The Unbearable Familiarity of Strangeness
I am convinced that I must be the only person in New Jersey who would invite a friend from the Caribbean to visit me in January when I could be on Saint Lucia soaking in the sun, far away from freezing rain and slippery sidewalks. But there may be a method to my madness. New Jersey has been home for the past year and a half, but come June chances are I’ll be winging my way back to New Delhi – for good. Perhaps my reluctance to holiday in warmer climes is recognition that a more permanent departure from sub-zero winters is not far off. It seems a shame to have to leave America less than four years after I arrived here. In some was this country has only recently acquired the qualities of home. I realize this as I sit in an airport shuttle headed toward JFK to receive my visitor. The driver cranks up the radio and it occurs to me that I would not hesitate to ask him to turn it back down. It is a trivial observation, but it says something all the same. One of the first things you surrender when you come to a foreign country is a sense of authority. When you have regained it, you know that the land you live in is no longer entirely alien. The other way you know this is when you can walk into Starbucks and order a Tall Arabian Mocha Java with skimmed milk without spending 10 minutes confused by the sheer choice before you. (The trick here is to order the same thing over and over.)My sense of America has changed in so many ways since I touched down at JFK on a humid August day in 1995. For one, I take non-Indian women a lot more seriously. They have lost their otherworldly quality, their sense of being magical yet somewhat unreal. The intimacy I can feel with someone who has never eaten a golgappa is alarming. I have lost something in the process of rearranging my mind to accommodate the unfamiliar. But at the same time the very act of rearrangement has been enriching in countless untellable ways.As the airport shuttle approaches the New Jersey turnpike, it occurs to me that despite all that has been written on the pains of immigration, in some ways it can be terribly easy. Take, for example, music. I was counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike long before I set foot in the Garden State. I did not grow up in Buffalo or Santa Monica or Detroit, yet this afternoon I recognize almost every song on the radio. I got to know Abba, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits in India. Only after coming to America did I discover Kishore Kumar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and that thanks only to a Pakistani classmate at Princeton with a missionary zeal for sharing his music. This is not typical of every Indian immigrant to this country. But neither is it entirely uncommon.To grow up middle-class in urban India is to have your tastes shaped by the West. To me, and countless others who went to college in Delhi or Bombay, Pink Floyd is as Indian as Aloo Mutter. In Delhi University, you knew the words to “Dark Side of the Moon.” Everyone you knew knew the words to “Dark Side of the Moon.” I remember walking into the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time and marveling at the Picassos, Van Goghs and Monets scattered like loose change. I was awed, but it was awe born of familiarity, not strangeness.A part of my mind is unable to wholly wrap itself around the idea of returning to India for good. It isn’t the thought of living in New Delhi that is worrisome, but the sound of the door slamming shut on New York. The enormity makes it seem almost impossible.One thing the Indian middle class understands perfectly well is the importance of options. You study engineering or physics not because you have any desire to become an engineer or a physicist, but because it keeps your options open. An engineer can always be a civil servant, but a historian can never be an engineer. It is an attitude born partly of stark necessity; in a scarcity driven economy you can’t be picky. And middle class parents are always aware that what has been achieved by one generation can easily by lost by the next. A part of me can not help but panic at the thought of closing the option of living in New York. It’s hard to shake-off culture and upbringing.There are other reasons to look upon return to India for good with a degree of dread. Glancing out the window, I notice something that Americans take for granted: the mastery of man over nature. Every stripe painted down the middle of a road, every telegraph pole, every inch of asphalt and steel that makes New Jersey so singularly ugly also says something uplifting about the human spirit. The road will be built. It will stay built. It will not wash away in the first rain because the contractor the government paid to build the road siphoned half the money earmarked for cement and used it to invite 450 people to his eldest son’s wedding reception.Well paved roads, a regular supply of electricity, phones that work and air that is breathable. It’s hardly a list that captures the drama of exile or the shades of longing and loathing that mark the immigrant experience. Yet, I am convinced that most Indians who choose not to return to India do so for reasons that when put on paper can appear mind-numbingly banal. We all know the pretentious Bombayite who declares that he is only here for the jazz in Harlem or the taste of a toasted bagel. But scratch the surface and you find that every bagel ever toasted and all the jazz in New Orleans won’t send our friend back to Andheri East or Malad or Dadar. What he really craves is a city where nobody shits on the roadside.As JFK airport draws closer, I try and fast forward to the picture of my boarding the Air India flight for Delhi, homeward bound with no more cars to count on the New Jersey turnpike. My mind is filled with images of steaming paranthas and sizzling seekh kebabs. And, of course, endless cups of sickeningly sweet tea. It dawns on me that there is much comfort in the trivial and the day to day. Fortunately, it is not confined to America.Originally published in Little India, Feb. 1999 Related Items
Related Items
Earlier this year, Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Indian e-commerce site Snapdeal.com, projected that revenues would cross $200 million by 2014. Bahl has now revised his outlook. He is looking to reach $1 billion by 2015. “We didn’t expect our growth trajectory to take off as much as it has, hence we have upped the ante and should get there comfortably,” he says.Bahl is not alone among Indian online retailers (otherwise known as “e-tailers”) in setting aggressive targets. Sudhir Sethi, founder-chairman and managing director of venture capital firm IDG Ventures India, points out that according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAIMA), the Indian online retail market has grown from $250 million in 2008 to $300 million in 2009, $400 million in 2010 and $600 million in 2011. “This year [2012] it is expected to more than double to $1.3 billion and by 2015 to $6.7 billion,” he adds. “If foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is permitted, then this $6.7 billion could well become $10 to $12 billion.”Praveen Bhadada, director of market expansion at Bangalore-based management consulting firm Zinnov, expects online retail to outpace online travel in the coming years and account for more than 50% of total e-commerce in the country by 2015. It currently accounts for around 22%. “We expect e-commerce in India to be at around $23 billion by 2016 from $6.3 billion in 2011. Of this, $11.8 billion will come from online retail,” he says.The Indian e-tail market is one of the fastest growing across the world. According to comScore, the U.S. online retail market (excluding travel) was worth $162 billion in 2011, a 14% increase over the previous year. In the first quarter of 2012, the sector grew 17%. The Chinese market was $124 billion in 2011, a 53.7% increase