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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Where ex-cricketer Anaya Bangar's research project stands amid wider debate on trans women in sports
Written by Shaarvi Magazine Anaya Bangar, a transgender woman and former professional cricketer, recently participated in a research project to evaluate how hormone therapy has impacted her athletic performance compared to cisgender women (whose gender identity is the same as the one assigned at birth). The study was conducted at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport (UK) and aimed to provide data on the physiological effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on a transgender athlete. HRT can involve taking hormones such as estrogen or testosterone through pills or other means. Bangar, who transitioned in her early twenties, has been vocal about the need for evidence-based policies in sports to ensure fair inclusion of transgender athletes. The project aims to improve that understanding. What does the report say? On June 17, Bangar shared the findings on Instagram. Her athletic performance was tracked over eight weeks (January to March 2025) after having completed one year of HRT. Parameters such as body mass, strength, endurance, and injury risks were measured at regular intervals and compared to baseline data from cisgender female athletes. The study also analysed various biochemical markers and power tests like muscle mass, stamina, and glucose and oxygen levels. A post shared by Anaya Bangar (@anayabangar) The results found her haemoglobin levels, glucose regulation, and power output to be within cisgender female range, while her endurance and muscle power declined under hormone therapy, proving HRT's effectiveness in aligning her physiology to cisgender female standards. Bangar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to examine her report for future research and open discussions about the inclusion of trans women in women's cricket. What is the larger debate? Despite legal recognition of transgender people in recent years in many parts of the world, their access to a range of opportunities remains limited due to systemic barriers and longstanding binary categorisations of male and female. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in sports, which are largely divided based on sex. The differences in male and female biology and physiology, and their impact on improving athletic abilities, have driven calls for removing trans women from competing in women's categories. The debate, therefore, concerns preventing what are seen as unfair advantages, while making sports inclusive. What do the regulations say? Different countries and sporting bodies have adopted different guidelines. In the US, President Donald Trump's executive order banning trans women from women's sports has caused many educational institutions to restrict trans athletes, including a recent agreement between the University of Pennsylvania and the US government to prevent trans athletes from joining women's teams. In general, sporting organisations have tightened testosterone limits for transgender female athletes, stating it led to 'advantages' in power-based sports. Various incidents, like the controversy involving Olympic boxer Imane Khalif (who was not transgender but online misinformation made such claims at the time), or the restrictions for trans swimmer Lia Thomas, have all been cited as 'unfair biological advantages'. The BCCI currently follows the ICC guidelines on gender eligibility for athletes, according to which 'male-to-female participants who have undergone male puberty are not eligible to compete in the international women's game, irrespective of any surgical or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.' India lacks specific domestic laws or policies addressing transgender athletes in sports, leaving their participation subject to international sporting bodies' regulations. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, guarantees equality but does not outline sports-specific provisions. What has Bangar argued? Bangar has advocated for collecting data on the exact nature of these supposed 'biological advantages' — something yet to be covered by large-scale studies. In 2024, one study said that based on limited evidence, it was suggested that the physical performance of trans people who have undergone at least two years of HRT 'approaches that of cisgender controls' ('The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance', The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism). That means trans men's physical abilities get closer to those of cis men, while trans women reach levels similar to cis women. However, it added that more data was needed. 'As trans people have been stigmatized for many decades, there is little research in the field and the evidence base is not definitive,' it said. In Bangar's case, too, more comprehensive research involving larger sample sizes would be required. The BCCI or ICC has not yet commented on her project. The writer is a student who is a summer intern at The Indian Express.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Why is Pope Leo's visit to Castel Gandolfo significant to the Catholic community?
