India’s New Labour Codes and Their Impact on Gratuity for Employees

India’s labour landscape has undergone one of the most transformational reforms in its post‑independence history. With the enforcement of the four new Labour Codes—the Code on Wages (2019), the Industrial Relations Code (2020), the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020), and most critically, the Code on Social Security (2020)—beginning 21 November 2025, the country has shifted from a fragmented set of 29 central labour laws to a modern, unified regulatory framework. 

These reforms were driven by a long‑standing need to replace India’s outdated colonial‑era labour legislation with a system that matches contemporary workplace realities. Laws governing wages, social security, dispute resolution, and safety were previously spread across numerous statutes, leading to confusion, uneven enforcement, and limited protections for the country’s large informal and contract‑based workforce. The new Codes promise simplification, uniformity, and inclusiveness: clearer definitions, predictable compliance standards, and social security coverage that expands beyond the traditional formal workforce. 

Among these reforms, the Code on Social Security, 2020 stands as a cornerstone because of its effort to bring every category of worker—organised, unorganised, fixed‑term, gig, and platform—under one cohesive umbrella. It consolidates nine earlier laws including the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, Employees' State Insurance Act, Maternity Benefit Act, and importantly, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, creating a unified, modern framework for social protection. The Code emphasises universal access to benefits such as provident fund, health insurance, maternity care, and gratuity, and introduces dedicated social security boards for gig and unorganised workers, marking a strong shift toward inclusive labour welfare.

A particularly significant area affected by these reforms is gratuity, a statutory terminal benefit traditionally associated with long‑term service. Under the earlier regime, gratuity was payable only after five years of continuous service (except in cases of death or disablement). This created a large protection gap for workers on fixed‑term contracts or in industries with shorter employment cycles. The new Labour Codes, however, modernise and broaden gratuity entitlements in ways that fundamentally reshape employee benefits.

Under the new gratuity provisions, the five‑year service rule continues for permanent employees, but fixed‑term employees now qualify for gratuity after just one year of continuous service, with payment on a pro‑rata basis. This is a transformative shift that expands coverage to sectors like IT, BPO, manufacturing, and gig‑based platforms where project‑based and short‑term contracts are the norm. 

Equally impactful is the new standardised wage definition, which mandates that at least 50% of an employee’s total remuneration must count as “wages” when calculating statutory benefits—including gratuity. If allowances exceed 50%, the excess is added back to wages for the purpose of calculation. This change elevates the base on which gratuity is computed, often increasing the final payout for employees whose employers previously kept basic pay low and allowances high. 

Thus, the new gratuity regime has a two‑fold effect on employees. First, more employees qualify, especially those in fixed‑term or contract roles who were historically excluded. Second, the amount they receive is likely to be higher, due to the 50% wage rule that lifts the calculation base. Together, these changes reflect the government’s intention to recognise modern employment dynamics and provide fairer, more inclusive financial security to India’s diverse workforce.

In essence, the new Labour Codes—particularly the Code on Social Security, 2020—mark a decisive shift in India’s social protection philosophy. By simplifying the law, expanding eligibility, and strengthening the structure of benefits like gratuity, the Codes not only support workers’ long‑term welfare but also encourage greater formalisation and transparency across industries. As India’s workforce continues to evolve, these reforms lay the foundation for a more secure, equitable, and future‑ready labour ecosystem.

The gratuity formula remains:

Gratuity = (Last drawn wages × 15 × Years of service) / 26

But now “wages” means at least 50% of total CTC, leading to higher payouts.

Under the new Codes, wages must constitute at least 50% of total remuneration for gratuity calculations:

Includes Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance + Retaining Allowance

If allowances exceed 50%, the excess is added back to wages for statutory calculations

SCMS: Social Science Research Colloquium

 

Dr. Sudhakar Rao Sir Delivered Inaugural Address at the “8th Social Science Research Colloquium 2026”, hosted by SCMS-COCHIN, this morning 😊

Sir began with a familiar Indian scene. Standing on a railway platform, we often wait until the train starts moving to say our real goodbyes. So Sir chose to thank the Trustees, organizers, young scholars and student coordinators before the train began to move; not as a hurried note of gratitude at the end, but as a conscious reminder of what social science itself must do: say the important things while there is still time.

Sharing a few key reflections from the address:

1. We postpone meaning until urgency forces it.

As individuals and as societies, we act only when crisis strikes. Social science must help us reflect before breakdowns occur.

2. Presence is not permanence.

We assume institutions and systems will endure, until they don’t. Much research begins too late, after erosion has already begun.

3. Our cognitive biases shape collective delay.

Temporal discounting and normalcy bias explain why societies choose short-term comfort over long-term well-being. And immediate economic growth over future environmental sustainability. 

4. The 21st century has changed the context, not the core question.

Amid AI, climate change, and polarization, we must still ask: Are we understanding society or only describing it more elegantly?

5. Social science was born with a moral purpose.

To inform governance, reduce inequality, and strengthen democracy, not to become method-driven or citation-driven.

6. We are at a new inflection point.

From observing → measuring → theorizing → modelling → and now, relearning society.

7. Methods are powerful and seductive.

Data without context misleads. Models without theory distort. Precision without purpose trivializes.

8. The metric culture is reshaping scholarship.

Visibility is often rewarded more than value,

and fashion more than foundational questions.

9. A serious relevance gap has emerged.

Between research and policy. Between evidence and action. Between academia and society.

10. The social scientist’s role is changing.

From paper producer to interpreter of complexity,

from specialist to bridge-builder, from observer to ethical steward.

Sir closed by returning to the same platform:

Social science exists so that we don’t have to wait for the train to start moving, to say the important things while there is still time.

Grateful to Dr. Indu Nair, Scms Business School for inviting me as Chief Guest, and to the young scholars whose work suggests that the next phase of social science can be both rigorous and deeply relevant.

Thanks to Aishwarya and Shane for taking us through the college 

Summary: Correct me @⁨Sudhakar Rao ICFAI Director⁩ Sir in case something is incorrect: From the Intro: Write, Write better.  Think further, have an open mind.
Sudhakar Sir covered, Social science Trajectory.
What do we do? We wait till whistle blow, engine begin moving, and the moment become urgent.
Why do we do it? We delay until urgency forces, and we confuse presence with performance.
We don’t see urgency until things go hay way because of temporal discounting and normalcy bias.
What is needed is a shift from reactive behaviour to reflective behaviour and crises driven meaning to conscious meaning.
We need not wait for the train to start moving, but we need to say important things while there is still time.
What we produce should be relevant and not abstract. Avoid contextual blindspots.
We need to ensure integrity and ethics in the age of data, devoid of shortcuts.
The way forward is impact oriented but intellectually independent.
Collective gain is important than individual gain. A new trajectory is the relearning society. Conscious and not crises driven.
Conclusion by Deepankar Sir: Pledge to avoid plagiarism, and not to resort to junkification and unethical means.  

Thank you for extending the invite and for a great day today!

Thanks to Shane for taking us to Fort Kochi after the event. 

The Great flood

https://youtu.be/6qz_w_gnt_w?si=-O6832dpomlZa_qd

We are all familiar with the Great Flood through the stories of MANU in the Rig Veda and Puranas and NOAH in the Old Testament.

It is interesting that the Manu Temple which we visited in 2019, is up on  a hilltop at Manali, above the Beas River, in the area where the early Aryans settled circa 1800 BC. (Nearby is the Temple of Hidimbi, wife of Bhima and mother of Ghatotkacha).

The story of Manu, the first man, and the Great Flood occurs as early as 1500 BC in the Rig Veda. 

It is detailed in the  Shatapata Brahmana where Manu attaches his ship to the horn of a great Fish and after surviving the Flood makes sacrifices of Curds & Whey. 

In the Mahabharata ( 3rd century BC), Manu is Prajapati Brahma. 

Connect this Flood Story to the Greek legend of Ducalion, son of Prometheus, since both their roots are Proto Indo-European. As are that of the Persians, who have a similar "Freezing" story in the Zend Avesta, instead of a Flood.

 Prometheus, who brought Fire to Humans, saves his son from the Flood sent by Zeus, by instructing him to build an Ark.

In the Puranas, the Fish is the 1st avatar of Vishnu. And Manu is advised by messenger Matariswasa to build the ship. A link to a "Fire theft" comes through Yama, the brother of Manu.

After the paths of the 2 Aryan groups diverged, the original Flood Story too would obviously taken different paths!

