#Dangling Gandhi

[khyatigautam]

Dangling Gandhi | Jayanthi Sankar | Book Review

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zero Degree Publishing (1 December 2019) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 152 pages “Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” – Neil Gaiman Dangling Gandhi by Jayanthi Sankar is a bouquet of 12 short stories spanning across time and…

[vallamai]

ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதுவது ஏன்? – ஜெயந்தி சங்கர் நேர்காணல் Zoom சந்திப்பு: அண்ணாகண்ணன் இனி நான் தமிழில் எழுதப் போவதில்லை. ஆங்கிலத்தில் மட்டுமே எழுதப் போகிறேன் என அறிவித்த சிங்கப்பூர் எழுத்தாளர் ஜெயந்தி சங்கரின் Dangling Gandhi என்ற நூல் 2019இல் வெளியானது.

[duuhrayliegh]

Fuck Misogyny

request: Bucky uses his newly gained knowledge of feminism to squash misogynistic interview questions. @ptrs-prkrs

warnings: language, creepy men, feminist!bucky

a/n: hey babes!! i hope this lived up to what you wanted! i couldn’t find the exact video you were referencing but i know what you’re talking about, so i drew inspiration from a few others.

p.s.: my requests and tag lists are open!!

xoxo ray

full m.list

The set up was simple. A long row of fold out tables covered in black fabric, microphones in front of each seat. Black papers were taped to the backs of the microphones with each team member's name. Bucky had told Evie that he wasn’t going to be able to work out with her today because of this so it better be worth it. The PR manager for the team, Amanda, had set everything up. Hired the mediator, notified the press, everything. Ever since they announced that they were going to be hosting an Avenger’s Q&A Panel, the internet quite literally broke.

Of course Bucky had been doing lives on TikTok with the group of five for the past couple of weeks now, so he was becoming quite comfortable in this format. He’s become increasingly active on his social media accounts, gaining more and more followers everyday. Granted, there were still haters, as Freddie called them, but Bucky ignored them for the most part.

Bucky was actually excited for this press meeting. He was finally gaining traction in the media and he knew how to correctly answer their questions. As Amanda had explained, there was going to be several questions from the mediator, tons from the press that they had invited, and then some fan questions as well. They apparently were going to be live streaming the conference on YouTube allowing them to read the comments and questions as it went on.

“Okay, everyone. You have two minutes until we start.” The team was in an empty board room in the Hilton hotel. Tony didn’t want everyone on the compound’s grass because he just had it fixed. Bucky scanned his fellow teammates. It was impossible for everyone to dress for the same event. Steve was wearing a shirt that was almost bursting at the seams with a pair of jeans and sneakers.

Tony was wearing a lovely Tom Ford, three piece, two-button, of course. Natasha and Wanda were wearing ripped jeans and casual tops. Vision was wearing a sweater vest and slacks, Bruce was clad in slacks as well a jacket covering his shoulders. Sam was wearing a button-up shirt and pressed jeans and he couldn’t find Clint anywhere, probably hiding in the rafters again.

Bucky had his iconic leather jacket donning his shoulders, a pair of slightly ripped jeans. His outfit was picked out by Cassie and Penny. “You need to look like you care but like you don’t at the same time.” Is what they said, the phrase made Bucky shake his head. His hair had finally started growing back and he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it.

He had gotten help from Evie before he left Cassie’s apartment. She had pulled back the top half, braiding back two sections into the bun at the back of his head. There were pieces dangling in front of his eyes, “to accentuate the facial features, trust me they’ll love it.” Was Evie’s explanation as they pushed him out of the apartment, so he wouldn’t be late.

“Alright guys! They’re calling your names!” The team filed out of the board room and into a large ballroom. Bottles of water were placed beside each placemat. Tony went out first, followed by Steve, then Bruce, Natasha, Clint, Wanda, Vision, Sam and ending with Bucky. They all settled into their seats, Bucky peeled his jacket off himself, placing it on the back of his chair. His black short sleeved shirt highlighted the gold inlays of his vibranium arm.

“Oh, I see we’re showing some muscle today huh, Buck?” Sam teased as Bucky took his seat next to him. Bucky groaned in realization, covering his microphone so it didn’t pick up what he planned to say.

“Good God, is this what it’s going to be like the entire panel? You just bugging the shit outta me?” They shared a laugh making the rest of the members look at the pair. The audience clapped as they were introduced and continued clapping as they assembled before them.

“Thank you. We would like to welcome everyone to the first, of hopefully many, Avenger’s Q&A Panel.” The female mediator, Stacey, read the assigned lines off the sheet on her podium. “We are going to start with questions we curated for the team and then open it up to the members of the press. After that we will turn to our live stream and answer some viewer questions.” The press rustled in their seats, pulling out pens and journals as well as their phones to record. “Okay, starting off with a question directed at the Avengers in general. How are you feeling about coming before the media in this type of format?” Glances were exchanged between the members, not sure on who was going to start.

“I feel that this is a great way for the general public to learn a little bit more about each individual team member.” Vision was the first to respond and Steve added on.

“Yeah, I definitely think that there’s a common misconception that we don’t want to engage with the media or the general public. We do, unfortunately due to the amount of research and training that we are doing behind the scenes, it just goes to the back of our minds.”

“Right. So Tony and Bruce, we all know that you two are geniuses. What are your feelings on expanding the teachings of STEM courses to not only high school, but as far back as elementary school or even kindergarten?” The pair thought about the question before answering.

“Well, I definitely think that offering STEM-based classes at a younger age would be beneficial, especially if we were to allow the kids to continue to switch what they want to focus on.” Bruce started. “It’s incredibly anxiety-inducing for teenagers to have to decide what they’re going to do with their life right before they are thrust into an unforgiving world.”

“Yeah, I’ll never understand why we do that to our future leaders, it’s honestly baffling. Why do American schools wait until high school to require our children to learn foriegn languages, they aren’t going to retain that information. The same applies for such comprehensive courses like STEM-based ones. If you wait until their brains are already developed so far, then they’ve already decided what they think is interesting and if they don’t find those courses interesting then they aren’t going to pay attention.” Tony finished Bruce's thought before nodding to each other smugly, obviously proud of themselves for answering the question so well.

“Interesting that you see it that way. This last one goes out to everyone and then we’ll open it up to the reporters. How do you deal with the stress and anxiety that comes with being an Avenger? Do you feel a certain amount of pressure to always do the right thing?” Stacey shuffled her papers, tapping them twice on the podium.

“We all have our own routines and ways that we decompress after missions so that really just depends on the person. Like I think that Bruce listens to opera music, and Wanda mediatates, Tony tinkers. It depends on the person.” Natasha answered concisely, making Bucky nod his head. He could recall all of those things to be true.

“Oh definitely, and it doesn’t hurt that we have a former VA Trauma Counselor on board to help us work through the harder stuff.” Steve added a gesture of his head to Sam.

“Speaking of that Sam, just a quick question before we open it up. How difficult was it for you to transition from regular Air Force missions to Avenger level missions?” Sam made a face at Stacey before answering.

“Um, I mean, it’s not that different. You’re always fighting one of the Big Three-- aliens, androids, or wizards, no matter what department you’re working with. The only transition I had to deal with was the Tony Stark-erized suits. Now that I think of it, Tony, can we make it tighter?” Sam quipped making the room laugh with ease.

“Alright, well now we’re going to open it up to the reporters. Starting with this gentleman in the front and then if we could also give a microphone to someone on that side of the room. Okay, thank you.” The first reporter stood up, holding the microphone in one hand and his phone in the other.

“Hello. John from Huffington Post. The Avengers inspire almost everyone around the world, so we would like to know who inspires you? Who do you look up to in terms of your idols?” He sat back down as the team contemplated their answers.

“Gandhi.” Bruce said, Tony snapped his fingers and pointed at him then added. “Pepper, she’s so amazing.” Steve looked down to Bucky, who shrugged.

“I would probably have to say that my sister, Sarah, inspires me. She raised her two sons, Cas and AJ, by herself after the Blip and was able to keep the family business going.” Sam’s answer made Bucky smile. Sam had brought him to their house in Delacroix, he remembered waking up to Cas and AJ playing in the kitchen, happy giggles filtering through reminding him of his time in Wakanda. By the time that Bucky had refocused on the conversation they had moved on without his answer. Several different questions went by, all directed to the team at large, until Chad.

“Hi, I’m Chad for the Daily Mail. My question is for Wanda and Natasha.” The pair of women perked up, excited to have a specific question. “Do you find that your equipment hinders you in doing your job as well as your male counterparts?” Stunned expressions settled over the womens faces, then annoyance. Bucky’s brows shot up to his hairline, appalled that someone had the balls to ask that. Wanda and Natasha handled the question with grace and much more restraint than Bucky would have.

“Well for me, I am able to move things with my mind so I can throw things randomly at people even if I’m not in the room. I’ve been very fortunate to work with Natasha who has Widow training, so my hand to hand combat is improving immensely. And being able to work with Princess Shuri in Wakanda to learn how to fully control my powers. It’s an ever evolving process that I’m always excited to take on.” Bucky nodded and turned his attention to Natasha.

“My favorite thing is training with either Steve or Bucky because they push me to do my best. We all have our specialties here and it’s nice to learn new skills or improve old ones with people who support you.” Natasha sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, throwing daggers with her eyes at Chad in the audience, waiting for him to say something else. Chad stood again, yelling so he could be heard over the crowd’s commotion.

“That’s great, ladies, but forgive me, you didn’t answer the question I asked.” Bucky pushed forward in his seat, leaning into his microphone.

“I’m sorry, I think I misunderstood what you asked them then. I would like for you to clarify what you mean by equipment.” Chad balked, not expecting a male’s voice to respond.

“You know what’s implied by equipment, sir.” Bucky’s jaw clenched at the man.

“Did you just ask two of the most capable women that I’ve ever known, if their equipment, which I’m assuming you’re referring their breasts, made it to where they couldn’t do their job as good as the rest of their male counterparts. Just to be clear, that’s what you’re asking?” Chad stuttered as he answered yes.

“Right, well first off that’s disgusting. Just a bit of background for you, Wanda is the strongest Avenger here, plain and simple. As for Natasha, she’s the smartest woman I’ve ever met and she can take down every single male here.” Bucky took a breath before continuing. “So, what I think you really want to know is how they encourage their teammates to keep up with them.” He dropped his head to look at the two women down the line.

“Don’t worry Chad, I’ll ask them the right question, since you can’t quite seem to understand how to respect women.” The team was holding back snickers at Chad’s reaction. “Wanda, Natasha. Chad wants to know how the hell you push your male teammates to be just as good as you are. What are your strategies to keep us on our toes while training?” Claps sounded from the women press members and Bucky awaited the pair's response. The next press member stood and asked a question.

“Hi, I’m Chloe from Vanity Fair. This question goes to everyone on the panel.” Bucky settled in for another question that didn’t matter. “How do you continue to be aware of things happening in our society today? Do you keep up-to-date through new channels, or social media?” The answers were rather generic from the team, all of them rather uncomfortable from the tension that Bucky and Chad had created. Stacey interrupted after Chloe’s question.

“Okay, we’re going to open it up to viewer questions from our live stream.” An iPad was placed on the podium in front of Stacey and her eyebrows rose. “Okay, there’s quite a variety here. Here’s one for Steve and Bucky.” Bucky perked up, nervous to answer because his adrenaline had worn off.

“One viewer asks, ‘Steve and Bucky, being from the 40’s, women were treated like second thoughts and were talked about like objects. Now, you’re in the 21st century, not much has changed. What have you been doing to support feminist causes?’”

“I just want to say that everyone should be answering this. It’s true that during the 40’s women were not treated the right way, and they still aren’t today. An 18 year old can’t walk down the street at nine o’clock at night without being catcalled. I am a proud feminist, as everyone should be. I think that as a team we are doing pretty well in that department. As far as what I’m doing to support feminist causes, I’m doing as much as I can. I actually recently enrolled in online classes to expand my knowledge on many subjects, seeing as how I am from the 40’s and all.” The crowd laughed along with Bucky.

“Almost all of my classes have to do with either psychology or gender studies, it’s a fascinatingly haunting subject. One book that I’m reading right now was suggested to me by my friend Cassie, it’s called Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot. The author doesn’t let up and I’m only halfway through it. Look, I’m still educating myself, but I’m a strong believer in doing what is right for everyone, so I’m trying. Thankfully I have a few people keeping me in check as far as my actions.” Bucky thought his response was well thought out for being an on the fly question. He was new to the concept of feminism but that didn’t change the fact that it made total sense.

