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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Fahadh Faasil dreams of becoming an Uber driver in Barcelona post retirement: ‘After people are done with me'
Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil was recently promoting his film Maareesan with Vadivelu when he opened up about his potential retirement plans. In an interview with THR India, the actor mentioned that he would like nothing more than to drive around people in an Uber in Barcelona once people are 'done' with him in films. Here's what he said. (Also Read: Kamal Haasan is all praise for Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu-starrer Maareesan, calls it: 'Inventive, spirited cinema') Fahadh Faasil thinks it's a 'beautiful thing' to drive people to their destination. Fahadh Faasil's dream Uber run Fahadh was asked if he still dreams of driving an Uber in Barcelona, and he replied, 'Absolutely. We were in Barcelona a few months ago. So, yeah, of course. It'll only happen after people are done with me, you know? I mean, jokes apart, but just to drive someone from one place to another. At least, witnessing someone's destination, I think that's a beautiful thing. I still do that every time I get a chance. That's my time. Not just driving, you constantly engage yourself in things you love doing, be it a game or sport or watching TV. I think it helps in the way you look at things.' He was referring to a statement he made in an interview with IE in 2020 when he said, 'As of now, there is nothing else that I would enjoy doing other than being an Uber driver. I would love to drive people around. I tell my wife (Nazriya Nazim) that as a retirement plan, I wish to move to Barcelona and drive people across Spain. She loves this plan.' Recent work Fahadh was last seen in the hit Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films Aavesham, Bougainvillea, Vettaiyan and Pushpa 2: The Rule. Maareesan, directed by Sudheesh Shankar and co-starring Vadivelu, was released in theatres on July 25. He also has the Malayalam films Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira, Karate Chandran, and Patriot in Malayalam lined up, apart from Don't Trouble The Trouble in Telugu.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Startup develops revolutionary new 'superwood' that can resist fire and water: 'Nature's most highly evolved structure'
Wood isn't yielding to concrete and steel when it comes to being the construction material of the future. That's because a Maryland-based company's lumber breakthrough could soon put it in contention as the leader. InventWood's product isn't your grandfather's two-by-four. Superwood has 10 times the strength-to-weight of steel and is six times lighter. What's more, it's fire-, rot-, and pest-resistant, with a production process that's 90% cleaner than steel — all while mimicking the look and feel of regular lumber, per the company website. "Superwood demonstrates what's possible when we combine nature's most highly evolved structure with revolutionary science," InventWood CEO Alex Lau said in an Interesting Engineering report. It all starts with a molecular-level transformation. Superwood is made by removing specific "components" at the timber's cellular level. The experts use food-safe chemicals for the "molecular reinvention." The wood is compressed, increasing density by a factor of four, and creating hydrogen bonds between the cellulose fibers. It's part of how the material becomes stronger and resistant to rot. Finishing treatments can provide customized design stylings, InventWood added. Environmentalist and entrepreneur Paul Hawken said the product could shape the future of worldwide construction. It's "an extraordinary breakthrough that exalts the genius of the natural world," he said, per IE. What is stopping you from upgrading to a heat pump system? The cost of installation I live in a cold area I don't know enough about it I already have one Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The company secured $15 million in a funding round, and it intends to begin shipping products from Frederick by September. Its total fundraising has hit $50 million in private and government sources. The innovation got its start from research completed by University of Maryland Professor Liangbing Hu, as IE noted. The university has made headlines before for genetic modifications to wood that makes it stronger for construction use. Elsewhere, experts at Michigan Technological University are working with layers of wood and resin to form stronger materials. Some architects are even predicting that wooden skyscrapers will soon become more common as safe and sustainable alternatives to dirty concrete and steel towers. For its part, the building and construction sector accounts for 37% of global heat-trapping air pollution, according to the United Nations. Those toxins are linked by NASA to increased risks of severe weather, which are even impacting insurance premiums and coverage. Consumers and builders can encourage cleaner innovations by supporting entrepreneurs who are developing better materials. Investing in their enterprises is a way to build a portfolio that aligns with your personal values. Meanwhile, an easy way to curb pollution coming from your home is to switch to LED lightbulbs. If you replace your home's old lightbulbs with the newer illuminators, you can save hundreds of dollars a year on your power bill while producing five times less pollution. For InventWood's part, company officials said the team is working on strategic partnerships for product deployment in North America. By supporting local economies, the company intends to provide a sustainable alternative to imported steel and aluminum, as IE reported. "We're prioritizing domestic sourcing and production to maintain the exacting standards Superwood requires," Lau said. "We're focused on ensuring every step of our process, from forest to final product, delivers uncompromising quality while supporting American manufacturing." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Urgent recall issued for almost 200 ready-made meals sold in Irish supermarkets