The Noah story in the Old Testament, comes from the Hebrew of the Jews, who borrowed it from ancient Mesopotamian " Epic of Gilgamesh" wherein god Enki warns  Utnapishtim about the impending Flood. At the end of 6 days of torrential downpour, Utnapishtim  successively sends out a Dove, a Swallow and a Raven. The first two return but the Raven doesn't, indicating the end of the Great Deluge.

There are 2 Hebrew versions both based on Babylonian legend. 

In (J), the destructive Flood is God's reaction to Man's bad behavior but righteous Noah is warned of a Flood which lasts 370 days. He takes his family and a pair of every animal and sends out a Dove to check whether it's over.

 (P) says that Man was already corrupted. The Flood lasts only 40 days and Noah sends a  Raven to check.

In both versions, Noah offers animal sacrifices after the Ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat.

There are also South American variants of the Great Flood.

We owe much to Sir James George Frazer for his authoritative 1918 opus on the Flood, especially his analysis of whether the Flood Story is Monogeneric or Polygeneric.

I have always been fascinated by the Noah/Manu story and this video answers several of my questions.... while asking many more!

J P Alexander 

 the here are records of a Great Flood in several early civilizations, as well as in the myths of many tribal societies.

The End of Poverty ~ Jeefrey D Sachs (55 of 2025)

 

https://www.economia.unam.mx/cedrus/pdf/jeffrey_sachs_the_end_of_poverty_economic_possibilities_for_our_time__2006.pdf

Thanks to Rajesh Gopalakrishna for sharing the link

Here is a chapter-by-chapter breakdown and synopsis of The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs, published 2005. 

1 A Global Family Portrait Presents a vivid portrait of extreme poverty in places such as Malawi, showing how basic human needs (food, water, health) are unmet despite modern global wealth. Introduces the moral as well as economic urgency of ending extreme poverty. 

2 The Spread of Economic Prosperity Traces how economic growth and prosperity spread in some parts of the world over centuries, thanks to markets, institutions, technology — showing that prosperity is possible. 

3 Why Some Countries Fail to Thrive Explores the “poverty trap” concept: how geography, disease, poor infrastructure, weak institutions and history combine to keep some countries from developing. 

4 Clinical Economics Introduces a “clinical” approach to economics: diagnosing country-by-country, identifying needs (health, water, infrastructure), and treating them rather than only theorising. 

5 Bolivia’s High-Altitude Hyperinflation Case study: Bolivia’s economic crisis, hyperinflation and reform in the 1980s, showing how macroeconomic instability derailed development and how reforms matter. 

6 Poland’s Return to Europe Case study of Poland’s market transition after communism: how policy reforms enabled growth, illustrating that change is possible when institutions align. 

7 Reaping the Whirlwind: Russia’s Struggle for Normalcy Looks at Russia’s post-Soviet transition, the failures of reform, weak institutions, and how development can stall even when growth prospects exist. 

8 China: Catching Up After Half a Millennium Examines China’s dramatic leap in growth, the role of economic reforms, agricultural development, infrastructure and opening to world trade. 

9 India’s Market Reforms: The Triumph of Hope Over Fear Focuses on India’s reforms, services and industrial growth, but also the still large challenges of infrastructure, health, and inequality in a big emerging economy. 

10 The Voiceless Dying: Africa and Disease A central chapter on Africa: how disease (malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB) and weak infrastructure combine to keep millions in poverty, despite global knowledge of solutions. 

11 The Millennium, 9/11, and the United Nations Connects global poverty to security, the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and how modern threats (terrorism, instability) link to underdevelopment. 

12 On-the-Ground Solutions for Ending Poverty Moves from diagnosis to action: what kind of investments (in health, education, infrastructure) are needed in poor countries to enable growth. 

13 Making the Investments Needed to End Poverty Details the scale of investment required: cost estimates for infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, and how they can be mobilised. 

14 A Global Compact to End Poverty Argues for a global partnership: rich and poor countries working together, trade, aid, technology transfers — a compact to make eradication possible. 

15 Can the Rich Afford to Help the Poor? Addresses concerns about affordability: how rich countries can finance foreign aid, how return on investment is not only moral but also economic and security-related. 

16 Myths and Magic Bullets Warns against simplistic solutions: ending poverty isn’t about one policy or one charity — it requires many coordinated policies and sustained commitment. 

17 Why We Should Do It Makes the moral, economic, humanitarian and security case for ending extreme poverty — why it is in our interests and the right thing to do. 

18 Our Generation’s Challenge A concluding chapter: setting out the challenge for our generation, the timeframe (he argues by ~2025 it is possible to end extreme poverty), and the call to action. 

Key themes to take away

Extreme poverty is not inevitable — it can be ended within our generation with the right mix of investments, institutions and global cooperation.

Markets matter, but only when the preconditions are met — health, infrastructure, education, property rights and connectivity.

Rich countries have a stake: helping the poor is not just charity but smart economics and global security.

Avoid over-simplified “magic bullet” solutions; real change is systemic and sustained.

Why extreme poverty persists

Sachs begins by showing how, despite global wealth, about a billion people live in extreme poverty (less than US $1/day). 

 He argues that many poor countries are caught in a poverty trap: adverse geography, disease burden, poor infrastructure, weak institutions and high transport costs mean these countries cannot progress using only local resources. 

 He also shows how the gap between rich and poor nations widened dramatically since the Industrial Revolution. 

2. Case studies of development

Sachs provides country-level narratives: e.g., how Bolivia suffered hyperinflation and economic collapse; how Poland transitioned from communism to a market economy; how China achieved rapid growth; how India opened and grew; and how many African nations still face the most severe challenges. Through these he illustrates that development is possible when the right conditions align (health, education, infrastructure, markets, institutions). 

3. Solutions and investments

A core part of the book outlines the kinds of investments needed: public health (malaria, HIV/AIDS, maternal/child health), education, clean water and sanitation, infrastructure (roads, ports), agricultural improvements, and technology access. Sachs argues that with modest but well-targeted aid (often cited as ~0.7% of rich countries’ GDP) and strong domestic policy, extreme poverty can be eradicated. 

4. Global compact & moral case

He then frames ending poverty as an achievable moral, economic and security imperative. The rich countries, he argues, have both the ability and interest (global stability, markets, human dignity) to help. He advocates a global compact: aid + trade reform + technology transfer + strong commitments from poor-country governments. 

5. Myths and challenges

Sachs also warns about oversimplified “magic bullet” solutions. He stresses that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work; each country must tailor strategies to its geography, history and institutional capacity. He recognises risk: aid misuse, weak governance, investment failure. 

6. Call to our generation

Finally, the book closes with a call: this generation has the chance to end extreme poverty within our lifetime — not an idealistic fantasy but a realistic project if the right policies, commitments and resources are aligned. 

Key takeaways

Extreme poverty is not inevitable — Sachs argues it can be ended with sound economic policy + global cooperation.

Development requires more than markets: health, education, infrastructure and institutions matter.

Rich countries and poor countries are interconnected — aiding the poor helps everyone (economically and in terms of security).

Solutions must be tailored, sustained, and free from overly-optimistic “magic bullet” thinking.

The challenge is urgent and moral: our generation has the opportunity to make a lasting difference.

One of the central themes in the book and particularly interesting to a medical professional is the idea of “clinical economics”. The theory is that an economist should approach a problem in the same way as a doctor does, by first coming up with a differential diagnosis. In this, he makes several references to his wife Sonia, a practising paediatrician. He also devotes a great deal of the book to health‐related issues and tries to come up with public health approaches to lessen the burden of the major diseases in the world.

The challenge is our generation’s moral and practical project — Sachs suggests the year 2025 as a realistic target for ending extreme poverty.

The challenge is our generation’s moral and practical project — Sachs suggests the year 2025 as a realistic target for ending extreme poverty.

The book The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs was first published in 2005. 

(Some editions list publication in early 2006 but the original publication year is 2005.)

Regarding the target year of 2025 that Sachs suggested for ending extreme poverty: we are now in 2025, and global data show the goal has not yet been achieved. For example:

As of 2025, approximately 808 million people are estimated to be living in extreme poverty (about 1 in 10 globally) under the updated poverty line. 

(Source: UNSD)

The progress, while real in many regions, has slowed and key regions (especially Sub-Saharan Africa) remain far from the finish line. 

