IBS Exemption Strategy CA Final Nov 26 - Index + Imp Topics + Resources
Happiness Humesha!
Skill Nation, The platform, founded by Navin Parmar, Hardik Raja, and Jatan Shah on a mere seed capital of Rs 2,000, focuses on imparting industry-relevant skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurial success.
GPT Astra and Gemini Fable 5.2 are gold standards. Now we can use agents.
Did you know Claude sheild replaced Microsoft?
AI career accelerator
We made a leisurely eastward drive from coastal Kochi to Kattapana which is not as touristy a place as Munnar or Thekkady. But our stay at the pet friendly resort was idyllic.
Kerala is truly God's Own Country as we move from the sun-kissed beaches, past backwaters and the plains of coconut groves and verdant paddy fields upwards through plantations of rubber, cardamom, coffee and tea.
Bereft of polluting smokestack factories, Kerala's air is pristinely pure.
and ideally suited for "healthy living".
Kerala should therefore focus on tourism ( especially medical) and be a preferred destination for retirees from across the globe.
Urava Farm Stay, Kattapana.
Saheb Bibi Golam, the Bengali novel by author: Bimal Mitra was published in 1953.
The novel is a celebrated work of Bengali literature about the decline of a wealthy zamindar family and the disintegration of the feudal social order.
The story unfolds through the life of Bhutnath, a young man who arrives in Calcutta seeking employment and becomes connected with the household of the wealthy Chowdhurys.
At the heart of the story is Chhoto Bou (the younger wife), a lonely woman whose husband, Chhote Babu, neglects her in favour of alcohol and other women. Desperate to win back his affection, she tries to adapt herself to his lifestyle, even taking to drinking in the hope that they might spend time together.
Bhutnath becomes a confidant and observer of her suffering. Her story unfolds against the backdrop of a household losing its wealth, authority and relevance as the old feudal order begins to crumble.
The novel is about much more than a troubled marriage. It explores:
- A woman's loneliness and her longing for love and recognition.
- The unequal position of women in a patriarchal society.
- The decline of aristocratic privilege and feudal culture.
- The contrast between outward grandeur and inward decay.
The title can be understood as The Master, the Wife and the Slave — referring to the interconnected lives of the aristocratic husband, his wife and the man who becomes involved in their world.
Is the Raveena Tandon television adaptation the same as the book?
Yes, it is based on the same novel, but it is an adaptation rather than a scene-by-scene reproductio
Sahib Biwi Gulam (2004)
- Channel: Sahara One
- Lead actress: Raveena Tandon
- Raveena played Chhoti Bahu.
- The series was directed by Amitava Bhattacharya, with Rituparno Ghosh serving as creative director.
- It was a period drama filmed in Kolkata.
Other actors in the television series
We also have the famous film Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) This is the classic Hindi film produced by Guru Dutt and directed by Abrar Alvi.
Its principal cast was:
- Meena Kumari as Chhoti Bahu
- Guru Dutt as Bhutnath
- Rehman as Chhote Babu
- Waheeda Rehman as Jaba
It is based on the same Bengali novel, though the screenplay makes changes to the original story.
Was fortunate to get the English translation titled Saheb Bibi Golam. The National Book Trust of India lists a 2024 edition of 636 pages. Reading the novel would give you a fuller understanding of the social world and the characters than either screen adaptation alone.
The novel first appeared in serialized installments in the Bengali newspaper, Desh. The story is set in the last few years of the nineteenth century, rapidly changing Calcutta. It is a tale of the city that Job Charnock set up in 1690. And on the other, it is a story of two families (very different from each other) seen through the eyes of the main protagonist, who is more of an observer than a classical hero. The book offers a panoramic view of Calcutta between the years of 1895- 1914, exploring its various facets as it changed over time. It is as much about Calcutta as it is about two women from two different households with contrasting lives. It is vivid in its descriptions of the city and people, filled with interesting and real characters, offering the modern reader a distinct feel of the time and place. The period of the novel covers epochal events in Indian history. Characters and events of then Calcutta has been captured in a very interesting way.