“I’m with Bucky on this. The 40’s were a rough time. I remember the first time I met Peggy Carter, I was astonished that a woman could be in such a powerful position. One of the first things she did after I met her was punch out someone who made a sexual comment to her. I’ve been supporting feminist causes ever since working with Peggy.” Steve added, a sad smile spreading on his face reminiscing Peggy.

“This one says, ‘As a total fan of all of you, I love seeing what you post on your social media accounts. When are the rest of the Avengers going to follow Bucky’s lead and download TikTok?’” Bucky’s head flew back into a full body laugh. Tony shifted forward in his seat, pointing his finger at the laughing man down the table.

“I would just like to say he didn’t get that approved before doing it. However, it did go over really well, so we’ll consider it.” Wanda’s mouth rolled inwards, stifling her laughter.

“We’ll consider it, you’re such an old man. Most of us have TikTok already, we just don’t make content on it like Barnes over here.” Sam said, tossing his head in Bucky’s direction.

“I’ve got like three videos on there!” Bucky and Sam began bantering back and forth.

“Yeah and one of them is dancing to a Cardi B song! Who even showed you that? I thought you only like 40’s music?” Bucky made a face at the man.

“Uh, just because I didn’t like your suggestions for music doesn’t mean I don’t have taste. My Spotify playlist is filling out quite nicely, Wilson.” Bucky and Sam didn’t quit fighting from then on, just little jabs at each other under the table.

“Here’s a good one,” Stacey had a smile on her face, “Are you allies of the LGBTQ+ community?” Bucky responded quickly with no hesitation.

“Yes, many of my friends are members of the Alphabet Mafia. Why wouldn’t we be?” Wanda nodded at his question, laughing at his use of the phrase Alphabet Mafia.

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I’m dating a fucking android, I’d be pretty hypocrictal if I wasn’t an ally. Nat, Clint what about you?” Clint bobbed his head in response.

“Oh yeah. We all are, even the Star Spangled Man with a Plan.” Steve’s shoulders shook with laughter at Clint’s nickname for him. The team broke out into laughter, joining Steve. Stacey cleared her throat, commanding the attention of the room again.

“Alright, everybody! That’s it for today.” She glanced down at her papers. “We would like to thank everyone for coming out today and joining the Avengers Q&A Panel. At this time we are unaware, if we will be conducting another one of these, but the odds look good based on the response.” The team filed out of the ballroom and into the empty boardroom. Bucky was the last to get into the room and he was approached by Natasha and Wanda immediately. Wanda wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug.

“That was so sick, Bucky!” She stepped back and Natasha offered him a side hug as well. “Where’d you learn all that? And since when are you taking online classes?”

“That guy was being an asshole, he needed to be put in his place. I hope you guys didn’t feel like I overstepped or anything.” Bucky hung his arm over Wanda’s shoulder, leaning his weight on her. “And I started about two months ago. They’re going really well, I’m learning a lot and enjoying it surprisingly. It’s a good thing to do in my free time since I’m not always on missions.”

“I’m proud of you James, that was impressive.” Natasha complimented him, she wasn’t usually a woman of many words so that was a lot. Bucky smiled at her, nodding his head. His phone began buzzing in his back pocket, so he excused himself from their conversation. His screen displayed one of Evie’s senior pictures, signalling that she was calling him. He pushed the green button and brought the phone to his ear to answer her call.

“Hello?” She ignored his greeting with a squeal.

“Check your Twitter! Bucky, you’re trending! Here I’m putting you on speaker, we’re all here Buck!” Shuffling noises were heard through the speaker as Evie began reading the tweets to Bucky. Laughs from Cassie, Freddie and Penny could be heard behind Evie’s voice.

“Oh my gosh Eve! Just let the man get back to what he was doing!” Freddie yelled at an excited Evie, who retaliated with a scoff.

“Okay, okay! Just remember we have a movie night tomorrow! It’s Penny’s turn to pick so we don’t know what to expect.” Evie mumbled the last part into her phone speaker. Bucky heard the impact of a pillow hit Evie, causing her to grunt in pain. “Okay! We’ll talk to you later, Buck! See you soon!” She hung up the phone before he could get a word in edgewise. Bucky shook his head as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. Amanda approached Bucky asking to speak with him privately.

“So we’re getting a flood of interview requests from networks and papers. We would like to start running with this. We’ll have to go over everything with our PR guy, Ryan, but it should work out. As long as you’re comfortable with all of this.” Bucky smiled and nodded, following after Amanda as she continued explaining what would happen going forward.

He was nervous, of course, but he could tell these nerves were coming from a place of excitement instead of fear, which was a new sensation for the man. It wasn’t unwelcome, it was the same as when he first started hanging out with Cassie, Penny, Freddie and Evie. It was the same when he went on his first mission with the team. Bucky was ready to tackle this next adventure, whatever it would entail.

[survivetoread]

Read With STR: शपथ Part 1

Okay! As mentioned in my previous astrally projected message, we are reading मेघ [megh], a collection of short stories by Ranjit Desai, for this season of Read With STR.

The first story in the collection is titled शपथ [śapath], which means "oath" or "promise".

Let's go!

घाटमाथा [ghāṭmāthā] - crest or ridge of a mountain

कैक [kaik] - many a one

-वजा [vazā] - "-like"

गुरव [gurav] - a priestly caste

अर्चा [arcā] - worship

ग��ऱ्हाणे [gā'rhāṇe] - complaint, grievance

जाळपोळ [zāḷpoḷ] - arson, rioting

हुल्लडबाजी [hullaḍbājī] - rowdiness

पळी [paḷī] - ladle, dipper

फुलपात्र [fulpātra] - a small, flower-shaped vessel

पंचा [paṅcā] - a type of small dhoti

गंध [gaṅdha] - a pigment applied to the forehead

धमक [dhamak] - intensifier for the colour yellow

आंबराई [āṅbarāī] - mango grove

अनवाणी [anvāṇī] - barefoot

कोतारा [kotārā] - intensifier for म्हातारा [mhātārā] (old person)

घेरा [gherā] - hair surrounding the origin of a śikhā

रूळणे [rūḷṇe] - dangling

सावकार [sāvkār] - moneylender

उत्तरपूजा [uttarpūjā] - a closing puja for a temporarily-installed deity

धांदल उडणे [dhāṅdal uḍṇe] - to be in a hurry, to scurry about

जानवे [jānve] - a sacred thread worn around the body

डोळे किलकिले करणे [ḍoḷe kilkile karṇe] - to squint

घोगर्‍या आवाजात [ghog'ryā āvāzāt] - in a loud voice

खुंटी [khuṅṭī] - a small bolt or stake

घोंगडे [ghoṅgaḍe] - a blanket

कळस [kaḷas] - dome or topmost point of a shrine or statue

Words I did not figure out:

गईत [gaīt] - perhaps this means 'in the vicinity of'?

Thoughts:

This story is so dense with vocabulary, especially religious vocabulary, that I only got a couple of pages in before having to break this post.

So far, not much has happened, but we are following a very old priest who looks after the temple estate of a deity called Matekar. The old priest, Tatya, lost his ancestral home in a riot following the assassination of M. K. Gandhi. Now, he finds that the moneylender at whose house he was supposed to conduct a puja, has been stolen from.

[stonecoldjerseyfox]

Jersey on my mind (part 16)

“You’re safe.”

Mila looks up from the half empty, half full bottle of Stolichnaya and is met by Rick, standing in the door of the bedroom. He’s all sweaty and stained with blood, but seemingly unharmed. Maybe a bit bruised but-

“Erhm... yeah.” Mila says, looking at him in disbelief. “You're back.” 

“I am.” Rick replies and sighs.

“Alone?”

“Michonne’s back too.”

Rick walks up to the bed, where Mila has barricaded herself since she left the battle scene outside. 

Her ‘maybe planned’ torture of the Wolf (it was because of him Mila had barely been able to dress herself for several days) was interrupted by Morgan, who dragged him away to the makeshift prison cell. He then forbade Mila to go near him, to which Mila gave Morgan a haywire smile, saying it wasn’t something she could promise. Then she returned to the house... well, after she had stopped to vomit into a beautiful rose bush around the corner. On shaking legs she ran up the stairs to the bedroom, where she found Juri, hiding underneath the covers in the bed with his walkman. At the sight of her, he burst into a sunny smile and wrapped his arms around Milas neck; squeezed all the anger, all the crazy, out of her. Mila held him close, pressed his little body against her chest and inhaled the scent of his soft hair, whispering to him what a good boy he was, how brave he was when he threw the bottle out the window.

“You are my brave, brave Solnishko.” 

Mila caressed him across his small face with the fingertips. Juri imitated, pulled his soft little fingers over her face, then buried them in her hair, pulled her close and gave her a kiss on the nose. She fell down next to Juri on the bed, just laid there, looking at him. Half an hour later, Juri was asleep and Mila had opened a bottle of vodka. 

Rick sits down on the bedside. He looks tired.  

“What happened?” she asks monotonously. “What went wrong?”

“They got out of the quarry.” Rick meets her gaze. “All of ‘em.” he sighs. “How’s the-” he nods towards her stomach.

Mila lifts the half empty bottle, to answer his question. Her goal is to drink herself to apathy, to the point where she won’t feel anything at all, neither her aching abdomen or emotions. It’s been too long since her last booze-bonanza. Half a bottle doesn’t affect her that much, a whole bottle is manageable but does the trick. Two bottles are quite a lot, definitely causes her to sway and spontaneously dance.  

She reaches Rick the bottle. It looks like he needs it. He takes it, removes the lid and takes a mouthful of the clear liquid and coughs, before giving it back to her.

“I talked to Morgan. And Carol. They said you did a hell of a job.”

“What did Morgan say?” Mila scoffs. 

“That you’re crazy.”

“Could’ve been worse.” Mila raises her eyebrows and takes a mouthful of vodka. “On the other hand, Gandhi’s right though. I am crazy.” 

“Seems like crazy saved a lot of lives.”

“Crazy’s not allowed to come out that often.” Once again Mila meets Rick's gaze. “You didn’t answer my question. Where are the others?”

“Michonne’s back too, and Heath and Scott.” 

“That’s not all of you.”

“We lost some.” Rick says, knows what she is referring to, or whom. “He’s with Abraham and Sasha.” he continues. “He’ll be alright.” Rick takes her hand, squeezes it. “Thanks.”

Mila looks at her hand.

“For what?”

“You held the stands here. Made sure people were safe. Protected them.” Rick lets go of her hand and takes the vodka bottle, takes a new sip. “I’m scared too. But I need you now. There’s about a hundred walkers on the other side of that wall.” he points towards the window. “Daryl’s not here. Glenn’s gone. People died. Morale’s low and the walls are weak. I need you to help me fix this. To keep this place safe.”

“I just-” Mila says. ”I just need to-” she pauses. “I don’t know what I need. Besides getting batshit drunk.” 

She takes back the bottle from Rick and drinks. When in doubt, she needs more vodka. That should be a Russian proverb, if anything, she thinks. What she really needs, or wants, besides alcohol, she can’t have in this life.  

That's when she sees the ring on Rick's ring finger. A wedding band. Huh, she hasn’t noticed it before.

“You’re married?”  

Rick looks down on his bloodstained, bruised hand.

“Was. Or-” Rick pauses, strokes the wedding band. “She died.”

Mila pulls out her necklace from inside her shirt and holds out for him to see. Next to the small, dainty gold heart she got from her mother at her twelfth birthday, a narrow gold ring with three small stones, dangles on the gold chain. 

“He died- turned, a few months ago.” Mila looks at the three diamonds, next to each other. On the inside, it says ‘Can’t start a fire without a spark’. It must’ve been hard for Jim, the devoted country music fan, to pick a Bruce Springsteen engraving instead of some cheesy country love song. “I killed him.”

”Juri’s father?”

