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New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi highlights Gumla youth's remarkable shift from extremism to fish farming in 'Mann Ki Baat'
RANCHI: In the 124th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted the inspiring transformation of a youth from Jharkhand's Maoist-affected Gumla district, who left behind a life of extremism to embrace fish farming and inspire hundreds to do the same. The Prime Minister's remarks referred to Om Prakash Sahu, whose journey from a 'red rebel' to a 'blue warrior' was earlier reported by The Morning Standard in its July 6 edition. The PM praised Sahu for rejecting violence and becoming a catalyst for social change and employment in his village. 'Sometimes the brightest light emerges from where there is the most darkness. The best example of this is Gumla district of Jharkhand, where there was a time when this area was known for Maoist violence. The villages of Basia block were becoming deserted… people were living in the shadow of fear, there was no possibility of employment, lands were lying vacant and the youth were migrating... But then, quietly and with a lot of patience, a change began," said PM Modi. "A youth named Om Prakash Sahu ji left the path of violence and started fish farming. Then he inspired many friends like him to do the same… his efforts had an impact… those who earlier held guns are now holding fishing nets,' added PM Modi. He noted that Sahu's beginning was not easy. 'There were protests and life threats, but he did not lose courage. When Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was introduced, he got new strength, received training from the government, and within no time, the blue revolution started in Gumla,' the Prime Minister added. According to PM Modi, more than 150 families in the Basia block of Gumla are now engaged in fish farming, many of whom were allegedly once associated with Maoist organisations. 'Now, they are living a dignified life in their own village, creating employment for others,' he said.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Transcending Borders
In a world where cultural differences often lead to intolerance, a latest exhibition called 'Beyond Horizon', by Uchaan Arts Gallery, tries to transcend borders and bring together a section of artists from countries like the UAE, UK, China, Italy, Syria, and India. For the audience, it blends Indian artworks with international works and provides a unique experience. As the exhibition is going to be on view from July 17, curator Kewlani speaks with The Morning Standard. In her words, 'Beyond Horizons is a thoughtfully curated global art showcase that brings together a remarkable mix of paintings and sculptures by artists from India, the UAE, the UK, Italy, China, Syria, and Russia. The title reflects our intention to go beyond geographic and creative boundaries—to highlight how art can bridge cultures, ideas, and emotions across continents.' The theme By bringing together a diverse set of artists from seven countries across the world, the exhibition wants to create an artistic dialogue among them. The motto is simple: through cultural reciprocation, the participating artists will be enriched. 'The exhibition is centered on the theme of cross-cultural dialogue through art. It brings together diverse artistic voices, mediums, and philosophies—from intricate realism and spiritual abstraction to experimental sculptures and contemporary expressions,' says Kewlani. In addition, it also wants to highlight the inner landscapes that everyone paints in their mind. 'The underlying message is one of connection and transformation. Every work is a reflection of inner landscapes—how we respond to change, memory, culture, identity, and hope. While each piece is deeply personal, together they form a collective narrative that speaks to resilience, humanity, and the pursuit of meaning in today's world,' notes Kewlani. Focussing on artworks Through the artworks, the exhibition also explores multiple art genres like realism, abstraction, mythology, and spirituality. 'Dullal Miah's hyperrealistic portraits mesmerise with their emotional depth and technical mastery. Roy Wang, a light painting innovator from China, creates ephemeral mid-air artworks using only light and spatial memory—his Freehands technique transforming each moment into an unrepeatable performance. Sculptor Kunal Kapoor offers surreal bronze and metal figures that merge mythology with contemporary themes, reflecting identity and emotional evolution,' Kewlani concludes. 'Beyond Horizons' will be on view at the Uchaan Arts Gallery from July 17 to July 20 from 11 am to 7 pm
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After TMS report, vigilance probe ordered into mismanagement of Delhi night shelters
