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mariacallous · 8 months

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Much of India came to a standstill on Jan. 22, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi consecrated a temple in the northern city of Ayodhya commemorating Rama, a warrior-king worshipped by Hindus as a god. Schools, colleges, and offices closed and central government offices gave a half-day off to all employees. Some expectant parents even cajoled obstetricians to schedule cesarean sections on the day so that their children are born at the auspicious moment coinciding with the temple’s opening.

Such a public display of religiosity by the Indian government and its leadership may seem peculiar, particularly to those who cherish secularism. But India moved away from the state’s traditional interpretation of secularism a decade ago, when Modi led the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power. With the next national elections only a few months away, Modi has choreographed the Ram temple consecration to consolidate his Hindu vote (about 80 percent of the country’s population is Hindu). The political intent is clear: Cutouts of Modi grace lampposts on the airport road in Ayodhya, with similar images of Rama added almost as an afterthought. In an audio message on social media this month, Modi said, “God has made me an instrument to represent all the people of India.”

The ongoing construction of Ram Mandir is very controversial in India. From the early 16th century until 1992, a mosque known as Babri Masjid stood on the site—built during the time of the emperor Babur, the first Mughal to rule India. Many Hindus say that Babur destroyed a temple honoring Rama that previously stood on the land, which they believe is Rama’s birthplace. In the 1980s, Hindu activists began a movement to reclaim the site and build a temple there. In December 1992, they razed the mosque, an act that shocked the nation.

But in the past two decades, India has changed, and Hindus clamored for the land to be restored to them. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that although the initial act of demolition was illegal, it would offer the site to a Hindu trust to build a temple and grant land elsewhere to a Muslim trust to rebuild a mosque. Although the construction of the Ram Mandir is not yet complete, Modi needs the imagery for his election campaign, and so the consecration will go ahead. Some opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India, did not send their top leadership to the ceremony; however, some Congress leaders were divided over the boycott and at least two attended.

Rama, for many Hindus, is maryada purushottam—the ideal human being who sacrifices himself for others. His is the kind of life to which lesser mortals should aspire; his heroism is based not simply on battlecraft, but upon his ability to put others’ interests before his own. In the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, Rama is the prince of Ayodhya who is about to become king when one of his father’s wives demands that Rama go into exile, and the succession passes to her son instead. Rama leaves with his wife, Sita, and brother Lakshmana. The king of Lanka, Ravana, abducts Sita, and Rama mobilizes an army of monkeys to invade the island fortress, defeating Ravana and rescuing Sita. After 14 years, Rama finally rules Ayodhya, leading to a golden age.

The BJP sees the construction of the Ram Mandir temple as evidence of its single-minded determination, no matter how long it takes. Formed in 1980 by some members of the former Janata Party, the BJP initially struggled electorally. It briefly held power in the 1990s and led a coalition government between 1999 and 2004. In 2014, Modi projected himself as committed to development and boosted the BJP’s vote share to win a majority of seats in parliament with 31 percent of the national vote; five years later, the party increased its tally to 303 seats out of 542, winning 37 percent of the vote. The temple project follows other promises kept by Modi’s government: revoking the special autonomous status of Indian-administered Kashmir and introducing a citizenship act that created a pathway to Indian citizenship for asylum-seekers from neighboring countries but excluded Muslims. Modi has shown that he is the man who gets things done.

The BJP capitalized on three major changes that occurred in India in the 1980s to build its identity and increase its vote share. First, many Indians bristled at how India practiced secularism, perceiving the government as granting special favors to religious communities, such as subsidies for Muslims to perform the Hajj and curriculum exemptions for faith-based schools. Second, Indians were tired of living in an economy beset by sluggish growth and shoddy products due to socialist policies that restricted foreign investment and trade. (That changed in 1991, when the Congress government deregulated the economy.)