from 2010. China’s e-commerce sector is expected to triple to over $360 billion by 2015. Industry observers point out that in China, online retail exploded when the country’s Internet user based touch 120 million.In India, there are multiple factors driving the explosive growth in e-commerce: India’s base of unique Internet users has grown rapidly, reaching 120 million today and expected to expand to more than 350 million by 2015. India’s mobile subscriber base is more than 900 million, of which 600 million are unique individuals. In the next few years, over 100 million mobile users will gain access to 3G and 4G connectivity and more than 200 million are expected to become active on social media, up from the current 51 million. Technology platforms are becoming cheaper and more robust. The ecosystem of logistics players and payment gateways is strengthening. E-commerce players themselves are introducing innovative features like cash-on-delivery to cater to the unique characteristics of the Indian consumers.Investors have also played a key role by supporting the category. According to Venture Intelligence, a research service focused on private equity and mergers and acquisitions, while in 2010 there were six deals in the e-commerce space totaling $43 million, in 2011 this jumped to 34 deals totaling $282 million. In 2012, there have been around 24 deals so far totaling around $275 million. The country’s demographics are also encouraging. India has one of the world’s youngest Internet populations: More than 75% are below 35 years of age. A report by Avendus Capital estimates that at present, there are around 10 million people transacting online in India. This is expected to increase to 39 million by 2015.Gearing up for GrowthMany e-tail players are gearing up to grab a piece of this growing pie. Snapdeal, which started as an online group discounting site in 2010, transformed itself into a marketplace a few months ago. It now offers more than 3,000 brands, which are shipped to over 4,000 towns and cities in India. “We never saw ourselves [merely] as a discount site,” Bahl says. “We started as a marketplace for local merchants to acquire customers and over a period of time, expanded the marketplace to include brands and merchants selling products as well.”Flipkart.com, the county’s leading online retailing site started with selling books in 2007. The site now offers a wide range of products, including mobile phones, computers, movies, music, baby products and stationary. The company has its own warehouses in seven cities, has partnered with 2,000 suppliers across the country, has a customer base of four million and ships out more than 50,000 items a day. According to co-founder Sachin Bansal, Flipkart has grown tenfold in the past year. “For the year ended March 2012, we crossed revenues of $100 million,” Bansal notes. “By March 2013, we expect to reach revenues of $500 million.”At Bangalore-based Myntra.com, revenues have been doubling every four to five months over the past year-and-a-half. Myntra started life as an online personalized gift-giving portal in 2007. In mid-2010, the site shifted gears and became an online fashion and lifestyle retailer. Co-founder Mukesh Bansal expects to reach revenues of Rs. 500 crore (around $90 million) for the financial year 2012-2013. “We are targeting Rs. 1,200 crore ($220 million) for the next year,” he says.The e-tail space in India is estimated to have hundreds of players currently. While some like Flipkart and Snapdeal are horizontals, others like Zivame (lingerie), BigBasket (groceries and food items) and FirstCry (baby products) are operating in verticals. All of these players are arming themselves to compete not just against each other, but are also preparing to face the inevitable competition from the global e-commerce sites if the Indian government loosens restrictions on FDI in the space. The companies are making investments in various aspects, including logistics, technology, people and product portfolio, and striving to offer a rich customer experience.At present, India permits 100% FDI in cash and carry and wholesale trading (which is business-to-business) and also in single-brand stores (like Ikea and Apple). In November, the Union Cabinet cleared 51% FDI in multi-brand retail, but this has been put on hold due to opposition from various political quarters. However, it is widely expected that sooner or later, the government will push through the measure. (E-commerce companies in India are governed by the same FDI regulations as brick-and-mortar retail firms.) Once FDI is opened up, global players are expected to rush into not just the physical retail space in the country, but also in the fast-growing e-tailing sector.“FDI in multi-brand retail will certainly give a boost to online retail,” notes IDG’s Sethi. S. Ramesh Kumar, professor of marketing at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore adds that “global online retailers who build an effective supply chain and collaborate with well-known brands are likely to have an impact on the Indian scenario.”Global Players, Indian MovesSome have already started making their moves despite the restrictions. For instance, earlier this year, Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, entered the India market through Junglee.com, a comparison site it bought more than a decade ago. According to its website, Junglee is “an online shopping service by Amazon” and directs customers to both online and offline vendors. Amazon has also launched its seller services program in India, under which retailers can advertise and list their products on Junglee.com. In addition, Amazon has secured government approvals to set up large warehouses across the country for stocking third-party merchandise and to also set up a logistics arm to ship products. Industry observers point out that these are clear indications that Amazon is gearing up for a full-fledged entry once FDI in multi-brand retail is permitted.Meanwhile, eBay, which entered India in a small way in 2004 with the acquisition of Baazee.com, is busy signing up with new merchants. At present, the company is estimated to have over three million registered users and over 25,000 sellers in the country. eBay does not stock the products, but provides a platform for third-party merchants to sell to registered users. The firm recently also launched its own shipping service, PowerShip, which enables sellers to deliver their products to the buyers. In an interview with Reuters earlier this year, eBay India country manager B. Muralikrishnan noted that “most of the new business models are just waiting to implode. We have chosen the cautious route, unlike a lot of Indian businesses who are blindly investing money without having an eye on sustainability or profitability.”Another foreign firm that has entered India is LuxeYard from the U.S. Known for flash sales — heavy discounts on items that are available for limited periods — LuxeYard has partnered with serial entrepreneur Sashi Chimala, who will launch a local venture that LuxeYard plans to buy after two years. According to Steve Beauregard, chief operating officer of LuxeYard, this reverse-acquisition model “eliminates the risk and uncertainty of expansion into a new market.” Speaking to business daily Economic Times, Beauregard pointed out: “By partnering with Sashi’s team, we get to eliminate the learning curve and enter the market immediately.”Changing the LandscapeWhat will the coming of the global e-tailers mean for the sector in India? Bansal of Myntra believes it will be a positive move. “We are still in the category-building phase, so the entry of players who have in-depth knowledge will be good for the industry. It will force the existing players to ramp up their game.”Bahl of Snapdeal adds: “If the large global players set up operations here and make significant investments, it will validate the model and create awareness and credibility of online