<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">In this AIDEM PollTalk, Academic, Political Theorist and Dalit Rights Activist Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd exposes the fallacy in Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s references to Dalit and Other Backward Caste (OBC) communities to bolster his anti-Muslim rhetoric and asserts that Modi has no business to do that.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">He also contends that Modi is clearly rattled by the social justice oriented components in the Congress Manifesto and that the anti Muslim rhetoric points to desperate attempts to overcome this. Watch the full interview here.

Kancha Ilaiah Questions Modi on Dragging OBC-Dalits into BJP’s Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

Sudheendra Kulkarni, writer, political analyst and one-time associate of BJP founders Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, provides a close analysis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign in the current elections and points out that the serial lies made by him has set a new record in terms of political lies in the country’s 72 year long electoral history. PollTalk anchored by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Managing Editor of The AIDEM.

Modi Has Beaten All Records of Political Lies in This Election Campaign

<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">TreIn this “PollTalk” Political Activist Yogendra Yadav analyses the polling trends in the five phases of the seven phased Lok Sabha elections and observes that BJP and its allies in the NDA would suffer significant losses in the seats where elections have been concluded. Yadav has been travelling across the country during these polls and points out that the BJP is bound to suffer losses in States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Yadav also asserted that these losses would lead to a situation where the BJP will not have a majority on its own in the next Lok Sabha. Watch the full interview here.

BJP Will Not Get A Majority On Its Own: Yogendra Yadav

<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">In this PollTalk writer and political activist Yogendra Yadav says that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls have given a fresh breath of life to Indian democracy and people’s movements. He lists several positives, including the dwindling influence of Hindutva politics and the reversals BJP suffered in the areas with large farming communities.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">He also listed BJP’s rising influence in South India as a positive, which would work against a possible North-South divide. But Yadav emphasised that, beyond all these encouraging signs, the struggles to strengthen democracy have to continue with enhanced vigour.

Struggles to Strengthen Democracy Will Continue More Forcefully: Yogendra Yadav

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_27_1_770x396_35de47e3ac.jpeg" alt="images-27-1-770x396.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_27_1_770x396_35de47e3ac.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_27_1_770x396_35de47e3ac.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_images_27_1_770x396_35de47e3ac.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">The recent allegations surrounding the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) results have cast a significant shadow over the integrity of the examination, bringing to the forefront a critical debate on the future of medical admissions in India. These claims, if substantiated, represent a grave injustice to students who have dedicated years of hard work and preparation to achieve their dreams of entering medical school. This situation necessitates a thorough examination of the implications of potentially cancelling NEET and the broader consequences it would have on the landscape of medical education in India.NEET was introduced in 2013 by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), following a Supreme Court verdict aimed at establishing a standardized, transparent, and equitable admission process for medical colleges across the country. Prior to NEET, the admission process for medical colleges was plagued with irregularities and malpractices. Private medical colleges, in particular, were notorious for favoring candidates who could afford hefty donations over those who demonstrated genuine merit. This system perpetuated inequality and limited opportunities for deserving students from less privileged backgrounds.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:678px;" id="attachment_28366" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28366"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_28_85f1d0b70f.jpeg" alt="images-28.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_28_85f1d0b70f.jpeg 234w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_28_85f1d0b70f.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28366">Students waiting to enter NEET exam hall</figcaption></figure>The introduction of NEET brought about a significant transformation in this scenario. By centralizing the admission process and basing it on a single, national-level examination, NEET has helped to curtail the influence of financial power and personal connections in securing medical seats. It has ensured that students are admitted based on their academic abilities and performance in the exam, rather than their socio-economic status. This shift towards meritocracy has been a crucial step in democratizing access to medical education in India.Moreover, the unified nature of NEET has streamlined the admission process, reducing the need for students to appear for multiple entrance exams conducted by various institutes. Prior to NEET, students had to prepare for and travel to different cities to take several entrance exams, incurring significant expenses and experiencing considerable stress. NEET has eliminated this redundancy, making the process more efficient and less burdensome for students and their families.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:592px;" id="attachment_28367" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28367"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_30_c19078a8d5.jpeg" alt="images-30.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_30_c19078a8d5.jpeg 178w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_30_c19078a8d5.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28367">NEET 2024 Exam Pattern</figcaption></figure>The transparent allocation of seats through a centralized system has also played a pivotal role in promoting fairness in medical admissions. Under the NEET system, seats are allotted based on a student’s performance in the exam, ensuring that deserving students from diverse economic backgrounds have an opportunity to secure admission in top medical colleges. This has been particularly beneficial for students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who might not have had the resources to compete on an uneven playing field.However, if NEET were to be abolished, it raises the critical question of what alternative criteria would be used for medical admissions. The most likely alternative would be to rely on marks scored in the Class 12 board exams. This approach, however, is fraught with its own set of challenges. Different states and educational boards have varying standards and levels of difficulty in their examinations, which could lead to significant discrepancies in the evaluation of students’ abilities. This variation could result in an uneven playing field, where students from affluent backgrounds who attend premier schools might have an advantage over those from less privileged backgrounds.Additionally, the reliance on Class 12 marks for medical admissions could potentially reintroduce the influence of financial power and connections. Private medical colleges, which have historically been implicated in malpractices such as accepting donations for admissions, might seize the opportunity to revert to their old ways. This would not only undermine the progress made towards a fair and transparent admission process but also reinforce the commercialization of medical education. The influence of private medical colleges in pushing for the cancellation of NEET is a clear indicator of their vested interests in returning to a more profitable, albeit less equitable, system.<video class="video" controls="" width="500px">
 <source src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/VID_20240610_WA_0024_9e1c055fe7.mp4" type="video/mp4">
 <video></video></video><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">A NEET 2024 Attendee describing her ordeal<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Furthermore, entrance exams are a standard practice for admissions to other prestigious fields in India, such as civil services, management, engineering, and major universities. The question then arises: why should medical admissions be any different? Entrance exams, despite their flaws, offer a level of transparency and meritocracy that alternative methods lack. They provide a uniform platform for evaluating students’ capabilities and ensure that admissions are based on academic performance rather than external factors.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">It is also important to address the valid concerns about the psychological pressure on students and the booming coaching industry associated with entrance exams like NEET. The intense competition and high stakes of these exams have created a parallel industry of coaching centers, which often charge exorbitant fees and add to the stress experienced by students. However, these issues can be addressed without discarding the entire exam system. Strengthening the transparency and fairness of the exam process, ensuring stringent oversight by an autonomous body, and making continuous improvements to the examination system can mitigate these problems.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);display:block;font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;height:auto;letter-spacing:normal;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:middle;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:554px;word-spacing:0px;" id="attachment_28368" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28368"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_31_f79e7fe3d9.jpeg" alt="images-31.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_31_f79e7fe3d9.jpeg 156w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_31_f79e7fe3d9.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28368">One of the many ‘coaching centres’ in Kota, Rajastan</figcaption></figure><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">One potential solution to alleviate the pressure on students is to provide a more supportive and holistic educational environment. Schools and educational institutions can play a crucial role in this by offering better guidance and resources for exam preparation, reducing the dependency on external coaching centers. Additionally, incorporating mental health support and counseling services can help students manage stress and build resilience.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Another approach to improving the NEET system is to incorporate multiple assessment methods. Instead of relying solely on a single exam, a combination of continuous assessments, practical evaluations, and entrance exams could provide a more comprehensive evaluation of a student’s capabilities. This would not only reduce the pressure of performing well in a single high-stakes exam but also ensure a more rounded assessment of a student’s knowledge and skills.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">In conclusion, while the current allegations against NEET are serious and warrant a thorough investigation, abolishing the exam is not a viable solution. Doing so would likely benefit private medical colleges and affluent students at the expense of hardworking, deserving candidates from ordinary and poor backgrounds. The introduction of NEET has brought about much-needed transparency and fairness in medical admissions, and any attempt to undermine this progress should be viewed with suspicion.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);display:block;font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;height:auto;letter-spacing:normal;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:middle;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:739px;word-spacing:0px;" id="attachment_28372" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28372"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_32_e244e411a0.jpeg" alt="images-32.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_32_e244e411a0.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_32_e244e411a0.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28372">Students and Parents waiting outside an exam centre</figcaption></figure><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Maintaining and improving NEET, with a focus on transparency, fairness, and student well-being, remains the best approach to ensure that medical education in India is accessible to all based on merit. By refining the exam system, addressing its flaws, and providing better support for students, we can create an equitable and efficient admission process that upholds the principles of meritocracy and justice. The ultimate goal should be to build a system where every deserving student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming a medical professional.</div></div>

