Month: December 2024

‘Cricketers Should Learn To Digest Success & Glamour’

By LokMarg

Ashok Bambi, a former Ranji and central zone cricketer, advocates a disciplined life for sportspersons so that success does not get into their heads. His views:

Vinod Kambli is not the only example where sportsperson, especially cricketers, were not able to handle the success and glamour of the now over-paying sport; I even know a few cases where once promising talents committed suicide at the end of their unceremonious exit from the sports. It takes a lot of drill and discipline to reach at the top level or to make a niche in any form of sports. Shortcuts are a rarity in sports.

It pains me to see that today the IPL has taken over the earlier mandatory and regular form of cricket, as young players now aim to secure a good auction price rather than taking the prescribed route – through regional and zonal cricket tournaments.

However, besides luck, the priority of a cricketer should be to make his/her worth proved with steady improvement in the game he or she chooses. However, with the advent of the shorter format of cricket and opportunities across the globe (like IPL and other such leagues), the professional and playing life of a cricketer has drastically reduced over the past 12-15 years. Many new platforms have also emerged and now, with the increasing opportunities to get noticed. We can witness a flood of cricketers pouring in from every nook and corner of the country. My only advice to this new crop is to remain focused and disciplined.

Aspiring cricketers should learn from the meltdown of Vinod Kambli as also the latest episode of Prithvi Shaw. These are classic examples of how, in spite of being successful and established cricketers, indiscipline and improper attitude can ruin one’s career.

ALSO READ: ‘Our Cricketers Must Know When To Declare Their Innings’

I have seen Kambli’s downfall from close quarters and it is not at all easy to teach certain things to the new generation but the fact remains that one should plan for his after (professional) life. Shaw must have earned about ₹30 Crore by the time he was 23-24 years old as the Deccan Chargers retained him continuously. But what he has now done to his life remains a stark example of disorderliness. You just can’t rest on your laurels; you have to perform better increasingly. The three Ds – discipline, determination and dedication – are a must for everyone to aim for the top.

I believe with all cricket associations of the country, should form a team/panel of experts from various fields like mentors, psychologists, financial experts, former players, etc to supervise and impart skills for a better and settled retired (from sports) life. Though the BCCI is giving financial aid in the form of a pension to retired cricketers, it is restricted to those who retired before 2004. The reason is that nowadays, the cricketers at any level are paid handsomely and with a little financial prudence, they can plan a secure future.

Learning is a constant process. I repeatedly give examples of Harbhajan Singh, Virendra Sehvag and Kapil Dev, who, despite the drawback of belonging to a rural background, learned English and are now successful coaches and commentators. One need not only earn bread and butter in the later part of your life by teaching the sport to youngsters; you may set an example and contribute to the society too.

As told to Rajat Rai

Delhi’s Air Quality ‘Severe’ At 442, Temperature Drops To 5 Degrees Celsius

By LokMarg

The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital remained in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, with a thin layer of fog covering parts of the city and limiting visibility.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature dropped to 5 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the temperature was recorded at 7.4 degrees Celsius in Delhi at 2.30 am, as per the IMD.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was measured as 442 at 7 am in the national capital on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 421 at 7 AM.

AQI in several areas of the national capital was recorded as poor. 458 at ITO, 471 at Alipur, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 443, DTU 432, IGI Airport (T3) 418, RK Puram 464, DU North Campus 436, at 7 am on Wednesday.

However, the AQI in some areas was better and was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category. Chandni Chowk’s AQI was recorded as 374, 348 at Lodhi Road, 344 at Dilshad Garden and 367 at NSIT Dwarka.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is severe.

Amidst the cold, Air Force personnel were seen rehearsing for the 78th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path.

Avinash who had come from Maharashtra to visit India Gate said while coming to Delhi he faced breathing issues due to the pollution.

“I have come on a Delhi ride with my bike. When I was going towards Gurugram I was having a little breathing issue,” he told ANI.

Bhagat Singh, a resident of the city said that due to pollution number of people coming for morning walks to parks has decreased as people are facing difficulty breathing.

“Pollution has increased in the past two days and we are facing difficulty breathing. Due to pollution, the number of people coming for morning walks to parks has decreased,” Singh told ANI.

