We three boys were being brought up together. Both my companions were two years older than I. When they were placed under their tutor, my teaching also began, but of what I learnt nothing remains in my memory. |
What constantly recurs to me is "The rain patters, the leaf quivers." I am just come to anchor after crossing the stormy region of the kara, khala series; and I am reading "The rain patters, the leaf quivers", for me the first poem of the Arch Poet. Whenever the joy of that day comes back to me, even now, I realize why rhyme is so needful in poetry. Because of it the words come to an end, and yet end not; the utterance is over, but not its ring; and the ear and the mind can go on and on with their game of tossing the rhyme to each other. Thus did the rain patter and the leaves quiver again and again, they live-long day in my consciousness. |
Another episode of this period of my early boyhood is held fast in my mind. |
We had an old cashier, Kailash by name, who was like one of the family. He was a great wit, and would be constantly cracking jokes with everybody, old and young; recently married sons-in-law, new comers into the family circle, being his special butts. There was room for the suspicion that his humour had not deserted him even after death. Once my elders were engaged in an attempt to start a postal service with the other world by means of a planchette. At one of the sittings the pencil scrawled out the name of Kailash. He was asked as to the sort of life one led where he was. Not a bit of it, was the reply. "Why should you get so cheap what I had to die to learn?" |
This Kailash used to rattle off for my special delectation a doggerel ballad of his own composition. The hero was myself and there was a glowing anticipation of the arrival of a heroine. And as I listened my interest would wax intense at the picture of this world-charming bride illuminating the lap of the future in which she sat enthroned. The list of the jewellery with which she was bedecked from head to foot, and the unheard of splendour of the preparations for the bridal, might have turned older and wiser heads; but what moved the boy, and set wonderful joy pictures flitting before his vision, was the rapid jingle of the frequent rhymes and the swing of the rhythm. |
These two literary delights still linger in my memory-and there is the other, the infants' classic: "The rain falls pit-a-pat, the tide comes up the river." |
The next thing I remember is the beginning of my school-life. One day I saw my elder brother, and my sister's son Satya, also a little older than myself, starting off to school, leaving me behind, accounted unfit. I had never before ridden in a carriage nor even been out of the house. So when Satya came back, full of unduly glowing accounts of his adventures on the way, I felt I simply could not stay at home. Our tutor tried to dispel my illusion with sound advice and a resounding slap: "You're crying to go to school now, youll have to cry a lot more to be let off later on". I have no recollection of the name, features or disposition of this tutor of ours, but the impression of his weighty advice and weightier hand has not yet faded. Never in my life have I heard a truer prophecy. |
We three boys were being brought up together. Both my companions were two years older than I. When they were placed under their tutor, my teaching also began, but of what I learnt nothing remains in my memory. |
What constantly recurs to me is "The rain patters, the leaf quivers." I am just come to anchor after crossing the stormy region of the kara, khala series; and I am reading "The rain patters, the leaf quivers", for me the first poem of the Arch Poet. Whenever the joy of that day comes back to me, even now, I realize why rhyme is so needful in poetry. Because of it the words come to an end, and yet end not; the utterance is over, but not its ring; and the ear and the mind can go on and on with their game of tossing the rhyme to each other. Thus did the rain patter and the leaves quiver again and again, they live-long day in my consciousness. |
Another episode of this period of my early boyhood is held fast in my mind. |
We had an old cashier, Kailash by name, who was like one of the family. He was a great wit, and would be constantly cracking jokes with everybody, old and young; recently married sons-in-law, new comers into the family circle, being his special butts. There was room for the suspicion that his humour had not deserted him even after death. Once my elders were engaged in an attempt to start a postal service with the other world by means of a planchette. At one of the sittings the pencil scrawled out the name of Kailash. He was asked as to the sort of life one led where he was. Not a bit of it, was the reply. "Why should you get so cheap what I had to die to learn?" |
This Kailash used to rattle off for my special delectation a doggerel ballad of his own composition. The hero was myself and there was a glowing anticipation of the arrival of a heroine. And as I listened my interest would wax intense at the picture of this world-charming bride illuminating the lap of the future in which she sat enthroned. The list of the jewellery with which she was bedecked from head to foot, and the unheard of splendour of the preparations for the bridal, might have turned older and wiser heads; but what moved the boy, and set wonderful joy pictures flitting before his vision, was the rapid jingle of the frequent rhymes and the swing of the rhythm. |
These two literary delights still linger in my memory-and there is the other, the infants' classic: "The rain falls pit-a-pat, the tide comes up the river." |
The next thing I remember is the beginning of my school-life. One day I saw my elder brother, and my sister's son Satya, also a little older than myself, starting off to school, leaving me behind, accounted unfit. I had never before ridden in a carriage nor even been out of the house. So when Satya came back, full of unduly glowing accounts of his adventures on the way, I felt I simply could not stay at home. Our tutor tried to dispel my illusion with sound advice and a resounding slap: "You're crying to go to school now, youll have to cry a lot more to be let off later on". I have no recollection of the name, features or disposition of this tutor of ours, but the impression of his weighty advice and weightier hand has not yet faded. Never in my life have I heard a truer prophecy. |
We three boys were being brought up together. Both my companions were two years older than I. When they were placed under their tutor, my teaching also began, but of what I learnt nothing remains in my memory. |
What constantly recurs to me is "The rain patters, the leaf quivers." I am just come to anchor after crossing the stormy region of the kara, khala series; and I am reading "The rain patters, the leaf quivers", for me the first poem of the Arch Poet. Whenever the joy of that day comes back to me, even now, I realize why rhyme is so needful in poetry. Because of it the words come to an end, and yet end not; the utterance is over, but not its ring; and the ear and the mind can go on and on with their game of tossing the rhyme to each other. Thus did the rain patter and the leaves quiver again and again, they live-long day in my consciousness. |
Another episode of this period of my early boyhood is held fast in my mind. |
We had an old cashier, Kailash by name, who was like one of the family. He was a great wit, and would be constantly cracking jokes with everybody, old and young; recently married sons-in-law, new comers into the family circle, being his special butts. There was room for the suspicion that his humour had not deserted him even after death. Once my elders were engaged in an attempt to start a postal service with the other world by means of a planchette. At one of the sittings the pencil scrawled out the name of Kailash. He was asked as to the sort of life one led where he was. Not a bit of it, was the reply. "Why should you get so cheap what I had to die to learn?" |
This Kailash used to rattle off for my special delectation a doggerel ballad of his own composition. The hero was myself and there was a glowing anticipation of the arrival of a heroine. And as I listened my interest would wax intense at the picture of this world-charming bride illuminating the lap of the future in which she sat enthroned. The list of the jewellery with which she was bedecked from head to foot, and the unheard of splendour of the preparations for the bridal, might have turned older and wiser heads; but what moved the boy, and set wonderful joy pictures flitting before his vision, was the rapid jingle of the frequent rhymes and the swing of the rhythm. |
These two literary delights still linger in my memory-and there is the other, the infants' classic: "The rain falls pit-a-pat, the tide comes up the river." |
The next thing I remember is the beginning of my school-life. One day I saw my elder brother, and my sister's son Satya, also a little older than myself, starting off to school, leaving me behind, accounted unfit. I had never before ridden in a carriage nor even been out of the house. So when Satya came back, full of unduly glowing accounts of his adventures on the way, I felt I simply could not stay at home. Our tutor tried to dispel my illusion with sound advice and a resounding slap: "You're crying to go to school now, youll have to cry a lot more to be let off later on". I have no recollection of the name, features or disposition of this tutor of ours, but the impression of his weighty advice and weightier hand has not yet faded. Never in my life have I heard a truer prophecy. |
We three boys were being brought up together. Both my companions were two years older than I. When they were placed under their tutor, my teaching also began, but of what I learnt nothing remains in my memory. |
What constantly recurs to me is "The rain patters, the leaf quivers." I am just come to anchor after crossing the stormy region of the kara, khala series; and I am reading "The rain patters, the leaf quivers", for me the first poem of the Arch Poet. Whenever the joy of that day comes back to me, even now, I realize why rhyme is so needful in poetry. Because of it the words come to an end, and yet end not; the utterance is over, but not its ring; and the ear and the mind can go on and on with their game of tossing the rhyme to each other. Thus did the rain patter and the leaves quiver again and again, they live-long day in my consciousness. |
Another episode of this period of my early boyhood is held fast in my mind. |
We had an old cashier, Kailash by name, who was like one of the family. He was a great wit, and would be constantly cracking jokes with everybody, old and young; recently married sons-in-law, new comers into the family circle, being his special butts. There was room for the suspicion that his humour had not deserted him even after death. Once my elders were engaged in an attempt to start a postal service with the other world by means of a planchette. At one of the sittings the pencil scrawled out the name of Kailash. He was asked as to the sort of life one led where he was. Not a bit of it, was the reply. "Why should you get so cheap what I had to die to learn?" |
This Kailash used to rattle off for my special delectation a doggerel ballad of his own composition. The hero was myself and there was a glowing anticipation of the arrival of a heroine. And as I listened my interest would wax intense at the picture of this world-charming bride illuminating the lap of the future in which she sat enthroned. The list of the jewellery with which she was bedecked from head to foot, and the unheard of splendour of the preparations for the bridal, might have turned older and wiser heads; but what moved the boy, and set wonderful joy pictures flitting before his vision, was the rapid jingle of the frequent rhymes and the swing of the rhythm. |
These two literary delights still linger in my memory-and there is the other, the infants' classic: "The rain falls pit-a-pat, the tide comes up the river." |
The next thing I remember is the beginning of my school-life. One day I saw my elder brother, and my sister's son Satya, also a little older than myself, starting off to school, leaving me behind, accounted unfit. I had never before ridden in a carriage nor even been out of the house. So when Satya came back, full of unduly glowing accounts of his adventures on the way, I felt I simply could not stay at home. Our tutor tried to dispel my illusion with sound advice and a resounding slap: "You're crying to go to school now, youll have to cry a lot more to be let off later on". I have no recollection of the name, features or disposition of this tutor of ours, but the impression of his weighty advice and weightier hand has not yet faded. Never in my life have I heard a truer prophecy. |
We three boys were being brought up together. Both my companions were two years older than I. When they were placed under their tutor, my teaching also began, but of what I learnt nothing remains in my memory. |
What constantly recurs to me is "The rain patters, the leaf quivers." I am just come to anchor after crossing the stormy region of the kara, khala series; and I am reading "The rain patters, the leaf quivers", for me the first poem of the Arch Poet. Whenever the joy of that day comes back to me, even now, I realize why rhyme is so needful in poetry. Because of it the words come to an end, and yet end not; the utterance is over, but not its ring; and the ear and the mind can go on and on with their game of tossing the rhyme to each other. Thus did the rain patter and the leaves quiver again and again, they live-long day in my consciousness. |
Another episode of this period of my early boyhood is held fast in my mind. |
We had an old cashier, Kailash by name, who was like one of the family. He was a great wit, and would be constantly cracking jokes with everybody, old and young; recently married sons-in-law, new comers into the family circle, being his special butts. There was room for the suspicion that his humour had not deserted him even after death. Once my elders were engaged in an attempt to start a postal service with the other world by means of a planchette. At one of the sittings the pencil scrawled out the name of Kailash. He was asked as to the sort of life one led where he was. Not a bit of it, was the reply. "Why should you get so cheap what I had to die to learn?" |
This Kailash used to rattle off for my special delectation a doggerel ballad of his own composition. The hero was myself and there was a glowing anticipation of the arrival of a heroine. And as I listened my interest would wax intense at the picture of this world-charming bride illuminating the lap of the future in which she sat enthroned. The list of the jewellery with which she was bedecked from head to foot, and the unheard of splendour of the preparations for the bridal, might have turned older and wiser heads; but what moved the boy, and set wonderful joy pictures flitting before his vision, was the rapid jingle of the frequent rhymes and the swing of the rhythm. |
These two literary delights still linger in my memory-and there is the other, the infants' classic: "The rain falls pit-a-pat, the tide comes up the river." |
The next thing I remember is the beginning of my school-life. One day I saw my elder brother, and my sister's son Satya, also a little older than myself, starting off to school, leaving me behind, accounted unfit. I had never before ridden in a carriage nor even been out of the house. So when Satya came back, full of unduly glowing accounts of his adventures on the way, I felt I simply could not stay at home. Our tutor tried to dispel my illusion with sound advice and a resounding slap: "You're crying to go to school now, youll have to cry a lot more to be let off later on". I have no recollection of the name, features or disposition of this tutor of ours, but the impression of his weighty advice and weightier hand has not yet faded. Never in my life have I heard a truer prophecy. |
There are, in this land, ghosts who take the form of fat, cold, pobby corpses, and hide in trees near the roadside till a traveler passes. Then they drop upon his neck and remain. There are also terrible ghosts of women who have died in child-bed. These wander along the pathways at dusk, or hide in the crops near a village, and call seductively. But to answer their call is death in this world and the next. Their feet are turned backward that all sober men may recognize them. There are ghosts of little children who have been thrown into wells. These haunt well-curbs and the fringes of jungles, and wail under the stars, or catch women by the wrist and beg to be taken up and carried. These and the corpse-ghosts, however, are only vernacular articles and do not attack Sahibs. No native ghost has yet been authentically reported to have frightened an Englishman; but many English ghosts have scared the life out of both white and black. |
Nearly every other Station owns a ghost. There are said to be two at Shimla, not counting the woman who blows the bellows at Syree dak-bungalow on the Old Road; Mussoorie has a house haunted of a very lively Thing; a White Lady is supposed to do night-watchman round a house in Lahore; Dalhousie says that one of her houses "repeats" on autumn evenings all the incidents of a horrible horse-and-precipice accident; Murree has a merry ghost, and, now that she has been swept by cholera, will have room for a sorrowful one; there are Officers Quarters in Mian Mir whose doors open without reason, and whose furniture is guaranteed to creak, not with the heat of June but with the weight of Invisibles who come to lounge in the chair; Peshawur possesses houses that none will willingly rent; and there is something-not fever- wrong with a big bungalow in Allahabad. The older Provinces simply bristle with haunted houses, and march phantom armies along their main thoroughfares. |
Some of the dak-bungalows on the Grand Trunk Road have handy little cemeteries in their compound-witnesses to the "changes and chances of this mortal life" in the days when men drove from Calcutta to the Northwest. These bungalows are objectionable places to put up in. They are generally very old, always dirty, while the khansamah is as ancient as the bungalow. He either chatters senilely, or falls into the long trances of age. In both moods he is useless. If you get angry with him, he refers to some Sahib dead and buried these thirty years, and says that when he was in that Sahibs service not a khansamah in the Province could touch him. Then he jabbers and mows and trembles and fidgets among the dishes, and you repent of your irritation. |
In these dak-bungalows, ghosts are most likely to be found, and when found, they should be made a note of. Not long ago it was my business to live in dak-bungalows. I never inhabited the same house for three nights running, and grew to be learned in the breed. I lived in Government-built ones with red brick walls and rail ceilings, an inventory of the furniture posted in every room, and an excited snake at the threshold to give welcome. I lived in "converted" ones-old houses officiating as dak-bungalows-where nothing was in its proper place and there wasn't even a fowl for dinner. I lived in second-hand palaces where the wind blew through open-work marble tracery just as uncomfortably as through a broken pane. I lived in dak-bungalows where the last entry in the visitors' book was fifteen months old, and where they slashed off the curry-kid's head with a sword. It was my good-luck to meet all sorts of men, from sober traveling missionaries and deserters flying from British Regiments, to drunken loafers who threw whiskey bottles at all who passed; and my still greater good-fortune just to escape a maternity case. Seeing that a fair proportion of the tragedy of our lives out here acted itself in dak-bungalows, I wondered that I had met no ghosts. A ghost that would voluntarily hang about a dak-bungalow would be mad of course; but so many men have died mad in dak-bungalows that there must be a fair percentage of lunatic ghosts. |
There are, in this land, ghosts who take the form of fat, cold, pobby corpses, and hide in trees near the roadside till a traveler passes. Then they drop upon his neck and remain. There are also terrible ghosts of women who have died in child-bed. These wander along the pathways at dusk, or hide in the crops near a village, and call seductively. But to answer their call is death in this world and the next. Their feet are turned backward that all sober men may recognize them. There are ghosts of little children who have been thrown into wells. These haunt well-curbs and the fringes of jungles, and wail under the stars, or catch women by the wrist and beg to be taken up and carried. These and the corpse-ghosts, however, are only vernacular articles and do not attack Sahibs. No native ghost has yet been authentically reported to have frightened an Englishman; but many English ghosts have scared the life out of both white and black. |
Nearly every other Station owns a ghost. There are said to be two at Shimla, not counting the woman who blows the bellows at Syree dak-bungalow on the Old Road; Mussoorie has a house haunted of a very lively Thing; a White Lady is supposed to do night-watchman round a house in Lahore; Dalhousie says that one of her houses "repeats" on autumn evenings all the incidents of a horrible horse-and-precipice accident; Murree has a merry ghost, and, now that she has been swept by cholera, will have room for a sorrowful one; there are Officers Quarters in Mian Mir whose doors open without reason, and whose furniture is guaranteed to creak, not with the heat of June but with the weight of Invisibles who come to lounge in the chair; Peshawur possesses houses that none will willingly rent; and there is something-not fever- wrong with a big bungalow in Allahabad. The older Provinces simply bristle with haunted houses, and march phantom armies along their main thoroughfares. |
Some of the dak-bungalows on the Grand Trunk Road have handy little cemeteries in their compound-witnesses to the "changes and chances of this mortal life" in the days when men drove from Calcutta to the Northwest. These bungalows are objectionable places to put up in. They are generally very old, always dirty, while the khansamah is as ancient as the bungalow. He either chatters senilely, or falls into the long trances of age. In both moods he is useless. If you get angry with him, he refers to some Sahib dead and buried these thirty years, and says that when he was in that Sahibs service not a khansamah in the Province could touch him. Then he jabbers and mows and trembles and fidgets among the dishes, and you repent of your irritation. |
In these dak-bungalows, ghosts are most likely to be found, and when found, they should be made a note of. Not long ago it was my business to live in dak-bungalows. I never inhabited the same house for three nights running, and grew to be learned in the breed. I lived in Government-built ones with red brick walls and rail ceilings, an inventory of the furniture posted in every room, and an excited snake at the threshold to give welcome. I lived in "converted" ones-old houses officiating as dak-bungalows-where nothing was in its proper place and there wasn't even a fowl for dinner. I lived in second-hand palaces where the wind blew through open-work marble tracery just as uncomfortably as through a broken pane. I lived in dak-bungalows where the last entry in the visitors' book was fifteen months old, and where they slashed off the curry-kid's head with a sword. It was my good-luck to meet all sorts of men, from sober traveling missionaries and deserters flying from British Regiments, to drunken loafers who threw whiskey bottles at all who passed; and my still greater good-fortune just to escape a maternity case. Seeing that a fair proportion of the tragedy of our lives out here acted itself in dak-bungalows, I wondered that I had met no ghosts. A ghost that would voluntarily hang about a dak-bungalow would be mad of course; but so many men have died mad in dak-bungalows that there must be a fair percentage of lunatic ghosts. |
There are, in this land, ghosts who take the form of fat, cold, pobby corpses, and hide in trees near the roadside till a traveler passes. Then they drop upon his neck and remain. There are also terrible ghosts of women who have died in child-bed. These wander along the pathways at dusk, or hide in the crops near a village, and call seductively. But to answer their call is death in this world and the next. Their feet are turned backward that all sober men may recognize them. There are ghosts of little children who have been thrown into wells. These haunt well-curbs and the fringes of jungles, and wail under the stars, or catch women by the wrist and beg to be taken up and carried. These and the corpse-ghosts, however, are only vernacular articles and do not attack Sahibs. No native ghost has yet been authentically reported to have frightened an Englishman; but many English ghosts have scared the life out of both white and black. |
Nearly every other Station owns a ghost. There are said to be two at Shimla, not counting the woman who blows the bellows at Syree dak-bungalow on the Old Road; Mussoorie has a house haunted of a very lively Thing; a White Lady is supposed to do night-watchman round a house in Lahore; Dalhousie says that one of her houses "repeats" on autumn evenings all the incidents of a horrible horse-and-precipice accident; Murree has a merry ghost, and, now that she has been swept by cholera, will have room for a sorrowful one; there are Officers Quarters in Mian Mir whose doors open without reason, and whose furniture is guaranteed to creak, not with the heat of June but with the weight of Invisibles who come to lounge in the chair; Peshawur possesses houses that none will willingly rent; and there is something-not fever- wrong with a big bungalow in Allahabad. The older Provinces simply bristle with haunted houses, and march phantom armies along their main thoroughfares. |
Some of the dak-bungalows on the Grand Trunk Road have handy little cemeteries in their compound-witnesses to the "changes and chances of this mortal life" in the days when men drove from Calcutta to the Northwest. These bungalows are objectionable places to put up in. They are generally very old, always dirty, while the khansamah is as ancient as the bungalow. He either chatters senilely, or falls into the long trances of age. In both moods he is useless. If you get angry with him, he refers to some Sahib dead and buried these thirty years, and says that when he was in that Sahibs service not a khansamah in the Province could touch him. Then he jabbers and mows and trembles and fidgets among the dishes, and you repent of your irritation. |
In these dak-bungalows, ghosts are most likely to be found, and when found, they should be made a note of. Not long ago it was my business to live in dak-bungalows. I never inhabited the same house for three nights running, and grew to be learned in the breed. I lived in Government-built ones with red brick walls and rail ceilings, an inventory of the furniture posted in every room, and an excited snake at the threshold to give welcome. I lived in "converted" ones-old houses officiating as dak-bungalows-where nothing was in its proper place and there wasn't even a fowl for dinner. I lived in second-hand palaces where the wind blew through open-work marble tracery just as uncomfortably as through a broken pane. I lived in dak-bungalows where the last entry in the visitors' book was fifteen months old, and where they slashed off the curry-kid's head with a sword. It was my good-luck to meet all sorts of men, from sober traveling missionaries and deserters flying from British Regiments, to drunken loafers who threw whiskey bottles at all who passed; and my still greater good-fortune just to escape a maternity case. Seeing that a fair proportion of the tragedy of our lives out here acted itself in dak-bungalows, I wondered that I had met no ghosts. A ghost that would voluntarily hang about a dak-bungalow would be mad of course; but so many men have died mad in dak-bungalows that there must be a fair percentage of lunatic ghosts. |
There are, in this land, ghosts who take the form of fat, cold, pobby corpses, and hide in trees near the roadside till a traveler passes. Then they drop upon his neck and remain. There are also terrible ghosts of women who have died in child-bed. These wander along the pathways at dusk, or hide in the crops near a village, and call seductively. But to answer their call is death in this world and the next. Their feet are turned backward that all sober men may recognize them. There are ghosts of little children who have been thrown into wells. These haunt well-curbs and the fringes of jungles, and wail under the stars, or catch women by the wrist and beg to be taken up and carried. These and the corpse-ghosts, however, are only vernacular articles and do not attack Sahibs. No native ghost has yet been authentically reported to have frightened an Englishman; but many English ghosts have scared the life out of both white and black. |
Nearly every other Station owns a ghost. There are said to be two at Shimla, not counting the woman who blows the bellows at Syree dak-bungalow on the Old Road; Mussoorie has a house haunted of a very lively Thing; a White Lady is supposed to do night-watchman round a house in Lahore; Dalhousie says that one of her houses "repeats" on autumn evenings all the incidents of a horrible horse-and-precipice accident; Murree has a merry ghost, and, now that she has been swept by cholera, will have room for a sorrowful one; there are Officers Quarters in Mian Mir whose doors open without reason, and whose furniture is guaranteed to creak, not with the heat of June but with the weight of Invisibles who come to lounge in the chair; Peshawur possesses houses that none will willingly rent; and there is something-not fever- wrong with a big bungalow in Allahabad. The older Provinces simply bristle with haunted houses, and march phantom armies along their main thoroughfares. |
Some of the dak-bungalows on the Grand Trunk Road have handy little cemeteries in their compound-witnesses to the "changes and chances of this mortal life" in the days when men drove from Calcutta to the Northwest. These bungalows are objectionable places to put up in. They are generally very old, always dirty, while the khansamah is as ancient as the bungalow. He either chatters senilely, or falls into the long trances of age. In both moods he is useless. If you get angry with him, he refers to some Sahib dead and buried these thirty years, and says that when he was in that Sahibs service not a khansamah in the Province could touch him. Then he jabbers and mows and trembles and fidgets among the dishes, and you repent of your irritation. |
In these dak-bungalows, ghosts are most likely to be found, and when found, they should be made a note of. Not long ago it was my business to live in dak-bungalows. I never inhabited the same house for three nights running, and grew to be learned in the breed. I lived in Government-built ones with red brick walls and rail ceilings, an inventory of the furniture posted in every room, and an excited snake at the threshold to give welcome. I lived in "converted" ones-old houses officiating as dak-bungalows-where nothing was in its proper place and there wasn't even a fowl for dinner. I lived in second-hand palaces where the wind blew through open-work marble tracery just as uncomfortably as through a broken pane. I lived in dak-bungalows where the last entry in the visitors' book was fifteen months old, and where they slashed off the curry-kid's head with a sword. It was my good-luck to meet all sorts of men, from sober traveling missionaries and deserters flying from British Regiments, to drunken loafers who threw whiskey bottles at all who passed; and my still greater good-fortune just to escape a maternity case. Seeing that a fair proportion of the tragedy of our lives out here acted itself in dak-bungalows, I wondered that I had met no ghosts. A ghost that would voluntarily hang about a dak-bungalow would be mad of course; but so many men have died mad in dak-bungalows that there must be a fair percentage of lunatic ghosts. |
There are, in this land, ghosts who take the form of fat, cold, pobby corpses, and hide in trees near the roadside till a traveler passes. Then they drop upon his neck and remain. There are also terrible ghosts of women who have died in child-bed. These wander along the pathways at dusk, or hide in the crops near a village, and call seductively. But to answer their call is death in this world and the next. Their feet are turned backward that all sober men may recognize them. There are ghosts of little children who have been thrown into wells. These haunt well-curbs and the fringes of jungles, and wail under the stars, or catch women by the wrist and beg to be taken up and carried. These and the corpse-ghosts, however, are only vernacular articles and do not attack Sahibs. No native ghost has yet been authentically reported to have frightened an Englishman; but many English ghosts have scared the life out of both white and black. |
Nearly every other Station owns a ghost. There are said to be two at Shimla, not counting the woman who blows the bellows at Syree dak-bungalow on the Old Road; Mussoorie has a house haunted of a very lively Thing; a White Lady is supposed to do night-watchman round a house in Lahore; Dalhousie says that one of her houses "repeats" on autumn evenings all the incidents of a horrible horse-and-precipice accident; Murree has a merry ghost, and, now that she has been swept by cholera, will have room for a sorrowful one; there are Officers Quarters in Mian Mir whose doors open without reason, and whose furniture is guaranteed to creak, not with the heat of June but with the weight of Invisibles who come to lounge in the chair; Peshawur possesses houses that none will willingly rent; and there is something-not fever- wrong with a big bungalow in Allahabad. The older Provinces simply bristle with haunted houses, and march phantom armies along their main thoroughfares. |
Some of the dak-bungalows on the Grand Trunk Road have handy little cemeteries in their compound-witnesses to the "changes and chances of this mortal life" in the days when men drove from Calcutta to the Northwest. These bungalows are objectionable places to put up in. They are generally very old, always dirty, while the khansamah is as ancient as the bungalow. He either chatters senilely, or falls into the long trances of age. In both moods he is useless. If you get angry with him, he refers to some Sahib dead and buried these thirty years, and says that when he was in that Sahibs service not a khansamah in the Province could touch him. Then he jabbers and mows and trembles and fidgets among the dishes, and you repent of your irritation. |
In these dak-bungalows, ghosts are most likely to be found, and when found, they should be made a note of. Not long ago it was my business to live in dak-bungalows. I never inhabited the same house for three nights running, and grew to be learned in the breed. I lived in Government-built ones with red brick walls and rail ceilings, an inventory of the furniture posted in every room, and an excited snake at the threshold to give welcome. I lived in "converted" ones-old houses officiating as dak-bungalows-where nothing was in its proper place and there wasn't even a fowl for dinner. I lived in second-hand palaces where the wind blew through open-work marble tracery just as uncomfortably as through a broken pane. I lived in dak-bungalows where the last entry in the visitors' book was fifteen months old, and where they slashed off the curry-kid's head with a sword. It was my good-luck to meet all sorts of men, from sober traveling missionaries and deserters flying from British Regiments, to drunken loafers who threw whiskey bottles at all who passed; and my still greater good-fortune just to escape a maternity case. Seeing that a fair proportion of the tragedy of our lives out here acted itself in dak-bungalows, I wondered that I had met no ghosts. A ghost that would voluntarily hang about a dak-bungalow would be mad of course; but so many men have died mad in dak-bungalows that there must be a fair percentage of lunatic ghosts. |
I have now been in India for over two years and a half after my return from South Africa. Over one quarter of that time I have passed on the Indian trains travelling third class by choice. I have travelled up north as far as Lahore, down south up to Tranquebar, and from Karachi to Calcutta. Having resorted to third class travelling, among other reasons, for the purpose of studying the conditions under which this class of passengers travel, I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period. Now and then I have entered into correspondence with the management of the different railways about the defects that have come under my notice. But I think that the time has come when I should invite the press and the public to join in a crusade against a grievance which has too long remained unredressed, though much of it is capable of redress without great difficulty. |
On the 12th instant I booked at Bombay for Madras by the mail train and paid Rs. 13.9. It was labelled to carry 22 passengers. These could only have seating accommodation. There were no bunks in this carriage whereon passengers could lie with any degree of safety or comfort. There were two nights to be passed in this train before reaching Madras. If not more than 22 passengers found their way into my carriage before we reached Poona, it was because the bolder ones kept the others at bay. With the exception of two or three insistent passengers, all had to find their sleep being seated all the time. After reaching Raichur the pressure became unbearable. The rush of passengers could not be stayed. The fighters among us found the task almost beyond them. The guards or other railway servants came in only to push in more passengers. |
A defiant Memon merchant protested against this packing of passengers like sardines. In vain did he say that this was his fifth night on the train. The guard insulted him and referred him to the management at the terminus. There were during this night as many as 35 passengers in the carriage during the greater part of it. Some lay on the floor in the midst of dirt and some had to keep standing. A free fight was, at one time, avoided only by the intervention of some of the older passengers who did not want to add to the discomfort by an exhibition of temper. |
On the way passengers got for tea tannin water with filthy sugar and a whitish looking liquid miscalled milk which gave this water a muddy appearance. I can vouch for the appearance, but I cite the testimony of the passengers as to the taste. |
Not during the whole of the journey was the compartment once swept or cleaned. The result was that every time you walked on the floor or rather cut your way through the passengers seated on the floor, you waded through dirt. |
The closet was also not cleaned during the journey and there was no water in the water tank. |
Refreshments sold to the passengers were dirty-looking, handed by dirtier hands, coming out of filthy receptacles and weighed in equally unattractive scales. These were previously-sampled by millions of flies. I asked some of the passengers who went in for these dainties to give their opinion. Many of them used choice expressions as to the quality but were satisfied to state that they were helpless in the matter; they had to take things as they came. |
On reaching the station I found that the ghari-wala would not take me unless I paid the fare he wanted. I mildly protested and told him I would pay him the authorised fare. I had to turn passive resister before I could be taken. I simply told him he would have to pull me out of the ghari or call the policeman. |
I have now been in India for over two years and a half after my return from South Africa. Over one quarter of that time I have passed on the Indian trains travelling third class by choice. I have travelled up north as far as Lahore, down south up to Tranquebar, and from Karachi to Calcutta. Having resorted to third class travelling, among other reasons, for the purpose of studying the conditions under which this class of passengers travel, I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period. Now and then I have entered into correspondence with the management of the different railways about the defects that have come under my notice. But I think that the time has come when I should invite the press and the public to join in a crusade against a grievance which has too long remained unredressed, though much of it is capable of redress without great difficulty. |