images-27-1.jpeg

Abolishing NEET Impractical But System Needs Streamlining

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_25_42_770x470_410d8fab0c.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-17.25.42-770x470.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_25_42_770x470_410d8fab0c.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_25_42_770x470_410d8fab0c.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_25_42_770x470_410d8fab0c.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Late on June 10, 2024, by email and registered post, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, Amol Kirtikar has challenged the election results declared by the ECI from Mumbai’s North West Constituency alleging largescale “manipulation and illegality in the election and counting process held on June 2024.” This communication complies with the seven day window granted to each candidate for this purpose as granted by the SC on April 26, 2024.He has further stated that there is reason to believe that there has also been tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines. The successful candidate Mr. Ravindra Waikar has polled 4,52,644 votes and Kirtikar polled 4,52,596 votes. He is therefore at Serial No. 2, i.e. immediately behind the candidate declared winner. Kirtikar is also in the process of challenging the aforesaid election in Court.Significantly, in this communication he has drawn attention to Paragraph 76 of the Judgement passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in&nbsp;Association for Democratic Reforms VS Election Commission of India and Ors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Copy of which is enclosed herewith. Paragraphs 76 (a) and 76 (b) of the said judgement are reproduced as under:-76. Nevertheless, not because we have any doubt, but to only further strengthen the integrity of the election process, we are inclined to issue the following directions:(a) On completion of the symbol loading process in the VVPATs undertaken on or after 01.05.2024, the symbol loading units shall be sealed and secured in a container. The candidates or their representatives shall sign the seal. The sealed containers, containing the symbol loading units, shall be kept in the strong room along with the EVMs at least for a period of 45 days post the declaration of results. They shall be opened, examined and dealt with as in the case of EVMs.(b) The burnt memory/microcontroller in 5% of the EVMs, that is, the control unit, ballot unit and the VVPAT, per assembly constituency/assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency shall be checked and verified by the team of engineers from the manufacturers of the EVMs, post the announcement of the results, for any tampering or modification, on a written request made by candidates who are at SI.No.2 or Sl.No.3, behind the highest polled candidate. Such candidates or their representatives shall identify the EVMs by the polling station or serial number. All the candidates and their representatives shall have an option to remain present at the time of verification. Such a request should be made within a period of 7 days from the date of declaration of the result.&nbsp;Kirtikar has therefore exercised his right towards “checking and verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller i.e. the control unit, ballot unit, the VVPAT, the microprocessor and the software loading unit by the team of engineers from the manufacturers of the EVMs.” He has also state dearly that he would like to remain present at the time of the aforesaid checking/verification.&nbsp; Therefore, he has required adequate written notice in order to enable me or my representative to be physically present when the said checking/verification is scheduled to take place.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_28440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28440"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_05_35_768x403_4e7a216684.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-17.05.35-768x403.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_05_35_768x403_4e7a216684.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_05_35_768x403_4e7a216684.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_05_35_768x403_4e7a216684.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28440">ECI Poll Results page showing difference in votes</figcaption></figure>Most significantly, and this is crucial to transparency activists and election watchers concerned that the election process is free and fair, Amol Kirtikar has also requested for a copy of the Technical SOPs issued by the Election Commission of India pursuant to specific directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 26 April 2024.Whilst he and his team have accessed the Administrative SOP, the Technical SOP guaranteeing the integrity of the SLU (symbol loading unit) and microprocessor is not accessible on the ECI Website.&nbsp; It is this SOP that will ensure and guarantee due observance of directives of the Supreme Court of India.&nbsp; Interestingly, one of these Administrative SOPs was issued on April 29, 2024 after the first two phases of polling had already taken place, the second one is dated June 1, 2024 i.e. the last phase of polling.Experts have told Sabrang India that the Administrative SOPs issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) pursuant to extremely critical and contested proceedings before the Supreme Court of India (SCI) in no way strictly ensure that the storage of these units will be safe and secure. This issue could also be a matter of serious challenge in the near future.Kirtikar has lodged a complaint on several counts even on the day of counting itself, i.e. June 04, 2024 and these issues will be subject matter of the election petition that is required to be filed within 45 days.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:518px;" id="attachment_28442" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28442"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_08_32_a6cc68b3fb.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-17.08.32.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_08_32_a6cc68b3fb.jpeg 113w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_08_32_a6cc68b3fb.jpeg 363w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28442">Kirtikar’s complaint to Returning Officer given on the day of polling, June 04 2024</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile media reports<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/48-vote-plot-thickens-mystery-man-with-mobile-inside-counting-centre-23353433">&nbsp;on June 10</a>&nbsp;that the Vanrai police are investigating allegations from losing candidate Amol Kirtikar that man close to his rival might be involved in foul play. A &nbsp;“mysterious mobile phone” found on vote-counting day at the NESCO centre has kicked up a controversy, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, Amol Kirtikar, who lost by only 48 votes, accusing his rival, Shiv Sena MLA&nbsp;<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-lok-sabha-election-results-2024-ravindra-waikars-48-vote-win-explained-23353039">Ravindra Waikar</a>, of manipulating poll results. An ECI staffer found in possession of the device, banned inside counting centres, is under scrutiny while police are scrutinising the phone’s call records.Waikar won the hotly contested&nbsp;<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-lok-sabha-election-results-2024-north-west-witnesses-neck-to-neck-battle-between-amol-kirtikar-ravindra-waikar-23352653">Mumbai North West</a>&nbsp;seat by a mere 48 votes. According to Kirtikar, the voting was stopped by a representative inside the NESCO centre between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm when he was leading by 651 votes. He alleged that the results were unaccountably then declared, stating that he had lost the contest by 48 votes.&nbsp;<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:563px;" id="attachment_28441" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28441"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_06_58_563x1024_865cb7a752.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-17.06.58-563x1024.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_06_58_563x1024_865cb7a752.jpeg 85w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_06_58_563x1024_865cb7a752.jpeg 275w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_06_58_563x1024_865cb7a752.jpeg 412w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/large_Whats_App_Image_2024_06_11_at_17_06_58_563x1024_865cb7a752.jpeg 550w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28441">SOP dated April 29, 2024</figcaption></figure>To read the ECI SOP dated June 1, 2024, <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/wp-contenthttps://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/2024/06/ECI-SOP.pdf">Click Here</a>To read the full&nbsp;Supreme Court Judgement dated April 26, 2024, <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/wp-contenthttps://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/2024/06/240426-SC-Order-of-264-in-ADR-petition.pdf">Click Here</a>To read Kirtikar’s letter to the Election Commission of India, demanding a probe into mysterious presence in the booth,&nbsp; <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/wp-contenthttps://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/2024/06/240610-Amol-Kirtikar-letter-to-Election-Commissioner-New-Delhi.pdf">Click Here</a></div></div>