Anant Kumar who had come to visit India Gate told ANI, “Suddenly we are seeing how much pollution has increased, earlier there was some relief in the middle but then suddenly there is a problem. I feel some action should be taken.”

GRAP stage IV measures have been in effect in the entire NCR since December 16 after the deterioration in air quality.

This decision came after Delhi’s AQI surpassed the 400 mark. On Monday night, the AQI was reported as 399 at 9 PM and crossed into the severe zone at 401 by 10 PM. (ANI)

Oscars 2025: India’s Hopes Ride On Guneet Monga’s ‘Anuja’ After ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Misses Out

By LokMarg

India’s hopes at the 2025 Oscars now rest on ‘Anuja’, a live-action short film produced by Guneet Monga Kapoor, after Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ did not make it to the next round in the International Feature Film category.

On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists for 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards. ‘Laapataa Ladies’, which was India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category, could not advance further, leaving many fans and filmmakers disappointed.

However, India still has a reason to hope. Monga’s Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. The film sheds light on the important issue of child labor in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role.

This is Monga’s third nomination at the Oscars. Her earlier projects, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ and ‘Period: End of Sentence’, won Oscars, bringing glory to Indian cinema.

Apart from ‘Anuja’, another film that remains in the Oscars race is ‘Santosh’, a British-Indian film directed by Sandhya Suri. Featuring actress Shahana Goswami, Santosh is the United Kingdom’s official entry for the Oscars. The film premiered earlier this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced 30 shortlisted films in contention for the Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short Oscar categories. Some other shortlisted contenders include ‘Clodagh’ ‘The Compatriot’ ‘Crust’ ‘Dovecote’ ‘Edge of Space’ and ‘The Ice Cream Man’. (ANI)

‘China Ready To Work With India,’ Says Beijing Ahead Of Ajit Doval-Wang Yi Meet

By LokMarg

China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries and work to bring bilateral relations back on track as soon as possible, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Beijing also emphasised the need to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, strengthen mutual trust through dialogue and communication and properly settle differences with sincerity and good faith.

Being asked about rebuilding trust between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, during a press briefing said, “China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of China and India, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, strengthen mutual trust through dialogue and communication, properly settle differences with sincerity and good faith, and bring bilateral relations back to the track of stable and healthy development as soon as possible.”

This comes as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China Foreign Minister Wang Yi are set to hold the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives in Beijing today.

The talks are expected to focus on the China-India border issue. These would be the first such high-level talks since December 2019.

The two Special Representatives will discuss the management of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question, the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Parliament last week, that the disengagement between India and China has been fully achieved in Eastern Ladakh through a step-by-step process, culminating in Depsang and Demchok.

He also stressed that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas is a prerequisite for the development of India-China ties.

In October this year, India and China reached an agreement regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas.

The border standoff between India and China began in eastern Ladakh along the LAC in 2020, and was sparked by Chinese military actions. It led to prolonged tensions between the two nations, significantly straining their relations.

During the meeting of Prime Minister Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit held in Russia’s Kazan, PM Modi had said that maintaining peace and stability on the border should remain the priority of the two countries and mutual trust should remain the basis of bilateral ties. (ANI)

‘We Did Not Expect Such Insensitivity’: Protesting Farmers Refuse To Meet Committee Formed By SC

By LokMarg

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) said that the protesting farmers will not meet the Committee formed by the Supreme Court.

The farmers were to hold a meeting with the committee on Wednesday but refused to meet citing several reasons including holding talks with the central government being one of them.

In his letter addressed to retired Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Justice Nawab Singh (Committee head), Dallewal said, “As you may already be aware, I have been on a hunger strike at the Khanauri border since November 26. Today marks the 22nd day of my strike, and I trust you are apprised of my medical condition. My hunger strike was announced on November 4 by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which was 43 days ago. Since then, 22 days have passed since the strike began.”

He highlighted that farmers attempting to march on foot to Delhi from the Shambhu border faced police brutality, allegedly resulting in injuries to over 40 farmers.

“Committee was formed by the Supreme Court to rebuild trust between the farmers and the government, yet you have made no concrete efforts in this direction nor engaged in any serious discussions with the central government to fulfil our legitimate demands,” Dallewal said.