On the 12th instant I booked at Bombay for Madras by the mail train and paid Rs. 13.9. It was labelled to carry 22 passengers. These could only have seating accommodation. There were no bunks in this carriage whereon passengers could lie with any degree of safety or comfort. There were two nights to be passed in this train before reaching Madras. If not more than 22 passengers found their way into my carriage before we reached Poona, it was because the bolder ones kept the others at bay. With the exception of two or three insistent passengers, all had to find their sleep being seated all the time. After reaching Raichur the pressure became unbearable. The rush of passengers could not be stayed. The fighters among us found the task almost beyond them. The guards or other railway servants came in only to push in more passengers. |
A defiant Memon merchant protested against this packing of passengers like sardines. In vain did he say that this was his fifth night on the train. The guard insulted him and referred him to the management at the terminus. There were during this night as many as 35 passengers in the carriage during the greater part of it. Some lay on the floor in the midst of dirt and some had to keep standing. A free fight was, at one time, avoided only by the intervention of some of the older passengers who did not want to add to the discomfort by an exhibition of temper. |
On the way passengers got for tea tannin water with filthy sugar and a whitish looking liquid miscalled milk which gave this water a muddy appearance. I can vouch for the appearance, but I cite the testimony of the passengers as to the taste. |
Not during the whole of the journey was the compartment once swept or cleaned. The result was that every time you walked on the floor or rather cut your way through the passengers seated on the floor, you waded through dirt. |
The closet was also not cleaned during the journey and there was no water in the water tank. |
Refreshments sold to the passengers were dirty-looking, handed by dirtier hands, coming out of filthy receptacles and weighed in equally unattractive scales. These were previously-sampled by millions of flies. I asked some of the passengers who went in for these dainties to give their opinion. Many of them used choice expressions as to the quality but were satisfied to state that they were helpless in the matter; they had to take things as they came. |
On reaching the station I found that the ghari-wala would not take me unless I paid the fare he wanted. I mildly protested and told him I would pay him the authorised fare. I had to turn passive resister before I could be taken. I simply told him he would have to pull me out of the ghari or call the policeman. |
I have now been in India for over two years and a half after my return from South Africa. Over one quarter of that time I have passed on the Indian trains travelling third class by choice. I have travelled up north as far as Lahore, down south up to Tranquebar, and from Karachi to Calcutta. Having resorted to third class travelling, among other reasons, for the purpose of studying the conditions under which this class of passengers travel, I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period. Now and then I have entered into correspondence with the management of the different railways about the defects that have come under my notice. But I think that the time has come when I should invite the press and the public to join in a crusade against a grievance which has too long remained unredressed, though much of it is capable of redress without great difficulty. |
On the 12th instant I booked at Bombay for Madras by the mail train and paid Rs. 13.9. It was labelled to carry 22 passengers. These could only have seating accommodation. There were no bunks in this carriage whereon passengers could lie with any degree of safety or comfort. There were two nights to be passed in this train before reaching Madras. If not more than 22 passengers found their way into my carriage before we reached Poona, it was because the bolder ones kept the others at bay. With the exception of two or three insistent passengers, all had to find their sleep being seated all the time. After reaching Raichur the pressure became unbearable. The rush of passengers could not be stayed. The fighters among us found the task almost beyond them. The guards or other railway servants came in only to push in more passengers. |
A defiant Memon merchant protested against this packing of passengers like sardines. In vain did he say that this was his fifth night on the train. The guard insulted him and referred him to the management at the terminus. There were during this night as many as 35 passengers in the carriage during the greater part of it. Some lay on the floor in the midst of dirt and some had to keep standing. A free fight was, at one time, avoided only by the intervention of some of the older passengers who did not want to add to the discomfort by an exhibition of temper. |
On the way passengers got for tea tannin water with filthy sugar and a whitish looking liquid miscalled milk which gave this water a muddy appearance. I can vouch for the appearance, but I cite the testimony of the passengers as to the taste. |
Not during the whole of the journey was the compartment once swept or cleaned. The result was that every time you walked on the floor or rather cut your way through the passengers seated on the floor, you waded through dirt. |
The closet was also not cleaned during the journey and there was no water in the water tank. |
Refreshments sold to the passengers were dirty-looking, handed by dirtier hands, coming out of filthy receptacles and weighed in equally unattractive scales. These were previously-sampled by millions of flies. I asked some of the passengers who went in for these dainties to give their opinion. Many of them used choice expressions as to the quality but were satisfied to state that they were helpless in the matter; they had to take things as they came. |
On reaching the station I found that the ghari-wala would not take me unless I paid the fare he wanted. I mildly protested and told him I would pay him the authorised fare. I had to turn passive resister before I could be taken. I simply told him he would have to pull me out of the ghari or call the policeman. |
I have now been in India for over two years and a half after my return from South Africa. Over one quarter of that time I have passed on the Indian trains travelling third class by choice. I have travelled up north as far as Lahore, down south up to Tranquebar, and from Karachi to Calcutta. Having resorted to third class travelling, among other reasons, for the purpose of studying the conditions under which this class of passengers travel, I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period. Now and then I have entered into correspondence with the management of the different railways about the defects that have come under my notice. But I think that the time has come when I should invite the press and the public to join in a crusade against a grievance which has too long remained unredressed, though much of it is capable of redress without great difficulty. |
On the 12th instant I booked at Bombay for Madras by the mail train and paid Rs. 13.9. It was labelled to carry 22 passengers. These could only have seating accommodation. There were no bunks in this carriage whereon passengers could lie with any degree of safety or comfort. There were two nights to be passed in this train before reaching Madras. If not more than 22 passengers found their way into my carriage before we reached Poona, it was because the bolder ones kept the others at bay. With the exception of two or three insistent passengers, all had to find their sleep being seated all the time. After reaching Raichur the pressure became unbearable. The rush of passengers could not be stayed. The fighters among us found the task almost beyond them. The guards or other railway servants came in only to push in more passengers. |
A defiant Memon merchant protested against this packing of passengers like sardines. In vain did he say that this was his fifth night on the train. The guard insulted him and referred him to the management at the terminus. There were during this night as many as 35 passengers in the carriage during the greater part of it. Some lay on the floor in the midst of dirt and some had to keep standing. A free fight was, at one time, avoided only by the intervention of some of the older passengers who did not want to add to the discomfort by an exhibition of temper. |
On the way passengers got for tea tannin water with filthy sugar and a whitish looking liquid miscalled milk which gave this water a muddy appearance. I can vouch for the appearance, but I cite the testimony of the passengers as to the taste. |
Not during the whole of the journey was the compartment once swept or cleaned. The result was that every time you walked on the floor or rather cut your way through the passengers seated on the floor, you waded through dirt. |
The closet was also not cleaned during the journey and there was no water in the water tank. |
Refreshments sold to the passengers were dirty-looking, handed by dirtier hands, coming out of filthy receptacles and weighed in equally unattractive scales. These were previously-sampled by millions of flies. I asked some of the passengers who went in for these dainties to give their opinion. Many of them used choice expressions as to the quality but were satisfied to state that they were helpless in the matter; they had to take things as they came. |
On reaching the station I found that the ghari-wala would not take me unless I paid the fare he wanted. I mildly protested and told him I would pay him the authorised fare. I had to turn passive resister before I could be taken. I simply told him he would have to pull me out of the ghari or call the policeman. |
I have now been in India for over two years and a half after my return from South Africa. Over one quarter of that time I have passed on the Indian trains travelling third class by choice. I have travelled up north as far as Lahore, down south up to Tranquebar, and from Karachi to Calcutta. Having resorted to third class travelling, among other reasons, for the purpose of studying the conditions under which this class of passengers travel, I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period. Now and then I have entered into correspondence with the management of the different railways about the defects that have come under my notice. But I think that the time has come when I should invite the press and the public to join in a crusade against a grievance which has too long remained unredressed, though much of it is capable of redress without great difficulty. |
On the 12th instant I booked at Bombay for Madras by the mail train and paid Rs. 13.9. It was labelled to carry 22 passengers. These could only have seating accommodation. There were no bunks in this carriage whereon passengers could lie with any degree of safety or comfort. There were two nights to be passed in this train before reaching Madras. If not more than 22 passengers found their way into my carriage before we reached Poona, it was because the bolder ones kept the others at bay. With the exception of two or three insistent passengers, all had to find their sleep being seated all the time. After reaching Raichur the pressure became unbearable. The rush of passengers could not be stayed. The fighters among us found the task almost beyond them. The guards or other railway servants came in only to push in more passengers. |
A defiant Memon merchant protested against this packing of passengers like sardines. In vain did he say that this was his fifth night on the train. The guard insulted him and referred him to the management at the terminus. There were during this night as many as 35 passengers in the carriage during the greater part of it. Some lay on the floor in the midst of dirt and some had to keep standing. A free fight was, at one time, avoided only by the intervention of some of the older passengers who did not want to add to the discomfort by an exhibition of temper. |
On the way passengers got for tea tannin water with filthy sugar and a whitish looking liquid miscalled milk which gave this water a muddy appearance. I can vouch for the appearance, but I cite the testimony of the passengers as to the taste. |
Not during the whole of the journey was the compartment once swept or cleaned. The result was that every time you walked on the floor or rather cut your way through the passengers seated on the floor, you waded through dirt. |
The closet was also not cleaned during the journey and there was no water in the water tank. |
Refreshments sold to the passengers were dirty-looking, handed by dirtier hands, coming out of filthy receptacles and weighed in equally unattractive scales. These were previously-sampled by millions of flies. I asked some of the passengers who went in for these dainties to give their opinion. Many of them used choice expressions as to the quality but were satisfied to state that they were helpless in the matter; they had to take things as they came. |
On reaching the station I found that the ghari-wala would not take me unless I paid the fare he wanted. I mildly protested and told him I would pay him the authorised fare. I had to turn passive resister before I could be taken. I simply told him he would have to pull me out of the ghari or call the policeman. |
The top two floors of the house are occupied by their landlords, the Montgomerys, a Harvard sociology professor and his wife. The Montgomerys have two children, both girls. Amber and Clover, aged seven and nine, whose waist-length hair is never braided, and who play on warm days for hours on a tire swing rigged to the only tree in the backyard. The professor, who has told Ashima and Ashoke to call him Alan, not Professor Montgomery as they had at first addressed him, has a wiry rust-colored beard that makes him look much older than he actually is. They see him walking to Harvard Yard in a pair of threadbare trousers, a fringed suede jacket, and rubber flip-flops. Rickshaw drivers dress better than professors here, Ashoke, who still attends meetings with his adviser in a jacket and tie, thinks frequently to himself. The Montgomerys have a dull green Volkswagen van covered with suckers: QUESTION AUTHORITY! GIVE A DAMN! BAN THE BRA! PEACE! They have a washing machine in the basement which Ashoke and Ashima are permitted to share, a television in their living room which Ashoke and Ashima can hear clearly through the ceiling. It had been through the ceiling one night in April, when Ashoke and Ashima were eating their dinner, that theyd heard about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and just recently, of Senator Robert Kennedy. |
Sometimes Ashima and Alan's wife, Judy, stand side by side in the yard, clipping clothes to the line. Judy always wears blue jeans, torn up into shorts once summer comes, and a necklace of small seashells around her throat. A red cotton scarf over her stringy yellow hair, the same texture and shade as her daughters', is always tied at the back of her neck. She works for a women's health collective in Somerville a few days a week. When she learned of Ashima's pregnancy she approved of Ashima's decision to breast-feed but had been disappointed to learn that Ashima was going to put herself in the hands of the medical establishment for her childs delivery; Judy's daughters were born at home, with the help of midwives at the collective. Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home. Only once, when Clover had a cold, did they ask Ashima if she could check in on them. Ashima remembers their apartment with abiding horror-just beyond the celling yet so different from her own, piles everywhere, piles of books and papers, piles of dirty plates on the kitchen counter, ashtrays the size of serving platters heaped with crushed-out cigarettes. The girls slept together on a bed piled with clothes. Sitting momentarily on the edge of Alan and Judy's mattress, she had cried out, falling clumsily backward, startled to discover that it was filled with water. Instead of cereal and tea bags, there were whiskey and wine bottles on top of the refrigerator, most of them nearly empty. Just standing there had made Ashima feel drunk. |
The top two floors of the house are occupied by their landlords, the Montgomerys, a Harvard sociology professor and his wife. The Montgomerys have two children, both girls. Amber and Clover, aged seven and nine, whose waist-length hair is never braided, and who play on warm days for hours on a tire swing rigged to the only tree in the backyard. The professor, who has told Ashima and Ashoke to call him Alan, not Professor Montgomery as they had at first addressed him, has a wiry rust-colored beard that makes him look much older than he actually is. They see him walking to Harvard Yard in a pair of threadbare trousers, a fringed suede jacket, and rubber flip-flops. Rickshaw drivers dress better than professors here, Ashoke, who still attends meetings with his adviser in a jacket and tie, thinks frequently to himself. The Montgomerys have a dull green Volkswagen van covered with suckers: QUESTION AUTHORITY! GIVE A DAMN! BAN THE BRA! PEACE! They have a washing machine in the basement which Ashoke and Ashima are permitted to share, a television in their living room which Ashoke and Ashima can hear clearly through the ceiling. It had been through the ceiling one night in April, when Ashoke and Ashima were eating their dinner, that theyd heard about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and just recently, of Senator Robert Kennedy. |
Sometimes Ashima and Alan's wife, Judy, stand side by side in the yard, clipping clothes to the line. Judy always wears blue jeans, torn up into shorts once summer comes, and a necklace of small seashells around her throat. A red cotton scarf over her stringy yellow hair, the same texture and shade as her daughters', is always tied at the back of her neck. She works for a women's health collective in Somerville a few days a week. When she learned of Ashima's pregnancy she approved of Ashima's decision to breast-feed but had been disappointed to learn that Ashima was going to put herself in the hands of the medical establishment for her childs delivery; Judy's daughters were born at home, with the help of midwives at the collective. Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home. Only once, when Clover had a cold, did they ask Ashima if she could check in on them. Ashima remembers their apartment with abiding horror-just beyond the celling yet so different from her own, piles everywhere, piles of books and papers, piles of dirty plates on the kitchen counter, ashtrays the size of serving platters heaped with crushed-out cigarettes. The girls slept together on a bed piled with clothes. Sitting momentarily on the edge of Alan and Judy's mattress, she had cried out, falling clumsily backward, startled to discover that it was filled with water. Instead of cereal and tea bags, there were whiskey and wine bottles on top of the refrigerator, most of them nearly empty. Just standing there had made Ashima feel drunk. |
The top two floors of the house are occupied by their landlords, the Montgomerys, a Harvard sociology professor and his wife. The Montgomerys have two children, both girls. Amber and Clover, aged seven and nine, whose waist-length hair is never braided, and who play on warm days for hours on a tire swing rigged to the only tree in the backyard. The professor, who has told Ashima and Ashoke to call him Alan, not Professor Montgomery as they had at first addressed him, has a wiry rust-colored beard that makes him look much older than he actually is. They see him walking to Harvard Yard in a pair of threadbare trousers, a fringed suede jacket, and rubber flip-flops. Rickshaw drivers dress better than professors here, Ashoke, who still attends meetings with his adviser in a jacket and tie, thinks frequently to himself. The Montgomerys have a dull green Volkswagen van covered with suckers: QUESTION AUTHORITY! GIVE A DAMN! BAN THE BRA! PEACE! They have a washing machine in the basement which Ashoke and Ashima are permitted to share, a television in their living room which Ashoke and Ashima can hear clearly through the ceiling. It had been through the ceiling one night in April, when Ashoke and Ashima were eating their dinner, that theyd heard about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and just recently, of Senator Robert Kennedy. |
Sometimes Ashima and Alan's wife, Judy, stand side by side in the yard, clipping clothes to the line. Judy always wears blue jeans, torn up into shorts once summer comes, and a necklace of small seashells around her throat. A red cotton scarf over her stringy yellow hair, the same texture and shade as her daughters', is always tied at the back of her neck. She works for a women's health collective in Somerville a few days a week. When she learned of Ashima's pregnancy she approved of Ashima's decision to breast-feed but had been disappointed to learn that Ashima was going to put herself in the hands of the medical establishment for her childs delivery; Judy's daughters were born at home, with the help of midwives at the collective. Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home. Only once, when Clover had a cold, did they ask Ashima if she could check in on them. Ashima remembers their apartment with abiding horror-just beyond the celling yet so different from her own, piles everywhere, piles of books and papers, piles of dirty plates on the kitchen counter, ashtrays the size of serving platters heaped with crushed-out cigarettes. The girls slept together on a bed piled with clothes. Sitting momentarily on the edge of Alan and Judy's mattress, she had cried out, falling clumsily backward, startled to discover that it was filled with water. Instead of cereal and tea bags, there were whiskey and wine bottles on top of the refrigerator, most of them nearly empty. Just standing there had made Ashima feel drunk. |
The top two floors of the house are occupied by their landlords, the Montgomerys, a Harvard sociology professor and his wife. The Montgomerys have two children, both girls. Amber and Clover, aged seven and nine, whose waist-length hair is never braided, and who play on warm days for hours on a tire swing rigged to the only tree in the backyard. The professor, who has told Ashima and Ashoke to call him Alan, not Professor Montgomery as they had at first addressed him, has a wiry rust-colored beard that makes him look much older than he actually is. They see him walking to Harvard Yard in a pair of threadbare trousers, a fringed suede jacket, and rubber flip-flops. Rickshaw drivers dress better than professors here, Ashoke, who still attends meetings with his adviser in a jacket and tie, thinks frequently to himself. The Montgomerys have a dull green Volkswagen van covered with suckers: QUESTION AUTHORITY! GIVE A DAMN! BAN THE BRA! PEACE! They have a washing machine in the basement which Ashoke and Ashima are permitted to share, a television in their living room which Ashoke and Ashima can hear clearly through the ceiling. It had been through the ceiling one night in April, when Ashoke and Ashima were eating their dinner, that theyd heard about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and just recently, of Senator Robert Kennedy. |
Sometimes Ashima and Alan's wife, Judy, stand side by side in the yard, clipping clothes to the line. Judy always wears blue jeans, torn up into shorts once summer comes, and a necklace of small seashells around her throat. A red cotton scarf over her stringy yellow hair, the same texture and shade as her daughters', is always tied at the back of her neck. She works for a women's health collective in Somerville a few days a week. When she learned of Ashima's pregnancy she approved of Ashima's decision to breast-feed but had been disappointed to learn that Ashima was going to put herself in the hands of the medical establishment for her childs delivery; Judy's daughters were born at home, with the help of midwives at the collective. Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home. Only once, when Clover had a cold, did they ask Ashima if she could check in on them. Ashima remembers their apartment with abiding horror-just beyond the celling yet so different from her own, piles everywhere, piles of books and papers, piles of dirty plates on the kitchen counter, ashtrays the size of serving platters heaped with crushed-out cigarettes. The girls slept together on a bed piled with clothes. Sitting momentarily on the edge of Alan and Judy's mattress, she had cried out, falling clumsily backward, startled to discover that it was filled with water. Instead of cereal and tea bags, there were whiskey and wine bottles on top of the refrigerator, most of them nearly empty. Just standing there had made Ashima feel drunk. |
The top two floors of the house are occupied by their landlords, the Montgomerys, a Harvard sociology professor and his wife. The Montgomerys have two children, both girls. Amber and Clover, aged seven and nine, whose waist-length hair is never braided, and who play on warm days for hours on a tire swing rigged to the only tree in the backyard. The professor, who has told Ashima and Ashoke to call him Alan, not Professor Montgomery as they had at first addressed him, has a wiry rust-colored beard that makes him look much older than he actually is. They see him walking to Harvard Yard in a pair of threadbare trousers, a fringed suede jacket, and rubber flip-flops. Rickshaw drivers dress better than professors here, Ashoke, who still attends meetings with his adviser in a jacket and tie, thinks frequently to himself. The Montgomerys have a dull green Volkswagen van covered with suckers: QUESTION AUTHORITY! GIVE A DAMN! BAN THE BRA! PEACE! They have a washing machine in the basement which Ashoke and Ashima are permitted to share, a television in their living room which Ashoke and Ashima can hear clearly through the ceiling. It had been through the ceiling one night in April, when Ashoke and Ashima were eating their dinner, that theyd heard about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and just recently, of Senator Robert Kennedy. |
Sometimes Ashima and Alan's wife, Judy, stand side by side in the yard, clipping clothes to the line. Judy always wears blue jeans, torn up into shorts once summer comes, and a necklace of small seashells around her throat. A red cotton scarf over her stringy yellow hair, the same texture and shade as her daughters', is always tied at the back of her neck. She works for a women's health collective in Somerville a few days a week. When she learned of Ashima's pregnancy she approved of Ashima's decision to breast-feed but had been disappointed to learn that Ashima was going to put herself in the hands of the medical establishment for her childs delivery; Judy's daughters were born at home, with the help of midwives at the collective. Some nights Judy and Alan go out, leaving Amber and Clover unsupervised at home. Only once, when Clover had a cold, did they ask Ashima if she could check in on them. Ashima remembers their apartment with abiding horror-just beyond the celling yet so different from her own, piles everywhere, piles of books and papers, piles of dirty plates on the kitchen counter, ashtrays the size of serving platters heaped with crushed-out cigarettes. The girls slept together on a bed piled with clothes. Sitting momentarily on the edge of Alan and Judy's mattress, she had cried out, falling clumsily backward, startled to discover that it was filled with water. Instead of cereal and tea bags, there were whiskey and wine bottles on top of the refrigerator, most of them nearly empty. Just standing there had made Ashima feel drunk. |
Shiva had been walking on a paved, signposted road along the River Beas for the better part of an hour. He had left the rest house to explore the area by himself, much against a rapidly recovering Nandi's advice. Nandi was out of danger, but they had to wait for a few days nevertheless, so that the Captain could be strong enough to travel. There was not much Shiva could do at the rest house and he had begun to feel restless. The three soldiers had tried to shadow Shiva, but he had angrily dismissed them. 'Will you please stop trying to stick to me like leeches?' |
The rhythmic hymns sung by the gentle waters of the Beas soothed Shiva. A cool tender breeze teased his thick lock of hair. He rested his hand on the hilt of his scabbard as his mind swirled with persistent questions. |
Is Nandi really more than a hundred years old? But that's impossible! And what the hell do these crazy Meluhans need me for anyway? And why in the name of the holy lake is my bloody throat still feeling so cold? |
Lost in his thoughts, Shiva did not realise that he had strayed off the road into a clearing. Staring him in the face was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. It was built entirely with white and pink marble. An imposing flight of stairs led up to the top of a high platform, which had been adorned by pillars around its entire circumference. The ornate roof was topped by a giant triangular spire, like a giant 'namaste' to the gods. Elaborate sculptures were carved upon every available space on the structure. |
Shiva had spent many days in Meluha and all the buildings he had seen so far were functional and efficient. However, this particular one was oddly flamboyant. At the entrance, a signpost announced. Temple of Lord Brahma'. The Meluhans appeared to reserve their creativity for religious places. |
There was a small crowd of hawkers around the courtyard in the clearing. Some were selling flowers, others were selling food. Still others were selling assorted items required for a puja. There was a stall where worshippers could leave their footwear as they went up to the temple. Shiva left his shoes there and walked up the steps. Entering the main temple, he stared at the designs and sculptures, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence of the architecture. |
'What are you doing here?' |
Shiva turned around to find a Pandit staring at him quizzically. His wizened face sported a flowing white beard matched in length only by his silvery mane. Wearing a saffron dhoti and angvastram, he had the calm, gentle look of a man who had already attained nirvana, but had chosen to remain on earth to fulfil some heavenly duties. Shiva realised that the Pandit was the first truly old person that he had seen in Meluha. 'I am sorry. Am I not allowed in here?' asked Shiva politely. |
'Of course you are allowed in here. Everyone is allowed into the house of the gods.' |
Shiva smiled. Before he could respond however, the Pandit questioned once again, 'But you don't believe in these gods, do you?' |
Shiva had been walking on a paved, signposted road along the River Beas for the better part of an hour. He had left the rest house to explore the area by himself, much against a rapidly recovering Nandi's advice. Nandi was out of danger, but they had to wait for a few days nevertheless, so that the Captain could be strong enough to travel. There was not much Shiva could do at the rest house and he had begun to feel restless. The three soldiers had tried to shadow Shiva, but he had angrily dismissed them. 'Will you please stop trying to stick to me like leeches?' |
The rhythmic hymns sung by the gentle waters of the Beas soothed Shiva. A cool tender breeze teased his thick lock of hair. He rested his hand on the hilt of his scabbard as his mind swirled with persistent questions. |
Is Nandi really more than a hundred years old? But that's impossible! And what the hell do these crazy Meluhans need me for anyway? And why in the name of the holy lake is my bloody throat still feeling so cold? |
Lost in his thoughts, Shiva did not realise that he had strayed off the road into a clearing. Staring him in the face was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. It was built entirely with white and pink marble. An imposing flight of stairs led up to the top of a high platform, which had been adorned by pillars around its entire circumference. The ornate roof was topped by a giant triangular spire, like a giant 'namaste' to the gods. Elaborate sculptures were carved upon every available space on the structure. |
Shiva had spent many days in Meluha and all the buildings he had seen so far were functional and efficient. However, this particular one was oddly flamboyant. At the entrance, a signpost announced. Temple of Lord Brahma'. The Meluhans appeared to reserve their creativity for religious places. |
There was a small crowd of hawkers around the courtyard in the clearing. Some were selling flowers, others were selling food. Still others were selling assorted items required for a puja. There was a stall where worshippers could leave their footwear as they went up to the temple. Shiva left his shoes there and walked up the steps. Entering the main temple, he stared at the designs and sculptures, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence of the architecture. |
'What are you doing here?' |
Shiva turned around to find a Pandit staring at him quizzically. His wizened face sported a flowing white beard matched in length only by his silvery mane. Wearing a saffron dhoti and angvastram, he had the calm, gentle look of a man who had already attained nirvana, but had chosen to remain on earth to fulfil some heavenly duties. Shiva realised that the Pandit was the first truly old person that he had seen in Meluha. 'I am sorry. Am I not allowed in here?' asked Shiva politely. |
'Of course you are allowed in here. Everyone is allowed into the house of the gods.' |
Shiva smiled. Before he could respond however, the Pandit questioned once again, 'But you don't believe in these gods, do you?' |
Shiva had been walking on a paved, signposted road along the River Beas for the better part of an hour. He had left the rest house to explore the area by himself, much against a rapidly recovering Nandi's advice. Nandi was out of danger, but they had to wait for a few days nevertheless, so that the Captain could be strong enough to travel. There was not much Shiva could do at the rest house and he had begun to feel restless. The three soldiers had tried to shadow Shiva, but he had angrily dismissed them. 'Will you please stop trying to stick to me like leeches?' |
The rhythmic hymns sung by the gentle waters of the Beas soothed Shiva. A cool tender breeze teased his thick lock of hair. He rested his hand on the hilt of his scabbard as his mind swirled with persistent questions. |
Is Nandi really more than a hundred years old? But that's impossible! And what the hell do these crazy Meluhans need me for anyway? And why in the name of the holy lake is my bloody throat still feeling so cold? |
Lost in his thoughts, Shiva did not realise that he had strayed off the road into a clearing. Staring him in the face was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. It was built entirely with white and pink marble. An imposing flight of stairs led up to the top of a high platform, which had been adorned by pillars around its entire circumference. The ornate roof was topped by a giant triangular spire, like a giant 'namaste' to the gods. Elaborate sculptures were carved upon every available space on the structure. |
Shiva had spent many days in Meluha and all the buildings he had seen so far were functional and efficient. However, this particular one was oddly flamboyant. At the entrance, a signpost announced. Temple of Lord Brahma'. The Meluhans appeared to reserve their creativity for religious places. |
There was a small crowd of hawkers around the courtyard in the clearing. Some were selling flowers, others were selling food. Still others were selling assorted items required for a puja. There was a stall where worshippers could leave their footwear as they went up to the temple. Shiva left his shoes there and walked up the steps. Entering the main temple, he stared at the designs and sculptures, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence of the architecture. |
'What are you doing here?' |
Shiva turned around to find a Pandit staring at him quizzically. His wizened face sported a flowing white beard matched in length only by his silvery mane. Wearing a saffron dhoti and angvastram, he had the calm, gentle look of a man who had already attained nirvana, but had chosen to remain on earth to fulfil some heavenly duties. Shiva realised that the Pandit was the first truly old person that he had seen in Meluha. 'I am sorry. Am I not allowed in here?' asked Shiva politely. |
'Of course you are allowed in here. Everyone is allowed into the house of the gods.' |
Shiva smiled. Before he could respond however, the Pandit questioned once again, 'But you don't believe in these gods, do you?' |
Shiva had been walking on a paved, signposted road along the River Beas for the better part of an hour. He had left the rest house to explore the area by himself, much against a rapidly recovering Nandi's advice. Nandi was out of danger, but they had to wait for a few days nevertheless, so that the Captain could be strong enough to travel. There was not much Shiva could do at the rest house and he had begun to feel restless. The three soldiers had tried to shadow Shiva, but he had angrily dismissed them. 'Will you please stop trying to stick to me like leeches?' |
The rhythmic hymns sung by the gentle waters of the Beas soothed Shiva. A cool tender breeze teased his thick lock of hair. He rested his hand on the hilt of his scabbard as his mind swirled with persistent questions. |
Is Nandi really more than a hundred years old? But that's impossible! And what the hell do these crazy Meluhans need me for anyway? And why in the name of the holy lake is my bloody throat still feeling so cold? |
Lost in his thoughts, Shiva did not realise that he had strayed off the road into a clearing. Staring him in the face was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. It was built entirely with white and pink marble. An imposing flight of stairs led up to the top of a high platform, which had been adorned by pillars around its entire circumference. The ornate roof was topped by a giant triangular spire, like a giant 'namaste' to the gods. Elaborate sculptures were carved upon every available space on the structure. |
Shiva had spent many days in Meluha and all the buildings he had seen so far were functional and efficient. However, this particular one was oddly flamboyant. At the entrance, a signpost announced. Temple of Lord Brahma'. The Meluhans appeared to reserve their creativity for religious places. |
There was a small crowd of hawkers around the courtyard in the clearing. Some were selling flowers, others were selling food. Still others were selling assorted items required for a puja. There was a stall where worshippers could leave their footwear as they went up to the temple. Shiva left his shoes there and walked up the steps. Entering the main temple, he stared at the designs and sculptures, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence of the architecture. |
'What are you doing here?' |
Shiva turned around to find a Pandit staring at him quizzically. His wizened face sported a flowing white beard matched in length only by his silvery mane. Wearing a saffron dhoti and angvastram, he had the calm, gentle look of a man who had already attained nirvana, but had chosen to remain on earth to fulfil some heavenly duties. Shiva realised that the Pandit was the first truly old person that he had seen in Meluha. 'I am sorry. Am I not allowed in here?' asked Shiva politely. |
'Of course you are allowed in here. Everyone is allowed into the house of the gods.' |
Shiva smiled. Before he could respond however, the Pandit questioned once again, 'But you don't believe in these gods, do you?' |
Shiva had been walking on a paved, signposted road along the River Beas for the better part of an hour. He had left the rest house to explore the area by himself, much against a rapidly recovering Nandi's advice. Nandi was out of danger, but they had to wait for a few days nevertheless, so that the Captain could be strong enough to travel. There was not much Shiva could do at the rest house and he had begun to feel restless. The three soldiers had tried to shadow Shiva, but he had angrily dismissed them. 'Will you please stop trying to stick to me like leeches?' |
The rhythmic hymns sung by the gentle waters of the Beas soothed Shiva. A cool tender breeze teased his thick lock of hair. He rested his hand on the hilt of his scabbard as his mind swirled with persistent questions. |
