Latest news with #Shastri
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Vedas protect those who nurture them, says Madras HC judge GR Swaminathan
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When Vedas are protected, it will guard those who nurture it and a court verdict brought him that realisation, Madras High Court Judge, Justice GR Swaminathan has an incident and a related court case, which he said changed his perspective, the judge said a Vedic scholar was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in a motor vehicle accident case which involved the death of a judge recounted the incident while addressing a national Vedic talent meet held by a trust here last week. A video clip of the judge's address is now available in the social scholar, a 'Shastri' (one who is well versed in Shastras and Vedas, a Vaidika Brahmin ) was his long time friend and at that time, Justice Swaminathan said he was a practising the judge said one day, the Shastri, alongwith another friend came to meet him and when he was told that the Vedic scholar was convicted and given prison sentence, he could not believe the judge said the Vedic pundit's sister had come to India on a visit from America. Alongwith her children and scholar brother, she visited temples and she drove the car. It was not clear what happened and the car hit a man in front of tea stall and he shastri's sister had to leave for US and hence, the scholar claimed to have negligently driven the car and surrendered to police. Trial was held in the case and the shastri was sentenced to 18 months in judge said in such cases six months jail sentence is common. The shastri used to visit court in full traditional attire (dhoti and upper cloth besides sporting a tuft) and the scholar told him that he was sentenced to 18 months in jail due to that he perused case papers he found that not even one witness had identified the person who drove the vehicle. Also, none identified the Vedic scholar in the court. There was no witness against the Swaminathan said he took up that case as he was then a practising lawyer and went on an appeal."We took up this single point and argued in the appeal court," Justice Swaminathan said, adding it was the good time of the shastri that the judge who heard the appeal was his shastri was acquitted as there was no evidence against him."That day I realised that when we protect Vedas, Vedas will protect us and I realised it. Till then, I did not have a keen interest in such matters. Think, at least one witness could have said that shastri drove the car. Not even one said that."All the eight witness said the car ran amok, hit the man and he died, Justice Swaminathan recalled.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Business
- Pink Villa
Ravi Shastri reveals the 10-figure incomes of cricket icons MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar
In a candid chat with former England players on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Ravi Shastri left the room stunned by pulling back the curtain on what India's cricketing elite truly make off the field. While fans are often aware of match fees and IPL contracts, Shastri brought up the staggering sums that come from brand endorsements. According to the cricket commentator, legends like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar each pull in over INR 100 crore, approximately EUR 10 million, every year through endorsements alone. 'Upwards of Rs 100 crore' from endorsements Shastri, speaking to Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell, emphasized that cricket in India offers commercial opportunities rivaling global football stars. 'They earn a lot. A lot through endorsements,' he said. When pressed for specifics, he broke it down bluntly: 'Upwards of 100 crores. Which would say 10 million pounds.' The calculation—roughly one pound to 100 rupees—sparked audible surprise among the English panel. Shastri then reiterated that this figure could be even higher in some cases, given the sheer scale of the Indian market. No time to do more, even at that rate According to Shastri, Indian cricket's top-tier stars are so busy that their endorsement opportunities are limited not by demand, but by time. 'Someone like an MS, or a Virat, or Sachin in his pomp... they would do over 15-20 ads. And it's per day,' he explained, 'There's no time; they could easily do more.' That intense scheduling pressure, combined with relentless on-field commitments, prevents even more commercial work, despite potentially higher paydays. 'They'll do an ad for a year… and give a day for the shoot, that's all you'll get. And then you play it out as many times as you want,' he stated, explaining just how massive cricket's commercial engine is in India.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: After 'big unit', Ravi Shastri commentates for 'big fella's dance in Manchester
Former India head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri once again proved why he's one of the most entertaining voices behind the mic. During the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, Shastri delivered another gem of a moment and this time much to the delight of a dancing fan in the stands. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar batted with grit on the final day, cameras panned to the crowd, capturing a fan wearing an Indian ODI jersey and a bright pink bucket hat. The moment the fan realised he was on screen, he sprang to his feet and began dancing, drawing cheers from fellow spectators. India stay alive, England frustrated after draw; handshake drama at Old Trafford and more Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shastri, on commentary, couldn't resist the opportunity, and said, "Oh he's enjoying himself. He's a big fella. He's chirpy. As the sun comes up, up he's on his toes. Look at him do the jig. Oh, he can move. What a celebration!" The clip quickly made the rounds on social media, with fans praising Shastri for his spontaneous humour. It wasn't the first time he's gone viral for such moments. During an India-New Zealand match in October 2024, Shastri had spotted a fan enjoying an ice cream cone and quipped that the man was trying to hide it from the cameras while tearing into it. Shastri jokingly called the man a "big unit" on air. Poll What is your favorite type of cricket commentary? Humorous and light-hearted Analytical and detailed Exciting and energetic While the on-field action at Old Trafford ended in a gripping draw highlighted by centuries from Jadeja and Sundar, it was Shastri's off-field humour that added another layer of entertainment to the day.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
