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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kolkata's youth, on Bengali ashmita
'As a non-binary person, I find the most freedom in expressing myself through Bangla. It doesn't confine me to gendered pronouns: I can simply be a 'tui' or 'tumi' to those I love. My Bengali identity thrives in Satyajit Ray's films, in the comfort of aloo-sheddho bhaat, and in the Durga Pujo essays I wrote every year in school, guided by my grandfather's handwritten notes.' — Zoya Khan, filmmaker, 27 'Political movements, intelligence, culture: Bengalis have always been at the forefront of these things.' — Pratyasha Pal, a post-graduate student of History, 23 'Bengali identity is the Bengali language, Durga Pujas, and football. The way we express ourselves in Bengali, our mother tongue, is crucial to expressing our true emotions.' — Guddu Adhikari, hospital intern, 21 'We have a lot to be proud of, as Bengalis, like our literature and our freedom fighters.' — Soumit Choudhury, journalism student, 19 'To me, anyone who speaks Bangla is Bengali. There isn't a divide if you are Hindu or Muslim or where your place of origin is. As a student of Bengali literature, I am very attached to our great writers: Rabindranath Tagore, Jibanananda Das, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.' — Riya Nayak, Bengali literature student, 19 'Bangla is our mother tongue, and to me, that is the most important aspect of being Bengali.' — Aniket Pal, voice actor and blood bank staff member, 25 'Bengali identity is everyone who speaks in Bengali, be it in West Bengal, Tripura, or Bangladesh. It is our mother tongue, and that is where our identity lies; it is a shared identity.' — Abhinab Das, student of philosophy, 20 'If there is anything called Bengali ashmita, then it is a reaction to what is happening in our country right now. Before, this identity was more cultural; now it is a matter of ego as well.' — Rushati Saha, illustrator and graphic designer, 25 'For me, my Bengali identity is associated with Durga Pujas, football, and staying in Kolkata. I was raised in Lucknow, so my exploration of the conventional Bengali culture has been limited.' — Pritam Sarkar, studying Comparative Literature, 20 'Bengal's culture and heritage are great, but the current rate of unemployment and lack of opportunities in West Bengal make me wonder if I have enough to be proud of.' — Shinjini Guha, MBA student, 21 'My favourite part of being Bengali is being in love and expressing love in Bangla. This is the sweetest language in the world.' — Swarnali Adhikari, medical student, 24
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Time of India
Police get eight-day custody of gangster Hashim Baba, 3 others in MCOCA case
New Delhi: A court on Monday granted the special cell the custody of gangster Hashim Baba, his wife Zoya Khan, Sameer alias Baba and Anwar Khan alias Chacha for eight days in a case registered under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court of special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh observed that there was sufficient material on record to justify the request of the investigating agency. Observing that the prosecution should get a chance to thoroughly investigate the matter to place a holistic picture before the court, the judge said, "It is important not only from the perspective of the investigating agency as a chance to establish their case, but also it will be an opportunity for an accused to produce any material which they believe shows their innocence. The evidence collected will eventually be the basis of the case for both of them." On July 18, the court reserved an order on the police custody. Delhi Police had sought a 10-day remand. Special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh submitted that the accused were arrested in the MCOCA case linked with the murder of a businessman, Sunil Jain, in Farsh Bazar. The murder is the outcome of an organised crime syndicate, he claimed. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The court directed that a medical examination of the accused be carried out before and after the police custody as per rules. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The medical examination of the accused will also be conducted around 4pm every alternate day. The court allowed the defence counsel to meet the accused every day for 15 minutes if they so desire, between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, in the presence of a police officer, who will be distant enough to be out of earshot. If the accused are taken out of the police station, a meeting with the defence counsel will be conducted through videoconference. Police will also extend appropriate medical assistance and medicines to Anwar, who has some medical issues.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mix of guidance, support, diligence powers city aspirants' NEET success
