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The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Review of graphic anthology Longform 2025
The philosopher Timothy Morton coined the term 'hyperobject' to denote processes and objects so enormous in their scale and sweep that it is almost impossible to conceive of them. Think of climate change, for instance, manifested through a million interconnected nodes. You cranking up the AC or a mudslide wiping out a village would be adjacent points in this multidimensional graph. Depicting such hyperobjects is nearly beyond the bounds of language itself. Yet, one can try, and comics as a medium is perhaps uniquely positioned to do so, to phase-shift between the micro and the macro cosmos, leaping past chasms of time. For instance, 'Resorts to Ruins', written by David Lo and drawn by Kay Sohini, is the true story of a massive lake in California called the Salton Sea that eventually dried up due to man-made tinkering, leaving behind a legacy of toxic dust and desolate tourist towns. Rendered in gaudy pop art colours, it captures such immense causal chains, stretching across the impersonal centuries with its downstream effects equally reaching into the future. It is one of the 18 pieces that make up Longform 2025, an anthology of graphic narratives. The third in an ongoing series, the first edition came out in 2018. The editors Pinaki De, Debkumar Mitra and Argha Manna in their editorial note mention how the initiative sprang from the idea of 'a comics group that works with young, unheard and unseen cartoonists and illustrators'. The anthology includes an extended interview with Joe Sacco, a practitioner of comics journalism. In a way this completes the circuit, as the title of the series is 'inspired by a Joe Sacco essay on the shrinking space to tell long graphic stories'. According to the editors, the 'bulk of the comics are born' in the 'workshops we conduct at various academic institutions'. Indeed, of the 17 creators, five are from the various IITs and four are from the NIDs. Many are from small towns and villages, a welcome change from the general top-heavy Delhi-Mumbai approach in Indian publishing. Heritage and absurdity Sankha Banerjee's 'The Laws of the Ancients' has Yudhishtira talking to Bhishma lying on his bed of arrows, awaiting death. The new king of Hastinapur asks for a tale of a time when 'everything has fallen, kings are corrupted and people hate each other'. Bhishma paints an apocalyptic landscape, in the gap between the yugas, with no one at the controls of the cosmic starship. Drought and famine scrouge the land. Viswamitra, driven by hunger, enters the hut of Matanga, a chandala, and grabs a pot of dog meat. Matanga attempts to dissuade him, and it is their dialogue that Banerjee depicts in a kind of intestinal panel layout. In comics, letters and speech balloons don't just sit there, passively waiting to be read, but often transform into visual elements in their own right — 'the word made image', in the words of semiologist Pierre Fresnault-Deruelle. 'Text Box' by Anantha Sriya features a stream-of- consciousness emanating from a sign painter, and his hopes and fears as he painstakingly hand paints a sign in Telugu. Many visions The comic theorist Scott McCloud once came up with the nifty idea of 'closure'. His contention was that the blank gap between panels, the gutter space, is where the comic is being 'read' as the reader's mind assembles the jagged splinters of panels into a coherent whole. In effect, a comic requires the reader's mind to be put together. Almost as if it were parasitising your mind. 'Earworm' by Pratyasha Nath is a psychedelic rhizomatic romp that begins with a fungal ear infection and ends with a planet-spanning parasitic fungal network. In his interview, Sacco says, 'Comics are an amalgamation and a synthesis or a sort of a compound molecule, of writing and drawing.' Indeed, this protean nature is reflected in the backgrounds of the contributors. There are poets, professors, researchers, admen and architects, all pooling together their unique vision, putting together a snapshot of the zeitgeist. The reviewer is a freelance journalist and graphic novelist.
