Latest news with #SrinivasMurthy
Channel 4
2 days ago
- Business
- Channel 4
Kidneys For Sale: Kenya's Transplant Tourism
I've been to Kenya to investigate the murky world of transplant tourism and a black market that preys on the poor. Wealthy tourists travel here from across the world to receive illegal, but life-saving kidney transplants. The donors receive less than £2000 for donating their organs. It's clear these men are not the ones benefiting financially from the deal – so who is? And who exactly are these organs going to? Across the world, thousands of patients are tied to dialysis machines, week after week, and for them, a transplant means life. However, donors are few and waiting lists are endless. For those who are wealthy and desperate, waiting isn't an option and if they have the cash, they are prepared to pay as much as £80,000 for a life-saving transplant. They come from Israel, Germany, France and Japan and a range of African countries. On the other side there are the sellers. Many young men in Eldoret, a quiet town in western Kenya, are healthy but extremely poor, with no job, no prospects and no lifeline. So they offer the one thing they have: their body – and a kidney, at a price of £1,800. I've been investigating how these two worlds meet, and it involves a long, shadowy chain of brokers – each one taking a cut. At the top: wealthy foreigners, using companies like Medlead, which openly advertises transplant services online. The company has agents in Kenya, who welcome clients, and arrange their stay at a luxury hotel. Medlead didn't respond to our questions, but they've previously said they have no involvement in locating donors, and that they operate in accordance with the law. Below them are local brokers and recruiters, many of whom have also sold their own kidneys. It's essentially a pyramid. They recruit their friends, and if the friend agrees, the recruiter earns a few hundred pounds. That's enough to feed a family, and enough to tempt another. Those higher in the chain? They earn much more. The final stop is Mediheal Hospital, which is a separate company from Medlead. Here, they perform the crossmatch, the paperwork, the surgery. Conditions are clean, professional and efficient. But it's illegal – not to mention unethical – for doctors to carry out a transplant when they know the donor is being paid or coerced. As one nurse, Lorna, explained to me: 'I'm conflicted because having a human heart you always wish to see someone live. Despite him buying the kidney no one wishes someone to die.' Mediheal is so well-known in Eldoret that young men walk in asking to sell their kidneys. However Dr Srinivas Murthy, Mediheal's chief kidney doctor, denies any knowledge of payments to donors and says his only goal is to save patients: 'It's very painful to see somebody rotting on dialysis… it's difficult because it's there choice ultimately whether to sell or not… the government should help youth to find a better source of money.' Mediheal is owned by Indian-born businessman and politician Swarup Mishra. The company claims to abide by strict ethical and legal standards – and said it would cooperate with a police investigation into transplants at the hospital. They also deny any involvement in arrangements between donors and recipients. But this is a cycle driven by need – one human's desperation to live, and another's desperation to escape poverty. But when survival is for sale, who really profits? Kenya push for carbon capture profits threat to indigenous forest people 'Corruption is genocide' – Kenya's Gen Z protester taking on the government Kenya's president scraps finance bill after deadly protests
Mint
23-05-2025
- General
- Mint
How this Gujarat village adopted and adapted the Art Deco style
Art Deco is known as one of the most impactful movements based on principles of sleek design and rhythmic geometry. Originally namedArts décoratifs,this style came into popular use after the 1925 Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes held in Paris between April and October 2025. In India, cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai made the style their own with some of the most prominent buildings in Art Deco coming up between the 1930s and 1950s. However, the Art Deco movement was not restricted to urban centres but permeated to villages as well. 'Zamindars, or wealthy landowners, saw Art Deco style come up in cities and got their homes constructed in a similar style. I have seen such instances in rural Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Rajasthan. That was the kind of spread that this style had," says Hyderabad-based architect Srinivas Murthy, who also runs Architecture and Design Foundation [India] to create awareness about good design. 'And when the relatively well-off village residents saw the sarpanch or zamindar turn to Art Deco, they too followed suit." Dharmaj, a village in Anand in Gujarat, stands as an example of Art Deco architecture and design being a symbol of aspiration and cosmopolitanism in non-urban areas in the mid-20th century. The village has nearly 120 Art Deco buildings dating to the 1930 and 1940s, most of them residences—a large number for a village with a population of just over 11,000 even in the 2010 census. The Art Deco influence is attributed to migration, particularly within the Patidar community, to Africa, the UK and the US via Mumbai, where they encountered these buildings. Inspired by its association with modernity and sophistication, migrants returning from these places adopted the style in their home towns as a visual expression of their cosmopolitan identity and rising social status. At the same time, the region witnessed technological developments facilitated by the Gaekwad rule in the erstwhile princely state of Baroda. That enabled the rise of Art Deco design in the village. Also read: What is the future of heritage conservation? True to the rest of India, Dharmaj also customised the style. 