retailing among Indian consumers.” Bahl points out that in India, only 0.2% of retail is online; in the U.S. this figure is at around 10%, while in China it is around 5%. “So it’s not a question of market shares as yet. The market has tremendous headroom for growth,” Bahl says.According to Sethi, global players have systems and processes that have been tried and tested over the past 20 years and on a much larger scale. “They will also have the advantage of their international relationships and offer a better range of products at better prices,” he adds.The entry of the global powerhouses is likely to have another impact: a shake-out in the industry. “The capital requirements of the Indian players will increase in order to compete with the deep pockets of the global firms,” notes Akhilesh Tuteja, a partner at KPMG India. “And with money invariably moving toward the more successful players, the smaller ones may find it hard to raise the next round of funding. They will have to either shut down or sell out. Only players with deep pockets and scalable businesses will survive.”The big question, though, is that with the government dragging its feet on permitting FDI in multi-brand retail, have the global e-tail players missed the bus in India? Have the Indian firms gained a formidable lead? Kedar Gavane, director at comScore and head of India operations, does not think so. “It is early days yet for the industry,” he says. Gavane points out that even though Amazon.com does not have a full presence here, it is the most visited site from India. “If they were to enter India [with complete operations] it will not take them long to grow the numbers.”Pragya Singh, associate director of retail & consumer products at research and consultancy firm Technopak Advisors, adds: “While Indian players have got some head start, most of them are new to online retailing and still learning the rules of the game and fine-tuning their business models as consumers, as well as their businesses, evolve. Global e-tailers, on the other hand, come with deep understanding of e-tailing processes and systems, as well as deep pockets.”According to Myntra’s Bansal, if the global players can come within the next 12 to 18 months, they wouldn’t miss much. But this is not to say that they will have a smooth sailing. Industry observers point out that despite their experience and expertise, global players could find it tough to deal with the unique nature of the India market. Challenges AheadTake the payment mechanism, for instance. In mature, developed markets, online payment is the norm. In India, on the other hand, more than 80% of payments are made as cash-on-delivery, in line with the traditional Indian consumer behavior of paying for goods only after receiving them. But the cash-on-delivery model has its own issues: cash gets blocked, inventories are high and returns have to be managed.This model is contrary to the typical e-commerce model, and global players will find it challenging. Flipkart’s Bansal suggests that this model is here to stay. Pointing out that even in offline retail, over 90% of transactions are by cash, he says: “It is important for online players in India to embrace cash. This may be contrary to how it happens in the U.S., but we don’t have to follow the same measures here.”Then there is the problem of delivery. Global players typically use third-party logistics. But in India, this sector is not adequately developed. Take last mile delivery — of the over 100,000 pin-codes in the country, only 10,000 are connected by courier services. What makes this even more significant is that, at present, around 60% of online sales are from tier two to tier 10 cities. In order to circumvent this hurdle, some Indian players like Flipkart have invested heavily in their own logistics operations.There are other differences, too. Global players tend to deal with a few large suppliers. In India, e-tail firms have relationships with thousands of suppliers of all sizes. And unlike in the West, where ticket sizes are fairly large, India is a market of a large number of people looking to make numerous small-value transactions. “Global players will need to tweak their business models to suit the Indian environment,” says Bhadada.There are challenges even for the Indian players in the current environment. In addition to inadequate logistics infrastructure, there are also regulatory and taxation hurdles with respect to movement of goods from one state to another. Local language content has been slow to take off. Mobile payment is in a nascent stage. Customer acquisitions costs are high. All players are currently in the investment mode and very few have turned profitable. Some venture-funded players — like Taggle.com, which started operations in June 2010 — shut down last year. Investors are in a wait-and-watch mode.According to Singh, it is not surprising that most e-tailers in India have yet to make money in their ventures. “The frenzy to attain the critical mass of customers where they can start to make money is leading to customer acquisition by heavy discounting and mass media advertising.” Adds Tuteja: “There is lack of innovation and lack of service levels. Online retail firms are differentiating only on price and that is very expensive and unsustainable. Quality and customer experience comes with learning and failing a few times. Each player has to create their own magic formula and that takes time.”IIMB’s Kumar points out that online retailers should not just create an online experience: They should create a total buying experience that has been missing in the Indian context. “How many consumers are advised appropriately at a sales outlet when they go to buy a washing machine for their needs?” he asks. “Online customized assistance backed up by offline service and association with good brand names may even open up markets for durable categories that have been conventionally associated with the ‘touch and feel’ buying cycle.”“The Indian online retail industry is at an inflexion point,” adds Zinnov’s Bhadada. “The companies that are able to ride this wave — whether Indian or global — will take the lead.” Related Items
A United States-based company has suspended an Indian employee over hateful comments made by him against Kashmiris on the social media.Ashish Kaul, who worked as a consultant in India for Development Dimensions International (DDI) — a management consultancy service — called for killing and violating Kashmiri women in a tweet on May 8, the Quint reported. In another comment, he called for the people of Kashmir to be “killed economically.”An FIR was also filed against Kaul on May 12 by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. “Police in Kashmir took cognizance of the matter after it found tweet posts were abusive and attracts offences covered under law,” the J&K Police said in a statement, the Indian Express reported. The police stated that the FIR has been registered under sections of the Information Technology Act.Kaul’s posts invited widespread criticism on the social media, with many asking for action to be taken against him. His Twitter as well as LinkedIn accounts have been taken off, and Kaul has been suspended by his employer.“We were shocked and saddened by the nature of these posts, which are in direct violation of our mission and values,” DDI’s CEO Tacy Byham and president David Tessmann-Keys said in a statement on May 12.The company accepted Kaul’s resignation.Hey @LinkedIn, one of your member Ashish Kaul, is promoting crimes against women (rape, slavery, killing) and has shown extreme hatred towards one particular religious community. I hope you would stop managing his professional identity. Thank you.#Kashmir pic.twitter.com/8PgSrkzQ4s— Aadil н u s s a і п (@hussain_aadil) May 12, 2018The move was hailed by social media users.“Hatemongers, BEWARE! Ashish Kaul who spewed venom against fellow Kashmiris through a series of tweets has been shown door by his U.S. employer. More encouraging part of the story is; Muslims and non-Muslims-Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris alike had together raised voice against the vituperation,” Twitter user Yusuf Jameel posted.DDI also took to the social media to condemn Kaul’s comments.We are taking this situation extremely seriously and acted immediately. Here is our full statement on the matter: https://t.co/M2kb9UcsdK— DDI (@DDIworld) May 13, 2018Even though Kaul’s Twitter account was deactivated on May 12, many social media users took screenshots of his comments and circulated them.“As soon as we learned about the social media posts, we immediately suspended the employee and launched an investigation to determine the full scope of the issue,” the company said in the statement.The police have asked Twitter India to furnish details of Kaul so he can be arrested and made to face the law, Greater Kashmir reported, citing a police spokesman. Related Itemsjammu and kashmirSocial mediaUnited States
