Latest news with #Vashishtha
India.com
2 days ago
- Science
- India.com
This Indian genius challenged Einstein's theory, helped NASA during..., went missing for years, died in poverty, his name is...
Genius doesn't always mean thinking outside the box but it means changing what the box even means. That's exactly what Vashishtha Narayan Singh, a brilliant mathematician from Bihar, did. His life is a true example of how greatness comes from questioning limits and building new paths. Born in a small village in Bihar's Siwan, Vashishtha showed signs of brilliance in mathematics from a very young age. Teachers were stunned by how easily he solved complex problems. Coming from a humble background, his father was a police constable, Vashishtha's early education began at Netarhat School in Jharkhand, followed by Patna Science College. He stood out in every way. He not only topped his BSc but also his MSc examinations in back-to-back years. In 1964, he again proved his talent by securing the top rank in the UGC's Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) exam, a national-level test for research scholars. By the time he turned 21, Vashishtha had already achieved what many dream of. He was invited to work as a visiting fellow at top places like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the University of California in Berkeley. His work was so impressive that he reportedly challenged even the famous equation E = MC² by Einstein and explored theories by Gauss. The rise, fall, and legacy of Vashishtha Narayan Singh In 1967, Vashishtha Narayan Singh reached a remarkable milestone in his career after he became the Director at Columbia University's Department of Mathematics. Just two years later, in 1969, he wrote a groundbreaking work titled 'The Peace of Space Theory', in which he questioned Einstein's 'Theory of Relativity.' His thesis on this subject earned him a PhD, and his genius was so widely acknowledged that the University of California, Berkeley honored him with the title 'Genius of Geniuses.' In 1971, Vashishtha returned to India. The following year, he joined IIT Kanpur as a mathematics professor. There are several fascinating stories about Vashishtha. One popular claim reports that NASA sought his help when their computers failed during an important mission. Some even say he played a crucial role during the Apollo moon landing project, contributing to vital calculations when time was critical. But just as life seemed perfect, tragedy struck. Shortly after getting married, Vashishtha was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a serious mental illness. This illness deeply affected his life: his marriage broke down, his health deteriorated, and his brilliant career came to a halt. He was admitted to several hospitals for treatment, including NIMHANS in Bengaluru and IHBAS in Delhi. During his toughest times, actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha offered support for his treatment. In these years, Vashishtha somehow disappeared during the train journey and started to reappear later on living in misery in his home village. As per reports in one of the train journeys undertaken by him, Singh vanished for a long time, only to come back years later. Despite years of isolation and struggle, Vashishtha showed incredible resilience. He made a quiet yet powerful return to teaching, taking a post as a lecturer at Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (BNMU) in Madhepura, Bihar. It was a small comeback for a giant mind. On 14 November 2019, at the age of 72, Vashishtha Narayan Singh passed away. Though his life was filled with both brilliance and hardship, the Indian government recognized his legacy and honored him posthumously with the Padma Shri, one of the country's highest civilian awards.
The Print
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
‘Cash for bail': Judge transferred amid Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch probe, court staffer booked
On 20 May, the special judge was transferred from Rouse Avenue to another court. While the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government had also sought sanction to prosecute the judge, its request, passed on by the government to the Delhi High Court, was denied on grounds of insufficient evidence. However, the court said the ACB could approach the court again if any material is collected that indicates the judge's involvement. New Delhi: A Delhi court staffer has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly soliciting bribes worth crores of rupees on behalf of a sessions judge in exchange for bail to at least six individuals accused in a GST evasion case. The sessions judge until recently presided over a special CBI court at Rouse Avenue. An FIR was registered on 16 May against the court's ahlmad (record keeper), identified as Mukesh, along with a chartered accountant, Vishal, who had allegedly paid a bribe of Rs 40 lakh to secure bail. The ACB received its first complaint against the court staffer in January from an individual named Prasoon Vashishtha, an advocate and brother-in-law of Babita Sharma, who was arrested last August in a GST case and had applied for bail in the sessions judge's court. According to the FIR—seen by ThePrint—Vashishtha alleged that in October last year, a few court officials approached them with an offer to secure bail for Sharma and the other accused in exchange for a substantial sum. 'They called me into the room adjacent to court no. 608 and demanded Rs 85 lakh for Ms Sharma and Rs 1 crore each for other accused—Raj Singh Saini, Mukesh Saini, and Narendra Saini,' he said in his complaint, now part of the FIR. He further alleged that on his refusal to engage, Sharma's bail application was 'unjustly prolonged' and eventually 'dismissed'. It was further alleged that on two occasions, Raj Singh Saini approached their family and claimed he had obtained bail by paying a substantial bribe and urged them to do the same. 'The complainant alleged that they were informed that the judge would do everything adverse with his powers to persecute Babita Sharma,' a source familiar with the matter said. They also alleged that the judge had issued a warning to keep Babita Sharma standing for hours each day of the hearing and that he would ensure she'd suffer 'irreparable loss' if the judge's demands were not met, the source added. 