Finally, India was a leader in the Non-Aligned Movement, but the appeal of nonalignment was fading with the decline of Soviet influence and the eventual disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Congress party ruled India for most of its first 49 years post-independence, and it was instrumental in developing India’s secularism, socialism, and nonalignment. The BJP took advantage of public disenchantment and stepped into the void, promising “equality for all, appeasement to none,” to promote a market-based economy, and to reset its foreign policy, often aligning with Western interests. (Still, the BJP pursues strategic autonomy in many respects, such as its continuing trade ties with Russia despite Western sanctions.)

Most politicians have the next election on their mind; Modi and the BJP leadership have the next generation in mind. After all, more than 40 percent of Indians have no living memory of the Babri Masjid mosque. Even in the early years, the party began influencing India’s younger generations in the states where it came to power first, changing textbooks and rewriting history to downplay the roles of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (and his family members who later came to power) and project alternative heroes who were more militant and outwardly Hindu. By promoting Rama as the warrior-king who ruled over an ideal state, the BJP aims to create a constituency of voters who see their identity primarily in religious terms and equate the Hindu faith with the nation of India.

To the BJP’s core voters—the hardwired Hindu nationalists—the party has promised to restore Hindu glories, embodied by the Ram Mandir temple. The events in Ayodhya have set a precedent: Some party activists want to transform more mosques (and, in some instances, churches), claiming they were also built where Hindu temples once stood. The triumphalism around the temple construction is so vicious that not only is it the opposition leaders boycotting the event who are facing criticism, but also four seers of the Hindu faith who have raised a range of objections—including the choice of Modi to perform the ceremony, which they say should be presided over by a priest.

The Hindu nationalist movement’s elevation of Rama over other Hindu deities is also strange. Hinduism is polytheistic, and its literature does not rest on one book. Many interpretations are liberal, and some contradict each other: Skepticism and atheism are also part of certain strands of Hinduism. In the late 1980s, I interviewed Morarji Desai, who had served as India’s prime minister representing the Janata Party. I asked him what he thought of the movement to build the Ram temple on the site of Babri Masjid, and he suggested that the BJP’s ultimate goal was to undermine Hinduism’s pluralism and turn it into a faith with one book (the Ramayana), one place of worship (Ayodhya), and one god (Rama). The slogan now reverberating through Ayodhya and much of India is Jai Shri Ram, or “Victory to Lord Rama.”

Rama is an exceptionally interesting and nuanced literary figure and well-loved outside of India, especially in Southeast Asia. But many Indians do not take kindly to works that present Rama in a different light, such as the late poet A.K. Ramanujan’s celebrated essay, “Three Hundred Ramayanas,” which shows how the epic’s characters appear in different forms and offer different interpretations in India and beyond. Nina Paley’s charming 2008 animated film that draws on the Ramayana, Sita Sings the Blues, was also controversial. The latest victim of this outrage is a Tamil film released on Netflix last month, Annapoorani, about the daughter of a Hindu priest who wants to be a chef; her Muslim friend encourages her to pursue her dream, correctly citing a verse from the Ramayana that shows that Rama ate meat. Some Hindus who practice vegetarianism for religious reasons were offended; Netflix withdrew the film, and the actor who played the protagonist issued a public apology on a “Jai Shri Ram” letterhead.

India is no longer a land of nuances. A significant part of its population wants an assertive government and a black-and-white narrative where subjugated Hindus are reclaiming their identity, and the foreigners who colonized the country in the past—the British and, before them, Muslims—are cast as villains. Such an approach risks turning a multidimensional country into a cardboard caricature of itself. The Ram temple consecration marked another milestone on that path—which Modi walks in the hope of getting elected once again.

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beardedmrbean · 3 months

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OTTAWA — The capital of one of the world’s most stable democracies is gripped by growing panic about foreign agents working in elected office. A bombshell report by Canadian lawmakers has unnerved Parliament Hill, alleging that unnamed politicians have been covertly working with foreign governments.

The revelation in heavily redacted findings released this week by an all-party national security committee adds intrigue to a separate and ongoing inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections.