”I don’t even know who that is. That’s another, fucked up story.” Mila looks down and takes a bountiful sip of vodka. Yeah, that really is a story for another time, advantageously if every person attending at that moment is heavily drunk. ”We had it all figured out. Jim was going to adopt Juri, we were going to get married. We were attacked in Louisville, Kentucky, on our way to his parents in Oklahoma. He didn’t tell me he was bitten. Two days later he turned. At a motel in Missouri.” she takes another sip. ”I hid Juri in a closet. I thought I was going to die. Jim was big, tall, all muscles. But I killed him. Buried him. Left him in a shallow grave behind the motel.” Mila looks at Rick. “You asked me if I’d killed anyone, do you remember? Alive or dead. I killed Jim. Whatever he was, dead or alive or something in between, I killed him. I did that. And now I have to live with that for the rest of my life. Morgan’s wrong. All life isn’t precious. That bastard down in that cell, he ain’t precious. But Jim’s was. And he’s dead.” 

“That’s called surviving.” 

“No, that’s called unfair.” Mila looks at Juri, lying next to her on his back with the headphones on. She pats him gently on the foot. “He’s the reason why I went out there today, partially. Or, more like, the reason I went out there, and came back. I came back to him.”

Rick takes her hand again. 

“You’re brave. And you care about people. You showed it today if anything.” Rick declares. “You saved people, protected them. Carl and Judith included. You’re part of this group. Both of you. People need other people to stay sane, to stay alive.” 

Something runs down her cheek. A tear. Oh for christ sake. Half a bottle of vodka doesn’t stop tears, she needs at least a whole bottle for that. To become completely numb, emotionally. Rick puts his arm around her shoulder and pulls her closer. It’s a friendly hug, it reminds Mila of her foster brothers, Adam and Peter Galka. A brotherly, kind embrace. They sit like that for a while, next to each other, sharing the vodka.

“He asked about you.” Rick says after a moment's silence. “Daryl. In his own way. Wanted me to make sure you were safe.” 

“I’m feeling brilliant.” Mila exclaims confidently. That might also be because of the vodka, but she doesn’t tell. Truthfully, she’s exhausted. “Brilliant...”

“Yeah.” Rick nods. “Can’t say the same about the guy in the cell. What did you do to him?”

[thecreaturecodex]

Qlippoth, Sibriex

Artist unknown, accessed at dnd-wiki here

[Commissioned by @justicegundam82. The sibriex was a 3.5 monster from Fiendish Codex 1, but has recently seen a 5e conversion with the release of Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. My version draws some inspiration from both of these. The artist went by the internet alias “Gandhi” back in the day, and had a great gallery full of monster art. Their site is now lost, but some of the D&D pieces, like this one and his aminzu, have escaped total oblivion.]

Qlippoth, Sibriex This grotesque creature looks something like a balloon made of flesh, a swollen head dripping bile and black ooze. Its teeth are a tangle of crooked spikes, and small, delicate arms grow where its ears should be. Greasy tubes like intestines dangle from its undercarriage. It bobs as if on the wind, holding itself in place with disturbingly animate chains.

Sibriexes are hideous creatures that revel in the alteration of flesh and embody the qlippoth disdain for stable forms. They are master fleshwarpers, and claim that their lore was stolen millennia ago by the demons. They are somewhat less hostile towards demons than other qlippoth, although this means that they control these monsters with mind-influencing magic and strip them for parts, rather than immediately killing them as other qlippoth do.

A sibriex will often position itself in a position of servitude towards a mortal or other fiend, acting to provide its clients with physical alterations with no strings attached. As its trust grows, it slowly begins to warp the mind of its clients as well, and those clients who do not willingly surrender themselves totally to the sibriex are eventually forced to as the qlippoth tires of the game. They surround themselves with aberrant minions and fawning apprentices, and the latter frequently end up as the former in time.

In combat, a sibriex typically stays mobile, using its spells and sprays of mutagenic bile to wear opponents down. If enemies prove resistant to acid or mind-influencing spells, they will resort to physical combat. Their chains, animated by telekinetic energy, serve multiple purposes. It can lash out with them as weapons, use them to crawl across surfaces, or anchor them in place to secure themselves.

A sibriex is about eight feet in diameter, but exceptionally light for its size, as it flies with the aid of buoyant gases.

Sibriex  CR 15 XP 51,200 CE Large outsider (chaos, evil, qlippoth) Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +25, true seeing Aura decay (10 ft., Fort DC 24) Defense AC 30, touch 11, flat-footed 30 (-1 size, -3 Dex, +5 deflection, +19 natural) hp 217 (15d10+135) Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +18 DR 15/lawful; Immune cold, mind-influencing effects, poison; Resist acid 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 26 Defensive Abilities anchor; Weakness animate chains Offense Speed 10 ft., climb 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (perfect) Melee bite +21 (2d6+7 plus 2d6 acid), 4 chains +21 (1d8+7) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with chains) Special Attacks horrific appearance, spew bile Spell-like Abilities CL 15th, concentration +22 (+26 casting defensively) Constant—shield of faith, true seeing At will—charm monster (DC 21), greater command (DC 22), greater dispel magic, hold monster (DC 22), major creation, sending, telekinesis (DC 22) 3/day—feeblemind (DC 22), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. objects only) 1/day—polymorph any object (DC 25) Statistics Str 24, Dex 5, Con 27, Int 25, Wis 24, Cha 24 Base Atk +15; CMB +23; CMD 35 Feats Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Fleshwarper (B), Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Improved Vital Strike, Iron Will, Toughness, Vital Strike Skills Bluff +25, Climb +15, Craft (alchemy) +25, Diplomacy +, Fly +21, Heal +25, Intimidate +25, Linguistics +22, Knowledge (arcana) +25, Knowledge (planes) +25, Perception +25, Sense Motive +25, Spellcraft +22, Use Magic Device +22 Languages Abyssal, Protean, 15 others SQ master fleshwarper Ecology Environment any land or underground (Abyss) Organization solitary or thralldom (1 plus 2-12 aberrations) Treasure double standard Special Abilities Anchor (Ex) As a move action, a sibriex can anchor itself to a solid surface using its four chains. When it does so, it can no longer move or make chain attacks, but it gains a +10 racial bonus to its CMD against bull rush, overrun, or any other form of combat maneuver that would move it from its square. It may release itself as a move action. Animate Chains (Su) A sibriex’s chains are animated by telekinetic force, and do not function in an antimagic zone. They can be sundered as if they were manufactured weapons—each chain has hardness 10 and 30 hp. Aura of Decay (Su) All living creatures within 10 feet of a sibriex must succeed a DC 24 Fortitude save each round or take 2d6 points of typeless damage. Qlippoths are immune to this effect. A sibriex can deactivate or activate this aura as a swift action on its turn. Horrific Appearance (Su) Creatures that succumb to a sibriex’s horrific appearance begin to fantasize about allowing themselves to be warped and transformed. A creature that fails its save takes 1d6 points of Charisma drain, and suffers a -4 penalty to all saving throws against mind-influencing effects while this Charisma drain persists. The save DC is Charisma based. Master Fleshwarper (Su) Three times per day, a sibriex can create any fleshcraft graft as a full round action. It still must spend an hour to surgically graft it to another creature, as normal. Spew Bile (Su) As a standard action once every 1d4 rounds, a sibriex can spew bile in a 60 foot line. All creatures in the line must succeed a DC 25 Reflex save or take 12d6 acid damage. Any creature that takes damage from this acid must succeed a DC 25 Fortitude save or be affected by a warpwave. The save DC is Constitution based.

[ayushkejriwal1]

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[indianstylediaries-blog]

Pragya Jaiswal in Astha Narang lehenga Pragya Jaiswal Outfit: Blue sequin embroidered lehenga from Astha Narang SHOP HERE Accessories: Dangle earrings from Aaharya jewellery Makeup: Smudged eye liner with peachy nude lip Hair: Side swept loose wavy hair Stylist: Anita Gandhi and Rochelle D'sa

[olgavita777]

Carrots 🥕 are still dangling in front of you. How many more lies will it take before you had enough?! “Two weeks”, “just a mask”, “just a test”, “just a jab”... and the freedom we stole will be given back to you. As long as you obey they will move the goal 🥅 post further and further into 1984. It is endless unless we end it Gandhi style, peaceful civil disobedience and insisting on human dignity for all. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUPRlTlv9h/?utm_medium=tumblr

[the-couch-review]

Section 375(2019)- Review

Section 375 is a courtroom drama based on, as its name suggests, the section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. The film focuses on a well-known film director Rohan Khurana (Rahul Bhat) who comes to the infamous center stage when one of his subordinates Anjali Dangle (Meera Chopra), an assistant costume designer for his movies, accuses him of rape. Dejected and felling like a victim himself Khurana sees his reputation tarnished leading to a downfall in his personal & professional life while he is arrested and in jail. While in the court of public opinion he is already convicted, senior criminal barrister Tarun Saluja (Akshaye Khanna) still accepts to be his lawyer. Though his task won’t be easy with Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadda), once his trainee, now the prosecutor and defence barrister of the claimed victim. The film takes us through the events of this case in and out of the courtroom with both counsellors trying their best to prove their client’s innocence.

In India the court has not always been seen as the place anyone gets justice so there have been very few films in the genre. These have only been successful mostly because they were inspired by specific cases, talking of Rustom & Jolly LLB’s first instalment. Without a support of a critical story of real life, this film’s writers have a done a great job fictionalizing the story with vey intricate detail and effort, which can compel anyone to believe that it is based on a specific true story. Khanna does a commendable job portraying the defending lawyer. Chopra & Bhat also give convincing performances of the accuser and the accused. Ajay Bahl doesn’t make any overt mistakes in his directing that can trouble the movie. Lastly, the two lawyers’ protégé-master relationship gives a good dynamic to the characters and plays out very well on screen.

However, Chadda does not live up to expectation and nowhere near the performance as given by her counterpart. The movie obviously tries to force the viewer to take a side, not maintaining a neutrality, maybe for better viewer experience but that might trouble a few viewers. There is also a series of scenes depicting the different events that may have been possible, not every scenario needed to be in as much detail as shown, but the primary one.

The film is created at a time when there is a good stir about the topic across the globe which keeps the viewer interested in the film having the relevance showing the sign of the times. It is neither a stellar movie nor having a well touted star cast but would still come in the checklist of better movies created in the genre.  

Acting- 8.5

Casting- 8

Cinematography- 8

Dialogue- 7

Directing- 8

Editing & Effects- 7

Sound & Music- 8

Story- 9

Storytelling- 8.5

Rating- 8.5

Available on: Amazon Prime

Also Read On: Medium—Vocal—Substack

http://www.thecouchreview-tcr.com

[igrms]

‘सप्ताह का प्रादर्श’ – ‘OBJECT OF THE WEEK (6th to 12th July, 2020) Due to spread of COVID-19 pandemic the museums throughout the world are closed but identifying different innovative ways to remain connected to their visitors. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind) has also taken up many new initiatives to face the challenges posed by this pandemic. In one such step it is coming up with a new series entitled ‘Object of the Week’ to showcase its collection from all over India. Initially this series will focus on the masterpieces from its collection which are considered as unique for their contribution to the cultural history of a particular ethnic group or area. These masterpieces belong to the “AA” & “A” category. There are 64 objects in these categories. Ranimala is an ornament of pride, dignity, and social status of a woman among the Konyak Nagas. It literally means a necklace of the queen. Traditionally, a heavy ornament of this kind marks the hierarchical social system of the Konyak Naga tribe. The Chief's (Ang) wife used to wear beaded jewellery in great profusion, richly ornamented with brass dangles, jingles, bells, and sea-shells. The necklace comprises of old ceramic and glass-beads, known as Wangsha. Different shapes of blue, black and white beads are stranded in five threads with three fin-like pendants. It also has a broad strap of small red, blue, and black-beads with jingles and bells hung to it. Pendants of this kind are very much familiar among the Konyak warriors who wear it as chest ornament signifying their headhunting status. Dotted motifs on the pendant's surface depict their tattoo marks while the curve-like figure represents the tusks of wild boar. They adorn this during their social functions, festivals, and marriage celebrations. This alluring necklace loaded with valuable ornaments glorifies the status of a chieftain's wife and projects the social hierarchy and dignity maintained in the Naga society. Acc. No.- 98.860 Local Name - RANIMALA, Necklace of the Naga Chief's wife Tribe/Community-Konyak Naga Locality -Dimapur, Nagaland Measurement -Length – 58.5 cm., Max. Breadth of the middle pendant – 7 c https://www.instagram.com/p/CCTo6UFjdik/?igshid=1qy0o5fqz3hhg

[machtundliebe]

A Modern Pandemic

The first documented case of leprosy in Hawaii occurred in 1848. Its rapid spread and lack of cure caused mass anxiety over the disease that led the European Colonizers of Hawaii to resort to extreme measures.

