Current Affairs- February 7, 2022

 

INDIA

– Playback legend Lata Mangeshkar dies in Mumbai at 92; awarded Bharat Ratna in 2001 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– DCGI grants emergency use permission to single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine

WORLD

– Iconic tapestry of Pablo Picasso’s painting ‘Guernica’ is back at the UN in New York

– Madagascar battered by Cyclone Batsirai

– International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation observed on Feb 6

SPORTS

– India (178/4 in 28) defeat West Indies (176/43.5) by 6 wickets in first ODI of the three-match series at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad

– India (195/6 in 47.2) win Under-19 Cricket World Cup by defeating England (189 in 44.5) in the final played at North Sound, Antigua in West Indies

Current Affairs- February 6, 2022

 

INDIA

– PM kickstarts 50th Anniversary Celebrations of ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) in Hyderabad and inaugurates two research facilities

– PM inaugurates 216-foot statue of 11th century saint Sri Ramanujacharya in Hyderabad

– Fees of 50% seats in Private Medical Colleges to be at par with Government College: National Medical Commission

– Former BJP Lok Sabha MP from Telangana, Chandupatla Janga Reddy, dies at 87

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Foodgrains vessel leaves from Patna to Pandu in Assam via Bangladesh

– IIT Hyderabad to set up Suzuki Innovation Centre on its campus

WORLD

– NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to take over as Norway’s central bank Governor at the end of the year

– China, Pakistan ink new CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) agreement

– 7 killed when plane on Nazca lines tour crashes in Peru

Till the end, Lata Mangeshkar remained her own person

 

It would be wrong to pin her down to a single identity, of a grand dowager queen of music, all white sarees, and an isolation of fervent religiosity and meditational silences

“Like art, revolutions come from combining what exists into what has never existed before”: Gloria Steinem

Lata was one of the three daughters born to a well-known performer in Marathi theatre, Dinanath Mangeshkar. Her father recognised her talent early on, and began training her when she was only five. Her younger and very talented sister Asha Bhosle told the Dogri poet Padma Sachdev later how their lives changed when their father passed away suddenly. The eldest, Lata didi, was only 13. The family first went to stay with their mother’s family in Thalner village in Dhule, then moved to Mumbai to a small house in Nana Chowk. Lata ji’s initial years in the Mumbai film industry of the early ’40s were full of struggle. Music directors used to the loud and somewhat shrill and nasal voices of singing stars from courtesan families, were reluctant to give the frail teenager a chance for playback singing. They found her voice “too thin”.

A person less in need of money may have argued and told them that screen voices needed to be more natural and fluid in the age of the new recording technology. But Lata’s overwhelming need was to earn enough for her family of three siblings and a widowed mother. So she played Eliza Doolittle to their Professor Higgins for a while. Flexibility is something young fatherless children learn early on in life. Lata did too. But like a true singer, even as she adapted to the composers’ demands, she kept alive her classically trained real voice and soon rose to be the patron saint of the “new” female voice of independent India. With her first hit song Aayega aanewala, from Mahal, she was no longer the awkward in-between singer. Even the great Bade Ghulam Ali Khan sahib is reported to have said of her that ever since he heard her sing in Raga Yaman, he forgot his own rendering, and that the girl just never goes off-key (Jab se iss ladki ka Yaman kaan mein pada, main apna wala Yaman bhool gaya! Kambakht kabhi besuri hi nahin hoti!). Another great composer of film music, Naushad, wrote about her: Watch her voice leap up like a ball of fire (Shola sa lapak jaaye hai, awaaz tau dekho!).

In the ’50s, Lata Mangeshkar was an undisputed star singing for all renowned composers: Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, SD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Hemant Kumar and Madan Mohan. She sang some of the biggest hits for Madhubala in Mughal-e-Azam, including the timeless, Mohey panghat pe Nandlal…. Her long and distinguished career is not a tragic tale of continuing to shoulder the burden of someone else’s idea of how a woman should sing. She was a genuinely many-voiced singer who considered it an asset to be able to sing for a Madhubala, a Jaya Bachchan and even a Preity Zinta. Hers was a voice of a simple but grand inheritance from Marathi theatre, also a realisation of the paternal dreams and aspirations she had imbibed as a young girl. She was a rock to her family till the end.