Written by Shaarvi Magazine Pope Leo XIV arrived at Castel Gandolfo in Italy on Sunday (July 6) to spend his summer in the hilltop town, marking a return to a long-standing papal tradition. He was welcomed by crowds of faithful who stood behind barriers and chanted 'Viva Papa'. The Pope will reside in the Villa Barberini during his two-week summer vacation till July 20. On July 13 and July 20, he will celebrate Mass in a church and cathedral nearby, and deliver the Sunday Angelus messages from the Piazza della Libertà (Liberty Square) in front of the pontifical palace. He will return to the town again for three days in August, delivering the Angelus on August 15 and 17 during the Ferragosto, Italy's national holiday for the Feast of Assumption, CNN reported. The cool hilltop region has been a summer retreat for popes for centuries, with Popes Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI spending part of the summers here. However, Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic tradition and Leo's predecessor, last visited the place in 2013. Pope Leo's decision to revive the practice by coming to the town has drawn both attention and praise from the Catholic community. Here is what to know. Castel Gandolfo is a 135-acre pontifical estate situated 25 kilometres southeast of Rome. It features several properties, lush gardens, a working farm and the historical Vatican Observatory. The New York Times reported that a tennis court had been installed on the property in honour of the pope's love for the sport. The town provided shelter for Jewish refugees during World War II, and was also the setting for the movie, 'The Two Popes', CNN reported. The tradition of popes summering in the Palace of Castel Gandolfo dates back to the 17th century when Pope Urban VIII first designated the palace as a papal retreat. Over the years, it became a cherished custom, offering a respite from Rome's heat while allowing them to continue their duties in a more serene setting over a lake. Over the years, several popes have sought the town for their summer retreat, occasionally welcoming important visitors and basking in the quiet atmosphere, reading, taking walks, or even swimming. The last pope to reside at Castele Gandolfo was Pope Benedict XVI, who visited the town after resigning in 2013 and delivered his final public appearance as pope from the balcony here. 'Since 1628, the popes have lived in Castel Gandolfo. Some more, some less, but their presence has been constant. This is a city accustomed to the daily life of the pope,' Mayor Alberto de Angelis told ACI Prensa, the Catholic News Agency's Spanish sister agency, in June. However, Pope Francis departed from this tradition, choosing instead to stay in Vatican City, where he could maintain his austere lifestyle and focus on administrative reforms. He converted the papal palace into a museum in 2016, having opened its grounds to the public two years earlier. The gardens were part of his 'Borgo Laudato Si' program aiming to promote environmental conservation. The move reportedly boosted tourism to the town, with over 200,000 people visiting in 2023, according to the Vatican. The significance of Pope Leo's stay in Castel Gandolfo Pope Francis's decision not to use the Castel Gandolfo as a summer retreat was controversial. His rejection of traditional practices of the Catholic church, including the use of Castel Gandolfo, was seen by some as a necessary modernisation, while others felt it weakened the Church's connection to its heritage. A resident of the town, Maurizio Carosi, conveyed his dissatisfaction with Pope Francis, saying, 'We were orphaned,' in an interview with The NYT. Pope Leo's decision to return to the summer residence signals a shift, one that balances continuity with reform. For many Catholics, the revival of this tradition is a symbolic gesture, reaffirming the importance of papal history while allowing Pope Leo to engage with the faithful in a different setting. While the local residents are overjoyed at the papal presence, Pope Leo's visit could significantly boost tourism. The town has a population of 8,900 and is heavily dependent on tourism. The prospect of public prayer with the pope in the piazza, a relatively more intimate setting than the pope's balcony in the Vatican, is expected to be a huge draw. 'What was missing in these 12 years was the global visibility that the pope gives Castel Gandolfo when he recites the Angelus,' Stefano Carosi, Maurizio's brother, told The NYT. Pope Leo will continue his predecessor's tradition and allow public access to the gardens and the palace while residing in the Villa Barbarini, a separate property on the grounds. On Wednesday (July 9), the pope will oversee a private mass with the staff of the Borgo Laudato Si project 'for the care of creation' using special new texts and prayers released by the Vatican on July 3. Pope Leo's choice may be interpreted as a subtle recalibration within the Church, honouring tradition without rejecting progress. While Francis emphasised a more decentralised, humble papacy, Leo appears to be embracing the Church's historical identity while still addressing contemporary challenges. Pope Francis 'did a lot for the city, opening the doors of the papal residence and the gardens… But now, Leo XIV will give back to the city its daily connection with the pope: the Angelus, the visits, the contact with the people. We want to experience all of that again,' de Angelis told ACI Prensa. The writer is a student and a summer intern at The Indian Express.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Kerala engineer held for selling drugs over the internet: What is the ‘dark web', and is it really all dark?
Written by Shaarvi Magazine A 35-year-old mechanical engineer from Kerala's Muvattupuzha town was recently arrested for selling drugs over the dark web. According to the police, Mulayamkottil Edison was a 'level-four darknet vendor', and was allegedly caught in possession of LSD blotters — blotter paper infused with the hallucinogenic lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD — ketamine, and cryptocurrency worth around Rs 1 crore. What is the dark web, and why is it often used for crimes? What is a level-four vendor? We explain. The dark web is a hidden section of the internet that cannot be located by regular search engines and requires specialised tools or browsers to access it. Unlike open web browsers like Firefox, Google, or Yahoo, where user activities can be monitored through IP addresses, the dark web conceals identities, creating a refuge for individuals who desire privacy or anonymity. The idea of an encrypted, hidden part of the internet started in the 1990s, with the US Naval Research Laboratory creating preliminary versions of The Onion Routing project, later called Tor. Tor involves embedding encryptions in communication networks, rather like the layers of an onion, and the aim was to protect important government communications shared over the internet. Developed by Roger Dingledine and his colleagues in the early 2000s, Tor aimed to enhance online privacy by routing traffic through volunteer-operated servers and encrypting data to obscure user identities. Over the years, it has garnered a reputation for illegal activities, including the trade of illicit goods and cybercrime. Law enforcement faces the challenge of balancing online privacy with the need to combat crime, highlighting the complex interplay of technology, privacy concerns, and the evolving online landscape. How does one access the dark web? Users need to download Tor, known for its emphasis on user privacy and anonymity. Tor routes connections through multiple servers (known as nodes) that are chosen randomly worldwide, encrypting data at each step. This makes tracing activity nearly impossible. Once inside, websites on the dark web use '.onion' domains, which are not indexed by traditional search engines. Tor does not perform searches on dark web pages on behalf of the user; instead, the user must actively look for those dark web pages on their own. Marketplaces, fora, and even libraries exist here, but so do black markets selling drugs, weapons, stolen data, and hacking services. Is it really that 'dark'? While the dark web is infamous for illegal transactions, it also serves legitimate purposes. Whistleblowers, journalists, and activists use it to communicate securely under repressive regimes. Platforms like SecureDrop allow anonymous leaks, protecting sources from retaliation. In countries with heavy internet censorship, the dark web provides a lifeline to uncensored information. It is also used by hospitals or other institutions to protect their data. However, its anonymity also fuels cybercrime. Black markets like the now-defunct Silk Road have operated here, trading in narcotics, counterfeit currency, and malware. Stolen financial data, hacking tools, and even contract killers have been advertised on these platforms. Law enforcement agencies worldwide monitor dark web activity, but the ever-evolving encryption methods make tracking criminals a persistent challenge. And what is a 'level-four vendor'? As reported by The Indian Express, according to sources in the NCB, the grading of the vendor depends upon the potency of the drugs sold and 'the customer service' offered. Edison was the only level-four vendor in India, sources said. The writer is a student and a summer intern at The Indian Express.