He also asserted that both of the organizations were already sceptical that such committees are formed merely as a formality.

“Nonetheless, respecting you and your committee, our delegation met with you on November 4. However, despite the gravity of the situation, your committee has not found the time to visit the Khanauri and Shambhu borders. It deeply saddens me to see that you have acted only after such a significant delay,” he said.

“Was this committee waiting for my demise? We did not expect such insensitivity from esteemed members of your committee. Considering my medical condition and the plight of the injured farmers at the Shambhu border, both of our organizations have decided that we are unable to attend the meeting with you. Henceforth, any discussions regarding our demands will only take place directly with the central government,” Dallewal added.

In September, the apex court constituted a committee headed by Justice Nawab Singh (Retd) to look into the demands and grievances of farmers agitating at the Shambhu border.

On Tuesday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing presented its First Report (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) on the ‘Demands for Grants (2024-25)’ for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to the Lok Sabha.

The report was submitted by former Punjab Chief Minister and incumbent MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, who also serves as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing.

A notable recommendation of the report is to provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Farmers as a Legal Guarantee.

The Committee observed that the implementation of MSP remains central to discussions on agricultural reforms and farmers’ welfare in India. It emphasised that a legally binding MSP could reduce farmer suicides by ensuring financial stability, mitigating market volatility, and alleviating debt burdens.

Another key recommendation is the Introduction of a scheme to waive off farmers’ and farm labourers’ debt.

The ongoing farmers’ protests entered their 311th day on Tuesday.

“There is pressure from 140 crore Indians, 3 crore Punjabis, and 2.5 crore Haryanvis on the Modi government. We have 12 demands,” Pandher stated. “The singers of Punjab have turned this into a people’s movement,” farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said earlier.

Appealing for public support, he said, “Support farmers’ protests as much as possible. Punjabis need to fight as one.”

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, on Tuesday, moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike.

“Dallewal, the president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), is in critical condition, with medical experts advising immediate hospitalisation due to his deteriorating health. Despite this, he has refused medical intervention, insisting on continuing his hunger strike for the farmers’ cause,” Tagore noted.

He urged the central government to take immediate action and engage in a meaningful dialogue with farmers’ representatives. (ANI)

‘Satcom Spectrum Will Be Assigned Administratively And Is Open To All,’ says Telecom Minister Scindia

By LokMarg

India’s doors are open for whoever would like to come in and operate the satellite broadband service in the country by conforming to the regulations and requirements of the Indian government, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said, noting that the government has allowed satellite technology to be permeated within the country.

In an interview with ANI, Scindia said that spectrum for sattelite communication services will be assigned administratively at a price which is not determined by this ministry.

Answering a query concerning Elon-Musk-owned satellite internet company Starlink’s keenness to enter the Indian market, Scindia said “it is open for everyone”.

“Technology is ever-moving and ever-changing. Technology is extremely dynamic and more so in the decade we are living in and I think that it’s very important that India remains ahead and always ahead of the technology curve. Keeping that in mind, today satellite technology for mobile communication is being promulgated across the world. It’s a very complimentary technology to other forms of technology, be it terrestrial in the form of OFC cable or mobile towers or otherwise. And in India, we have very clearly followed the route that the rest of the world has followed which is to allow satellite technology to be permeated within our country,” the Union Minister said.

He was responding to a query about satellite communication increasingly becoming a buzzword.

Scindia said that last year in the Telecommunications Act, the awarding of spectrum on an administrative basis had been passed by Parliament.

“It is also from an engineering point of view and a scientific point of view not possible to auction the level of spectrum that is used in satellites which is not dedicated to a single corporation or single entity but is shared among various entities because when you have 6000 satellites, for example, on a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) orbit, that spectrum is shared by a number of players. And therefore, that spectrum will be assigned administratively,” he said.

“Firstly, every party, be it anyone will have to apply for a license, provided they conform to all the regulations and requirements of the Indian government. They certainly will be awarded a license. Post obtaining a license, they also have to get space approval from our organization, which is IN-SPACe (the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) because that allows for the orbital capacity of that entity’s satellites to orbit the Earth. And finally, following the first two prerequisites, spectrum will be assigned administratively at a price which is not determined by this ministry, but will be determined by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI),” he added.

