutes due to my irrational fear that I would somehow crease the pad if I walked normally, which would cause it to move and result in me leaking through my pants. It brought me an innumerable amount of fresh insults from my sister.

Then there is that aspect of periods that all girls loathe with a burning passion. Cramps. Surprisingly, I felt no pain during my first period. This was surprising because I had seen my sister actually curl into the fetal position during her periods, cursing our entire bloodline for being born a girl. Due to my lack of pain during my first period, I foolishly assumed that I would be one of those girls who did not experience cramps. Alas, my second period came around the corner and nearly reduced me to tears.

A girl’s first period marks an important day. No matter how much pain it might bring you over the next forty years, it is something to be grateful for. It means that your body is healthy and in sync with your brain. It is definitely a moment I revisit over and over again considering it was the one time I was allowed to be dramatic and no one could say anything about it. Who knows, someday, I could even look upon it fondly.

Avani Krishnan is a student in the 11th grade, studying history, economics, political science and maths. She enjoys writing and volunteering at NGOs and animal shelters.

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I was under the impression that Arvind Kejriwal was the smartest out of the not-so-smart anti-Modi opposition gang, who was successful in setting up a challenging narrative for the BJP in Delhi and Punjab. He was smart enough to stop personal attacks for some time on Narendra Modi. I thought he realized that it is never going to work with the people of India and Modi was smarter in using Kejriwal’s jibes to his advantage. Looks like now his frustration and helplessness has made Kejriwal start his personal attacks on Modi once again.

Kejriwal attack on Modi calling him unpadh (illiterate) and filing an RTI to know Modi’s educational qualifications recently blew back on his face. Gujarat High Court has rapped him and has fined him ₹25000. I can understand why Kejriwal had to resort to this. His two big ministers are in jail on corruption charges. He tried putting a brave face in front of public even daring the government to arrest Manish Sisodia. When it actually happened, he looked really weak to put in mildly and had to do something against Modi. When the Gujarat high court showed him his place saying disclosure of PM Modi’s post graduate degree could not be considered as a matter of public interest, Kejriwal hurriedly tweeted to get some public sympathy but I am not sure how many could relate to it. When you run out of ideas against your opponent who is winning every time, your actions tend to be illogical. That is what is happening with Kejriwal too.

Questioning the academic qualification of a leader like Modi, who has become a world icon today and is revered by crores of Indians and who is respected by several other intelligent world leaders, was the dumbest move I could imagine. How does it matter to Indians if he has got a degree or not? Who cares if Rahul Gandhi has studied in Harvard or Cambridge or wherever? The stature of Modi today vis-a-vis RaGA and vis-à-vis IIT passout Kejriwal proves that in politics only your skills matter and not bookish education. Modi’s mother who recently passed away at the age of 100, taught Modi more life lessons than what RaGa and Kejriwal could have got which is ten times more relevant in politics than a Harvard or IIT cerficate. In that sense, Modi is too over qualified compared to an Arvind Kejriwal.

If educational qualification would have been the yardstick, why couldn’t Arvind Kejriwal win more states than just a couple in the 11 years of AAP being around? Why is he not able to think beyond just giving freebies to the public during elections? His Mohalla clinic and education strategies still are being questioned whereas Modi’s Jan Dhan Yojana and Insurance schemes are unquestionable hits. One of India’s greatest political leaders. Shri. Kamaraj, who didn’t have any great schooling in his childhood and didn’t get lofty degrees, was the first leader to come up with the brilliant idea of mid-day meal scheme for school children which continues even today. This comes from pure wisdom and doesn’t emanate automatically from academic degrees. I remember Smriti Irani also was questioned on her academic qualifications but I am not sure how many so-called highly qualified political leaders in the opposition today can dare to have a political debate with her. The fact that this lady defeated a mantri in the elections who has a degree from a very prestigious foreign university and the fact that she has proved herself to be significantly smarter speaks volumes about the irrelevance of bookish academic educational qualifications as a yardstick for doing well in Indian politics.

The success of Kejriwal’s strategy backed by strong academic qualification in Punjab is for all to see. Arvind Kejriwal should take a step back and learn quickly from this mistake. He should again stop personally attacking Modi and concentrate on coming up with better innovative schemes for public good rather than using the same old freebie model and put his top class academic education to productive use. I rest my case with my own quote to remind myself: “Illiterate truthful wisdom is much better than educated cunning stupidity”.