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Maharashtra: Shiv Sena UBT’s Amol Kirtikar from Mumbai alleges election manipulation, files complaint with CEC, SEC

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Ullozhukku’s Undercurrents: Grappling with Pain Amidst Unruly Waters

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How NCERT Cripples the Idea of India

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_07_10_T200715_256_dc8ca48120.jpeg" alt="images-2024-07-10T200715.256.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_07_10_T200715_256_dc8ca48120.jpeg 234w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_07_10_T200715_256_dc8ca48120.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings in numerous benefits, changing various aspects of our day to day lives. It enhances efficiency and conserves time by simplifying complicated and complex tasks. The reliability it offers, free from biases and errors, ensures accurate outcomes and it also has the ability to operate 24/7, thus providing dependable support whenever and wherever needed. AI’s ability to gather and analyse vast amounts of information enables deeper insights and better decision-making.However, its implementation is often expensive and it raises concerns about job displacement. There are also questions about the ethical parameters in which AI is applied in social and professional realms. Along with all this, the fear of AI taking control over the planet has also come up as a dominant point of discussion. It has been flagged time and again by many scholars, activists and academics from all parts of the world. Parallely, there is also the strong argument that AI cannot replicate human creativity and emotional understanding.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_25514" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25514"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2023_12_19_at_14_07_42_768x432_9e567e1b4a.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-19-at-14.07.42-768x432.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2023_12_19_at_14_07_42_768x432_9e567e1b4a.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2023_12_19_at_14_07_42_768x432_9e567e1b4a.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2023_12_19_at_14_07_42_768x432_9e567e1b4a.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-25514">Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT; a product which popularised AI to the masses</figcaption></figure>It is in this background of this multifaceted debate that the historical address by Pope Francis, the Spiritual Head of Catholics, at the G7 special session on ‘The perils and promises of AI’ acquires special significance. The Pope spoke at the session held in Puglia, Italy, on June 14, 2024. Through this he became the first Pontiff to address a G7 Summit.However, this was not the first time he talked about Artificial Intelligence. The Argentine Pope himself has experienced the power of AI, which is why he termed it as an “exciting and fearsome tool”. All of us might remember a deep-fake photo of the Pope with a white puffer jacket which went viral in 2023 and some even thought that it was a genuine one. The Pope dedicated his message for the World Day of Peace on the theme of “Artificial Intelligence” in January this year and called for an international treaty to ensure that AI is developed and used ethically. He said “We must make sure that artificial intelligence is put at the service of peace in the world, rather than being a threat.”<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_28859" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28859"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Screenshot_20240710_193614_You_Tube_768x346_5eb1a8f9ed.jpg" alt="Screenshot_20240710_193614_YouTube-768x346.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Screenshot_20240710_193614_You_Tube_768x346_5eb1a8f9ed.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Screenshot_20240710_193614_You_Tube_768x346_5eb1a8f9ed.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Screenshot_20240710_193614_You_Tube_768x346_5eb1a8f9ed.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28859">Pope Francis along with leaders from various countries (Source: Reuters/YouTube)</figcaption></figure>The crux of his argument was that a technology lacking human values of compassion, mercy, morality and forgiveness is too perilous and there is a need to develop checks on it. He did not repeat that call explicitly in this session, but he did raise an alarm on some key issues before the leaders of US, UK, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, Japan and India. The Pontiff’s call for a Human Centric AI assumes significance as the whole of both developed and underdeveloped countries are in the grip of artificial intelligence.The Pope looked upon science and technology as brilliant products of the creative potential of human beings and talked about how artificial intelligence also arises precisely from the use of this God-given creative potential. He said “it generates excitement for the possibilities it offers, while on the other, it gives rise to fear for the consequences it foreshadows.” In his view, “artificial intelligence represents a true cognitive industrial revolution, which will contribute to the creation of a new social system characterised by complex epochal transformations.”The Pope highlighted both positive and negative potentials of AI. For example, the positive dimensions would include,” democratisation of access to knowledge”, the “exponential advancement of scientific research”, and a reduction in “demanding and arduous work”, while the negative impacts would be for instance, “greater injustice” between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes that a “throwaway culture” would be preferred to a “culture of encounter”.The Pope reminded the august audience that AI is “above all, a tool”, and discussed what he called the “techno-human condition”, which is nothing but the fact that “human beings have always maintained a relationship with the environment mediated by the tools they gradually produced.” We are “radically open to the beyond” which is the root of our “techno-human condition.” It is also the root of our openness to others and to God, as well as the root of intelligence with regard to culture and beauty. Our technical capacity also stems from the same root. Artificial intelligence is a more complex tool because it is not under the control of the person who uses it and the grave danger here is that it “can autonomously adapt to the task assigned to it” and, “make choices independent of the person in order to achieve the intended goal.”<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_28857" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28857"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Screenshot_20240710_194055_You_Tube_768x346_16f85f87fb.jpg" alt="Screenshot_20240710_194055_YouTube-768x346.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Screenshot_20240710_194055_You_Tube_768x346_16f85f87fb.