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why the row over Zohran Mamdani eating with his hands is essentially about racism
Written by Shaarvi Magazine A Texas Congressman has told Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York, to 'go back to the Third World' after Mamdani posted a video of himself eating rice with his hands. In the face of criticism, Representative Brandon Gill, 31, has doubled down on his claim, posted on X, that 'civilised people in America do not eat like this', and his wife, who has Indian roots herself, has jumped to his defence. Civilized people in America don't eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World. — Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) June 30, 2025 'I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork. I was born in America. I'm a Christian MAGA patriot. My father's extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too,' Danielle D'Souza Gill posted on X. D'Souza Gill, who is the daughter of the Conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, ended the post with 'Thank you for your attention to this matter', the signoff line that President Donald Trump frequently uses in his posts. I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork. I was born in America. I'm a Christian MAGA patriot My father's extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too. Thank you for your attention to this matter. — Danielle D'Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) June 30, 2025 Critics have posted pictures of the senior D'Souza eating with his hands, and of the Congressman himself enjoying pizza using his hands. Why this outcry and debate over the way literally billions of people around the world have eaten for thousands of years? A large number of communities and cultures across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America, representing a large chunk of the global population, eat using their hands. Several items of food, including tacos, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and hot dogs are eaten using hands around the world. While it comes naturally to most Indians who instinctively use their hands to eat, it is also variously argued that doing so leads to an increase in immunity – provided fundamental principles of hygiene are followed – promotes mindful eating practices, and is better for the environment. Art of Living, the popular yoga and wellness initiative, makes a connection between eating with one's hands and Ayurveda, in which the five fingertips are seen to represent the five elements of nature. In a comment published in 2012, mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik wrote: 'In Vedic texts, food is a goddess and fingers are the midget sages known as Valakhilyas. The sages carry the goddess to our mouths so that we sustain ourselves. In Jyotisha, the five fingers are associated with the five elements: earth (little finger), water (ring finger), air (middle finger), ether (index finger) and fire (thumb). Thus when we eat by hand, the five elements get symbolically connected with the food.' The reaction of most people is triggered by the shock of encountering an unfamiliar cultural practice, who then judge it as being 'gross'. Thus Oprah Winfrey is alleged to have asked some years ago whether Indians 'still' ate with their hands, the actor Shilpa Shetty was bullied and shamed on a British reality TV show for eating with her hands, and there was an online debate on 'manners' and 'hygiene' recently after a woman did the same on the London Tube. Like many such judgments, however, the roots of this culture of shaming often lie in a racist view of the world that is essentially intolerant and inward-looking. It has been pointed out by scholars and historians that the use of cutlery can be traced back to European imperialism, American colonisation and African slavery, as part of which the culture of eating by hand came to be associated with 'natives', labourers, and servants. This culture of shaming of non-Western traditional practices has been passed down to the present, and is often celebrated by modern culture warriors, even those who come from non-Western cultures. In the way this imposition of cultural hierarchy works, practices such as eating with one's hands becomes acceptable when White people do it, but 'barbaric', 'gross', or 'uncivilized' when non-Whites are involved. The escape route for this thinly disguised racism is often sought in distinguishing between types of food – thus, pizza is OK, but rice is not. My culture lesson for Mamdani: Eating with your hands is acceptable when it's bread, naan or pizza. Not when it's soup, meatloaf or mashed potatoes. Indians sometimes eat rice with their hands in India, but it's much more common in rural areas. In America, it's considered gross. — Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) July 1, 2025 In the end, the objection to eating with one's hands is not about etiquette; it is about power, prejudice, and the lingering shadow of colonialism. The writer is a student who is a summer intern at The Indian Express.