'The complainant alleged his family was told that if Babita pays Rs 1 crore now and withdraws her application from the high court then she would be granted bail and eventually discharged in the next six months,' this source further said. Another complaint and an inquiry According to sources in the Delhi government, the complainant, Vashishtha, was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support the complaint. Subsequently, another complaint was submitted to the ACB by Vikesh Kumar Bansal—another accused in the same GST evasion case—who submitted an audio recording allegedly capturing the staff member demanding a bribe. Following this, the ACB launched a formal inquiry. 'Bansal's complaint stated that he was contacted by Ahlmad Mukesh from Court Room No. 608 and asked to visit the court. At the court, Mukesh allegedly demanded Rs 15–20 lakh per accused for the grant of regular bail, even though Bansal was already on interim bail granted by the high court,' another source in the know said. According to sources, Bansal also received a phone call from a co-accused, Vishal, who confirmed he had secured bail from the same court by paying Rs 40 lakh. Vishal further claimed that the other accused—identified as the Saini brothers—paid Rs 1 crore, while transporters paid Rs 15 lakh each, and two individuals, including one Manoj, paid Rs 10 lakh each to obtain bail. Police said Bansal provided audio recordings of these conversations to the ACB and three transcripts were prepared in the presence of a panch witness on 24 January. A report was subsequently submitted to the principal secretary of the Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs, on 29 January. Prosecution sanction request When a request was made for sanction to prosecute the judge, the Delhi High Court, on 13 February, responded that there was currently insufficient material indicating the judge's involvement. However, the court permitted the investigating agency to proceed with the investigation into the complaints. 'If, during the course of the investigation, any material is collected that indicates the involvement of the said judicial officer in the alleged incident and warrants action against him, the investigating agency is at liberty to make a fresh request to this Court seeking appropriate permission,' the high court stated in response to the sanction request. Following this, the ACB called the ahlmad for a statement. 'We began an inquiry, but the ahlmad tried to evade it. In fact, he also attempted to influence witnesses, including those who had submitted recorded evidence against him. That's why a case was registered and the chartered accountant was arrested,' a source said. The source added that the combined contents of the two complaints, supported by corroborative audio evidence and contextual details surrounding the bail hearings, indicate 'serious misconduct involving demands for and receipt of bribes by the court staff'. A third source told ThePrint that the ahlmad also moved for anticipatory bail on 22 May, which was rejected by a Delhi court. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: In-house inquiry 'waste of judicial time'—VP Dhankhar calls for FIR, criminal probe in judge cash row
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court seeks government response on heat wave deaths amid climate crisis
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) issued a notice to the Centre seeking its response on a petition that draws urgent attention to the escalating heat wave crisis linked to climate change, which has resulted in a high number of deaths across the country. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai took cognisance of the petition filed by environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, represented by advocate Akash Vashishtha, who sought judicial intervention to uphold citizens' fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by ensuring living conditions free from the adverse impacts of heat waves, heat stress, and climate change. The petition pointed out that despite the National Guidelines for Preparation of Action Plan – Prevention and Management of Heat Wave, 2019, issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), many States and Union Territories have yet to implement the mandated Heat Action Plans. It also referred to the Centre's statutory responsibilities under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which requires the government to take appropriate measures for disaster management. Additionally, Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 obliges the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to act decisively to protect and improve environmental quality. The petition further invoked the Supreme Court's own ruling in the M.K. Ranjitsinh case, which affirmed the right of citizens to live free from the adverse effects of climate change. The Bench granted the government two weeks to file its response. Advocate Vashishtha informed the court that over 700 deaths were reported in 2024 due to heat waves and related heat stress. He highlighted scientific predictions warning that heat stress is expected to intensify. 'Earlier, heat waves were predominant in three regions, including Northwest and Central India, but now they have spread to East Coast, East, North-East, Peninsular, Southern and South-Central regions and so has been stated by an India Meteorological Department report itself,' Mr. Vashishtha submitted. The petition also cited the 2023 Climate Change Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body tasked with assessing climate science, which warned that heat waves, as a consequence of climate change, are likely to increase, leading to greater mortality and morbidity and severely impacting food and water security for vulnerable communities and regions. 'Heat waves have a tremendous destructive impact on human health and biological life, agriculture, food security, groundwater and surface water, forests, natural resources, livelihoods and have a profound bearing on the national economy,' the petition argued.