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Screenshot_20240710_194055_You_Tube_768x346_16f85f87fb.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Screenshot_20240710_194055_You_Tube_768x346_16f85f87fb.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28857">Pope Francis addressing the G7 outreach roundtable (Source: Reuters/YouTube)</figcaption></figure>AI is capable of making “algorithmic choices” “among several possibilities based either on well-defined criteria or on statistical inferences”. Human beings on the other hand “not only choose, but in their hearts are capable of deciding.” He said “amid the difficult task of governing, we are called upon to make decisions that have consequences for many people” and human reflection has always spoken of wisdom. He asserted that decision-making must always be left to the human person. In order to ensure human dignity “we need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs”The Pope insisted on the ultimate banning of “the use of devices like the so-called lethal autonomous weapons” and called for “an effective and concrete commitment to introduce ever greater and proper human control.” His assertion was “no machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being”. He cited examples of “programs designed to help judges in deciding whether to grant home-confinement to inmates serving a prison sentence” and “may implicitly incorporate prejudices inherent in the categories of data used by artificial intelligence.” He said “In reality, however, human beings are always developing, and are capable of surprising us by their actions. This is something that a machine cannot take into account.”<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:700px;" id="attachment_28860" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28860"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/1700218180_Editorial_image_25ee6233e6.webp" alt="1700218180_Editorial-image.webp" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_1700218180_Editorial_image_25ee6233e6.webp 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_1700218180_Editorial_image_25ee6233e6.webp 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28860">A pair of LS3, an autonomous robot developed by Boston Dynamics</figcaption></figure>He brought to the attention of the audience the fact that AI is always shaped by “the worldview of those who invented and developed it” and called for the development of an “algor-ethics”. It is “a series of principles that are condensed into a global and pluralistic platform that is capable of finding support from cultures, religions, international organisations and major corporations, which are key players in this development.” He felt that political action is urgently needed in this regard. He concluded his speech by stating that “It is up to everyone to make good use of it but the onus is on politics to create the conditions for such good use to be possible and fruitful. “If these words of wisdom are not taken seriously by world leaders it will be a future without hope.”Pope Francis urged leaders of affluent democracies to prioritise human dignity in the evolution and application of artificial intelligence. He cautioned that this potent technology could reduce human interactions to mere algorithms. He warned that humanity would face a bleak future if people lost their decision-making power, becoming reliant on machine choices. The Pope called for safeguarding human oversight in AI decisions, stressing that human dignity is at stake. “We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people’s ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines,” he said and that “We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: Human dignity itself depends on it.”<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_28858" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28858"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Screenshot_20240710_194017_You_Tube_768x346_89d125615f.jpg" alt="Screenshot_20240710_194017_YouTube-768x346.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Screenshot_20240710_194017_You_Tube_768x346_89d125615f.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Screenshot_20240710_194017_You_Tube_768x346_89d125615f.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Screenshot_20240710_194017_You_Tube_768x346_89d125615f.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28858">US President Joe Biden greeting Pope Francis (Source: AP/YouTube)</figcaption></figure>The G7 leaders’ communiqué, which had evidently imbibed the message from the Pope, said that The G7 will launch an action plan on the use of AI in the world of work and develop a brand to support the implementation of the International Code of Conduct for organisations developing advanced AI systems. The G7s commitment in managing the risks of artificial intelligence and ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy AI will be clear in the coming days when they translate these words into action.In this background, the points that came up at the colloquium on ‘Emerging Challenges and Scope for Peace’s session on artificial intelligence’ organised by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in January, 2024 in the historic premises of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram at Sevagram, Wardha, also have a special significance. Speaking at the colloquium, renowned Peace activist and philosopher Louis Campana, who is serving as President of Gandhi International, France, expressed grave concerns about the dangers involved in the use of AI even in sectors like health and agriculture. He pointed out that it is a matter of concern for all.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:640px;" id="attachment_28863" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28863"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/1200px_Louis_campana_768x618_9b562b0b26.jpg" alt="1200px-Louis-campana-768x618.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_1200px_Louis_campana_768x618_9b562b0b26.jpg 194w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_1200px_Louis_campana_768x618_9b562b0b26.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_1200px_Louis_campana_768x618_9b562b0b26.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-28863">Louis Campana</figcaption></figure>Looking at the current trends and developments, it is undoubtedly going to play an important role in shaping the very future of humanity at large. AI has been a constant point of reference in discourses all over the globe and has figured prominently in international organisations, institutions and forums. It was clearly one of the main concerns for the leaders who assembled at the G7 Summit which concluded on June 15, 2024 in Puglia, Italy. And there is little doubt that the message from the Pope’s address has great relevance in the continuing efforts to make AI a creative and ethical tool for humankind. The G7’s commitment in managing the risks and ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy AI will be clear in the coming days when they seek to translate their proclamations into concrete measures and actions.</div></div>