Lucknow: Sleepless nights, early morning study sessions and months of rigorous preparation paid off for NEET UG 2025 aspirants, across the city, as they cracked one of India's toughest medical entrance exams. From City Montessori School, 86 students qualified NEET this year. Leading the pack is Zoya Khan with of 578 marks, followed closely by Iqra Faizi with 575, Ibraheem Mohammad with 565, Sariya Khan with 564, Navyaal Khandelwal with 559, Gaurika Luthra with 558, Atif Ansari with 555 and Aditya Awasthy with 549 marks. "We are overjoyed and proud to see our hard work pay off as clearing NEET was a dream we all worked towards with dedication and discipline," said students of CMS, adding, "From long study hours to endless mock tests, the journey was tough but rewarding. We are grateful to our teachers, parents and school for their constant support. This achievement has brought us one step closer to becoming doctors and serving society. " Sadaf Mariyam of Rajajipuram cleared NEET in her third attempt with 548 marks and AIR 13,151. She credited her success to steady revision and mock tests. "I never had a fixed strategy—I just kept revising and improving," she said. With strong support from her family and coaching institute, she steadily enhanced her accuracy and speed, she added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Vaishnavi Chawneet scored 541 in her second attempt, thanks to 12-hour study days, consistent mock test practice, and coaching support. "Consistency was my strength," she said sharing her mantra for success. Krishna Dixit, with 554 marks and AIR 10,774, focused on a disciplined routine and trusted his coaching completely. "Focused and relevant practice is what matters," he said. Starting at 5 am daily, he dedicated extra time to physics and relied solely on coaching material. Matching Krishna's score, Samrat Divyanshu Narayan made a powerful comeback after a six-year academic break. With 554 marks and AIR 10,431, he emphasised quality over quantity. "Productive hours mattered more than total study hours," he said. His success is a reflection of consistent effort and strong mentorship. In his third attempt, Himanshu Dwivedi scored 573 marks and secured AIR around 48,000. He focused on practice, error analysis, and revision using NCERT and coaching material. "Consistency is non-negotiable," he said. His approach was goal-based rather than routine-driven. Krish Verma, who scored 451, said revision was his main strategy. "I studied 6 to 8 hours daily and revised the syllabus twice," he said. His message: "Always hold on to your dreams." Inputs from Varun Bhatt, Rishita Mishra, and Alok Shukla Lucknow: Sleepless nights, early morning study sessions and months of rigorous preparation paid off for NEET UG 2025 aspirants, across the city, as they cracked one of India's toughest medical entrance exams. From City Montessori School, 86 students qualified NEET this year. Leading the pack is Zoya Khan with of 578 marks, followed closely by Iqra Faizi with 575, Ibraheem Mohammad with 565, Sariya Khan with 564, Navyaal Khandelwal with 559, Gaurika Luthra with 558, Atif Ansari with 555 and Aditya Awasthy with 549 marks. "We are overjoyed and proud to see our hard work pay off as clearing NEET was a dream we all worked towards with dedication and discipline," said students of CMS, adding, "From long study hours to endless mock tests, the journey was tough but rewarding. We are grateful to our teachers, parents and school for their constant support. This achievement has brought us one step closer to becoming doctors and serving society. " Sadaf Mariyam of Rajajipuram cleared NEET in her third attempt with 548 marks and AIR 13,151. She credited her success to steady revision and mock tests. "I never had a fixed strategy—I just kept revising and improving," she said. With strong support from her family and coaching institute, she steadily enhanced her accuracy and speed, she added. Vaishnavi Chawneet scored 541 in her second attempt, thanks to 12-hour study days, consistent mock test practice, and coaching support. "Consistency was my strength," she said sharing her mantra for success. Krishna Dixit, with 554 marks and AIR 10,774, focused on a disciplined routine and trusted his coaching completely. "Focused and relevant practice is what matters," he said. Starting at 5 am daily, he dedicated extra time to physics and relied solely on coaching material. Matching Krishna's score, Samrat Divyanshu Narayan made a powerful comeback after a six-year academic break. With 554 marks and AIR 10,431, he emphasised quality over quantity. "Productive hours mattered more than total study hours," he said. His success is a reflection of consistent effort and strong mentorship. In his third attempt, Himanshu Dwivedi scored 573 marks and secured AIR around 48,000. He focused on practice, error analysis, and revision using NCERT and coaching material. "Consistency is non-negotiable," he said. His approach was goal-based rather than routine-driven. Krish Verma, who scored 451, said revision was his main strategy. "I studied 6 to 8 hours daily and revised the syllabus twice," he said. His message: "Always hold on to your dreams." Inputs from Varun Bhatt, Rishita Mishra, and Alok Shukla Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Scroll.in