This is the gateway to the Thar desert. Churu in Rajasthan sits in the middle of unending sand dunes that roll away on all sides. Temperatures here dip below freezing point in winter and zoom to over 50 degrees Celsius in summer.This has been one such summer. The people of Churu know they must not venture out during the daytime, but needs must. Fetching and storing water is the chore that takes precedence over all others. It is not an easy task when the sun blazes down like molten gold.The only flora that braves the heat and the terrain are the Phog and Kair bushes, and the Khejri, Royara and Babul trees.Drinking water is scarce in almost all the villages and towns of this region and the groundwater is salty. Some homes have made provision for rainwater harvesting and, those who can afford it, have water purifiers.In summers, most families drink raabdi, a traditional drink made from bajra(pearl millet) and chaach (buttermilk). Heatstroke is an ever present danger and nobody ventures out bare-headed.Churu’s summers are too severe for any agriculture to be possible. Instead, the fields are all tilled and lie in wait for the monsoon.The main occupation in the countryside is livestock and dairy farming. And for the villagers, ensuring that their cattle and goats are fed and watered is a primary concern. This summer, grazing lands too are drying up.Churu is home to the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, famed for its blackbuck population. But May and June are not the months to spot wildlife; not one animal ventures out in the heat.This year, on June 1 and 2, Churu recorded its highest ever temperature at 50.8 degrees Celsius. According to skymetweather.com, this is the second all-time highest maximum temperature recorded in the history of India.Of the 15 hottest places recorded in the world in the past few days, eight were in India and the rest were in neighbouring Pakistan.(IMAGES AND TEXT BY SANDEEP SAXENA)
Human skeleton remains were found strewn near a garbage dump close to the post-mortem section of the Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital (SKMCH) here on Saturday, officials said.The SKMCH is in news for the death of more than 100 brain fever-afflicted children since June 1.“Unclaimed bodies after post-mortem are cremated in due course. These skeletal remains are found at the spot where cremations are said to take place. But I agree this should be done in a more humane fashion,” Sunil Kumar Shahi, Superintendent of the SKMCH hospital said.The embarrassed hospital superintendent was replying to queries from a swarm of journalists who have been camping in the town to cover the epidemic-like situation that has arisen in the wake of the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, which has claimed close to 140 lives across the state, with this north Bihar district alone accounting for 127 deaths.Also Read The Hindu Explains: How litchi toxin is causing the deaths of undernourished children in Muzaffarpur Bearing the brunt, the SKMCH, which is one of the largest government hospitals in the State, has witnessed the death of 107 AES-afflicted children since June 1.“The post-mortem section comes under the administrative control of the principal of the medical college attached to the hospital. I have asked him to set up a committee to look into the matter and take remedial measures,” Dr. Shahi added.Meanwhile, as news channels beamed the horrific images, the district administration swung into action and Sub Divisional Magistrate (East) Kundan Kumar and Superintendent of Police (City) Neeraj Kumar rushed to the spot.“We will not like to comment on this episode until we conduct a thorough inquiry”, the SP (City) said.Locals say with disgust that improper disposal of dead bodies has been a long-standing problem in the area and stray dogs can be often seen pouncing upon half-burnt corpses.
Reiterating that it was his government’s aim to ensure that every family was provided with an LPG connection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Centre had fulfilled its promise of providing eight crore free gas connections to women from economically weaker sections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) well ahead of the projected deadline. He was addressing a State-level Empowered Women’s Meet of Self Help Groups (SHG) organised by the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission (UMED) in Aurangabad.The occasion witnessed the handing over of free LPG gas connections to five women beneficiaries, thus completing the Central government’s target of eight crore free gas connections under the scheme, almost seven months before their deadline of March 2020.“The resolution that our government had taken to provide eight crore free gas connections under Ujjwala Yojna was fulfilled today, seven months ahead of the planned date,” said Mr. Modi, adding that the programme had gone a long way in empowering women from the BPL category by preserving their health and making their kitchens ‘smoke-free’.Ayesha Sheikh Rafique of Aurangabad became the eighth crore person to benefit from the scheme and was felicitated by the Prime Minister with four other women.“The first target under the Ujjwala scheme [when launched in May 2016] was to provide five crore connections. The target was later increased to eight crore connections and I am happy to say that within 100 days of the forming of our government, this has been achieved… The work was not only limited to giving gas connections. A massive infrastructure was put in place as new LPG bottling plants were installed to meet the demand,” Mr. Modi said.Commenting on the agrarian crisis and water scarcity in the State’s parched Marathwada region, the Prime Minister said that the proposed Marathwada Water Grid was a laudable project which would bring much relief to the farmers and households in the area besides help solve irrigation problems.“Women in the rural hinterland of Maharashtra and elsewhere have to face much trouble in collecting water. The great Socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia in the 1960s had said that there were two main problems facing the Indian woman: sanitation and drinking water… But despite so many governments and leaders after that, it is only our [BJP-led NDA] government that had the resolve to solve these pressing problems,” said Mr. Modi.He also said that the Centre was planning to spend ₹3.5 lakh crore in the next five years on the ambitious ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ which aims to resolve potable water problems across the country.Stating that SHGs were not only a means of enhancing economic security, but also a tool for social transformation, Mr. Modi said that his government was determined to ensure that every woman in the country availed of SHG subsidy benefits.