'Typical Art Deco forms and motifs such as chevrons, sunbursts and frozen fountains were overlaid with cultural meaning," says Ashna Patel, project lead, Dharmaj Heritage Collaborative, which was launched in June 2021. So, you will find concrete jaalis and iron grilles inlaid with figurative depictions of Lord Krishna, and of Mahatma Gandhi, referencing the involvement of early migrants from Dharmaj in the freedom movement, particularly in South Africa. The advent of RCC (reinforced cement concrete) construction enabled communities to move away from traditional timber houses, which were getting difficult to maintain in their absence, and adopt Art Deco features within their homes. The role of local skilled carpenters and artisans was instrumental in this adaptation as they carved wooden moulds to cast Art Deco motifs, including geometric, floral and nautical forms in RCC. Patel, who is also part of the Centre for Heritage Conservation at CEPT Research and Development Foundation in Ahmedabad, has been working on a programme to help map, safeguard and conserve Dharmaj's cultural heritage. The centre has partnered with a local not-for-profit Avichal Heritage Foundation since 2021. A significant portion of the research on Art Deco in the village was carried out particularly by two master's students from CEPT University, Pranjali Mathure and Priyanka Baghel. Most of these buildings are in the historic core of the village, particularly surrounding Gandhi Chowk, Mohan Chowk, Navi Pol, Vadi Chowk and the Clock Tower. Many are ancestral properties and lie abandoned. They are rapidly deteriorating due to limited funding for maintenance, inadequate technical resources for maintenance, and declining interest among the succeeding generations. Also read: Want to add a touch of Art Deco to your wardrobe? Here's some inspiration 'Common issues include exposed and corroded reinforcement, cracks, and moisture-related damage to both exteriors and interiors. In addition to these tangible threats, the survival of these buildings is critical in the face of economic and technical challenges in maintaining heritage properties," says Patel. The studies the teams have conducted has been instrumental in raising awareness among residents and diaspora communities about the architectural and cultural significance of Art Deco buildings in Dharmaj, and the need for their conservation. In 2023, students led a heritage walk and conducted a two-day festival in Dharmaj, which was attended by locals as well as members of the diaspora community who were visiting the village. Families are working towards protecting their old homes. 'The Kalidas Jethabhai House, supported by the KJH family, has become a platform for academic engagement, research, and heritage awareness activities," says Patel. However, more needs to be done to save Art Deco in Dharmaj, she says.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
JSP Hyundai Drives Sustainability with CNG Aura Fleet Launch for Corporates
In a move to promote eco-friendly mobility, JSP Hyundai partnered with Surya Travels to launch a fleet of 35 Hyundai Aura CNG vehicles in Hyderabad. Delivered at the Jubilee Hills showroom, this marks JSP Hyundai's first major corporate CNG deployment. Key officials from Hyundai Motor India and JSP Hyundai emphasised the benefits of CNG—cost efficiency, reduced emissions, and environmental impact. Managing Director Prudhvi Reddy announced plans to expand this initiative, targeting 200 CNG vehicle deliveries. Surya Travels' MD Srinivas Murthy lauded the shift toward sustainable transport, highlighting CNG as a cleaner, future-ready fuel alternative.
Hans India
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
JSP Hyundai Launches Green Initiative with CNG Aura Fleet for Corporate Sector
Hyderabad: In a significant step towards a cleaner and greener future, JSP Hyundai, has joined hands with Surya Travels and Logistics Pvt Ltd to promote CNG-powered transportation. This initiative aims to reduce carbon footprints and encourage the corporate sector to adopt more sustainable vehicle options. The partnership also marks JSP Hyundai first-ever delivery of Hyundai Aura CNG vehicles to corporate and logistics companies in the region. On Tuesday, a fleet of 35 Hyundai Aura CNG vehicles was delivered at the JSP Hyundai showroom in Jubilee Hills. Kripa Shankar Mishra Zonal Business Head South - Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Younghoon Yun, Zonal co-ordinator South, - Hyundai Motor India Ltd, G. Ram kumar Regional sales Head of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Mr. Prudhvi Reddy Managing Director of JSP Hyundai handed over keys to Mr. Srinivas Murthy MD – Surya Travel. Mr. Ram, Regional Manager of Hyundai Motor India Ltd, emphasized the growing importance of sustainable mobility. He highlighted that CNG vehicles offer significant benefits in terms of fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and cost savings and it's about creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations," said Mr. Ram. Mr. Prudhvi Reddy, Managing Director of JSP Hyundai said, "We believe that sustainable transport is the way forward. By providing corporate sectors with CNG-powered vehicles, we aim to contribute to a greener environment while offering logistics companies a more affordable and efficient solution. This is just the beginning, and we plan to collaborate with more travel and logistics companies in South India. Our goal is to deliver around 200 Hyundai Aura CNG vehicles in the near future," said Mr. Reddy. Mr. Srinivas Murthy MD – Surya Travel said that 'It's truly exciting to witness the growing shift towards sustainable mobility, especially in the corporate sector. The use of CNG vehicles like the Hyundai Aura is a powerful step towards reducing our carbon footprint. CNG is a cleaner, more cost-efficient alternative to traditional fuels, helping reduce harmful emissions and contribute to a healthier environment.