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Since taking office as the Prime Minister of India, PM Modi and his government have faced a constant battle against various vested interest groups and deep state masterminds. One of the key figures in this alleged conspiracy is billionaire investor George Soros, who is known for his foundation, Open Society Foundation (OSF). Soros has been accused of funding NGOs in various countries with the aim of destabilizing governments and mobilizing locals against private companies that pose a threat to the West’s business interests.

The conflict between Soros and PM Modi began in 2018, before the 2019 general elections in India. A France-based NGO, Asso Sherpa, filed a complaint to probe the Rafale deal signed between the Governments of India and France in 2016. It was later discovered that the Asso Sherpa receives funding from Soros’ OSF. The Ford Foundation, another organization with a controversial past, also supported the Asso Sherpa.

After PM Modi’s government implemented various long-pending reforms, including the revocation of Article 370 from J&K and the Citizenship Amendment Act, protests broke out across the country. Soros spoke out against the revocation of Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act, accusing PM Modi of creating a Hindu nation through this legislation. His foundation members were also seen in protests against the Three Farm Laws.

A key figure in Soros’ OSF, Salil Shetty, joined a yatra led by Congress’ de-facto chief Rahul Gandhi in October 2022. Shetty is a former Secretary General of Amnesty International, which has repeatedly published fabricated reports on the PM Modi government and peddled anti-India narratives. Shetty has been actively involved in protests against the Farm Bills and the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Not only Shetty, but the daughter of former PM Manmohan Singh, Amrit Singh, is also working for one of Soros’ initiatives, the Open Society Justice Initiative. Various online news portals are receiving funds from Soros’ foundation and other organizations that engage in anti-India narratives to defame India at the world stage.

Recently, after short-seller Hindenburg published a report on the Adani Group, Soros demanded that PM Modi answer for the Adani issue. He further stated that he expects a democratic revival in India, which would destabilize the PM Modi-led government. This statement has fueled suspicion that it is a toolkit of the liberal cabal to collapse the Adani Group and cause trouble for the PM Modi-led government. As the 2024 elections draw near, more toolkits are expected to be released by the West to throw PM Modi out of power and replace him with a puppet of their choice.

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During the third Anglo-Mysore war in 1792 between the East India Company and Tipu Sultan of Mysore, Cowasjee, a Parsi bullock-cart driver and four other British soldiers were taken prisoner by Sultan at Seringapatam, Karnataka.

In a truly barbaric Islamic way, their noses were cut off before releasing along with their amputated noses as a mark of humiliation. For nearly a year, these soldiers went without a nose until Sir Charles Warre Malet, a British minister in the Peshwa court at Poona, came across an oilcloth merchant with a feeble scar on his nose.

The merchant explained that his nose had been amputated as a punishment for adultery and was later rebuilt by a Poona potter using his forehead skin. The oilcloth merchant could never have predicted that his disclosure would spark a chain of events that would establish the “Hindu method” as the gold standard of nose reconstruction worldwide.

Sir Charles summoned the potter recommended by the oil-cloth merchant to reconstruct the noses of Cowasjee and the other four soldiers. This nasikasadhana art had been practised in complete secrecy and passed down from generation to generation within a single family. Cowasjee’s forehead flap nasal reconstruction, on the other hand, was witnessed by Mr. Tho Cruso and Mr. James Findlay, two British physicians from the Bombay Presidency. After the operation, the patient was required to lie on his back for 5-6 days. On the 10th day, bits of soft cloth were put into the nostrils to keep them sufficiently open. The procedure was always successful, and the new nose almost resembled the natural one. After a while, the scar on the forehead was no longer visible.

Cowasjee’s portrait depicting the successful surgery was painted ten months later, in January 1794, by the British painter James Wales. In March 1794, the copper portrait appeared in Bombay. The news was published in the Madras Gazette on 4 August 1794, and in October 1794, in a letter to the editor of The Gentleman’s Magazine, Sylvanus Urban described “a very curious chirurgical procedure” of “affixing a new nose on a man’s face” that was unknown to civilised Europeans what had been practised for generations in uneducated India.

In January 1795, the surgical procedure was published as “A Singular Operation,” and Cowasjee’s portrait appeared alongside the article. In April 1795, The Courier published an article titled “Account of the method of supplying artificial noses as practised by the natives of the Malabar coast”, claiming supremacy of the Indian method. After a detailed discussion with Lieutenant Colonel Ward (Cowasjee’s commanding officer), J.C. Carpue, a British surgeon, successfully used this method on two patients in 1814 and published his paper in 1816. The procedure became widely popular in Europe as the “Indian Method,” but not the Hindu Method. Despite many modifications since then, the procedure has stood the test of time and is still the best method of nose reconstruction today.