The new report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is the first to suggest that lawmakers in Canada’s parliament may have helped foreign actors meddle in political campaigns and leadership races. Heightened anxiety in Ottawa about foreign interference comes in the middle of historic global elections where factors such as artificial intelligence and emboldened foreign powers are testing the resilience of democratic systems.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been on the defensive since the allegations broke Monday. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the government to name names.

“The national security committee indicates there are members of this House that have knowingly worked for foreign hostile governments,” Poilievre said Wednesday. “Canadians have a right to know who and what is the information — who are they?”

The findings put pressure on Canada's national police force to investigate potential criminal charges. The report also refuels debate on the ability of the federal government’s deterrence mechanisms to curb foreign interference in a country whose political and legal system is considered one of the highest-performing in the world.

The all-party NSICOP said Monday that it has reviewed intelligence that suggests “semi-witting or witting” parliamentarians have worked with foreign missions to mobilize voters during a political campaign; have taken cash “knowingly or through willful blindness” from foreign missions or their proxies; and have shared privileged information with foreign diplomatic officials.

The committee with top-security clearance said it based its findings on more than 4,000 documents and some 1,000 pieces of evidence. Its report said China remains the largest foreign interference threat to Canada with India the second.

The intelligence included a claim that unnamed parliamentarians are taking direction from unnamed diplomats to “improperly influence” their colleagues or parliamentary business to the benefit of a foreign state.

One of the most damaging lines in Monday’s report points out Canada’s failure to address long-standing challenges in how national security information can be used in criminal proceedings. The report says this is one reason why criminal charges for the potentially illegal activities are unlikely.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Tuesday that she takes the issue seriously. She deflected when asked if Canadians have the right to know the identity of the parliamentarians involved.

“We should recognize this is a new time,” she said, adding that authoritarians want to undermine democracies by sowing public distrust in government.

Freeland would not commit to releasing names, nor did she agree that “sunlight” on the issue would benefit democracy. On Wednesday, after her Liberal party’s weekly caucus meeting, she ignored questions on the topic.

The Trudeau government called an inquiry into foreign interference in September in the wake of claims that the Chinese government helped mobilize voters against a Conservative candidate in western Canada and helped elect another as a Liberal in the Toronto area.

It tasked Justice Marie-Josée Hogue with investigating foreign interference and election meddling, a topic that has also captured the interest of U.S. Congress.

Last fall, Conservative MP Michael Chong appeared before the congressional-executive commission on China to testify about being targeted by Beijing because of his defense of Uyghur issues.

Chong discovered through media reports that a Chinese diplomat had been assigned to collect information on him and his family. Canada’s spy agency has warned other Canadian parliamentarians, including NDP MP Jenny Kwan, that they were also being surveilled by China.

An initial report released by Hogue last month observed that the government’s messy handling of foreign interference has undermined the public’s faith in Canadian democracy.

Hogue’s early findings stated that foreign interference did not significantly influence the 2019 or 2021 federal elections in a way that would have changed the fact that Trudeau’s Liberals won back-to-back minority governments.

The Conservatives were initially quiet about this week’s revelations, but on Wednesday Chong pressed the government to identify the parliamentarians alleged to have colluded with foreign state actors.

“We all know that no responsible government would reveal names under these types of confidential circumstances,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc responded on the floor of the House of Commons.

LeBlanc remained resolute Thursday against calls to release any names based on preliminary information.

“It's important for Canadians to understand that these names are contained in intelligence reports, in some cases, it's uncorroborated or unverified intelligence information,” he told a parliamentary committee studying foreign interference. “The idea that there's a perfect list of names that is entirely reliable that should be released to the public is simply irresponsible.”

David McGuinty, chair of the NSICOP, which published the buzzy redacted report, said the decision to publicize the names of lawmakers is outside of his control.

McGuinty and the nine other NSICOP members with top-secret security clearance are bound by Canada’s Security of Information Act and risk prosecution if they inadvertently reveal classified information, he said.

He wouldn’t say if he’s bothered by sitting in the same party caucus with potential abettors of foreign interference.

“I'm more concerned about the fact that now the government has to move forward on this,” McGuinty said.

