logo
'Mysore Pak' Now 'Mysore Shree': Jaipur Shops Rename Sweets Amid Pak Tensions

'Mysore Pak' Now 'Mysore Shree': Jaipur Shops Rename Sweets Amid Pak Tensions

NDTV23-05-2025

New Delhi:
Amid India-Pakistan tensions, the shops in Rajasthan's Jaipur have renamed various sweets, including the famous ' Mysore Pak '.
A shopkeeper said they have removed the word 'Pak' from all their sweets' names and replaced it with 'Shree'.
"We have removed the word 'Pak' from our sweets' names. We have renamed 'Moti Pak' as 'Moti Shree', 'Gond Pak' as 'Gond Shree', 'Mysore Pak' as 'Mysore Shree'," a shopkeeper told NDTV.
The 'pak' word in sweets, however, doesn't refer to Pakistan, but means sweet in Kannada.
In 'Mysore Pak', a dry sweet with condensed milk that is named after Karnataka's Mysore (now Mysuru), it refers to the sugar syrup used in the recipe.
The move comes in the wake of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month.
India, after finding cross-border links to the April 22 attack, which left 26 people dead, launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to strike terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Pakistan then launched a massive missile and drone attack, but the threats were thwarted. In retaliation, Indian forces struck airfields in Pakistan. A ceasefire on May 10 ended the hostilities.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Who's afraid of Mysore Pak? The bitter taste of India's language wars
Who's afraid of Mysore Pak? The bitter taste of India's language wars

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Time of India

Who's afraid of Mysore Pak? The bitter taste of India's language wars

Languages can either foster peace and understanding or serve as tools for conflict and division. In India, they are increasingly being weaponised. For instance, amid tensions with Pakistan, some shopkeepers in Jaipur renamed sweets like Mysore Pak and Moti Pak to Mysore Shree and Moti Shree, erroneously assuming the word 'pak' (meaning 'sacred' in Persian) to be of foreign origin. Ironically, in the case of these sweets, 'pak' is rooted in the Sanskrit term 'pakva' (meaning 'cooked'), with cognates in several Indian languages, including Kannada. On the other end of the country, Hyderabad's Karachi Bakery faced vandalism for using the name of a Pakistani city, despite being founded by a Sindhi Hindu refugee who migrated from Karachi in 1947. Such acts of linguistic intolerance are not isolated but part of a larger pattern where language is being used to fuel differences. Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada is born out of Tamil sparked a row Words of Arabic origin, such as jihad (spiritual struggle), halala (permissible), talaq (divorce), sharia (Islamic law), and hijab (veil), have been used by political groups to marginalise and discriminate against communities. Conversely, innocuous Sanskrit-derived terms like bhakta (devotee), gobar (cow dung), gaumutra (cow urine), and mandir (temple) are stigmatised by opposing groups to demean and trivialise cultural practices and identities. Jai Shree Ram (Victory to Lord Rama) and Allahu Akbar (God is Great), once expressions of devotion, have been twisted into polarizing war cries. Forget humans, even AI chatbots like X's Grok have been manipulated to abuse and dehumanize people, communities and organisations using the 'unhinged mode' feature. More worrying than the language conflicts on social media is what is playing out on the streets. Skirmishes have been reported in several cities with migrant workers becoming soft targets for these 'language vigilantes'. In a nation where languages are deeply intertwined with cultural identity and pride, these conflicts over language use, words and signage strike at the heart of personal and communal belonging. But why is India's linguistic diversity — it has over 424 distinct languages — under strain? Among the reasons are the continued distrust of multilingualism by central and state govts, inconsistent implementation of the three-language policy, and the push for a 'one-country, one-language' ideology based on a European model of a nation state. Moreover, state govts are implicitly supporting this ideology of linguistic homogenization. A 2024 Kerala govt order mandated exclusive use of Malayalam in public advertisements and notices, prohibiting multilingual signs. Govts in UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan have been actively replacing names of villages and cities perceived as Islamic with those reflecting Hindu heritage. In MP, for instance, Mohammadpur Machanai village was changed to Mohanpur, and Hajipur was renamed Hirapur. Critics argue that such renaming erases centuries of coexistence and shared history, while proponents claim it restores a pre-colonial identity. So widespread is linguistic prejudice in India that regional variations of a widely spoken language like Hindi are stigmatised. Hindi speakers from eastern states like Bihar and Jharkhand often face mockery for their distinct accents, word choices, and oral expressions. Their mother tongues, such as Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika, are labeled as crude or vulgar. By linking the perceived vulgarity of Bhojpuri films and songs to the language itself, the entire Bhojpuri-speaking community is viewed through a prejudiced lens. Similarly, though Telangana Telugu and coastal Telugu share a common script and a unified cultural history, Telangana Telugu has been treated historically as inferior. In films, Telangana Telugu speakers were frequently portrayed as comical or foolish. These linguistic, cultural, and social differences contributed to the 2014 separation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, there is a competitive race among linguistic groups to claim the antiquity of their languages. A recent flashpoint was actor Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil which sparked a sharp backlash. The Indian govt's 'classical' tag for certain 'dominant languages' — the 2024-25 list included Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali — has also become a coveted badge of prestige. These languages already receive significant budgetary support from both Union and state govts. Such official labels often end up intensifying conflicts and further marginalising resource-scarce minority languages like Tulu, Bhili, Gondi, Santali, Dogri, Angami, Lotha, Mizo, Garo, Khasi, Badaga, Irula etc. Far from being a unifying force, languages have become tools of polarisation in electoral politics. If India is to uphold its democratic ideals, the embrace of multilingualism must be more than symbolic. It must be actively nurtured, through policy, education, and public discourse. Languages are not just a medium of communication; they are the essence of identity, culture, and coexistence. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.