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The Need for Human Centric AI: Lessons from The Address of Pope Francis at G7 Summit

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_08_17_T153640_940_b2bb1736b7.jpeg" alt="images-2024-08-17T153640.940.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_08_17_T153640_940_b2bb1736b7.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_08_17_T153640_940_b2bb1736b7.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">At the end of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s recently released Netflix Period Drama Series “Heera Mandi,” a poignant message appears on the screen, which lingers in the minds of viewers: “India’s Freedom Struggle ended on August 15, 1947, but the struggle of Women in India never ends…” This leads to a thought-provoking question: “Did women in India truly achieve independence on August 15, 1947?”The horrific case of a Young Doctor brutally raped and killed in Kolkata a few days ago while performing her duties is the latest instance of gruesome violence against women, which once again serves as a haunting reminder that women’s safety remains precarious in contemporary India. The cause of death was referred to as “throttling” and “smothering”. The post-mortem report revealed bruises on different parts of the body and signs of sexual penetration. The rape and murder of the on-duty doctor has sparked outrage not only in the State but across the country. This is not merely an anomaly but part of a larger pattern of violence against women, where tragic stories illustrate the alarming disregard for women’s autonomy and dignity. Independence seems meaningless in a society where women fear for their lives simply due to their gender.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_08_17_T153817_099_e760b8fb38.jpeg" alt="images-2024-08-17T153817.099.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_08_17_T153817_099_e760b8fb38.jpeg 234w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_08_17_T153817_099_e760b8fb38.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">This question resonates deeply, particularly when set against the backdrop of contemporary societal issues. Recent events have intensified contemplation about the ongoing quest for women’s freedom and safety in India. Be it a 70 year or a 3 year old, women are the targets of sexual exploitation and harassment. The heartbreaking instances of violence, oppression, and discrimination reveal that women continue to face daunting challenges long after the ceremonial attainment of Independence. From Kolkata to Mumbai and from Delhi to Kerala, the plight of women with regard to their safety, rights, and freedom remains a stark everyday struggle throughout the length and breadth of India. This juxtaposition highlights an unsettling truth: the need and compulsion to persist with the fight for gender equality and justice decades after Independence.A recent decision by the Kerala High Court to release the Hema Commission Report further highlights the cultural and institutional barriers that women in India continue to face. This report, the first of its kind in the country aimed at addressing issues pertaining to women in the film industry, emerged from an incident of assault on a Female Actor of Malayalam Film industry in the year 2017. Regrettably, despite the comprehensive evidence compiled by the committee-which includes a 300-page report filed in 2019 detailing harassment and gender inequality- the report’s disclosure has faced unexplained delays. Even after the High Court’s clear directive the authorities are not resolutely moving towards the publication of the report. This brings to light a pattern of negligence and systemic cover-ups that further alienate women from the institutions ostensibly designed to protect them.&nbsp;In January 2023, the complaint made by women wrestlers in Delhi, of Sexual Harassment by a Senior official further illustrate that the perils women face are deeply rooted in a culture of silence and impunity. Similarly, earlier this year, complaints of rape and sexual harassment by junior girls cricketers in Kerala against their Kerala Cricket Association Coach also underscore the all pervasive nature of this type of harassment in the sports arena of the country, where institutions are expected to embody merit-based accomplishments. Instead, it has become a microcosm of society’s larger problems, where power dynamics and patriarchal structures inhibit progress toward genuine freedom for women. These prohibitions and oppressions are being advanced rather bluntly and indeed shamelessly without any fear or control.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_08_17_T154229_6782_c3c623e950.jpeg" alt="images-2024-08-17T154229.6782.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_08_17_T154229_6782_c3c623e950.jpeg 234w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_08_17_T154229_6782_c3c623e950.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">Such incidents ignite, from time to time, crucial discussions around questions related to the freedom and safety of women-whether at home, in the workplace, or on the playground. If those who have reached their potential are shrouded in fear, what implications does this hold for future generations aspiring to realise their dreams? Would they have any hope in the future when their lives are constantly endangered by systemic violence and societal apathy?”Though India emerged from the shackles of Colonialism with a pledge for equality and justice, the promise of freedom evidently remains partially unfulfilled for half of its population. The emotional and physical scars borne by countless women across the nation serve as a stark reminder that the idea of independence should encompass the need for societal recognition of women’s autonomy, dignity, and basic rights.The legal framework governing women’s rights in India, established primarily after independence in 1947, serves as a documentary testament to the nation’s commitment to gender equality. However, as one reflects on the lived experiences of women across the country, it becomes evident that these legal rights, essential as they are, have not translated into genuine freedom for large sections of women. The multifaceted challenges that women face today remain oppressive and diverse, revealing a disconcerting gap between legislation and reality.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:2240px;" id="attachment_29353" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29353"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009_1536x808_3079b2c2bd.jpg" alt="A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009-1536x808.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009_1536x808_3079b2c2bd.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009_1536x808_3079b2c2bd.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009_1536x808_3079b2c2bd.jpg 750w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/large_A_formation_of_human_chain_at_India_Gate_by_the_women_from_different_walks_of_life_at_the_launch_of_a_National_Campaign_on_prevention_of_violence_against_women_in_New_Delhi_on_October_02_2009_1536x808_3079b2c2bd.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-29353">A formation of human chain at India Gate by the women from different walks of life at the launch of a National Campaign on prevention of violence against women, in New Delhi on October 02, 2009.</figcaption></figure>Merely having laws in place does not ensure their effective enforcement; the persistence of harmful social attitudes and institutional inertia often sabotage progress. In many rural areas, deeply entrenched traditions dictate the roles assigned to women, confining their aspirations and perpetuating cycles of oppression. Such societal resistance underscores how systemic norms can undermine the potential impact of even the most robust legal frameworks.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_08_17_T153837_234_f1ddd8708f.jpeg" alt="images-2024-08-17T153837.234.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_08_17_T153837_234_f1ddd8708f.jpeg 233w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_08_17_T153837_234_f1ddd8708f.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">As we reflect on this ongoing journey, it becomes evident that while the constitutional framework has laid a foundation for women’s rights, the persistent societal challenges underscore how true independence remains absolutely out of reach for sizable sections of women in the country. Women in India may have secured legal rights; however, the pathway to achieving genuine freedom-characterised by safety, dignity, and equality across all dimensions of life-remains an unfulfilled aspiration.To sum up, the struggle that began decades ago has echoed through generations of women, forcing them to repeatedly challenge the status quo. The promise of independence must not remain a distant dream; it requires concerted efforts from all strata of society to ensure that every woman in India can genuinely enjoy the freedom that was won through hard fought battles waged by all genders.</div></div>