The publication of the nasal reconstruction in The Gentleman’s Magazine and later by Carpue laid the foundations for modern plastic surgery. The “Indian Method” became popular all over the world, kindled the interest of the Western world, and brought recognition to India as the birthplace of plastic surgery.
The first principles of plastic surgery were articulated by Sushruta in his treatise Sushruta Samhita in 600 BCE and translated into Arabic by Ibn Abi Usaibia in the 11th century, travelling far into Arabia, Persia, and Egypt; however, the Western world became aware of it much later. Susruta described over 300 surgical procedures and about 120 surgical instruments (all his own inventions). He also talks about 385 plant-generated, 57 animal-generated and 64 mineral-generated medicine.

Medicines were produced in the form of Powders, distillates, decoctions, mixtures, gels. He talks of 24 kinds of swastiks, 2 kinds of sandas (pliers), 28 types of needles and 20 kinds of catheters. Sushruta gave a description of 14 kinds of bandages besides the six bone dislocations and 12 kinds of fractures of bones. His book also talks about 28 diseases related to the ear and 26 connected to the eyes.

While Cowasjee was immortalised in British publications, paintings, and engravings. the surgeon whose skills gave Cowasjee a nearly normal nose went unnoticed. Through this, the British attempted to prove to the world that they took good care of their soldiers. By concealing the name of the surgeon, they made sure that India did not get its due recognition.

The case is significant because it is one of the few in medical history where the patient is more popular than the surgeon. However, the event still managed to enable the rightful recognition of India as the origin of plastic surgery and the restoration of its honour. Unlike today’s plastic surgery, it was never about superficial cosmetic surgery in ancient India. It was always about treating serious deformities.

Even today, Indian vaccines, like Covishield, continue to save crores of people around the world.
Attached image is of Cowasjee after surgery by James Wells.

Sources

Carpue J C. “An account of two successful operations for restoring a lost nose from the integuments of the forehead in the cases of two officers of His Majesty’s Army. London: Longman, 1816.

(This article was first published here and has been republished with permission.)

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The tiniest Union Territory of India, Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks.The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit means ‘a hundred thousand islands’. Out of the present 36 islands only 10 islands are inhabited. It is only 496 kms from the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala.It is a uni-district Union Territory with an area of 32 Sq.Kms and is comprised of ten inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached islets, four newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs. The inhabited islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Bitra is the smallest of all having only a population of 271 persons (Census 2011). The uninhabited island Bangaram has been enumerated during 2011 census operation and has a population of 61 persons.

According to the 2011 Census, Lakshadweep has a population of 64429 persons.Nearly 96% of the population who are Janajaatis, are Muslims and majority of them belong to the Shafi School of the Sunni Sect. Malayalam is spoken in all the islands except Minicoy where people speak Mahl which is written in Divehi script and is spoken in Maldives also. The entire janajati population has been classified as Scheduled Tribes because of their economic and social backwardness. According to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes list (modification orders), 1956, the inhabitants of Lakshadweep who and both of whose parents were born in these islands are treated as Scheduled Tribes. There are no Scheduled Castes in this Union Territory.

Defense Setup In Lakshadweep  

The Indian defence infrastructure in Lakshadweep has been enhanced over the years. In 2010, then defence minister A.K. Antony commissioned coast guard stations in Kavaratti and Minicoy, thus boosting the presence of the Indian Coast Guard. In 2012, the second Manmohan Singh government commissioned the first naval base in the islands—INS Dweeprakshak, in capital Kavaratti. In the same year, a coast guard station in Androth was commissioned. In 2016, a naval detachment was commissioned on Androth Island.

Besides surveillance, these detachments work as observance and reporting organisations. There are also plans for a fully operational navy base in Lakshadweep. A bigger facility on Minicoy is also under consideration, because of its proximity to the Maldives (71 nautical miles).

Development Vs Narco Jihad

World renowned Hawaii is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about 3,623.16 miles 5,830.92 kms from the US mainland. Hawaii comprises 8 major islands. The Praful K Patel administration wants to develop the archipelago as Indian Hawaii, attracting tourists who mostly see Maldives as the destination.