Express Tribune
27-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
President, PM condemn deadly attack on polio team in Nushki
Listen to article Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday condemned a deadly attack on a polio vaccination team in Nushki, Balochistan. A police constable assigned to guard the team was martyred, and another policeman was injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire. The attack took place on Tuesday as the team was carrying out routine vaccination work in the area. President Zardari expressed deep concern over the incident and paid tribute to polio workers who risk their lives to protect children across the country. In a message tied to the ongoing nationwide anti-polio campaign, Zardari noted that cases of the crippling disease have dropped by over 90 percent due to consistent vaccination efforts, monitoring, and the bravery of health teams. However, he warned that the fight against polio is not yet over and called for continued support for eradication efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the family of the slain worker. He vowed that those responsible would face strict action and reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting polio teams from militant threats. Polio teams in Pakistan have frequently been targeted in deadly attacks, particularly in remote or conflict-affected areas, making the country one of only two where polio remains endemic. Pakistan has recorded 10 polio cases so far in 2025, official figures show. Peanwhile two polio workers were abducted by armed men on in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Tank district, during an ongoing anti-polio campaign on Monday. The incident occurred in the Jandola tribal subdivision. The victims were identified as Sifatullah, a COMNet staff member, and Hizbullah, a volunteer. Both were performing vaccination duties at the time of the abduction. Pakistan launches third nationwide polio drive of 2025 Pakistan's Polio Programme launched its third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of the year on Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Centre in Islamabad. The campaign was inaugurated by Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication, along with key programme officials and partner organisations. To mark the launch, Ayesha Raza Farooq administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five, reaffirming the government's commitment to wiping out polio. The weeklong drive began on May 26 and aims to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Year's third polio drive kicks off
A health worker administers polio drops to a child during a door-to-door vaccination campaign amidst heavy snow in the Bakwali-Surgan area of Azad Jammu Kashmir's Neelum Valley, on February 4, 2025. (AFP In continued efforts toward a polio-free Pakistan, the Pakistan Polio Programme launched its third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of the year on Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Islamabad. The campaign was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, alongside members of the Polio Programme's core group and representatives of partner organisations. To mark the launch, Farooq administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five, reinforcing the government's unwavering commitment to eradicating the crippling disease from every corner of the country. Scheduled to begin on May 26, the weeklong campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children under five, making it a critical intervention in Pakistan's final push to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025. "Polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country," Farooq said. "This third campaign of 2025 marks a decisive milestone in our 2-4-6 roadmap. These back-to-back rounds from September 2024 to May 2025 represent our most strategic opportunity to close immunity gaps and halt virus circulation before the high transmission season begins." Farooq acknowledged the persistent challenges in key reservoirs such as Karachi, South K-P and Quetta Block but noted encouraging progress in reaching previously underserved populations. She also extended heartfelt appreciation to the 400,000 frontline workers powering the campaign, including 225,000 female vaccinators and recognised the critical role of civil and military law enforcement in ensuring safe access to children. Despite major gains, wild poliovirus continues to pose a threat. Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signalling continued circulation. Speaking at the event, UNICEF representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, expressed confidence in the programme's direction. As he concluded his tenure in Pakistan, Fadil commended the national leadership and Farooq for their tireless dedication to polio eradication. "Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future," he said. The public is strongly encouraged to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.
Business Recorder
23-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Punjab to launch 3rd polio immunization drive next week
LAHORE: Punjab is all set to begin the third round of the National Immunization Days (NIDs) from May 26 to June 1, with the goal of vaccinating over 23 million children under the age of five against poliovirus across the province. Adeel Tasawar, Head of the Polio Programme in Punjab, emphasized the urgency and strategic importance of this campaign, warning of heightened risks of virus transmission in the coming weeks. 'This is a crucial campaign that comes approximately just two weeks ahead of Eid, a time of increased travel and population movement, which raises serious concerns about the potential spread of poliovirus,' said Tasawar. 'Adding to the urgency is the fact that there will be a long gap before the next campaign. We must go all out now to ensure maximum coverage.' The campaign will run for seven days in mega districts including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. In all other districts, it will span five days. Tasawar issued a strong message to field teams, underlining a zero-tolerance policy toward negligence, poor performance, and data manipulation. 'No untrained polio team will be allowed in the field. We are particularly focused on persistently missed children and mobile populations (MMPs). These gaps must be addressed with urgency and transparency,' he said. 'Still-missed children remain a challenge. We must identify them honestly and ensure they are vaccinated. Intra-campaign clusters must be genuine—fake data will not be tolerated. Anyone entering false information into the system will face immediate action.' He encouraged staff and supervisors to raise issues openly: 'Do not hide problems—bring them forward so we can solve them. We must know where the missed areas are. Effective coverage will only be validated by finger-marked children, nothing else.' Amidst an ongoing heatwave, Tasawar also stressed the importance of maintaining cold chain protocols and prioritizing the health and safety of frontline workers. 'All teams must follow SOPs strictly, including the use of ice packs and cool packs. The safety of our workers and the potency of the vaccine depend on this.' Reiterating the importance of this round, he concluded: 'Given the upcoming Eid holidays and the gap until the next campaign, this round is critical to halting virus transmission. Every child vaccinated brings us a step closer to a polio-free Punjab.' The Punjab polio programme urges parents, communities, and local leaders to extend full cooperation to vaccinators and ensure no child is left behind. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh's top election body locks National Identity Cards of Sheikh Hasina, her family members
In a significant move, Bangladesh's election body has locked the National Identity Cards of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nine of her family members, rendering their NIDs unusable for any services. This action follows Hasina's exile in India after widespread protests led to the collapse of her 16-year rule. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Dhaka: Bangladesh's top election body has locked the National Identity Cards (NIDs) of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her nine family members. The NIDs of the 10 individuals, including Hasina, were locked through an official letter on February 16, signed by ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the National Identity Registration Wing at the Election Commission, Daily Star newspaper other members whose NIDs have been locked are Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed, daughter Saima Wazed, sister Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, Shaheen Siddiq, Bushra Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, state-run BSS news agency reported on to officials, NID locking means its information can no longer be corrected, verified or changed. As the locked NIDs are unusable, Hasina and her nine family members will not get any NID-related 77, has been living in India since August 5 last year, when she fled Bangladesh following large-scale anti-government protests that toppled her 16-year National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police recently submitted a request to the Interpol, seeking a red notice against 12 individuals, including Hasina.A red notice is used by Interpol to help locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition or similar legal is accused of numerous charges like mass murders and crimes against humanity, enforced disappearances while these cases were being filed with Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal.
