MyVoice: Views of our readers 10th July 2025
A 'Guru' removes the darkness of ignorance by imparting us 'Apara Vidya' (temporal knowledge). Guru Purnima is celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Guru Purnima traces back to the birth of 'Veda Vyasa', the author of the Mahabharata and Puranas. The day is auspicious for seeking the blessings of Veda Vyasa, considered as 'Maya Guru'. It is also the day when The Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first five disciples. This day promotes the values of gratitude, reverence, wisdom, and knowledge. It has spiritual, scriptural, and cultural roots. Let's offer thanksgiving prayers to our teachers, mentors and parents because of whom we are progressing in life.
Dr Burra Madhusudhan Reddy, Karimnagar
Gambhira bridge collapse exposes insensitive officialdom
Standing steadfast on the chest of the Mahisagar River for decades, the four-decade old Gambhira bridge, connecting Vadodara and Anand, lay in tatters following a deafening explosion at 7:30 am on Wednesday. Five vehicles plunged into the river's depths while 10 persons reportedly lost their lives, though five were saved during the rescue operations. The authorities must be held responsible for this avoidable tragedy as locals have been highlighting its fast-decaying state for years together. We wonder why there has been a delay in the construction of a new bridge although Rs 212 crore was approved for this work. This catastrophe is not just an accident but a stinging slap on our insensitivity.
Prof RK Jain, Barwani (MP)
No more 'last benchers'in Kerala schools
The elimination of the 'last benchers' concept in schools in Kerala marks a transformative shift in education. Every student, regardless of their position, is recognized for their unique potential. This inclusive approach fosters collaboration, encourages diverse talents, and inspires a generation to embrace learning without labels. Together, we rise!
TS Karthik, Chennai
Kudos to TGSRTC for extending online payment facility
We would like to thank the TGSRTC authorities for introducing QR code online payment facility in some city routes-Secunderabad to Afzalgunj via Warasiguda. This will help in considerably reducing the change problem and arguments between the grumbling conductors and the helpless commuters. We urge the corporation to maximise the use of electronic tickets and help save paper, trees, the environment and thereby our lives. Hope all modes of transportation will take cue and follow suit.
PVP Madhu Nivriti, Secunderabad-61
Bharat Bandh woes
Wednesday's Bharat Bandh, backed by 25 crore workers, speaks volumes but also raises troubling questions. While the cry for labour justice is loud, is shutting down public services the answer? Though the bandh may spotlight workers' woes, it also cripples movements of the very citizens they claim to represent. Labour rights are vital, but what of public rights? A democracy must balance both.
Mohammad Hasnain, Muzaffarpur
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India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Maximum city, maximum kabutars? Mumbai bans pigeon feeding, protests take flight
For decades, pigeons have been ubiquitous in Mumbai's cityscape. They can be found fluttering around railway stations, at the iconic Gateway of India and flocking in droves in feeding areas known as kabutarkhanas. However, these spots are now found covered with large tarpaulin sheets after a recent High Court order, giving flight to controversy, protests, as well as the first FIR in Mumbai for feeding the centre of the row is a July 31 order by the Bombay High Court directing the Mumbai civic body (BMC) to strictly initiate criminal proceedings against those defying the ban on pigeon feeding at public and heritage passing the order, the court cited serious public health hazards, including respiratory infections, and damage to heritage sites due to their droppings. It came amid a surging pigeon population in BMC ..... ,...