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The Elusive Quest Across Sectors For Women’s Freedom in India 

Malayalam (ml)

Tamil (ta)

English (en)

Hindi (hi)

Telugu (te)

Kannada (kn)

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg" alt="IMG-20240930-WA0007-770x470.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Communication is an art that many struggle with, but few realize it can be learned. Whether you’re talking to a friend, colleague, family member, or stranger, mastering this skill is within reach. Ever struggled to start a conversation or keep it going? Finding common topics of interest can be tricky, and navigating differing social or political views can feel like a minefield. But with the right approach, you can turn any interaction into a meaningful exchange.&nbsp;How do you find the right approach? More importantly, can you learn the required skills?“<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.charlesduhigg.com/supercommunicators">Supercommunicators</a>,” written by Charles Duhigg, is a book that teaches you to learn the skills to convert a conversation into a connection. It distills the art of conversation, any conversation, including the ones with your friends and family, into actionable steps that you can readily practice and improve.<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.charlesduhigg.com/">Charles Duhigg</a> is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and author of bestselling books. I read his first book, “The Power of Habit,” which is a constant presence in many bookstores, and liked it. I read it in 2013, and it convinced me about the importance of habits. Last year, I read his <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/12/11/the-inside-story-of-microsofts-partnership-with-openai">article</a> on the ChatGPT saga and liked it for its reporting breadth and depth.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:629px;" id="attachment_30055" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30055"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp" alt="811bzOshn5L._AC_UF10001000_QL80_FMwebp_.webp" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 98w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 314w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 472w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30055">Cover of the book ‘Supercommunicators’</figcaption></figure>This book starts by breaking down every conversation into three types: Analytical, Emotional, and Social. Every conversation is essentially one of these three types. In analytical talk, the conversation is a transaction where facts and details matter. In emotional talk, the conversation is all about the feelings. In social talk, the conversation is about an identity. Now, listing the types helps in nothing. You still need to know what to do with this information.Suppose you argued with your father in the morning over a trivial issue. You reach the office and share the incident with your friend. Are you looking for a solution? Do you want to be listened to intently, get advice on who was wrong, or would just a hug do ? Suppose you differed with a colleague about a work issue. Another colleague, a friend, was listening. What do you want to hear from your friend? Advice or silence or just a hug? Suppose you hear about the sudden death of a friend’s loved one. What do you say to your friend? Advice or listen or a hug? As situations differ, so does the conversation, hence the importance of its type.After breaking the communication into its types, Charles goes on to break it into a step-by-step process of turning every conversation into meaningful, often joyful interactions, and in some cases, less stressful ones, even with a person with contrasting views. He uses psychological studies and instances of experts’ communication to establish the rules of effective communication.Stories form the backbone of narration and writing style, making it easy for everyone to understand, relate, and remember the content. Charles has used his recommendation to write the book as the writing oscillates between personal anecdotes, stories, and facts, often combining all three. As you turn the pages, you gradually get convinced about the process.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:767px;" id="attachment_30056" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30056"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg" alt="high-rez-duhigg-headshot-20160720afmduhigg0082-thumb-1536x1536-1.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30056">Charles Duhigg</figcaption></figure>If you have read books on personal growth, they tend to follow a pattern. Every chapter makes a proposition supported by academic research or theories, followed by a story that establishes the usefulness of the proposition. Stories of failures are not part of this scheme. This book is no exception to this formula. However, this conformance should not take away the usefulness of this book.A few days after finishing the book, I took a train journey to New Delhi. The train starts at 6 in the morning from Varanasi, requiring me to get up at 4 AM. I always travel with a book, sometimes 2. If it is a mid-noon journey, I prefer reading books to talking to a co-passenger. But, early in the morning, I like a slow warmup to come to my full senses before picking a book. Opening a conversation with a co-passenger who is perhaps also in the same state has always been a nervous affair. But I had read this book, so at least I knew a theory I could test.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg" alt="images-2024-09-30T164448.607.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">Charles suggests starting a conversation with a question that doesn’t have a 1-word answer. He calls them Deep questions. For example, instead of asking questions like, “Where are you going?” or “Are you from Varanasi?” you may ask, “What do you like about early morning train journeys?”. I started with a similar question. However, a few minutes into the conversation, the person said, “I do not like the Congress party (India’s principal opposition party).”Now, I like the Congress party. Had I not read the book, I would have gone on to list several reasons to prefer the Congress party. I would have given one argument after another, countering his response with facts and figures. I would have transformed myself into an evangelist, on a mission to reform this man and make him fall in love with the Congress party. After a few minutes of conversation, he would have silently waited for me to drain all my energy and stop. We would have withdrawn into our shells for the rest of the journey, talking only to ask for a way to leave the seat. Thankfully, I had read this book, and none of this happened.I instead said, “They give many reasons to people to dislike them.” It opened him up to offer his reasons for this blanket statement, which allowed me to steer the conversation to his upbringing, parents, childhood, values, work, motivations, etc. When I shared about my organization’s work with school children from economically underprivileged families, he shared his wife’s efforts of sheltering orphaned street dogs. We agreed on several issues, including the complete failure of the current central government, despite opposing political preferences. Neither did I contradict his personal experiences, nor did he contradict mine. Moreover, we agreed that our experiences shape our views, which are bound to change if we remain open.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg" alt="images-2024-09-30T164615.165.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">“Supercommunicators” book taught me to treat every conversation as a learning opportunity. It taught me not to approach a conversation as a right vs wrong battle but to connect by sharing stories and anecdotes more than the facts. Ultimately, you can convince a person more by listening than by speaking. In a world getting more polarised, we all need to learn to talk to each other and listen better. Thankfully, we have this book.</div></div>