#nunyas news #thrilling times

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mundagenta · 9 months

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Knock knock, KaiOS.

The ephemeral taste of innovating nearly obsolete bricks might be reaching its inevitable demise.

Nokia 8110 4G displayed in a kiosk at Mobile World Congress 2018. Image courtesy of Kārlis Dambrāns.

Despite the recent boom of feature phone sales over digital minimalism and dopamine detox trends, the future for KaiOS remains bleak as they fail to be consistent with their promises, thus miserably lagging against established giants in the market.

The good start

KaiOS is a partially open-source operating system developed by the Hong Kong-based company, KaiOS Technologies Inc. It was initially released in October 2017 and was forked from Boot 2 Gecko. Their name is from the Chinese for open – 开 (kāi) which “captures the idea of being inclusive.”

In just one year, they have overtaken Apple’s iOS as the second most popular operating system in India, with Android remaining on top, despite losing their 9% market share. In that same timeframe as well, they managed to sell around 450 million devices worldwide. Furthermore, their platform is compatible to WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Assistant.

To oversimplify things, KaiOS took the Boot 2 Gecko code (based from FirefoxOS) and modified it to run on hardware similar to that of feature phones and added the KaiOS Store. Other than that, they also implemented recent innovations that are becoming today’s standard, like 4G LTE and 5G, GPS, and Wi-Fi. By doing so, they effectively just created a separate phone segment, which some people call as the quasi-smartphones or smart feature phones.

KaiOS specifically chose the hardware present in their devices for an appealing approach to developing markets, like India and Pakistan, to bridge the digital divide and bring cheaper internet access. They removed the touch screen which they consider as the most costly part of the device, and replaced it with a cheaper T9 keypad input. Additionally, their devices only need 256MB to work and are also compatible with cost-efficient Spreadtrum chipsets.

What went wrong

By doing so, they effectively avoided the mistakes that Mozilla made. They chose a target audience first and offered them a product. They made an operating system out of the web but used that as a tool rather than the end goal, the latter being their approach to the digital divide. But not all products are perfect on their own, as their approach is a double-edged sword.

The T9 keypad meant that the apps had to be optimized to work on such inputs. Likewise, dissimilar to FirefoxOS, not all webpages can run on KaiOS devices due to hardware restraints. Such disadvantages make it an appealing short-term solution while their users save up for better entry-level Android devices.

Platform immaturity

The platform is still quite immature, despite five years since its initial launch. Some users claimed that their devices sometimes cannot receive calls, and crashes on related functions constantly. The battery also does not live up to its expectations and provides a ‘disappointing’ performance. Additionally, the calendar’s sync and date functionality is unstable, the alarm clock doesn’t ring from time to time, and the lack of note-taking, file browsing, multitasking, and wide audio format support. Besides, the platform lacked proper app quality control, bug reports, and feedback system, along with a slew of advertisements. Perhaps, the most lambasted functionality of the platform is the T9 input. Users characterized the input as slow and unreliable, thus ineffective for efficient user interface navigation. The predictive text input, which might sound good, is something they’d rather have disabled due to its restraints such as inaccurate suggestions and buggy input.

Some have mentioned that users may be over-estimating KaiOS and pitching it against smartphone platforms. Then on, we can’t deny that a platform still has to be stable and reliable, albeit hardware-restricted. Some went on to compare the system to its older counterparts such as Nokia’s Series 40, Microsoft’s Lumia, Vodafone’s MobiWire, and Blackberry’s Blackberry 10, which the users characterized as more ‘stable.’

Unfortunately, version 2.5.4 onwards faced a downward trend as certain apps were no longer maintained and supported, due to the decrease of development activity. For instance, the optimized Google and YouTube apps have been pulled out from the app store, around the same time as the update. In version 3, WhatsApp support has already been dropped and new app submissions to the store also plummeted. Google Assistant, the primary tool for users to voice type and issue commands (albeit stripped-down in comparison to Android), also dropped KaiOS support last June 30, 2021. Some users reached out to the company regarding this matter, to which they replied that they are developing an in-house voice assistant alternative. Until now, it is nowhere near worldwide coverage, given the limited devices it was shipped upon.