Still it would be wrong to pin her down to a single identity, of a grand dowager queen of music, all white sarees, and an isolation of fervent religiosity and meditational silences. True, as an individual, Lata ji remained fiercely protective of her private life. But she was very much her own person. She did not follow the usual pattern of marriage, children and the possibility of a life long contention with a male who felt his masculinity threatened by an eminent wife. She chose, instead, to sing as and when and how she wished, and maintain her personal relationships with various men and women she cared for. She had little interest in theatrics. Her love for all things, from diamond jewellery to devotional music, was not a put-on act. Those aesthetics came naturally to her like to so many of our great musicians. But one admires her for, even as she pursued her music, rightly demanding that musicians be paid royalties, not be sent off with a one-time payment. If this created some disaffection between her and a few big ticket male singers, so be it. Her innate understanding of her self worth remained subtle and capacious till the very end.

Another loveable part of Lata Mangeshkar’s life was her deep and genuine love for cricket. In the cricket establishment she found the action-man dimension perhaps of a father she had lost early in her life. Stories about her romantic dedication to one such legend were also rife over the years. But she chose not to marry for reasons we will never know. The truth or otherwise remained between them. She never cared to discuss it publicly and none of the columnists and society reporters dared ask her about it. She did make clear that she did not wish to be reborn. Ever. And that her favourite poet was Meera Bai who sang Mai mai, kaise jiyun ree (Oh my mother how can I survive)”. “One should gracefully accept sorrow like happiness”, she said in one of her last interviews to a Mumbai daily

Of late, one sees a sudden swell in those who claim to have known her over the years and emphasise how she sang because Veer Savarkar urged her to sing or that singing a song like, Ai mere watan ke logo… was an ideal public display of true rashtra bhakti. From what one gathers about this unusually gifted singer, she abhorred histrionics or public displays of love or hate. She was among those like George Bernard Shaw who believed that patriotism is basically a conviction that the best country is the one that one is born in.

Professionally and personally, the marvellous weight of the pleasure her singing gives embarrasses hyperbolic tributes. Certainly, obituaries will call her “the last of a kind”, the “Sur Saraswati” in Hindi film music or “the greatest female singer in the Bollywood firmament”. For once, they will not be soppy clichés, for once they will ring true.

Written by Mrinal Pande

Source: Indian Express, 7/02/22

The symbolism of inter-caste marriages

 

When countries worldwide are now integrating rapidly across color, racial, ethnic boundaries, the Indian government has to offer incentives for couples to marry outside rigid boundaries. Does inter-caste marriage then result in the anticipated social change and abolish untouchability?

Surrounding the anti-caste movement, a topic remains hotly contested. It is about inter-caste marriages as a way towards the annihilation of caste. Activists, thinkers and leaders are divided over this. Dr Ambedkar’s famous quote from Annihilation of Caste, wherein he stated that inter-caste marriages were “the real remedy for breaking caste”, is often cited. Ambedkar thought “fusion of blood” would create the feeling of kith and kin.

Ambedkar’s advice remains unheard. The Indian Human Development Survey reported that 95% of Indians still find partners within their subcastes. What is the situation of the rest 5%, who have braved the odds against tradition and caste? There isn’t data or satisfying coverage of them.

Many a time second- or third-generation educated Dalits who have managed to access quality education, and landed respectable (elite) jobs, find the prospects of marriage outside caste available to them. What then happens to their inter-caste marriages? Their union is unlike any other marriage. It is a political act — an achievement of love over caste. The Dalit person marrying outside caste, say to an upper caste, finds himself or herself duelling between the struggle of their community, and the culture of their spouses and in-laws. It’s akin to getting a good job in a company surrounded by oppressor castes. Rarely does one get a chance to balance both, and what is the outcome if they do?

The children of mixed-caste parents also grow up amidst profound misunderstanding of their complicated backgrounds. They are brought up in a caste-neutral or a-caste environment, which essentially means being subjected to the dominant caste parent’s identity. The closest they come to caste is while availing caste reservations or visiting their Dalit family. If they align themselves with the identity of the oppressed caste parent, which is need-based, they risk a backlash.