Almost 200 pre-made dinners and side items sold in major Irish supermarkets have been pulled from shelves due to food safety fears.. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) announced this week that 198 ready made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods and sold in Tesco, Centra, Supervalu, Aldi and elsewhere have been recalled due to the possible presence of a harmful bacteria. The recalls affects a range of popular ready-made meals, which may pose serious health risks if consumed as they could contain Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacterium that causes food poisoning. The FSAI said: "Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. The ready-made dinners were sold in Supervalu, Tesco, Alsi and Centra (file photo) (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin) "Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days." As a result, the FSAI is advising all shoppers to immediately check their fridge and freezers for any affected products and bin them immediately. The food safety watchdog said that all pack sizes, all batch codes and all use-by dates with an establishment approval number of IE 4008 EC were recalled and that recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale. Wholesalers/distributors have also been requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. The full list of all the impact products can be found on the FSAI website here. All Tesco product recalls: Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Cottage Pie with Peas & Carrots Dinner Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Beef Dinner Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Bacon & Cabbage Dinner Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Beef Stew Dinner Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Chicken Curry & Rice Tesco (Irish Classics Range) Beef Burger Dinner Tesco (Classic Kitchen Range) Chicken & Ham Dinner Tesco (Classic Kitchen Range) Chicken / Leek & White Wine Sauce Dinner Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Cottage Pie Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Beef Lasagne Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Chicken Curry Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Chicken & Pasta Bake Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Chicken & Broccoli Potato Bake Tesco (Meals Made Easy Range) Carbonara Pasta Bake Tesco (Finest Range) Cottage Pie Tesco (Finest Range) Mac & Triple Cheese Tesco (Finest Range) Beef Lasagne Tesco (Finest Range) Beef Bourguignon and Mash Tesco (Finest Range) Spaghetti Bolognese Tesco (Finest Range) Spaghetti Carbonara Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken Korma with Fragrant Pilau Rice Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken Tikka Masala with Fragrant Pilau Rice Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken and Chorizo Paella Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken, Bacon & Leek Pie Tesco (Finest Range) Creamy Fish Pie Tesco (Finest Range) Beef in Black Bean Sauce & Egg Rice Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken Al Fredo with Linguine Tesco (Finest Range) Chicken Massaman with Jasmine Rice Tesco (Finest Range) Irish Angus Beef Meatballs with Pappardelle Tesco (Finest Range) Cottage Pie Tesco (Finest Range) Mac & Triple Cheese Tesco (Finest Range) Creamy Fish Pie Tesco (Finest Range) Creamy Mashed Potato Tesco (Finest Range) Potato Gratin Tesco (Finest Range) Three Cheese Cauliflower Bake Tesco (Finest Range) Goose Fat Irish Potatoes Tesco (Finest Range) Rainbow Root Vegetables Tesco (Tesco Range) Mashed Potato Tesco (Tesco Range) Mashed Carrot & Parsnip Tesco (Tesco Range) Mashed Turnip Tesco (Tesco Range) Cauliflower Cheese Tesco (Tesco Range) Chicken Tikka with Pilau Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Chicken Jalfrezi with Pilau Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Chicken Korma with Pilau Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Butter Chicken Masala with Pilau Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Chinese Style Chicken Curry with Egg Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Chicken & Black Bean with Egg Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Chicken Chow Mein Tesco (Tesco Range) Sweet & Sour Chicken with Egg Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Thai Green Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Thai Red Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Coconut Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice Tesco (Tesco Range) Tex Mex Chilli Beef Burrito Bowl Tesco (Tesco Range) Tex Mex Chicken Burrito Bowl Tesco (Tesco Range) Mashed Potato Tesco (Tesco Range) Carrot & Parsnip Mash The list of all impacted Supervalu products includes: Supervalu (Signature Taste Range) Potato Mash Supervalu (Signature Taste Range)Taste Potato Gratin Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Beef Lasagne Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Cottage Pie Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Chicken Pasta Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Chicken Curry Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Chicken Arrabiata Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Spaghetti Bolognese Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Spaghetti Carbonara Supervalu (Supervalu Range) Mac & Cheese Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Irish Beef Dinner Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Salmon Dinner Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Burger Dinner Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Beef Lasagne Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Cottage Pie / Cheddar Crumb Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Carbonara Pasta Bake Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Curry & Rice Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Tikka & Rice Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Beef Chilli & Rice Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Salmon Penne Pasta Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Beef Lasagne Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Cottage Pie Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken with White Wine sauce Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chorizo