Those measures were the Kalaupapa Leprosy Colony as shown above. People who had contracted Hansen’s Disease( the proper name for Leprosy) were isolated from their own families and sent to live here under inhumane conditions. 

Leprosy for Europeans invoked emotions of anxiety, fear, revulsion, sin and foulness. However, to the Hawaiians the true fear lay not with the disease but with the social isolation it brought with it. Which is why the local name for Leprosy is Mai hookaawale, which means separation sickness. And. the location where they were isolated became known as Lahui I hoehaeha, meaning nation of agony.

“Leprosy victims, arriving by ship, were sometimes told to jump overboard and swim for their lives. Occasionally a strong rope was run from the anchored ship to the shore, and they pulled themselves painfully through the high, salty waves, with legs and feet dangling below like bait on a fishing line.The ship’s crew would then throw into the water whatever supplies had been sent, relying on currents to carry them ashore or the exiles swimming to retrieve them.”

  -http://visitmolokai.com/wp/kalaupapa-peninsula/

“The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members.” - Gandhi

The Hawaiian colony deeply mistreated those who we would call the weakest and most vulnerable of the society. When children are being removed from parents and the mere act of human contact becomes something rare what else remains for a person to stay sane. Being unable to even touch ones child and never seeing your own kin must be the most excruciating punishment one could  have been given for simply contracting a disease.

This here is an image of the visitors place for the colony. Since human touch was forbidden this was the closest the victims ever got to seeing their loved ones again. That is assuming they were able to get to this isolated location in the first place and assuming they were not shunned by their families for contracting the disease.

Arterra Picture Library/Alamy

This is one of the few pictures remaining before the colony was closed down. Over its near decade long operation the colony had over 8000 exiled victims on it. It likely is one of history’s most horrific medical sequesters and a definite low-point in human history.

WORK CITED

https://withoutapath.com/empty-venice-italy-tourism-photography/

http://visitmolokai.com/wp/kalaupapa-peninsula/

[willpowerbutch]

The Death of the Heterosexual in Hollywood

By Willpower Butch

The cinema, when it stands in contrast to the fine arts of classical ages, is still ‘young.’  Though it has born witness to luminaries the likes of which the world may never see again -- French perverts, documentarians, and unforgettable screen legends such as Charles Bronson and Cameron Mitchell – in another sense, it is fair to say that the discipline has not yet found its identity. It is immature, uncertain of how it should live and what it should be, and in its brief life, it has often fallen to dark forces. In the ‘30s, the communists mutilated it with montage; in the ‘60s and ‘70s, it was corrupted by sodomites; and now it faces a new and untold onslaught from genital wizards. If, for all its glamor, the cinema has one sin, it is exposing the world’s children to graphic images of these flea market ladies and false-mustachioed villains who compose the Phallic Angst Corps.

What has always united film internationally, one picture to another – drama to comedy, eastern to western, Hollywood assembly-line epics to the budgetless circle-jerk tapes they show at Cannes -- is the enduring triumph of the heterosexual penis against his nemesis, the pansified wrist. It was this self-same heterosexual advantage which predestined the creation of narrative cinema upon him, for the dorothies could not hold a camera on their mere flutes of bones, leaving them fit only to promenade in front of the lens, bitching about Gone with the Wind and slicking each other in canola oil. And yet it was the fairies who charmed the masses with their fanged smiles and insinuating glances, with their girlish lisps and cold jealousy. If the cinema was ever to rise above the low-dangling sensibilities of these book shop radicals, to surpass even the thrill of midnight cocaine odysseys in Kerala, it needed a star who shined so brightly that the Homosexual would think it was always morning and retreat to his cave, unable to transform into an octopus by the light of the manly man’s Sun. This light was ours once – the entire world’s – but has vanished far into the west, leaving behind it only a stream of deep, sorrowful red as the Gay Transgender ascends over the dead body of Daniel Day-Lewis.

The artist, the legend, found his start in the film industry on the set of an unassuming picture called Gandhi: Holy F*ck. He made his mark as the young lieutenant who runs a stripper bar in Bombay – and sometimes performs. His star continued to rise with roles such as Johnny in the experimental documentary, My Beautiful Launderette, which exposed London’s bisexual underworld, and Christy Brown in the bio-picture My Left Foot, a film that explores foot fetishes and co-stars Quentin Tarantino. But international recognition came in 2002 when he led the ensemble cast of Martin Scorsese’s Gays of New York, a fame that he followed up with the string of roles that he is most known for, opposite his long-time collaborator, Paul Dano. Responding to a request from Manly Men! Magazine, Dano consented to speak with us about the loss of this great master of the craft.

On account of Paragon Shag’s ongoing investigation into Donald Trump’s ties to his wife, it fell to me to interview Day-Lewis’ pitiable muse. Having never encountered Paul “Hip Action” Dano in the flesh before, I was struck foremost by his cleft chin, which looks like his vagina, and which was insufficient to carry the weight of his sad mouth; this resulted in his frequent collapse into sexual cat-crawling around the company gymnasium. Having just returned from Cannes, where he was promoting his new K-Pop group, Okra, he greeted me in ethnic style. “Konnichiwa, big boy,” he groaned, sliding his horn-rimmed sunglasses to the end of his odiously lewd nose. He was wearing bright purple eye shadow. I opened the interview with a question about The Ballad of Jack and Royce, Dano’s first collaboration with his acting daddy. How had his working relationship with Day-Lewis come about? When and where had they met?

Dano laughed at the memory. “I was one of the women he attacked while he was training for Gays of New York. I’ll never forget it. I was in the market looking for just the biggest radish I could find, and suddenly there was Daniel, punching baskets of produce to the ground and shooting my girlfriends with a water pistol. They tried to duck out of the way, but I motioned to him and said, ‘If you’re going to spray in my face, you should use a larger canon than that, White Chocolate.’ That was how our friendship began.” Dano, who was wearing lace-up leather skinny pants, fidgeted with the ties above his ankle absent-mindedly. “The next thing I knew, he flew me out to talk to Rebecca [Miller], and she cast me as Baby Back-Ribbed on the spot.”

Dano continued to work at her laces as I wondered, at length, why the collaboration had lasted as long as it did. It was clear to me from our conversation that Dano, quite contrary to my expectations, was not a monster intent on poisoning the film medium with high-minded obfuscations or sexual vice, but merely an evil sorceress buffeted about on the sweaty winds of her mentor.

“I didn’t have many great ambitions then,” agreed Dano, stroking her sensual, clean-shaven legs. “I don’t know when I stopped being happy with door knobs and some Crisco, but I think it was around the time that Daniel thrashed me with his arrest warrant from The Last of the Coke and then made me sit on his rock collection.” She referred, of course, to the haunting scene in There Will Be Blood where Dano’s character, Ellie, is punished for not being able to fit her mouth around the head of Day-Lewis’ BAFTA. “That’s when everything changed for me,” she went on. “I haven’t been able to unfurrow my eyebrows since.”

By interviewing Dano for this tribute, am I ascribing her too much credit for memorializing Day-Lewis’ influence in a career that has been, hitherto, one of drifting from daddy to daddy in endless pursuit of bubblegum-flavored narcotics? Perhaps. And yet – lopsided though the favor of a manly man may be – her longtime collaborator is gone, having expired while preparing for the role of a self-feminized Siberian monarchist, and these stories are all that remain of (formerly) him. What was it that drove this legendary artist – to his pulse-quickening rise, to his stark majesty, and to his very, very, extremely bloody downfall? “It was never just about acting for Daniel,” Dano provided thoughtfully. “Anyone can act, and everyone does, whether it’s while you’re trying to sell your neighbor a pyramid scheme or when you’re pretending to be into blindfolds so you can get rented by Benedict Cumberbatch. What Daniel had that normal actors don’t was the obsessive need to one-up everyone just so that he could feel like the best.”

The spectacular manner of Day-Lewis’ death marks the end not only of a career, but of an era. We are in uncharted waters now, in a time and place where children’s programming is indistinguishable from furry erotica, where Middle America flocks to see a summer blockbuster about Batman and Superman power-fisting in Wonder She-Man’s shadow, and where the Gay has adjusted his flaccid grip on the thrust of heterosexual industry so tightly that a modern actor cannot find work unless he is willing to play naked rugby in Harvey Fierstein’s cuddle sauna. Thus, have we killed the straight man in Hollywood, and in the epoch to come, few, very few stars will be as well-mannered and capable of discerning reality from fiction as Daniel Day-Lewis.

 About the Authors

Admiral Willpower Butch, who was recently honored with the Leopold & Loeb Award for Bright Ideas, is sometimes haunted by the knowledge that there is a song called “In the Navy” about a bad singer overcoming his fear of water to sabotage the military with low-budget disco. He would like to thank the currently-unavailable correspondent Paragon Shag for his contributions to this piece, which benefited greatly from his insider knowledge of fey joints and Paul Dano’s gender confusion baby food company. Their secretary, Dead Summer Days, is nearly as crushing a disappointment to his dates as he is to the Lord.

[codango]

"Just call me Gandhi" - Obiyuki???? 8) 8)

Chapter 2 - Don’t touch anything that isn’t yours (2,561 words)

The following Tuesday, Shirayuki walked with some trepidation up the cracked sidewalk to the little house that served as the university paper’s newsroom. She’d seen Obi throughout the week, of course, but every conversation had been strictly professional. He’d made sure of it, she thought miserably. Photography assignments to match story assignments; a suggested tweak to the paper’s template; a wry “should I bother shooting for Raji’s story?”

She’d turned pink at the mention of Raji, but Obi hadn’t pursued the subject. She’d given him a story again (she couldn’t very well afford not to, with the state of her other writers), and Obi hadn’t so much as batted an eye. Shirayuki had rather hoped he would have. He’d sort of promised to, after all.

But—she turned the doorknob to the little house—it seemed Obi had all but forgotten about (she flushed) last week. Last week, when she’d all but thrown herself at him only to be interrupted by an email. Much good it had done her.

The bottle of rye was still on the desk because of course it was. She hadn’t mustered up the courage to walk through the door all week long, even though it was usually a great place for getting homework done. Shirayuki narrowed her eyes at it, letting her bookbag slide off her shoulder onto the floor.

She put the bottle to her lips and sipped at it. Held it slow over her tongue, the way Obi had said was right.

Her phone vibrated in her bag, and she choked on liquid fire.

Raj: a little bird told me you could use my story earlier tonightRaj: should be in your inbox in a couple mins!Raj: you’re welcome :)

Shirayuki stared at her phone.

You: …You: thank you?You: you know that your deadline is actually thursday right?You: *last* thursday?

Raj: hahahaRaj: us oldtimers know what the real deadline is ;)Raj: just heard you needed it a bit sooner than usual!Raj: once in a while isn’t awful

Shirayuki closed her eyes to keep from throwing the phone at the wall. She would definitely be taking this up with the department chair. The real deadline?!

You: thank you. how considerate

Sarcasm never came across well in text messages, but Shirayuki rather doubted Raji was capable of detecting it should she shout it in his face.

Raj: no problem! happy to helpRaj: just call me gandhi ;)

She wrinkled her nose. Did he even know who—?

The front door opened with its usual metallic creak. Obi stepped onto the scuffed hardwood, camera bag over one shoulder, and zeroed in on the bottle still in her hand. He smirked at her. “Deadlines going well?”

Shirayuki set the bottle down on the desk with a huff. “Better than usual, as a matter of fact.” She turned her back to him and sat down in her computer chair, all professionalism. “Apparently Raji has seen the error of his ways. For this week at least.”

“Has he now?”

A tendril of hope flared in her chest. She didn’t turn around. “Said a little bird had told him to get his assignment in early today.”

Obi’s footsteps neared her desk. “Conscientious. Of both of them.”

“Mmm. He said to call him Gandhi.” Shirayuki had to turn around to gauge Obi’s reaction to that one.

His expression was appropriately perplexed. “Gandhi? Do you think he even—”

“I’ll buy the next bottle if he does.” The words were out her mouth before she knew she wanted to say them. Fortunately, Obi seemed too shocked to register that she was just as surprised as he was.

He recovered quickly, because Obi. A smirk curled his lips. “The jaded editor is a gambling woman, is she?”

She knew it was a jab, but she let the persona settle over her. Shirayuki leaned back in her chair, facing him fully, legs crossed, wrists dangling off the armrests. “You aren’t allowed to give him time to look it up.”