The picturesque group of 36 atolls famous for its rich biodiversity and blessed with the hue of natural opulence, was propped up in the news last year not for its turquoise water bodies but for the draft of reforms proposed by its Administrator, Praful Khoda Patel. Yes, Lakshadweep, ensconced on the southwestern tip of India, was up in arms against the Administrator.

Radical groups such as the Popular Front of India have already infiltrated Lakshadweep. The geographical proximity of Lakshadweep to the Maldives and Sri Lanka increases the likelihood of the impact of political turmoil in these nations. Growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean and the age-old challenge posed by pirates in the Indian Ocean could make Lakshadweep a hotbed of criminals and anti-national activities. Last year, Rs 3000 crore worth of drugs were seized by the Coast Guard off Minicoy Island. A Sri Lankan fishing boat Ravihansi with 300 kgs Heroin and 5 AK-47 rifles with 1,000 live rounds was also caught by the security agencies. It is just a case ‘Narco Jihad’.

In 2019, there were intelligence reports which suggested the movement of 15 ISIS terrorists from Sri Lanka to the Lakshadweep Islands. Over the population of 64429 people there are only 349 policemen & 9 police stations.

This inadequate proportion also backs the anti-national crime to flourish.

The 26/11 attack on Mumbai was the first maritime jihadi war in the modern times. Following this attack, India carried out a comprehensive review of coastal and island security. As a consequence, the vulnerability of Lakshadweep was found to be of great concern. Samudri Jihad is not for capture of territory. Island territories such as Lakshadweep can be used as a base to destabilize the mainland economically and physically by jihadi means. In the reckoning of jihadi organizations, which includes the Pakistani State, the vastness of the Indian Ocean provides huge scope for Narco Jihad. The frequency, scope and magnitude of this jihad against India is increasing.

Tuna Fish Scam Case

In July 2022, CBI received information relating to irregularities in the procurement of Massmeen (dry tuna fish) from fishermen of Lakshadweep Island during the year 2016-2017. Lakshadweep MP Md. Faizal Khan & his nephew reportedly gave false assurance of a higher rate and exported the same through M/s. Lakshadweep Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd to Sri Lanka. On June 25, a combined surprise inspection was performed at the LCMF Ltd offices in Kavaratti (Lakshadweep) and Calicut (Kerala).

It is worth knowing that when the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) 2021 proposed a new law to ban cow slaughter and beef, which was in line with the prevailing law in most of the states in India. Opposing the proposals, MP Mohammed Faisal had said that eating beef was constitutional right of the people of Lakshadweep and that the new proposals were aimed at undermining the ‘Islamic character’ of the island where Muslims constitute 96% of the total population.

The Much-Needed Reforms 

Alcohol and drug addiction among the youth in the UT has been on the rise. Immediately after assuming responsibility in December 2020, Praful Patel had conducted 18 raids across the UT to fight the growing menace.

Additionally, Goonda Act was imposed in the Union Territory to restrict the smuggling and distribution of alcohol and drugs.The administration also had pulled down Anti-CAA/NRC posters placed by radical Islamist outfits throughout the island.

Among the policies of the new administration that were being opposed are, banning candidates with more than 2 children from contesting Panchayat polls, a rule that is already in use in several states, the removal of illegal storage facilities along the coast, and the strict order to boat owners against leasing/renting their boats to individuals without proper permission from authorities.

Nexus That Fuelled Protests

Ayesha Sultana, a Lakshdweep based filmmaker, who hails from Chetiah island had alleged that the Central government used biological weapons for the spread of COVID-19 in Lakshadweep.

However, BJP’s Lakshdweep unit president Abdul Khader filed a complaint against the anti-national filmmaker. According to the FIR lodged by the Kavaratti police, a case under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 B (hate speech) of the Indian Penal code was registered against the filmmaker.

CPIM leader and Rajya Sabha MP Elamanam Kareem & Kerala Indian National Congress leader V T Balram extended their support to orthodox protesters.

As protests flare-up in the region, actor Prithviraj Sukumaran came out in the support of the people of the Union Territory drawing the attention of the authorities.

The Root Cause: An Inverted Demography

The islands of present-day Lakshadweep were first mentioned by a Greek sailor in the 1st century CE as a source of tortoise shell.

The initial native culture of the islands was Dharmic in nature. Author Bichitranand Sinha states in his book ‘Geo-economic survey of Lakshdweep’ that Architecture of old mosques there is influenced by ancient Hindu temples. The matrilineal Marumakkathayam system of inheritance which prevails in present muslim people was once a key character of native population.