After NDTV Report Exposes Constable Exam Scam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Orders Crackdown
After NDTV Report Exposes Constable Exam Scam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Orders Crackdown

NDTV

timea day ago

  • NDTV

After NDTV Report Exposes Constable Exam Scam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Orders Crackdown

Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav condemned police constable recruitment scam, calling it a betrayal. An investigation into biometric fraud has begun, leading to FIRs and arrests. The scheme undermined merit and affected numerous deserving candidates. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has broken his silence on the police constable recruitment scam exposed by NDTV, calling it a betrayal of thousands of deserving candidates and ordering immediate, stern action. "In light of the information received about fraud and irregularities in the police constable recruitment 2023 process, I have directed strict action to be taken immediately. Such criminal acts, which cause injustice to deserving candidates, will not be tolerated in Madhya Pradesh," the Chief Minister said in a strongly worded statement. Mr Yadav said the police headquarters has taken note of the matter on its own (suo motu) and launched an investigation into the biometric data and Aadhaar history of all the selected candidates. "Wherever impersonation has been prima facie established, criminal cases have been registered and strict action is being ensured," he said. This announcement comes days after NDTV uncovered a sophisticated network of the 'solver mafia', Aadhaar tampering, and biometric fraud that allowed undeserving candidates to steal the dreams of genuine aspirants. The investigation began when anomalies were spotted during the physical test rounds in Morena district - leading officials to uncover a pattern of multiple Aadhaar updates, changed biometrics, and impersonators appearing in written exams. With over 9.6 lakh applicants for 7,411 constable posts, the stakes were high. But instead of being a test of merit, the recruitment process became a target for organised fraud. Solvers, reportedly charging Rs 4-5 lakh per candidate, cleared the written exams using fake identities, and the original candidates later updated their Aadhaar credentials to reclaim their place. So far, 19 first information reports (FIRs) have been filed, 12 people arrested, and over 100 suspects are under investigation - including Aadhaar operators and candidates. A single solver is alleged to have appeared in six different exams, clearing five. Aadhaar centres in Bhitarwar, Morena, and Sheopur have come under the scanner for enabling mass-scale biometric manipulation. The scam has not only triggered outrage but also crushed the hopes of countless aspirants. Officials say the scam's links may stretch to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Delhi, echoing the Vyapam scandal from a decade ago. The methods have evolved, but the motive remains unchanged: corruption, influence, and stolen opportunities. While the state government's crackdown has begun, the real challenge lies in restoring the sanctity of recruitment. For now, aspirants across the state wait - not just for justice, but for a system they can trust.

NDTV Exclusive: Who Feeds Gaza? Inside The US-Israel Aid Distribution Model
NDTV Exclusive: Who Feeds Gaza? Inside The US-Israel Aid Distribution Model

