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Mint
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Operation Sindoor reflects India's values and emotions: PM in Gujarat - ‘Could Modi sit silently after Pahalgam attack?'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched yet another attack on Pakistan by asserting that Operation Sindoor is not just a military action but an expression of the values and emotions of Indians. By launcing the strikes on terror camps in Pakistan during the operation, PM said, he lived upto to the expectations of 140 crore people of India. "Jab koi hamari behno ke sindoor ko mitayega, toh uska bhi mitna tay ho jata hai... Atank phailane walon ne sapno mein bhi socha nahi hoga Modi se muqabala kitna mushkil hota hai. (When someone removes the Sindoor from our sisters' and mothers' foreheads, then their death is also confirmed. Those who fan terror had not even imagined in their dreams how difficult is it to face Modi), " Modi said addressing a public rally in Dahod on Monday, first day of his two-day visit to Gujarat. Modi also recalled May 26, 2014 when he took oath as Prime Minister for the first time. This is PM Modi's first visit to his home state in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor– India's precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan earlier this month, after the 22 AprilPahalgam attackthat killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in South Kashmir. 'After what the terrorists did in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam (on April 22), could India sit silently? Could Modi sit silently?… Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, it is an expression of the values and emotions of Indians,' he said. Modi said ever since Pakistan was born after Partition of India, the country has focused on targetting India while we in India focused on removing poverty. 'To become Viksit Bharat, we need to develop economincally while securiing our borders,' he said. PM Modi urges citizens to buy and use products made in India during festivals like Holi, Diwali and Ganesh Puja Earlier, Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth around ₹ 24,000 crore in Dahod. He also inaugurated a locomotive manufacturing plant and flag off an electric locomotive from Dahod on the first day of this visit today. Modi also flagged off Ahmedabad-Veraval Vande Bharat service and Valsad-Dahod express train on the occasion. Before the Dahod event, patriotic fervour gripped Vadodara during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow, which was held in honour of the Indian armed forces for successfully conducting Operation Sindoor. When someone removes the Sindoor from our sisters' and mothers' foreheads, then their death is also confirmed. Operation Sindoor is not just a military action; it is an expression of the values and emotions of Indians. Modi began his two-day visit to Gujarat today, 26 May. During the stay in his home state, Modi is launching projects worth over ₹ 82,950 crore, hold roadshows in Vadodara, Bhuj and Ahmedabad besides addressing public meetings. Modi will later travel to Bhuj and launchmultiple development projects worth over ₹ 53,400 crore.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Spoken Word Poetry: Rooting for storytelling
1 2 Bengalurean Prishita Tahilramani grew up listening to her grandfather's tales. "He used to recount his experience of the Partition of India and how, when he was eight years old, they had to move to India, stay at a railway station, and then at a refugee camp, before making a home in India," she says. Listening to his stories, over and over again, kindled in her a love for the spoken word. "Later, I started listening to storytellers on YouTube," she says. Prishita stumbled into Sriti Jha's 'The Invisible Woman' on Kommune India 's YouTube channel, and was awestruck. "I felt expressed," she says. Prishita wanted to do something similar; in her own words, "there was a need to feel and make others express themselves." That's how her association with Kommune India, one of India's first ' Spoken Word Poetry ' collectives, started. Though some may argue that 'spoken word and poetry' are as old as humanity itself or when people began to express themselves through words, the traces of it as a modern-day movement are linked to the urban collectives, especially in the United States. It's intrinsically connected to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, the Beat Poets of the 1950s, and Black Rights and Civil Rights movements of the later years. However, back home, in India and in Bengaluru the movement gained significant traction only in the past decade or so, coinciding with the rise of social media and online platforms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative o software antivírus do seu computador Clique aqui Undo Spoken Word Poetry blends elements of poetry, theatre, and performance into one, and allows the performer and the listener to experience the story on