Obi raised an eyebrow, set his bag on the desk perpendicular to hers. He took his time hooking up his camera to the only other computer in the house (it was still a newsroom, she insisted). “If you’re feeling so confident,” he said, his back to her, “you know what this means.”

Shirayuki hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath, scanning his lean back, his waist tapering into tight, ripped jeans. She steepled her fingers against her mouth. “Enlighten me.”

When he looked over his shoulder at her, his gold eyes held a tease that didn’t help her breathing. “We have to finish this one if you’re gonna buy me another bottle.”

Heat crept up her neck. “You’re putting an awful lot of faith in Raji knowing anything about Indian independence.”

Obi clucked his tongue and settled a knee in his own chair, his elbows on the back of it. “Show off.”

Shirayuki allowed herself a pleased smile. She twirled back around to face her computer. The whiskey bottle, still uncorked on her desk, caught her eye. She grabbed it, slammed back a mouthful the way he’d scolded her for last week, and opened the template that held last week’s newspaper. Obi’s snorted laugh was almost worth fighting against a strong urge to gag.

Whiskey or not, bet or not, flirtation or not, the evening crept steadily on with the usual hours of focused work required of putting out an amateur newspaper each week. Occasionally, one of them would swipe the bottle from the other’s desk, apparently to remind themselves that something was indeed simmering beneath the surface of academia.

Flush with the knowledge that she was editing the last story and wouldn’t be up till wee hours waiting on anything to come in, Shirayuki stood and went to Obi’s desk to steal the bottle again. His hand reached out to cover hers on the bottle, and she froze.

“Let’s call in a pizza.” He leaned back in his chair and looked up at her. His hand stayed on hers. Light. Warm. She could move if she wanted to.

Were she capable of moving.

“Pizza?” she repeated. It was about all she could manage.

His smile was sweetly patient, and Shirayuki was definitely feeling the three sips she’d stolen from the bottle so far. “If we’re seriously putting a dent in this bottle tonight, we’d better get something in our stomachs, yeah?”

His thumb slid over hers, and she jerked her hand out from under his. She hadn’t meant to—and damn, she wished she hadn’t, look at his face, shit—but it was done. He kept his eyes on the bottle, that soft smile replaced with uncharacteristic hesitation.

Shirayuki cleared her throat. Reached for the whiskey again and slipped it gently from his grasp. “I like pepperoni. You’re making the call.” She retreated to her chair, knowing her face was red and not wanting him to see the college girl instead of the savvy newspaper editor.

She smiled to herself to hear the confidence back in his voice as he called a local place. They worked in silence for the next half hour; enough time for her to place the last story, enough for him to send her the last edited photos for the front page.

Shirayuki slid the last photo into its presized frame in the paper’s template and dropped the packaged PDF into the printer’s FTP box. Huh. Done before midnight. Done before 10 p.m., for crying out loud.  She wracked her memory to come up with an occasion anywhere in her two semesters as editor when she’d left the newsroom before 2:00 a.m. She came up with nothing.

The silence of the room, so focused before, was suddenly suffocating. She futzed around in her email, managing to get to inbox zero in both her personal and school email before the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” she gasped and shot to her feet. She felt Obi’s eyes on her as she dug in her bag for cash. It took her two tries at the math to give the delivery guy a twenty percent tip. When she turned away from the door, warm pizza box in hand, Obi was coming back in from the small kitchen with paper towels.

“Um.” Shirayuki clutched the box, a comforting barrier against the Unknown shimmering between them in the room. “Where do you wanna eat?” The desks were the obvious choice, but the thought of eating side by side in computer chairs was depressingly clinical.

Obi shot her a confident, closed-mouth smile as a response. He swanned past her, shutting off the lights in the room with a flick of his wrist.

Shirayuki gaped at him. “Obi?” Orange street lights filtered through the blinds, and their computers glowed a warm black. The room was far from dark. It was worse. It was intimate.

“I’m taking you captive.” He moved over to his computer, tapped at a couple keys.

Forget the pizza warming her. Shirayuki was going to set the greasy cardboard box on fire with her own skin. “What?” Her voice was high. Thin.

“Zen says this anime is ridiculous.” Obi turned toward her, pausing only to grab the whiskey from her desk. Tinny, high-energy music came from his computer’s speakers. Colorful animation filled the screen. Obi settled himself on the floor at her feet, his back leaning against the wall. “But in reality, it’s genius, and tonight is the night you’re going to agree with me.” He reached a hand up for the pizza box, not taking his eyes off his computer screen.

Shirayuki sank to her knees, from relief or acute disappointment, who was to say? Wordlessly, she handed him the box.

The anime was, at best, difficult to keep up with. The plot was nonsensical, and there was the rye and Obi’s proximity to consider. Really, if he wanted an objective opinion, she didn’t have a chance.

She was leaning back on a hand, her mind flitting between an attempt at focusing on the anime, deciding if she wanted another slice of pizza, or pressing Obi back against the wall, when she felt it. The slightest brush of fingers against fingers.

Her head frozen in place, she nearly gave herself eyestrain to look down at her own hand. Obi regarded the flickering computer screen studiously. Shirayuki might have believed he was unaware of his fingers resting against hers…if not for the dip of his Adam’s apple at a traitorous moment.

This was ridiculous. She had all but kissed him last week in this very room, and it wasn’t like he’d gone screaming out into the night then, had he? Shirayuki scowled at herself. Sipping at a bottle of whiskey for several hours was apparently the alcoholic equivalent of inviting Yuzuri to camp out in her head. Shirayuki was done and she was doing this. Her mental Yuzuri cheered.

Determined, Shirayuki sat forward. Her hand slipped from Obi’s, and she was certain she didn’t mistake the quiet puff of air from his mouth. Just…give me a second! She scooped up her courage, threw back another mouthful of rye, and—swallowing hard—leaned onto her hip to curl into Obi’s space.

She had a fleeting moment of golden eyes widening beneath her before she feathered her lips over his.

His mouth was open instantly, but otherwise Obi stayed pressed up against the wall, both hands locked to the floor. The whiskey had cut through the salt of the pizza until that was all she was tasting, and Shirayuki wondered, stupidly, if you could get drunk off of someone else’s liquored kisses.

When he still didn’t move after a few gentle moments, Shirayuki lifted her head. His eyes were open—she wondered if they’d closed at all—as was his mouth. He stared at her, by all signs dumbstruck.

“Um.” She tucked her hair behind one ear and started to back away. “I was just—”

Obi reached for her then, a hand behind her head, the other at her elbow, coaxing her back to him firmly. Her back protested at its awkward curve, but her hand fell to his chest and he sighed into her mouth, and Shirayuki decided she could take an aspirin tomorrow if necessary.

His lips moved over hers with more invention than she’d been able to bring to the table, and she scooted onto his lap for more. Obi gave a soft laugh in approval before tasting her bottom lip with his tongue. His hands skimmed over her shoulders to rest lightly at her hips.

Shivery things were happening in Shirayuki’s gut. They were enticing and alarming at the same time, and generally too…big to be dealt with right now. Obi’s hands stayed where they were, though his thumbs traced the hem of her sweater. His lips, for the most part, focused on hers, with little stray kisses to the corners of her mouth or her cheek. Once to her jaw, and she heard herself croaking, “O-Obi?”

His mouth stilled against her face, thumbs slowing to a full stop. He made an inquiring noise. His breath tickled the down of her cheek. She felt young and on fire and generally hopeless.

“I…I don’t think…” What? What did she think or not think? I want you but.

“You want to stop?” His voice was a whisper. He didn’t move an inch.

No. But. “I, um. Kisses are nice,” she finished softly. God, she sounded delicate. So much for the newspaper editor boasting about buying another bottle of whiskey hours earlier.

“They are.” Obi pressed a chaste one to the corner of her mouth.

A shiver crawled up Shirayuki’s spine.

“Watch another episode with me?” he asked when she stayed quiet. “Like this?”

She sat up just enough to see his face. The anime hadn’t stopped playing; in fact, she was fairly certain they’d missed at least half of one episode.

He glanced away from her sudden eye contact, swallowed a little, then there was his grin. It was smaller than usual, less painted over with bravado, but still Obi’s grin. “Here.” He shifted her by the hips just enough so she could turn her attention without much strain to either him or the screen. His eyes flashed with amusement, as though not quite worried about competing for her attention. “Okay?”

Shirayuki pursed her lips to keep a smile at bay and gave a short nod. She settled a shoulder into his chest, let the warmth of him invade her space. His arm curved around her back, and his other hand held up the bottle to her. He cocked an eyebrow up at her, his scar pulling at his forehead.

She shook her head, smile breaking free a little, and lowered her mouth to his again. Sweet. Soft. Gentle.

“Yeah.” His voice was a sigh. She heard him set the bottle down on the hardwood floor, and his hand fell to her shins that draped over his hip.

———

The following day, Zen expressed incredulity at Obi’s claim that Shirayuki had insisted they watch seven episodes of a show that was, not to put too fine a point on it,“a preposterous conglomeration of animated sludge.”

Obi, Shirayuki decided with some heat, was going to pay for grinning unhelpfully while she struggled to invent believable praise for an anime she couldn’t recall in the slightest.

[brajeshupadhyay]

Coronavirus Updates: China authorises emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese companies

23:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in US LATEST Updates

Trump pushes for COVID-19 treatments, claims slowdown at FDA

Pushing for breakthroughs in treatments for the coronavirus, White House officials suggested Sunday there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease. The accusations, the latest assault from President Donald Trump’s team on the so-called “deep state” bureaucracy, were presented without evidence and just hours before Trump was set to hold a news conference to announce an apparent advancement in therapeutics. “This president is about cutting red tape,” said White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”

The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his re-election chances. 

AP

23:28 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu  LATEST Updates

Tamil Nadu inaugurates second plasma bank

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar on Sunday inaugurated a plasma bank at a government hospital, the second in the state, to treat COVID-19 patients. The Rs 25 lakh facility is established with an aim to collect and store plasma from those who have recovered from the disease and help coronavirus patients recuperate quickly, he said. Last month, the government set up the first plasma bank at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General hospital in Chennai.

23:15 (IST)

Coronavirus in West Bengal LATEST Updates

West Bengal minister tests positive

West Bengal Environment Minister Soumen Mahapatra on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. Stating that he is asymptomatic, the minister urged people who had come in contact with him recently to be in home isolation. "In the present alarming situation due to the outbreak

of COVID-19, this contagion has not even spared me. But, I am not showing any symptoms. My request to all please stay at home and follow the guidelines of the government," he tweeted. Mahapatra is now in home isolation at his Panskura residence in Purba Medinipur district, sources said.

PTI

22:44 (IST)

 Coronavirus in Bihar LATEST Updates

Bihar's case count climbs to 1.22 lakh

  Bihar's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1.22 lakh on Sunday as 2,247 more people tested positive for the infection, while nine fresh fatalities pushed the state's

coronavirus death toll to 610, a health bulletin said. The fresh infections have taken the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 1,22,155, it said. Patna district reported the highest number of new cases at 203, followed by Begusarai (159), Muzaffarpur (127), Bhagalpur (115) and Saharsa (120), the bulletin said.

22:15 (IST)

 Coronavirus in China LATEST Updates

China approved emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines in July, says official

  China has authorised emergency usage of COVID-19 vaccines developed by some select domestic companies, a Chinese health official has said. An emergency use authorisation, which is based on Chinese vaccine management law, allows unapproved vaccine candidates to be used among people who are at high risk of getting infected on a limited period. "We've drawn up a series of plan packages, including medical consent forms, side-effects monitoring plans, rescuing plans, compensation plans, to make sure that the emergency use is well regulated and monitored," Zheng Zhongwei, head of China's coronavirus vaccine development task force, told state-run CCTV on  Saturday. One month has passed since China officially launched the urgent use of COVID-19 vaccines on 22 July, while the vaccines were going through clinical trials, Zheng said. Recipients who got their first dose since then revealed they had few adverse reactions and none reported a fever. 

  PTI

21:54 (IST)

 Coronavirus in Jharkhand LATEST Updates

Jharkhand CM orders probe after photo of COVID-19 positive liquor drinking alcohol goes surfaces

  Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday orderedan investigation after a photo purportedly showing a COVID-19 positive prisoner drinking alcohol inside a hospital ward in Dhanbad went viral. One person tweeted the photo to the chief minister and he retweeted it directing Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Umashankar Singh to probe the matter and take action against those who were responsible for the irregularity. Singh said that the sub-divisional magistrate and the sub-divisional police officer concerned would carry out the investigation. "The chief minister has been informed of the progress of the probe," he said.