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Navigating Difficult Dialogues: How 'Supercommunicators' Can Help in a Polarised World"

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg" alt="images-34-770x393.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Prolific documentary filmmaker R.P Amudhan’s body of work is unique and striking, especially in the manner in which his creations address issues and concerns of the marginalised sections of society. He is known as a media activist too. Hailing from Madurai, in Tamil Nadu, he founded the Marupakkam Media Activist Group (MMAG) in in his home district. The MMAG produces documentaries, screens films, and conducts workshops. He has over 20 documentaries to his credit. His films primarily focus on caste and labour issues. In this Interview with poet and writer Rashida Nasriya, filmmaker Amudhan RP discusses his craft, concerns and challenges.&nbsp;Rashidha Nasriya: What do you consider as the most significant challenge you have faced during the making of your documentaries?Amudhan RP: The biggest challenges I have faced in documenting the kind of social issues I have chosen to film are threefold. First, identifying a crucial topic which requires in-depth understanding and sufficient data to substantiate the narrative. Once I have a clear understanding of the topic, I would conduct thorough research and convince people, that is the characters in my film and their kith and kin. This has been my approach from my very first film, Leelavathi, a documentary on a Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPIM- cadre killed in Madurai in 1997. I was relatively young at that time and the task of persuading her family and the district CPIM committee took a lot of effort. I finally did get their consent. It was a difficult task to get their trust.The second challenge – although a joyful one – is researching and gathering credible information, while the third is securing funding. As a solo filmmaker, I have learned to be self-sufficient. But still finding funds is a challenge. Any filmmaker would go through these challenges in varying degrees.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_35_721e230496.jpeg" alt="images-35.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_35_721e230496.jpeg 208w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_35_721e230496.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">Nasriya: Did your activist background influence your decision to become a filmmaker?Amudhan: During my MA studies, I attended a workshop in Madurai organised by Center for Development of Instructional Technology (CENDIT), an organisation based in New Delhi. Here, I was exposed to several powerful documentary films. This experience opened my eyes to the significance of political documentaries. I was introduced to the concept of using film as a tool for social change, and I immediately knew I wanted to become a documentary filmmaker and an activist. This workshop sparked my passion for creating and screening films that inspire critical thinking and trigger meaningful conversations. It was a turning point that led me to merge my interests in social activism and filmmaking, ultimately shaping my identity as an activist-filmmaker. Activism and filmmaking are deeply intertwined for me – they’re two sides of the same coin. My filmmaking is an extension of my activism, and vice versa; the two are inseparable.Nasriya: Your film “My Caste” examines the intersection of caste, hegemony, and consensus in Indian society. What has driven your focus on caste in your activism and filmmaking?Amudhan: I wanted to take on the Caste issue from the perpetuator point of view rather than from the victim’s or survivor’s point of view. I wanted to get into the minds of the people who either follow or negotiate or negate caste in their lives. I wanted to know what happens in people’s minds when they deal with caste matters. That’s why I made the film ‘My Caste’ ‘recording the views of various people on caste related questions.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:951px;" id="attachment_30033" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30033"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg" alt="IMG-20240927-WA0021.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 154w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 495w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 743w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30033">Amudhan speaking at an event</figcaption></figure>Nasriya: Can you give some details on how you investigated labour exploitation in Tirupur’s garment industry for your documentary “Dollar City”?Amudhan: Many of my films focus on labour issues, with a considerable number exploring labour practices. For my trilogy on hegemony and consensus, I chose Tirupur as a case study. This city exemplifies how consensus is manufactured to prioritise the industry’s interests.In Tiruppur, a tacit understanding exists among industries, trade unions, workers, NGOs, and political parties to protect the industry at all costs. The prevailing narrative is: ‘Without the industry, we cannot survive.’ This consensus leads to widespread compromise and adjustment, perpetuating the exploitation.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:739px;" id="attachment_30028" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30028"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg" alt="images-36.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30028">During production of Amudhan’s documentary</figcaption></figure>I want to capture this complex dynamic in my film, highlighting how Tiruppur’s industry-centric consensus affects labor rights and social justice.&nbsp;Nasriya: How did you approach exploring the complex and sensitive topic of manual scavenging in your film “Pee (Shit)”?Amudhan: I wanted to make a Tamil version of Lesser Humans – a documentary on Manual Scavenging in Gujarat by Stalin K. Although I wanted to make a similar comprehensive film about Tamilnadu, my encounter with Mariamma, a sanitary worker in Madurai convinced me to make a short documentary which practically covers every aspect of the work.I realised a shorter format could powerfully convey the urgency of this issue, making a compelling argument against manual scavenging. This inspired me to create the film titled ‘Pee’ (Shit) [Watch Below], highlighting the harsh realities of manual scavenging.<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a0eWOHAvVn4" title="Shit - a documentary by Amudhan R.P." frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;Nasriya: What inspired you to create a documentary about Mercury pollution in Kodaikanal?Amudhan: The film ‘Mercury in the Mist’ was initiated by workers from the Kodaikanal thermometer factory, who had been fighting against the company’s harmful practices. They sought my help to create a documentary supporting their cause, highlighting the devastating health effects of mercury exposure and their ongoing court battles. It was partially funded by the workers and their well wishers like Nityanand Jayaraman and others.&nbsp;Nasriya: Do you think the documentary can contribute to the border understanding of the challenges facing Indian democracy?Amudhan: Documentary watching is, in my opinion, one of the most engaging and intellectually stimulating activities. It offers a unique blend of education, art, and social awareness, empowering individuals to become responsible citizens. By watching documentaries, we gain perspectives on the world around us, exercising our right to informed decision-making and participatory governance. Through my screenings, I aim to create opportunities for social and political education, fostering a culture of critical thinking and civic engagement. Documentaries provide a valuable platform for raising awareness on critical issues, making meaningful conversations and inspiring social change.&nbsp;Nasriya: How crucial is creative freedom in documentary filmmaking for fostering critical thinking and public debate?Amudhan: In documentary filmmaking, merely reporting or recording is not enough. It is an opportunity to critically examine any subject, sparking meaningful discussions. We must be courageous enough to ask difficult questions, amplify marginalized voices and confront uncomfortable truthsUnlike commercial cinema, documentary filmmakers must take risks, challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries. By doing so, we humanize overlooked stories, Inspire critical thinking and foster empathy and understanding.&nbsp;Nasriya: How did your initiative “Marupakkam” come about…?Amudhan: Marupakkam is a network of people collaborating to promote documentary filmmaking and social change. We invite participation from individuals across India in various capacities, including funding, research, topic development, filmmaking, screening, and documentary workshops.&nbsp;<figure class="wp-caption alignright" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;display:inline;float:right;height:auto;margin:5px 0px 20px 20px;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:1080px;" id="attachment_30029" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30029"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png" alt="Screenshot_20240927-1713542.png" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 750w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/large_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30029">Homepage of Marupakkam [Visit <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://marupakkammadurai.blogspot.com/?m=1">Here</a>]</figcaption></figure>Our activities involve screening documentaries, researching social issues, making films on relevant topics, teaching documentary filmmaking, and showcasing films made by others. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a community that inspires social change through documentary filmmaking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nasriya: As a prolific documentary creator what advice would you give to emerging filmmakers?Amudhan: To young and upcoming filmmakers, I say: read widely, travel extensively, and cultivate an open-minded perspective. Listen to diverse voices, even in everyday settings like markets, where numerous perspectives converge. If you don’t have an open mind, you will only hear the voices that confirm your existing views. But with an open mind, you will identify and appreciate the varied voices, even within the same marketplace.</div></div>

