US regulator: Quite sure no issue with AI 171 fuel switch
"We can say with a high level of confidence it doesn't appear to be a mechanical issue with the Boeing fuel control unit. We feel very comfortable that this isn't an issue with inadvertent manipulation of fuel control," agencies quoted FAA administrator Bryan Bedford as saying.
Indian authorities, who are investigating the crash and have requested patience for the final report before drawing conclusions, did not comment on the claim. The doomed plane's fuel supply to engines had been cut off, causing it to crash. It is not known what caused the fuel switches' position to change.
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Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Former JNU professor Nandu Ram, pioneering sociologist who brought Dalit studies to mainstream, passes away
'A simple man', 'gentle in manner': this is how family, friends and colleagues remember Professor Nandu Ram, a pioneering sociologist who is hailed for helping bring Dalit perspectives to the heart of Indian academia. In a career spanning more than four decades, Professor Ram is credited with reshaping the field of Indian sociology. He was among the first to rigorously explore the social, political, and economic dynamics of caste in modern India, from lived experience. He died on July 13 at the age of 78. His son, Siddharth (46), who lived with him in West Delhi's Dwarka, said the death was caused by a heart attack following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. 'He loved to write,' Siddharth said. '… and through his writing, he wanted to uplift people from the Dalit community.' Despite holding senior academic positions, Professor Ram lived with remarkable modesty. 'He never bought a car. He always walked…,' Siddharth recalled. 'Even if his own pockets were empty, he would help others.' Born on July 28, 1946, in Marhia village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, Professor Ram came from a family of labourers. His parents, Janaki Devi and Pattu Ram, ensured he could study even when such aspirations were rare. 'He grew up in a basti outside the main village,' Siddharth said. 'He had seen segregation firsthand.' Professor Ram excelled early, topping his district in high school and later moving to Varanasi for his higher secondary education. At Queen's College, he was often mocked for being a 'villager,' but he remained undeterred. He earned his MA from Banaras Hindu University and completed a PhD in Sociology from IIT Kanpur in 1976, where he also taught for several years. In 1978, he joined the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he would go on to teach, mentor, and lead for more than three decades. He served as the Chairperson of the CSSS from 1999 to 2001, and later as the first Dalit Dean of the School of Social Sciences. In 1995, he was appointed the founding Ambedkar Chair Professor in Sociology at JNU. He was instrumental in creating the Ambedkar Chair and became the first Ambedkar Chair professor. Between 2001 and 2004, he also served as Director General of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Institute of Social Sciences in Madhya Pradesh. As a researcher, his work was foundational. His 1988 book — 'The Mobile Scheduled Castes: Rise of a New Middle Class' — gave scholars a new lens to examine social mobility. His five-volume 'Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Castes' (2007–2011) remains a landmark in the field. 'Beyond Ambedkar' (1995) pushed the boundaries of Dalit political thought. 'He taught us sociology that spoke from the bottom,' said Maithrayee Chaudhuri, who was among his first students and later a colleague at JNU. 'Over the decades, he built a generation of scholars who created a distinct body of knowledge on marginalised communities. He was a lone voice back then — and it was not easy.' Even as his influence grew, he stayed clear of campus politics and public grandstanding. 'He was never into sloganeering,' said Anand Kumar, another long-time colleague. 'He never wore his Ambedkarite identity on his sleeve. He respected people regardless of caste or class, and that's why people respected him.' In 2017, the Indian Sociological Society honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The JNU Teachers' Association describes him as 'quiet but firm,' 'gentle in manner,' and 'a person who shall be remembered fondly by colleagues, students, and the academic community worldwide.' His personal life was marked by joy and tragedy. He raised four children and lost his first wife — Siddharth's mother, Rajvanti Devi — suddenly in 1989 to a brain haemorrhage. 'It felt like an entire household crashed,' Siddharth said. 'She was his connection to the village. After her, he was deeply depressed for a long time.' Despite his declining health in recent years, worsened by the Covid pandemic, Professor Ram remained mentally alert, continuing to mentor and read, according to his family. 'His muscles wasted away…,' Siddharth said. 'Eventually, he caught an infection and had a heart attack.' One of his most cherished memories of his father takes Siddharth back to the quiet days at JNU in the 1980s. 'I was about 10 or 11. Papa would take me to the SSS-I canteen and buy me a samosa with chutney. I would be adamant about going there every day as a child, and he would take me along,' he said. 'I used to draw cartoons of his colleagues and hand them out.' It was a simple ritual, samosas, sketches and sociology— but it captured the essence of an academician who lived quietly, taught deeply, and carried his ideals until his last day. Apart from Siddharth, Professor Ram is survived by three other children. 'Yesterday was Papa's birthday. Had he been alive, he would've turned 79,' Siddharth said.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Profs share insights on women diaspora
Lucknow: A five-day course on "Indian Women Diaspora: Preserving Linguistic and Cultural Identities" began at the AMU on Tuesday. Prof Mohommed Gulrez, former AMU VC was the chief guest. Prof Purnima Mehta Bhatt, Professor Emerita, Hood College, US, and Prof Nishi Pandey, former LU professor, were the guests of honour. Prof Samina Khan, chairperson, Department of English, AMU, discussed the resilience of Indian diasporic women and emphasized how language and linguistics enable women to express their diasporic identities. Prof Nishi Pandey said women have always been repositories of tradition, language, and cultural heritage. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Sadaf Fareed (GIAN Course Coordinator), Women's College, AMU. TNN
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian national, Gautam Santhosh, among two killed in small plane crash in Canada; consulate offers support; cause under probe
Representative image An Indian national, Gautam Santhosh, was killed Saturday evening when a small commercial survey aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near Deer Lake, Newfoundland, the Consulate General of India in Toronto confirmed. The Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft, registered to Kisik Aerial Survey Inc., went down about one kilometre south of the Deer Lake Regional Airport during a local flight, reported PTI citing CBC News. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the aircraft carried two people, a 54-year-old pilot and a 27-year-old passenger. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation. "With deep sorrow, we mourn the tragic passing of Mr Gautam Santhosh, an Indian national, who lost his life in an accident involving a commercial survey aircraft near Deer Lake, Newfoundland," the Consulate said in a post on X on Tuesday. It added that the mission is in close contact with the bereaved family and local authorities to offer all necessary assistance. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time," it said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like China Power: Washington's loss, Beijing's gain as Chinese students shun the US for SE Asia? CNA Read More Undo Following the crash, the Trans-Canada Highway near the Deer Lake Airport was closed for several hours to allow emergency services access. Kisik Aerial Survey Inc, which owned the aircraft, also expressed its condolences. 'We are devastated and heartbroken by this loss," company owner Andrew Naysmith said in a statement. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the families of the deceased and their loved ones." "We will not be releasing the names of anyone involved with this incident, that information will be provided by the proper authorities," Naysmith added. "The cause of the accident is under investigation by the transport safety board of Canada and Kisik will support that investigation in any and every way possible.'