The minister said TRAI is in the process of determining what that price will be.

“And at that TRAI-determined price finally, then the spectrum will be awarded to all the licensees who want to enter the space. Today as we speak two parties have already obtained that license Reliance, and Airtel through OneWeb. There are a number of other prospective licensees and India’s doors are open for whoever would like to come in and operate the service in India,” he said.

Starlink’s entry into India has gained currency lately, with Donald Trump winning the US presidency. Musk is close to Trump and the former had openly campaigned and raised funds during the latter’s presidential run.

The government informed the Lok Sabha last month that Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as part of Satellite Communication Reforms-2022, permitted User Terminal stations on moving platforms for provisioning of satellite-based connectivity, subject to compliance with relevant Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) standards and conditions mentioned by amendment in the Unified License issued in May that year.

Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said in a written reply that the Satellite Communication Reforms-2022 facilitated ease-of-doing business, streamlined a number of processes including implementation of “single scrutiny workflow” and rationalized various charges.

“The recent Space Sector reforms enable larger participation of non-government entities for building/leasing, owning and operating the satellite systems for providing satellite-based services. These reforms aim to enhance the accessibility and affordability of satellite-based services for citizens. DoT’s Satellite Communication Reforms-2022 have simplified the regulatory procedures and reduced financial charges on the licensees,” he said.

“As a result of the recent Space Sector reforms, many satellite operators have shown interest and applied for authorization for providing the satellite communication over India. It is envisaged that with more players, enhanced satellite capacity would be available and competition in this segment will lead to better quality and affordable services, along with expansion of coverage in rural and far-flung areas,” Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar added. (ANI)

Oscars 2025: Hindi film ‘Santosh’ shortlisted for ‘Best International Feature Film.’

By LokMarg

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Wednesday unveiled the names of the projects that are eligible for the Oscars 2025 race.

‘Santosh’, a Hindi-language international co-production set in rural north India, has found a spot in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category.

A total of 15 films have been selected for the Oscar shortlist in this category out of 85 total films submitted by countries all around the world.

The film was sent by the United Kingdom as their official submission for the Academy Awards 2025. The movie also premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, and was well-received by critics.

Reacting to this “little glory”, Shahana took to Instagram and expressed her happiness.

“So happy for the team especially our writer-director Sandhya Suri for this little glory of recognition for our film Santosh! How incredible to be shortlisted from amongst 85 films. Thank you to everyone who loved it, supported it and voted for it,” she wrote.

Directed by Sandhya Suri, the film stars Shahana as a driven young Hindu widow who inherits her husband’s job as a police constable thanks to a government scheme. She finds herself caught up in institutional corruption even as she warms to working with rough-edged veteran detective Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar) on a brutal murder case involving a teenage girl from the lower caste Dalit community, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

The films that progressed to the next round in International Feature category are following:

  • Armand” (IFC Films) from Norway
  • “Dahomey” (Mubi) from Senegal
  • “Emilia Perez” (Netflix) from France
  • “Flow” (Janus Films and Sideshow) from Latvia
  • “From Ground Zero” (No U.S. Distribution) from Palestine
  • “The Girl With the Needle” (Mubi) from Denmark
  • “How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies” (Well Go USA Entertainment) from Thailand
  • “I’m Still Here” (Sony Pictures Classics) from Brazil
  • “Kneecap” (Sony Pictures Classics) from Ireland
  • “Santosh” (Metrograph Pictures) from United Kingdom
  • “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Neon) from Germany
  • “Touch” (Focus Features) from Iceland
  • “Universal Language” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) from Canada
  • “Waves” (No U.S. Distribution) from Czech Republic
  • “Vermiglio” (Janus Films) from Italy

The list includes films that are officially eligible to compete in various categories. However, it does not guarantee that these films will advance in the final nominations for the Academy Awards.