  The man in the viral photo is seen pouring liquor in a glass from a bottle while sitting on a hospital bed while food items served in aluminium foil containers are in front of him. A handcuff is also seen dangling from his right wrist. Katras police station officer-in-charge Ras Bihari Lal identified the man as 30-year-old Shantu Gupta, who was arrested on the charges of extortion on Thursday and was forwarded to jail. As he tested positive for coronavirus infection, the police admitted him to the central hospital of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), which was converted to a dedicated COVID19 facility, on Friday.

  PTI

21:32 (IST)

 Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Over 4,000 students go on hunger strike, demand exams be postponed

The chorus for postponing various examinations, including NEET and JEE, grew louder on Sunday with over 4,000 students observing a day-long hunger strike to press for the demand in view of rising COVID-19 cases. The protest came on a day Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the government must listen to the 'mann ki baat' of students and arrive at "an acceptable solution" and his party demanded that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) be deferred.

Read full report here

21:09 (IST)

 Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

Ahmedabad's case count up by 177 to 30,197

  The number of COVID-19 cases in Ahmedabad district rose by 177 to 30,197 on Sunday, the Gujarat health department said. With five more fatalities, all from the city, the toll reached 1,685, it said. This is the fourth day in a row that Ahmedabad has been reporting more than 150 cases in a day. A total of 172 patients were discharged in the day, taking the number of recoveries to 25,104. Of the 177 cases, 153 infections were reported from Ahmedabad city while 24 cases were reported from rural parts of the district, the health department said.

  PTI

20:52 (IST)

 Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

Gujarat registers 1,101 new cases, 14 deaths

  With the addition of 1,101 new coronavirus positive cases on Sunday, Gujarat's COVID-19 count climbed to 86,779, the state health department said. The toll in the state reached 2,897 as 14 patients succumbed to the infection during the day, it said. As 972 patients were discharged from various hospitals on Sunday, the total number of recovered cases in the state rose to 69,229, the department said in a release. The state has now achieved the recovery rate of 80 per cent, it said adding that the number of active cases stood at 14,653.

  PTI

20:35 (IST)

 Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates

Three senior Assam Police officers test positive

  Three senior Assam Police officers, including two Superintendents of Police, have tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, health officials said. Tinsukia SP Shiladitya Chetia and his Kokrajhar counterpart Rakesh Roushan have tested positive for the infection, they said. Tinsukia's Additional Superintendent of Police

Ripunjoy Kakoti and Roushan's wife were also afflicted with the disease, the officials said. Chetia and Kakoti were suffering from fever and cough and their swab samples were tested. Roushan and his wife tested positive for the infection during raping antigen tests and were advised home isolation, they said. Dhubri Superintendent of Police Anand Mishra hadtested positive for COVID-19 last week. A total of 3,310 Assam Police personnel, including Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, have tested positive for the infection till date. Eleven police personnel have died, while 2,698 have recovered and 601 are undergoing treatment, officials said.

  PTI

20:22 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates

Maharashtra reports 10,441 new cases, 258 deaths

As many as 10,441 new coronavirus cases and 258 deaths were recorded in Maharashtra today, reports ANI quoting the state health department. The total number of caseshas climbed to 6,82,383 including 4,88,271 recoveries and 1,71,542 active cases, it said.

19:54 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates

Assam health minister launches first sero survey

  The first serological survey in Assam was launched in Guwahati by the Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Pijush Hazarika on Sunday to assess whether people surveyed have developed immunity to novel coronavirus. A serological survey involves testing of the blood serum of individuals to check for the prevalence of antibodies against an infection. The survey titled 'A.A.S.H.A  Assessment of Anti- SARSCoV2 Seroprevalence in Habitants of Assam: a populationbased cross sectional study' is an initiative of an NGO in partnership with a diagnostics solutions provider. "The need of the hour today is a seroprevalence study that would identify the proportion of people carrying antibodies against this virus," the minister said.

19:14 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Updates

Delhi reports highest single-day spike in August

  Delhi recorded 1,450 fresh coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest single-day spike in August, taking the infection tally to over 1.61 lakh, while the death toll mounted to 4,300. Sixteen fresh fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours, officials said. Sunday's spike in fresh cases surpassed Saturday's increase of 1,412 cases, authorities said. The total number of cases stood at 1,61,466. The bulletin said that the number of active cases stood at 11,778, while 1,45,388 patients have either recovered, been discharged or migrated out.

  PTI

19:09 (IST)

Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu LATEST Updates

Tamil Nadu reports 5,975 new cases, 97 deaths

Tamil Nadu reported 5,975 new COVID-19 cases, 6,047 recoveries and 97 deaths today, taking total cases to 3,79,385 including 3,19,327 discharges and 6,517 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 53,541, reports ANI quoting the state health department.

18:16 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Updates

Delhi govt has requested Centre to allow resumption of Metro, says CM

"We have requested Centre to allow re-opening of Delhi Metro in a phased manner, on a trial basis, as the COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control now. I hope the Centre will take a decision soon," ANI quotes Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as saying.

17:56 (IST)

Coronavirus in Delhi LATEST Updates

COVID-19 situation in Delhi under control, says Kejriwal

  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the COVID-19 situation in Delhi was under control, adding that it is "perhaps the only city" in the country where a lockdown was not re-imposed. "I am happy that with the help of everyone, the COVID-19 situation in the National Capital is under control now. The way Delhi has been dealing with COVID-19 situation is being discussed in the country as well as across the world," he said.

We imposed lockdown in Delhi only once, and then gradually resumed work across fields from June 1 onwards. Probably, Delhi is the only city where lockdown hasn't been imposed again, as we understand work & COVID management can go hand-in-hand: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/VWktQbCwxp

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2020

17:38 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India could get COVID-19 vaccine by year-end if everything goes well: Harsh Vardhan

  Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that if everything goes well, India would get a vaccine against the novel coronavirus by the end of this year. Three COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including two indigenous ones, are in different phases of development in India. The phase-one human clinical trials of the two indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidates, one developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the other by Zydus Cadila Ltd, have been completed and the trials have moved to phase-two, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava had said recently. The Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford has been permitted for conducting its phase two and three human clinical trials in India. It is likely to start the trials next week.

कब तक आएगी #कोरोना की #vaccine ? पत्रकारों के इस सवाल पर मैंने उम्मीद जताई कि अगर सब कुछ ठीक रहा तो भारत इस साल के आखिर तक #coronavaccine हासिल कर लेगा। @MoHFW_INDIA @CSIR_IND @NDRFHQ pic.twitter.com/zqAxftKUdt

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) August 22, 2020

17:21 (IST)

Coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh LATEST Updates

Madhya Pradesh health minister says he tested COVID-19 positive

Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary on Sunday said he has tested coronavirus positive. "My COVID-19 test report came out positive. I request those who had come in my contact to undergo a coronavirus test. Those in close contact should quarantine themselves," he tweeted. "With your prayers and blessings, I will return amidst you soon to serve the people," he said.

Choudhary is the seventh minister in Madhya Pradesh, besides Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to test positive for the infection. In the last week of July, CM Chouhan had tested positive and recovered after treatment.

  PTI

मेरी कोविड की रिपोर्ट टेस्ट के बाद पॉजि़टिव आई है।मेरा सभी से निवेदन है जो भी मेरे संपर्क में आए हैं, वह कोरोना टेस्ट करवा लें। मेरे निकट संपर्क वाले लोग क्वारनटीन में चले जाएं।आप सभी की प्रार्थना एवं आशीर्वाद से जल्द आप सभी के बीच उपस्थित होकर फिर जन सेवा के कार्यों में लगेंगे।

— Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary (@DrPRChoudhary) August 23, 2020

17:06 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates

COVID-19 toll in Uttar Pradesh climbs to 2,926

Fifty-nine people succumbed to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, raising the toll due to the disease to 2,926 in the state, Additional Chief Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad said. Briefing reporters,  the official said the case fatality rate stands at 1.56 percent. As many as 5,325 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in the state, taking the state-wide tally to 1,87,781, he said. So far, 1,35,613 COVID-19 patients have been discharged after recovering from the disease with the recovery rate at 72.21 percent, he further said. The count of active cases in the state stands at 49,242.

The senior official said 1.3 lakh samples were tested in UP on Saturday.

PTI

16:33 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Recovery rate nears 75%, says health ministry

A steadily increasing number of recoveries has pushed India's recovery rate to nearly 75 percent, said the Union health ministry. With  57,989 COVID-19 patients recuperating in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has reached 22,80,566. The total recoveries in the country now exceed the total active cases (7,07,668) by nearly 16 lakhs (1,572,898), it said in a statement. Active cases now comprise 23.24 percent of the country's total case load, it said. "This has also resulted in a gradually falling mortality rate. Currently at 1.86 percent, India's case fatality rate (CFR) is one of the lowest globally," the ministry said.

The ministry said the average daily number of recoveries is on a "constant upward move" from 15,018 between July 1 and 7 to 60,557 between August 13 and 19.

India’s total recoveries now exceed the total active cases (7,07,668) by nearly 16 lakhs (1,572,898): Ministry of Health https://t.co/upgE9GQ4YF

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2020

16:12 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India has conducted around 3,52 crore COVID-19 tests so far, says health ministry

  Testing over eight lakh samples for six days in a row, India's total COVID-19 tests have touched 3.52 crore, while the average daily positivity rate has come down from 9.67 per cent during August 3-9 to 7.67 pc over the last week, the Centre said on Sunday. So far, 3,52,92,220 samples have been tested for detection of COVID-19 with 8,01,147 being tested on Saturday.

  The steep rise in testing is a result of effective implementation of the aggressive testing strategy of the Centre through a focussed and graded approach, the ministry said. "The rising average daily tests during the past three weeks present a strong depiction of the progress made in the enhancement of COVID-19 tests across the country. The rise in daily testing has been followed by a decrease in the average daily positivity rate," the health ministry highlighted. Keeping a sharp focus on the 'test, track and treat' policy, tests per million population have seen a boost, touching 25,574 as on date, it further stated.

15:43 (IST)

Coronavirus in Puducherry LATEST Updates

No e-pass required to travel to and from Puducherry

E-passes are not required to travel to and from Puducherry, announced the Union Territory administration today, reports ANI.

15:18 (IST)

Coronavirus in Singapore LATEST Updates

New COVID-19 cluster reported at Singapore's biggest dormitory

A new COVID-19 cluster has been reported in Singapore's biggest dormitory housing foreign workers, including Indian nationals, about a month after it was declared to be fully cleared of the coronavirus.

Two of the new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore on Saturday were linked to 55 previous cases to form a new cluster at Sungei Tengah Lodge dormitory at 500 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

The cluster at Sungei Tengah Lodge was among the largest in Singapore before the dormitory was declared cleared of COVID-19 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Jul 21, the Channel News Asia reported.

15:01 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

RTI finds 1.78 crore rail tickets cancelled in five months due to COVID-19

The Railways has cancelled more than 1.78 crore tickets since March this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and refunded an amount to the tune of Rs 2,727 crore, a RTI has found.

The RTI has found that the Railways, which had suspended its passenger train services since 25 March, cancelled 1,78,70,644 tickets.

PTI has earlier reported how perhaps for the first time the Railways has refunded more than it has earned from ticket bookings, registering a negative passenger segment revenue of Rs 1,066 crore in the COVID-19-hit first quarter of 2020-21.

14:35 (IST)

Coronavirus in Gujarat LATEST Updates

Homeopathic drug given to half of Gujarat population since March

The Gujarat health department has said it distributed homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30 to more than half of the state's population as prophylaxis since March after the outbreak of COVID-19, reports PTI.

In its presentation made before the World Health Organisation on August 20 on Gujarat's COVID-19 prevention strategy, the health department said it distributed Arsenicum Album-30 to 3.48 crore people, which is more than half of the state's population of 6.6 crore.

There is no scientific evidence that the drug works against COVID-19, a fact stressed not only by medical scientists but by some homeopathic practitioners themselves.

13:51 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Media reports over availability of COVID-19 vaccine are false, says Serum Institute of India

Serum Institute of India clarified on Sunday that the current claims over COVISHIELD's availability, in the media are completely false and conjectural.