Campaign ME
07-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
How are US tariffs and the global trade war affecting Emirati consumers?
Emirati consumers have opened up about the perceived impact of recent global trade tariff shifts, particularly US tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as how it affects their expectations around the prices of goods, product variety, and overall market and consumer sentiment. In a recent SixthFactor survey, 100 UAE nationals who were part of a proprietary panel of UAE-based respondents provided a unique view into the local citizen mindset, particularly in a region where national sentiment often reflects broader socio-economic priorities. When asked about the methodology of the survey, SixthFactor revealed to Campaign Middle East that it used a structured online survey approach, combining quantitative metrics with attitudinal questions to uncover patterns in sentiment, awareness, and expectations. The study was fielded in April 2025 and captured real-time responses to ongoing global developments in trade. Key Emirati consumer sentiment findings on the fallout of US tariffs More than three out of every four Emirati respondents (77 per cent) indicated strong confidence in the UAE's ability to benefit from current global trade disruptions. The survey results also reflect strategic consumer awareness and a mixture of optimism with realism, with consumers waiting patiently for signals from government authorities and retail marketers before changing their purchase patterns. 'While expectations are positive, the market is waiting for signals – especially from local authorities or large retailers before making big buying or investment decisions. That highlights the opportunity for businesses and policymakers to step in with clarity and guidance, and help translate macro shifts into local confidence,' said Himanshu Vashishtha, CEO, SixthFactor Consulting. Of the UAE nationals surveyed, 42 per cent of consumers shared that they expect prices to decrease due to increased supply. Additionally, 33 per cent of the Emiratis surveyed anticipate greater product variety, while 17 per cent are concerned some products might become harder to find. 'That's a strong vote for anticipated consumer value. There's also realism – 17 per cent foresee potential shortages, and a smaller group (8%) don't expect to be affected at all. In essence, consumers are hopeful about lower prices, but are watching closely to see if that promise materialises,' Vashishtha added. UAE sectors expected to benefit most from increased trade activity following the US tariffs and the ensuing global trade war include online shopping, retail and and malls, manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping and logistics.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Allahabad HC issues notices to Centre, state on PIL over monkey menace
The Allahabad high court on Tuesday issued notices to the animal welfare board of India, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, the Uttar Pradesh government, and others in response to a PIL highlighting the rising monkey population, increasing man-monkey conflict, and the starvation and inhumane conditions faced by monkeys. Allahabad HC (File) The court also directed the Centre, the UP government and local municipal bodies to inform it about any action plans implemented or proposed to address the issue. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra also issued notices to the UP state animal welfare board, district magistrate of Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, Nagar Palika Parishads of Loni, Modi Nagar, Murad Nagar, Khoda Makanpur, the society for prevention of cruelty to animals and the Ghaziabad development authority (GDA). The court asked these authorities to respond by July 10, detailing the steps taken and future strategies to control the monkey menace. The PIL was filed by Vineet Sharma, a BJP leader and social worker and Prajakta Singhal, a BTech student—both residents of Ghaziabad. They expressed concern over the growing human-monkey conflict and the suffering of monkeys due to lack of food and shelter across several districts of the state. The petition seeks directions for the preparation of an urgent action plan, establishment of infirmaries and veterinary care centres, provision of rescue vans, relocation of monkeys to forest areas, arrangement of adequate food supplies, and the setting up of a 24x7 grievance redressal helpline. Appearing for the petitioners, counsels Akash Vashishtha and Pawan Kumar Tiwari informed the court that the issue had reached a critical level, affecting every section of society—especially the elderly, women and school children. Schools were reportedly struggling to ensure student safety. 'The animal welfare board of India, as the apex advisory and expert body under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, is mandated to devise an action plan. However, it currently has no strategy in place despite the gravity of the situation,' submitted Vashishtha. He further argued that municipalities, under the Municipal Corporation and Municipalities Acts, are also legally obligated to manage animal-related nuisances, confine dangerous animals, and ensure public safety. 'This petition seeks a balance between the rights under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and the rights of animals, particularly their right to food,' Vashishtha added.