“Should the need arise, then under the SHG subsidy benefit, women can withdraw ₹5,000 from their Jan Dhan bank accounts on zero overdraft charges. They will also receive loans upto ₹1 lakh under the Mudra Scheme,” the Prime Minister said.Addressing the audience, Mr. Modi said his government was committed to the safety and growth of women and said that society needed to change its attitude towards women.“Keeping this in mind, we passed a strict law for triple talaq for the benefit of women from the Muslim community. Now, awareness needs to be spread about this,” he said.He further said that he had full confidence that all resolutions taken by the Central government in the last five years, be they financial reforms or social schemes, would be carried out by 2022, the 75th year of Independence.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netNCAA Season 93 Juniors Most Valuable Player Will Gozum is set for a homecoming.The former Mapua Red Robin returns to Diliman as he has committed to play for University of the Philippines.ADVERTISEMENT John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding UP is coming off a fifth place finish this past UAAP Season 80 with its 6-8 record. NEXT BLOCK ASIA 2.0 introduces GURUS AWARDS to recognize and reward industry influencers Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Win ‘feels like loss’ for Gab Banal, Marinerong Pilipino For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. LATEST STORIES View comments 2 ‘newbie’ drug pushers fall in Lucena sting Read Next AFP official booed out of forum MOST READ Gozum partners with Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie up front UAAP Season 81 as he joins a Fighting Maroons squad that boasts of potential with team captain Paul Desiderio and returnees Jun Manzo, Javi Gomez de Liaño, and UAAP Season 80 Rookie of the Year Juan Gomez de Liaño leading the way.Transferring from UPIS to Mapua, the 6-foot-6 Gozum made a name for himself in the NCAA, averaging 13.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in his senior year with the Red Robins.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSLillard, Anthony lead Blazers over ThunderSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutHis stellar showing also earned him an invite to Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes’ “23-for-23” cadet list in preparation for the 2023 Fiba World Cup.For now, Gozum will reunite with the Gomez de Liaño brothers, his former teammates in the Junior Maroons, this time under the guidance of coach Bo Perasol. Globe Business launches leading cloud-enabled and hardware-agnostic conferencing platform in PH Slow and steady hope for near-extinct Bangladesh tortoises Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles02:14Galvez OK with ‘selective’ martial law in Mindanao01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City
Families in US enclave in north Mexico hold sad Thanksgiving Typhoon ‘Tisoy’ threatens Games Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university PLAY LIST 01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City “It doesn’t sound like it’s a long-term concern, but certainly, it could last through the week,” Stevens said.The Celtics chose to start Shane Larkin rather than go with Terry Rozier or Marcus Smart because Stevens said he wanted to keep the second unit together.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSLillard, Anthony lead Blazers over ThunderSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutAcquired from Cleveland in the offseason deal that sent Isaiah Thomas to the Cavaliers, Irving is averaging 24.8 points in 58 games. He has missed time this season because of a bruised quadriceps, a sore shoulder and a facial fracture.The Celtics were second behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference at 44-20 entering Monday’s game. John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, left, congratulates Marcus Smart while watching the game from the bench during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Boston, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Irving had 34 points in the Celtics 134-106 win. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)CHICAGO — Boston Celtics All-Star guard Kyrie Irving sat out Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls because of a sore left knee.Coach Brad Stevens said Irving aggravated the knee during Saturday’s loss to Houston. He felt a little better the following day but was still sore on Monday. Stevens wasn’t sure if Irving will be ready to play at Minnesota on Thursday.ADVERTISEMENT PSG at crossroads of history against Real Madrid Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Pussycat Dolls set for reunion tour after 10-year hiatus Read Next MOST READ Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC View comments Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH LATEST STORIES LOOK: Iya Villania meets ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ cast in Mexico Google honors food scientist, banana ketchup inventor and war hero Maria Orosa
Cayetano dares Lacson, Drilon to take lie-detector test: Wala akong kinita sa SEA Games BSP survey: PH banks see bright horizon amid dark global recession clouds AP FILE PHOTOThere’s still no telling when NBA fans of a major cable provider will finally get their basketball fix—and the frustration is expected to mount with the defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers and the favored Golden State Warriors kicking off their Finals trilogy on Friday (Thursday in Oakland, California).Reason: The court tussle between media giant ABS-CBN and Solar Entertainment is still going on.ADVERTISEMENT At French Open, del Potro gets lost off court, wins on it Palace: Duterte to hear out security execs on alleged China control of NGCP Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games Meanwhile, Solar recounted the events that led to the filing of a legal suit, broad parts of which were contested by ABS-CBN.Solar said that Sky Cable continued to “air and make money on the NBA shows using Solar’s own channels, BTV and NBA Premium, although its carriage contract ended in 2014.”It added that it continued to feed its two channels and to bill Sky Cable, believing there was an “implied renewal”, an industry practice to prevent a sudden blackout of TV channels and a service disruption to subscribers.In April 2017, Solar said it stopped its NBA feed to Sky Cable “after several unheeded demand letters and realizing that Sky Cable was intent on not paying.”“Now only paying cable stations like Cignal, GSAT, and Dream, among others, can carry Solar’s channels,” Solar said.ADVERTISEMENT View comments MOST READ BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast
Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ Every 18 seconds someone is diagnosed with HIV BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast Pagasa: Storm intensifies as it nears PAR LATEST STORIES Solar’s Wilson Tieng got the upper hand in that legal skirmish after the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court issued an order on May 16 to garnish the bank accounts and other assets of ABS-CBN and its cable affiliate, Sky Cable, for airing the BTV and NBA Premium TV channels of Solar without paying the carriage fees for approximately three years.The court also required Solar, the local distributor of NBA games and programs for 16 years, to post a bond for P659 million. This is the amount Solar, in a statement Tuesday, said it is trying to collect from ABS-CBN.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingABS-CBN, in a short statement, said it filed a motion to lift the attachment and garnishment on May 29, 2017, which the court granted on the same day.“Thus, at this time, there is no effective attachment or garnishment over any asset of ABS-CBN or Sky Cable,” ABS-CBN said. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. ABS-CBN’s statement showed that the Lopez family-led media giant and Solar jointly entered into a license agreement with NBA Properties Inc. in 2014.“Since ABS-CBN was paying 60 percent of the license fees, it considered that the same already covered the carriage fees of Sky Cable,” ABS-CBN said.“Unfortunately, Solar disagreed. Despite the good faith attempts of ABS-CBN and Sky Cable to resolve the dispute amicably, Solar cut off the NBA feed to Sky Cable and filed this complaint,” ABS-CBN added.Solar alleged that the respondents did not want to pay “because they wanted Solar to lose its license by default from NBA Properties, Inc. of the US so that ABS-CBN and Sky Cable could take over.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next