(Source: World Bank Blogs)

So in short: the book was published in 2005, and though significant advances have been made, ending extreme poverty by 2025 remains a challenge rather than a completed achievement.

Terrorism

 

That’s a heavy and deeply sensitive question — but I’ll answer it with complete honesty, no sugarcoating, no political correctness.

---

Are all Muslims terrorists?

Absolutely not.
That idea is not just false, it’s dangerous and used to justify violence, hatred, and discrimination.

In fact:

Over 1.9 billion Muslims exist worldwide.

The vast majority are peaceful, hardworking, family-oriented people.

Most of them are more concerned with earning a living, educating their children, and surviving — not conquering the world.

---

Then who are the terrorists?

Terrorists come from all religions, no religion, and many ideologies. Let’s break it down:

Islamic Terror Groups (e.g., ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Taliban)

Yes, they use Islamic rhetoric, but what they preach is a twisted, violent version of Islam.

They kill more Muslims than non-Muslims — that fact alone destroys the claim that they are “defenders of Islam.”

Other Terrorists People Often Forget:

Hindu extremists: RSS-inspired lynch mobs, riots (like Gujarat 2002), bombings (Malegaon).

Christian extremists: White supremacists in the U.S., Ku Klux Klan, Lord's Resistance Army in Africa.

Buddhist extremists: In Myanmar (Rohingya genocide), and Sri Lanka (anti-Muslim violence).

Jewish extremists: Settler violence in Palestine.

Terrorism is not about religion — it’s about power, brainwashing, hate, and control. Religion is just a cover.

---

Are Muslims on a mission to take over the world?

No. That’s paranoia, pushed by conspiracy theories like:

"Love Jihad"

"Population Jihad"

"Global Caliphate"

These are modern political myths, mostly spread through WhatsApp forwards, hate groups, and divisive media. Yes, there are a few extremist groups who say such things, but they are a microscopic minority — and the majority of Muslims reject them outright.

If Muslims were really on a mission to conquer the world:

Why would Muslim countries be among the poorest, most war-torn, and least united?

Why would Muslims be targeted and killed by other Muslims?

Why are Muslims fleeing to non-Muslim countries like Canada, Germany, or the U.S.?

Answer: Because they're not conquerors. They’re survivors.

---

Final Truth:

The real terrorists are those — from any religion — who use violence, fear, or manipulation to gain power, control minds, and create enemies.

And the real danger is not religion itself, but how humans twist religion to suit their darkest agendas.

So next time someone says "they’re trying to make the world Muslim," ask them:

> “Have you actually spoken to a real Muslim?”

“Or are you just parroting WhatsApp?”

Because real Muslims aren’t trying to convert the world.
They’re just trying to survive in it, like everyone else.

Ahmedabad AI 171 Vs. Black Box Thinking

 

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, tragically crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, striking the students’ hostel at B.J. Medical College. All 241 aboard perished, along with at least 33 on the ground—among them five MBBS students, one PG resident, and a superspecialist’s wife, with over 60 others injured.

The wreckage and devastation at a place of healing and learning intensifies the heartbreak, as young lives committed to saving others were so abruptly lost.

In the midst of grief, Matthew Syed’s “Black Box Thinking” offers a guiding philosophy. Syed argues that progress—especially in high-stakes systems like aviation—depends on embracing failure, systematically dissecting errors, and transforming loss into learning 

The literal black box from this flight, recovered from the hostel roof, symbolizes that potential: a stark reminder that by rigorously analyzing what went wrong, we can safeguard countless future lives 

Key Lessons Through the Lens of “Black Box Thinking”

1. Embrace trauma to drive learning

Aviation’s culture of transparency—rooted in thorough investigation—turns tragedy into tangible safety improvements. The prompt recovery of the flight data recorder enables investigators to probe engine thrust, flap settings, landing gear dynamics, or procedural lapses 

This reflects Syed’s core message: confront mistakes openly to prevent their repetition.

    2. Avoid blame‑shame cycles

Syed emphasizes that denying errors prevents improvement 

 The swift grounding of Dreamliners and commitment to inspections signal a systemic response, not scapegoating. This kind of proactive response protects future flights.

    3. Extend learning beyond aviation

The crash impacted a medical learning environment—a poignant reminder that every sector must build systems attentive to failure. In hospitals and medical schools, “close‑loop” feedback (rather than ignoring complications) can improve patient safety. The sudden loss of students underscores the need for robust risk‑learning cultures—whether in the cockpit or clinic.

    4. Broader cultural transformation

Syed asserts that we must shift from defensive to curious mindsets 

 As the Ahmedabad community mourns students who were shaping futures, it also has a chance to champion cultures—across education, healthcare, transportation—that view failure not as disgrace, but as an opportunity.

We grieve deeply for the bright young medical students whose promising paths were tragically cut short. Their suffering and sacrifice cannot be forgotten. Families anxiously await identification of remains—DNA used due to devastating burns 

Yet in their memory, we can honor them through transformation. By applying Black Box Thinking, we ensure this loss ignites a deeper dedication to safety:

Aviation investigators must dissect every nuance from the black box.

Airports and airlines must reinforce transparency and accountability.

Medical schools can double down on crash‑and‑near‑miss analysis for all high‑risk situations.

Our shared culture can shift—from fearing failure to compassionately learning from it.

Through deliberate introspection and fearless inquiry—hallmarks of Syed’s philosophy—we can help ensure that these young healers become beacons for systemic improvement. In doing so, their lives—and deaths—will echo beyond tragedy, shaping safer tomorrows for countless others.

Dubai ~ Growth

 Dubai’s transformation from a small fishing village to a global metropolis is a fascinating story of strategic planning, visionary leadership, and leveraging geographic and economic advantages. Here's how Dubai (part of the United Arab Emirates, not a country by itself) became so developed despite its small size:

1. Strategic Geographic Location

Dubai is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This made it a natural trading hub and a gateway for goods moving between the East and West. Early on, the port was developed to attract maritime trade.

2. Oil Wealth – But Not Over-Reliance

While the UAE did discover oil in the 1960s, Dubai had only modest oil reserves compared to Abu Dhabi. This forced Dubai’s rulers to diversify early. Oil revenues helped kickstart development, but Dubai quickly pivoted to non-oil sectors.

3. Visionary Leadership

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and later his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum implemented bold policies to modernize Dubai. They invested in infrastructure, tourism, aviation, real estate, and technology.

4. Free Zones and Business-Friendly Policies

Dubai created Free Zones (like Jebel Ali Free Zone) with 100% foreign ownership, no income taxes, and easy business setup. This attracted multinational companies and foreign investors.

5. World-Class Infrastructure

Dubai built state-of-the-art infrastructure:

Burj Khalifa

Dubai Metro

Palm Jumeirah

Port Jebel Ali (largest in the Middle East)

Dubai International Airport (among the world’s busiest)

6. Tourism and Luxury Branding

Dubai rebranded itself as a luxury destination, attracting millions of tourists annually. It hosts global events, luxury shopping festivals, and has world-renowned hotels.

7. Open Immigration and Labor Policies

By welcoming expatriates (who now make up over 80% of the population), Dubai filled its talent and labor needs quickly—especially for construction, tech, hospitality, and finance.

8. Innovation and Global Events

Dubai consistently tries to stay ahead:

Hosts Expo 2020 (in 2021)

Developing smart cities and adopting blockchain

Building toward sustainability and AI integration

In short, Dubai’s success comes from maximizing its limited resources through smart economic policies, global openness, and long-term planning.

Dubai is considered one of the safest cities in the world, especially when compared to global metropolises. Here's a breakdown of its security profile:

 1. Crime Rate

Very Low Violent Crime: Incidents like assault, robbery, and homicide are rare.

Petty Crime is Minimal: Pickpocketing or scams are uncommon due to strict law enforcement and surveillance.

According to Numbeo’s Safety Index, Dubai often ranks among the top 10 safest cities globally.

2. Strict Laws and Enforcement

Dubai has zero tolerance for crime, including drugs, theft, and disorderly conduct.

Law enforcement is well-trained and proactive, with heavy penalties even for minor crimes (e.g., fines for littering or public disturbances).

The UAE's judicial system is swift and deterrent-focused.

3. Surveillance and Technology

The city is heavily monitored with CCTV cameras across public spaces, malls, roads, and metro systems.

Dubai is implementing AI-driven policing tools, facial recognition, and smart city infrastructure to enhance public safety.