The novel begins with a demolition of an old feudal mansion in Banamali Sarkar lane, Calcutta. It is sometime in the twentieth century and the overseer, Bhutnath Chakraborty is haunted by the memories of the past – when this mansion housed not only the great Chowdhury clan but also many different families of people who had been serving this family for generations. The Chowdhury mansion is a microcosm of the upper-class feudal set-up that was on it’s last legs in a city that was increasingly dominated by British colonialism and the rapid industrialisation.
The story then begins (in flashback) – Bhutnath Chakraborty – of village Fatehpur, District Nadia – lands in Calcutta from his small village, in search of employment. Bhutnath has been fascinated by Calcutta for a considerable time by then.
The emotional heart of the novel is Pateshwari, known as Chhoto Bou — the youngest wife in the family.
Her husband, Chhote Babu, is increasingly absorbed in drinking and visiting women outside the home. Although Chhoto Bou occupies the position of a respectable wife, she is deprived of the intimacy and companionship that marriage has led her to expect.
She does not simply want wealth or status. She wants her husband to spend time with her, to recognise her as a woman and companion, and to give her a meaningful place in his life.
Chhoto Bou begins to believe that if she can share her husband's habits, she might bring him closer to her. She tries drinking, hoping that this will create a bond between them.
Her decision is deeply poignant. Rather than asking why her husband refuses to fulfil his responsibilities, she begins changing herself to meet his desires.
What begins as an attempt to save her marriage becomes a destructive path. Her emotional dependence, isolation and growing entanglement with alcohol expose the terrible price she pays for wanting something that should never have been extraordinary: her husband's affection.
Bhutnath's relationship with Chhoto Bou gives the story much of its tenderness and complexity. He becomes someone through whom her loneliness and vulnerability can be seen.
He is not merely a narrator recording the fall of a wealthy family. Through his experiences, we encounter the human beings hidden behind its grandeur — people trapped by custom, desire, class and circumstances they struggle to control.
The novel's emotional power comes partly from this contrast between Chhoto Bou's inner life and the world that offers her so little freedom.
As the story progresses, the family's splendour becomes increasingly fragile. Its members continue to inhabit a world shaped by inherited privilege, even as the economic and social foundations of that world weaken.
The mansion's decline is therefore more than the fall of one family. It reflects the disintegration of a feudal order and the emergence of a changing society.
Chhoto Bou's personal tragedy and the household's decline unfold alongside each other. The fate of the woman and the fate of the old world become intertwined.
The novel leaves us contemplating the fragility of human relationships, the consequences of social inequality and the ways in which people can be destroyed by circumstances they did not create.
I find Kajol so endearing. The way she speaks, the way she
smiles, the way she laughs. She knows who she is, knows her boundaries and will
not compromise them. She is her authentic self always
Happiness
Is a choice, it is about the choices you make.
Success –
we put to many pressure to define what should be…
It means
you are happy with your life….
If you are
satisfied with your life, beyond good and bad…You are able to do what you want.
You have to
fill up your own bucket – whether it be pain bucket or happiness bucket, choice
is yours.
I am strong
and radiant because I can cry.
Your inners
will come into your outers.
"I am strong and radiant because I can cry... "
Meditation
is being supremely present in the present. – Mindfulness – Dhyan.
Pull mind back to the focus of what you are doing now.
Untill Udar Khi Zindagi, everything was from heart. Starting acting then, and at the age of 18 was burnt out.
Glamar and Fame are side effect and not enure with it.
Feminisam is being completely who you are.
She started acting in Bekhudi, Micky and Gautam where her protective parents in the movie.
The two Kerala car accidents in October 2026 have sparked a wider debate about whether wealth, family connections and social status can influence accountability under the law. Both involved young drivers and fatal collisions, but the circumstances were different.
11 October 2026 · Nedumbassery, near Kochi airport
Driver: Suhail Sajeev, 19, whose family is associated with business.
What happened: A speeding Mini Cooper collided with a scooter carrying three young people — Eyas (also reported as Iyas), Gopika and Devika, all around 21 years old. All three died.
Why it caused outrage: The driver was alleged to have been intoxicated. Witnesses reported that he said his father would take care of everything after the crash.