The company and its partners

Even more worse, the problem rests beyond that. The project development of has been consistent enough until the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the company’s blog statement “the growth was still not like how we achieved in the pre-COVID times, but these numbers and new partnerships are going up and in the right direction in this second year of the pandemic.”

In 2022, the project updates has since then plummeted. There weren’t any major announcements across all their social media platforms, even from the company website. Their Github repositories are no exception as well, as they still haven’t received any commits until now. Their only active repo is the gecko-b2g, which serves as the operating system base.

It is not implicit that their users are complaining about the bugs and speculating on the project’s downfall but it seems that they have no proper public relations and customer support as the company fails to actively respond to these messages.

Nokia

Nokia, or should we say, HMD Global has been a primary partner of KaiOS Technologies over the years. They manufactured the higher-end devices of the platform that were considerably the most popular in KaiOS’ lineup, such as the Nokia 6300 4G, Nokia 2780 Flip, and the Nokia 8110 4G.

Regardless, their approach is somehow vague as enthusiasts are confused over what their target audience is supposed to be, and what were they trying in the first place. Their approach started with the reboot of their classic devices, so it’s safe to assume that their target consumers are the ones who are nostalgic over their retro bricks. HMD, for a matter of fact, might have just been the worst example of a KaiOS partner.

Their devices are the most expensive ones of the platform, almost close to the entry-level Android Go smartphones. HMD Global has also been long criticized over the failure to deliver software updates from KaiOS to their devices, as they provide only about a year of support for these. The users also cannot help to complain over the significant bloatware present in such a limited hardware they provide.

Just recently, HMD Global took a step back from this approach and cherished their barebones Series 30 and Series 30+ platforms once again. Their last KaiOS device is the 2780 Flip from November 2022 and was then on followed by a series of Android Go and dumbphones from their C and 1xx series. In a reply to a user inquiry, they reportedly blamed KaiOS as the Google Assistant support for the platform was dropped.

Alcatel and TCL

Alcatel and TCL are also major partners of KaiOS. In fact, TCL Corporation is the largest shareholder of KaiOS Technologies. Both of them are popular for their Go Flip line. Despite the successes of Go Flip 1, 2, 3, and V, they didn’t get to experience the luxury of getting updated to the latest version of the OS, unlike the Go Flip 4. A user reached out to the company, to which they replied that they are still planning to serve these said updates to such devices, although there is still no update to talk of until now.

Unfortunately, similar to HMD Global, they seem to be diverging away from the platform as recent releases from both manufacturers are focused on midrange to high-end Android devices, as well as the Tab series of TCL.

Jio

The Indian telecommunications company, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited is the catalyst of KaiOS’ takeover against Apple in the country, all thanks to their aggressive marketing approach. They offered the competitively priced JioPhone for free to their users who are subscribed to their data plans.

Unluckily, even Jio is also straying away from KaiOS. There have been rumors that the JioPhone and the JioPhone 2 have been discontinued, as they are no longer sold. They last received the version 0258 update back on May 22, 2021, and clearly missed version 3.0 by a long shot. On June 24, 2021, Reliance Jio announced the JioPhone Next, a budget Android Go smartphone made in collaboration with Google. Recently this year, they partnered with Karbonn to release the Jio Bharat K1 Karbonn and V2 to provide access to UPI payments, Jio ecosystem, and cheaper 4G to the rural areas of India that remain untapped by recent advancements in technology.

What happened?

Fast forward to August 2023, users speculate that the project has already died out due to lack of activity and stagnation since the release of 3.0. Their company's social media platforms are inactive, except for the usual, seemingly AI-generated content every national holiday across countries. On the other hand, KaiOS Technologies partnered with the cybersecurity firm Trustonic to expand their device affordability efforts in Africa. There have also been infrequent new device releases for the platform, such as the AT&T Cingular Flex in February, Cricket Debut Flex in June, and Logan Technology’s Panita this August. Truth be told, I find this section rather short and lacking. Unfortunately, I could say the same for the company’s recent efforts. Nonetheless, I hope that things eventually get better. As users worldwide expected a reliable feature phone platform, all these issues contributed to a downward trend of interest for KaiOS. It seems that they might end up like FirefoxOS, failing to keep up and desolate in the past. Whether they wake up to innovate again, or continue dormant and inevitably die out is up for them to decide.