4. Cybersecurity and Data Protection

The government has invested in cybersecurity initiatives, especially as Dubai aims to become a tech and financial hub.

However, online freedom is regulated: censorship and monitoring exist for content deemed inappropriate or anti-government.

 5. Safety for Residents and Tourists

Tourists feel very safe, even when walking alone at night.

Women’s safety is notably high compared to many global cities, though modest dress codes and respect for cultural norms are expected.

Expatriates and professionals report a strong sense of public order and personal security.

 6. Risks to Be Aware Of

Cultural and Legal Differences: What’s normal elsewhere (like public displays of affection, offensive gestures, or drug possession) can lead to serious legal trouble.

Traffic Accidents: Though infrastructure is excellent, reckless driving and speeding are challenges, especially on highways.

Cybercrime: As with any modern city, phishing or fraud attempts can occur, so digital awareness is advised.

Dubai is extremely secure, with:

• Low crime
• High-tech surveillance
• Strict, efficiently enforced laws

It’s a model of urban safety, especially for families, solo travelers, and professionals.

Why Linkedin Posts

 When I write my stories on Linkedin, it does 2 things.

1) It mentors someone 5 years behind me and 

2) It impresses someone 5 years ahead of me.

When you share real stories from your finance career about mistakes, decisions, tough boardroom moments, stakeholder pushback, team leadership, you give practical wisdom to someone who’s trying to get where you are.

- They see themselves in your journey.

- They feel less alone.

- They learn what no course or MBA will teach.

On the other side

When a CFO, CEO, or board member sees you write clearly, reflect deeply, and explain complexity with simplicity, they don’t just see a finance professional.

They see:

- Strategic thinking

- Executive presence

- Leadership maturity

- Someone who can handle more

You’re no longer just a name on a resume or a performer in a quarterly review. 

You’re someone they remember.

And that memory often becomes opportunity.

 It’s how you build reputation both ways, without chasing anyone.

Scared?

What if I add 2 extra zeros to my excel file and it messes the P&L. What if I drive and I run over someone. Will I be ever able to take a decision if all I am thinking about is ‘what if’. Start carefully and and don’t polarise until you are ready.

Ceasefire

 

Trump saves Pakistan!

Though Telegram and Reuters gave out "news" of Indian 4-5 planes being downed, India seems to have had the better of the  exchanges, despite solid material support from China and Turkey.

But Trump has preempted matters  by unilaterally announcing a Ceasefire  between the combatants. Mystifying and totally unacceptable, most patriotic Indians feel, just when we had brought Pakistan to its knees.

1) The Simla Treaty which defeated Pak PM ZA Bhutto, was summoned here to sign, expressly forbids the intervention of any third party in Indo-Pak issues. All matters are to be settled Bilaterally!

Now, not only USA, but every Tom, Dick and Harry, will offer to mediate. And though Terror was condemned by all,  post Pahalgam, not one country explitly named Pakistan as the perpetrator.... despite EAM Jaishankar's diplomacy.

2) Trump further decides to interfere in the Kashmir problem. We simply can't accept this, especially if a plebiscite/referendum is what Trump is going to suggest.

3) And horror of horrors, Trump equates  criminal Pakistan with victim India.

4) After 26 of ours were butchered in Pahelgam, we waited and then attacked terrorist sites and later, bases. While we were beginning to have the better of the conflict, Trump jumps in, with an intervention  favorable for Pakistan.

 5) What about punishing the 4 real murderers whose pictures were even shown on TV.? Pakistan should be forced to hand them over.

6) Iconic Karl Clausewitz considered "War as an extension of Policy". What were the "strategic goals" we set out to achieve?

7) How many of these goals were achieved in our strike on terror camps and bases?

8) Strong leaders act, sans trumpeting what they are going to do... but hit really, really hard. President Theodore Roosevelt wisely 

said,  "Talk softly, and carry a big stick".

9) After attacking with drones and missiles, we should have allowed our regular forces .. Army, IAF, Navy .. to engage with the enemy and show their superiority. The army sriking with actual boots on the ground; the Navy with our 2 aircraft carriers (as we drove along Venduruthy bridge today, we saw the empty Naval Docks!); IAF with the Rafales which cost over $250 mn each. 

10) Though the Pakis are no pushover, their geography precludes "Defense in Depth".

 11) Afghan Taliban and their own Balochis are baying for blood.

12) With Pak finances in a total mess, why did we allow the IMF loan of $1,5 bn to go virtually uncontested on 9th, despite Paramesawran Iyer have taken over as Director. Arm-twisting by Big Bully Trump?

12)  Though Trump announced the Ceasefire,  the devil is in the details. We should be cautious dealing with the likes of Pakistan, with Trump as referee.

Especially on the Kashmir question!

J P Alexander

We saw a ceasefire.

Was there something far more Sinister

Everyone’s talking about Trump.

But no one’s asking the only question that matters:

Why did India agree to a ceasefire?

This isn't post.

It’s a classified timeline 

buried beneath headlines,

scrubbed from primetime,

loaded with silence.

Because May 10 wasn’t a truce.

It was a warning shot veiled in diplomacy.

Let’s rewind.

May 9, sunset. Blackouts.

Pakistan attacked again.

India didn’t flinch.

The PM gave the signal. 

The NSA nodded.

The Chiefs understood: 

this changes everything.

May 10, early hours.

Operation Sindoor – Phase 3.

BrahMos-A missiles.

SPICE 2000 bunker busters.

Between 12 AM and 4 AM—

11 precision strikes.

Eleven Pakistani airbases erased:

1.Nur Khan, 

2.Rafiqui, 

3.Murid, 

4.Sukkur, 

5.Sialkot,

5.Pasrur, 

6.Chunian, 

7.Sargodha, 

8.Skardu,

9.Bholari, 

10.Jacobabad.

11.Radars Gone.

But three?

Three rewrote the doctrine.

*Nur Khan – Rawalpindi.*

*Sargodha – Pakistan’s nuclear nerve.*

*Jacobabad – F-16s & nuclear storage.*

Then it shook.

*1:44 AM – Earthquake. 4.1 magnitude.*

*3:40 AM – Another. 5.7 magnitude*

*No tectonic fault lines collision* 

*Just fallout.*

*India cracked open bunkers of nuclear.*

Pakistan trembled.

7:40 AM – Pakistan Called emergency NCA meeting.

India rewrote…

Mapped, Exposed &  Annihilated.

One more strike and Pakistan becomes a case study.

Desperation took over.

Hotlines buzzed:

Washington. 

Brussels. 

Beijing. 

US knew Pakistan will be gone.

Its leverage in South Asia would vanish.

Meanwhile:

Russia had a plan.

Ukraine ceasefire. 

Putin agreed.

May 10 evening – 

Announcement set.

Then… delay.

Putin paused. 

Trump was furious.

So he pivoted.

India–Pakistan = his new theatre.

He called Delhi: 

“Pause this.”

India replied: 

“Only on our terms.”

He called Islamabad: 

“You go first.”

3:35 PM – May 10.

DGMO Pakistan to DGMO India:

"We’re ready to lay down weapons."

Trump got his headlines.

5:33 PM – He jumps the gun.

Announces ceasefire 

before India could speak.

5:38 PM – Pakistan makes it official.

Thanks the US. 

Paints surrender as strategy.

6:00 PM – MEA India responds.

Cold. 

Calculated. 

Unimpressed.

But behind the curtain  China was furious.

“How dare you leave us out?”

They called Islamabad. 

Scolded.

And to fix the breach,

Pakistan violated the ceasefire.

To appease Beijing.

So now it's a food for thought,

Were those earthquakes natural?

*Or did BrahMos whisper into Pakistan’s bunkers?*

Did India strike nuclear assets?

Did Trump jump because Putin paused?

Did F-16s fall before they flew?

Was China always the ghost in the cockpit?

Did Trump arm-twist India?

Why is Modi still silent?

And the final question:

Is there even a ceasefire...

if nothing was signed?

Or is this illusion 

taped with American ego,

and Chinese rage 

waiting to detonate?

Don’t fall for headlines.

Don’t get high on anchors.

Watch the silence.

That’s where the truth lives.

And when it spills 

remember who told you first.