a much deeper level. The quick connection that the narrator builds with the audience makes it a popular means of storytelling. It is called Spoken Word Poetry because it uses poetic devices, metaphors, imagery and rhythm to evoke emotions in the listener. With multiple platforms like TapeATale, TTT, and UnerasePoetry, to name a few, the community of Spoken Word artists is growing and so is the fan base. Some of the popular artists in India include UnErase Poetry founder Simar Singh, Airplane Poetry Movement co-founder Nandini Varma, Diksha Bijlani, Ishmeet Nagpal, Qais Jaunpuri, Priya Mallik, Jasmine Khurana and Hussain Haidry. Kommune, a platform co-founded by artist and actor Roshan Abbas, is quite popular across the country. "When I started Kommune, it came from a very personal place. I had emptied myself creatively into a film and was looking for inspiration. Saw Sarah Kay perform on YouTube and I realised that across art forms, we often work alone, wrestling with our own doubts and dreams and have no collaboration opportunities or places of inspiration. I wanted to build a space where creators could come together — not just to perform, but to collaborate, to stumble, to cheer each other on," he says. "Kommune became that living room of artists, where storytellers, poets and musicians could drop their masks and simply share. We weren't trying to chase viral hits or trends. We just wanted to build a home for authentic, heartfelt expression," says Roshan on his inspiration to revive the art of sharing stories and poetry. Kommune videos eventually did go viral and started drawing in more people to the Spoken Word Poetry movement. For example, Gaurav Abha Tiwari, who is one of the managers of Kommune's Bengaluru chapter currently, says that the raw vulnerability, the storytelling, and the passion of Kommune's viral videos hit him instantly. "That's when I knew I had to be part of something that gave voice to emotions like that. Soon after, I began attending Kommune events and eventually became more involved with organising it. " These platforms have encouraged people to meet like-minded folks, and find their concerns echo in others' words. The platforms have become so popular also because they provide a space for people to be unapologetically themselves, without judgment, and give them the space to unload themselves. At Spoken Word Poetry sessions, people usually talk of depression, anxiety, urban loneliness, home, nostalgia, exploitation and abuse, things they are generally not comfortable discussing in their 'peer groups'. It proves again that sharing your thoughts and concerns with strangers is often much easier than talking to known people. Shamik Sen stumbled upon Spoken Word Poetry at one such open mic sessions in Bengaluru. "A friend dragged me along and I was expecting a casual evening. But when I walked out after the session, I was moved, shaken, and inspired. The format was so new to me ...conversational, intense, and incredibly personal. It felt like therapy with a mic." Shamik, Gaurav and Prishita are now Spoken Word Poetry artists. They have an exciting mix of audience — students, working professionals like lawyers and scientists, artists, introverts, extroverts, and people from all walks of life. "We keep the energy high, the curation honest, and the atmosphere inclusive. Audiences respond best when they feel like they're in a safe space," says Gaurav. "It's never just about performing—it's about connecting. We build spaces where honesty meets vulnerability, and the crowd doesn't just watch, they feel. Some laugh, some tear up, some simply breathe it in," adds Prishita. Though spoken word advocates, the artists maintain a deep connection with written words too. Prishita has a blog and is currently working on an anthology of short stories. Shamik too is working on a story collection. Gaurav has already published a Hindi-Urdu poetry collection.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Masiha' depicts trauma of refugees after the Partition
Lucknow: Play 'Masiha' depicting trauma of refugees after Partition of India was staged at Avadh Academy Inter College, Chinhat, on Thursday. The play explores the socio-psychological and emotional consequences of displacement. Directed by Shaili Srivastava, the production set a sombre and reflective tone, focusing on loss, moral reckoning, and survival. Set in a refugee camp on the India-Pakistan border, Masiha follows displaced individuals waiting in hope for loved ones left behind. Among them is Master Santaram, a refugee who has crossed over from Pakistan and awaits the return of his sister Laadli. The cast included Ashwini as Master Santaram, Captain as Pranay Tripathi and Anupam Bissaria as the madman, Anita Verma as Laadli. All actors conveyed layered emotions and brought the painful history to life with conviction. Sponsored by Shraddha Manav Seva Kalyan Samiti, in collaboration with the ministry of culture, the play has been written by playwright and screenwriter Sagar Sarhadi.