Mac & cheese Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Korean style chicken with noodles Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Laksa Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Carrots & Peas Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Green Cabbage Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Irish Rooster Mash Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Mashed Turnip Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Roasted Baby Potatoes Supervalu (Freshly Prepared Range) Roasted Carrots with Black Pepper & Sea Salt Impacted Centra products Centra (Centra Range) Beef Lasagne Centra (Centra Range) Cottage Pie Centra (Centra Range) Chicken Pasta Centra (Centra Range) Chicken Curry Centra (Centra Range) Chicken Arrabiata Centra (Centra Range) Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Centra (Centra Range) Spaghetti Bolognese Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Irish Beef Dinner Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken & Stuffing Dinner Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Salmon Dinner Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Burger Dinner Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Beef Lasagne Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Cottage Pie / Cheddar Crumb Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Carbonara Pasta Bake Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Curry & Rice Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Tikka & Rice Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Centra FP Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl 450g x 6 Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Teriyaki Beef Noodle Bowl Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken With Black Bean & Egg rice Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken with White Wine sauce Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chorizo Mac & cheese Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Korean Style Chicken with Noodles Centra (Freshly Prepared Range) Chicken Laksa Impacted Supervalu and Centra products include: Supervalu & Centra (Kitchen Range) Beef Lasagne Supervalu & Centra (Fuel'd Foods Range) Chicken Curry with Brown Rice Supervalu & Centra (Fuel'd Foods Range) Wholemeal Pasta Bolognese Supervalu & Centra (Fuel'd Foods Range) Chicken Tikka Masala with Brown Rice Supervalu & Centra (Fuel'd Foods Range) Tomato Chicken & Wholemeal Pasta Supervalu & Centra (Fuel'd Foods Range) Chicken & Chorizo with Baby Potatoes Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Beef Stroganoff Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Carbonara Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Curry Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Spaghetti Bolognese Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Spice Bag Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Thai Green Curry Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Chow Mein Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Chorizo Pasta Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Veggie Bolognese Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Beef Taco Wedges Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Butter Chicken Supervalu & Centra (Clean Cut Range) Cottage Pie Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Veggie Lasagne Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Shepherdless Pie Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Cannelloni Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Chickpea Curry Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Tasty Thai Noodles Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Sticky Soy Noodles Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Mexican Bean Burrito Bowl Supervalu & Centra (Happy Pear Range) Spinach & Mushroom Pasta Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Beef Lasagne Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Chicken Curry Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Beef Casserole Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Chilli Beef Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Chicken Tikka Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Chicken Pasta Bake Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Beef Stroganoff Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Carbonara Pasta Bake Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Bolognese with Pancetta Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Mash Potato Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Potato Gratin Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Basmati Rice Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Roasted Baby Potatoes Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Roast Root Veg Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Green Cabbage Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Baton Carrots Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Carrots & Peas Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Mash Turnip Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Potato Wedges Supervalu & Centra (Food To Go Range) Pilau Rice Impacted Adli products include: Aldi (Specially Selected Range) Spaghetti Bolognese Aldi (Specially Selected Range) Ham & Mushroom Tagliatelle Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Irish Cottage Pie Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Rustic & Hearty Beef Lasagne Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Chip Shop Chicken Curry Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Chicken & Broccoli Bake Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Rustic & Hearty Bolognese Pasta Bake Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Rustic & Hearty Chicken & Tomato Pasta Bake Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Seafood Pie Aldi (Inspired Cuisine Range) Chicken Pie Other products found in 'various' retailers include (From the Farm Range) Chicken Curry (From the Farm Range) Beef Lasagne (From the Farm Range) Basmati Rice (From the Farm Range) Chilli Beef (The Happy Pear Range) Shepherdless Pie (The Happy Pear Range) Creamy Veggie Lasagne (The Happy Pear Range) Chickpea Curry (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Turkey & Ham Dinner (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Chicken & Stuffing Dinner (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Spaghetti Carbonara (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Chicken Arrabiata (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Spaghetti Bolognese (Good Food Locally Sourced Range) Beef Dinner (Clean Cut Range) Beef Stroganoff with Long Grain Rice (Clean Cut Range) Chicken & Chorizo Paella with Arborio Rice (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Carbonara with Tagliatelle Pasta (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Curry with Long Grain Rice (Clean Cut Range) Spaghetti Bolognese with Irish Beef (Clean Cut Range) Chicken Spice Box with Sweet Potato (Clean Cut Range) Thai Green Curry with Coconut Basmati Rice (Clean Cut Range) Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Chennai Corpn appoints independent consultant to monitor solid waste management in PPP zones
In a bid to strengthen the monitoring of solid waste management operations in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has appointed a private agency to supervise the collection and transportation of solid waste in selected zones under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. While 14 of the city's 15 zones have already been entrusted to private agencies for waste collection and transport, the GCC has now initiated the appointment of Independent Engineers (IE) — private consultants tasked with overseeing the proper implementation of waste management services in specific areas. The new arrangement is currently being rolled out in Zones 5 and 6, which cover Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, comprising 28 wards and spanning an area of 38.92 sq km. According to the latest proposal, the private concessionaire responsible for waste handling will manage the collection and transportation of solid waste, street sweepings, silt removed from drains and canals, horticultural waste, and domestic hazardous waste within the designated zones. To ensure effective service delivery, the project includes a performance-linked payment model. 'Under the new system, 50 per cent of the monthly payment to the concessionaire is fixed, while the remaining 50 per cent is tied to performance. This performance is evaluated through a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs),' a senior GCC official explained. The Independent Engineer will be responsible for monitoring and supervising all aspects of the concession agreement, including physical and financial progress, adherence to KPIs, and service delivery parameters. 'The IE can appoint personnel for daily monitoring and must verify the reports submitted by the concessionaire, generate independent assessments, and submit these to the authorities,' the official added. The project is being implemented under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) Act and the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders (PPP Procurement) Rules, 2012. GCC officials believe that deploying independent oversight will ensure accountability and consistent service delivery, ultimately improving sanitation standards across the city.
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Reframing The Nationalism Debate: Who Is ‘Othering' Whom?
What is particularly troubling is that the expositions of Hindutva, or Hindu Nationalism, are often one-sided Free speech and the free exchange of ideas are the hallmarks of a democracy. Newspapers in a democracy serve as revered platforms that should facilitate the expression of diverse viewpoints within the bounds of civility, even if the establishment does not endorse those opinions. A major newspaper is currently hosting a heated debate on the prevailing nationalism in India. However, what is particularly troubling is that the expositions of Hindutva, or Hindu Nationalism, are often one-sided. These pieces are typically written not by its proponents or even objective critics, but by its adversaries who openly display their counter-ideologies. These essays often suffer from a lack of knowledge, distort facts, and rely on biased logical analyses. The result is a flawed but convenient conclusion that satisfies the preconceived notions of Hindutva's detractors. Three articles that recently appeared in that newspaper fall into this category: Yogendra Yadav's 'The nationalism we forgot" (Indian Express, May 27), Suhas Palshikar's 'Who stole my nationalism?" (IE, May 31), and Akeel Bilgrami's 'The nation, the state and the other: Hindutva's imprint on nationalism in India" (June 16, IE). Thus, I feel compelled to present a rejoinder that is both historically accurate and rationally robust. How valid is the charge of 'othering' levelled against Hindutva or Hindu Nationalism? Yogendra Yadav writes: 'The nationalism we inherited from our freedom struggle was very different. To borrow an expression from John A Powell, Indian nationalism was about 'belonging without othering.' It sought to build the nation by creating a deep sense of national belonging without inventing external or internal enemies. This Indian nationalism is under assault today. The newfangled nationalism cannot think about fostering a sense of belonging without an aggressive campaign of othering." Akeel Bilgrami adds: 'Yogendra Yadav (IE, May 27) stresses a familiar distinction between two nationalisms. He invokes a vivid label — 'belonging without othering' — to characterise the distinction. The nationalism pursued in the freedom struggle exemplified this label. The nationalism in Europe precisely did not, neither does the nationalism in currency in India today." This inference about 'othering' in the context of current nationalism is not only conceptually dishonest but also historically inaccurate. 