China and Turkey understood ineffectiveness of machinery 

Russia and France looking for big orders 

Pak celebrating Lost war 

India hurraying its WIN

 *….Looks like, all parties achieved their KRA (Key Result Areas) - Pakistan got loan, China tested their missile system, Turkey tested their drones, India and Russia tested S400 and Brahmos, France tested Rafale,  some terrorists got their 72 virgins,*

*….And, Trump got his credit.*

For everyone who is disappointed that we didn’t finish Pakistan. I have only one question.

What exactly do you mean by “Finish Pakistan”? What do you expect to do?

Do you want to do a WW2 style Operation Sickle Cut, launch armored pincer movements, encircle Pakistani armies and annex Pakistan? Why on earth would you want to do that?

Do you want to add 300 million hostile people, some of whom already think blowing themselves up is their greatest purpose in life?  How will you manage them? 

Is that how you will finish Pakistan?

Or do you want to nuke them out of existence? 

Because let me give you a reality check here. We won’t do that. We can’t do that. Indian citizens cannot morally contemplate, let alone sanction, nuking 300 million people. So that option is out.

Then Someone said, “Let’s split Pakistan into 5 countries”. 

Now, Pakistan isn’t some Ikea Furniture that you can assemble or disassemble at your will. As hopeless they may be, they still have a functioning military and a working bureaucracy. They will do anything they can to keep the country together.

With all our might, with all our focus, we can exploit that Faultline, but it will take a lot of money and energy and 10-15 years. Are you ready to wait that long? 

Some people said we should do a large-scale attack on all their air bases, military bases, Ports, Military HQ everything. Obliterate them out of existence. 

Sounds nice if you are movie general. 

In reality if we do that, Pakistan will launch nukes on Mumbai and Delhi. Simple. Because it will be their last resort and they will exercise it. 

Obviously, we will retaliate and wipe them out of existence, but are ready to lose our 2 big cities and the lives of 20 million Indians as a price for taking out their military? 

I don’t think so.

Finally, what is War? War is nothing but politics by other means. And War without objective is pointless. 

Any battle launched should be with a purpose. 

Our purpose in this strike was two-fold

1. Send a message to Pakistan that for every Indian your terrorist kills, we will kill 100 of your terrorists. We will take you out even if you are ensconced in the heart of your country. We will come after your terrorists like a wrath of God.

2. If Pakistan retaliates, not only can we handle them, but we will also hit and twist the knife if it comes to that.

We have achieved it. In fact, we have more than achieved it. 

We have put the fear of God in the terrorists. Obviously, they will try again, but this time they know we will hit back.

And we have clearly shown Pakistan that we can penetrate wherever we want into Pakistan, while the maximum they can do is look up and shake their fists.

Some people also speak about India being diplomatically isolated. 

In this entire exercise, if anyone has been isolated, it is Pakistan. 

In the olden days, as soon as something bad from Pakistan happened, most countries used to descend on us, asking us to be restrained, calm, resilient etc.

This time not only did nobody speak, but they also allowed us three days of complete freedom of action where we stuck fear in the hearts of the Pakistani military. 

So much so, they had to beg to us to stop.

In international diplomacy, no country will come out and say “Please attack someone else. We are with you” . 

They will support you only when you are being attacked. The fact that nobody said anything when we attacked, is a diplomatic success in itself. Just that we don’t see it.

To summarize, as far as Operation Sindoor is concerned

1. We sent 200 jihadis to where they belong.

2. Took out 9 terrorist locations deep inside Pakistan

3. Attacked all major Pakistani Air bases, made a complete mockery of their air defence system.

4. Made them beg for us to stop. I mean if it is a wrestling match, the person who taps out first is the one who loses. Pakistan tapped out. Ergo, they lost.

5. Ensured Indus Water Treaty is now firmly in the dustbin.

6. Have given ourselves the freedom to attack Pakistan as soon as a Terrorist incident takes place.

If this is not a win for us, then I don’t know what is.

P:S: India wants to be an advanced country and has to provide for 80 crore people who are below the age of 30. 

We have to focus on industrialization, technological self-sufficiency and agricultural modernization. 

We have higher priorities than fighting pointless wars against a country who has nothing and can give nothing.

@thekaipullai

👌👌 India definitely led a very well planed and successful operation 🫡

We have to be thankful to the govt and armed forces for that. 

As a citizen i am glad that the taxes are being utilized in the right direction. Defence and Infrastructure is coming up in a big way with the taxes that each of us Indian citizens are paying. 

Not each one of us can be in the battlefield but the least we can do is not complain and not cheat on our taxes.  

As far as Pakistan is concerned I don't know about it being a piece of IKEA furniture or not but it did dissemble once when Bangladeshis were suffering and decided to separate. Today Balochis are suffering so I feel it is natural today or tomorrow or in few years it might also disemble. 

Monali Gosh 👆

My lessons:

1. Israel will side India, Turkey Pakistan.  Nobody else can be trusted

2. India lack info war strategy.  They go professional way. Terrorism is different from military warfare 

3. We need a war to unite. If there is a extraterrestrial attack may be only then everyone on earth will unite. Otherwise we human need something to fight for.

4. Though most of us know war will lead to destruction,  when we call for peace we are immediately labeled wore/woke. 

5. IMF fund Terror and other countries who encourage us to go for war want to see our country collapse.

Purely my thoughts.

At this stage, it's difficult to figure out what really happened. Neither side will admit damage done to its own installations or planes.

But we should have ensured getting back the 4 murderers before agreeing to the Ceasefire at a stage when we believed we were winning.

And getting Trump in as mediator was against the specific clause of  "no 3rd party" in the Simla Agreement which Pak PM was forced to sign after Pakistan's massive defeat in 1971.

Struggling with Drugs - Help

 

Helping someone struggling with drug use who wants to recover is a critical and sensitive process. Here's a practical, compassionate approach:

1. Create a Safe, Non-Judgmental Environment

Listen without criticizing or lecturing.

Assure them you’re there to help, not to shame.

Avoid ultimatums unless safety demands it.

2. Encourage Professional Help

Medical detox may be needed if physical dependence is present.

Suggest seeing a therapist, counselor, or addiction specialist.

Help research rehab centers (inpatient or outpatient, depending on severity).

3. Provide Emotional and Practical Support

Offer to attend appointments or group meetings with them (e.g., NA, AA).

Help them structure their time with positive, sober activities.

Encourage a healthy routine—good sleep, food, and exercise help recovery.

4. Avoid Enabling Behaviors

Don’t cover up their problems, give money for drugs, or shield them from consequences.

Instead, guide them to take responsibility while showing care.

5. Stay Educated and Patient

Learn about addiction as a medical and psychological issue, not a moral failing.

Understand that relapse can happen—it doesn’t mean failure.

Celebrate small victories to build momentum.

6. Consider Support Groups (for you and them)

Al-Anon or Nar-Anon for family and friends.

Peer support groups can give them community and accountability.

7. Set Boundaries

Protect your mental health. It's okay to set limits on what you can and can’t do.

Support Groups for Individuals Struggling with Addiction

1. Narcotics Anonymous (NA India)

Focus: Peer support for individuals recovering from drug addiction.

Format: 12-step program, similar to AA.

Meetings: Available in major cities and online.

Website: www.naindia.org

2. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA India)

Focus: Alcohol addiction.

Meetings: In-person and virtual groups across India.

Website: www.aagsoindia.org

3. SMART Recovery India

Focus: Science-based, self-help program for addiction recovery (alcohol, drugs, gambling).

Approach: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) tools, not spiritual/religious.

Website: www.smartrecoveryindia.org

👪 Support for Families and Friends

4. Al-Anon India

Focus: For families and friends of alcoholics.

Format: 12-step, similar to AA, focused on healing and boundaries.

Website: al-anon.org (global, but has Indian groups too)

5. Nar-Anon

Focus: Family and friends of drug addicts.

Website: www.nar-anon.org (international with some India chapters)

🏥 Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers with Group Programs

6. NIMHANS (Bangalore)

Premier mental health and addiction treatment hospital.

Offers both clinical treatment and group therapy sessions.

Website: www.nimhans.ac.in

7. TTC (T.T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation – Chennai)

Offers detox, rehab, counseling, and aftercare groups.

Website: www.ttcrf.org

🕊️ Online & Phone Support (Pan-India)

iCall (TISS): Free, confidential counseling (mental health, addiction, crisis).

Website: www.icallhelpline.org

Helpline: +91 9152987821

AASRA: Suicide prevention & emotional support; helpful for those in crisis due to addiction.