For now, one thing’s for sure, if they fail to address these issues, they’ll be no better than the obsolete bricks of the bygone era.

#KaiOS #smartphone #tech #technology #india #mozilla #firefox #nokia #jio #reliance jio #alcatel

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timestechnow · 4 days

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#India Mobile Congress #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI #Department of Telecommunications #electronicsnews #technologynews

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electronicsbuzz · 3 days

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#industry #AI #India_Mobile_Congress_2024 #innovative_AI_solutions #collaboration #technology #powerelectronics #powermanagement #powersemiconductor

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schooldekho91 · 1 month

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Top Influential Women Freedom Fighters of India: Icons of Courage and Independence

India's struggle for independence was marked by the remarkable courage and resilience of many individuals. Among them, women freedom fighters played an indispensable role, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in the fight against British colonialism. These women were not only warriors in the literal sense but also leaders, thinkers, and social reformers who challenged societal norms and ignited the flames of liberation. In this article, we delve deep into the lives and contributions of some of the most influential women freedom fighters of India whose sacrifices and determination paved the way for the nation's freedom.

1. Rani Lakshmibai: The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

Rani Lakshmibai, also known as the Queen of Jhansi, is perhaps the most iconic figure among India's women freedom fighters. Born in 1828, she became the queen of Jhansi at a young age and quickly emerged as a symbol of resistance against British rule. Her defiance against the Doctrine of Lapse, which threatened to annex her kingdom, sparked the first war of Indian independence in 1857.

With unmatched bravery, Rani Lakshmibai led her troops into battle, wielding a sword and riding into the fray herself. Her leadership and military acumen made her a formidable opponent to the British forces. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, she continued to fight until her last breath, becoming a martyr and an eternal symbol of Indian resistance. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians, especially women, to fight for their rights and dignity.

2. Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale of India

Sarojini Naidu, known as the Nightingale of India, was a multifaceted personality— a poet, orator, and politician— who played a pivotal role in India's freedom struggle. Born in 1879, Naidu was a brilliant student and a gifted poet who used her eloquence and literary prowess to inspire and mobilize people against British rule.

Naidu was an active participant in the Indian National Congress and was the first woman to serve as its president in 1925. She was also one of the prominent leaders during the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement. Her arrest and imprisonment by the British did not deter her spirit; rather, it strengthened her resolve to fight for India's independence.

As a leader, Sarojini Naidu championed the causes of women's rights, education, and social reform. Her speeches and writings remain a testament to her enduring influence on India's freedom movement and her unwavering commitment to the cause of independence.

3. Kasturba Gandhi: The Pillar of Non-Violence

Kasturba Gandhi, the wife of Mahatma Gandhi, played a significant yet often understated role in India's freedom struggle. Born in 1869, Kasturba was a steadfast companion to her husband, actively participating in his campaigns for social justice and independence. She became deeply involved in the Satyagraha movements, advocating for non-violent resistance against British oppression.

Kasturba Gandhi's contribution to the freedom struggle was marked by her leadership in various protests, particularly in South Africa and India. She worked tirelessly for the upliftment of women, the eradication of untouchability, and the promotion of education. Her strength, patience, and commitment to the principles of non-violence made her an integral part of the Indian independence movement.

Even in the face of personal loss and suffering, Kasturba remained a staunch supporter of her husband's ideals, and her sacrifices continue to be remembered as an essential part of India's journey to freedom.

4. Begum Hazrat Mahal: The Rebel of Awadh

Begum Hazrat Mahal was a fierce and courageous leader who played a critical role in the 1857 Indian Rebellion. Born in 1820, she became the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. After the British annexed Awadh and exiled her husband, Begum Hazrat Mahal took up the mantle of leadership and led the resistance against the British forces.