Is Nandi really more than a hundred years old? But that's impossible! And what the hell do these crazy Meluhans need me for anyway? And why in the name of the holy lake is my bloody throat still feeling so cold? |
Lost in his thoughts, Shiva did not realise that he had strayed off the road into a clearing. Staring him in the face was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. It was built entirely with white and pink marble. An imposing flight of stairs led up to the top of a high platform, which had been adorned by pillars around its entire circumference. The ornate roof was topped by a giant triangular spire, like a giant 'namaste' to the gods. Elaborate sculptures were carved upon every available space on the structure. |
Shiva had spent many days in Meluha and all the buildings he had seen so far were functional and efficient. However, this particular one was oddly flamboyant. At the entrance, a signpost announced. Temple of Lord Brahma'. The Meluhans appeared to reserve their creativity for religious places. |
There was a small crowd of hawkers around the courtyard in the clearing. Some were selling flowers, others were selling food. Still others were selling assorted items required for a puja. There was a stall where worshippers could leave their footwear as they went up to the temple. Shiva left his shoes there and walked up the steps. Entering the main temple, he stared at the designs and sculptures, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence of the architecture. |
'What are you doing here?' |
Shiva turned around to find a Pandit staring at him quizzically. His wizened face sported a flowing white beard matched in length only by his silvery mane. Wearing a saffron dhoti and angvastram, he had the calm, gentle look of a man who had already attained nirvana, but had chosen to remain on earth to fulfil some heavenly duties. Shiva realised that the Pandit was the first truly old person that he had seen in Meluha. 'I am sorry. Am I not allowed in here?' asked Shiva politely. |
'Of course you are allowed in here. Everyone is allowed into the house of the gods.' |
Shiva smiled. Before he could respond however, the Pandit questioned once again, 'But you don't believe in these gods, do you?' |
The United Nations health agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged the international community on Tuesday not to stigmatise people from the areas affected by the coronavirus epidemic. |
On Monday, the agency explained that while a sudden increase in new cases of the virus was of concern, "the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic". |
The agency said on Tuesday that it had received an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. |
"Unfortunately, this means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease", the agency noted. |
The WHO acknowledged that since the coronavirus was a new disease, it's understandable that its emergence and spread was causing confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. |
But the agency warned that factors were also causing harmful stereotyping, which could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours. |
"Such barriers could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an infectious disease outbreak", the agency warned. |
The announcement said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef and the WHO were developing community-based guides and global campaigns to thwart the effects of stigma on people and the virus response. It also urged governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities to their part to discourage this stigmatisation. |
Also on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a strong appeal, urging all countries to do their part to fight the spread of virus. |
"The disease is still possible to be contained", he said, speaking at a press conference in Geneva alongside the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. |
Mr Ghebreyesus said his agency had not declared the virus a pandemic because: "We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death". But he admitted that the coronavirus epidemics were occurring in different parts of the world, affecting countries differently. |
The United Nations health agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged the international community on Tuesday not to stigmatise people from the areas affected by the coronavirus epidemic. |
On Monday, the agency explained that while a sudden increase in new cases of the virus was of concern, "the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic". |
The agency said on Tuesday that it had received an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. |
"Unfortunately, this means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease", the agency noted. |
The WHO acknowledged that since the coronavirus was a new disease, it's understandable that its emergence and spread was causing confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. |
But the agency warned that factors were also causing harmful stereotyping, which could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours. |
"Such barriers could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an infectious disease outbreak", the agency warned. |
The announcement said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef and the WHO were developing community-based guides and global campaigns to thwart the effects of stigma on people and the virus response. It also urged governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities to their part to discourage this stigmatisation. |
Also on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a strong appeal, urging all countries to do their part to fight the spread of virus. |
"The disease is still possible to be contained", he said, speaking at a press conference in Geneva alongside the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. |
Mr Ghebreyesus said his agency had not declared the virus a pandemic because: "We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death". But he admitted that the coronavirus epidemics were occurring in different parts of the world, affecting countries differently. |
The United Nations health agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged the international community on Tuesday not to stigmatise people from the areas affected by the coronavirus epidemic. |
On Monday, the agency explained that while a sudden increase in new cases of the virus was of concern, "the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic". |
The agency said on Tuesday that it had received an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. |
"Unfortunately, this means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease", the agency noted. |
The WHO acknowledged that since the coronavirus was a new disease, it's understandable that its emergence and spread was causing confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. |
But the agency warned that factors were also causing harmful stereotyping, which could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours. |
"Such barriers could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an infectious disease outbreak", the agency warned. |
The announcement said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef and the WHO were developing community-based guides and global campaigns to thwart the effects of stigma on people and the virus response. It also urged governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities to their part to discourage this stigmatisation. |
Also on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a strong appeal, urging all countries to do their part to fight the spread of virus. |
"The disease is still possible to be contained", he said, speaking at a press conference in Geneva alongside the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. |
Mr Ghebreyesus said his agency had not declared the virus a pandemic because: "We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death". But he admitted that the coronavirus epidemics were occurring in different parts of the world, affecting countries differently. |
The United Nations health agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged the international community on Tuesday not to stigmatise people from the areas affected by the coronavirus epidemic. |
On Monday, the agency explained that while a sudden increase in new cases of the virus was of concern, "the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic". |
The agency said on Tuesday that it had received an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. |
"Unfortunately, this means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease", the agency noted. |
The WHO acknowledged that since the coronavirus was a new disease, it's understandable that its emergence and spread was causing confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. |
But the agency warned that factors were also causing harmful stereotyping, which could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours. |
"Such barriers could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an infectious disease outbreak", the agency warned. |
The announcement said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef and the WHO were developing community-based guides and global campaigns to thwart the effects of stigma on people and the virus response. It also urged governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities to their part to discourage this stigmatisation. |
Also on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a strong appeal, urging all countries to do their part to fight the spread of virus. |
"The disease is still possible to be contained", he said, speaking at a press conference in Geneva alongside the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. |
Mr Ghebreyesus said his agency had not declared the virus a pandemic because: "We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death". But he admitted that the coronavirus epidemics were occurring in different parts of the world, affecting countries differently. |
The United Nations health agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urged the international community on Tuesday not to stigmatise people from the areas affected by the coronavirus epidemic. |
On Monday, the agency explained that while a sudden increase in new cases of the virus was of concern, "the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic". |
The agency said on Tuesday that it had received an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. |
"Unfortunately, this means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease", the agency noted. |
The WHO acknowledged that since the coronavirus was a new disease, it's understandable that its emergence and spread was causing confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. |
But the agency warned that factors were also causing harmful stereotyping, which could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours. |
"Such barriers could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an infectious disease outbreak", the agency warned. |
The announcement said that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef and the WHO were developing community-based guides and global campaigns to thwart the effects of stigma on people and the virus response. It also urged governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities to their part to discourage this stigmatisation. |
Also on Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a strong appeal, urging all countries to do their part to fight the spread of virus. |
"The disease is still possible to be contained", he said, speaking at a press conference in Geneva alongside the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. |
Mr Ghebreyesus said his agency had not declared the virus a pandemic because: "We are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe disease or death". But he admitted that the coronavirus epidemics were occurring in different parts of the world, affecting countries differently. |
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founders conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain. |
Lead defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also complained that Assange had been stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court the previous day. |
He warned that his treatment could "impinge on these proceedings" and asked the judge to give "an indication to prison authorities" that the regime should be relaxed. |
Baraitser said it was a matter for prison officials, saying she did not have the authority to instruct them on how to treat detainees. |
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. |
But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies". |
"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. |
However James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, called the defences testimony a "series of misstatements about how the indictment is formulated." |
He called the Assange teams strategy a fundamental mischaracterisation of... the allegations. |
Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. |
The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May. |
Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, grew visibly tired on Tuesday after listening to hours of proceedings - prompting judge Vanessa Baraitser to check on his condition. |
"Mr Assange is struggling, he's finding it hard to concentrate," a member of his legal team said after conferring with him. |
"He can't communicate with his legal team. Hes finding it very difficult." |
She added that she would expect Assange to be treated fairly and like anyone else. |
WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation - and outrage in Washington. |
In several hours of submissions, Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed. |
"That process involved the US government and State Department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added. |
But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online. |
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founders conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain. |
Lead defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also complained that Assange had been stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court the previous day. |
He warned that his treatment could "impinge on these proceedings" and asked the judge to give "an indication to prison authorities" that the regime should be relaxed. |
Baraitser said it was a matter for prison officials, saying she did not have the authority to instruct them on how to treat detainees. |
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. |
But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies". |
"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. |
However James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, called the defences testimony a "series of misstatements about how the indictment is formulated." |
He called the Assange teams strategy a fundamental mischaracterisation of... the allegations. |
Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. |
The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May. |
Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, grew visibly tired on Tuesday after listening to hours of proceedings - prompting judge Vanessa Baraitser to check on his condition. |
"Mr Assange is struggling, he's finding it hard to concentrate," a member of his legal team said after conferring with him. |
"He can't communicate with his legal team. Hes finding it very difficult." |
She added that she would expect Assange to be treated fairly and like anyone else. |
WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation - and outrage in Washington. |
In several hours of submissions, Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed. |
"That process involved the US government and State Department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added. |
But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online. |
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founders conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain. |
Lead defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also complained that Assange had been stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court the previous day. |
He warned that his treatment could "impinge on these proceedings" and asked the judge to give "an indication to prison authorities" that the regime should be relaxed. |
Baraitser said it was a matter for prison officials, saying she did not have the authority to instruct them on how to treat detainees. |
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. |
But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies". |
"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. |
However James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, called the defences testimony a "series of misstatements about how the indictment is formulated." |
He called the Assange teams strategy a fundamental mischaracterisation of... the allegations. |
Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. |
The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May. |
Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, grew visibly tired on Tuesday after listening to hours of proceedings - prompting judge Vanessa Baraitser to check on his condition. |
"Mr Assange is struggling, he's finding it hard to concentrate," a member of his legal team said after conferring with him. |
"He can't communicate with his legal team. Hes finding it very difficult." |
She added that she would expect Assange to be treated fairly and like anyone else. |
WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation - and outrage in Washington. |
In several hours of submissions, Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed. |
"That process involved the US government and State Department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added. |
But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online. |
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founders conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain. |
Lead defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also complained that Assange had been stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court the previous day. |
He warned that his treatment could "impinge on these proceedings" and asked the judge to give "an indication to prison authorities" that the regime should be relaxed. |
Baraitser said it was a matter for prison officials, saying she did not have the authority to instruct them on how to treat detainees. |
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. |
But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies". |
"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. |
However James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, called the defences testimony a "series of misstatements about how the indictment is formulated." |
He called the Assange teams strategy a fundamental mischaracterisation of... the allegations. |
Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. |
The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May. |
Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, grew visibly tired on Tuesday after listening to hours of proceedings - prompting judge Vanessa Baraitser to check on his condition. |
"Mr Assange is struggling, he's finding it hard to concentrate," a member of his legal team said after conferring with him. |
"He can't communicate with his legal team. Hes finding it very difficult." |
She added that she would expect Assange to be treated fairly and like anyone else. |
WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation - and outrage in Washington. |
In several hours of submissions, Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed. |
"That process involved the US government and State Department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added. |
But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online. |
A lawyer for Julian Assange on Tuesday accused the United States of "boldly and blatantly" misstating facts about the Wikileaks founders conduct, on the second day of his extradition hearing in Britain. |
Lead defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald also complained that Assange had been stripped naked twice and handcuffed 11 times coming and going from court the previous day. |
He warned that his treatment could "impinge on these proceedings" and asked the judge to give "an indication to prison authorities" that the regime should be relaxed. |
Baraitser said it was a matter for prison officials, saying she did not have the authority to instruct them on how to treat detainees. |
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
Washington claims the 48-year-old Australian helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. |
But defence lawyer Mark Summers argued much of the 18-charge US indictment Assange will face if extradited was "provably wrong", adding elements were "lies, lies and more lies". |
"It's difficult to conceive of a clearer example of an extradition request that boldly and blatantly misstates the facts as they are known to be to the US government," he told a packed courtroom in southeast London. |
However James Lewis, a lawyer for the US, called the defences testimony a "series of misstatements about how the indictment is formulated." |
He called the Assange teams strategy a fundamental mischaracterisation of... the allegations. |
Assange spent much of the past decade holed up in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but Washington is now seeking his transfer to stand trial. |
The extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, next to the high-security Belmarsh prison where he is being held, is expected to last five days before reconvening in May. |
Assange, wearing a grey blazer and a sweater over a collared shirt in court, grew visibly tired on Tuesday after listening to hours of proceedings - prompting judge Vanessa Baraitser to check on his condition. |
"Mr Assange is struggling, he's finding it hard to concentrate," a member of his legal team said after conferring with him. |
"He can't communicate with his legal team. Hes finding it very difficult." |
She added that she would expect Assange to be treated fairly and like anyone else. |
WikiLeaks initially worked with newspapers to publish details from the leaked State Department and Pentagon files, which caused a sensation - and outrage in Washington. |
In several hours of submissions, Summers said the partnership with media outlets had led to a rigorous redaction process that included liaising with US officials to ensure sources names were not revealed. |
"That process involved the US government and State Department feeding suggested redactions to the media," he added. |
But Summers said a 2011 book by a journalist from The Guardian revealed the password needed to access the database of unredacted source names and ensured the cache eventually found its way online. |
Nearly 90 per cent-of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM 2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace. China ranks 11th. |
Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter - roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair - is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution. |
Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. |
Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM 2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. |
Next on the list were Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - along with Chengdu and Beijing. |
The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide. |
Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM 2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air". China's average urban PM 2.5 concentration dropped 20 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world. |
All but two per cent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. |
Less data from Africa: The UN says PM 2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. |
More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure. |
Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM 2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. |
In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 per cent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 per cent of cities monitored showing improvements. |
Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations. South Korea was the most polluted for PM 2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche. |
Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data. |
"What cannot be measured cannot be managed", Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime." As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities. |
Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found. |
Global warming and PM 2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas. |
While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease. |
Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labour productivity and educational outcomes. |
Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM 2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York. |
Nearly 90 per cent-of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM 2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace. China ranks 11th. |
Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter - roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair - is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution. |
Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. |
Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM 2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. |
Next on the list were Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - along with Chengdu and Beijing. |
The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide. |
Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM 2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air". China's average urban PM 2.5 concentration dropped 20 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world. |
All but two per cent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. |
Less data from Africa: The UN says PM 2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. |
More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure. |
Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM 2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. |
In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 per cent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 per cent of cities monitored showing improvements. |
Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations. South Korea was the most polluted for PM 2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche. |
Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data. |
"What cannot be measured cannot be managed", Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime." As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities. |
Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found. |
Global warming and PM 2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas. |
While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease. |
Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labour productivity and educational outcomes. |
Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM 2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York. |
Nearly 90 per cent-of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM 2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace. China ranks 11th. |
Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter - roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair - is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution. |
Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. |
Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM 2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. |
Next on the list were Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - along with Chengdu and Beijing. |
The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide. |
Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM 2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air". China's average urban PM 2.5 concentration dropped 20 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world. |
All but two per cent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. |
Less data from Africa: The UN says PM 2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. |
More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure. |
Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM 2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. |
In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 per cent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 per cent of cities monitored showing improvements. |
Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations. South Korea was the most polluted for PM 2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche. |
Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data. |
"What cannot be measured cannot be managed", Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime." As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities. |
Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found. |
Global warming and PM 2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas. |
While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease. |
Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labour productivity and educational outcomes. |
Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM 2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York. |
Nearly 90 per cent-of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM 2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace. China ranks 11th. |
Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter - roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair - is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution. |
Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. |
Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM 2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. |
Next on the list were Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - along with Chengdu and Beijing. |
The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide. |
Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM 2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air". China's average urban PM 2.5 concentration dropped 20 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world. |
All but two per cent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. |
Less data from Africa: The UN says PM 2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. |
More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure. |
Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM 2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. |
In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 per cent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 per cent of cities monitored showing improvements. |
Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations. South Korea was the most polluted for PM 2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche. |
Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data. |
"What cannot be measured cannot be managed", Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime." As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities. |
Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found. |
Global warming and PM 2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas. |
While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease. |
Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labour productivity and educational outcomes. |
Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM 2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York. |
Nearly 90 per cent-of the 200 cities beset by the world's highest levels of deadly micro-pollution are in China and India, with most of the rest in Pakistan and Indonesia, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
Taking population into account, Bangladesh emerged as the country with the worst so-called PM 2.5 pollution, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India, according to the 2019 World Air Quality Report, jointly released by IQAir Group and Greenpeace. China ranks 11th. |
Particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter - roughly 1/30 the width of a human hair - is the most dangerous type of airborne pollution. |
Microscopic flecks are small enough to enter the bloodstream via the respiratory system, leading to asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. |
Among the world's megacities of 10 million or more people, the most PM 2.5-toxic in 2019 was the Indian capital New Delhi, followed by Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata in India, Linyi and Tianjin in China, and Jakarta, Indonesia. |
Next on the list were Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - along with Chengdu and Beijing. |
The IQAir report is based on data from nearly 5,000 cities worldwide. |
Most of the seven million premature deaths attributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to air pollution are caused by PM 2.5 particles, which originate in sandstorms, agriculture, industry, wildfires and especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
"Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health threat," said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. "Ninety percent of the global population is breathing unsafe air". China's average urban PM 2.5 concentration dropped 20 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but last year it still counted 117 of the 200 most polluted cities in the world. |
All but two per cent of China's cities exceeded WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 levels, while 53 percent exceeded less stringent national safety limits. |
Less data from Africa: The UN says PM 2.5 density should not top 25 microgrammes per cubic metre (25 mcg/m3) of air in any 24-hour period. China has set the bar at 35 mcg/m3. |
More than a million premature deaths in China each year are caused by air pollution, according to the WHO. Recent calculations put the toll at up to twice that figure. |
Across a large swathe of northern India and north-central China, meeting WHO standards year-round for PM 2.5 pollution would increase life expectancy up to six or seven years, according to the Air Quality Life Index, developed by researchers at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. |
In India, small particle pollution exceeds WHO limits by 500 per cent, even if air pollution in general declined significantly last year, with 98 per cent of cities monitored showing improvements. |
Among the club of 36 rich OECD nations. South Korea was the most polluted for PM 2.5, counting 105 of the worst 1,000 cities on the index. In Europe, Poland and Italy count 39 and 31 cities, respectively, in this tranche. |
Other parts of the world such as Africa and the Middle East lacked data. |
"What cannot be measured cannot be managed", Hammes said. "Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, currently has less than 100 monitoring stations that make PM2.5 data available to the public in realtime." As of 2018, China alone had more than 1,000 such stations in 200 cities. |
Climate change has begun to amplify the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution, especially through more intense forest fires and sandstorms made worse by spreading desertification, the report found. |
Global warming and PM 2.5 also have the same primary driver: the burning of coal, oil and gas. |
While the link with lung cancer was well established, a recent study showed that most excess deaths from air pollution are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease. |
Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have likewise been linked to drops in cognitive performance, labour productivity and educational outcomes. |
Of cities with more than one million people, the least affected by PM 2.5 are Adelaide, Helsinki, Stockholm, and San Jose in central California, followed by Perth and Melbourne in Australia, and Calgary in Canada, and New York. |
Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove's strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved. |
But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa's Langley facility. |
Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing's wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Nell Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains - Susan G Finley, Nasas oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans. |
Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove's strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved. |
But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa's Langley facility. |
Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing's wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Nell Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains - Susan G Finley, Nasas oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans. |
Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove's strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved. |
But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa's Langley facility. |
Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing's wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Nell Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains - Susan G Finley, Nasas oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans. |
Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove's strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved. |
But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa's Langley facility. |
Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing's wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Nell Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains - Susan G Finley, Nasas oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans. |
Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove's strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved. |
But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa's Langley facility. |
Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing's wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Nell Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains - Susan G Finley, Nasas oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans. |
Namaste Trump was not as joyous as Howdy Modi. The sitting arrangement was too formal for the spectators to emote by dancing or jumping around. For an Indian tamasha, it was very quiet. But on the other hand, I am sure both sides breathed a sigh of relief that Donald Trump did not say anything which embarrassed his host or damaged America's image abroad. The Hindi tweet after the event was a fine touch though, no doubt, carefully drafted and translated. Trump has enough problems with the Roman alphabet; Devanagari would have been too much. |
The most striking aspect of the visit and the roadshow was that for the first though not the last time an American president thought it would help to be seen in India if he wants to get re-elected. India could become a regular stop in US presidential campaigns. India has arrived. No thanks to any government of India but the size and quality of the Indian diaspora in the US. |
The earlier visit to Sabarmati Ashram will go down as a good photo event. In Motera stadium itself, Modi was his usual eloquent self but restrained in rousing the crowd to respond to his calls of "Bharat Mata ki jai". His comparison of similarities between the US and India - Statue of Liberty and Statue of Sardar Patel, etc - would have sounded nice to American TV audiences if anyone was watching at 4:00 am (East Coast) or at 1:00 am farther west. |
It was Trump who gave a much better speech than usual. This was not his hardcore domestic crowd. He saw that his task was to make Indians feel better, so he was happy to flatter Modi. They do feel comfortable with each other. They both came from the outside, are reviled by their domestic liberal media (Trump more than Modi), both succeeded to the anger and despair of their critics, and continue to do so. Together, they will reach 2024 at the top of their countries. |