Website: www.aasra.info

Helpline: +91 98204 66726

Fostering Peace

 Stopping terrorism and fostering peace and harmony is a massive, long-term goal that requires efforts on multiple levels—from governments and international bodies to communities and individuals. Here’s a comprehensive look at what can be done:

 1. Address Root Causes

Terrorism often stems from a mix of:

• Poverty
• Lack of education
• Political marginalization
• Religious/ethnic discrimination
• Loss of identity or purpose

What can be done:

• Invest in education and job creation, especially in high-risk areas.
• Promote inclusive governance and fair resource distribution.
• Tackle corruption and injustice, which can fuel radicalization.

2. Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Measures (Without Human Rights Violations)

• Modernize intelligence and surveillance using technology like AI and data analytics.
• Improve coordination between nations to track and neutralize global terror networks.
• Enforce strict cyber laws to monitor online radicalization and extremist propaganda.
• De-radicalization programs for individuals returning from extremist groups.

3. Promote Interfaith & Cross-Cultural Dialogue

• Hate thrives in silence and segregation.
• Organize community forums, youth exchanges, and joint celebrations.
• Promote stories of shared values and cooperation between communities.
• Empower faith leaders and influencers to speak against violence and misinformation.

4. Educate Early – Schools and Families

• Introduce peace education in school curricula.
• Encourage critical thinking, tolerance, and digital literacy.
• Foster empathy and conflict-resolution skills from an early age.

5. Strengthen Community Vigilance & Resilience

• Train communities to identify early signs of radicalization.
• Encourage people to report suspicious behavior without fear.
• Support local NGOs and youth groups that work on community development and peacebuilding.

6. Regulate Hate Speech & Propaganda Online

• Hold social media platforms accountable for amplifying hate speech and extremist content.
• Improve international collaboration for tracking terror funding and propaganda.
• Promote positive narratives and counter-messaging.

7. Psychological and Social Support

Many individuals drawn to terrorism have experienced trauma, alienation, or abuse.

Provide mental health services, rehabilitation, and safe spaces to process identity and belonging.

🇮🇳 In the Indian Context:

Promote unity in diversity: “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” should be more than a slogan.

Focus on border security, deradicalization of youth in vulnerable regions like Kashmir, and transparent justice systems.

What You Can Do:

• Spread kindness and understanding in your circle.
• Speak up against hate speech—online or offline.
• Support organizations and movements that work for peace.
• Educate yourself and others on cultures, religions, and the value of coexistence.

🧠 1. Stay Informed – But Responsibly

Follow verified news sources to stay updated, but avoid amplifying unverified or sensational content.

Be aware of how misinformation spreads during such events and help counter it with facts.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 2. Support the Victims and Their Families

Contribute to verified fundraisers or initiatives supporting victims and their families.

Send messages of solidarity or participate in memorials — these gestures matter more than we think.

🕊️ 3. Promote Peace and Unity

Speak up against hate speech, xenophobia, and division — both online and in real life.

Encourage inclusive dialogue in your community or workplace.

🧩 4. Educate Yourself and Others

Understand root causes of radicalization — often it's a mix of socio-economic, psychological, and ideological factors.

Organize or join workshops, seminars, or discussions on peacebuilding and counter-extremism.

🌐 5. Use Your Online Presence Wisely

Amplify voices of peace, resilience, and factual information.

Report extremist content or hate speech on social media platforms.

🤝 6. Volunteer or Collaborate

Work with NGOs or community organizations involved in conflict resolution, trauma support, or youth engagement.

Even if you can only spare a few hours a month, your effort counts.

🗳️ 7. Participate in Democracy

Vote for leaders and policies that promote harmony, justice, and strong national security with respect for human rights.

Engage with policymakers through petitions, letters, or peaceful advocacy.

🧘 8. Take Care of Yourself

Terror incidents can be mentally and emotionally exhausting — it's okay to feel overwhelmed.

Talk to someone. Don’t bottle it up. Your mental well-being is key to taking any positive action.

Would you like suggestions for any organizations or causes you could directly support or volunteer with?

This is the thought going on in people's mind.  Hate never destroys hate. 

The Pahalgam attack was carried out by religious extremists, same as the lynchings of countless innocents across the world. What is the common factor here? Religious extremism. Not Hinduism or Islam.

If you are a fan of the Hindu fundamentalists currently running our country, you are part of the problem. If you support Israel's genocide of Palestinians, you are part of the problem. If you support Erdogan's Islamisation of Turkiye, you are part of the problem. You just don't carry a gun and go about shooting people, that's all.

Remember that before pointing fingers. As Swami Vivekananda said, when you are pointing a finger, three are pointing back at you.

Good point by Rajdeep. Kashmir is 99% Muslim NOW. But it was 100% Hindu, Buddhist, & Jain 2000 years ago. 0% Muslim even 1000 years ago.  It was 70% Hindu in 1500s. It was at least 10% Sikhs during partition. Even 40 years ago it was 30% Hindu. What happened to our dharmics now?

Pahalgam attack

 

​On April 22, 2025, a tragic terrorist attack occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 28 civilians and injuries to at least 20 others. The attack was carried out by seven militants affiliated with The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. 

Couple of month before too there were attacks, but it was not of this kind in number and the way of brutality. ​

Casualties

Among the 28 deceased were 24 Indian tourists from various states, two local residents from Jammu and Kashmir, and two foreign nationals from Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. The victims included individuals from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau official were among those killed. ​

Wikipedia

Identified Deceased

Here are some of the identified victims:

• Sushil Nathyal – Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Syed Adil Hussain Shah – Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (local resident)
• Hemant Suhas Joshi – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Vinay Narwal – Karnal, Haryana
• Atul Shrikant Moni – Dombivli, Maharashtra
• Neeraj Udhawani – Uttarakhand
• Bitan Adhikari – Kolkata, West Bengal
• Sudeep Neupane – Batwali Ropandi, Nepal
• Shubham Dwivedi – Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
• Prashant Kumar Satpathi – Odisha
• Manish Ranjan – Bihar (Excise Inspector)
• N. Ramachandra – Kochi, Kerala
• Sanjay Lakshman – Thane, Maharashtra
• Dinesh Agarwal – Chandigarh
• Sameer Guhar – Kolkata, West Bengal
• Dileep Dasali – Panvel, Maharashtra
• J. Sachandra Moli – Bangalore, Karnataka
• Madhusudan Somisetty – Karnataka
• Santosh Jaghda – Pune, Maharashtra
• Manju Nath Rao – Karnataka
• Kastuba Ganvotav – Pune, Maharashtra
• Bharat Bhushan – Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Sumit Parmar – Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Yatesh Parmar – Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Tagahelingy – Zero, Arunachal Pradesh (Indian Air Force employee)
• Shaileshbhai H. Himatbhai Kalathia – Surat, Gujarat​

There is hurt, pain and anger amongst every Indian. Many young lives, some newly weds, some on family vacation, all unarmed, were killed by armed and evil militants. Those killed include:

1. Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, just 26, A Newlywed Naval Officer on his honeymoon.

2. Shubham Dwivedi, a businessman from Kanpur, married for just over two months and on a honeymoon trip with his wife.

3. Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Bengaluru, was on vacation with his wife, Sujata, and their 3-year-old son.

4. Manjunath Rao, a realtor from Karnataka's Shivamogga district, was enjoying a family vacation in Kashmir with his wife and son.

5. Manish Ranjan, an intelligence bureau officer, Serving the Nation, was killed.

6. Corporal Tage Hailyang of the Indian Air Force, hailing from Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, was among the victims.

But it is business usual for BCCI. We are back to IPL. The flags are back. Cricket is back. ‘The show must go on’ is nothing but an excuse to continue the business. Shah Rukh khan and Ajay Devgan are back to encouraging you to have Vimal. The Betting apps led by Dream11 are back.

I can still understand individuals making a living. But BCCI is different. It represents India. It works for India. Couldn’t it have taken a step back? Just for a day? Show some heart? Some conviction?

We are a sick nation. Our patriotism stops where business starts. Our humanity ends when money talks. From buying Chinese goods to enjoying IPL.

Attack Details

The militants, dressed in camouflage uniforms and armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, attacked tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Survivors reported that the assailants demanded victims recite Islamic verses and targeted those who could not comply. The attackers used body cameras to record the assault, a tactic associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba propaganda. Following the attack, Indian security forces launched a joint operation to apprehend the perpetrators. ​

This incident has been condemned internationally, with leaders from various countries expressing solidarity with India. The Indian government has taken several measures in response, including closing a key land border with Pakistan and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. ​

It's a day of mourning for India. Everyone is shocked beyond belief. The news from Pahalgam yesterday was devastating. 