NDTV

time2 days ago

  • NDTV

NDTV Exclusive: Who Feeds Gaza? Inside The US-Israel Aid Distribution Model

New Delhi: Nearly all of Gaza's livestock has been wiped out. Local meat production has collapsed. Food shipments remain heavily restricted. And while Israel blames the Hamas militant group for hijacking aid, many humanitarian agencies say Israel's blockade is strangling the civilian population in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Caught in the middle are Gaza's 2.3 million residents, whose access to essentials increasingly depends on how logistics, security, and politics play out in Jerusalem. Speaking exclusively with NDTV, Israeli embassy spokesperson Guy Nir gave a rundown on how aid distribution works in a region that has seen near-total devastation ever since Hamas' multi-frontal attack on Israel on October 7 in 2023. Mechanics Of Aid Delivery: Who Distributes What? At the core of the new aid structure is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed non-profit organisation that Israel says it supports but does not control. "The people who are distributing the aid are the GHF," said Mr Nir. "The IDF - the Israeli Defence Force - is coordinating their entry and security while they're in Gaza. There are four distribution centres. GHF is an American-backed NGO. Israel is not the one distributing the aid, but we are 100 per cent facilitating and arranging the security of the GHF to do this." NDTV Exclusive | How Rs 5 Indian Biscuit Is Being Sold For Rs 2,400 In Gaza A recent Reuters report claimed violence at aid delivery sites, specifically an incident in Rafah where local health officials say Israeli fire killed at least three Palestinians near a GHF site. "Both the GHF and the IDF released statements that there was no shooting in or around the aid distribution centres. These reports are misleading," he said. "There are masked gunmen who are Hamas, who are shooting at the Gazans because Hamas doesn't want this operation to succeed. The thing is, for the first year and a half, most of the aid trucks that went into Gaza were looted. Hamas looted about 80 per cent of all trucks." According to Mr Nir, Hamas is selling the contents to civilians at inflated prices. This system, he claims, allowed Hamas to exert economic and political control over the population. "The amount of humanitarian aid that came into Gaza during the first year and a half was astronomical," Mr Nir said. "We delivered over 3,500 calories per person per day. If everybody ate everything we brought in, they would be fat. The new distribution system allows us to give the aid directly to the people, without Hamas being involved." Preventing Aid Theft: The "New" Distribution System Israel had suspended traditional UN food deliveries. Instead, an alternative was introduced on May 27 called the Secure Distribution Site 1 (SDS1) model, developed by the GHF. "We went to a new method with the GHF," Mr Nir explained This method, according to Mr Nir, involves smaller, family-sized boxes rather than bulk commodities like 100-kg rice bags, which were more vulnerable to mass looting. "We're talking about one box with, say, rice, pasta, of oil and other materials, enough food for one family for one week," Mr Nir said. "Looting these small boxes is much more difficult. We are still seeing some looting from Hamas, but maybe 5 per cent or less." He conceded that the system is "not perfect," but said it is an improvement. The Blockade And International Criticism When pressed on international criticism of Israel's blockade and its humanitarian implications, Mr Nir responded with a redirection. "The responsibility for the people of Gaza is Hamas - like the responsibility for the people of Israel is the IDF," he said. He accused Hamas of having spent 20 years diverting foreign aid to build "underground tunnels" and fund its "terror infrastructure", while neglecting education, health, and infrastructure for the civilian population. "Israel cares more about the Gaza population than Hamas," he said. "Israel is the one providing the aid, Hamas is just shooting them." On the matter of Gazan access to work inside Israel, he cited a key turning point. "Up to October 6, 20,000 Gazans had work permits and came to Israel daily. They were getting Israeli salaries, helping their families, their economy," he said. "October 7 changed all of that." Mr Nir rejected the idea that Israel should be held responsible for the economic and humanitarian toll since then. "Why should we allow terrorists to come into Israel, as we did up until October 6?" he asked, Local Partners: Safe Reach Solutions The SDS1, located in Rafah, features caged corridors forcing Palestinians into narrow queues, guarded perimeters manned by Safe Reach Solutions, a US-based private security firm, which has been accused of carrying out intelligence operations in Gaza using Israeli data. "There are four aid distributions in Gaza. The GHF comes every day with IDF security to access these locations, prepare the distribution, and then the gates are open to allow all the population to come and collect the boxes. At the end of the day, we close the centre and go back across the border to Israel." On SRS, Mr Nir offered only limited insights. "From what I understand, they are responsible for facilitating the distribution and protecting the area so that it can be done safely, and to prevent ammunition from reaching Hamas. Responding to reports that SRS is involved in intelligence operations, as suggested in some Israeli and international media, he said: "That's part of the responsibility. But from what I understand, they are not a defence force." What Happens After Hamas? According Gaza officials, at least 4,402 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a brief ceasefire announcement. The subsequent military action has taken the war's overall death count, according to Hamas, to 54,677. "The majority of them are Hamas terrorists and operatives, and victims of Hamas' misfired rockets," said Mr Nir. "We are open to multiple solutions. We are not going to govern Gaza. We don't want to be in Gaza," he explained. "[The Palestinians] need to govern themselves, as long as it's not a terror organisation that is terrorising its own citizens and terrorising us in the process. As long as there is no threat to Israel, we are okay with that." There have been reports of Israel considering clan-based governance models, similar to what exists in some Gulf states, but Mr Nir said Israel would not interfere with internal arrangements, so long as they ensure stability and security. "They just need to find something that works and is of no harm to their neighbours," he said. Asked whether Israel would engage with a reformed Palestinian political body in Gaza, one that excludes Hamas, Mr Nir said: "Of course. We want Gaza to be independent. We want Gaza to be successful. We don't want Gaza to be a threat to Israel. We are willing to cooperate with a reasonable government on their side."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store