Even so, Trump was more subtle, praising Indias tolerance and its multi-religious society more than once. He praised the democratic politics in both countries but also hailed India's achievements in the economic sphere. There was a gentle dig at China that India had got this far without using coercion. India was given a high place in the Pacific Ocean theatre as that is the main area of likely conflict between China and the US. Trump, the salesman, boasted about the armaments he had sold to his friend. He praised the space programmes, though found the names Chandrayaan and Mangalayaan challenging. He even attempted to pronounce Vivekananda and almost succeeded. But then Obama did not do better with Indian names. Trump worked hard on his speech. |
Modi can be happy that his friend Donald put on a big show for him. It does ultimately say to the world that India has reached a certain level, not so much for its moral leadership (as Nehru wanted) but for its tangible material achievements and its democracy. |
The ultimate question is: What will all this lead to? There is the trade deal, but Trump's style is to talk and talk about trade deals till he gets something really good for his side. Given the November date for the US presidential election and the crowded schedule Trump will have due to campaigning, it is more likely the deal will be signed in December than before. |
But a deal is guaranteed. Trump went out of his way to emphasise how large a volume of trade each country has in the other. This is a mutually beneficial deal. India has suffered too long from the mistaken belief in self sufficiency and suspicion of foreign trade. The Congress wrecked the Indian economy in the first 30 years after Independence with the twin delusions of swadeshi and socialism. The BJP must not follow suit. |
Namaste Trump was not as joyous as Howdy Modi. The sitting arrangement was too formal for the spectators to emote by dancing or jumping around. For an Indian tamasha, it was very quiet. But on the other hand, I am sure both sides breathed a sigh of relief that Donald Trump did not say anything which embarrassed his host or damaged America's image abroad. The Hindi tweet after the event was a fine touch though, no doubt, carefully drafted and translated. Trump has enough problems with the Roman alphabet; Devanagari would have been too much. |
The most striking aspect of the visit and the roadshow was that for the first though not the last time an American president thought it would help to be seen in India if he wants to get re-elected. India could become a regular stop in US presidential campaigns. India has arrived. No thanks to any government of India but the size and quality of the Indian diaspora in the US. |
The earlier visit to Sabarmati Ashram will go down as a good photo event. In Motera stadium itself, Modi was his usual eloquent self but restrained in rousing the crowd to respond to his calls of "Bharat Mata ki jai". His comparison of similarities between the US and India - Statue of Liberty and Statue of Sardar Patel, etc - would have sounded nice to American TV audiences if anyone was watching at 4:00 am (East Coast) or at 1:00 am farther west. |
It was Trump who gave a much better speech than usual. This was not his hardcore domestic crowd. He saw that his task was to make Indians feel better, so he was happy to flatter Modi. They do feel comfortable with each other. They both came from the outside, are reviled by their domestic liberal media (Trump more than Modi), both succeeded to the anger and despair of their critics, and continue to do so. Together, they will reach 2024 at the top of their countries. |
Even so, Trump was more subtle, praising Indias tolerance and its multi-religious society more than once. He praised the democratic politics in both countries but also hailed India's achievements in the economic sphere. There was a gentle dig at China that India had got this far without using coercion. India was given a high place in the Pacific Ocean theatre as that is the main area of likely conflict between China and the US. Trump, the salesman, boasted about the armaments he had sold to his friend. He praised the space programmes, though found the names Chandrayaan and Mangalayaan challenging. He even attempted to pronounce Vivekananda and almost succeeded. But then Obama did not do better with Indian names. Trump worked hard on his speech. |
Modi can be happy that his friend Donald put on a big show for him. It does ultimately say to the world that India has reached a certain level, not so much for its moral leadership (as Nehru wanted) but for its tangible material achievements and its democracy. |
The ultimate question is: What will all this lead to? There is the trade deal, but Trump's style is to talk and talk about trade deals till he gets something really good for his side. Given the November date for the US presidential election and the crowded schedule Trump will have due to campaigning, it is more likely the deal will be signed in December than before. |
But a deal is guaranteed. Trump went out of his way to emphasise how large a volume of trade each country has in the other. This is a mutually beneficial deal. India has suffered too long from the mistaken belief in self sufficiency and suspicion of foreign trade. The Congress wrecked the Indian economy in the first 30 years after Independence with the twin delusions of swadeshi and socialism. The BJP must not follow suit. |
Namaste Trump was not as joyous as Howdy Modi. The sitting arrangement was too formal for the spectators to emote by dancing or jumping around. For an Indian tamasha, it was very quiet. But on the other hand, I am sure both sides breathed a sigh of relief that Donald Trump did not say anything which embarrassed his host or damaged America's image abroad. The Hindi tweet after the event was a fine touch though, no doubt, carefully drafted and translated. Trump has enough problems with the Roman alphabet; Devanagari would have been too much. |
The most striking aspect of the visit and the roadshow was that for the first though not the last time an American president thought it would help to be seen in India if he wants to get re-elected. India could become a regular stop in US presidential campaigns. India has arrived. No thanks to any government of India but the size and quality of the Indian diaspora in the US. |
The earlier visit to Sabarmati Ashram will go down as a good photo event. In Motera stadium itself, Modi was his usual eloquent self but restrained in rousing the crowd to respond to his calls of "Bharat Mata ki jai". His comparison of similarities between the US and India - Statue of Liberty and Statue of Sardar Patel, etc - would have sounded nice to American TV audiences if anyone was watching at 4:00 am (East Coast) or at 1:00 am farther west. |
It was Trump who gave a much better speech than usual. This was not his hardcore domestic crowd. He saw that his task was to make Indians feel better, so he was happy to flatter Modi. They do feel comfortable with each other. They both came from the outside, are reviled by their domestic liberal media (Trump more than Modi), both succeeded to the anger and despair of their critics, and continue to do so. Together, they will reach 2024 at the top of their countries. |
Even so, Trump was more subtle, praising Indias tolerance and its multi-religious society more than once. He praised the democratic politics in both countries but also hailed India's achievements in the economic sphere. There was a gentle dig at China that India had got this far without using coercion. India was given a high place in the Pacific Ocean theatre as that is the main area of likely conflict between China and the US. Trump, the salesman, boasted about the armaments he had sold to his friend. He praised the space programmes, though found the names Chandrayaan and Mangalayaan challenging. He even attempted to pronounce Vivekananda and almost succeeded. But then Obama did not do better with Indian names. Trump worked hard on his speech. |
Modi can be happy that his friend Donald put on a big show for him. It does ultimately say to the world that India has reached a certain level, not so much for its moral leadership (as Nehru wanted) but for its tangible material achievements and its democracy. |
The ultimate question is: What will all this lead to? There is the trade deal, but Trump's style is to talk and talk about trade deals till he gets something really good for his side. Given the November date for the US presidential election and the crowded schedule Trump will have due to campaigning, it is more likely the deal will be signed in December than before. |
But a deal is guaranteed. Trump went out of his way to emphasise how large a volume of trade each country has in the other. This is a mutually beneficial deal. India has suffered too long from the mistaken belief in self sufficiency and suspicion of foreign trade. The Congress wrecked the Indian economy in the first 30 years after Independence with the twin delusions of swadeshi and socialism. The BJP must not follow suit. |
Namaste Trump was not as joyous as Howdy Modi. The sitting arrangement was too formal for the spectators to emote by dancing or jumping around. For an Indian tamasha, it was very quiet. But on the other hand, I am sure both sides breathed a sigh of relief that Donald Trump did not say anything which embarrassed his host or damaged America's image abroad. The Hindi tweet after the event was a fine touch though, no doubt, carefully drafted and translated. Trump has enough problems with the Roman alphabet; Devanagari would have been too much. |
The most striking aspect of the visit and the roadshow was that for the first though not the last time an American president thought it would help to be seen in India if he wants to get re-elected. India could become a regular stop in US presidential campaigns. India has arrived. No thanks to any government of India but the size and quality of the Indian diaspora in the US. |
The earlier visit to Sabarmati Ashram will go down as a good photo event. In Motera stadium itself, Modi was his usual eloquent self but restrained in rousing the crowd to respond to his calls of "Bharat Mata ki jai". His comparison of similarities between the US and India - Statue of Liberty and Statue of Sardar Patel, etc - would have sounded nice to American TV audiences if anyone was watching at 4:00 am (East Coast) or at 1:00 am farther west. |
It was Trump who gave a much better speech than usual. This was not his hardcore domestic crowd. He saw that his task was to make Indians feel better, so he was happy to flatter Modi. They do feel comfortable with each other. They both came from the outside, are reviled by their domestic liberal media (Trump more than Modi), both succeeded to the anger and despair of their critics, and continue to do so. Together, they will reach 2024 at the top of their countries. |
Even so, Trump was more subtle, praising Indias tolerance and its multi-religious society more than once. He praised the democratic politics in both countries but also hailed India's achievements in the economic sphere. There was a gentle dig at China that India had got this far without using coercion. India was given a high place in the Pacific Ocean theatre as that is the main area of likely conflict between China and the US. Trump, the salesman, boasted about the armaments he had sold to his friend. He praised the space programmes, though found the names Chandrayaan and Mangalayaan challenging. He even attempted to pronounce Vivekananda and almost succeeded. But then Obama did not do better with Indian names. Trump worked hard on his speech. |
Modi can be happy that his friend Donald put on a big show for him. It does ultimately say to the world that India has reached a certain level, not so much for its moral leadership (as Nehru wanted) but for its tangible material achievements and its democracy. |
The ultimate question is: What will all this lead to? There is the trade deal, but Trump's style is to talk and talk about trade deals till he gets something really good for his side. Given the November date for the US presidential election and the crowded schedule Trump will have due to campaigning, it is more likely the deal will be signed in December than before. |
But a deal is guaranteed. Trump went out of his way to emphasise how large a volume of trade each country has in the other. This is a mutually beneficial deal. India has suffered too long from the mistaken belief in self sufficiency and suspicion of foreign trade. The Congress wrecked the Indian economy in the first 30 years after Independence with the twin delusions of swadeshi and socialism. The BJP must not follow suit. |
Namaste Trump was not as joyous as Howdy Modi. The sitting arrangement was too formal for the spectators to emote by dancing or jumping around. For an Indian tamasha, it was very quiet. But on the other hand, I am sure both sides breathed a sigh of relief that Donald Trump did not say anything which embarrassed his host or damaged America's image abroad. The Hindi tweet after the event was a fine touch though, no doubt, carefully drafted and translated. Trump has enough problems with the Roman alphabet; Devanagari would have been too much. |
The most striking aspect of the visit and the roadshow was that for the first though not the last time an American president thought it would help to be seen in India if he wants to get re-elected. India could become a regular stop in US presidential campaigns. India has arrived. No thanks to any government of India but the size and quality of the Indian diaspora in the US. |
The earlier visit to Sabarmati Ashram will go down as a good photo event. In Motera stadium itself, Modi was his usual eloquent self but restrained in rousing the crowd to respond to his calls of "Bharat Mata ki jai". His comparison of similarities between the US and India - Statue of Liberty and Statue of Sardar Patel, etc - would have sounded nice to American TV audiences if anyone was watching at 4:00 am (East Coast) or at 1:00 am farther west. |
It was Trump who gave a much better speech than usual. This was not his hardcore domestic crowd. He saw that his task was to make Indians feel better, so he was happy to flatter Modi. They do feel comfortable with each other. They both came from the outside, are reviled by their domestic liberal media (Trump more than Modi), both succeeded to the anger and despair of their critics, and continue to do so. Together, they will reach 2024 at the top of their countries. |
Even so, Trump was more subtle, praising Indias tolerance and its multi-religious society more than once. He praised the democratic politics in both countries but also hailed India's achievements in the economic sphere. There was a gentle dig at China that India had got this far without using coercion. India was given a high place in the Pacific Ocean theatre as that is the main area of likely conflict between China and the US. Trump, the salesman, boasted about the armaments he had sold to his friend. He praised the space programmes, though found the names Chandrayaan and Mangalayaan challenging. He even attempted to pronounce Vivekananda and almost succeeded. But then Obama did not do better with Indian names. Trump worked hard on his speech. |
Modi can be happy that his friend Donald put on a big show for him. It does ultimately say to the world that India has reached a certain level, not so much for its moral leadership (as Nehru wanted) but for its tangible material achievements and its democracy. |
The ultimate question is: What will all this lead to? There is the trade deal, but Trump's style is to talk and talk about trade deals till he gets something really good for his side. Given the November date for the US presidential election and the crowded schedule Trump will have due to campaigning, it is more likely the deal will be signed in December than before. |
But a deal is guaranteed. Trump went out of his way to emphasise how large a volume of trade each country has in the other. This is a mutually beneficial deal. India has suffered too long from the mistaken belief in self sufficiency and suspicion of foreign trade. The Congress wrecked the Indian economy in the first 30 years after Independence with the twin delusions of swadeshi and socialism. The BJP must not follow suit. |
Often dubbed as the 'next growth frontier', Africa is in the midst of a resurgence-strengthened democratic processes and a surge in foreign investment has led to rapid and transformative economic growth in the last decade. Six of the top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. With the fastest growing youth population in the world, and considerable natural resources and human capital at its disposal, Africa poised to be a significant growth pole in the global economy. |
India has had a similarly remarkable growth story. With a consistent GDP growth of seven percent, India is on its way to becoming a five-trillion dollar economy. Its rapid economic expansion has allowed it become a key regional and global power. |
Vulnerabilities of India & Africa: |
Even as both, India and Africa have made considerable strides, the way these geographies navigate their development agenda in the coming decades will prove to be critical. They will remain the fastest growing regions in the world, but will also be the most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is compounded by the energy needs required by both to sustain their growth trajectories. |
India, for one, despite making serious headway into solar energy, remains heavily dependent on conventional sources for its energy needs and is the worlds fourth largest carbon emitter. In Africa, energy poverty costs the continent two to four GDP percentage points per year, and electricity demands are expected to triple by 2030. |
Partnership for Sustainability: |
The commitment to climate action is reflected in Indias SDG commitments and Africa's Agenda 2063, which envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development". |
Thus, the intersection between common developmental goals, and the need for a low-carbon transition creates avenues- for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder partnership that will be critical in determining the future of not only these two geographies, but of global growth and development itself. |
It is within this context that the India and Africa Partnership for Sustainability was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) on 15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Solar Alliance: |
The India-Africa relationship has grown exponentially in the last decade. India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner with 21 percent of Indian foreign investment directed to the continent between 2008 and 2016. India has also increased its visibility in recent years through high-level visits, increased diplomatic ties, and the creation of education and skill development schemes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. |
Perhaps the most prominent sustainable development partnership between the two regions is reflected through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP21 in 2015, for the "massive deployment of affordable solar energy". |
Through the ISA, India has pledged a concessional credit line of US2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects. The ISA has also partnered with the African Development Bank to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, which aims to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who remain off-grid. |
Often dubbed as the 'next growth frontier', Africa is in the midst of a resurgence-strengthened democratic processes and a surge in foreign investment has led to rapid and transformative economic growth in the last decade. Six of the top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. With the fastest growing youth population in the world, and considerable natural resources and human capital at its disposal, Africa poised to be a significant growth pole in the global economy. |
India has had a similarly remarkable growth story. With a consistent GDP growth of seven percent, India is on its way to becoming a five-trillion dollar economy. Its rapid economic expansion has allowed it become a key regional and global power. |
Vulnerabilities of India & Africa: |
Even as both, India and Africa have made considerable strides, the way these geographies navigate their development agenda in the coming decades will prove to be critical. They will remain the fastest growing regions in the world, but will also be the most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is compounded by the energy needs required by both to sustain their growth trajectories. |
India, for one, despite making serious headway into solar energy, remains heavily dependent on conventional sources for its energy needs and is the worlds fourth largest carbon emitter. In Africa, energy poverty costs the continent two to four GDP percentage points per year, and electricity demands are expected to triple by 2030. |
Partnership for Sustainability: |
The commitment to climate action is reflected in Indias SDG commitments and Africa's Agenda 2063, which envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development". |
Thus, the intersection between common developmental goals, and the need for a low-carbon transition creates avenues- for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder partnership that will be critical in determining the future of not only these two geographies, but of global growth and development itself. |
It is within this context that the India and Africa Partnership for Sustainability was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) on 15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Solar Alliance: |
The India-Africa relationship has grown exponentially in the last decade. India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner with 21 percent of Indian foreign investment directed to the continent between 2008 and 2016. India has also increased its visibility in recent years through high-level visits, increased diplomatic ties, and the creation of education and skill development schemes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. |
Perhaps the most prominent sustainable development partnership between the two regions is reflected through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP21 in 2015, for the "massive deployment of affordable solar energy". |
Through the ISA, India has pledged a concessional credit line of US2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects. The ISA has also partnered with the African Development Bank to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, which aims to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who remain off-grid. |
Often dubbed as the 'next growth frontier', Africa is in the midst of a resurgence-strengthened democratic processes and a surge in foreign investment has led to rapid and transformative economic growth in the last decade. Six of the top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. With the fastest growing youth population in the world, and considerable natural resources and human capital at its disposal, Africa poised to be a significant growth pole in the global economy. |
India has had a similarly remarkable growth story. With a consistent GDP growth of seven percent, India is on its way to becoming a five-trillion dollar economy. Its rapid economic expansion has allowed it become a key regional and global power. |
Vulnerabilities of India & Africa: |
Even as both, India and Africa have made considerable strides, the way these geographies navigate their development agenda in the coming decades will prove to be critical. They will remain the fastest growing regions in the world, but will also be the most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is compounded by the energy needs required by both to sustain their growth trajectories. |
India, for one, despite making serious headway into solar energy, remains heavily dependent on conventional sources for its energy needs and is the worlds fourth largest carbon emitter. In Africa, energy poverty costs the continent two to four GDP percentage points per year, and electricity demands are expected to triple by 2030. |
Partnership for Sustainability: |
The commitment to climate action is reflected in Indias SDG commitments and Africa's Agenda 2063, which envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development". |
Thus, the intersection between common developmental goals, and the need for a low-carbon transition creates avenues- for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder partnership that will be critical in determining the future of not only these two geographies, but of global growth and development itself. |
It is within this context that the India and Africa Partnership for Sustainability was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) on 15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Solar Alliance: |
The India-Africa relationship has grown exponentially in the last decade. India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner with 21 percent of Indian foreign investment directed to the continent between 2008 and 2016. India has also increased its visibility in recent years through high-level visits, increased diplomatic ties, and the creation of education and skill development schemes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. |
Perhaps the most prominent sustainable development partnership between the two regions is reflected through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP21 in 2015, for the "massive deployment of affordable solar energy". |
Through the ISA, India has pledged a concessional credit line of US2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects. The ISA has also partnered with the African Development Bank to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, which aims to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who remain off-grid. |
Often dubbed as the 'next growth frontier', Africa is in the midst of a resurgence-strengthened democratic processes and a surge in foreign investment has led to rapid and transformative economic growth in the last decade. Six of the top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. With the fastest growing youth population in the world, and considerable natural resources and human capital at its disposal, Africa poised to be a significant growth pole in the global economy. |
India has had a similarly remarkable growth story. With a consistent GDP growth of seven percent, India is on its way to becoming a five-trillion dollar economy. Its rapid economic expansion has allowed it become a key regional and global power. |
Vulnerabilities of India & Africa: |
Even as both, India and Africa have made considerable strides, the way these geographies navigate their development agenda in the coming decades will prove to be critical. They will remain the fastest growing regions in the world, but will also be the most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is compounded by the energy needs required by both to sustain their growth trajectories. |
India, for one, despite making serious headway into solar energy, remains heavily dependent on conventional sources for its energy needs and is the worlds fourth largest carbon emitter. In Africa, energy poverty costs the continent two to four GDP percentage points per year, and electricity demands are expected to triple by 2030. |
Partnership for Sustainability: |
The commitment to climate action is reflected in Indias SDG commitments and Africa's Agenda 2063, which envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development". |
Thus, the intersection between common developmental goals, and the need for a low-carbon transition creates avenues- for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder partnership that will be critical in determining the future of not only these two geographies, but of global growth and development itself. |
It is within this context that the India and Africa Partnership for Sustainability was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) on 15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Solar Alliance: |
The India-Africa relationship has grown exponentially in the last decade. India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner with 21 percent of Indian foreign investment directed to the continent between 2008 and 2016. India has also increased its visibility in recent years through high-level visits, increased diplomatic ties, and the creation of education and skill development schemes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. |
Perhaps the most prominent sustainable development partnership between the two regions is reflected through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP21 in 2015, for the "massive deployment of affordable solar energy". |
Through the ISA, India has pledged a concessional credit line of US2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects. The ISA has also partnered with the African Development Bank to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, which aims to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who remain off-grid. |
Often dubbed as the 'next growth frontier', Africa is in the midst of a resurgence-strengthened democratic processes and a surge in foreign investment has led to rapid and transformative economic growth in the last decade. Six of the top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. With the fastest growing youth population in the world, and considerable natural resources and human capital at its disposal, Africa poised to be a significant growth pole in the global economy. |
India has had a similarly remarkable growth story. With a consistent GDP growth of seven percent, India is on its way to becoming a five-trillion dollar economy. Its rapid economic expansion has allowed it become a key regional and global power. |
Vulnerabilities of India & Africa: |
Even as both, India and Africa have made considerable strides, the way these geographies navigate their development agenda in the coming decades will prove to be critical. They will remain the fastest growing regions in the world, but will also be the most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is compounded by the energy needs required by both to sustain their growth trajectories. |
India, for one, despite making serious headway into solar energy, remains heavily dependent on conventional sources for its energy needs and is the worlds fourth largest carbon emitter. In Africa, energy poverty costs the continent two to four GDP percentage points per year, and electricity demands are expected to triple by 2030. |
Partnership for Sustainability: |
The commitment to climate action is reflected in Indias SDG commitments and Africa's Agenda 2063, which envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development". |
Thus, the intersection between common developmental goals, and the need for a low-carbon transition creates avenues- for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder partnership that will be critical in determining the future of not only these two geographies, but of global growth and development itself. |
It is within this context that the India and Africa Partnership for Sustainability was hosted on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) on 15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. |
Solar Alliance: |
The India-Africa relationship has grown exponentially in the last decade. India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner with 21 percent of Indian foreign investment directed to the continent between 2008 and 2016. India has also increased its visibility in recent years through high-level visits, increased diplomatic ties, and the creation of education and skill development schemes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. |
Perhaps the most prominent sustainable development partnership between the two regions is reflected through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP21 in 2015, for the "massive deployment of affordable solar energy". |
Through the ISA, India has pledged a concessional credit line of US2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects. The ISA has also partnered with the African Development Bank to develop 10,000 MW of solar power systems across the Sahel, which aims to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who remain off-grid. |
The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in April 2019 saw 37 world leaders gather in Beijing to discuss more bilateral project opportunities with China. |
On the sidelines, however, the emerging Digital Silk Road was featured during the "Belt and Road CEO Conference", a first, which brought representation by global Fortune 500 companies and other Chinese firms as a sign of their interest. |
Since 2013, Beijing has inked 173 deals with 125 countries and 29 international organizations under the massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Boosting connectivity has been the overarching concept of the BRI. So far, the bulk of Chinese investments have been crowded around physical infrastructure projects in BRI host countries. |
Agenda of Digital Silk Road: |
The Digital Silk Road, on the other hand, falls under the subgoal of facilities connectivity of the BRI. It was first introduced as the "Information Silk Road" in a March 2015. |
Its agenda included strengthening internet infrastructure, deepening space cooperation, developing common technology standards, and improving the efficiency of policing systems among the Belt and Road countries. |
China is looking to build fibre optic cables, international trunk passageways, mobile structures and e-commerce links. These technologies are designed to supplement the Belt and Road's physical infrastructure; while introducing common technical standards in participating nations, most of which lack rudimentary internet facilities. |
China is building fibre optic cable projects linking Beijing to Myanmar, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. It is also installing 5G mobile technology - a central component of Chinas digital economy - across a wide swathe of BRI. |
Technological interventions by China: |
Since its launch, the Digital Silk Road has been bringing new waves of technological opportunities for emerging economies in Asia. |
In 2016, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established two regional research centers in Hainan and Xinjiang as part of a "Digital Earth Under the Information Silk Road" initiative to gather space-based remote sensing data for multiple projects under the BRI, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. |
At the same time, Chinese industries have also been actively promoting the development of BeiDou- 2, a Chinese-constructed and operated global satellite navigation system set to consist of 35 satellites, by 2020, |
The China Satellite Navigation Office intends for the BeiDou navigation satellite system to be commercially used worldwide as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) owned by the U.S government. Already a number of Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand have adopted BeiDou |
But these developments are not only confined to space. In late 2017, Chinese company Huawei Marine partnered with the Pakistani authorities to start constructing the Pakistan East Africa Cable Express, which will connect Pakistan to Kenya and Djibouti. Huawei Marine also oversaw the completion of submarine cable projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, and previously planned to build a submarine cable route from the Solomon Islands to Sydney, Australia before its bid was dropped in favour of Australian government funding. |
The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in April 2019 saw 37 world leaders gather in Beijing to discuss more bilateral project opportunities with China. |
On the sidelines, however, the emerging Digital Silk Road was featured during the "Belt and Road CEO Conference", a first, which brought representation by global Fortune 500 companies and other Chinese firms as a sign of their interest. |
Since 2013, Beijing has inked 173 deals with 125 countries and 29 international organizations under the massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Boosting connectivity has been the overarching concept of the BRI. So far, the bulk of Chinese investments have been crowded around physical infrastructure projects in BRI host countries. |
Agenda of Digital Silk Road: |
The Digital Silk Road, on the other hand, falls under the subgoal of facilities connectivity of the BRI. It was first introduced as the "Information Silk Road" in a March 2015. |
Its agenda included strengthening internet infrastructure, deepening space cooperation, developing common technology standards, and improving the efficiency of policing systems among the Belt and Road countries. |
China is looking to build fibre optic cables, international trunk passageways, mobile structures and e-commerce links. These technologies are designed to supplement the Belt and Road's physical infrastructure; while introducing common technical standards in participating nations, most of which lack rudimentary internet facilities. |
China is building fibre optic cable projects linking Beijing to Myanmar, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. It is also installing 5G mobile technology - a central component of Chinas digital economy - across a wide swathe of BRI. |
Technological interventions by China: |
Since its launch, the Digital Silk Road has been bringing new waves of technological opportunities for emerging economies in Asia. |
In 2016, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established two regional research centers in Hainan and Xinjiang as part of a "Digital Earth Under the Information Silk Road" initiative to gather space-based remote sensing data for multiple projects under the BRI, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. |
At the same time, Chinese industries have also been actively promoting the development of BeiDou- 2, a Chinese-constructed and operated global satellite navigation system set to consist of 35 satellites, by 2020, |
The China Satellite Navigation Office intends for the BeiDou navigation satellite system to be commercially used worldwide as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) owned by the U.S government. Already a number of Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand have adopted BeiDou |
But these developments are not only confined to space. In late 2017, Chinese company Huawei Marine partnered with the Pakistani authorities to start constructing the Pakistan East Africa Cable Express, which will connect Pakistan to Kenya and Djibouti. Huawei Marine also oversaw the completion of submarine cable projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, and previously planned to build a submarine cable route from the Solomon Islands to Sydney, Australia before its bid was dropped in favour of Australian government funding. |
The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in April 2019 saw 37 world leaders gather in Beijing to discuss more bilateral project opportunities with China. |
On the sidelines, however, the emerging Digital Silk Road was featured during the "Belt and Road CEO Conference", a first, which brought representation by global Fortune 500 companies and other Chinese firms as a sign of their interest. |
Since 2013, Beijing has inked 173 deals with 125 countries and 29 international organizations under the massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Boosting connectivity has been the overarching concept of the BRI. So far, the bulk of Chinese investments have been crowded around physical infrastructure projects in BRI host countries. |
Agenda of Digital Silk Road: |
The Digital Silk Road, on the other hand, falls under the subgoal of facilities connectivity of the BRI. It was first introduced as the "Information Silk Road" in a March 2015. |
Its agenda included strengthening internet infrastructure, deepening space cooperation, developing common technology standards, and improving the efficiency of policing systems among the Belt and Road countries. |
China is looking to build fibre optic cables, international trunk passageways, mobile structures and e-commerce links. These technologies are designed to supplement the Belt and Road's physical infrastructure; while introducing common technical standards in participating nations, most of which lack rudimentary internet facilities. |
China is building fibre optic cable projects linking Beijing to Myanmar, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. It is also installing 5G mobile technology - a central component of Chinas digital economy - across a wide swathe of BRI. |
Technological interventions by China: |
Since its launch, the Digital Silk Road has been bringing new waves of technological opportunities for emerging economies in Asia. |