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Drones in the sky, blasts outside, Kashmir was on edge as Valley came under Pakistan fire
At first, she thought it was an earthquake. The house was shaking. But within a split second, there was a loud bang. 'It just felt as if some huge plane had crashed down from the sky with an earth-shaking thud,' recalled Zoya Khan*, a mother of two young children from Srinagar's uptown locality. 'I just rushed out of my bed along with my kids.' Around 5.45 am on Saturday, most of the residents in Srinagar and adjoining areas were jolted out of their sleep by a series of loud blasts. Khan, who lives barely 10 km from the Srinagar international airport, said she also heard the hovering noise of jets. 'Last night, when there was a drone attack, the sounds were low,' she said. 'But today's blasts were terrifying.' Ever since India targeted alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on May 7, Pakistan retaliated with a series of drone attacks along India's western border. On Saturday at 5.25 pm, US President Donald Trump claimed that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. Besides intense cross-border shelling along the Line of Control and the international border, Pakistan's response in the last two days also penetrated deep into the Kashmir Valley – a departure from its previous actions. On Friday evening, a swarm of drones was seen along the skyline in Srinagar, Baramulla and Awantipora in the Valley. This was the first instance in the showdown that Pakistan had targeted sites as far as Srinagar and Pulwama. Retired law professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain said Saturday's blasts in Srinagar and other districts were reminiscent of the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971 and 1999. 'During the 1965 and 1971 wars, there were aerial raids on Srinagar airport or other defence installations,' he recalled. 'Unlike now when fighter jets can strike a target from a long distance, those days the jets had to fly over the targeted areas.' 'Tiny flashes' Growing up, 46-year-old Ishfaq Tantry had often heard his grandparents recount how his native town of Baramulla, cradled by lush green forests, had become a battleground after 1947 as the armies of the newly formed nations of India and Pakistan fought fiercely to claim Kashmir. Those memories resurfaced vividly on the night of May 9, when Pakistani drones swarmed the skies of Baramulla town. 'The thunderous roar of anti-aircraft guns jolted my family and we rushed downstairs. My children trembled with fear as nearby blasts rattled the windows,' recalled Tantry, an independent journalist. Though there was a total blackout imposed across the district, Tantry took a peek outside. 'I saw something surreal: tiny flashing lights darting across the moonlit sky, punctuated by booming sounds of gunfire,' he said. Although Baramulla has seen its share of violence owing to the militancy that broke out in 1989, Tantry said, 'the eerie drone invasion was unlike anything we had experienced before'. The anxiety The escalation of tension between India and Pakistan has bred anxiety across Jammu and Kashmir, with residents avoiding stepping out of homes, and stocking up on essential supplies and medicines. The Jammu and Kashmir government has said there is no shortage of essential supplies or other necessary items like petrol or diesel, but residents were not taking any chances. Owais Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar's downtown locality, said he had been stocking up on baby food and diapers for his infant son. 'We don't really have a choice when it comes to babies,' said Ahmad, a private sector employee. Retired government employee Javid Ahmad, from North Kashmir's Bandipora district, had been trying to replenish his stock of rice – Kashmir's staple food – ever since the Indian army carried out Operation Sindoor. 'For the last three days, I have been knocking on the doors of paddy growers but nobody is selling,' Ahmad said. Pharmacists in the Valley said the anxiety about an impending conflict was driving up demand. 