"Presently, government has granted us permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use." the company said, reports ANI.

"COVISHIELD will be commercialized once trials are proven successful & requisite regulatory approvals are in place. Phase-3 trials for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are underway. Only once vaccine is proven immunogenic & efficacious,SII will confirm its availability officially," the company said.

A Business Today report had said that India's first Covid vaccine-Serum Institute's 'Covishield'- will be commercialised in 73 days.

13:43 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates

Children aged 12 and older should wear masks, says WHO

Children aged 12 and older should wear masks like adults while those aged 6-11 should wear them on a “risk-based approach”, the World Health Organisation has said, reports moneycontrol.

Risk-based approach includes considerations such as intensity of transmission in the area, the child's ability to use masks, access to masks, adequate adult supervision, potential impact on learning and psycho-social development and interactions with people at high risk of developing serious illness, the organisation said in a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) document uploaded on August 21.

13:13 (IST)

Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Updates

Odisha reports record 2,993 COVID-19 cases, 10 more deaths

Odisha on Sunday registered its highest single-day spike of 2,993 COVID-19 cases and 10 more deaths due to the infection. With this, the state's COVID-19 death toll has mounted to 409 and the infection tally reached 78,530, a health official said.

Fifty-three other coronavirus patients have also died, but the cause of their deaths was attributed to some other reasons. Of the new 2,993 cases, 1,879 were reported from different quarantine centres, while the remaining 1,114 were detected during contact tracing, he said.

The state had last reported its highest single-day surge of 2,924 cases on 15  August.

12:57 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

No change in Pranab Mukherjee's health, says hospital

There is no change in the health of former President Pranab Mukherjee and he continues to remain on ventilator support, the Army''s Research and Referral hospital told PTI on Sunday. Doctors attending on the 84-year-old Mukherjee said his vital parameters are stable.

Mukherjee was admitted to the hospital in Delhi Cantonment on 10 August and was operated for removal of a clot in the brain. He had also tested positive for COVID-19.

12:51 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

Prakash Javadekar announces SOPs for resuming film, TV shooting

According to Hindustan Times, Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday said film and television programme production can be resumed with all the necessary health protocols in place amid Covid-19 pandemic.

After consultation with the home ministry and the health ministry, a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been firmed up, he said. According to the SOP, the actors facing the camera will be exempt from wearing masks. And crew members will have to adhere to the guidelines of the health ministry, reports NDTV.

Read full report here

12:48 (IST)

Coronavirus in Puducherry LATEST Updates

412 new COVID-19 cases push total to 10,522 in Puducherry

The COVID-19 tally in the union territory rose to 10,522 and the toll mounted to 159 with the addition of 412 fresh cases and eight deaths, the Health Department said on Sunday. There were 3,706 active cases after the discharge of 350 patients in the last 24 hours ending at 10 AM.

The cumulative recoveries stood at 6,657, Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar said in a release here. A total of 1,282 samples were tested during the period.

12:37 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Updates

Experts flag risks in India's use of rapid tests for virus

In June, India began using cheaper, faster but less accurate tests to scale up testing for the coronavirus — a strategy that the United States is now considering.

But India’s experience also highlights the inherent pitfalls of relying too heavily on antigen tests, at the expense of more accurate tests. The danger is that the tests may falsely clear many who are infected with COVID-19, contributing to new spread of the virus in hard-hit areas.

Rapid test results can be backstopped with more accurate laboratory tests, but these are slower and expensive. Experts also warn that since the two types of tests vary in accuracy, they need to be interpreted separately to properly assess the spread of infection -- something India isn’t doing.

12:22 (IST)

Coronavirus in Telangana Latest Updates

2,384 new cases in Telangana

The total number of coronavirus cases in Telangana rose to 1,04,249 after 2,384 new infections were reported on Saturday. The total number of cases includes 22,908 active cases, 80,586 recoveries and 755 deaths.

11:44 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates

Three COVID-19 patients untraceable in UP's Muzaffarnagar

Three people who tested COVID-19 positive in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district cannot be traced as they provided fake information and phone numbers during sample collection, officials said on Sunday.

Two of them claimed to be staffers of a hospital here, while the third person had given his address as Saket Colony, they said.

Health teams went to Saket Colony on Friday and to the hospital mentioned by the other two persons on Saturday to take them for treatment at a medical facility, the officials said. It was found that they had provided fake information, Chief Medical Officer Dr Praveen Chopda said.

11:37 (IST)

Coronavirus in Rajasthan LATEST Updates

Rajasthan reports 697 new cases, 6 deaths today

Rajasthan reports 697 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths today, taking the total cases to 69,961 including 950 deaths, 54,252 recoveries and 14,759 active cases

Rajasthan reports 697 new #COVID19 cases and 6 deaths today, taking the total cases to 69,961 including 950 deaths, 54,252 recoveries and 14,759 active cases: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/gr4k8lCXqK

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2020

11:35 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates

Weekend lockdown being observed in Guwahati today

Assam: Weekend lockdown being observed in Guwahati to control the spread of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/yhEPWKlCvq

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2020

11:02 (IST)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra LATEST Updates

Thane district reports 1,284 new COVID-19 cases, 26 deaths

The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 1,13,884 with 1,284 more people testing positive for the disease, a health official told PTI on Sunday. The fatality count in the district has reached 3,240 as 26 more people succumbed to the viral infection on Saturday, he said.

10:33 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India's COVID-19 recovery rate rises to 74.9%

India's COVID-19 tally sprinted past the 30-lakh mark, just 16 days after it crossed 20 lakh, while 22,80,566 people have recuperated in the country so far pushing the recovery rate to 74.90 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

With a single-day spike of 69,239 infections, the country's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 30,44,940, while the death toll climbed to 56,706 with 912 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.86 percent.

There are 7,07,668 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 23.24 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

10:24 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

ICMR says over 8.1 lakh samples tested yesterday

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 3,52,92,220 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till yesterday (August 22). Of these, 8,01,147 were tested yesterday.

09:55 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates

23 people test positive for COVID-19 in UP's Shamli district

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district has increased to 150 with 23 people testing positive for the infection, officials told PTI on Sunday. The district also reported a death from the novel coronavirus and the toll now stands at 15, they said.

"Twenty-three people have tested positive for COVID-19. Their reports were received on Saturday evening. On the same day, six patients recovered," District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur said. The officials said that a woman from Thanabhawan town died at a hospital on Saturday, taking the death toll to 15 in the district.

09:35 (IST)

Coronavirus in India LATEST Updates

India's COVID-19 total crosses 30 lakh with over 56,000 deaths

India’s coronavirus tally on Sunday breached the 30-lakh mark after the country reported 69,239 new cases in the last 24 hours. The country’s toll rose by 912 to 56,706. Of the overall tally of 30,44,940, India now has 7,07,668 active cases while more than 22 lakh people have recovered from the infection

09:07 (IST)

Coronavirus in Jharkhand LATEST Updates

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh tests COVID-19 positive

सभी राज्यवासियों को जोहार, मैंने कल अपना कोरोना जांच कराया, जिसकी रिपोर्ट देर रात्रि पॉजिटिव आई हैं।विगत कुछ दिनों में जो भी लोग मेरे संपर्क में आये हैं उनसे विनम्र अनुरोध है कि अपनी जांच करा लें। आप सभी से अनुरोध हैं घर पर रहे सुरक्षित रहें।

— Badal (बादल) (@Badal_Patralekh) August 23, 2020

09:05 (IST)

Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh LATEST Updates

Weekend lockdown being observed in Prayagraj today

Weekend lockdown being observed in Prayagraj, to curb the spread of #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/fjj4uHqCXG

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 23, 2020

08:55 (IST)

Coronavirus in Assam LATEST Updates

Toll due to COVID-19 rises to 234 in Assam

The toll in Assam due to the pandemic rose to 234 with seven more succumbing to it, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. The seven deceased are from Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Kamrup, Sonitpur and Kamrup Metropolitan districts, Sarma tweeted.

The persons affected included a 77-year-old from Kamrup Metropolitan district, which primarily cinsists of the Guwahati city. The others are a 77-year-old and a 60-year old from Dibrugarh district the fourth one is a 46-year old man from Jorhat, Sarma said.

Three more persons aged 63 years, 55 years and 60 years of age lost their lives in Cachar, Kamrup and Sonitpur districts respectively, he added.

#AssamPlasmaHero ~ Aug 21 5. Pratim Talukdar (38), Ganakpara, Azara/ GMCH 6. Surajit Kalita (36), Pathsala, Barpeta/ GMCH 7. Prafulla Deka (53), Guwahati/ MMCH 8. Dr Biswajit Haloi (34)/Narayan Hospital Gratitude 🙏 pic.twitter.com/oAozWZRbGS

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 22, 2020

08:18 (IST)

Coronavirus in Indian LATEST Updates

Sharp rise in recoveries and recovery rate key to India's success against COVID-19, says Centre

#CoronaVirusUpdates The key to India's success in its fight against #COVID19: consistently and sharply rising recoveries and Recovery Rate.@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @AshwiniKChoubey @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts @COVIDNewsByMIB @ICMRDELHI @mygovindia @CovidIndiaSeva pic.twitter.com/NRPPMB1xUs

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) August 23, 2020

07:49 (IST)

Coronavirus in Italy LATEST Updates

Italy sees over 1,000 new coronavirus cases in a day

Italy recorded 1,071 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the worst daily number since lockdown was lifted in May, the health ministry reported on Saturday.

The ministry's figures showed that three people died from disease caused by the virus, bringing total deaths to 35,430 in Italy since the pandemic began. Total infections number 258,136.

07:40 (IST)

Coronavirus in Odisha LATEST Updates

Odisha's COVID-19 total climbs up to over 75,000 cases

Odisha's COVID-19 tally rose to 75,537 on Saturday with the detection of 2,819 fresh infections, while nine more fatalities pushed its coronavirus death toll to 399, a health official told PTI.

Three fresh fatalities were registered in Cuttack, two in Sundargarh and one each in Bolangir, Ganjam, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts, he said.

The fresh COVID-19 cases were reported from 29 of the 30 districts of the state.

07:36 (IST)

Coronavirus LATEST Updates

World virus deaths top 8,00,000 as nations ramp up measures

The global toll from the new coronavirus has surpassed 800,000, according to an AFP count on Saturday, with numerous countries ramping up restrictions in an effort to battle an eruption of new cases.

Western Europe, particularly Spain, Italy Germany and France, has been enduring infection levels not seen in many months, sparking fears of a fully-fledged second wave.

And in Asia, South Korea, which had largely brought the virus under control, became the latest country to announce it would boost restrictions to try to stem a new outbreak.

Across the world, the number of deaths has doubled to just over 800,000 since June 6, with 100,000 fatalities in the last 17 days alone, while more than 23 million cases have been registered. 

Coronavirus LATEST Updates:  China has authorised emergency usage of COVID-19 vaccines developed by some select domestic companies, a Chinese health official has said.

The first serological survey in Assam was launched by the Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Pijush Hazarika on Sunday to assess whether people surveyed have developed immunity to novel coronavirus.

Children aged 12 and older should wear masks like adults while those aged 6-11 should wear them on a 'risk-based approach', the World Health Organisation has said

According to the SOP, the actors facing the camera will be exempt from wearing masks. And crew members will have to adhere to the guidelines of the health ministry

Of the overall tally of 30,44,940, India now has 7,07,668 active cases while more than 22 lakh people have recovered from the infection

India's coronavirus case count raced past 30 lakh on Saturday, showed an unofficial tally based on information provided by staes and Union territories, while the toll rose to 56,762 and recoveries climbed to 22,71,054.

India is the third-worst affected country by the viral infection, said news agency PTI, which compiled the data.

The virus has claimed over eight lakh lives globally.

However, according to data released by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday morning, the overall case count in India has climbed to 29,75,701 with the country recording its highest single-day spike of 69,874 new coronavirus cases. The toll climbed to 55,794 with 945 fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

But the number of recoveries also surged to 22,22,577 pushing the recovery rate to 74.69 percent on Saturday while the fatality rate dipped to 1.87 percent, said the ministry.

India on Saturday also crossed the significant milestone of having conducted over 10 lakh tests in a day for the detection of the novel coronavirus, with more than 3.44 crore such tests conducted so far.