In 2016, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established two regional research centers in Hainan and Xinjiang as part of a "Digital Earth Under the Information Silk Road" initiative to gather space-based remote sensing data for multiple projects under the BRI, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. |
At the same time, Chinese industries have also been actively promoting the development of BeiDou- 2, a Chinese-constructed and operated global satellite navigation system set to consist of 35 satellites, by 2020, |
The China Satellite Navigation Office intends for the BeiDou navigation satellite system to be commercially used worldwide as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) owned by the U.S government. Already a number of Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand have adopted BeiDou |
But these developments are not only confined to space. In late 2017, Chinese company Huawei Marine partnered with the Pakistani authorities to start constructing the Pakistan East Africa Cable Express, which will connect Pakistan to Kenya and Djibouti. Huawei Marine also oversaw the completion of submarine cable projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, and previously planned to build a submarine cable route from the Solomon Islands to Sydney, Australia before its bid was dropped in favour of Australian government funding. |
The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in April 2019 saw 37 world leaders gather in Beijing to discuss more bilateral project opportunities with China. |
On the sidelines, however, the emerging Digital Silk Road was featured during the "Belt and Road CEO Conference", a first, which brought representation by global Fortune 500 companies and other Chinese firms as a sign of their interest. |
Since 2013, Beijing has inked 173 deals with 125 countries and 29 international organizations under the massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Boosting connectivity has been the overarching concept of the BRI. So far, the bulk of Chinese investments have been crowded around physical infrastructure projects in BRI host countries. |
Agenda of Digital Silk Road: |
The Digital Silk Road, on the other hand, falls under the subgoal of facilities connectivity of the BRI. It was first introduced as the "Information Silk Road" in a March 2015. |
Its agenda included strengthening internet infrastructure, deepening space cooperation, developing common technology standards, and improving the efficiency of policing systems among the Belt and Road countries. |
China is looking to build fibre optic cables, international trunk passageways, mobile structures and e-commerce links. These technologies are designed to supplement the Belt and Road's physical infrastructure; while introducing common technical standards in participating nations, most of which lack rudimentary internet facilities. |
China is building fibre optic cable projects linking Beijing to Myanmar, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. It is also installing 5G mobile technology - a central component of Chinas digital economy - across a wide swathe of BRI. |
Technological interventions by China: |
Since its launch, the Digital Silk Road has been bringing new waves of technological opportunities for emerging economies in Asia. |
In 2016, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established two regional research centers in Hainan and Xinjiang as part of a "Digital Earth Under the Information Silk Road" initiative to gather space-based remote sensing data for multiple projects under the BRI, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. |
At the same time, Chinese industries have also been actively promoting the development of BeiDou- 2, a Chinese-constructed and operated global satellite navigation system set to consist of 35 satellites, by 2020, |
The China Satellite Navigation Office intends for the BeiDou navigation satellite system to be commercially used worldwide as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) owned by the U.S government. Already a number of Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand have adopted BeiDou |
But these developments are not only confined to space. In late 2017, Chinese company Huawei Marine partnered with the Pakistani authorities to start constructing the Pakistan East Africa Cable Express, which will connect Pakistan to Kenya and Djibouti. Huawei Marine also oversaw the completion of submarine cable projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, and previously planned to build a submarine cable route from the Solomon Islands to Sydney, Australia before its bid was dropped in favour of Australian government funding. |
The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in April 2019 saw 37 world leaders gather in Beijing to discuss more bilateral project opportunities with China. |
On the sidelines, however, the emerging Digital Silk Road was featured during the "Belt and Road CEO Conference", a first, which brought representation by global Fortune 500 companies and other Chinese firms as a sign of their interest. |
Since 2013, Beijing has inked 173 deals with 125 countries and 29 international organizations under the massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Boosting connectivity has been the overarching concept of the BRI. So far, the bulk of Chinese investments have been crowded around physical infrastructure projects in BRI host countries. |
Agenda of Digital Silk Road: |
The Digital Silk Road, on the other hand, falls under the subgoal of facilities connectivity of the BRI. It was first introduced as the "Information Silk Road" in a March 2015. |
Its agenda included strengthening internet infrastructure, deepening space cooperation, developing common technology standards, and improving the efficiency of policing systems among the Belt and Road countries. |
China is looking to build fibre optic cables, international trunk passageways, mobile structures and e-commerce links. These technologies are designed to supplement the Belt and Road's physical infrastructure; while introducing common technical standards in participating nations, most of which lack rudimentary internet facilities. |
China is building fibre optic cable projects linking Beijing to Myanmar, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. It is also installing 5G mobile technology - a central component of Chinas digital economy - across a wide swathe of BRI. |
Technological interventions by China: |
Since its launch, the Digital Silk Road has been bringing new waves of technological opportunities for emerging economies in Asia. |
In 2016, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established two regional research centers in Hainan and Xinjiang as part of a "Digital Earth Under the Information Silk Road" initiative to gather space-based remote sensing data for multiple projects under the BRI, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. |
At the same time, Chinese industries have also been actively promoting the development of BeiDou- 2, a Chinese-constructed and operated global satellite navigation system set to consist of 35 satellites, by 2020, |
The China Satellite Navigation Office intends for the BeiDou navigation satellite system to be commercially used worldwide as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) owned by the U.S government. Already a number of Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand have adopted BeiDou |
But these developments are not only confined to space. In late 2017, Chinese company Huawei Marine partnered with the Pakistani authorities to start constructing the Pakistan East Africa Cable Express, which will connect Pakistan to Kenya and Djibouti. Huawei Marine also oversaw the completion of submarine cable projects in Indonesia and the Philippines, and previously planned to build a submarine cable route from the Solomon Islands to Sydney, Australia before its bid was dropped in favour of Australian government funding. |
The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Act, received President's assent in November 5, 2019, 16 years after the Assembly passed the first version of the Bill, comes into effect on December 1. Under this Act, confessions before the police are admissible as evidence and the investigation period or the period of filing an FIR has been extended from 90 to 180 days. |
The new law defines a terrorist act as "an act committed with the intention to disturb law and order or public order or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the state", apart from economic offences. Economic offences include ponzi schemes, extortion, land grabbing, contract killings, cyber crimes, human trafficking, multi-level marketing schemes and organised betting. |
Background: The Bill was first introduced in the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Then called the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, it was returned by three successive Presidents: A P J Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. |
After it was passed for the first time, the Bill was returned in 2004 by President Kalam who objected to provisions relating to the interception of communication. In 2008, President Patil returned it over provisions on confessions made to a police officer. After this, when some changes were made to the Bill and it became GCTOC in 2015, President Mukherjee did not give his assent seeking some clarifications on the provisions. |
In most terror cases. Investigations are carried out under both central and state laws, which can sometimes come into conflict. This is where Presidential assent guided by Article 254(2) of the Constitution comes into play. |
According to the provisions of this Article (254(2)), in case a state law clashes with an earlier or existing law made by Parliament, the law made by the legislature of the state prevails, provided it has received the Presidents assent. This is so, "provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State". |
The Gujarat anti-terror law is not the only one that did not or has not got the President's assent. A Bill by Madhya Pradesh is yet to get approval. The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Bill, now a law, was not granted approval for amendments in 2009. After the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) lapsed, the state government sought to reintroduce the law in 2006 but it did not get the President's assent. |
Among state laws that did get Presidential assent, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was the first. Enacted in 1999, it was extended to the National Capital Territory in 2002 by the Home Ministry. Then came Karnatakas Bill, passed in 2000. In 2006, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (Special Public Security Act), 2005 received the President's assent. |
How GCTOC is different from MCOCA? |
The anti-terrorism law, which three Presidents had returned to the state, draws heavily from 'The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)', 1999, with two significant differences: the checks on interception of communication that are part of the Maharashtra law are missing in the Gujarat law; and the definition of "terrorist act" in the GCTOCA also covers "intention to disturb public order". |
These differences make the Gujarat law tougher and broader in scope than MCOCA. |
The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Act, received President's assent in November 5, 2019, 16 years after the Assembly passed the first version of the Bill, comes into effect on December 1. Under this Act, confessions before the police are admissible as evidence and the investigation period or the period of filing an FIR has been extended from 90 to 180 days. |
The new law defines a terrorist act as "an act committed with the intention to disturb law and order or public order or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the state", apart from economic offences. Economic offences include ponzi schemes, extortion, land grabbing, contract killings, cyber crimes, human trafficking, multi-level marketing schemes and organised betting. |
Background: The Bill was first introduced in the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Then called the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, it was returned by three successive Presidents: A P J Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. |
After it was passed for the first time, the Bill was returned in 2004 by President Kalam who objected to provisions relating to the interception of communication. In 2008, President Patil returned it over provisions on confessions made to a police officer. After this, when some changes were made to the Bill and it became GCTOC in 2015, President Mukherjee did not give his assent seeking some clarifications on the provisions. |
In most terror cases. Investigations are carried out under both central and state laws, which can sometimes come into conflict. This is where Presidential assent guided by Article 254(2) of the Constitution comes into play. |
According to the provisions of this Article (254(2)), in case a state law clashes with an earlier or existing law made by Parliament, the law made by the legislature of the state prevails, provided it has received the Presidents assent. This is so, "provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State". |
The Gujarat anti-terror law is not the only one that did not or has not got the President's assent. A Bill by Madhya Pradesh is yet to get approval. The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Bill, now a law, was not granted approval for amendments in 2009. After the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) lapsed, the state government sought to reintroduce the law in 2006 but it did not get the President's assent. |
Among state laws that did get Presidential assent, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was the first. Enacted in 1999, it was extended to the National Capital Territory in 2002 by the Home Ministry. Then came Karnatakas Bill, passed in 2000. In 2006, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (Special Public Security Act), 2005 received the President's assent. |
How GCTOC is different from MCOCA? |
The anti-terrorism law, which three Presidents had returned to the state, draws heavily from 'The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)', 1999, with two significant differences: the checks on interception of communication that are part of the Maharashtra law are missing in the Gujarat law; and the definition of "terrorist act" in the GCTOCA also covers "intention to disturb public order". |
These differences make the Gujarat law tougher and broader in scope than MCOCA. |
The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Act, received President's assent in November 5, 2019, 16 years after the Assembly passed the first version of the Bill, comes into effect on December 1. Under this Act, confessions before the police are admissible as evidence and the investigation period or the period of filing an FIR has been extended from 90 to 180 days. |
The new law defines a terrorist act as "an act committed with the intention to disturb law and order or public order or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the state", apart from economic offences. Economic offences include ponzi schemes, extortion, land grabbing, contract killings, cyber crimes, human trafficking, multi-level marketing schemes and organised betting. |
Background: The Bill was first introduced in the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Then called the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, it was returned by three successive Presidents: A P J Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. |
After it was passed for the first time, the Bill was returned in 2004 by President Kalam who objected to provisions relating to the interception of communication. In 2008, President Patil returned it over provisions on confessions made to a police officer. After this, when some changes were made to the Bill and it became GCTOC in 2015, President Mukherjee did not give his assent seeking some clarifications on the provisions. |
In most terror cases. Investigations are carried out under both central and state laws, which can sometimes come into conflict. This is where Presidential assent guided by Article 254(2) of the Constitution comes into play. |
According to the provisions of this Article (254(2)), in case a state law clashes with an earlier or existing law made by Parliament, the law made by the legislature of the state prevails, provided it has received the Presidents assent. This is so, "provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State". |
The Gujarat anti-terror law is not the only one that did not or has not got the President's assent. A Bill by Madhya Pradesh is yet to get approval. The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Bill, now a law, was not granted approval for amendments in 2009. After the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) lapsed, the state government sought to reintroduce the law in 2006 but it did not get the President's assent. |
Among state laws that did get Presidential assent, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was the first. Enacted in 1999, it was extended to the National Capital Territory in 2002 by the Home Ministry. Then came Karnatakas Bill, passed in 2000. In 2006, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (Special Public Security Act), 2005 received the President's assent. |
How GCTOC is different from MCOCA? |
The anti-terrorism law, which three Presidents had returned to the state, draws heavily from 'The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)', 1999, with two significant differences: the checks on interception of communication that are part of the Maharashtra law are missing in the Gujarat law; and the definition of "terrorist act" in the GCTOCA also covers "intention to disturb public order". |
These differences make the Gujarat law tougher and broader in scope than MCOCA. |
The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Act, received President's assent in November 5, 2019, 16 years after the Assembly passed the first version of the Bill, comes into effect on December 1. Under this Act, confessions before the police are admissible as evidence and the investigation period or the period of filing an FIR has been extended from 90 to 180 days. |
The new law defines a terrorist act as "an act committed with the intention to disturb law and order or public order or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the state", apart from economic offences. Economic offences include ponzi schemes, extortion, land grabbing, contract killings, cyber crimes, human trafficking, multi-level marketing schemes and organised betting. |
Background: The Bill was first introduced in the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Then called the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, it was returned by three successive Presidents: A P J Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. |
After it was passed for the first time, the Bill was returned in 2004 by President Kalam who objected to provisions relating to the interception of communication. In 2008, President Patil returned it over provisions on confessions made to a police officer. After this, when some changes were made to the Bill and it became GCTOC in 2015, President Mukherjee did not give his assent seeking some clarifications on the provisions. |
In most terror cases. Investigations are carried out under both central and state laws, which can sometimes come into conflict. This is where Presidential assent guided by Article 254(2) of the Constitution comes into play. |
According to the provisions of this Article (254(2)), in case a state law clashes with an earlier or existing law made by Parliament, the law made by the legislature of the state prevails, provided it has received the Presidents assent. This is so, "provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State". |
The Gujarat anti-terror law is not the only one that did not or has not got the President's assent. A Bill by Madhya Pradesh is yet to get approval. The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Bill, now a law, was not granted approval for amendments in 2009. After the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) lapsed, the state government sought to reintroduce the law in 2006 but it did not get the President's assent. |
Among state laws that did get Presidential assent, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was the first. Enacted in 1999, it was extended to the National Capital Territory in 2002 by the Home Ministry. Then came Karnatakas Bill, passed in 2000. In 2006, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (Special Public Security Act), 2005 received the President's assent. |
How GCTOC is different from MCOCA? |
The anti-terrorism law, which three Presidents had returned to the state, draws heavily from 'The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)', 1999, with two significant differences: the checks on interception of communication that are part of the Maharashtra law are missing in the Gujarat law; and the definition of "terrorist act" in the GCTOCA also covers "intention to disturb public order". |
These differences make the Gujarat law tougher and broader in scope than MCOCA. |
The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Act, received President's assent in November 5, 2019, 16 years after the Assembly passed the first version of the Bill, comes into effect on December 1. Under this Act, confessions before the police are admissible as evidence and the investigation period or the period of filing an FIR has been extended from 90 to 180 days. |
The new law defines a terrorist act as "an act committed with the intention to disturb law and order or public order or threaten the unity, integrity and security of the state", apart from economic offences. Economic offences include ponzi schemes, extortion, land grabbing, contract killings, cyber crimes, human trafficking, multi-level marketing schemes and organised betting. |
Background: The Bill was first introduced in the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Then called the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, it was returned by three successive Presidents: A P J Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. |
After it was passed for the first time, the Bill was returned in 2004 by President Kalam who objected to provisions relating to the interception of communication. In 2008, President Patil returned it over provisions on confessions made to a police officer. After this, when some changes were made to the Bill and it became GCTOC in 2015, President Mukherjee did not give his assent seeking some clarifications on the provisions. |
In most terror cases. Investigations are carried out under both central and state laws, which can sometimes come into conflict. This is where Presidential assent guided by Article 254(2) of the Constitution comes into play. |
According to the provisions of this Article (254(2)), in case a state law clashes with an earlier or existing law made by Parliament, the law made by the legislature of the state prevails, provided it has received the Presidents assent. This is so, "provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State". |
The Gujarat anti-terror law is not the only one that did not or has not got the President's assent. A Bill by Madhya Pradesh is yet to get approval. The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Bill, now a law, was not granted approval for amendments in 2009. After the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) lapsed, the state government sought to reintroduce the law in 2006 but it did not get the President's assent. |
Among state laws that did get Presidential assent, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was the first. Enacted in 1999, it was extended to the National Capital Territory in 2002 by the Home Ministry. Then came Karnatakas Bill, passed in 2000. In 2006, the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (Special Public Security Act), 2005 received the President's assent. |
How GCTOC is different from MCOCA? |
The anti-terrorism law, which three Presidents had returned to the state, draws heavily from 'The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)', 1999, with two significant differences: the checks on interception of communication that are part of the Maharashtra law are missing in the Gujarat law; and the definition of "terrorist act" in the GCTOCA also covers "intention to disturb public order". |
These differences make the Gujarat law tougher and broader in scope than MCOCA. |
By a Royal Charter granted by the Queen on 31 December 1600 the East India Company was established and the Indians and Britishers came under the jurisdiction of the Company. The Charter created a monopoly for the Company in the matters of business and the violation of the Charter was punishable with forfeiture of the ships and cargo of the violators. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were three Presidencies during British India. The Charter of 1687, issued by the Company itself and not the Crown, established a town corporation at Madras. |
The Company expanded a lot in over 100 years of its creation. It added new establishments to its jurisdiction. Such expansion of its establishments brought new challenges to the East India Company. Therefore, the Company made a request to the King to issue a Charter by which special powers could be granted to it. On such request the Company was granted Charter by King George I in 1726 to establish "Mayor's Courts" in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta (now Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively). Mayor's Courts were not courts of the Company, but courts of the King of England. Mayor's Courts superseded all existing courts established in the above places. These courts were given the authority "to try, hear and determine all civil suits, actions and pleas" that may arise within the three towns or within the factories of the Company. The composition of the Mayor's Court was such that most of the members were required to be naturally born British subjects. It consisted of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, seven of whom, including the Mayor, were required to be naturally born British subjects. Alderman was a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. Aldermen were elected from among the leading inhabitants of the settlement to hold the position for life. The Mayor was elected from among the Aldermen. The Mayor's Courts contributed significantly to the formulation of a uniform pattern of judicial functioning in India. The inhabitants of the settlement were governed by the English Law, irrespective of their nationality. The Charter of 1726 did not specify the law to be applied by the Mayor's Courts. The Charter merely stated that the court was required to "give Judgment and sentence according to justice and right". However, based on the past practice and; the light of the 1661 Charter, the then existing English Law or principles of English Common Law and Equity were applied. Thus, the Mayor's Courts administered English Law, which was assumed to be the lex loci ("law of the land") of the settlement. It is generally understood that the Charter of 1726 indirectly brought into application the laws of England-both common law and statute law-into the three British Settlements in India this is one of the distinctive outcomes of the 1726 Charter. Decisions of the Mayor's Court were appealable. Appeals from the Mayor's Court were made to the Court of Governor and the Council. The Governor and five members of the Council were appointed Justices of Peace and constituted criminal court. The Court of Governor and Council were required to meet four times a year for the trial of all offences, except that of high treason. A second appeal in cases valued at 1000 pagodas or more, was available to the King-in-Council in England. |
By a Royal Charter granted by the Queen on 31 December 1600 the East India Company was established and the Indians and Britishers came under the jurisdiction of the Company. The Charter created a monopoly for the Company in the matters of business and the violation of the Charter was punishable with forfeiture of the ships and cargo of the violators. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were three Presidencies during British India. The Charter of 1687, issued by the Company itself and not the Crown, established a town corporation at Madras. |
The Company expanded a lot in over 100 years of its creation. It added new establishments to its jurisdiction. Such expansion of its establishments brought new challenges to the East India Company. Therefore, the Company made a request to the King to issue a Charter by which special powers could be granted to it. On such request the Company was granted Charter by King George I in 1726 to establish "Mayor's Courts" in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta (now Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively). Mayor's Courts were not courts of the Company, but courts of the King of England. Mayor's Courts superseded all existing courts established in the above places. These courts were given the authority "to try, hear and determine all civil suits, actions and pleas" that may arise within the three towns or within the factories of the Company. The composition of the Mayor's Court was such that most of the members were required to be naturally born British subjects. It consisted of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, seven of whom, including the Mayor, were required to be naturally born British subjects. Alderman was a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. Aldermen were elected from among the leading inhabitants of the settlement to hold the position for life. The Mayor was elected from among the Aldermen. The Mayor's Courts contributed significantly to the formulation of a uniform pattern of judicial functioning in India. The inhabitants of the settlement were governed by the English Law, irrespective of their nationality. The Charter of 1726 did not specify the law to be applied by the Mayor's Courts. The Charter merely stated that the court was required to "give Judgment and sentence according to justice and right". However, based on the past practice and; the light of the 1661 Charter, the then existing English Law or principles of English Common Law and Equity were applied. Thus, the Mayor's Courts administered English Law, which was assumed to be the lex loci ("law of the land") of the settlement. It is generally understood that the Charter of 1726 indirectly brought into application the laws of England-both common law and statute law-into the three British Settlements in India this is one of the distinctive outcomes of the 1726 Charter. Decisions of the Mayor's Court were appealable. Appeals from the Mayor's Court were made to the Court of Governor and the Council. The Governor and five members of the Council were appointed Justices of Peace and constituted criminal court. The Court of Governor and Council were required to meet four times a year for the trial of all offences, except that of high treason. A second appeal in cases valued at 1000 pagodas or more, was available to the King-in-Council in England. |
By a Royal Charter granted by the Queen on 31 December 1600 the East India Company was established and the Indians and Britishers came under the jurisdiction of the Company. The Charter created a monopoly for the Company in the matters of business and the violation of the Charter was punishable with forfeiture of the ships and cargo of the violators. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were three Presidencies during British India. The Charter of 1687, issued by the Company itself and not the Crown, established a town corporation at Madras. |
The Company expanded a lot in over 100 years of its creation. It added new establishments to its jurisdiction. Such expansion of its establishments brought new challenges to the East India Company. Therefore, the Company made a request to the King to issue a Charter by which special powers could be granted to it. On such request the Company was granted Charter by King George I in 1726 to establish "Mayor's Courts" in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta (now Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively). Mayor's Courts were not courts of the Company, but courts of the King of England. Mayor's Courts superseded all existing courts established in the above places. These courts were given the authority "to try, hear and determine all civil suits, actions and pleas" that may arise within the three towns or within the factories of the Company. The composition of the Mayor's Court was such that most of the members were required to be naturally born British subjects. It consisted of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, seven of whom, including the Mayor, were required to be naturally born British subjects. Alderman was a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. Aldermen were elected from among the leading inhabitants of the settlement to hold the position for life. The Mayor was elected from among the Aldermen. The Mayor's Courts contributed significantly to the formulation of a uniform pattern of judicial functioning in India. The inhabitants of the settlement were governed by the English Law, irrespective of their nationality. The Charter of 1726 did not specify the law to be applied by the Mayor's Courts. The Charter merely stated that the court was required to "give Judgment and sentence according to justice and right". However, based on the past practice and; the light of the 1661 Charter, the then existing English Law or principles of English Common Law and Equity were applied. Thus, the Mayor's Courts administered English Law, which was assumed to be the lex loci ("law of the land") of the settlement. It is generally understood that the Charter of 1726 indirectly brought into application the laws of England-both common law and statute law-into the three British Settlements in India this is one of the distinctive outcomes of the 1726 Charter. Decisions of the Mayor's Court were appealable. Appeals from the Mayor's Court were made to the Court of Governor and the Council. The Governor and five members of the Council were appointed Justices of Peace and constituted criminal court. The Court of Governor and Council were required to meet four times a year for the trial of all offences, except that of high treason. A second appeal in cases valued at 1000 pagodas or more, was available to the King-in-Council in England. |
By a Royal Charter granted by the Queen on 31 December 1600 the East India Company was established and the Indians and Britishers came under the jurisdiction of the Company. The Charter created a monopoly for the Company in the matters of business and the violation of the Charter was punishable with forfeiture of the ships and cargo of the violators. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were three Presidencies during British India. The Charter of 1687, issued by the Company itself and not the Crown, established a town corporation at Madras. |
The Company expanded a lot in over 100 years of its creation. It added new establishments to its jurisdiction. Such expansion of its establishments brought new challenges to the East India Company. Therefore, the Company made a request to the King to issue a Charter by which special powers could be granted to it. On such request the Company was granted Charter by King George I in 1726 to establish "Mayor's Courts" in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta (now Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively). Mayor's Courts were not courts of the Company, but courts of the King of England. Mayor's Courts superseded all existing courts established in the above places. These courts were given the authority "to try, hear and determine all civil suits, actions and pleas" that may arise within the three towns or within the factories of the Company. The composition of the Mayor's Court was such that most of the members were required to be naturally born British subjects. It consisted of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, seven of whom, including the Mayor, were required to be naturally born British subjects. Alderman was a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. Aldermen were elected from among the leading inhabitants of the settlement to hold the position for life. The Mayor was elected from among the Aldermen. The Mayor's Courts contributed significantly to the formulation of a uniform pattern of judicial functioning in India. The inhabitants of the settlement were governed by the English Law, irrespective of their nationality. The Charter of 1726 did not specify the law to be applied by the Mayor's Courts. The Charter merely stated that the court was required to "give Judgment and sentence according to justice and right". However, based on the past practice and; the light of the 1661 Charter, the then existing English Law or principles of English Common Law and Equity were applied. Thus, the Mayor's Courts administered English Law, which was assumed to be the lex loci ("law of the land") of the settlement. It is generally understood that the Charter of 1726 indirectly brought into application the laws of England-both common law and statute law-into the three British Settlements in India this is one of the distinctive outcomes of the 1726 Charter. Decisions of the Mayor's Court were appealable. Appeals from the Mayor's Court were made to the Court of Governor and the Council. The Governor and five members of the Council were appointed Justices of Peace and constituted criminal court. The Court of Governor and Council were required to meet four times a year for the trial of all offences, except that of high treason. A second appeal in cases valued at 1000 pagodas or more, was available to the King-in-Council in England. |
By a Royal Charter granted by the Queen on 31 December 1600 the East India Company was established and the Indians and Britishers came under the jurisdiction of the Company. The Charter created a monopoly for the Company in the matters of business and the violation of the Charter was punishable with forfeiture of the ships and cargo of the violators. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were three Presidencies during British India. The Charter of 1687, issued by the Company itself and not the Crown, established a town corporation at Madras. |
The Company expanded a lot in over 100 years of its creation. It added new establishments to its jurisdiction. Such expansion of its establishments brought new challenges to the East India Company. Therefore, the Company made a request to the King to issue a Charter by which special powers could be granted to it. On such request the Company was granted Charter by King George I in 1726 to establish "Mayor's Courts" in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta (now Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively). Mayor's Courts were not courts of the Company, but courts of the King of England. Mayor's Courts superseded all existing courts established in the above places. These courts were given the authority "to try, hear and determine all civil suits, actions and pleas" that may arise within the three towns or within the factories of the Company. The composition of the Mayor's Court was such that most of the members were required to be naturally born British subjects. It consisted of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, seven of whom, including the Mayor, were required to be naturally born British subjects. Alderman was a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. Aldermen were elected from among the leading inhabitants of the settlement to hold the position for life. The Mayor was elected from among the Aldermen. The Mayor's Courts contributed significantly to the formulation of a uniform pattern of judicial functioning in India. The inhabitants of the settlement were governed by the English Law, irrespective of their nationality. The Charter of 1726 did not specify the law to be applied by the Mayor's Courts. The Charter merely stated that the court was required to "give Judgment and sentence according to justice and right". However, based on the past practice and; the light of the 1661 Charter, the then existing English Law or principles of English Common Law and Equity were applied. Thus, the Mayor's Courts administered English Law, which was assumed to be the lex loci ("law of the land") of the settlement. It is generally understood that the Charter of 1726 indirectly brought into application the laws of England-both common law and statute law-into the three British Settlements in India this is one of the distinctive outcomes of the 1726 Charter. Decisions of the Mayor's Court were appealable. Appeals from the Mayor's Court were made to the Court of Governor and the Council. The Governor and five members of the Council were appointed Justices of Peace and constituted criminal court. The Court of Governor and Council were required to meet four times a year for the trial of all offences, except that of high treason. A second appeal in cases valued at 1000 pagodas or more, was available to the King-in-Council in England. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