NEW DELHI: Ten days after The Morning Standard reported the plight of the homeless and the crumbling infrastructure of night shelters, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood paid a surprise visit to five such shelters at Sarai Kale Khan and confirmed many of the issues flagged in the story. Calling the revelations 'deeply troubling', Sood announced that complaints of large-scale corruption and mismanagement would be investigated by the vigilance department, and if needed, the state government will recommend a CBI probe. 'This isn't just negligence - it's exploitation,' Sood said, pointing to a case where a sick man was being made to work as a cleaner for Rs 5,000 a month. 'Funds and facilities meant for the homeless are being siphoned off in collusion with NGOs and corrupt officials,' he alleged, stating that complaints had been pouring in through letters and public memorandums. The minister's visit comes after The Morning Standard report, 'Delhi's homeless struggle to find space for survival in overcrowded shelters', published on June 16 highlighted severe shortcomings in night shelters—ranging from lack of hygiene, overcrowding, and insufficient staff to exploitation of residents and absence of records.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- New Indian Express
The Pirates are coming
On what was supposed to be a relaxed Sunday, April 11, 2010, Pralav Dhyani, a deck cadet on the cargo ship RAK Afrikana, was engaged in routine deck work after breakfast. His peaceful morning was disrupted by an unfamiliar sound, initially dismissed as a car backfiring. However, when the sound repeated, Dhyani recognised it as something out of the ordinary. Moments later, the unsettling truth dawned on him: the cargo ship was under attack by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. This is how the author and 36-year-old founder of ARC Continental FZE, a ship brokerage and consulting firm in Dubai describes the attack on his cargo ship by Somali pirates in his book, Hijacked: A True Story of Surviving 331 Days with Somali Pirates (HarperCollins). At present, a businessman in Dubai, 15 years after the incident, Dhyani, in an interview with The Morning Standard, recalls those turbulent 331 days when he was at the mercy of the pirates. 'The idea of writing the book came to me during COVID-19. The world came to a standstill during the pandemic. People were forced to stay inside their homes. They were desperate to move out and move around freely. At that time, I remembered the days when I was grounded and a hostage of the Somali pirates. I thought of writing and sharing my story to tell readers how I overcame my confinement under gunpoint for 331 days,' he says. Hijacked… perfectly captures the author's state of mind—his helplessness, survival skills, and his refusal to give up hope in the midst of crisis. 'There were of course moments of highs and lows. I did not know when I would be able to go back home and see my parents. I recalled the best moments of life which I spent with my parents and my friends while being a hostage so that I would not lose hope. Not for a second, did I allow myself to think that I would not be able to return,' Dhyani says. The book also focuses on the pirates and their motivations for choosing that life. Why piracy? What were the things he first noticed about them? 'To me, they all looked strikingly similar, except for their different heights. They were extremely skinny, had similar hairdos, yellow-tinted and jaundiced-looking eyes, yellow teeth, and dirty nails. Their lungis and feet were wet because their skiff was tiny…' Dhyani writes in the third chapter of the book. It also talks of the economic crisis of Somalia and that many of its people have taken up arms and gone rogue as a result of economic deprivation. 'It is not right to compare pirates with terrorists, as the pirates were never after our lives,' he says. 'They joined the world of piracy as they were suffering from extreme poverty. The pirates with whom we interacted, were just footsoldiers, and they did this in search of easy money and food. Once they got their ransom, they let us go.' As the days went by, Dhyani remembers noting other details. 'We spoke with a few of them. There was one pirate who exhibited his pride at being Somalian saying, 'Somalia is a country that accepts all sorts of currencies available in the world'. There was another person who was aware of the complete coastline of West Africa. However, there were others who did not know a single thing beyond their country. I found it all surprising—to see two people sitting together, holding the same guns, chatting, with one aware of many things, and the other, not at all,' notes Dhyani. Back home with a lesson After being released, his first thoughts were about his parents and the kind of curiosity that awaited him from people outside his family. Hence, he decided to go to Pilani in Rajasthan to spend time with his close family to avoid unwanted interactions. 'While growing up, I spent a lot of time on the BITS Pilani campus. The place offers a lot of calm and composure. Besides, my extended family (my uncle was a professor at BITS Pilani at that time) was still there. So, I decided to go there as I wanted to stay away from the hustle of metropolitan cities. I was trying to catch up on things. I met my friends and tried to get hold of the changes that occurred in their lives. Later, I went on a vacation with my friends, and after coming back, I hit the restart button. That's when life kicked in,' notes Dhyani. Although Dhyani does not sail anymore, the incident has taught him the biggest lessons of his life. 'It was a test of my endurance and survival skills. It provided me with a mammoth mental challenge that I overcame. It made me stronger. Every time I get into any difficulty, I remember how I handled those moments with patience and care,' he says.