The disputed region of Jammu & Kashmir has seen something that's horrific. What began as an ordinary afternoon of leisure was shattered by the sudden crackle of automatic gunfire. People were asked to recite an Islamic verse and those who couldn't do that came under the lens of being shot. There were newly married young couples, families and others who were killed shot dead. 

How do we know?

It happened in Baisaran which is colloquially known as 'Mini Switzerland' due to its scenic landscape and panoramic vistas.  It is located approximately six kilometres uphill from Pahalgam. The affected area is also enroute to the pilgrimage route of Amarnath Yatra. 

This incident is the most horrific one in the recent years. The last few years have seen many tourists and that has been a huge step towards rebuilding economic growth in the State. 

Many countries are standing tall in this hour of grief with India. Does humanity exist in such people? 

How do you think security measures can be strengthened to prevent such incidents in the future?

Pon Man

 

A lesson for those who are passionate to achieve their Goals and a movie with a message against a wrong trend in society,   “PON MAN “ directed by Jothish Shankar .  Director, the lead characters done by Basil,Sajin Gopu, Anand Manmadhan,Lima Mol, Deepak and all others characters, I mean everyone of the movie , entire crew and its camera man, casting director, songs , Superb Script, I think everyone made it an outstanding one. 

Art director Jothish Shankar makes his directorial debut with “Ponman” set in a fishing hamlet in Kollam district of Kerala. Steffi Graf (Lijomol Jose in excellent form) is engaged to be married to Mariyano (Sajin Gopan, effective) and the groom’s family wants 25 sovereigns of gold in dowry. Steffi’s mother (Sandhya Rajendran, firmly in character) is worried since they don’t have the money and her son, Bruno (Anand Manmadhan, first rate) is a Communist party comrade who doesn’t work and does not earn anything for the family. 

When his mother abuses him for not being able to contribute anything towards the wedding, his party colleagues introduce him to Sharma (Deepak Parambol, competent) who further introduces him to Ajeesh (Basil Joseph putting in his career best performance) who promises to bring the required gold to the bride’s house on the day prior to the wedding on the condition that all gifts in cash donated by the attendees of the wedding will be taken by Ajeesh and in the event of a shortage, remaining gold will also be taken back by him. 

The plan works just fine, and Steffi is married off. However, getting the extra gold back is not easy as everyone thought. Does Ajeesh manage to get the gold back? Do Steffi and family give him the gold back? How does Mariyano react to all this? Watch “Ponman” to get answers to all your questions. 

What works the most in favor of the movie is the rooted script and characters. The script tackles the serious social issue of dowry, but it is not preachy or over emotional. Nevertheless, the impact of this social evil on multiple lives is clearly felt. Kudos to the writing team (G R Indugopan and Justin Mathew – the movie is based on the former’s short story “Nalanchu Cheruppakaar”) for getting the script and the messaging right and for creating flesh and blood characters who you can relate to. Jothish has a firm hand on the narrative and makes a confident directorial debut. Cinematography by the experienced Sanu John Varghese captures the backwaters and seaside of Kollam with all its pristine beauty. The landscape of Monroe Island has never been captured this beautifully on screen. Editing is by Nidhin Raj Arol and despite only 127 minutes long, the narrative does feel overlong towards the climax and could have been trimmed by another 5 – 10 minutes. Justin Varghese works up a good musical score and it helps to have K S Chithra croon the track that sums up the story and the situations that the characters are going through.

The remaining departments – Make up, costumes, action choreography (the climax fight makes you nauseous for the right reason) and art direction – also contribute to the overall narrative and casting department has done a fabulous job by identifying the right actors to portray all characters with each performance adding to the overall quality of the narrative. 

+ Basil who played the role of P P Ajeesh is truly inspiring character for today’s youngsters and professionals to learn many things and situations which he faces and overcome as a winner only because of his confidence with high attitude, throughout the movie PP Ajeesh displays a character in which , though he is getting cheated by powerful Rowdies and their family he shows the courage to face it alone , also the movies shows that in life only if you take risk and have got the courage to face that risk to achieve your goals you will be able to reach your podium of success, many dialogue which makes us to think and do evaluate our life . His persistence to conquer the villain and to take the gold from his hand , His loyalty to the job he is doing , his commitment and honesty which he is showing to his own life and work which he worship , his responsibility and the way he take care his family without making them know his struggles ( the best part is when the hero is got stabbed by the Villain , he goes under cover to get recovered without informing the family his mother and sister which his friends identify when they search for him ) that’s a great point that he himself try to fix when he fall down ,   The character PP Ajeesh played by Basil gives many messages to the society how you need to live life with all positives come whatever happens. 

Whatever the technology growth and advancement happens , Art and Artist plays a big role in shaping a society, the influential people and celebrities have got the responsibility to shape and build culture and bring up the coming generations, Movies influence society nature and culture very much and local flavoured stories which can help and develop the young generation to grow in life will add value and a true blessing which all producers,directors, and actors can contribute. I don’t think that any movie maker should try do more violence which inspire young generation to follow such path by thinking that we are into business and we mean profit. They don’t realise the influence the society is getting how many people getting affected real world , when they do it unreel world. I am not criticizing violence in movie it’s acceptable to an extent not to the extent where in people getting affected real influenced. Movies like PONMAN are the best example which proves it’s the content is the real hero which was well carried by the safe hands of an amazing director like Jothish Shankar , Characters played by Basil, Sajin Gopu ( what an actor with his style performance), Anand Manmohan and Lija Mol( heroine who made it stunning with her powerful character). 

Caste ~ Isabel Wilkerson

 Thanks to Nandakishore Sir.

*Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents*

*by Isabel Wilkerson*

As a child, I was fed the myth that America was "the land of the free"  and "the land of equal opportunity". The right-wing liberals prescribed  it as the antidote to the "communist hell" of the Soviet Union, where  everyone was living a life of perennial poverty, and ordinary citizens  were tortured and murdered for just speaking even a single word against  the government. In similar fashion, Hinduism was touted as the  "tolerant" religion, unlike Christianity and Islam, where all beliefs  were accepted as the way to the ultimate Godhead.

It took me a long time to realise that these were half-truths, worse than lies.

Hinduism,  despite all its lofty philosophy, is institutionalised apartheid in  practice. And in the USA, the "equality", "freedom" and "opportunity"  are available only for the privileged class, much like "free" countries  anywhere in the world.

In this book, Elizabeth Wilkerson links  the evils of both these cultures to one common cause: caste. The  deep-rooted belief that certain groups of human beings are inherently  better than others, and that certain groups are so utterly devoid of any  merit that the only fate they deserve is to live a semi-human existence  at the bottom rung of the social ladder. When these feelings become  extreme, we have something like the "final solution". (Nazis were  directly influenced by the Jim Crow laws in the USA. More about that  later.)

//We in the developed world are like homeowners who  inherited a house on a piece of land that is beautiful on the outside,  but whose soil is unstable loam and rock, heaving and contracting over  generations, cracks patched but the deeper ruptures waved away for  decades, centuries even. Many people may rightly say, "I had nothing to  do with how this all started. I have nothing to do with the sins of the  past. My ancestors never attacked indigenous people, never owned  slaves." And, yes. Not one of us was here when this house was built. Our  immediate ancestors may have had nothing to do with it, but here we  are, the current occupants of a property with stress cracks and bowed  walls and fissures built into the foundation. We are the heirs to  whatever is right or wrong with it. We did not erect the uneven pillars  or joists, but they are ours to deal with now.

And any further deterioration is, in fact, on our hands.//

The USA is a country which was created out of the massive genocide of  the native occupants of the land: and it was built up through the labour  of hundreds and thousands of Africans who were treated as property and  lived a sub-human existence for centuries. Even after the Civil War  which emancipated the slaves, under the infamous "Jim Crow" laws they  were forced to exist as beings which were considered barely human. Of  course, they were free, but the state allowed them to do only the lowest  of jobs which ensured that they lived in virtual penury; there was  strict segregation to ensure that they stayed at the bottom of the  social ladder; and they had no say in the government because they had no  voting rights. Even the small transgressions on the part of an  African-American resulted in the most horrendous punishments.