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Amudhan’s Craft, Concerns and Challenges

<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">The victory of Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Presidential election in Sri Lanka has been described as a political Tsunami by international politicians and observers. Sri Lanka based Independent policy analyst and writer Amita Arudpragasam analyses the context of the results in detail and points out that it was the economic mismanagement and corruption of earlier, dynasty oriented, regimes as well as Anura’s clean image that propelled significant sections of voters towards the Leftist JVP leader.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">She also points out that while the victory does indeed signify the emergence of new hopes in the country, it would be too early to predict dramatic policy and ideological shifts, including in the island nation’s orientation towards India and China. Watch the interview here.<hr><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഈ വിഷയത്തിൽ പരിസ്ഥിതി പ്രവർത്തകനും എഴുത്തുകാരനുമായ കെ സഹദേവൻ എഴുതിയ കുറിപ്പ് ചുവടെ നൽകുന്നു:<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:25px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.2;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">അദാനിയും ശ്രീലങ്കയിലെയും ബംഗ്ലാദേശിലേയും ഭരണ വ്യവസ്ഥയിലെ വമ്പൻ മാറ്റങ്ങളും</h2><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ശ്രീലങ്കയിലെയും ബംഗ്ലാദേശിലെയും എന്തിന് ഓസ്‌ട്രേലിയയിലെപ്പോലും രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭരണമാറ്റത്തിന് പിന്നിലെ പൊതുഘടകത്തെ കണ്ടെത്താൻ ശ്രമിച്ചാൽ ഗൗതം അദാനിയിൽ ചെന്ന് മുട്ടും. ഉഭയകക്ഷി ബന്ധങ്ങളെ വ്യവസായി താൽപ്പര്യങ്ങൾക്കായി ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്താൻ ഭരണകൂടങ്ങൾ തുനിഞ്ഞിറങ്ങിയാൽ അതിന്റെ അനിവാര്യഫലമെന്നത് ആ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സാമ്പത്തിക സുസ്ഥിരത തകർക്കപ്പെടുക എന്നതായിരിക്കും.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ബംഗ്ലാദേശിന് വൈദ്യുതി വിൽക്കുന്നതുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട കരാർ അദാനിക്ക് ലഭ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന് ബീഗം ഹസീനയ്ക്ക് മേൽ സമ്മർദ്ദമുയർത്താൻ നരേന്ദ്ര മോദിക്ക് യാതൊരു മടിയുമുണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. 2015ലെ മോദിയുടെ ബംഗ്ലാദേശ് സന്ദർശനത്തിന്റെ മുഖ്യ അജണ്ടതന്നെ അദാനിക്ക് വൈദ്യുതി വിതരണക്കരാർ നേടിയെടുക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഇന്ന് ബംഗ്ലാദേശ് ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ മുന്നിലുള്ള പ്രധാന അജണ്ട അദാനിയുമായുള്ള കരാറിൽ നിന്ന് എങ്ങിനെ രക്ഷപ്പെടാം എന്നതാണ്. ശ്രീലങ്കയിൽ 400 മില്യൺ ഡോളറിന്റെ ഗ്രീൻ എനർജി പ്രോജക്ടുകളാണ് അദാനി നേടിയെടുത്തത്. 225 മെഗാവാട്ടിന്റെ കാറ്റാടിപ്പാട നിർമ്മാണ പദ്ധതി നേടിയെടുക്കുന്നതിനും നയതന്ത്ര ബന്ധങ്ങൾ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ടു.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഇതിനുപുറമെ 700 ദശലക്ഷം ഡോളറിന്റെ കണ്ടൈയ്‌നർ തുറമുഖ പദ്ധതിയും നേടിയെടുക്കാൻ അദാനിക്ക് സാധിച്ചു. ഈ രണ്ട് പദ്ധതികളും ശ്രീലങ്കയുടെ ദീർഘകാല താൽപ്പര്യങ്ങൾക്ക് വിരുദ്ധമാണെന്ന ആരോപണം പാർലമെന്റിലും പുറത്തും ശക്തമായി ഉന്നയിക്കപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഓസ്‌ട്രേലിയയിൽ അദാനി നേടിയെടുത്ത കാർമൈക്കൾ കൽക്കരി ഖനന കരാറും ഇതേരീതിയിൽ അതിശക്തമായ രാഷ്ട്രീയ എതിർപ്പ് ക്ഷണിച്ചുവരുത്തിയ ഒന്നാണ്. ഒരു ദശകക്കാലത്തെ കൺസർവേറ്റീവ് ഭരണത്തിന് അറുതിവരുത്തിക്കൊണ്ട് ലെഫ്റ്റ് ചായ്വുള്ള ആന്റണി അൽബനീസ് ഗവൺമെന്റ് അധികാരക്കസേരയിലെത്തിയതിന് പിന്നിലും ഗൗതം അദാനിക്കെതിരായ പ്രതിഷേധത്തിന്റെ വേരുകൾ കണ്ടെത്താൻ കഴിയും…

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