Heart Evangelista admits she’s pregnant… with chicken Heart Evangelista admits she’s pregnant… with chicken Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ WATCH: Firefighters rescue baby seal found in parking garage Bad breaks doomed Bolts, says Newsome Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss PLAY LIST 02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games After years of being shunned by the NBA’s premiere superstar during media day, Jimmy Kimmel’s famed underling hilariously proclaimed that he would no longer speak with “The King.”Instead of going after James like he did for the past six years, Guillermo spoke to both members of the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers and shared his intent to give James the cold shoulder.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutThe hilarity ensued as the clip transitioned to a video montage of Guillermo pestering James during past media days.The five-and-a-half-minute clip has garnered close to a million views, as of this writing. Guillermo, meanwhile, has been a fixture in Jimmy Kimmel Live and was even given his own skit.The Mexican-American talk-show personality previously worked as a parking lot security guard at Hollywood Boulevard Studios before getting his big break. Khristian Ibarrola /raSports Related Videospowered by AdSparc Read Next 1 dead in Cavite blast, fire LATEST STORIES Cayetano dares Lacson, Drilon to take lie-detector test: Wala akong kinita sa SEA Games Guillermo has had enough of LeBron James’ “snobbish” attitude.ADVERTISEMENT World’s 50 Best Restaurants launches new drinking and dining guide What ‘missteps’? MOST READ View comments
Just like last year, the Blue Eagles won’t have just a single go-to-guy with the entire team capable of stepping upany given moment, making them a tough draw for their foes.“We’re a coaching staff that’s going to ride whoever’s worth riding at the time. It could be Thirdy on one day, it could be someone else on another day. I just spoke to the team about that — that I have confidence on all of these guys and if they’re having a good game, they’ll find themselves out there. As long as they’re prepared to play defense at the other end of the floor.”Baldwin is aware of how the rest of the league has tried to improve over the off-season like the Blue Eagles, making the race a fair game.But he is banking on his players’ trust in his system, which is looking for Blue Eagles to go all-out for the whole 40 minutes on the floor.“Generally speaking, I think this team is gonna be a very hard-working team. This is gonna be a team that relishes the defensive end of the floor. But we’re gonna have our letdowns during the campaign. They’re gonna come in every aspect of the game. So promises? No. But having said that, I like them. And most of the time, they’re gonna give us whatever we’re asking for,” he said.ADVERTISEMENT While it came as a surprise, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin doesn’t consider the Blue Eagles’ finals run as an overachievement.But the American-Kiwi coach admits that their runner-up finish to La Salle set them up for higher expectations this UAAP Season 80 but that is something Baldwin is trying to temper.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSBoxers Pacquiao, Petecio torchbearers for SEA Games opening“I think there’d be a lot of expectations outside of our camp. Within, we just want to get off to a good start in the UAAP,” he said. “We’re gonna be a team that hopefully plays off of last season’s finish and has more maturity this year. I believe this team can be good. We will be tested.”Parading a virtually intact roster for this campaign, Ateneo will once again rely on its key guys like Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, and Mike Nieto. Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’ Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes dies at 59 with wife by his side Coach: Tab BaldwinLast Season: 10-4 (Runner-up)Holdovers: Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, Mike NietoAdditions: Tyler Tio, Troy Mallillin, Gian Mamuyac, BJ AndradeKey Losses: G-Boy BabiloniaADVERTISEMENT Robredo should’ve resigned as drug czar after lack of trust issue – Panelo Trump signs bills in support of Hong Kong protesters Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles01:00Chief Justice Peralta on upcoming UAAP game: UP has no match against UST00:50Trending Articles02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Gold medal or bust for Hidilyn Diaz in Turkmenistan tilt Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ MOST READ NATO’s aging eye in the sky to get a last overhaul Hotel says PH coach apologized for ‘kikiam for breakfast’ claim Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes dies at 59 with wife by his side LATEST STORIES
MOST READ National University is gunning for its second straight win against San Sebastian in the Premier Volleyball League on Monday but the backstory would be a lot more interesting.San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb used to handle NU, until he was replaced by Babes Castillo in the Lady Bulldogs’ camp.ADVERTISEMENT Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’ Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Robredo should’ve resigned as drug czar after lack of trust issue – Panelo Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss PLAY LIST 02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games LATEST STORIES Hotel says PH coach apologized for ‘kikiam for breakfast’ claim NATO’s aging eye in the sky to get a last overhaul Trump signs bills in support of Hong Kong protesters
The Lady Stags are sporting a 1-1 record.Earlier at 4 p.m., University of the Philippines will attempt to score its first win in Group B when it takes on Technological Institute of the Philippines.The Lady Maroons, a perennial contender in the UAAP, bowed to the Adamson Lady Falcons, 17-25, 25-21, 19-25,25-19, 15-9, a week ago.On the same day, the TIP Lady Engineers lost to the San Beda Red Spikers, 13-25, 18-25, 27-25, 13-25.Every win counts in the Collegiate Conference, a single round robin tournament that will have the top two teams from the two groups clashing in the crossover semifinals.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Maroons nip Tigers on Desiderio triple; Archers escape Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ View comments Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes dies at 59 with wife by his side Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes dies at 59 with wife by his side NU and San Sebastian collide at 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the PVL Collegiate Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.Gorayeb, however, has already announced he will not show up, citing personal reasons. Assistant coach Clint Malazo will instead call the shots for the Lady Stags.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSBoxers Pacquiao, Petecio torchbearers for SEA Games openingThe Lady Bulldogs won their first game under Castillo, turning back the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-17, 25-16, 25-21, last Sept. 3.They will bank on Jaja Santiago anew when they try to grab a second win in as many starts and a share of the Group A lead with the idle Far Eastern U Lady Tamaraws.