From ‘Jai Kisan' to CVC, Shastri walked the talk. But corruption proved harder to root out
In fact, during an intense discussion on the issue in Parliament on 6 June 1962, Shastri said: However, when it came to tackling the menace of corruption, even though Shastri put his heart and soul into mainstreaming the discourse on corruption in public life, the outcome was not as successful. While his own life was an example of probity and rectitude, as the helmsman of the Home Ministry he was deeply anguished by the allegations of corruption against prominent Chief Ministers — Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed in J&K, Pratap Singh Kairon in Punjab, CB Gupta in Uttar Pradesh, Biju Patnaik in Odisha — and some of his colleagues like KD Malviya in the Union Cabinet. With respect to Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Lal Bahadur Shastri was able to walk the talk and carry the country along. The jawans of India did the nation proud by giving Independent India her first decisive victory in 1965, a far cry from the 1962 debacle with the Chinese. Likewise, the kisans set the country on the path to food self-sufficiency by adopting the Green Revolution practices with enthusiasm and vigour. 'I feel that this matter should not be entirely left for consideration in the hands of officials. It is desirable that there should be exchange of views between them and public men of experience. Perhaps, Hon'ble members might have read in the papers that I have suggested that a formal Committee should consider the important aspects of the evils of corruption… (in fact), we know most of the problems, the real point is to take remedial action. I, therefore, propose to request some members of Parliament and, if possible, other public men to sit with our own officers in order to review the problem of corruption and make suggestions.' Also read: The real White Revolution—Shastri's NDDB built a farmers-first economy that still works The Santhanam Committee In pursuance of this announcement, a committee consisting of K Santhanam, MP (as Chair), and parliamentarians Santosh Kumar Basu, Tika Ram Paliwal, RK Khadilkar, T Nath Pai, and Shambhu Nath Chaturvedi, along with two officials — LP Singh of the ICS and DP Kohli of the IP (who later became Home Secretary and Director, CBI, respectively) — was established within the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its terms of reference included, inter alia: 1) Examination of legal and administrative procedures of the existing vigilance set-up in ministries, departments, and PSUs. 2) Evaluation of the functioning of the Special Police Establishment (the predecessor of the Central Bureau of Investigation). 3) Review of penal provisions regarding the prevention of corruption. 4) Recommendations on conduct rules and disciplinary procedures for the All India Services. 5) And, not least, the creation of a 'conducive environment against hoarding, black marketing, and corruption in the country.' The committee noted that the scourge of corruption had peaked due to shortages and controls during World War II but had continued post-Independence, as the scale of government expanded without adequate checks and balances, particularly in revenue, PWD, food and civil supplies, industrial licensing, and police departments. The key concern was that corruption, once limited to the lower rungs of the bureaucracy, had now infected the All India Services and political leadership. Notably, while trade unions and state-level trade associations extended support to the committee, the captains of industry were reluctant to engage or share views on addressing the issue. Also read: MSP under Shastri began as a crisis response. Now India must ask what role it should play today 87 sittings The committee held 87 sittings and submitted a 306-page report on 31 March 1964. However, in the interim, it proposed — and the government accepted — several recommendations that today form the foundation of how service conditions for AIS officers are regulated. In its very first communication to Shastri on 20 October 1962, the committee suggested tweaking Article 311 to enable disciplinary action against habitually recalcitrant officers who used these provisions as a shield. Sardar Patel had originally included these provisions to protect officers' freedom of expression — not to condone misconduct. Following the Chinese aggression, Santhanam wrote to Shastri on 17 November 1962 recommending changes to the Defence of India Rules and the jurisdiction of the SPE. By February 1963, the committee had submitted recommendations related to the IPC; in May, it submitted the first draft of the conduct rules. On 17 August, the proposed draft for establishing the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was submitted. Although Shastri demitted office under the Kamaraj Plan, his successor Gulzari Lal Nanda — equally committed to eradicating corruption — tabled the resolution for the Vigilance Commission