A string of cases was seen to adopt a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. To impede sexual harassment of working women, the Court laid down certain exhaustive guidelines in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan and it all only went uphill from that point. After the ruling of cases in favour of the surge of women in society related to different genera of societal and legal problems such as inheritance of property, marriage, child custody, the sale of acid and acid attacks, guardianship and foeticides, even personal laws were subjected to a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. |
However, in recent judgements such as the Sabarimala judgement, a flagrant divergence can be noticed with regard to the fundamental comprehension of feminism in itself. Through the popularization of movements like the #MeToo Movement in which the accusations may or not be authentic, the Judiciary is misusing the concept of Feminist Jurisprudence in itself to gain legal popularity. In the path of making women feel empowered and giving them autonomy, society is moving toward dichotomy, which is tyranny in disguise and is prone to curtail attainment of gender justice. |
Earlier, there was an overshadowing of women by men in India, and now what is sought is the overshadowing of men by women. This pattern of repetition in the domination of one sex over another shows the need for a feeling of being in command. |
First and foremost, a lacuna in Indian law needs to be addressed. In the IPC, rape is defined in an inadequate manner with a narrow scope as something that only a man can do to a woman and that a man can only be sodomised. However, according to a recent amendment, rape is now inclusive of oral sex and anal sex as well. Moreover, since Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been partially decriminalized in the Navtej case, men are more prone to rape. Hence it can no longer be stated that women cannot rape men. Other crimes that provide relief only to women in India are stalking, sexual harassment, voyeurism and outraging of modesty. The existence of discrimination in these sections violates Constitutional provisions of Article 14 and Article 15. According to the maxim 'ubi jus ibi remedium', where there is a right, there is a remedy. Considering this aspect, as the right to equality and equal protection under the law is denied to men, a remedy must be provided for the same. |
Some usual reasons cited for not making these crimes gender neutral are that a woman lacks the power to rape a man and that it would worsen the state of women in the country as it encourages counter-complaints. Ironically, the reasons are in itself massively discriminatory in nature as it leads to the portrayal of domination of men through victimisation of women. Recently, a petition had been filed by the Criminal Justice Society of India based on landmark judgements such as Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India to make rape gender-neutral but it was dismissed by the Honble Supreme Court stating that actions are being taken for such an amendment. The point that is being neglected is that these actions must have started years ago. |
The definition of rape and other crimes being patriarchal in nature ignorantly oversees that a crime cannot be subject to extremes like sexual orientation, gender or caste. While it seems like women are being protected, feminism is moving toward an establishment of domination in the process of feeling empowered. Every human being is subject to such monstrosities and must have protection under the law for the same and that is how gender justice can be truly achieved. |
A string of cases was seen to adopt a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. To impede sexual harassment of working women, the Court laid down certain exhaustive guidelines in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan and it all only went uphill from that point. After the ruling of cases in favour of the surge of women in society related to different genera of societal and legal problems such as inheritance of property, marriage, child custody, the sale of acid and acid attacks, guardianship and foeticides, even personal laws were subjected to a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. |
However, in recent judgements such as the Sabarimala judgement, a flagrant divergence can be noticed with regard to the fundamental comprehension of feminism in itself. Through the popularization of movements like the #MeToo Movement in which the accusations may or not be authentic, the Judiciary is misusing the concept of Feminist Jurisprudence in itself to gain legal popularity. In the path of making women feel empowered and giving them autonomy, society is moving toward dichotomy, which is tyranny in disguise and is prone to curtail attainment of gender justice. |
Earlier, there was an overshadowing of women by men in India, and now what is sought is the overshadowing of men by women. This pattern of repetition in the domination of one sex over another shows the need for a feeling of being in command. |
First and foremost, a lacuna in Indian law needs to be addressed. In the IPC, rape is defined in an inadequate manner with a narrow scope as something that only a man can do to a woman and that a man can only be sodomised. However, according to a recent amendment, rape is now inclusive of oral sex and anal sex as well. Moreover, since Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been partially decriminalized in the Navtej case, men are more prone to rape. Hence it can no longer be stated that women cannot rape men. Other crimes that provide relief only to women in India are stalking, sexual harassment, voyeurism and outraging of modesty. The existence of discrimination in these sections violates Constitutional provisions of Article 14 and Article 15. According to the maxim 'ubi jus ibi remedium', where there is a right, there is a remedy. Considering this aspect, as the right to equality and equal protection under the law is denied to men, a remedy must be provided for the same. |
Some usual reasons cited for not making these crimes gender neutral are that a woman lacks the power to rape a man and that it would worsen the state of women in the country as it encourages counter-complaints. Ironically, the reasons are in itself massively discriminatory in nature as it leads to the portrayal of domination of men through victimisation of women. Recently, a petition had been filed by the Criminal Justice Society of India based on landmark judgements such as Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India to make rape gender-neutral but it was dismissed by the Honble Supreme Court stating that actions are being taken for such an amendment. The point that is being neglected is that these actions must have started years ago. |
The definition of rape and other crimes being patriarchal in nature ignorantly oversees that a crime cannot be subject to extremes like sexual orientation, gender or caste. While it seems like women are being protected, feminism is moving toward an establishment of domination in the process of feeling empowered. Every human being is subject to such monstrosities and must have protection under the law for the same and that is how gender justice can be truly achieved. |
A string of cases was seen to adopt a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. To impede sexual harassment of working women, the Court laid down certain exhaustive guidelines in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan and it all only went uphill from that point. After the ruling of cases in favour of the surge of women in society related to different genera of societal and legal problems such as inheritance of property, marriage, child custody, the sale of acid and acid attacks, guardianship and foeticides, even personal laws were subjected to a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. |
However, in recent judgements such as the Sabarimala judgement, a flagrant divergence can be noticed with regard to the fundamental comprehension of feminism in itself. Through the popularization of movements like the #MeToo Movement in which the accusations may or not be authentic, the Judiciary is misusing the concept of Feminist Jurisprudence in itself to gain legal popularity. In the path of making women feel empowered and giving them autonomy, society is moving toward dichotomy, which is tyranny in disguise and is prone to curtail attainment of gender justice. |
Earlier, there was an overshadowing of women by men in India, and now what is sought is the overshadowing of men by women. This pattern of repetition in the domination of one sex over another shows the need for a feeling of being in command. |
First and foremost, a lacuna in Indian law needs to be addressed. In the IPC, rape is defined in an inadequate manner with a narrow scope as something that only a man can do to a woman and that a man can only be sodomised. However, according to a recent amendment, rape is now inclusive of oral sex and anal sex as well. Moreover, since Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been partially decriminalized in the Navtej case, men are more prone to rape. Hence it can no longer be stated that women cannot rape men. Other crimes that provide relief only to women in India are stalking, sexual harassment, voyeurism and outraging of modesty. The existence of discrimination in these sections violates Constitutional provisions of Article 14 and Article 15. According to the maxim 'ubi jus ibi remedium', where there is a right, there is a remedy. Considering this aspect, as the right to equality and equal protection under the law is denied to men, a remedy must be provided for the same. |
Some usual reasons cited for not making these crimes gender neutral are that a woman lacks the power to rape a man and that it would worsen the state of women in the country as it encourages counter-complaints. Ironically, the reasons are in itself massively discriminatory in nature as it leads to the portrayal of domination of men through victimisation of women. Recently, a petition had been filed by the Criminal Justice Society of India based on landmark judgements such as Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India to make rape gender-neutral but it was dismissed by the Honble Supreme Court stating that actions are being taken for such an amendment. The point that is being neglected is that these actions must have started years ago. |
The definition of rape and other crimes being patriarchal in nature ignorantly oversees that a crime cannot be subject to extremes like sexual orientation, gender or caste. While it seems like women are being protected, feminism is moving toward an establishment of domination in the process of feeling empowered. Every human being is subject to such monstrosities and must have protection under the law for the same and that is how gender justice can be truly achieved. |
There are certain provisions in the IT Act, 2000 that provides for payment of compensation (Civil) and punishment (Criminal) in case of misuse or wrongful disclosure of personal data. |
Section 43A imposes liability upon a body corporate by the way of compensation to the person so affected where the body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures and thereby causes wrongful loss or wrongful gain to that person. |
Section 72 prescribes punishment for a person who, in pursuance of any of the powers conferred under the IT Act Rules or Regulations, has secured access to any electronic record, book, register, correspondence information, document or other material without the consent of the person concerned and discloses such material to any other person. |
Section 72A prescribes punishment for a person including an intermediary who has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person under the terms of lawful contract and has intentionally and knowingly disclosed the same in breach of lawful contract without the consent of the person concerned. |
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 that deals with protection of "Sensitive personal data or information of a person". These rules prescribe reasonable procedures and practices which are required to be followed by a body corporate handling personal information to ensure security of such data. The rules have stated the personal information consists of information relating to Passwords; |
Financial information; |
Physical, physiological and mental health condition; |
Sexual orientation; |
Medical records and history; |
Biometric information. |
Section 69 of the IT Act is an exception to the general rule of privacy since it prescribes the grounds on which any information including personal information in any computer resource can be intercepted, monitored or decrypted by the Government. It also empowers the Government to disclose such information m public interest. |
Another exception where personal information of a person can be shared is by the order of the court or the consent of the person providing such information. In this case, the body corporate asking for such information should also disclose its privacy policy. However, owing to the huge percentage of the illiterate population in the nation, people are not aware that they have to give their 'consent' for the corporate to use personal information and therefore, it has reduced to a mere formality. Moreover, not much importance is attached to the privacy policy which are put up on the websites of the body corporates without following any guidelines. |
In order to rectify this situation, Rule 5 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 was made which requires that the consent of the person providing information should be obtained in writing through letter, fax or e-mail and an option should be given to the discloser of the information to withdraw his consent later. |
Despite the existence of laws, rules and regulations dealing with data protection and privacy, there are many instances of data breach. A data breach is a security incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. It is also called data spill, data leak or data theft. This might be caused due to physical breach, external hacking, insider threats or social engineering. An incident of data breach is a major concern since it breaks the element of trust that the provider of information has placed upon the body corporate. |
A string of cases was seen to adopt a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. To impede sexual harassment of working women, the Court laid down certain exhaustive guidelines in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan and it all only went uphill from that point. After the ruling of cases in favour of the surge of women in society related to different genera of societal and legal problems such as inheritance of property, marriage, child custody, the sale of acid and acid attacks, guardianship and foeticides, even personal laws were subjected to a Feminist Jurisprudential approach. |
However, in recent judgements such as the Sabarimala judgement, a flagrant divergence can be noticed with regard to the fundamental comprehension of feminism in itself. Through the popularization of movements like the #MeToo Movement in which the accusations may or not be authentic, the Judiciary is misusing the concept of Feminist Jurisprudence in itself to gain legal popularity. In the path of making women feel empowered and giving them autonomy, society is moving toward dichotomy, which is tyranny in disguise and is prone to curtail attainment of gender justice. |
Earlier, there was an overshadowing of women by men in India, and now what is sought is the overshadowing of men by women. This pattern of repetition in the domination of one sex over another shows the need for a feeling of being in command. |
First and foremost, a lacuna in Indian law needs to be addressed. In the IPC, rape is defined in an inadequate manner with a narrow scope as something that only a man can do to a woman and that a man can only be sodomised. However, according to a recent amendment, rape is now inclusive of oral sex and anal sex as well. Moreover, since Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been partially decriminalized in the Navtej case, men are more prone to rape. Hence it can no longer be stated that women cannot rape men. Other crimes that provide relief only to women in India are stalking, sexual harassment, voyeurism and outraging of modesty. The existence of discrimination in these sections violates Constitutional provisions of Article 14 and Article 15. According to the maxim 'ubi jus ibi remedium', where there is a right, there is a remedy. Considering this aspect, as the right to equality and equal protection under the law is denied to men, a remedy must be provided for the same. |
Some usual reasons cited for not making these crimes gender neutral are that a woman lacks the power to rape a man and that it would worsen the state of women in the country as it encourages counter-complaints. Ironically, the reasons are in itself massively discriminatory in nature as it leads to the portrayal of domination of men through victimisation of women. Recently, a petition had been filed by the Criminal Justice Society of India based on landmark judgements such as Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India to make rape gender-neutral but it was dismissed by the Honble Supreme Court stating that actions are being taken for such an amendment. The point that is being neglected is that these actions must have started years ago. |
The definition of rape and other crimes being patriarchal in nature ignorantly oversees that a crime cannot be subject to extremes like sexual orientation, gender or caste. While it seems like women are being protected, feminism is moving toward an establishment of domination in the process of feeling empowered. Every human being is subject to such monstrosities and must have protection under the law for the same and that is how gender justice can be truly achieved. |
A population of 1.35 billion and pendency of about 27 million cases in the Indian Courts. The numbers are quite staggering and worrisome. But, what is even more worrisome is the multifaceted effect that these numbers have and indicate about the plights of the people of the largest democracy of the world. The country suffers a scourge of the world's largest backlog of cases. Even though the courts dispose a really large number of cases every year, the number of cases filed are even more. The number of judges has increased six-fold in last three decades but, the number of the cases has shot up to be twelve-fold in the same time. |
Delhi High Court had granted divorce to an 85-year-old man, in the year 2014. The man had been fighting a legal battle for more than 32 years and when he finally received a decree in his favour, all hopes and chances of resuming a married life were ruined. It was indeed a pity that the couple had spent a large part of their married life within the alleys of the court, fighting a case against each other and one can only try estimating the emotional distress caused to the parties lighting the cases. Now, this is not something which happens to be an exceptional case, rather, it points to a far greater problem plaguing the Indian Judicial System. |
Delay in justice delivery can have very serious consequences at times, as in the case of a minor rape victim who gave birth to an unwanted child after being denied permission to abort her foetus. |
In cases of false imprisonment, an innocent person suffers for no fault of her own and the delay in justice delivery mechanism adds further to the woes. The over crowding of the prisons is yet another problem, violating the rights of the prisoners. Many under-trial prisoners end up doing their entire sentence without getting a full trial. |
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.N. Agrawal had said, "Delay in disposal of cases, not only creates disillusionment amongst the litigants, but also undermines the capability of the system to impart justice in an efficient and effective manner." |
This problem of pendency of cases also affects the economy of the country. The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled recently in the Parliament said that there is a need to address the issues of pendency, delays and backlogs of cases in the judicial arena, in order to foster the ease of doing business. It also stated that the issues hamper dispute resolution, contract enforcement, discourage investments, stall projects, hamper tax collection, stress tax payers and escalatelegal costs. This particular issue amounts to a loss of billions of rupees to the country every year. |
The 120th Law Commission report stated that India should have 50 judges for per million people. |
Despite this, the number of judges remain an abysmally low of 17.86 per million, as per the data of the Law Ministry. This is in direct contrast with the judge-population ratio of USA, UK & Australia, where the number of judges for per million population is 107, 51 and 41 respectively. |
A population of 1.35 billion and pendency of about 27 million cases in the Indian Courts. The numbers are quite staggering and worrisome. But, what is even more worrisome is the multifaceted effect that these numbers have and indicate about the plights of the people of the largest democracy of the world. The country suffers a scourge of the world's largest backlog of cases. Even though the courts dispose a really large number of cases every year, the number of cases filed are even more. The number of judges has increased six-fold in last three decades but, the number of the cases has shot up to be twelve-fold in the same time. |
Delhi High Court had granted divorce to an 85-year-old man, in the year 2014. The man had been fighting a legal battle for more than 32 years and when he finally received a decree in his favour, all hopes and chances of resuming a married life were ruined. It was indeed a pity that the couple had spent a large part of their married life within the alleys of the court, fighting a case against each other and one can only try estimating the emotional distress caused to the parties lighting the cases. Now, this is not something which happens to be an exceptional case, rather, it points to a far greater problem plaguing the Indian Judicial System. |
Delay in justice delivery can have very serious consequences at times, as in the case of a minor rape victim who gave birth to an unwanted child after being denied permission to abort her foetus. |
In cases of false imprisonment, an innocent person suffers for no fault of her own and the delay in justice delivery mechanism adds further to the woes. The over crowding of the prisons is yet another problem, violating the rights of the prisoners. Many under-trial prisoners end up doing their entire sentence without getting a full trial. |
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.N. Agrawal had said, "Delay in disposal of cases, not only creates disillusionment amongst the litigants, but also undermines the capability of the system to impart justice in an efficient and effective manner." |
This problem of pendency of cases also affects the economy of the country. The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled recently in the Parliament said that there is a need to address the issues of pendency, delays and backlogs of cases in the judicial arena, in order to foster the ease of doing business. It also stated that the issues hamper dispute resolution, contract enforcement, discourage investments, stall projects, hamper tax collection, stress tax payers and escalatelegal costs. This particular issue amounts to a loss of billions of rupees to the country every year. |
The 120th Law Commission report stated that India should have 50 judges for per million people. |
Despite this, the number of judges remain an abysmally low of 17.86 per million, as per the data of the Law Ministry. This is in direct contrast with the judge-population ratio of USA, UK & Australia, where the number of judges for per million population is 107, 51 and 41 respectively. |
A population of 1.35 billion and pendency of about 27 million cases in the Indian Courts. The numbers are quite staggering and worrisome. But, what is even more worrisome is the multifaceted effect that these numbers have and indicate about the plights of the people of the largest democracy of the world. The country suffers a scourge of the world's largest backlog of cases. Even though the courts dispose a really large number of cases every year, the number of cases filed are even more. The number of judges has increased six-fold in last three decades but, the number of the cases has shot up to be twelve-fold in the same time. |
Delhi High Court had granted divorce to an 85-year-old man, in the year 2014. The man had been fighting a legal battle for more than 32 years and when he finally received a decree in his favour, all hopes and chances of resuming a married life were ruined. It was indeed a pity that the couple had spent a large part of their married life within the alleys of the court, fighting a case against each other and one can only try estimating the emotional distress caused to the parties lighting the cases. Now, this is not something which happens to be an exceptional case, rather, it points to a far greater problem plaguing the Indian Judicial System. |
Delay in justice delivery can have very serious consequences at times, as in the case of a minor rape victim who gave birth to an unwanted child after being denied permission to abort her foetus. |
In cases of false imprisonment, an innocent person suffers for no fault of her own and the delay in justice delivery mechanism adds further to the woes. The over crowding of the prisons is yet another problem, violating the rights of the prisoners. Many under-trial prisoners end up doing their entire sentence without getting a full trial. |
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.N. Agrawal had said, "Delay in disposal of cases, not only creates disillusionment amongst the litigants, but also undermines the capability of the system to impart justice in an efficient and effective manner." |
This problem of pendency of cases also affects the economy of the country. The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled recently in the Parliament said that there is a need to address the issues of pendency, delays and backlogs of cases in the judicial arena, in order to foster the ease of doing business. It also stated that the issues hamper dispute resolution, contract enforcement, discourage investments, stall projects, hamper tax collection, stress tax payers and escalatelegal costs. This particular issue amounts to a loss of billions of rupees to the country every year. |
The 120th Law Commission report stated that India should have 50 judges for per million people. |
Despite this, the number of judges remain an abysmally low of 17.86 per million, as per the data of the Law Ministry. This is in direct contrast with the judge-population ratio of USA, UK & Australia, where the number of judges for per million population is 107, 51 and 41 respectively. |
A population of 1.35 billion and pendency of about 27 million cases in the Indian Courts. The numbers are quite staggering and worrisome. But, what is even more worrisome is the multifaceted effect that these numbers have and indicate about the plights of the people of the largest democracy of the world. The country suffers a scourge of the world's largest backlog of cases. Even though the courts dispose a really large number of cases every year, the number of cases filed are even more. The number of judges has increased six-fold in last three decades but, the number of the cases has shot up to be twelve-fold in the same time. |
Delhi High Court had granted divorce to an 85-year-old man, in the year 2014. The man had been fighting a legal battle for more than 32 years and when he finally received a decree in his favour, all hopes and chances of resuming a married life were ruined. It was indeed a pity that the couple had spent a large part of their married life within the alleys of the court, fighting a case against each other and one can only try estimating the emotional distress caused to the parties lighting the cases. Now, this is not something which happens to be an exceptional case, rather, it points to a far greater problem plaguing the Indian Judicial System. |
Delay in justice delivery can have very serious consequences at times, as in the case of a minor rape victim who gave birth to an unwanted child after being denied permission to abort her foetus. |
In cases of false imprisonment, an innocent person suffers for no fault of her own and the delay in justice delivery mechanism adds further to the woes. The over crowding of the prisons is yet another problem, violating the rights of the prisoners. Many under-trial prisoners end up doing their entire sentence without getting a full trial. |
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.N. Agrawal had said, "Delay in disposal of cases, not only creates disillusionment amongst the litigants, but also undermines the capability of the system to impart justice in an efficient and effective manner." |
This problem of pendency of cases also affects the economy of the country. The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled recently in the Parliament said that there is a need to address the issues of pendency, delays and backlogs of cases in the judicial arena, in order to foster the ease of doing business. It also stated that the issues hamper dispute resolution, contract enforcement, discourage investments, stall projects, hamper tax collection, stress tax payers and escalatelegal costs. This particular issue amounts to a loss of billions of rupees to the country every year. |
The 120th Law Commission report stated that India should have 50 judges for per million people. |
Despite this, the number of judges remain an abysmally low of 17.86 per million, as per the data of the Law Ministry. This is in direct contrast with the judge-population ratio of USA, UK & Australia, where the number of judges for per million population is 107, 51 and 41 respectively. |
A population of 1.35 billion and pendency of about 27 million cases in the Indian Courts. The numbers are quite staggering and worrisome. But, what is even more worrisome is the multifaceted effect that these numbers have and indicate about the plights of the people of the largest democracy of the world. The country suffers a scourge of the world's largest backlog of cases. Even though the courts dispose a really large number of cases every year, the number of cases filed are even more. The number of judges has increased six-fold in last three decades but, the number of the cases has shot up to be twelve-fold in the same time. |
Delhi High Court had granted divorce to an 85-year-old man, in the year 2014. The man had been fighting a legal battle for more than 32 years and when he finally received a decree in his favour, all hopes and chances of resuming a married life were ruined. It was indeed a pity that the couple had spent a large part of their married life within the alleys of the court, fighting a case against each other and one can only try estimating the emotional distress caused to the parties lighting the cases. Now, this is not something which happens to be an exceptional case, rather, it points to a far greater problem plaguing the Indian Judicial System. |
Delay in justice delivery can have very serious consequences at times, as in the case of a minor rape victim who gave birth to an unwanted child after being denied permission to abort her foetus. |
In cases of false imprisonment, an innocent person suffers for no fault of her own and the delay in justice delivery mechanism adds further to the woes. The over crowding of the prisons is yet another problem, violating the rights of the prisoners. Many under-trial prisoners end up doing their entire sentence without getting a full trial. |
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.N. Agrawal had said, "Delay in disposal of cases, not only creates disillusionment amongst the litigants, but also undermines the capability of the system to impart justice in an efficient and effective manner." |
This problem of pendency of cases also affects the economy of the country. The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled recently in the Parliament said that there is a need to address the issues of pendency, delays and backlogs of cases in the judicial arena, in order to foster the ease of doing business. It also stated that the issues hamper dispute resolution, contract enforcement, discourage investments, stall projects, hamper tax collection, stress tax payers and escalatelegal costs. This particular issue amounts to a loss of billions of rupees to the country every year. |
The 120th Law Commission report stated that India should have 50 judges for per million people. |
Despite this, the number of judges remain an abysmally low of 17.86 per million, as per the data of the Law Ministry. This is in direct contrast with the judge-population ratio of USA, UK & Australia, where the number of judges for per million population is 107, 51 and 41 respectively. |
In 1882, "Dig boy, dig!", yelled the Canadian Engineer, Lake after 23 years of the Historic Oil Exploration, Drake Well in United States which resulted in the now called Digboi township in the North Eastern Assam. The Drake Well exploration marked the beginning of the Petroleum Era and Lake found Asia's first petroleum refinery which is also the World's second, after they saw the Elephants walking out with Oil stains in their feet. |
As a result of the Liberalization, there arose the need to de-regulate and delicense the core sectors including the petroleum sector. Upstream petroleum was then monopolized. To meet the need of the agency to supervise the petroleum exploration. Directorate General for Hydrocarbons was instituted in the year 1993 addressing the national Interest. It is an independent regulatory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Government of India. |
New Exploration Licensing Policy, a policy by the Government of India, approved in the year 1997, applied to all the contracts between the years 1997-2016, empowering DGH as its nodal agency. It was the new model for the award of Hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production. Before 91-92, only ONGC and OIL were able to take part in the bidding to acquire license (PEL- Petroleum exploration license). The policy welcomed 100% FDI and didn't mandate compulsory state participation. Licensing was given for Petroleum blocks through International Open competitive bidding. ONGC and OIL were also made to compete in the bid for the PELs instead of nomination. Also, freedom was granted to the contractors to market Crude oil in the domestic markets. NELP's bidding rounds did attract many private and international players. |
The major drawbacks were due to its separate licensing policies for different Hydrocarbons and by then Unconventional Hydrocarbons were unknown to the Policy which was silent about its existence. Like, if another type of Hydrocarbon was found during exploration, there existed the need to obtain a new license to extract the found Hydrocarbon which just increased the cost. |
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed for profit sharing. According to the bidding percentage, the Contractors should share the profit with the government, until then cess and etcetera should be shared. These contracts kept the Contractors checked by the Government and held them accounted. To track the revenue, the Government demanded approval from itself at certain stages in order to have a check, which left the approval to the Governments discretion. This process of approval of activities and cost delayed the projects and created disputes. |
The bidding was given for blocks, thus putting the bidders whose interests extended to other areas discouraged. The pricing of the Oil was fixed by the Government itself which resulted in loss. Revenue was fixed for both the Shallow water fields which involved lower risks than that of Deep/Ultra water fields. |
Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, introduced in 2016, replaced the then existing New Exploration Licensing Policy. It was brought down to enhance the domestic oil and gas production. It introduced uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon and also granted freedom to market crude oil and natural gas in the domestic market. |
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources under a single license and the concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated, addressing the two major drawbacks of the NELP. |
In 1882, "Dig boy, dig!", yelled the Canadian Engineer, Lake after 23 years of the Historic Oil Exploration, Drake Well in United States which resulted in the now called Digboi township in the North Eastern Assam. The Drake Well exploration marked the beginning of the Petroleum Era and Lake found Asia's first petroleum refinery which is also the World's second, after they saw the Elephants walking out with Oil stains in their feet. |
As a result of the Liberalization, there arose the need to de-regulate and delicense the core sectors including the petroleum sector. Upstream petroleum was then monopolized. To meet the need of the agency to supervise the petroleum exploration. Directorate General for Hydrocarbons was instituted in the year 1993 addressing the national Interest. It is an independent regulatory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Government of India. |
New Exploration Licensing Policy, a policy by the Government of India, approved in the year 1997, applied to all the contracts between the years 1997-2016, empowering DGH as its nodal agency. It was the new model for the award of Hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production. Before 91-92, only ONGC and OIL were able to take part in the bidding to acquire license (PEL- Petroleum exploration license). The policy welcomed 100% FDI and didn't mandate compulsory state participation. Licensing was given for Petroleum blocks through International Open competitive bidding. ONGC and OIL were also made to compete in the bid for the PELs instead of nomination. Also, freedom was granted to the contractors to market Crude oil in the domestic markets. NELP's bidding rounds did attract many private and international players. |
The major drawbacks were due to its separate licensing policies for different Hydrocarbons and by then Unconventional Hydrocarbons were unknown to the Policy which was silent about its existence. Like, if another type of Hydrocarbon was found during exploration, there existed the need to obtain a new license to extract the found Hydrocarbon which just increased the cost. |
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed for profit sharing. According to the bidding percentage, the Contractors should share the profit with the government, until then cess and etcetera should be shared. These contracts kept the Contractors checked by the Government and held them accounted. To track the revenue, the Government demanded approval from itself at certain stages in order to have a check, which left the approval to the Governments discretion. This process of approval of activities and cost delayed the projects and created disputes. |
The bidding was given for blocks, thus putting the bidders whose interests extended to other areas discouraged. The pricing of the Oil was fixed by the Government itself which resulted in loss. Revenue was fixed for both the Shallow water fields which involved lower risks than that of Deep/Ultra water fields. |
Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, introduced in 2016, replaced the then existing New Exploration Licensing Policy. It was brought down to enhance the domestic oil and gas production. It introduced uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon and also granted freedom to market crude oil and natural gas in the domestic market. |