The COVID-19 case count in Telangana crossed the one-lakh mark with 2,474 new cases while the toll touched 744. In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said his father, veteran Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren, and his mother Roopi, tested positive for the viral infection and are placed in home quarantine.

Recoveries exceed active cases by 15 lakh, says health ministry

The home ministry, in its morning update, said that there are 6,97,330 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country, comprising 23.43 percent of the total caseload in the country.

While the country's COVID-19 case count has surged to 29.75 lakh, the total number of recoveries has surged to 22,22,577 and exceed active cases by over 15 lakh as on date, it said.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, at the inauguration of a make-shift NDRF hospital in Ghaziabad, said that India has the "best" COVID-19 recovery rate, which is improving every day, and the "lowest" mortality rate in the world.

Taking a potshot at government critics, Vardhan said "many intelligent people, scientists and naysayers" had estimated that India, with a population of about 135 crore, will see 30 crore COVID-19 cases and about 50-60 lakh people will die by July-August, and the country's healthcare system was "incapable" to combat the disease.

"However, I am happy to say that in the eighth month of the battle, India has the best recovery rate of 75 percent and against an estimate of 30 crore affected we have not even reached 30 lakh cases."

"In fact, 22 lakh patients have recovered and gone home and another seven lakh are going to be cured very soon," he said.

The minister said these successes were achieved due to the "coordinated" efforts with the participation of everyone — the government and the people.

Centre asks states to ensure unrestricted movement of goods, people

Meanwhile, the Centre asked all states to ensure that there are no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods during the ongoing unlocking process. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said there were reports that local level restrictions on movement were being imposed by various districts and states.

Drawing attention to the Unlock-3 guidelines, Bhalla said such restrictions are creating problems in inter-state movement of goods and services and are impacting supply chains, resulting in disruption of economic activity and employment.

The unlock guidelines clearly state that there shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods, he said in the letter. The guidelines also stated that no separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for movement of persons and goods for cross land border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries.

The home secretary said the restrictions amount to violation of the guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs under provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005.

JMM chief Shibu Soren tests positive

Rajya Sabha MP and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Shibu Soren and wife Roopi have tested positive for COVID-19, his son and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said "respected father Dishom Guru ji" and mother were diagnosed with the disease on Friday night, and they are undergoing home quarantine. The 76-year-old president of the ruling JMM in the state is revered as 'guruji' (master) by his followers.

कल रात आदरणीय बाबा दिशोम गुरु जी और माँ की कोरोना संक्रमण रिपोर्ट पॉजिटिव आयी। वे दोनों होम आइसोलेशन में हैं और स्वास्थ्य लाभ ले रहे हैं।

देश और झारखण्डवासियों की दुआओं के साथ जल्द ही आदरणीय बाबा और माँ हम सभी के बीच होंगे।

— Hemant Soren (घर में रहें - सुरक्षित रहें) (@HemantSorenJMM) August 22, 2020

// <![CDATA[ <script> // ]]> "With the blessings of the people of Jharkhand and the entire country, they will soon be among us, the CM tweeted.

Seven other members of the JMM chief's household have also tested positive for the viral infection, reported news agency PTI quoting official sources.

The chief minister, who lives at his official residence, close to the JMM chief's government bungalow, will undertake the test on Monday -- third time in two months. Earlier, Hemant had taken the test on two separate occasions — first time after coming in contact with infected Cabinet colleague Mithilesh Thakur, and the second time after 17 employees at his office were diagnosed with the disease.

On Tuesday, state health minister Banna Gupta was diagnosed with the disease.

Punjab minister tests positive

In Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that Cooperation and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to him joining us at work soon," said Singh.

My Cabinet colleague and Cooperation & Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has tested positive for #Covid19. I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to him joining us at work soon.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 22, 2020

// <![CDATA[ <script> // ]]>

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's residence in Muktsar district was declared as a micro containment zone after five security personnel posted there tested positive, a health official told PTI.

Punjab on Saturday reported 45 deaths and 1,320 fresh infections, pushing the death count to 1,036 and total infections to 40,643.

Telangana's case count crosses one lakh

Telangana's overall case count rose to 1,01,865 as 2,474 new cases were added. With seven more people succumbing to the virus, the toll in the state mounted to 744. However, the state's recovery rate at 77.29 percent was higher than the country's recovery rate of 74.69 percent.

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal were among the other states which added high numbers to their case tallies.

While Maharashtra reported 14,492 new cases and 297 deaths, Andhra Pradesh reported over 10,000 fresh infections. The overall count in the southern state climbed to 3,45,216 and the toll mounted to 3,189.

Gujarat its highest single-day spike of 1,212 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total count of infections to 85,678, the state health department said. The number of fatalities rose by 14, including six in Surat, which is the highest in the state, to 2,883, it said.

A total of 980 patients were discharged in the day, taking the number of recoveries to 68,257, the department said, adding that the recovery rate has reached 80 percent.

With a record 3,232  new cases in a single day, West Bengal's caseload went up to 1,35,596. The toll reached 2,737 with 48 more people succumbing to the disease, said a bulletin issued by the state health department.

With inputs from agencies

via Blogger https://ift.tt/34pWIyP

[yeskraim]

How India uses colonial-era sedition law against CAA protesters

New Delhi, India – In the first week of the new year, police in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand registered a criminal complaint against more than 3,000 people protesting against a new citizenship law, accusing them of “sedition” among other charges.

India has seen nationwide protests since mid-December following the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that activists and opposition politicians have described as divisive, discriminatory and against the country’s secular constitution. The new law is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

More:

In Jharkhand, a tribal assertion met with fierce police crackdown

Microsoft CEO Nadella criticises India’s citizenship law

UN report condemns Kashmir’s Public Safety Act

The sedition provision, which was drafted by the British colonial rulers in 1870, comes under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.

Rights activists say the law has been used to suppress dissent in India particularly against marginalised communities and minorities.

Nationwide protests are taking place across India since December 13 against CAA [Javed Sultan/Anadolu]

Over the past 18 months, more than 10,000 tribal farmers in mineral-rich Jharkhand state were accused of sedition in 19 police cases for opposing acquisition of lands for so-called developmental projects.

Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people.

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand state

Following criticism, Jharkhand’s newly elected Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the withdrawal of sedition charges slapped by his predecessor belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Soren told Al Jazeera that he had asked for an inquiry into why the police used the charge against those who peacefully demonstrated in Wasseypur – a working-class Muslim neighbourhood in Dhanbad district, which was the subject of the 2012 Bollywood hit Gangs of Wasseypur.

“Charge of sedition is a serious allegation which needs to be applied with careful scrutiny. In this case, we have asked the officials to drop the charges and provide an explanation.”

“Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people. My government will respect law and protect people,” said Soren, who comes from the Santhal tribal community.

Soren government has also dropped charges against more than 10,000 Adivasis slapped by the previous BJP government.

Attack on dissent

The sedition provision punishes anyone seen to “excite, or attempt to excite feelings of disaffection against the government”, even though this may be by their words alone. It is a non-bailable offence, and has life imprisonment as the maximum punishment.

Jawahar Raja, a lawyer based in New Delhi, explained that once police add the sedition charge, the maximum quantum of punishment increases, and the courts then view it as a serious offence, making it harder for the accused to secure bail, even if booked only for a speech offence. “The process of a long-drawn trial then becomes the punishment,” said Raja.

Aloka Kujur was among the more than 10,000 slapped with sedition cases in Jharkhand. She says “the police booked her under sedition for a Facebook post in 2018”.

Kujur, who publishes magazines on literature and art, said the police issued a warrant to confiscate her property for her post that mentioned the threat to a rape victim.

“I faced threats online. The local newspapers started publishing official statements saying that anyone with Marxist and Maoist books will be arrested. I had to give away my small collection of books, as I was unsure what will the police misconstrue against me using this sedition charge,” she said.

Police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 said criticising the government does not amount to sedition [File: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Kujur recounts how prosecution lawyers called her “anti-national” in the court during her trial.

In a similar case, an 83-year-old Jesuit priest, Stan Swamy, who has documented police abuse in tribal areas across the country, was charged with sedition in 2018 for his Facebook posts. One of his posts was a statement by the then home minister calling for dialogue.

Swamy declined to speak to Al Jazeera as he is facing police case in the western Maharashtra state. His associate Solomon said because of the sedition charge, the elderly activist was forced to stop writing on human rights abuses.

Our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.

Sadaf Jafar, activist

Referring to the recent sedition cases, a senior Jharkhand police official admitted that the local police acted with excessive hostility against anti-CAA protesters.

“I cannot comment on use of sedition in previous cases against tribal farmers, but in this instance, the district police action shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of professional competence,” Anil Palta, additional director general of police (training), Jharkhand, told Al Jazeera.

“If a provision of prevention of assembly of more than four persons, Section 144 is violated, the protesters ought to have been booked under Section 188, for disobedience, a bailable order. It was very far-fetched of the district police to apply sedition charges.”

Harsh police action

The harsh police action against anti-CAA protesters particularly in BJP-ruled states has alarmed rights activists.

More than 20 people have been killed in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh (UP) where some of the initial protests turned violent. Authorities in the state have also said they would seek compensation from protesters for damages to state properties.

Sadaf Jafar, a political activist, was arrested from Lucknow, the capital of UP during anti-CAA protests.

“The police arrested me and imprisoned me for 20 days, I was not allowed to inform anyone,” Jafar told Al Jazeera.

“We are supposed to be in an elected democracy, but our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.” 

Jafar alleged she was tortured and called Pakistani in custody because of her Muslim name. “They beat me so much that three weeks later, my ankles are still swollen and blue, and my limbs hurt when I breathe.”

Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.

Solomon, activist

Al Jazeera reached out to the office of the director general of police of UP and the circle officer of the area where Jafar was held but received no response at the time of the publication of the article.

Last December, about 600 anti-CAA protesters were accused of sedition in UP but later police dropped the charge.

Across India, a number of people have been slapped with sedition charges for protesting against the law that people say is part of Modi’s Hindu supremacist agenda as it makes faith as the basis for citizenship.

In the BJP-ruled Karnataka state, police invoked sedition case against a student for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard on January 9.

Last August, the Hindu nationalist government stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status and imposed a crippling communications and security lockdown in the Muslim-majority region.

Subsequently, thousands of Kashmiris, including minors, were thrown into jails under Public Safety Act (PSA), which Amnesty International has dubbed “lawless law”. Under PSA people can be imprisoned for up to two years without trial.

Between 2016 and 2018, the National Crime Records Bureau data shows, 332 people were arrested under the sedition provision, but only seven were convicted.

Lawyers point out that the problem is not the conviction, but opposition to the government is termed “anti-national”, making it easier for the police to make arrests citing any protests as a threat to national security.

Governments exploit legal loopholes

Legal scholars pointed out that the police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 reiterated that criticising the government does not amount to sedition, or even to defamation.

“Though the court upheld the Section 124A of sedition to be constitutional, it has watered down the provision,” said Chitranshul Mishra, a Supreme Court lawyer and author of The Great Repression – The Story of Sedition in India.

He added that the Supreme Court said only an action that incites or has the “tendency” to incite violence or public disorder can be construed as seditious. “But the definitions of ‘tendency’, ‘public disorder’ have been left open so wide to interpretation that the police routinely use it to suppress dissent,” he explained.

Gautam Bhatia, a lawyer and scholar, said colonial-era laws that criminalised any opposition has no place in a democracy.

In his book Offend, Shock or Disturb: Free Speech Under the Indian Constitution, Bhatia has documented how during India’s independence movement, the British colonial government had accused Indian nationalist leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, and cultural activists under the same section for their writings, speeches, and theatre plays.

“The sheer breadth of its language allows it to be misused,” said Bhatia.

“The police book thousands as ‘unnamed’ claiming they will add the names as they get further evidence, and as the case proceeds they are allowed to file supplementary charge-sheets in which they, for instance, can add names of any farmers from a village or a demonstrator or a political organiser, thus keeping a sword dangling over their heads to chill dissent.”

Modi, who has been accused of turning authoritarian, has plans to overhaul the Indian Penal Code, most of which draws from the British colonial laws. But it has caused concern among activists as the right-wing government may further add stringent provisions in the law.

It recently amended the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to empower the government to declare individuals “terrorists” and seize their properties.

Rights activists fear the law can be misused – a charge the government has denied.

Solomon, the Jharkhand activist, told Al Jazeera: “Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.”

“The result is that the most vulnerable communities suffer.”

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