The money and influence controversy: The victims' families raised concerns that the accused's family connections might affect the investigation. The allegations of interference remain distinct from what has been established in court.
Legal development: On 17 October, a magistrate rejected bail applications by Suhail and three co-accused, citing concerns including possible witness influence and interference with the investigation.
25 October 2026 · Cheranalloor, Kochi
Driver: A 17-year-old boy, the son of an Additional District and Sessions Judge.
What happened: A Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the teenager struck the scooter of Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old roadside food vendor, who died from his injuries.
Why it caused outrage: The teenager was initially released on station bail. The victim's family questioned whether the accused's father's position in the judiciary might influence how the case was handled. These are allegations, not proof of preferential treatment.
The power and accountability controversy: Following public protests and criticism of the initial police response, the police added a culpable homicide charge, took the teenager into custody again and subsequently presented him before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail.
Latest development as of 26 October: Police registered a case against the father as the vehicle's registered owner under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The investigation was transferred to the District Crime Branch, and authorities indicated that they would seek cancellation of the teenager's bail.
Mini Cooper case | Mercedes-Benz case |
|---|---|
19-year-old driver | 17-year-old driver |
Three people killed | One person killed |
Business family's wealth and influence questioned | Judicial family's position and influence questioned |
Reported remark: “My father will take care of everything.” | Concern centred on whether the father's official position could affect the investigation |
Alleged intoxication and excessive speed | Excessive speed alleged; police initially reported no indication of intoxication |
The larger question is about equality before the law. The victims came from ordinary working backgrounds, while the accused came from comparatively privileged families. The public concern is whether the same procedures, investigative rigour and accountability would apply regardless of wealth or connections.
It is important, however, to distinguish public suspicion from proven interference. Both cases require independent, evidence-based investigations, and the accused remain entitled to due process.
The common lesson is simple: a parent's wealth or position should neither shield a child from accountability nor determine the outcome of a legal case. Road safety, responsibility and justice must apply equally to everyone.
The family at the centre of the 11 October 2026 Nedumbassery crash is that of Suhail Sajeev, the 19-year-old accused of driving the car that killed three young people.
- Father: Sajeev Jamal, a retail and textile businessman.
- Mother: Nooha Sajeev, a businesswoman who owns Iha Designs, a designer boutique brand with business operations in Kerala and the UAE.
- Son: Suhail Sajeev, 19, the principal accused in the fatal crash.
- Family business: Iha Designs, associated with designer clothing and boutiques.
Why did the family attract public attention?
The Mini Cooper was reportedly registered in Nooha Sajeev's name, and she had shared a video of presenting the car to her son as a birthday gift.
After the collision, witnesses reportedly heard Suhail say that his father would take care of the matter. This remark, together with concerns raised by the victims' families about the initial police response, fuelled allegations that wealth or connections might influence the case. Those allegations are not, by themselves, proof that the family interfered with the investigation.
On 18 October, Nooha issued a public statement expressing condolences to the victims' families, asking people not to spread unverified claims and saying that her family would support the bereaved families.
The crash killed Devika, Gopika and Ijaz (also reported as Eyas), three young people who worked in Kochi. The case has prompted a wider debate about parental responsibility, access to powerful cars and equal accountability under the law.
The family publicly identified in the Kochi Mercedes-Benz accident of 25 October 2026 is that of Rino Francis Xavier, an Additional District and Sessions Judge serving at the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district.
- Son: His 17-year-old son, who allegedly drove the car and struck a scooter on Container Road in Cheranalloor, Kochi.
- Victim: Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old roadside eatery owner who died in the collision while returning home from work. He is survived by his wife and three children.
The victim's relatives alleged that the judge intervened to protect his son and questioned the initial police handling of the case. These allegations should be distinguished from established findings.
Lessons:
Amrit Singh Darren, a North Indian influencer is the vlogger in the centre of the controversy, whose video about Kashi Art Cafe in Fort Kochi went viral in October 2026. His Instagram account is reported to be @littichokha_up_. The controversy is not simply about a painting or a cafe; it has developed into a wider debate about communal harmony, freedom of artistic expression and the portrayal of Kerala on social media.