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources under a single license and the concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated, addressing the two major drawbacks of the NELP. |
In 1882, "Dig boy, dig!", yelled the Canadian Engineer, Lake after 23 years of the Historic Oil Exploration, Drake Well in United States which resulted in the now called Digboi township in the North Eastern Assam. The Drake Well exploration marked the beginning of the Petroleum Era and Lake found Asia's first petroleum refinery which is also the World's second, after they saw the Elephants walking out with Oil stains in their feet. |
As a result of the Liberalization, there arose the need to de-regulate and delicense the core sectors including the petroleum sector. Upstream petroleum was then monopolized. To meet the need of the agency to supervise the petroleum exploration. Directorate General for Hydrocarbons was instituted in the year 1993 addressing the national Interest. It is an independent regulatory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Government of India. |
New Exploration Licensing Policy, a policy by the Government of India, approved in the year 1997, applied to all the contracts between the years 1997-2016, empowering DGH as its nodal agency. It was the new model for the award of Hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production. Before 91-92, only ONGC and OIL were able to take part in the bidding to acquire license (PEL- Petroleum exploration license). The policy welcomed 100% FDI and didn't mandate compulsory state participation. Licensing was given for Petroleum blocks through International Open competitive bidding. ONGC and OIL were also made to compete in the bid for the PELs instead of nomination. Also, freedom was granted to the contractors to market Crude oil in the domestic markets. NELP's bidding rounds did attract many private and international players. |
The major drawbacks were due to its separate licensing policies for different Hydrocarbons and by then Unconventional Hydrocarbons were unknown to the Policy which was silent about its existence. Like, if another type of Hydrocarbon was found during exploration, there existed the need to obtain a new license to extract the found Hydrocarbon which just increased the cost. |
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed for profit sharing. According to the bidding percentage, the Contractors should share the profit with the government, until then cess and etcetera should be shared. These contracts kept the Contractors checked by the Government and held them accounted. To track the revenue, the Government demanded approval from itself at certain stages in order to have a check, which left the approval to the Governments discretion. This process of approval of activities and cost delayed the projects and created disputes. |
The bidding was given for blocks, thus putting the bidders whose interests extended to other areas discouraged. The pricing of the Oil was fixed by the Government itself which resulted in loss. Revenue was fixed for both the Shallow water fields which involved lower risks than that of Deep/Ultra water fields. |
Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, introduced in 2016, replaced the then existing New Exploration Licensing Policy. It was brought down to enhance the domestic oil and gas production. It introduced uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon and also granted freedom to market crude oil and natural gas in the domestic market. |
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources under a single license and the concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated, addressing the two major drawbacks of the NELP. |
In 1882, "Dig boy, dig!", yelled the Canadian Engineer, Lake after 23 years of the Historic Oil Exploration, Drake Well in United States which resulted in the now called Digboi township in the North Eastern Assam. The Drake Well exploration marked the beginning of the Petroleum Era and Lake found Asia's first petroleum refinery which is also the World's second, after they saw the Elephants walking out with Oil stains in their feet. |
As a result of the Liberalization, there arose the need to de-regulate and delicense the core sectors including the petroleum sector. Upstream petroleum was then monopolized. To meet the need of the agency to supervise the petroleum exploration. Directorate General for Hydrocarbons was instituted in the year 1993 addressing the national Interest. It is an independent regulatory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Government of India. |
New Exploration Licensing Policy, a policy by the Government of India, approved in the year 1997, applied to all the contracts between the years 1997-2016, empowering DGH as its nodal agency. It was the new model for the award of Hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production. Before 91-92, only ONGC and OIL were able to take part in the bidding to acquire license (PEL- Petroleum exploration license). The policy welcomed 100% FDI and didn't mandate compulsory state participation. Licensing was given for Petroleum blocks through International Open competitive bidding. ONGC and OIL were also made to compete in the bid for the PELs instead of nomination. Also, freedom was granted to the contractors to market Crude oil in the domestic markets. NELP's bidding rounds did attract many private and international players. |
The major drawbacks were due to its separate licensing policies for different Hydrocarbons and by then Unconventional Hydrocarbons were unknown to the Policy which was silent about its existence. Like, if another type of Hydrocarbon was found during exploration, there existed the need to obtain a new license to extract the found Hydrocarbon which just increased the cost. |
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed for profit sharing. According to the bidding percentage, the Contractors should share the profit with the government, until then cess and etcetera should be shared. These contracts kept the Contractors checked by the Government and held them accounted. To track the revenue, the Government demanded approval from itself at certain stages in order to have a check, which left the approval to the Governments discretion. This process of approval of activities and cost delayed the projects and created disputes. |
The bidding was given for blocks, thus putting the bidders whose interests extended to other areas discouraged. The pricing of the Oil was fixed by the Government itself which resulted in loss. Revenue was fixed for both the Shallow water fields which involved lower risks than that of Deep/Ultra water fields. |
Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, introduced in 2016, replaced the then existing New Exploration Licensing Policy. It was brought down to enhance the domestic oil and gas production. It introduced uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon and also granted freedom to market crude oil and natural gas in the domestic market. |
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources under a single license and the concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated, addressing the two major drawbacks of the NELP. |
In 1882, "Dig boy, dig!", yelled the Canadian Engineer, Lake after 23 years of the Historic Oil Exploration, Drake Well in United States which resulted in the now called Digboi township in the North Eastern Assam. The Drake Well exploration marked the beginning of the Petroleum Era and Lake found Asia's first petroleum refinery which is also the World's second, after they saw the Elephants walking out with Oil stains in their feet. |
As a result of the Liberalization, there arose the need to de-regulate and delicense the core sectors including the petroleum sector. Upstream petroleum was then monopolized. To meet the need of the agency to supervise the petroleum exploration. Directorate General for Hydrocarbons was instituted in the year 1993 addressing the national Interest. It is an independent regulatory body under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Government of India. |
New Exploration Licensing Policy, a policy by the Government of India, approved in the year 1997, applied to all the contracts between the years 1997-2016, empowering DGH as its nodal agency. It was the new model for the award of Hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production. Before 91-92, only ONGC and OIL were able to take part in the bidding to acquire license (PEL- Petroleum exploration license). The policy welcomed 100% FDI and didn't mandate compulsory state participation. Licensing was given for Petroleum blocks through International Open competitive bidding. ONGC and OIL were also made to compete in the bid for the PELs instead of nomination. Also, freedom was granted to the contractors to market Crude oil in the domestic markets. NELP's bidding rounds did attract many private and international players. |
The major drawbacks were due to its separate licensing policies for different Hydrocarbons and by then Unconventional Hydrocarbons were unknown to the Policy which was silent about its existence. Like, if another type of Hydrocarbon was found during exploration, there existed the need to obtain a new license to extract the found Hydrocarbon which just increased the cost. |
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed for profit sharing. According to the bidding percentage, the Contractors should share the profit with the government, until then cess and etcetera should be shared. These contracts kept the Contractors checked by the Government and held them accounted. To track the revenue, the Government demanded approval from itself at certain stages in order to have a check, which left the approval to the Governments discretion. This process of approval of activities and cost delayed the projects and created disputes. |
The bidding was given for blocks, thus putting the bidders whose interests extended to other areas discouraged. The pricing of the Oil was fixed by the Government itself which resulted in loss. Revenue was fixed for both the Shallow water fields which involved lower risks than that of Deep/Ultra water fields. |
Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, introduced in 2016, replaced the then existing New Exploration Licensing Policy. It was brought down to enhance the domestic oil and gas production. It introduced uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon and also granted freedom to market crude oil and natural gas in the domestic market. |
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources under a single license and the concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated, addressing the two major drawbacks of the NELP. |
Institutions have been defined as 'the rules of the game in society, or more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that human interaction'. One of the most effective of these rules of interaction is the 'law'. The relationship between the legal institutions and economic development has interested the academic fraternity for far too long, across the globe. |
An efficient institutional structure resolves the uncertainties in the market and the problem of asymmetric information and thus, creates a positive exogeneity, ensures the efficient distribution of the resources and makes a positive impact on the functioning of the economy. It further ensures that the economic transactions are done in a cheaper and a safer way, prevents wastage of resources, contributes in prevention of corruption and ensures transparency and accountability. Hence, it can be said that a strong institutional structure increases the efficiency and quality of trade in a country. |
Law is specific and compelling in nature, and may cause both, deprive individuals of rights and benefits, and also protect another individuals rights and freedoms, or economic rights and benefits from unlawful acts. Economy is the main factor that affects the community, either positively or negatively. The close interlinkage between law and economy keeps the States standing, both, nationally and internationally. |
In India, the lawmakers are gaining increasing consciousness about the importance of rule of law, in order to boost the economic development of the country. While addressing the event at Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari had stated that the rule of law is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth and for drawing foreign investments. |
However, despite realising the same, the development of the legal institutions in the country are quite at a standstill. The 'rule of law' is yet a fancy phrase, and transparency and accountability is a long way off. |
Institutions have been defined as 'the rules of the game in society, or more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that human interaction'. One of the most effective of these rules of interaction is the 'law'. The relationship between the legal institutions and economic development has interested the academic fraternity for far too long, across the globe. |
An efficient institutional structure resolves the uncertainties in the market and the problem of asymmetric information and thus, creates a positive exogeneity, ensures the efficient distribution of the resources and makes a positive impact on the functioning of the economy. It further ensures that the economic transactions are done in a cheaper and a safer way, prevents wastage of resources, contributes in prevention of corruption and ensures transparency and accountability. Hence, it can be said that a strong institutional structure increases the efficiency and quality of trade in a country. |
Law is specific and compelling in nature, and may cause both, deprive individuals of rights and benefits, and also protect another individuals rights and freedoms, or economic rights and benefits from unlawful acts. Economy is the main factor that affects the community, either positively or negatively. The close interlinkage between law and economy keeps the States standing, both, nationally and internationally. |
In India, the lawmakers are gaining increasing consciousness about the importance of rule of law, in order to boost the economic development of the country. While addressing the event at Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari had stated that the rule of law is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth and for drawing foreign investments. |
However, despite realising the same, the development of the legal institutions in the country are quite at a standstill. The 'rule of law' is yet a fancy phrase, and transparency and accountability is a long way off. |
Institutions have been defined as 'the rules of the game in society, or more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that human interaction'. One of the most effective of these rules of interaction is the 'law'. The relationship between the legal institutions and economic development has interested the academic fraternity for far too long, across the globe. |
An efficient institutional structure resolves the uncertainties in the market and the problem of asymmetric information and thus, creates a positive exogeneity, ensures the efficient distribution of the resources and makes a positive impact on the functioning of the economy. It further ensures that the economic transactions are done in a cheaper and a safer way, prevents wastage of resources, contributes in prevention of corruption and ensures transparency and accountability. Hence, it can be said that a strong institutional structure increases the efficiency and quality of trade in a country. |
Law is specific and compelling in nature, and may cause both, deprive individuals of rights and benefits, and also protect another individuals rights and freedoms, or economic rights and benefits from unlawful acts. Economy is the main factor that affects the community, either positively or negatively. The close interlinkage between law and economy keeps the States standing, both, nationally and internationally. |
In India, the lawmakers are gaining increasing consciousness about the importance of rule of law, in order to boost the economic development of the country. While addressing the event at Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari had stated that the rule of law is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth and for drawing foreign investments. |
However, despite realising the same, the development of the legal institutions in the country are quite at a standstill. The 'rule of law' is yet a fancy phrase, and transparency and accountability is a long way off. |
Institutions have been defined as 'the rules of the game in society, or more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that human interaction'. One of the most effective of these rules of interaction is the 'law'. The relationship between the legal institutions and economic development has interested the academic fraternity for far too long, across the globe. |
An efficient institutional structure resolves the uncertainties in the market and the problem of asymmetric information and thus, creates a positive exogeneity, ensures the efficient distribution of the resources and makes a positive impact on the functioning of the economy. It further ensures that the economic transactions are done in a cheaper and a safer way, prevents wastage of resources, contributes in prevention of corruption and ensures transparency and accountability. Hence, it can be said that a strong institutional structure increases the efficiency and quality of trade in a country. |
Law is specific and compelling in nature, and may cause both, deprive individuals of rights and benefits, and also protect another individuals rights and freedoms, or economic rights and benefits from unlawful acts. Economy is the main factor that affects the community, either positively or negatively. The close interlinkage between law and economy keeps the States standing, both, nationally and internationally. |
In India, the lawmakers are gaining increasing consciousness about the importance of rule of law, in order to boost the economic development of the country. While addressing the event at Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari had stated that the rule of law is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth and for drawing foreign investments. |
However, despite realising the same, the development of the legal institutions in the country are quite at a standstill. The 'rule of law' is yet a fancy phrase, and transparency and accountability is a long way off. |
Institutions have been defined as 'the rules of the game in society, or more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that human interaction'. One of the most effective of these rules of interaction is the 'law'. The relationship between the legal institutions and economic development has interested the academic fraternity for far too long, across the globe. |
An efficient institutional structure resolves the uncertainties in the market and the problem of asymmetric information and thus, creates a positive exogeneity, ensures the efficient distribution of the resources and makes a positive impact on the functioning of the economy. It further ensures that the economic transactions are done in a cheaper and a safer way, prevents wastage of resources, contributes in prevention of corruption and ensures transparency and accountability. Hence, it can be said that a strong institutional structure increases the efficiency and quality of trade in a country. |
Law is specific and compelling in nature, and may cause both, deprive individuals of rights and benefits, and also protect another individuals rights and freedoms, or economic rights and benefits from unlawful acts. Economy is the main factor that affects the community, either positively or negatively. The close interlinkage between law and economy keeps the States standing, both, nationally and internationally. |
In India, the lawmakers are gaining increasing consciousness about the importance of rule of law, in order to boost the economic development of the country. While addressing the event at Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the then Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari had stated that the rule of law is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth and for drawing foreign investments. |
However, despite realising the same, the development of the legal institutions in the country are quite at a standstill. The 'rule of law' is yet a fancy phrase, and transparency and accountability is a long way off. |
British administration brought many reforms in the Indian legal system. Policing and administration of justice, which was earlier done by the local rulers, was taken over by the Britishers. Effort was made to clearly identify and consolidate the laws that were existing in the form of customs. In the absence of clear legal rules the courts applied the principles of "justice, equity and good conscience". Also, many progressive legislations were passed. On 4 December 1829, Lord William Cavendish Bentinck passed the Sati Regulation XVII A.D. 1829, of the Bengal Code. This regulation declared the practice of sati, illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed. This Act enabled a Hindu widow to remarry validly. The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930 was passed allowing all the gains of learning to be kept as exclusive and separate property of the acquirer even if his learning was, in whole or in part, imparted to him by any member, living or deceased, of his family, or with the aid of the joint funds of his family, or with the aid of the funds of any member thereof. The Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was passed. This legislation, for the first time, created ownership and inheritance rights in favour of women. The Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 was also passed which provided protection to women from abuse in their matrimonial home. |
IV. CHARTER OF 1861 |
The Indian Councils Act, 1861, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, made notable changes in the composition of the Governor General's Council for executive and legislative purposes. |
On the executive side, the Council of the Governor General was expanded and a fifth member of law (Five members: Home, Revenue, Military, Law, Finance, and after 1874, 6th member of Public Work) was added. Also, for the first time Portfolio system started. This Portfolio system was akin to the present Cabinet system. Each member of the Council of the Governor General was allocated portfolio of a particular department. |
On the legislative side the Governor General's Council was restructured and enlarged. By the Charter not less than 6 and not more than 12 members were now to be nominated by the Governor General and they were to hold the office for two years. Out of these, not less than half were required to be non-official (English or Indian). This was a beginning towards the establishment of legislative system by adding legislative non-official members to the Council of the Governor General. However, the functions were limited to the legislation and it had not to do any other function except the consideration or enactment of legislative measures. The assent of the Governor General was required for passing of a Bill relating to the public revenue or debt, religion, military, naval or foreign relations. However, any such act could be dissolved by the Crown acting through the Secretary of State for India The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the Council on affairs if he deemed it necessary. During the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1879 the position was same. |
Earlier the Governments of Madras and Bombay were deprived of their power of legislation by the Charter Act of 1833. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 restored the power of legislation to the Governor-in-Councils of Madras and Bombay in respective matters. The Legislative Council at Calcutta was given extensive authority to pass laws for British India as a whole, while the Legislative Councils at Bombay and Madras were given the power to make laws for the "Peace and good Government" of their respective Presidencies. |
British administration brought many reforms in the Indian legal system. Policing and administration of justice, which was earlier done by the local rulers, was taken over by the Britishers. Effort was made to clearly identify and consolidate the laws that were existing in the form of customs. In the absence of clear legal rules the courts applied the principles of "justice, equity and good conscience". Also, many progressive legislations were passed. On 4 December 1829, Lord William Cavendish Bentinck passed the Sati Regulation XVII A.D. 1829, of the Bengal Code. This regulation declared the practice of sati, illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed. This Act enabled a Hindu widow to remarry validly. The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930 was passed allowing all the gains of learning to be kept as exclusive and separate property of the acquirer even if his learning was, in whole or in part, imparted to him by any member, living or deceased, of his family, or with the aid of the joint funds of his family, or with the aid of the funds of any member thereof. The Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was passed. This legislation, for the first time, created ownership and inheritance rights in favour of women. The Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 was also passed which provided protection to women from abuse in their matrimonial home. |
IV. CHARTER OF 1861 |
The Indian Councils Act, 1861, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, made notable changes in the composition of the Governor General's Council for executive and legislative purposes. |
On the executive side, the Council of the Governor General was expanded and a fifth member of law (Five members: Home, Revenue, Military, Law, Finance, and after 1874, 6th member of Public Work) was added. Also, for the first time Portfolio system started. This Portfolio system was akin to the present Cabinet system. Each member of the Council of the Governor General was allocated portfolio of a particular department. |
On the legislative side the Governor General's Council was restructured and enlarged. By the Charter not less than 6 and not more than 12 members were now to be nominated by the Governor General and they were to hold the office for two years. Out of these, not less than half were required to be non-official (English or Indian). This was a beginning towards the establishment of legislative system by adding legislative non-official members to the Council of the Governor General. However, the functions were limited to the legislation and it had not to do any other function except the consideration or enactment of legislative measures. The assent of the Governor General was required for passing of a Bill relating to the public revenue or debt, religion, military, naval or foreign relations. However, any such act could be dissolved by the Crown acting through the Secretary of State for India The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the Council on affairs if he deemed it necessary. During the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1879 the position was same. |
Earlier the Governments of Madras and Bombay were deprived of their power of legislation by the Charter Act of 1833. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 restored the power of legislation to the Governor-in-Councils of Madras and Bombay in respective matters. The Legislative Council at Calcutta was given extensive authority to pass laws for British India as a whole, while the Legislative Councils at Bombay and Madras were given the power to make laws for the "Peace and good Government" of their respective Presidencies. |
British administration brought many reforms in the Indian legal system. Policing and administration of justice, which was earlier done by the local rulers, was taken over by the Britishers. Effort was made to clearly identify and consolidate the laws that were existing in the form of customs. In the absence of clear legal rules the courts applied the principles of "justice, equity and good conscience". Also, many progressive legislations were passed. On 4 December 1829, Lord William Cavendish Bentinck passed the Sati Regulation XVII A.D. 1829, of the Bengal Code. This regulation declared the practice of sati, illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed. This Act enabled a Hindu widow to remarry validly. The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930 was passed allowing all the gains of learning to be kept as exclusive and separate property of the acquirer even if his learning was, in whole or in part, imparted to him by any member, living or deceased, of his family, or with the aid of the joint funds of his family, or with the aid of the funds of any member thereof. The Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was passed. This legislation, for the first time, created ownership and inheritance rights in favour of women. The Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 was also passed which provided protection to women from abuse in their matrimonial home. |
IV. CHARTER OF 1861 |
The Indian Councils Act, 1861, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, made notable changes in the composition of the Governor General's Council for executive and legislative purposes. |
On the executive side, the Council of the Governor General was expanded and a fifth member of law (Five members: Home, Revenue, Military, Law, Finance, and after 1874, 6th member of Public Work) was added. Also, for the first time Portfolio system started. This Portfolio system was akin to the present Cabinet system. Each member of the Council of the Governor General was allocated portfolio of a particular department. |
On the legislative side the Governor General's Council was restructured and enlarged. By the Charter not less than 6 and not more than 12 members were now to be nominated by the Governor General and they were to hold the office for two years. Out of these, not less than half were required to be non-official (English or Indian). This was a beginning towards the establishment of legislative system by adding legislative non-official members to the Council of the Governor General. However, the functions were limited to the legislation and it had not to do any other function except the consideration or enactment of legislative measures. The assent of the Governor General was required for passing of a Bill relating to the public revenue or debt, religion, military, naval or foreign relations. However, any such act could be dissolved by the Crown acting through the Secretary of State for India The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the Council on affairs if he deemed it necessary. During the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1879 the position was same. |
Earlier the Governments of Madras and Bombay were deprived of their power of legislation by the Charter Act of 1833. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 restored the power of legislation to the Governor-in-Councils of Madras and Bombay in respective matters. The Legislative Council at Calcutta was given extensive authority to pass laws for British India as a whole, while the Legislative Councils at Bombay and Madras were given the power to make laws for the "Peace and good Government" of their respective Presidencies. |
British administration brought many reforms in the Indian legal system. Policing and administration of justice, which was earlier done by the local rulers, was taken over by the Britishers. Effort was made to clearly identify and consolidate the laws that were existing in the form of customs. In the absence of clear legal rules the courts applied the principles of "justice, equity and good conscience". Also, many progressive legislations were passed. On 4 December 1829, Lord William Cavendish Bentinck passed the Sati Regulation XVII A.D. 1829, of the Bengal Code. This regulation declared the practice of sati, illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed. This Act enabled a Hindu widow to remarry validly. The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930 was passed allowing all the gains of learning to be kept as exclusive and separate property of the acquirer even if his learning was, in whole or in part, imparted to him by any member, living or deceased, of his family, or with the aid of the joint funds of his family, or with the aid of the funds of any member thereof. The Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was passed. This legislation, for the first time, created ownership and inheritance rights in favour of women. The Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 was also passed which provided protection to women from abuse in their matrimonial home. |
IV. CHARTER OF 1861 |
The Indian Councils Act, 1861, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, made notable changes in the composition of the Governor General's Council for executive and legislative purposes. |
On the executive side, the Council of the Governor General was expanded and a fifth member of law (Five members: Home, Revenue, Military, Law, Finance, and after 1874, 6th member of Public Work) was added. Also, for the first time Portfolio system started. This Portfolio system was akin to the present Cabinet system. Each member of the Council of the Governor General was allocated portfolio of a particular department. |
On the legislative side the Governor General's Council was restructured and enlarged. By the Charter not less than 6 and not more than 12 members were now to be nominated by the Governor General and they were to hold the office for two years. Out of these, not less than half were required to be non-official (English or Indian). This was a beginning towards the establishment of legislative system by adding legislative non-official members to the Council of the Governor General. However, the functions were limited to the legislation and it had not to do any other function except the consideration or enactment of legislative measures. The assent of the Governor General was required for passing of a Bill relating to the public revenue or debt, religion, military, naval or foreign relations. However, any such act could be dissolved by the Crown acting through the Secretary of State for India The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the Council on affairs if he deemed it necessary. During the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1879 the position was same. |
Earlier the Governments of Madras and Bombay were deprived of their power of legislation by the Charter Act of 1833. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 restored the power of legislation to the Governor-in-Councils of Madras and Bombay in respective matters. The Legislative Council at Calcutta was given extensive authority to pass laws for British India as a whole, while the Legislative Councils at Bombay and Madras were given the power to make laws for the "Peace and good Government" of their respective Presidencies. |
British administration brought many reforms in the Indian legal system. Policing and administration of justice, which was earlier done by the local rulers, was taken over by the Britishers. Effort was made to clearly identify and consolidate the laws that were existing in the form of customs. In the absence of clear legal rules the courts applied the principles of "justice, equity and good conscience". Also, many progressive legislations were passed. On 4 December 1829, Lord William Cavendish Bentinck passed the Sati Regulation XVII A.D. 1829, of the Bengal Code. This regulation declared the practice of sati, illegal and punishable by the criminal courts. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed. This Act enabled a Hindu widow to remarry validly. The Hindu Gains of Learning Act, 1930 was passed allowing all the gains of learning to be kept as exclusive and separate property of the acquirer even if his learning was, in whole or in part, imparted to him by any member, living or deceased, of his family, or with the aid of the joint funds of his family, or with the aid of the funds of any member thereof. The Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was passed. This legislation, for the first time, created ownership and inheritance rights in favour of women. The Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 was also passed which provided protection to women from abuse in their matrimonial home. |
IV. CHARTER OF 1861 |
The Indian Councils Act, 1861, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, made notable changes in the composition of the Governor General's Council for executive and legislative purposes. |
On the executive side, the Council of the Governor General was expanded and a fifth member of law (Five members: Home, Revenue, Military, Law, Finance, and after 1874, 6th member of Public Work) was added. Also, for the first time Portfolio system started. This Portfolio system was akin to the present Cabinet system. Each member of the Council of the Governor General was allocated portfolio of a particular department. |
On the legislative side the Governor General's Council was restructured and enlarged. By the Charter not less than 6 and not more than 12 members were now to be nominated by the Governor General and they were to hold the office for two years. Out of these, not less than half were required to be non-official (English or Indian). This was a beginning towards the establishment of legislative system by adding legislative non-official members to the Council of the Governor General. However, the functions were limited to the legislation and it had not to do any other function except the consideration or enactment of legislative measures. The assent of the Governor General was required for passing of a Bill relating to the public revenue or debt, religion, military, naval or foreign relations. However, any such act could be dissolved by the Crown acting through the Secretary of State for India The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the Council on affairs if he deemed it necessary. During the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1879 the position was same. |
Earlier the Governments of Madras and Bombay were deprived of their power of legislation by the Charter Act of 1833. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 restored the power of legislation to the Governor-in-Councils of Madras and Bombay in respective matters. The Legislative Council at Calcutta was given extensive authority to pass laws for British India as a whole, while the Legislative Councils at Bombay and Madras were given the power to make laws for the "Peace and good Government" of their respective Presidencies. |
On 6 August 1861, the Indian High Courts Act was passed by British Parliament. The main objective of the High Courts Act was to abolish the Supreme Courts and the Sadar Adalats in the three Presidencies and to establish the High Courts in their place. At that time the law required that each High Court should consist of one Chief Justice and as many puisne Judges not exceeding 15 as Her Majesty might think it fit to appoint. The appointment of the judges of the High Court was during her Majestys pleasure. For such appointment one was required to be: |
1. a barrister/advocate with an experience of five years or more; or |
2. a member of the covenanted civil service of not less than 10 years; or |
3. a judicial officer not inferior to that of principal sadar amen or judge of small cause court for a period of not less than five years; or |
4. a pleader of a Sadar Court or High Court for a period of not less than 10 years. |
A Supreme Court of Judicature was established at Fort William, Calcutta by an Act of Parliament in the year 1774. This Supreme Court replaced the Mayor's Court and remained the highest court of British Raj in India from 1774 to 1862. The jurisdiction of this court extended to the residents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. With the establishment of the High Court of Calcutta this court was abolished. |