The Government of India launched a scheme in 2013 to encourage inter-caste marriages. It offers Rs 2.5 lakh if one of the partners is a Dalit. One of the requirements is a recommendation from a sitting MLA / MP and government officer concerned. The scheme wants to appreciate and promote the “socially bold step” of the couple. When countries worldwide are now integrating rapidly across color, racial, ethnic boundaries, the Indian government has to offer incentives for couples to marry outside rigid boundaries.

Does inter-caste marriage then result in the anticipated social change and abolish untouchability?

I can share my experiences. Of a savarna woman in the US who married a Dalit man and joined the Dalit community’s network. Often, during interactions, the savarna woman wouldn’t parse her background. The Dalit community’s culture, religion and festivals were different from hers. Unknowingly, the savarna woman would privilege her experiences. At some point, she forgot about her caste identity and started to claim Dalit identity passively. Since she was a student and an activist, she profited from the networks offered by her Dalit compatriots.

As she became more comfortable with the Dalit community, she began to take over leadership roles. She started to call out the Dalit leadership for their overrepresentation of males. Within a matter of a few months, she was representing Dalits at conferences and seminars.

What we see from the above anecdote is that the notion of inter-caste marriage has become a passport for those who have lived the life of oppressing Dalits directly or by virtue of their participation in anti-Dalit prejudices, to now suddenly assume the position of misrepresenting Dalits.

The second case is of a Dalit minister married to a Brahmin woman, who was asked about it on a Marathi talk show. He replied that it was because “Brahmin women are very good”, and appealed to all Dalit men to marry Brahmin women.

Coming back to Ambedkar’s speech quoted above, he further suggested that to break the caste system, it was pertinent to destroy religious notions, the sanctity of the Shastras on which caste was founded and not occasionally bring about “inter-caste dinner and inter-caste marriages, which were futile methods of achieving their ends”.

What Ambedkar is arguing is not against inter-caste marriage, but he is inviting us to go deeper, beyond social sanctions. He wants us to be participants in movements that would upend and eventually change mindsets.

Written by Suraj Yengde

Source: Indian Express, 6/02/22

Quote of the Day February 3, 2022

 

“Always chase your dreams instead of running from your fears.”
Author Unknown

“डर से भागने की बजाय अपने सपनों को साकार करने के लिए हमेशा प्रतिबद्ध रहें।”
अज्ञात

Why Cryptocurrency Is A Better Investment Than Banks

 Cryptocurrencies are becoming more and more popular every day. There are several reasons why they are a better investment than banks, and we will discuss some of them in this blog post. One of the most significant advantages of cryptocurrencies is that they are decentralized. This means that no central authority controls them, which gives investors a lot of freedom and control. On the other hand, banks are centralized institutions that the government or other powerful entities can manipulate.

1) The government does not control cryptocurrencies:

One of the most significant advantages of cryptocurrencies is that the government does not control them. This means that no central authority holds them, which gives investors a lot of freedom and control. On the other hand, banks are centralized institutions that the government or other powerful entities can manipulate. For example, during the financial crisis of 2008, the US government bailed out banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley with billions of dollars of taxpayer money. This showed that banks are not as stable as many people think and can be easily manipulated by those in power.

On the other hand, Cryptocurrencies cannot be manipulated by the government or any other entity. This gives investors more confidence in them since they know that their money is safe and secure which can be seen and stored in top crypto exchange websites.

2) Cryptocurrencies are more secure than banks:

Another reason cryptocurrencies are a better investment than banks is that they are more secure. Banks are vulnerable to cyberattacks and have been hacked many times. The largest bank robbery in history occurred in February 2005 when thieves stole $81 million from the Central Bank of Iraq.

Cryptocurrencies are not vulnerable to cyberattacks since they are decentralized. This means that there is no central point of failure and that hackers cannot access all the funds at once. This makes them a much safer investment option than banks.