Oscar voting to determine the nominees in all 23 categories will start on Wednesday, January 8, and it will end on Sunday, January 12. Nominations will be announced on Friday, January 17. (ANI)

India’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Out Of Oscar Race, Fails To Make It To Shortlist

By LokMarg

Kiran Rao’s directorial ‘Laapataa Ladies’, which was India’s official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category, is out of the Oscars race.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony on Tuesday (local time). Unfortunately, the list didn’t include the ‘Laapataa Ladies’, leaving the Indian audience disappointed.

Directed by Kiran Rao and produced under the banners of Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ was released in theatres on March 1, 2024.

It starred Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan and Chhaya Kadam.

Set against the backdrop of rural India, Laapataa Ladies revolves around the story of two young brides who get exchanged on a train.

The film’s team including director Kiran Rao and producer Aamir Khan already kickstarted the campaign for Oscars 2025. The movie was screened in London recently.

On November 12, a new poster for the film was unveiled with the title ‘Lost Ladies’. It highlighted a change for international audiences, as the Hindi word Laapataa was translated to its English word, Lost.

Notably, Aamir Khan’s classic Lagaan was the last Indian film to enter the top five nominations in the Best International Feature Film category (formerly called Best Foreign Film) at Oscars 2002.

The other two instances when an Indian movie made it to the nominations were Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay (1988). (ANI)

Stalin Felicitates World Chess Champion D Gukesh In Chennai

By LokMarg

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday felicitated the youngest world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju in Chennai.

Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin was also present.

Earlier in the day, India’s newly-crowned International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Championship winner, D Gukesh, held a celebratory roadshow in Chennai. Excited fans gathered on the streets of Chennai to cheer for the young chess prodigy.

Speaking at the event, Gukesh said that Chennai is one of the best cities in the world of chess.

“…For me to be standing here as the youngest World Chess Champion, I feel gratitude towards everyone. Chennai is one of the best cities in the world of chess. This couldn’t have been possible without the support of the Tamil Nadu govt…The World Championship journey could not have happened without Chennai Grandmasters…,” Gukesh said at the event.

The Indian chess grandmaster returned to India on Monday after winning the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore and becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion. Last week, Gukesh made history by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the decisive 14th game of the championship match.

The World Champion received a rousing reception at Chennai Airport on Monday, where large crowds turned up to welcome him. Gukesh was surrounded by enthusiastic supporters as he made his way through the airport.

The championship, tied at 6.5-6.5 heading into the final game, culminated in a stellar performance by Gukesh, who secured a 7.5-6.5 victory over Ding Liren.

Overcome with emotion following his triumph, Gukesh broke down in tears, calling the win the “best moment of his life” during the post-match press conference.

Reflecting on his loss, Ding Liren said, “I was totally in shock when I realised I made a blunder. I will continue to play. I think I played my best tournament of the year. It could have been better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survival, it is a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets.”

In a heartwarming gesture after receiving the trophy, Gukesh immediately handed it over to his parents.

The final game lasted 68 moves, where one mistake or a single move proved decisive. (ANI)

Sanjay, Yami, Aditya Dhar Offer Prayers At Golden Temple

By LokMarg

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt is currently in Amritsar for the shoot of his upcoming films with director Aditya Dhar.

Amid the ongoing shooting schedule, Dutt and Dhar took some time off work and offered prayers at the Golden Temple on Tuesday. Yami Gautam too joined her husband Aditya Dhar for a sacred visit to the Gurudwara.

Several visuals surfaced online in which Yami, Sanjay and Aditya could be seen seeking blessings of the almighty. They also posed with the fans for the pictures. Yami also brought her son to the temple. In one of the images, we can see Yami holding her son Vedavid in her arms.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sanjay Dutt also met with Punjab minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal. Dhaliwal took to X and shared some pictures from his meeting with the ‘Khalnayak’ star.

Last month, Aditya Dhar visited the Golden Temple with actor Ranveer Singh.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Ranveer shared pictures from the Golden Temple and captioned it as, “Jaako raakhe sayiyaan maar sake na koi..”

Dhar, Ranveer and Sanjay are working on a project which also features R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal.

The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande from Jio Studios along with Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under their banner B62 Studios. This follows their recent super hit collaboration ‘Article 370’. If reports are to be believed, the film is based on some incredible true events from the history books of R&AW. It is set in the golden era of Indian Intelligence Agencies, coinciding with the rise of R&AW. (ANI)