She was a brilliant strategist and a fearless fighter, rallying the people of Awadh to stand against British rule. Her leadership in the siege of Lucknow was particularly notable, as she managed to hold off the British forces for several months. Despite the eventual defeat, Begum Hazrat Mahal's legacy as a rebel leader remains strong. She is remembered as a symbol of resistance and courage, and her story is a testament to the strength and determination of Indian women in the fight for independence.

5. Aruna Asaf Ali: The Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement

Aruna Asaf Ali was a prominent freedom fighter and a leading figure in the Quit India Movement of 1942. Born in 1909, she was known for her revolutionary activities and her boldness in challenging British authority. Aruna Asaf Ali's most significant contribution came when she hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement, defying British orders.

Her actions galvanized the nation and made her a symbol of the resistance against colonial rule. Despite being arrested and enduring harsh treatment in jail, Aruna Asaf Ali remained undeterred in her commitment to India's independence. After independence, she continued to work for social causes and was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of her contributions to the nation.

6. Kamala Nehru: The Woman Behind the Leader

Kamala Nehru, wife of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was an influential figure in the freedom movement. Born in 1899, Kamala Nehru was deeply involved in the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. She organized and led protests, particularly in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), where she mobilized women to participate in the struggle for independence.

Kamala Nehru's health was often frail, but her determination was unwavering. She played a crucial role in the Salt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement, despite her deteriorating health. Her dedication to the cause and her role in supporting her husband's political career made her an indispensable part of the freedom movement.

7. Lakshmi Sahgal: The Warrior of the Indian National Army

Lakshmi Sahgal, also known as Captain Lakshmi, was a revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. Born in 1914, Lakshmi Sahgal was a doctor by profession, but her passion for India's freedom led her to join the INA.

She was appointed as the commander of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-women regiment in the INA, making her one of the first women to lead an armed force in modern Indian history. Lakshmi Sahgal's leadership and her commitment to the INA's cause made her a significant figure in the fight for independence. Even after the INA's defeat, she continued to work for social causes and was honored with numerous awards for her contributions to the nation.

Conclusion

The contributions of these influential women freedom fighters of India were instrumental in shaping the course of the nation's history. Their courage, resilience, and determination to fight against oppression have left an indelible mark on India's struggle for independence. These women not only broke the shackles of colonialism but also challenged the deeply entrenched patriarchal norms of their time, paving the way for future generations to dream of a free and equal society.

#women fighter #freedom fighters

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pooma-education · 1 month

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Quit India Movement

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, was a pivotal event in the Indian struggle for independence from British rule. Launched on August 8, 1942, by the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the movement marked a significant escalation in the efforts to end British colonialism.

Background

The backdrop of the Quit India Movement was the growing dissatisfaction with British rule in India, exacerbated by World War II. The British decision to involve India in the war without consulting Indian leaders fuelled widespread anger. The failure of the Cripps Mission in March 1942, which proposed limited self-government after the war, further deepened the discontent.

Gandhi, who had long advocated for non-violent resistance, believed that the time had come for a decisive push towards independence. He called for the British to "Quit India" immediately, arguing that their departure was essential for India's welfare and global peace.

Launch of the Movement

On August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee, Gandhi gave his famous "Do or Die" speech, urging Indians to take up the struggle for freedom through non-violent means. The Quit India resolution was passed, demanding an end to British rule in India. Gandhi's call resonated deeply with the masses, and the movement quickly spread across the country.

Response and Repression

The British government responded swiftly and harshly to the Quit India Movement. Almost all of the top Indian leaders, including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, were arrested. The Congress Party was declared illegal, and the movement was met with brutal repression. Despite the crackdown, the movement sparked widespread protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience throughout India.

Ordinary citizens, students, and even workers joined in large numbers. In some areas, the protests turned violent, with attacks on government buildings, communication networks, and other symbols of British authority. The British used excessive force to quell the uprisings, leading to thousands of deaths and arrests.