'Othering' as a phenomenon did not originate with the advent of Hindutva, nor was it, as these writers claim, the core strategy guiding the rise of Hindu Nationalism. The notion of othering can be traced back much earlier in the subcontinent, starting with Muslim rulers who introduced the derogatory term 'kafir' to define others. Jizya tax imposed solely on Hindus during the regime of Islamic kings was a systematic act of othering. Moreover, the 'othering' of Hindus was a state-sanctioned policy endorsed by Muslim clerics and scholars, making it a systemic policy. When the Mughal Emperor Akbar tried to introduce a more syncretic culture, he was hounded by Muslim clerics, and the ideology of 'othering' resurfaced with a vengeance. MJ Akbar, in his book 'Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan," writes: 'The vision, however, was determined by an idea with lasting power, the search for 'Islamic space' on the Indian subcontinent. The search began during the ebb of the Mughal Empire, and its formative ideology was shaped by the powerful mind of Shah Waliullah." Shah Waliullah was a Sunni scholar born in 1703, four years before the death of Aurangzeb. Waliullah succeeded Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, who had charged Emperor Akbar with apostasy for seeking to create a shared Muslim-Hindu culture. Waliullah built upon Sirhindi's idea of reform and fashioned a compelling argument for a jihad to establish a post-Mughal Islamic state in India. Waliullah's prescription was radical and intellectually rigorous. He proposed that Indian Muslims needed to be purged of Hindu influences to recover their pristine, victorious self, as contact with the infidel undermined the faith. This was essential for a true jihad against the rising Hindu powers, which had usurped space from the Mughals, Marathas, and Jats. MJ Akbar further explains that Shah Waliullah elaborated on achieving this end: 'Faith had to be pure, and separation was the antidote to pollution. This is what might be called the 'theory of distance.' The difference between believer and infidel had been blurred in India and could be corrected only through forms of alienation. He told Muslims to live at such a distance from Hindus that they would not be able to see the light of fires in Hindu homes." Inherent to this jihad to re-establish Muslim hegemony in India was the notion that Muslims were a superior people, separate from the local natives. The 'theory of distance' dictated maintaining a safe distance to prevent 'pollution.' 'Othering' was and remains the sine qua non of Muslim presence in the subcontinent. The ghettoization of the Muslim community seen today cannot be blamed on the so-called 'othering' by the Hindu majority; it is the direct outcome of this 'theory of distance,' a script for insular exclusivity. The establishment of Pakistan was the direct result of the crystallisation of Shah Waliullah's ideas or the 'theory of distance.' This idea of separateness, or the quest for 'Muslim space' in the subcontinent, did not fade with Shah Waliullah's death in 1762; it persisted in the writings of Muslim scholars and clerics. In the 1800s, Syed Ahmad bin Syed Muhammad Muttaqi (1817-1898), commonly known as Sir Syed and the founder of Aligarh Muslim University, picked up the baton. Building on Shah Waliullah's 'theory of distance,' Sir Syed was one of the first to invoke the 'two-nation' theory. He consistently referred to Muslims as a nation. In his famous speech at Meerut in 1888, he stated: 'Now, suppose that all English and the whole English army were to leave India, taking with them all their cannon and their splendid weapons and everything, then who would be the rulers of India? Is it possible that under these circumstances two nations — the Mahomedans and the Hindus — could sit on the same throne and remain equal in power? Most certainly not. It is necessary that one of them should conquer the other." MJ Akbar describes how Sir Syed laid the foundation for the establishment of the Muslim League and eventually Pakistan: 'In October 1906, a group of Aligarh alumni initiated a chain of events that culminated in the creation of Pakistan when they helped draft a charter of demands to the viceroy that asked for separate electorates for Muslims, dividing politics along communal lines. In December that year, the annual education conference established by Sir Syed reconstituted itself as a political party, the All-India Muslim League. Within four decades, the Muslim League converted the politics of distance into a separate nation." 'Othering' was a concept formally emphasized by Shah Waliullah in the 1700s and practically executed by Sir Syed in the 1800s, leading to the formation of separate electorates for Muslims and ultimately the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The ethnic cleansing of more than a quarter million Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir is another manifestation of this inherent 'othering' that persists even today. This othering is systemic and strategic, unlike the isolated, knee-jerk reactions of Hindu outbursts or cow vigilantism. It is also important to note the timeline of these events. By the time VD Savarkar propounded his theory of Hindutva in 1923, Hindus had already been 'othered' into a community with fewer electoral rights than Muslims in 1906, and the 'two-nation' theory had been floated by Sir Syed in 1888. Despite the uproar regarding the 'othering' of Muslims under the BJP, an objective perspective does not lend credibility to these accusations. Unlike Pakistan and Bangladesh, where non-Muslims are systematically 'othered' and constitutionally relegated to second-class status, the Indian Constitution under the BJP still ensures equal rights to all citizens. Courts are not swayed by religion in their verdicts, computerized entrance exams to colleges make discrimination along religious lines almost impossible, and an analysis of UPSC results in recent years shows an increasing number of Muslims making the grade. Yogendra Yadav's and Akeel Bilgrami's views of the so-called 'othering' stem from a narrow, selective, and self-serving snapshot of events in the subcontinent. Their perspective is neither comprehensive, accurate, nor cogent in its scope. top videos View all The so-called othering of Muslims in current times is merely noise and not the reality on the street. The writer is a US-based author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 10, 2025, 12:14 IST News opinion Opinion | Reframing The Nationalism Debate: Who Is 'Othering' Whom? 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