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"I sure as hell helped settle problem between India-Pak last week," claims Trump
Doha [Qatar], May 15 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed to have played a role in settling the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. According to Trump, the situation was getting 'more and more hostile' but somehow managed to get it 'settled.' Speaking to American troops at a base in Doha, Qatar, Trump mentioned that both countries were happy with the trade discussion, suggesting that focusing on trade instead of conflict could be a way forward. 'I don't want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week, which was getting more and more hostile, and all of a sudden, you'll start seeing missiles of a different type, and we got it settled,' Trump said. Tensions between India and Pakistan heightened after a deadly attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, leading to a series of diplomatic and military actions, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Operation Sindoor. The US President mentioned that the situation was 'escalating out of control' but seemed confident that his efforts had contributed to a resolution. 'I hope I don't walk out of here and two days later find out that it's not settled, but I think it is settled, and we talked to them about trade. Let's do trade instead of, and Pakistan was very happy with that, and India was very happy with that, and I think they're on the way...' He also commented on the historical nature of the dispute. 'They have been fighting for about a 1000 years in all fairness. So I said, you know. I could settle that up. I could settle; let me settle it up, and let's get them all together. How long have you been fighting for about 1000 years? Oh, that's a lot. I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure about settling. That's a tough one. They've been fighting for a long time... It was really going to be escalating out of control.' Notably, Pakistan was created on August 14, 1947, as a result of the Partition of India, which was driven by the demand for a separate Muslim state. The partition was officially sanctioned by the Indian Independence Act of 1947, leading to the formation of both Pakistan and India as independent dominions. The All-India Muslim League, under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, played a key role in advocating for the creation of Pakistan. Earlier today, foreign affairs expert KP Fabian asserted that India's decision to engage with Pakistan was not a result of US mediation post Operation Sindoor. He said that the US played a subtle yet significant role in pushing Pakistan towards the ceasefire talks. Speaking to ANI, Fabian clarified that the US did not facilitate direct mediation between India and Pakistan. Instead, the Americans seem to have nudged Pakistan in the right direction, encouraging them to talk with India directly. 'America did not mediate; they might have pushed Pakistan at some point for the ceasefire. It was not the US telling us, 'You should talk about it, India will do this, Pakistan will do that,' - that would be termed mediation. However, pushing Pakistan towards the ceasefire talks is not mediation but is still good. We are grateful to them for that much. We should thank President Trump for this, but the thanks is in context, not for the mediation; I clarify that there was no mediation. America just pushed Pakistan in the right direction, and we thank them for it,' he said. After the intense cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan, a ceasefire was brokered on May 10, the US played a subtle yet significant role in pushing Pakistan towards the ceasefire talks. The US administration's behind-the-scenes efforts, particularly those of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, involved extensive communication with Indian and Pakistani officials. Vance reportedly called Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to consider de-escalation options, while Rubio spoke with India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir. These diplomatic efforts ultimately led to Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations reaching out to India's DGMO to discuss a possible ceasefire. While the US attempted to take credit for the ceasefire, Fabian suggested that their role was more nuanced. According to Fabian, when US President Trump announced that he had spoken to both parties and secured a ceasefire agreement, the Indian government was 'quite upset' with the claim. India took decisive action, leaving Pakistan uncertain about its next steps. Pakistan faced a dilemma: escalate the situation or seek a US stepped in, urging Pakistan to request a ceasefire. The US then informed India of Pakistan's request, but India insisted on direct communication from Pakistan. 'When President Trump said before the announcement that he had spoken to both parties throughout the night and that we had agreed to the ceasefire, our people were quite upset with that. America did not mediate. We were stern with our actions, and Pakistan did not know what to do next. Should they escalate, or do they ask India to discuss a ceasefire? They were in a dilemma,' Fabian said, reflecting on the tense period of engagement. Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) eventually contacted their Indian counterpart, and the two DGMOs agreed to talks, paving the way for a ceasefire. Fabian highlighted India's firm stance, ultimately leading to Pakistan seeking a ceasefire. The diplomatic efforts culminated in a fragile peace between the two nations. He detailed how the situation unfolded diplomatically. 'During that time, America asked Pakistan to ask for a ceasefire. The US then told us that Pakistan is asking for a ceasefire, and we said fine, good enough, but we would want to hear that straight from Pakistan. Pakistan should tell us directly that they want a ceasefire. The Pakistani DGMO called after that, and after a while, our respective DGMOs agreed on the talk.' Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation was a retaliatory response to the May 5 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, and injured several others. In response, Pakistan carried out cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and attempted drone attacks along the border regions. India retaliated with a coordinated strike, damaging radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across Pakistani airbases. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Gurdaspur first Punjab district under complete blackout from tonight
As tensions between India and Pakistan continued to escalate on Thursday, Punjab's strategic border district of Gurdaspur has been put under complete night-time blackout from tonight. In a significant civilian precautionary measure, the first in the state since the cross-border escalation after Operation Sindoor was launched against Pakistani terror targets on May 7, the Gurdaspur deputy commissioner issued a notice announcing a complete blackout would be observed across the district from 9pm to 5am daily until further notice. Hospitals and the central jail are exempt from the blackout but they must ensure windows and doors remain closed to prevent light leakage, the notice said. The directive urged all residents and commercial establishments to strictly comply with the blackout order and ensure no external lighting is visible during the stipulated hours. Gurdaspur, located in the heart of the Bari Doab between the Beas and Ravi rivers, is the district where Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir meet. It is the gateway to Jammu and beyond to the Kashmir Valley. It also serves as the entry point to Kangra valley, where two major dams, Ranjit Sagar on the Ravi and Pong on the Beas, are situated. Till August 17, 1947, it was assumed that Gurdaspur district would be in Pakistan territory. But for a last minute change by Sir Cyrill Radcliffe, who drew the map of the Partition of India, and the delayed announcement of the award of territories by Governor General Mountbatten, the highly strategic district remained with India.