3) Cryptocurrencies are more volatile than banks:

Cryptocurrencies are more volatile than banks, but one of their most significant advantages is this. Banks are much more stable and predictable, making them a safer investment option. On the other hand, cryptocurrencies are not as stable and can experience colossal value swings from today. This makes them a riskier investment option, but it also allows investors to make more significant profits if they invest at the right time.

Overall, cryptocurrencies are a better investment option than banks. They offer greater freedom and security and are more volatile than banks. While they are riskier investments, they also can generate much higher returns. So if you’re looking for a more exciting and profitable investment option, cryptocurrencies are worth considering.

4) Cryptocurrencies are a better investment than banks:

Cryptocurrencies are a much better choice than banks when it comes to investment options. Banks are centralized institutions that can be easily manipulated, while cryptocurrencies are decentralized and immune to cyberattacks. Cryptocurrencies also experience more volatility than banks, but this also means that they can generate higher returns. If you’re looking for an exciting and profitable investment option, cryptos are worth considering.

5) Cryptocurrencies are Fraud proof:

Cryptocurrencies are fraud-proof. This is because they are based on blockchain technology, a distributed ledger that records all the transactions that have ever taken place. This means that it is impossible to fake or forge transactions since everyone has access to the blockchain’s entire history. Banks, on the other hand, are vulnerable to fraud and embezzlement. For example, in April of 2017, Wells Fargo was fined $185 million for creating millions of fake accounts without customers’ knowledge or consent.

Cryptocurrencies are not vulnerable to fraud or theft since their transactions are recorded on a public ledger. This makes them a much safer investment option than banks.

6) Cryptocurrencies are more accessible than banks:

Cryptocurrencies are more accessible than banks. This is because they can be bought and sold online without a bank account. On the other hand, banks are not as accessible and require customers to go through a lengthy application process to open an account. Cryptocurrencies also allow investors to buy and sell them 24/hrs a day, seven days a week. This gives investors greater flexibility when it comes to trading them.

7) Cryptocurrencies have Instant Settlement:

Cryptocurrencies have an instant settlement. This means that once a transaction is initiated, it is immediately processed, and the funds are transferred to the recipient’s account. On the other hand, banks can take days or even weeks to process transactions and settle them. This can be very frustrating for investors who need to access their funds quickly. Cryptocurrencies offer faster and more convenient settlements than banks.

Now let’s look at some of the most popular cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. These coins are all based on blockchain technology and offer many advantages over banks.

Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency. It was created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto and is currently worth over $4000 per coin. Bitcoin is based on blockchain technology and offers instant settlement, security, and transparency.

Ethereum is another popular cryptocurrency that was launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Ethereum is based on smart contracts, self-executing contracts that automatically execute when certain conditions are met. This makes them more secure than traditional contracts and eliminates the need for third-party intermediaries.

Litecoin was created in 2011 by Charlie Lee as a faster and cheaper alternative to Bitcoin. Litecoin is also based on blockchain technology and offers instant settlement and security.

So, as you can see, cryptocurrencies are a better investment than banks. They offer greater security, transparency, and accessibility, as well as faster settlement times. If you’re looking for a more secure and profitable investment option, then cryptos are worth considering.

In conclusion, there are reasons why cryptocurrencies are a better investment than banks. They are decentralized, which gives investors freedom and control. They are more secure than banks and cannot be manipulated by the government or other powerful entities. For these reasons, we believe that cryptocurrencies are a better investment option than banks and encourage our readers to invest in them to get the top crypto exchange.

 Source: indiaeducationdiary.in, 2/02/22

Current Affairs- February 3, 2022

 

INDIA

– Amaravati remains the capital city of Andhra Pradesh: Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai

– INS Vagir, the fifth Scorpene-class made-in-India submarine, sails out for first sea trial

– Two new Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) in India — Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in U.P — announced by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– India and Nepal sign MoU for construction of a motorable Bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula (India) with Dharchula (Nepal)

WORLD

– China celebrates coming of Lunar new Year of the Tiger; end of Year of the Ox

– World Wetlands Day observed on Feb 2; theme: “Wetlands Action for People and Nature”

– Ecuador: Landslip kills at least 22 in capital Quito