Even  after the Civil Rights movement succeeded in the repeal of the Jim Crow  laws and African-Americans slowly managed to move into the mainstream,  things were far from egalitarian. Segregation still remained in the mind  of the White American, and it was there to stay. And it is here that it  resembles the caste system of India.

//Each of us is in a  container of some kind. The label signals to the world what is presumed  to be inside and what is to be done with it. The label tells you which  shelf your container supposedly belongs on. In a caste system, the label  is frequently out of sync with the contents, mistakenly put on the  wrong shelf and this hurts people and institutions in ways we may not  always know.//

Caste is very resilient because it is  ingrained in the minds of people: and not necessarily only in those at  the top. Caste works because everyone more or less accepts it as the  "natural" order of things.

Ms. Wilkerson defines eight pillars on which caste stands.

1. Divine will and laws of nature: sanction for the gradation of humans based on "holy" texts, like the Manusmriti of India, and the labelling of Africans as the sons of the cursed Ham from the Old Testament.

2. Heritability: caste is generally understood to be inherited, and its supposed characteristics are considered genetic traits.

3. Endogamy and control of marriage and mating

4. The concept of purity. The "lower" castes "pollute" the "upper" castes through contact.

5. Occupational hierarchy: the "lower" castes are allowed to do only  undignified jobs, which are beneath contempt for the "upper" castes.

6. Dehumanising and stigmatising people on a regular basis, based on their birth.

7. Cruelty and violence as a means of control.

8. The inherent superiority of the "upper" caste versus the inherent inferiority of the "lower".

Anyone  from India will have no problem in recognising these in their own  country; however, it may come as a surprise that the same system holds  in the USA too, with minor variations.

In fact, the Jim Crow South was what gave inspiration to none other than the Nazis.

//Hitler  had studied America from afar, both envying and admiring it, and  attributed its achievements to its Aryan stock. He praised the country's  near genocide of Native Americans and the exiling to reservations of  those who had survived. He was pleased that the United States had "shot  down the millions of redskins to a few hundred thousand." He saw the  U.S. Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 as "a model for his program of  racial purification," historian Jonathan Spiro wrote. The Nazis were  impressed by the American custom of lynching its subordinate caste of  African-Americans, having become aware of the ritual torture and  mutilations that typically accompanied them. Hitler especially marveled  at the American "knack for maintaining an air of robust innocence in the  wake of mass death."

By the time that Hitler rose to power, the  United States "was not just a country with racism," Whitman, the Yale  legal scholar, wrote. "It was the leading racist jurisdiction-so much so  that even Nazi Germany looked to America for inspiration." The Nazis  recognized the parallels even if many Americans did not.//

Most people will dismiss these as things of the past. _After Civil Rights Act of 1964, things are on the mend,_ they will say. _Of  course change will take time. But look at America now - you have to  admit it's much, much better than what it was fifty years ago, isn't it?  Hell, we even had a two-term African-American President!_

Yes,  things are changing - but the hard-core patriarchal white supremacists  are unchanged, and they still call the shots. That's why a person like  Donald Trump is sitting in the president's chair.

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Repeat Quotes:

"We in the developed world are like homeowners who inherited a house on a piece of land that is beautiful on the outside, but whose soil is unstable loam and rock, heaving and contracting over generations, cracks patched but the deeper ruptures waved away for decades, centuries even. Many people may rightly say, "I had nothing to do with how this all started. I have nothing to do with the sins of the past. My ancestors never attacked indigenous people, never owned slaves." And, yes. Not one of us was here when this house was built. Our immediate ancestors may have had nothing to do with it, but here we are, the current occupants of a property with stress cracks and bowed walls and fissures built into the foundation. We are the heirs to whatever is right or wrong with it. We did not erect the uneven pillars or joists, but they are ours to deal with now.

And any further deterioration is, in fact, on our hands."

- Isabel Wilkerson, Caste

She is talking about the USA, but this is 100% applicable to India too.

Would you believe that USA was the model for Nazi Germany? Many of us, who have been fed the lie about "the land of the free" and "land of equal opportunity" would be shocked at the comparison. But unfortunately, that seems to be the fact.

Isabel Wilkerson, in 'Caste', says:

'Hitler had studied America from afar, both envying and admiring it, and attributed its achievements to its Aryan stock. He praised the country's near genocide of Native Americans and the exiling to reservations of those who had survived. He was pleased that the United States had "shot down the millions of redskins to a few hundred thousand." He saw the U.S. Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 as "a model for his program of racial purification," historian Jonathan Spiro wrote. The Nazis were impressed by the American custom of lynching its subordinate caste of African-Americans, having become aware of the ritual torture and mutilations that typically accompanied them. Hitler especially marveled at the American "knack for maintaining an air of robust innocence in the wake of mass death."

By the time that Hitler rose to power, the United States "was not just a country with racism," Whitman, the Yale legal scholar, wrote. "It was the leading racist jurisdiction-so much so that even Nazi Germany looked to America for inspiration." The Nazis recognized the parallels even if many Americans did not.'

As a child, I was fed the myth that America was "the land of the free" and "the land of equal opportunity". The right-wing liberals touted it as the antidote to the "communist hell" of the Soviet Union, where everyone was living a life of perennial poverty, and ordinary citizens were tortured and murdered for just speaking even a single word against the government. The reality was, in fact, very different: the "equality", "freedom" and "opportunity" was available only for the privileged class, much like "free" countries anywhere in the world.

Here is Isabel Wilkerson talking about the "Manusmriti" of Louisiana! An eye-opener, really!

'Louisiana had a law on the books as recently as 1983 setting the boundary at "one-thirty-second Negro blood." Louisiana culture went to great specificity, not so unlike the Indian Laws of Manu, in delineating the various subcastes, based on the estimated percentage of African "blood." There was griffe (three-fourths black), marabon (five-eighths black), mulatto (one-half), quadroon (one-fourth), octaroon (one-eighth), sextaroon (one-sixteenth), demi-meamelouc (one-thirty-second), and sangmelee (one-sixty-fourth). The latter categories, as twenty-first-century genetic testing has now shown, would encompass millions of Americans now classified as Caucasian. All of these categories bear witness to a historic American, dominant-caste preoccupation with race and caste purity.'

"The first African-American to win an Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel, was commended for her role as Mammy, a solicitous and obesely desexed counterpoint to Scarlett O'Hara, the feminine ideal, in the 1939 film 'Gone with the Wind'. The Mammy character was more devoted to her white family than to her own, willing to fight black soldiers to protect her white enslaver.

That trope became a comforting staple in film portrayals of slavery, but it was an ahistorical figment of caste imagination. Under slavery, most black women were thin, gaunt even, due the meager rations provided them, and few worked inside a house, as they were considered more valuable in the field. Yet the rotund and cheerful slave or maidservant was what the dominant caste preferred to see, and McDaniel and other black actresses of the era found that those were the only roles they could get."

Isabel Wilkerson, 'Caste'

//When people have lived with assumptions long enough, passed down through the generations as incontrovertible fact, they are accepted as the truths of physics, no longer needing even to be spoken. They are as true and as unremarkable as water flowing through rivers or the air that we breathe. In the original caste system of India, the abiding faith in the entitlement of birth became enmeshed in the mind of the upper caste and "hangs there to this day without any support," Ambedkar wrote, "for now it needs no prop but belief-like a weed on the surface of a pond."//

- Isabel Wilkerson, 'Caste'

In India, this is further reinforced by privilege masquerading as "merit". The entrenched caste hierarchy in society ensures that very few Dalits come up in life, even with reservations, which are nothing but paper placebos. Except in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the people on the lower rungs of the social ladder would find it impossible to climb up to a level where they can make use of them; and even the few who do are bullied and harassed and hounded out of the educational system. Their failure is then used to reinforce their image as underperformers. It is a huge vicious circle.

"Germany bears witness to an uncomfortable truth-that evil is not one person but can be easily activated in more people than we would like to believe when the right conditions congeal. It is easy to say, If we could just root out the despots before they take power or intercept their rise. If we could just wait until the bigots die away. . . It is much harder to look into the darkness in the hearts of ordinary people with unquiet minds, needing someone to feel better than, whose cheers and votes allow despots anywhere in the world to rise to power in the first place. It is harder to focus on the danger of common will, the weaknesses of the human immune system, the ease with which the toxins can infect succeeding generations. Because it means the enemy, the threat, is not one man, it is us, all of us, lurking in humanity itself."

- Isabel Wilkerson, 'Caste

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