The advent of Islam dates back to the 7th century around the year 41 Hijra. An Arab Fakeer named Ubaidullah travelled all the way to Amini island to propagate Islam through a self-woven tale that Prophet Mohammad commanded him to do so in his dream. He was able to inveigle a young woman in his love and married her giving her new name Hadeemat Beebi. This enraged natives so both escaped to Adrott island. There they faced same opposition initially but later were able to convert natives to Islam through flattery. From this island they went to left ones & preached of Islam.  At last, he returned to Adrott died and got buried. There is still a Marabout or Mukbara.

Succession Of Commands That Ruled

Local traditions attribute the first settlement on these islands to the period of Cheraman Perumal, the last king of Kerala. It is believed that after his conversion to Islam, at the behest of some Arab merchants, he slipped out of his capital Cranganore, the present day Kodungallor – an old harbour town Kochi, for Mecca. When his disappearance was discovered, search parties went after him in sailing boats and left for the shores of Mecca, in search of the king from different places. It is believed that one of these sailing boats of Raja of Cannanore was struck by a fierce storm and they were shipwrecked on the island now known as Bangaram. From there they went to the nearby island of Agatti. Finally the weather improved and they returned to the mainland sighting other islands on their way. It is said that after their return another party of sailors and soldiers discovered the island of Amini and started living there. It is believed that the people sent there were Hindus. Even now unmistakable Hindu Social stratification exists in these islands despite Islam. Legends say that small settlements started in the Islands of Amini, Kavaratti, Andrott and Kalpeni first and later people from these islands moved to the other islands of Agatti, Kiltan, Chetlat and Kadmat.

Muslim missionary activity in the 7th century and continued contact with Arab traders eventually led to the conversion of all the islanders to Islam. Sometime before 1100 a small Hindu kingdom on the Malabar Coast won the islands, and after the fall of the Kulashekhara dynasty of Kerala in 1102 they passed to the Kolathiris, another small Hindu dynasty. Later in the 12th century, after a Kolathiri princess married a Muslim convert, a separate kingdom (including the islands that eventually formed Lakshadweep) was set up in the Kannur(Cannanore) area of Kerala in order to protect the Keralan tradition of matrilineal descent.

It is possible that the first European to visit the islands was the Italian explorer Marco Polo—if the “female island” mentioned in his 13th-century travelogues was indeed Minicoy Island, as some have speculated. In 1498 the Portuguese arrived in the islands. They subsequently built a fort to control trade, particularly in coir. Residents of the islands staged an uprising in 1545.

Successive bibis (female muslim rulers) and their husbands ruled the islands until control of the northern group of islands, the Amindivis, passed to Tipu Sultan, the bigot sultan of Mysore, on the mainland, in the 1780s. When Tipu was killed in battle with the British in 1799, the Amindivis came under British control. The bibi and her husband were permitted to retain the other islands and receive income from them in exchange for an annual payment to the British. These payments repeatedly were in arrears, and in 1908 the bibi ceded to the British direct administration of these islands. Sovereignty was transferred to India on Indian independence in 1947, and the islands were constituted a union territory in 1956.

Fight Abrahamic Orthodoxy

In Oct 2022, Rajnath Singh unveiled the first statue of MK Gandhi in Lakshadweep on the occasion of the latter’s 152nd birth anniversary. The figurine installed in Kavaratti Island is a six-foot tall bronze statue of Gandhi.

About 11 years ago, an attempt was made by the Congress-led UPA regime to install a bust of Gandhi on the islands. A Rs 2 lakh statue of MK Gandhi was sent to Lakshadweep in the vessel MV Amindivi to be installed at Kavaratti in September 2010.However, the bust of MK Gandhi could not be offloaded at Lakshadweep as Muslims objected to the installation of any such statues citing Sharia Law. They protested that it will promote idol worship & Hinduism. However, the administration hid the matter pretending it was due to bad weather.

The battle in Lakshadweep is between Developmental Reformism and Abrahimic Orthodoxy. However, it is just the commencement of war against Abrahimic Bigotry that prevails in the archipelago.

Sources

1. Geo-economic survey of Lakshadweep – Bichitranand Sinha

2. Britannica.com

3.HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF LAKSHADWEEP

Dr.Baiju K.Nath

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Education, University of Calicut

Kerala, India

and

Sayyid Ali Akbar

M.Ed. Student (2012-13)

Dept. of Education, University of Calicut

This article was originally published in Bharat Voice and has been republished here with permission.

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