@narendramodi @Dev_Fadnavis @ Tanvi Jain (@TanviSolanki_) August 2, 2025 However, the order has fallen foul of animal lovers and Mumbai's influential Gujarati and Jain community, which considers pigeon feeding auspicious. This has stirred pigeon politics in India's financial LOVE WITH PIGEON FEEDINGFor this, it is important to understand the history of kabutarkhanas and its ties to culture of feeding pigeons is believed to have started by Gujarati and Jain businessmen in Mumbai, leading to the development of kabutarkhanas in major corners of the city. They considered it to be an act of piety and believed it would bring blessings from fact, in Jainism, feeding pigeons is one of the central tenets of its ethics. For decades, it has been the culture of many Jain families to feed pigeons near temples or trust-run feeding the past month, over 50 such feeding spots have been closed. The iconic Dadar kabutarkhana was one such feeding last week, the BMC erected a bamboo structure on the spot to prevent the feeding of pigeons. It kicked off a massive protest by the Jain community. People feed pigeons as they visit the Gateway of India in Mumbai (AFP) PROTESTS AND 1ST CRIMINAL CASEOn Sunday, over a thousand activists, animal lovers and Jain spiritual leaders hit the streets from Colaba to the Gateway of India to protest the ban on feeding monk, Nareshchandra Ji Maharaj, went so far as to announce a fast-unto-death unless feeding of pigeons was allowed to resume. Activists have claimed that hundreds of pigeons have died of starvation in Mumbai in the past few a ban was always in place, it was never legally enforced. No political party wanted to upset the influential Gujarati community and the Jains, who form a large part of the city's was only on August 3 this year that the first criminal case for feeding pigeons in public space was registered by Mumbai POLITICSThe issue has also taken a political hue, with Maharashtra minister and BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha shooting off a letter to the municipal commissioner of Mumbai, expressing concern over the demolition of his letter, Lodha questioned whether feeding of pigeons alone was responsible for the health issues and sought the formation of a court-monitored panel to suggest sustainable solutions."Following the decision to restrict pigeon feeding, there have also been numerous instances of pigeons suffering from starvation. This has resulted in pigeons dying on the roads, thereby creating another public health hazard," Lodha pointed issue also reverberated in the Maharashtra legislative council last month after one of the members cited a death in the family due to a lung disease linked with pigeon HAZARDS AND ECOLOGICAL CONCERNSIn fact, public health hazard was the major reason cited by the Bombay High Court behind its crackdown a vast city like Mumbai, pigeons largely survive on food provided by people rather than natural sources. The more they are fed, the more they reproduce, a PETA study has feeding pigeons is a harmless act, what leaves an indelible mark is its health concerns and ecological studies have found that pigeon droppings and feathers carry harmful pathogens, including viruses, that can cause long-term respiratory issues, like hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Public health hazard from pigeon droppings was the major reason cited by the court behind its crackdown order (AFP) The lung disease is caused by prolonged exposure to fungal spores found in dried pigeon droppings. This is mostly seen in congested areas. Another disease linked with pigeons is cryptococcosis, an infection that can cause neurological effects go beyond health hazards. For long, several Mumbai residents have complained of the nuisance pigeons create at bus stops and the stench their droppings leave in stretches near feeding spots.A few years ago, a BMC engineer died after being thrown off his bike on allegedly being struck by a droppings, which are highly acidic, act as a catalyst in causing damage to historical landmarks and public infrastructure. A case in point is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj acidic excreta has also been found to corrode stone facades of protected monuments, leading to added maintenance the city's love-hate relationship with pigeons continues, it remains to be seen how the issue plays out in coming weeks.- Ends
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Jain muni leads protest against BMC crackdown on pigeon-feeding
MUMBAI: The BMC's ongoing crackdown on kabutar khanas (public pigeon feeding spots) has now extended to residential societies, leading to protests from those who see this as an attack on 'religious and cultural traditions', for instance the Jain community which has traditionally set up kabutar khanas. Mumbai, India - Aug. 3, 2025: Followers Jain religion participated in protest rally against the closure of kabutar khanas across the city by BMC, rally was held from Colaba jain temple to Gateway of India, in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, August 3, 2025. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) The action follows a stern Bombay high court directive of last week, which ordered the civic body to register FIRs against individuals found feeding pigeons. The next compliance hearing is scheduled for August 7, where the court will review medical data from KEM Hospital and enforcement reports from the BMC and Mumbai police. The civic body said it was following the affidavit submitted by KEM Hospital to the court which stated that pigeon droppings contribute to serious respiratory illnesses such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). The claim has been backed by medical science for years but the controversy in Mumbai hotted up only fairly recently. In response to the BMC's action, around 1,000 members of the Jain community gathered for a protest between the Gateway of India and Radio Club on Sunday. The protest was led by Jain muni Nilesh Chandra Vijay, pravakta of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Mumbai and Konkan region committee alongside former Colaba corporator Puran Doshi. Sandeep Jain, a resident of Prithvi Bandhan, a housing society in Worli, revealed that he was recently warned against feeding pigeons on his terrace. 'I am a tenant, and my landlord called me up to tell me that the BMC clicked photographs of me feeding the pigeons and issued a notice to the society,' he said. 'I have been warned that I will be fined if I feed them.' On Sunday, the protestors chanted slogans such as 'Shanti Jineshwar shanti karo, sabhi jivon ko sukhi karo' and 'Abol jivon ki hai ye pukar, mat ujado hamara sansaar'. The demonstrators demanded an end to what they described as 'a systemic attempt to starve pigeons' and destroy traditional feeding zones. 'If the high court delivers an unfavourable verdict on August 7, we will peacefully protest inside the Dadar kabutarkhana itself,' said Jain muni Nilesh. 'We are even reciting the Hanuman Chalisa for the pigeons now.' Calling the BMC's actions 'criminal' and 'inhumane', the muni alleged that starving pigeons was 'a deliberate act of cruelty'. 'There are 51 kabutar khanas and on a daily basis, 100 to 150 pigeons are dying,' he claimed. 'The pigeons are waiting to be fed. The BMC fined people during COVID for not wearing masks, now they want to loot Jains in the name of pigeons.' Muni Nilesh added that feeding pigeons was linked to astrological traditions, including offerings to Navgraha and Rahu-Ketu. 'In our Jain religion, killing even an ant is a sin,' he said. 'But here pigeons are dying daily.' The muni said that since it concerned the Jain religion, the community was willing to go against the Constitution as well. 'We have instructed people to revolt if the BMC comes visiting their homes to collect fines,' he said. Former Colaba corporator Puran Doshi backed the protest, citing international research suggesting that other factors, including air conditioners, wet walls and genetic predisposition could contribute to respiratory illnesses. He claimed that there was 'no evidence' that pigeons were responsible for pulmonary deaths. 'There are hens, vultures, and crows too. Why target only pigeons?' he said. Doshi added that pigeons had been fed at kabutar khanas for years and suddenly it had stopped. 'Now feeding in the house is also inviting an FIR,' he said. 'The pigeons go to the same place for foodgrains. It is as good as inadvertently ordering death by starvation.' BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha also weighed in, urging the BMC to consider a 'balanced approach' that respected both public health concerns and cultural sentiment. In a letter to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Lodha proposed designating alternative feeding zones such as BKC, the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and Aarey Colony. 'Pigeons are dying due to lack of food,' he stated. 'We must find a humane and practical solution that respects our traditions.' The Jain community has announced a peace rally on August 10, followed by an indefinite fast at Dadar Kabutarkhana by Muni Nilesh if the August 7 court ruling does not favour pigeon feeding rights. The rally is expected to draw participation from residents of Dadar, Vile Parle and South Mumbai, from where over 1,000 people have already joined earlier demonstrations.
Deccan Herald
18 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Soundarya School celebrates Guru Purnima
Soundarya School – State Board, Nagasandra, celebrated Guru Purnima to honour teachers' dedication. Chief guest Kshama Naragund delivered an inspiring speech on the Guru-Shishya bond. Sports Director Varun Kumar and principal Chinnamma Kaverappa encouraged students to value discipline and teamwork.