in both Houses of Parliament on 16 December 1962. It was adopted with rare unanimity on 20 December, paving the way for the appointment of India's first Vigilance Commissioner, Justice Nittoor Srinivasa Rao, a Gandhian and translator of Gandhi's works into Kannada, on 14 February 1964. By then, Shastri was serving as minister without portfolio, attached to the Prime Minister's Office. Several corruption-inducing factors identified in the report — such as inflation-neutralising DA enhancements, adequate housing and HRA, medical facilities for dependents, and education allowance for children — have helped reduce employee grievances. These measures are, of course, not foolproof. But consider the counterfactual: what if these provisions had never existed? Also read: India can't fix food security with more grain alone. FCI at 60 needs a nutrition agenda Teeth or dentures? Over the years, under both UPA and NDA governments, legal provisions have been made more stringent. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 gave the CVC broad powers, including: Reviewing pending sanction applications; supervising vigilance operations across central ministries and departments; and protecting whistle-blowers under the Public Interest Disclosure Resolution, 2004. The RTI Act, 2005, too, enhanced transparency. And the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, finally realised the Santhanam Committee's vision of an ombudsman to hold all public office holders, including legislators and ministers, accountable. Over six decades, the position of CVC has largely been held by individuals of integrity and public stature. Except for the controversy over PJ Thomas, whose appointment was struck down by the Supreme Court, most Vigilance Commissioners have added value to the probity discourse. Some — like G Somiah, N Vittal, Pratyush Sinha, and Sanjay Kothari — remained engaged with civil society even post-retirement. In his memoir The Honest Always Stand Alone, Somiah urged officers to uphold integrity in both personal and professional life. Vittal introduced a practice of 'naming and shaming' officers with disproportionate assets and championed IT-driven transparency. Although Pratyush Sinha once said the CVC had no teeth, 'only dentures', he was instrumental in overhauling procedures to make it more effective. Even years after retirement, he was appointed to head SEBI's pro bono committee on conflict of interest. Light at the end of the tunnel This columnist worked closely with Sanjay Kothari to bring greater transparency and objectivity to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Nafed's procurement operations. The underlying idea: if quality could be judged empirically, ground-level corruption could be minimised. As noted in the previous column, the FCI's success in reducing transit losses — and the competitive push among states to improve their Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living scores — shows that there is, indeed, light at the end of the tunnel. This is the fourth article in a series on Lal Bahadur Shastri and the institutions he helped establish. Sanjeev Chopra is a former IAS officer and Festival Director of Valley of Words. Until recently, he was director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. He tweets @ChopraSanjeev. Views are personal. Disclosure: The columnist is a trustee of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial (LBS Museum). (Edited by Prashant)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Most influential of the last decade': Former India head coach Ravi Shastri singles out former India captain
Former India Head Coach Ravi Shastri talks to then captain Virat Kohli during the 4th Test between India and England in 2021 in Ahmedabad (Photo by) Ravi Shastri , one of Indian cricket 's most prominent voices, has once again expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli , calling him the most influential player of the last decade. In a recent video posted on Stick to Cricket, the former India head coach was asked to name the best player of the modern era. Without hesitation, Shastri responded, "It's a young brigade at the moment, but the best player, the most influential player of the last decade – Virat Kohli. " Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shastri, who coached India during some of Kohli's most successful years as Test captain, has long been an open admirer of the 36-year-old. His latest praise adds to a string of accolades he has directed towards Kohli in recent years. During a quick-fire segment, Shastri was also asked to name a current bowler he'd least like to face. His answer: Jasprit Bumrah . He also cheekily addressed a question about whether he'd prefer hitting six sixes or winning a World Cup—reminding viewers that he had done both in his career, before picking the World Cup win as more special. Old Trafford cricket ground: A stadium tour of the iconic venue in Manchester Earlier, Shastri, in a discussion with cricketing greats like Phil Tufnell, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Michael Vaughan, while talking about the ongoing five-Test series in England, named his top five Indian cricketers of all time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Shastri picked legends across eras, saying, '(Sunil) Gavaskar, Sachin (Tendulkar), Virat definitely. I'm looking at the most influential players of that era. MS (Dhoni) again. So these will be the five.' Poll Who do you think is the most influential Indian cricketer of the last decade? Virat Kohli MS Dhoni Rohit Sharma Jasprit Bumrah He later completed the list by adding Kapil Dev. Shastri's continued praise for Kohli underlines the lasting impact the batter has had on Indian cricket, both statistically and as a leader. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