Impact and Significance

Although the Quit India Movement was crushed within a few months, its significance was far-reaching. It demonstrated the widespread desire for independence and the Indian people's willingness to make sacrifices for their freedom. The British realized that their hold on India was weakening, and the movement intensified the resolve of Indian leaders to achieve independence.

The repression of the movement also led to increased international criticism of British policies in India. By the end of World War II, the British government was more inclined to negotiate with Indian leaders, setting the stage for India's eventual independence in 1947.

Conclusion

The Quit India Movement stands as a testament to the power of mass mobilization and the indomitable spirit of the Indian people. It was a critical step in the long journey toward India's independence, highlighting the resolve of the Indian masses and their leaders to end colonial rule. The movement remains a symbol of India's struggle for freedom and its enduring commitment to justice and self-determination. Jai hind!

(About the writer: Ms Priya Durairaj, The UN women designate)

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graphaizesmm · 2 months

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Lok Sabha Seats 2024: Visualizing Election

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are set to redefine India’s political landscape, with prominent alliances like the NDA and INDI vying for dominance. Currently, the NDA holds a considerable number of seats, yet forecasts suggest a tight race. This article explores the 2024 Lok Sabha seat statistics, offering a clear and visual representation of the shifting electoral dynamics. Through detailed infographics and data visuals, we aim to provide an in-depth analysis of how political alliances are evolving for the upcoming elections. Stay with us to grasp the intricate details and trends influencing one of the most significant elections in recent Indian history.

Busting Modi’s “400 Paar” promise

During the 2019 Indian general election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi boldly promised to achieve “400 paar” (crossing 400 seats) in the Lok Sabha elections. Despite the BJP’s good performance leading to the most voted party, they fell short of this ambitious goal, securing just 240 seats. This pledge, while showcasing the party’s confidence and aggressive campaigning strategy, ultimately was not fulfilled.

Critics argue that the “400 paar” promise was overly optimistic, possibly a strategic move to energize the party’s base and create an image of invincibility. The final results, though a clear victory for the BJP, highlighted the limitations of political forecasting and the complexities of voter behavior in a diverse and vast democracy like India. This outcome emphasized the challenges in converting campaign rhetoric into electoral reality and underscored the dynamic nature of Indian politics.

Various polls and political analyses project the NDA securing around 290-320 seats, falling short of the 400-seat mark. The INDI alliance and other political entities have made significant inroads, complicating the NDA’s path to a supermajority.

The surprising rise of the INDI Alliance

The surprising rise of the INDI Alliance has notably reshaped India’s political landscape. Formed as a coalition of opposition parties, the alliance aims to present a unified front against the BJP. The coalition includes major players like the Indian National Congress, which has seen a resurgence in influence, and the Samajwadi Party (SP), which has consolidated its regional base.

The formation of the INDI Alliance is a strategic move to pool resources and voter bases, creating a formidable challenge to the BJP’s dominance. Congress’s growth within the alliance is notable, leveraging its national presence and historical legacy to rally support. The SP, with its stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, adds significant weight to the coalition, enhancing its ability to mobilize voters.

This alliance effectively challenges the BJP by presenting a cohesive alternative, addressing key issues like economic disparity, social justice, and democratic governance. Their collaborative efforts resonate with a diverse electorate, making the upcoming elections highly competitive and unpredictable. The INDI Alliance’s rise highlights the evolving dynamics of Indian politics and the potential for coalition politics to disrupt established power structures.

No clear majority: The role of kingmakers

India’s political landscape often sees scenarios where no party secures a clear majority, leading to the emergence of kingmakers who play pivotal roles in government formation. This time BJP’s long time ally Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) and Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) helped the party in forming the government.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach, the political landscape in India is more unpredictable than ever. The “400 paar” promise by Prime Minister Modi has highlighted the ambitious goals of the NDA, but current projections suggest they may fall short of this target. Meanwhile, the emergence of the INDI Alliance has introduced a new dynamic, reshaping alliances and creating a more competitive field.

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