This douchebag had termed the above picture as a "portrait of Jinnah". That any sensible person would laugh at such a description is beside the point - this screwball is preaching to his choir, who will rail at anything even remotely connected to Pakistan.
This is an art installation by Riyas Komu, titled "Blood Brothers: Two Fathers from Gujarat". It depicts the irony of two leaders from the same state, both lawyers, compratiots in the freedom struggle, becoming opponents and fathering two neighbouring countries permanently at each other's throats. Two countries who are brothers united in blood, but who are constantly baying for the blood of the other. It's a very powerful political statement.
And about the artist: Riyas Komu is an artist from Keralam, based in Mumbai. He is internationally known and acclaimed. (Google for details.)
What exactly happened?
1. The cafe and its name
Kashi Art Cafe is a well-known cafe and gallery on Burgher Street, Fort Kochi, established in 1997. Contrary to the vlogger's assumption, the cafe's name is derived from the Japanese word kashi, associated with sweets and confectionery, rather than being a reference to the Hindu holy city of Kashi (Varanasi). The cafe serves a range of food, including beef dishes.
2. The artwork that triggered the row
The installation, Blood Brothers: Two Fathers from Gujarat, was created in 2008 by Kerala-born multimedia artist Riyas Komu. It juxtaposes images of Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, both born in Gujarat, whose intertwined political histories culminated in the Partition of British India.
3. What the vlogger alleged
In a video posted around 22 October 2026, Darren objected to Jinnah being displayed alongside Gandhi, criticised the cafe for serving beef despite its name, and claimed that Muslims accounted for 95% of various businesses and occupations in Fort Kochi. He also alleged that local people with right-wing views were afraid to speak openly and portrayed Kerala as being in danger. Those demographic claims have been reported as allegations, not established facts.
4. The backlash and police case
The video attracted criticism for allegedly encouraging religious division. Fort Kochi police registered a case under Sections 353(2) and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning statements that may promote communal enmity and provocation likely to lead to rioting. Registration of a case does not establish guilt.
What does the artwork actually mean?
Gandhi and Jinnah were contemporaries from Gujarat, both trained in law, and both played significant roles in the struggle against British rule. Yet their political paths diverged, and Partition resulted in the creation of India and Pakistan amid extraordinary violence and suffering.
The title Blood Brothers invites us to reflect on their shared origins and the intertwined histories of the two countries. The work can be understood as an exploration of brotherhood, political division and the enduring human cost of Partition, rather than as a simple endorsement of Jinnah.
One important detail that many people may have missed
According to Onmanorama's report of 26 October 2026, the installation had already been removed from Kashi Art Cafe at least three months before the controversy erupted. The gallery had replaced it as part of its normal rotation of artworks. The viral video therefore revived a controversy around an installation that was no longer on display. The cafe subsequently experienced a surge in visitors coming specifically to see it.
Why has this become such a big issue?
There are three distinct questions here:
- Artistic interpretation: Can an artist explore the complicated history of Gandhi, Jinnah and Partition without being accused of endorsing everything Jinnah stood for?
- Communal relations: Is it fair to portray an entire neighbourhood or state as dangerous on the basis of religious identity, unverified demographic claims or the food a restaurant serves?
- Freedom and accountability: People are entitled to criticise an artwork or a restaurant, but allegations of statements promoting communal enmity are matters for the legal process to examine.
The controversy has also entered Kerala's political debate, with leaders from different parties responding to questions about secularism, communal harmony and the vlogger's allegations.
My assessment: The strongest response to a provocative video is to establish the facts, understand the artwork in its historical context and reject sweeping generalisations about communities. One can disagree with an artist's interpretation without treating the mere presence of Jinnah in an artwork as proof of anti-national activity.
Kashi Art Cafe in Fort Kochi is currently owned by Edgar Pinto, a businessman who also owns the Old Harbour Hotel.
A little background:
- Founders (1997): Anoop Skaria and his wife, Dorrie Younger. They established the cafe as a space bringing together food, art and cultural conversations.
- Current owner: Edgar Pinto, who took over the cafe and helped develop its role in Fort Kochi's contemporary art scene.
Anoop Skaria, an important figure in Kochi's art and cultural community, passed away in October 2018.