Harbhajan Singh extended his fairytale run with bat to help India take a significant lead over New Zealand and provide the platform for the hosts to push for victory in the the second cricket Test in Hyderabad on Sunday.Harbhajan smashed the Kiwi bowlers to smithereens during his swashbuckling unbeaten knock of 85 off just 82 deliveries, and his unbroken 69-run last-wicket partnership with S Sreesanth helped India finish the day at a commanding 436 for nine, thereby enjoying a lead of 86 runs.SCOREBOARDHarbhajan’s knock was laced with seven boundaries and five massive sixes. Such was his onslaught that India racked up 113 runs in the final session.Earlier, a fluent half-century by VVS Laxman characterized India’s display in the first two sessions, but it was Harbhajan’s knock lower down the order that swung the pendulum in India’s favour.After a century and a fifty in the first Test at Motera and his sterling display with ball on the second morning in Hyderabad, the ‘Turbunator’ kick-started his innings with a couple of power-packed shots to the fence. The feisty off-spinner then pulled Brent Arnel for a massive six over deep square-leg to signal his intentions.But his best moment came when he launched into Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori, after rain interrupted the match for 18 minutes.Vettori had taken four wickets by then, including the one of Sachin Tendulkar, but Harbhajan was unfazed. He lofted Vettori over long-on for a massive six and then, in a repeat of his earlier shot, sashayed down the ground to score the maximum again.advertisementThe lusty hitting continued unabashed as the 50-run partnership between the two came up in double quick time, of which Sreesanth’s contribution was a mere 10. Long-on turned out to be Harbhajan’s favoured area as the Jalandhar man greeted Chris Martin with a massive six over that region. He treated Arnel in a similar fashion hitting him for a four and a six on the on-side.Earlier, resuming at an overnight 178 for the loss of two wickets, Laxman and Dravid survived a testing morning session after Vettori removed Sachin Tendular early.Laxman was elegance personified from the word go and was a sheer delight to watch, especially in the session between lunch and tea. The stylish Hyderabadi began the session after tea with an on-drive off Arnel before gliding the bowler towards the third man for another four. A flurry of boundaries followed moments later. Using his wrist, Laxman caressed Arnel through the on-side and then swept Vettori over midwicket for fours. He was not done yet and produced another gem, this time a wristy flick off Arnel.After Dravid departed for a patient 45 just after lunch, Suresh Raina came in and started on a positive note. He played an off-drive first up and followed that up with another well-timed boundary through the covers.But, in trying to hoick Vettori, holed out to Marin Guptill. Raina was Vettori’s second wicket of the day, to add to his dismissal of Sehwag yesterday evening.After the hosts’ cautious approach in the first session, Dravid started the proceedings after lunch in fine fashion, cutting a short and wide Arnel delivery through cover and mid-off and, in the next over, steered Martin through the gully region for another boundary.But, just when Dravid was approaching his fifty, Southee had his man.Earlier, locals here filled the stands in anticipation that Tendulkar would get to the coveted landmark of scoring his 50th Test century, but their hopes were dashed when Vettori had the champion batsman caught at first slip by Ross Taylor in the day’s fifth over.After a 20-minute stay during which he survived a run-out scare and some uneasy moments, Tendulkar rushed down the track without getting to the line of a delivery that turned away after pitching on the leg stump.The last-minute slog took the edge and Taylor stretched to his right to complete a fine one-handed catch, much to the delight of the visitors.Local boy Laxman then joined Dravid and the two ensured that India did not let go of the advantage, which Sehwag gave them with his blistering batting on Saturday.Buoyed by the local support, Laxman started with a bang, punching Martin through the covers for a boundary. Martin then tried to unnerve Laxman with a short one but the Hyderabadi was equal to task and pulled it over midwicket for a boundary forcing Vettori to replace the bowler with Southee.Dravid, at the other end, was biding his time and waited for the bad deliveries. While there weren’t many bad ones on offer, but Dravid was quick to latch on to a bouncer from Southee. The Karnataka batsman rolled his wrists on it and managed to send the ball to the boundary through a packed on-side field that had a short leg, short square-leg and short midwicket.advertisementLaxman, meanwhile, flicked Southee to the boundary and then whipped a Vettori delivery off his pads for same result.With inputs from PTI
With World Cup round the corner, Mail Today rates the Indians who played in the ODI series in South Africa and will most likely feature in the showpiece event beginning on February 19.Yusuf PathanYUSUF PATHANSeries performance: 3 matches, 166 runs @ 55.33 and 1 wicketVerdict: The hard-hitting all-rounder won India the Cape Town ODI and almost pulled off another blinder in the deciding match. Yusuf will be the trump card for India in the muchflatter subcontinent wickets and his nagging off-spin will be valuable tooVirat KohliVIRAT KOHLISeries performance: 5 matches, 193 runs @ 48.25Verdict: Virat raised his game by quite a few notches in South Africa. The way he handled the new ball, after the openers regularly failed, shows he has the mettle to take on the best. Has made his case for the starting XI strongerMunaf PatelMUNAF PATEL Series performance: 5 matches, 11 wickets @ 18.72Verdict: Munaf showed the value of bowling straight, ending up as the leading wicket-taker for India in the series. His fourwicket haul that sealed a 1-run win is proof of the impact he can have. India will need his frugal bowlingZaheer KhanZAHEER KHANSeries performance: 5 matches, 9 wickets @ 25.11 and 44 runsVerdict: The biggest positive for India is the fact that Zaheer has managed to play all the five matches and looked in good rhythm in most of them. His bowling in the death overs was commendable and his form & experience will be crucialHarbhajan SinghHARBHAJAN SINGHSeries performance: 5 matches, 4 wickets @ 51.25 and 42 runsVerdict: Apart from the Port Elizabeth ODI where he went for 61 from 10 overs, Harbhajan kept the South Africans on a tight leash. His batting has improved dramatically and the off-spinner will hope to make an impact at the showpiece eventadvertisementSachin TendulkarSACHIN TENDULKAR Series performance: 2 matches, 31 runs @ 15.50Verdict: The master batsman played in two matches and got injured while batting in the second. So one can’t be critical of his performance in the series. Needless to say, Tendulkar’s batting at the top will have an impact on how far India progressPiyush ChawlaPIYUSH CHAWLASeries performance: 1 match, 8 runs & 0 wickets Verdict: The leg-spinner got to play just one match but did well, giving away 32 runs in seven overs. If India decide to go with two spinners in the World Cup, he could get the nod ahead of R Ashwin and his ability with the bat would also be an assetAshish NehraASHISH NEHRA Series performance: 4 matches, 3 wickets @ 58.00Verdict: The Delhi pace bowler had a disappointing outing in South Africa, especially on wickets that should have suited him. The left-armer failed to take wickets or dry up the runs. Nehra will be fighting for a slot in the team if Praveen Kumar regains fitnessYuvraj SinghYUVRAJ SINGH Series performance: 5 matches, 91 runs and 5 wickets @ 28.80Verdict:With just one half-century under his belt, Yuvraj was neither here nor there with his batting. The Proteas found his left-arm spin difficult to negotiate. Dhoni would hope that Yuvraj fires, with bat or ballMS DhoniMS DHONISeries performance: 5 matches, 75 runs @ 15.00Verdict: The skipper was safe behind the wicket but had a poor series with the bat. He generally came in to bat with most of the top-order out cheaply. India will hope that he bats more positively. And win a few tosses tooSuresh RainaSURESH RAINASeries performance: 5 matches, 111 runs @ 22.20 and 1 wicketVerdict: The left hander was completely out of sorts on the bouncy tracks in South Africa and is not a guaranteed starter. His vulnerability against the short ball is too obvious. Teams will target it, no matter how the pitch behaves.Statistics by Manoj Kumar