After independence, the Supreme Court of India came into existence on 28 January 1950. Presently it is located on Tilak Marg in New Delhi. Before it moved to its present location, the Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House. At the time of its inception the Supreme Court had one Chief Justice and seven other judges. Parliament had the power to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court. As the work of the court increased and backlog of cases began to cumulate. Parliament increased the number of judges. Presently, the maximum possible strength is 31 (including the Chief Justice of India). In the early years of its functioning, all the judges of the Supreme Court used to sit together to hear the cases presented before them. Now they sit in the groups of two or three; each such group being called a "Bench". Larger "Benches" of five or even more judges is also formed occasionally, mainly to hear the matter of high importance or to settle the difference of opinion among the smaller Benches. In order to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for at least five years, a judge of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession, or an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. A judge of the High Court may also be appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court. Practice and procedure of the Supreme Court is governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 which are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution. |
On 6 August 1861, the Indian High Courts Act was passed by British Parliament. The main objective of the High Courts Act was to abolish the Supreme Courts and the Sadar Adalats in the three Presidencies and to establish the High Courts in their place. At that time the law required that each High Court should consist of one Chief Justice and as many puisne Judges not exceeding 15 as Her Majesty might think it fit to appoint. The appointment of the judges of the High Court was during her Majestys pleasure. For such appointment one was required to be: |
1. a barrister/advocate with an experience of five years or more; or |
2. a member of the covenanted civil service of not less than 10 years; or |
3. a judicial officer not inferior to that of principal sadar amen or judge of small cause court for a period of not less than five years; or |
4. a pleader of a Sadar Court or High Court for a period of not less than 10 years. |
A Supreme Court of Judicature was established at Fort William, Calcutta by an Act of Parliament in the year 1774. This Supreme Court replaced the Mayor's Court and remained the highest court of British Raj in India from 1774 to 1862. The jurisdiction of this court extended to the residents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. With the establishment of the High Court of Calcutta this court was abolished. |
After independence, the Supreme Court of India came into existence on 28 January 1950. Presently it is located on Tilak Marg in New Delhi. Before it moved to its present location, the Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House. At the time of its inception the Supreme Court had one Chief Justice and seven other judges. Parliament had the power to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court. As the work of the court increased and backlog of cases began to cumulate. Parliament increased the number of judges. Presently, the maximum possible strength is 31 (including the Chief Justice of India). In the early years of its functioning, all the judges of the Supreme Court used to sit together to hear the cases presented before them. Now they sit in the groups of two or three; each such group being called a "Bench". Larger "Benches" of five or even more judges is also formed occasionally, mainly to hear the matter of high importance or to settle the difference of opinion among the smaller Benches. In order to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for at least five years, a judge of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession, or an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. A judge of the High Court may also be appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court. Practice and procedure of the Supreme Court is governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 which are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution. |
On 6 August 1861, the Indian High Courts Act was passed by British Parliament. The main objective of the High Courts Act was to abolish the Supreme Courts and the Sadar Adalats in the three Presidencies and to establish the High Courts in their place. At that time the law required that each High Court should consist of one Chief Justice and as many puisne Judges not exceeding 15 as Her Majesty might think it fit to appoint. The appointment of the judges of the High Court was during her Majestys pleasure. For such appointment one was required to be: |
1. a barrister/advocate with an experience of five years or more; or |
2. a member of the covenanted civil service of not less than 10 years; or |
3. a judicial officer not inferior to that of principal sadar amen or judge of small cause court for a period of not less than five years; or |
4. a pleader of a Sadar Court or High Court for a period of not less than 10 years. |
A Supreme Court of Judicature was established at Fort William, Calcutta by an Act of Parliament in the year 1774. This Supreme Court replaced the Mayor's Court and remained the highest court of British Raj in India from 1774 to 1862. The jurisdiction of this court extended to the residents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. With the establishment of the High Court of Calcutta this court was abolished. |
After independence, the Supreme Court of India came into existence on 28 January 1950. Presently it is located on Tilak Marg in New Delhi. Before it moved to its present location, the Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House. At the time of its inception the Supreme Court had one Chief Justice and seven other judges. Parliament had the power to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court. As the work of the court increased and backlog of cases began to cumulate. Parliament increased the number of judges. Presently, the maximum possible strength is 31 (including the Chief Justice of India). In the early years of its functioning, all the judges of the Supreme Court used to sit together to hear the cases presented before them. Now they sit in the groups of two or three; each such group being called a "Bench". Larger "Benches" of five or even more judges is also formed occasionally, mainly to hear the matter of high importance or to settle the difference of opinion among the smaller Benches. In order to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for at least five years, a judge of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession, or an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. A judge of the High Court may also be appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court. Practice and procedure of the Supreme Court is governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 which are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution. |
On 6 August 1861, the Indian High Courts Act was passed by British Parliament. The main objective of the High Courts Act was to abolish the Supreme Courts and the Sadar Adalats in the three Presidencies and to establish the High Courts in their place. At that time the law required that each High Court should consist of one Chief Justice and as many puisne Judges not exceeding 15 as Her Majesty might think it fit to appoint. The appointment of the judges of the High Court was during her Majestys pleasure. For such appointment one was required to be: |
1. a barrister/advocate with an experience of five years or more; or |
2. a member of the covenanted civil service of not less than 10 years; or |
3. a judicial officer not inferior to that of principal sadar amen or judge of small cause court for a period of not less than five years; or |
4. a pleader of a Sadar Court or High Court for a period of not less than 10 years. |
A Supreme Court of Judicature was established at Fort William, Calcutta by an Act of Parliament in the year 1774. This Supreme Court replaced the Mayor's Court and remained the highest court of British Raj in India from 1774 to 1862. The jurisdiction of this court extended to the residents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. With the establishment of the High Court of Calcutta this court was abolished. |
After independence, the Supreme Court of India came into existence on 28 January 1950. Presently it is located on Tilak Marg in New Delhi. Before it moved to its present location, the Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House. At the time of its inception the Supreme Court had one Chief Justice and seven other judges. Parliament had the power to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court. As the work of the court increased and backlog of cases began to cumulate. Parliament increased the number of judges. Presently, the maximum possible strength is 31 (including the Chief Justice of India). In the early years of its functioning, all the judges of the Supreme Court used to sit together to hear the cases presented before them. Now they sit in the groups of two or three; each such group being called a "Bench". Larger "Benches" of five or even more judges is also formed occasionally, mainly to hear the matter of high importance or to settle the difference of opinion among the smaller Benches. In order to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for at least five years, a judge of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession, or an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. A judge of the High Court may also be appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court. Practice and procedure of the Supreme Court is governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 which are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution. |
On 6 August 1861, the Indian High Courts Act was passed by British Parliament. The main objective of the High Courts Act was to abolish the Supreme Courts and the Sadar Adalats in the three Presidencies and to establish the High Courts in their place. At that time the law required that each High Court should consist of one Chief Justice and as many puisne Judges not exceeding 15 as Her Majesty might think it fit to appoint. The appointment of the judges of the High Court was during her Majestys pleasure. For such appointment one was required to be: |
1. a barrister/advocate with an experience of five years or more; or |
2. a member of the covenanted civil service of not less than 10 years; or |
3. a judicial officer not inferior to that of principal sadar amen or judge of small cause court for a period of not less than five years; or |
4. a pleader of a Sadar Court or High Court for a period of not less than 10 years. |
A Supreme Court of Judicature was established at Fort William, Calcutta by an Act of Parliament in the year 1774. This Supreme Court replaced the Mayor's Court and remained the highest court of British Raj in India from 1774 to 1862. The jurisdiction of this court extended to the residents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. With the establishment of the High Court of Calcutta this court was abolished. |
After independence, the Supreme Court of India came into existence on 28 January 1950. Presently it is located on Tilak Marg in New Delhi. Before it moved to its present location, the Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House. At the time of its inception the Supreme Court had one Chief Justice and seven other judges. Parliament had the power to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court. As the work of the court increased and backlog of cases began to cumulate. Parliament increased the number of judges. Presently, the maximum possible strength is 31 (including the Chief Justice of India). In the early years of its functioning, all the judges of the Supreme Court used to sit together to hear the cases presented before them. Now they sit in the groups of two or three; each such group being called a "Bench". Larger "Benches" of five or even more judges is also formed occasionally, mainly to hear the matter of high importance or to settle the difference of opinion among the smaller Benches. In order to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for at least five years, a judge of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession, or an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. A judge of the High Court may also be appointed as an ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court. Practice and procedure of the Supreme Court is governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 which are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution. |
Directions (106 - 109): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Organizational change is the effect of internal and external sources encouraging a firm to shift its routines, structure, and systems. However, most importantly the change attempts to alter the employee behaviors, with a set of given psychological inferences. The effect of change hereby leads onto "resistance". Resistance is considered a product of social constructionism and is something that is constantly redefined throughout the process of behavioral change amongst employees. One of the many key topics of 'change management' is resistance and any type of resistance is required in accomplishing transformation, whether incremental or radical. Although, statistics over the years dictate that only around 30% of organizational change projects are successful due to confined opposition from employees. The remaining 70% fail to encapsulate change and this primarily relates back to the opposition of employees. Humans are known to be creatures of habit. Therefore, the notions of change are usually resisted. |
Directions (106 - 109): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Organizational change is the effect of internal and external sources encouraging a firm to shift its routines, structure, and systems. However, most importantly the change attempts to alter the employee behaviors, with a set of given psychological inferences. The effect of change hereby leads onto "resistance". Resistance is considered a product of social constructionism and is something that is constantly redefined throughout the process of behavioral change amongst employees. One of the many key topics of 'change management' is resistance and any type of resistance is required in accomplishing transformation, whether incremental or radical. Although, statistics over the years dictate that only around 30% of organizational change projects are successful due to confined opposition from employees. The remaining 70% fail to encapsulate change and this primarily relates back to the opposition of employees. Humans are known to be creatures of habit. Therefore, the notions of change are usually resisted. |
Directions (106 - 109): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Organizational change is the effect of internal and external sources encouraging a firm to shift its routines, structure, and systems. However, most importantly the change attempts to alter the employee behaviors, with a set of given psychological inferences. The effect of change hereby leads onto "resistance". Resistance is considered a product of social constructionism and is something that is constantly redefined throughout the process of behavioral change amongst employees. One of the many key topics of 'change management' is resistance and any type of resistance is required in accomplishing transformation, whether incremental or radical. Although, statistics over the years dictate that only around 30% of organizational change projects are successful due to confined opposition from employees. The remaining 70% fail to encapsulate change and this primarily relates back to the opposition of employees. Humans are known to be creatures of habit. Therefore, the notions of change are usually resisted. |
Directions (106 - 109): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Organizational change is the effect of internal and external sources encouraging a firm to shift its routines, structure, and systems. However, most importantly the change attempts to alter the employee behaviors, with a set of given psychological inferences. The effect of change hereby leads onto "resistance". Resistance is considered a product of social constructionism and is something that is constantly redefined throughout the process of behavioral change amongst employees. One of the many key topics of 'change management' is resistance and any type of resistance is required in accomplishing transformation, whether incremental or radical. Although, statistics over the years dictate that only around 30% of organizational change projects are successful due to confined opposition from employees. The remaining 70% fail to encapsulate change and this primarily relates back to the opposition of employees. Humans are known to be creatures of habit. Therefore, the notions of change are usually resisted. |
Directions (110 - 113): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
For many of us, our smartphone feels like an extension of our body, permanently affixed to our hand like an extra appendage. It's the first thing we look at when we wake up and the last thing before we go to sleep. Many of us can't go five minutes without checking our devices, or feel anxious if we lose it or leave it at home. It has become commonplace in casual conversation to refer to such behavior as an addiction without understanding the negative consequences on our psychological health. The use of smartphones, the Internet, and other electronic devices has drastically increased in recent decades. China now has the largest Internet market in the world. More than half of China's population is connected to the Internet and more than 90% of them access the Web by smartphone. With the benefits and convenience to our lives, it is also growing questions and concerns about the potential negative impacts. |
Directions (110 - 113): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
For many of us, our smartphone feels like an extension of our body, permanently affixed to our hand like an extra appendage. It's the first thing we look at when we wake up and the last thing before we go to sleep. Many of us can't go five minutes without checking our devices, or feel anxious if we lose it or leave it at home. It has become commonplace in casual conversation to refer to such behavior as an addiction without understanding the negative consequences on our psychological health. The use of smartphones, the Internet, and other electronic devices has drastically increased in recent decades. China now has the largest Internet market in the world. More than half of China's population is connected to the Internet and more than 90% of them access the Web by smartphone. With the benefits and convenience to our lives, it is also growing questions and concerns about the potential negative impacts. |
Directions (110 - 113): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
For many of us, our smartphone feels like an extension of our body, permanently affixed to our hand like an extra appendage. It's the first thing we look at when we wake up and the last thing before we go to sleep. Many of us can't go five minutes without checking our devices, or feel anxious if we lose it or leave it at home. It has become commonplace in casual conversation to refer to such behavior as an addiction without understanding the negative consequences on our psychological health. The use of smartphones, the Internet, and other electronic devices has drastically increased in recent decades. China now has the largest Internet market in the world. More than half of China's population is connected to the Internet and more than 90% of them access the Web by smartphone. With the benefits and convenience to our lives, it is also growing questions and concerns about the potential negative impacts. |
Directions (110 - 113): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
For many of us, our smartphone feels like an extension of our body, permanently affixed to our hand like an extra appendage. It's the first thing we look at when we wake up and the last thing before we go to sleep. Many of us can't go five minutes without checking our devices, or feel anxious if we lose it or leave it at home. It has become commonplace in casual conversation to refer to such behavior as an addiction without understanding the negative consequences on our psychological health. The use of smartphones, the Internet, and other electronic devices has drastically increased in recent decades. China now has the largest Internet market in the world. More than half of China's population is connected to the Internet and more than 90% of them access the Web by smartphone. With the benefits and convenience to our lives, it is also growing questions and concerns about the potential negative impacts. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
The financial market with its thousands of different products such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market indices and currencies generate a lot of data every second, which has accumulated to high data volumes throughout these years. The main challenge in this field lies in analyzing the data under different perspectives and assumptions to understand historical and current scenarios and then monitoring the market to forecast temporal trends and to identify advantageous recurring behaviors with the help of data volumes. Visual analytics applications can help analysts, investors and researchers in obtaining insights and understanding into previous stock market developments, as well as supporting the decision-making progress by monitoring the stock market in real-time. This analytics are to take necessary actions for a competitive advantage. This kind of interesting domain with its huge amount of complex data serves as a motivation and challenge to try new methods. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
The financial market with its thousands of different products such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market indices and currencies generate a lot of data every second, which has accumulated to high data volumes throughout these years. The main challenge in this field lies in analyzing the data under different perspectives and assumptions to understand historical and current scenarios and then monitoring the market to forecast temporal trends and to identify advantageous recurring behaviors with the help of data volumes. Visual analytics applications can help analysts, investors and researchers in obtaining insights and understanding into previous stock market developments, as well as supporting the decision-making progress by monitoring the stock market in real-time. This analytics are to take necessary actions for a competitive advantage. This kind of interesting domain with its huge amount of complex data serves as a motivation and challenge to try new methods. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
The financial market with its thousands of different products such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market indices and currencies generate a lot of data every second, which has accumulated to high data volumes throughout these years. The main challenge in this field lies in analyzing the data under different perspectives and assumptions to understand historical and current scenarios and then monitoring the market to forecast temporal trends and to identify advantageous recurring behaviors with the help of data volumes. Visual analytics applications can help analysts, investors and researchers in obtaining insights and understanding into previous stock market developments, as well as supporting the decision-making progress by monitoring the stock market in real-time. This analytics are to take necessary actions for a competitive advantage. This kind of interesting domain with its huge amount of complex data serves as a motivation and challenge to try new methods. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
The financial market with its thousands of different products such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market indices and currencies generate a lot of data every second, which has accumulated to high data volumes throughout these years. The main challenge in this field lies in analyzing the data under different perspectives and assumptions to understand historical and current scenarios and then monitoring the market to forecast temporal trends and to identify advantageous recurring behaviors with the help of data volumes. Visual analytics applications can help analysts, investors and researchers in obtaining insights and understanding into previous stock market developments, as well as supporting the decision-making progress by monitoring the stock market in real-time. This analytics are to take necessary actions for a competitive advantage. This kind of interesting domain with its huge amount of complex data serves as a motivation and challenge to try new methods. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
The financial market with its thousands of different products such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market indices and currencies generate a lot of data every second, which has accumulated to high data volumes throughout these years. The main challenge in this field lies in analyzing the data under different perspectives and assumptions to understand historical and current scenarios and then monitoring the market to forecast temporal trends and to identify advantageous recurring behaviors with the help of data volumes. Visual analytics applications can help analysts, investors and researchers in obtaining insights and understanding into previous stock market developments, as well as supporting the decision-making progress by monitoring the stock market in real-time. This analytics are to take necessary actions for a competitive advantage. This kind of interesting domain with its huge amount of complex data serves as a motivation and challenge to try new methods. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey. Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey. Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey. Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey. Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey. Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
An environment rich with appropriate love and limits provides the child with the ability to grow a healthy self-system. When the environment is not filled with appropriate love and limits the child will make adaptations that will cause harm to the child's developing true self. The growth of a child's authentic self starts in infancy. The fostering of this growth should start in infancy and continue throughout development to start the child on the developmental path that will lead to healthy functioning at ever developmental stage in the future. Parents and professionals who help adolescents can discourage rebellion that may have been created in their youth due to negative environmental factors. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
An environment rich with appropriate love and limits provides the child with the ability to grow a healthy self-system. When the environment is not filled with appropriate love and limits the child will make adaptations that will cause harm to the child's developing true self. The growth of a child's authentic self starts in infancy. The fostering of this growth should start in infancy and continue throughout development to start the child on the developmental path that will lead to healthy functioning at ever developmental stage in the future. Parents and professionals who help adolescents can discourage rebellion that may have been created in their youth due to negative environmental factors. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
An environment rich with appropriate love and limits provides the child with the ability to grow a healthy self-system. When the environment is not filled with appropriate love and limits the child will make adaptations that will cause harm to the child's developing true self. The growth of a child's authentic self starts in infancy. The fostering of this growth should start in infancy and continue throughout development to start the child on the developmental path that will lead to healthy functioning at ever developmental stage in the future. Parents and professionals who help adolescents can discourage rebellion that may have been created in their youth due to negative environmental factors. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Self-enhancing humor often has a humorous point of view toward life. It helps the person in stressful events and bad situations to maintain positive emotions. In affiliative humor, the user or the person who use humor focuses to connect and attract others with making jokes and telling funny stories. In self-defeating humor the person uses himself or herself as the main joke or target. "People who utilize self-defeating humor ridicule themselves in an attempt to seek acceptance from others. Aggressive humor aims on others by teasing or using sarcasm. Unlike self-defeating humor, aggressive humor is related to anger and usually does not help building relationships. All these four types of humors affect the communication styles and individuals should be aware that when and where should humor be used. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Self-enhancing humor often has a humorous point of view toward life. It helps the person in stressful events and bad situations to maintain positive emotions. In affiliative humor, the user or the person who use humor focuses to connect and attract others with making jokes and telling funny stories. In self-defeating humor the person uses himself or herself as the main joke or target. "People who utilize self-defeating humor ridicule themselves in an attempt to seek acceptance from others. Aggressive humor aims on others by teasing or using sarcasm. Unlike self-defeating humor, aggressive humor is related to anger and usually does not help building relationships. All these four types of humors affect the communication styles and individuals should be aware that when and where should humor be used. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Self-enhancing humor often has a humorous point of view toward life. It helps the person in stressful events and bad situations to maintain positive emotions. In affiliative humor, the user or the person who use humor focuses to connect and attract others with making jokes and telling funny stories. In self-defeating humor the person uses himself or herself as the main joke or target. "People who utilize self-defeating humor ridicule themselves in an attempt to seek acceptance from others. Aggressive humor aims on others by teasing or using sarcasm. Unlike self-defeating humor, aggressive humor is related to anger and usually does not help building relationships. All these four types of humors affect the communication styles and individuals should be aware that when and where should humor be used. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Transportation has transformed in big ways in the last decade due to globalization. Carriages and wagons have transformed into in cars and airplanes. In almost all countries we can fly in planes or jets and get to a different country in only a few hours. You can physically be in a different country quicker than ever before. This means the movement of goods to consumers can be done quickly and efficiently in a different country. Businesses can operate faster and more efficiently. Also, Multinational Corporations can travel to a place of business to see how it is running and being managed using these new modes of transportation. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Transportation has transformed in big ways in the last decade due to globalization. Carriages and wagons have transformed into in cars and airplanes. In almost all countries we can fly in planes or jets and get to a different country in only a few hours. You can physically be in a different country quicker than ever before. This means the movement of goods to consumers can be done quickly and efficiently in a different country. Businesses can operate faster and more efficiently. Also, Multinational Corporations can travel to a place of business to see how it is running and being managed using these new modes of transportation. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
Transportation has transformed in big ways in the last decade due to globalization. Carriages and wagons have transformed into in cars and airplanes. In almost all countries we can fly in planes or jets and get to a different country in only a few hours. You can physically be in a different country quicker than ever before. This means the movement of goods to consumers can be done quickly and efficiently in a different country. Businesses can operate faster and more efficiently. Also, Multinational Corporations can travel to a place of business to see how it is running and being managed using these new modes of transportation. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
India has the world's biggest movie industry in terms of the number of movies produced around 800 movies annually, mostly in the Hindi language. But, today, the technology of film-making in India is perhaps the best among all developing countries and more than 1500 movies are produced in south Indian languages. The talented artists have successfully adopted modem technologies in cinemas. Superior movies, in thematic and creative terms, are made in many developing countries with less sophisticated technologies. Though India's overall entertainment industry is taking on professional colors, India's movie industry per se remains highly informal, personality-oriented and family-dominated. |
Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
India has the world's biggest movie industry in terms of the number of movies produced around 800 movies annually, mostly in the Hindi language. But, today, the technology of film-making in India is perhaps the best among all developing countries and more than 1500 movies are produced in south Indian languages. The talented artists have successfully adopted modem technologies in cinemas. Superior movies, in thematic and creative terms, are made in many developing countries with less sophisticated technologies. Though India's overall entertainment industry is taking on professional colors, India's movie industry per se remains highly informal, personality-oriented and family-dominated. |
Directions (133 - 135): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: |
India has the worlds biggest movie industry in terms of the number of movies produced around 800 movies annually, mostly in the Hindi language. But, today, the technology of film-making in India is perhaps the best among all developing countries and more than 1500 movies are produced in south Indian languages. The talented artists have successfully adopted modem technologies in cinemas. Superior movies, in thematic and creative terms, are made in many developing countries with less sophisticated technologies. Though Indias overall entertainment industry is taking on professional colors, Indias movie industry per se remains highly informal, personality-oriented and family-dominated. |
Directions (136-140): Study the following graph carefully to answer the questions given below. |
Number of selected employees in different grades/ranks by three companies during 2012 |
Direction: Study the following graph carefully to answer the questions given below. |
Number of selected employees in different grades/ranks by three companies during 2012 |
Direction: Study the following graph carefully to answer the questions given below. |
Number of selected employees in different grades/ranks by three companies during 2012 |
Direction: Study the following graph carefully to answer the questions given below. |
Number of selected employees in different grades/ranks by three companies during 2012 |
Direction: Study the following graph carefully to answer the questions given below. |
Number of selected employees in different grades/ranks by three companies during 2012 |
Direction: The following questions are based on the pie-charts given below. |
Percentagewise Distribution of students studying in Arts and commerce in seven different institutions |
Different institutions - A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
Total number of students studying Arts = 3800 |
Total number of students studying commerce = 4200 |
Direction: The following questions are based on the pie-charts given below. |
Percentagewise Distribution of students studying in Arts and commerce in seven different institutions |
Different institutions - A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
Total number of students studying Arts = 3800 |
Total number of students studying commerce = 4200 |
Direction: The following questions are based on the pie-charts given below. |
Percentagewise Distribution of students studying in Arts and commerce in seven different institutions |
Different institutions - A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
Total number of students studying Arts = 3800 |
Total number of students studying commerce = 4200 |
Directions (141-145): The following questions are based on the pie-charts given below. |
Percentagewise Distribution of students studying in Arts and commerce in seven different institutions |
Different institutions - A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
Total number of students studying Arts = 3800 |
Total number of students studying commerce = 4200 |
Direction: The following questions are based on the pie-charts given below. |
Percentagewise Distribution of students studying in Arts and commerce in seven different institutions |
Different institutions - A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
Total number of students studying Arts = 3800 |
Total number of students studying commerce = 4200 |
Direction: Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: |
The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager's room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21 m by 13 m and locker area measuring 29 m by 21m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is Rs 170 per square metre and the cost of marble flooring is Rs 190 per square metre. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager's room and the hall for customer transaction are to be floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring. |
Direction: Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: |
The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager's room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21 m by 13 m and locker area measuring 29 m by 21m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is Rs 170 per square metre and the cost of marble flooring is Rs 190 per square metre. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager's room and the hall for customer transaction are to be floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring. |
Direction: Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: |
The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager's room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21 m by 13 m and locker area measuring 29 m by 21m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is Rs 170 per square metre and the cost of marble flooring is Rs 190 per square metre. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager's room and the hall for customer transaction are to be floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring. |
Direction: Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: |
The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager's room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21 m by 13 m and locker area measuring 29 m by 21m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is Rs 170 per square metre and the cost of marble flooring is Rs 190 per square metre. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager's room and the hall for customer transaction are to be floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring. |
Direction: Study the following information and answer the questions that follow: |
The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager's room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21 m by 13 m and locker area measuring 29 m by 21m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is Rs 170 per square metre and the cost of marble flooring is Rs 190 per square metre. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager's room and the hall for customer transaction are to be floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring. |
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