'Those who are aware about the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan are purchasing medicines in bulk,' said Zeeshan Bashir, a pharmacist in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. 'Let death come' Even though many states other than Jammu and Kashmir have been impacted by Pakistan's military response, the union territory's Jammu region has borne the brunt of the India-Pakistan conflict. More than 18 civilians, including children, have been killed due to the shelling by the Pakistani side in Poonch and Rajouri districts since May 7, according to government estimates. On the morning of May 10, a senior bureaucrat posted in Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa, was killed when a Pakistani shell hit his home. Besides the loss of lives, there has been considerable damage to the properties of civilians living along the Line of Control. Many of the border residents in districts like Kupwara and Baramulla in the Valley have left everything behind and fled to safer areas. But not everyone could make it. 'I paid Rs 20,000 to a private cab driver to take my family to Srinagar,' said a resident in Tangdhar, Kupwara, who did not want to be named. 'But I have stayed back with my ailing father who cannot move. If I have to die here, then let death come to me while taking care of my father.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan shelling kills 12, prompts evacuation in J&K border districts
This is a representative image (Pic credit: PTI) JAMMU/SRINAGAR: At least a dozen civilians, including four children, were killed and more than 50 others wounded as Pakistan unleashed heavy artillery and mortar fire along LoC in J&K's border districts early Wednesday following India's Operation Sindoor — aerial strikes against terrorist sites in the neighbouring country in response to district in Jammu region bore the brunt, reporting all civilian deaths and 42 of the wounded, officials said. Two CRPF men were also wounded when a shell exploded at a bus stand in Poonch marked the 13th straight night of cross-border firing amid spiralling tension following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that left 26 people dead.'Pakistan again violates ceasefire agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch-Rajouri area. Indian Army is responding appropriately…,' Army posted on triggered panic across frontier villages, forcing residents into underground bunkers or prompting evacuations. Exact number of evacuees has not been disclosed. Poonch administration activated shelter camps at educational institutions. Food, accommodation, and medical care were assured at all said shelling began around 1am and continued into early morning hours. Dozens of houses and vehicles suffered extensive damage as shells landed in areas, including Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni, and Poonch were identified as M Zain Khan, 10; Zoya Khan, 12; M Akram, 40; Amrik Singh, 55; M Iqbal, 45; Ranjeet Singh, 48; Balvinder 'Ruby' Kour, 33; Shakeela Bi, 40; Amarjeet Singh, 47; Maryam Khatoon, 7; Vihaan Bhargav, 13; and M Rafi, 40. Three others were wounded in Rajouri governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the ground situation with administrative and police officials. 'We will ensure the safety of every citizen,' he Omar Abdullah convened an emergency meeting with chief secretary, divisional commissioners, and district heads. Ambulances were dispatched to border areas and health departments instructed to maintain stockpiles of medical supplies and ensure presence of doctors and expressed grief over civilian casualties and ordered immediate release of Rs 5 crore to each border district and Rs 2 crore to other districts to fund relief and emergency operations. 'Priority must be given to frontier districts,' he said. Strengthening of shelters, evacuation readiness, and food stockpiles were Srinagar, calm largely prevailed. While schools near the airport were closed as a precaution, normal life continued in most parts. Civilian flights, including Haj departures, were debris struck a school building in Wuyan of Pulwama, after locals reported an explosion and falling wreckage early Wednesday. No confirmation on the wreckage's origin was given, but nearby houses shook and tree branches caught fire. Police and CRPF cordoned off the site while fire services removed debris using north Kashmir, at least 15 civilians were wounded in Uri and Kupwara districts amid shelling in Gingal, Dachina, Salamabad, and Machil sectors. Batpora village in Karnah reported five homes destroyed. Many families began fleeing Machil sector after mortar shells struck residential areas around issued an advisory urging public to refrain from sharing content related to troop deployments and security operations.