Kochi Tuskers Kerala might be out of reckoning for the IPL play-offs but skipper Mahela Jayawardene said his team has not done too badly in its debut season and would aim to be more consistent.”We need to try and be more consistent, that’s a key word in Twenty20 cricket,” Jayawardene said after his side’s eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Indore on Sunday.More than the win, the Sri Lankan was delighted by the manner in which his team achieved it. “The other day we couldn’t defend 180, today we executed our plans.” With 12 points from 13 matches, Kochi are placed sixth in the points table, and the skipper, after playing his last IPL match of the season, wants his teammates to finish it on a high.”We want to finish off the season on a high, with 14 points, and we’d like to say we had a good season,” Jayawardene, who will be leaving for England to join the national team, said.A disappointed Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne felt his team was 100-120 runs short against Kochi. “It was probably one of those nights when you were 100-20 short. We can only try as much as we can. I’m proud of our guys as they are trying very hard. (But) to lose four games in a row, we’ve just made too many mistakes,” said Warne.Kochi batsman Brad Hodge, who was declared man of the match for his all-round show, said the side is still short of where it should be.advertisement”We’ve performed pretty well.We are short of where we need to be, but it’s coming together.Chasing a low total, the plan was to just go in there and play with freedom and get the job done,” Hodge said.”We are up against Chennai, it’s going to be a tough game but hopefully we can pull it off.” ” It’s good for us to come up here and put in a good performance.Warne’s got me out plenty of times, I got lucky to be honest.Used to bowl to him at the Junction Oval.- With PTI inputs
If India’s medals tally at the London Olympics so far wasn’t enough of an indication, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has admitted, in response to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), that it would take another 10 to 12 years of regular training to reach world standards in sports like cycling, squash, shooting (full bore) and swimming (synchronised and diving).This was in response to question No.17 asked by the PAC to SAI as to how they would like to rectify the issue of training setbacks during the Commonwealth Games.The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its vetting response, added that this response has to be seen in view of the inadequate training and medical facilities. It also added that there was substantial shortfall in conduct of training camps in the above-mentioned sports.The sports ministry also had an explanation for not setting any medal targets for sportsmen competing in these sports in the CWG 2010. “The objective of these sports was to get creditable performance before the home crowds and prepare platforms for future progress in these sports, which was achieved.”To this, the vetting response of the CAG read: “The reply of the department is not accepted as 1 to 2 medals in cycling, 2 to 4 medals in squash and 30 to 35 medals in shooting disciplines were targetted as per the scheme.”The lackadaisical approach of the SAI revealed itself when the PAC inquired as to what were the reasons for nonengagement of an experienced nutritionist at its Bangalore centre for badminton, shooting, athletics, boxing, squash and cycling camps. The sports ministry reply won it no plaudits from the CAG. The reply stated that food supplements were provided to sportspersons in various disciplines as per the recommendation of the expert committee and there was no requirement of appointing a nutritionist.advertisementCAG found the reply untenable as one of the main objectives of the scheme was to provide the dietary supplements under the supervision of nutritionists and sports doctors. Moreover, providing food supplements to core probables merely on the basis of recommendations of the expert committee was no substitute for an expert nutritionist’s direct supervision on a day-to-day basis.The CAG added in its vetting comment that the implementation of the scheme was marred with delay in construction of infrastructure, provision of equipment, finalisation of core probables, appointment of coaches and under-utilisation of funds, indicating that the facilities intended to be provided were not fully extended to the core probables.
The navy has ruled out any active deployment in the dispute-ridden South China Sea claiming that its primary area of focus remains the Indian Ocean region where it has unfinished business. Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, however, said on Tuesday that there were global concerns about international trade routes in South China region not getting disrupted. He hoped that all should calibrate in such a manner that such a situation did not arise.”At this point of time, Pacific and South China Sea are of concern to the global community, but in terms of any active deployment from our side, it is not on the cards,” said Admiral Verma who retires later in August.The navy chief’s comments came in the wake of a recent verbal duel between Washington and Beijing over territorial disputes in South China Sea. India, too, has stakes in the region but has chosen to stay away from any direct intervention.The navy remained firm on the stated position that its focus will continue to remain on the area between Persian Gulf in the west to Malacca Strait on the east and Cape of Good Hope in the south.The Indian naval warships are on deployment in the entire region performing various tasks including anti-piracy operations.Its ships were present from the Horn of Africa to Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius providing surveillance.Admiral Verma shared developments on force augmentation.He said that nuclear submarine Arihant will be ready for sea trials in the coming months. The project has been delayed but he hoped that it will remain on track and the crucial nuclear triad would be in place soon.advertisement’AN OLD SEA DOG’Prompted by a MAIL TODAY write-up on his reticent demeanour, Admiral Nirmal Verma, who retires later in August after a career spanning more than four decades, called himself an “old sea dog” and wondered “if it was too late to learn new tricks?”In his farewell press conference, Verma said he was often made aware that he had not been forthcoming with any significantly sensational sound bytes, as are anticipated! “Yesterday’s edition of Mail Tday remarked upon my preference for reticence.I ask myself, ‘Is it too late for an old sea dog to learn new tricks’?” he said.Admiral Verma asked the media to introspect as the accomplishments of 1.3 million patriotic men and women in uniform are not covered to a degree commensurate to their sacrifice.