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hand-picked-star · 3 months ago

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The 13th Anniversary Arshi feista

Moodboard : Historical AU

Whispers of the Heart | Chapter 21

DISCLAIMER: The story is set in the early 20th century. While I have made efforts to capture the essence of the era, there may be inaccuracies as this is a work of fantasy. I do not own the characters Arnav and Khushi, and this story is purely fictional with no relation to any real individuals, living or dead. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

WARNING: 18+, MATURE CONTENT

Chapter 21

The next few months brought a hectic change to Khushi's life. As their return to India was delayed, she finally enrolled for her last semester at the University of London. Living in a foreign country was one thing, but attending university with people from different cultures was a completely different experience altogether. Though the experience was terrifying at times, it was also profoundly wholesome.

She also met two of her best friends, whom she would cherish for the rest of her life. They would become her partners in establishing the charitable foundation "Little Happiness" which she would build later in her life from scratch. They would also be the first people, besides Arnav, to read the first draft of her debut book, actually almost every book, she would write in future.

One of them, Nithin Kingsley, "Hamari dost hume pyaar se NK bulate hain"-that's his words, not Khushi's, was someone she met in the neighbourhood actually. NK was Devyani Ji's grandson, the son of her daughter who lived in Spain. NK wanted to visit India, so he came to see his grandmother to refine his Hindi. During his stay, Nani Ji, Khushi, and NK embarked on a hilarious journey to sharpen NK's Hindi skills. Through their amusing and sometimes chaotic attempts, NK and Khushi formed an unlikely friendship that lasted a lifetime.

And the other best friend she met, was in university through the extracurricular society she had reluctantly signed up for to earn extra credits. She chose the literary society, driven by her lifelong aspiration to become a writer. The members were divided into groups of ten, each tasked with staging a play in collaboration with the theatrical society. Her group was assigned the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare.

It was during the preparation for the play that she met Lalita Kensington. Lalita was the leader of the team, barking orders at everyone. She appointed Khushi with the duty of setting up the fairy lights on the stage to set up the right mood for the actors. Somehow, unbeknownst to anyone, Khushi got entangled in the fairy lights, which were accidentally switched on. From that moment, the team started calling her "Chamkili" to tease her. One day, when Lalita called her by that name, Khushi stood up to her and said she didn't like being called 'Chamkili'.

That day, after wrapping up their dialogue writing class for the literary society, Lalita offered Khushi a bar of chocolate and a dazzling smile.

"Hello, my name is Lalita Kensington. My friends affectionately call me 'La.' You can call me that too," Lalita said, extending a hand to Khushi. "I am sorry I called you 'Chamkili' earlier."

"It's okay," Khushi chuckled, offering her a friendly smile. "Hi, my name is Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. People affectionately call me Khushi."

"Wow, you have such a long name. But why did you laugh? Are you making fun of my name?" Lalita asked scrunching her eyebrows.

"No, no. Your name reminded me of my neighbour. He talks like you, actually. His name is Nithin Kingsley, but people affectionately called him NK." They both shared a gleeful laugh.

"Is he cute?"

And that's how their banter began, becoming seemingly unstoppable whenever these two friends got together. They bonded over their shared love for literature and food. And Khushi found a precious friendship she had never expected. So it was very surreal for Khushi when the two best friends of hers met and formed an instant connection.

It was her 20th birthday. Nani Ji and NK had planned a surprise for her. Nani Ji baked a cake and came to visit her in the afternoon. Khushi was so happy. She made jalebis and rabri for her birthday and offered them to Nani Ji and NK. As she was making tea for them, the doorbell rang.

"Khushi ji, chinta mat kijiye. Main dekhta hoon," NK's voice filtered through the kitchen.

As NK opened the door, it felt as though time had slowed down. He came face to face with a girl who made his heart almost stop beating as he stared at her without blinking even once.

"Hello," Lalita said, waving a hand in front of him.

"Hi," he murmured breathlessly.

"Who are you? Where's Khushi?"

"Main Khushi ji ka beiman hu."

"Aap Khushi ka kya hain?" she said, doing a double take.

"Beiman, you know, guest."

"Beiman nahi, mehman hota hain."

"Aap Indian ho?"

"Half-Indian. Meri ma Indian hain, dad British."

"Mera bhi. Actually my mom is half-Indian and dad British."

As Khushi approached the front door, she found NK staring foolishly at her best friend with heart-eyes.

Lalita asked Khushi lowly, "Who's this cartoon?"

"La, this is my neighbour I told you about, remember? La, meet Nithin Kingsley, aka NK."

"Hi, I am NK. Aur aapki takleef?"

"What?" Lalita rolled her eyes and added, "Takleef nahi, tareef hota hai. I am La, I mean Lalita Kensington."

"Aap meri dil ki baat kitni achi tarah se jaanti hain, Lalita ji."

Khushi saw Lalita roll her eyes at him again, but a small smile ghosted her lips as he gazed at her with stars in his eyes. Over the next few weeks, NK talked her head off by alternately talking about Lalita and how much he would miss Khushi when she leaves London next month.

"Lalita ji kitni nice hai na, I mean unka face, unki aankhein, unki baal, unki naazuk haath, sab kuch..sab kuch...kitna... kitna nice hai na.....Aur lalita ji jab bathein karti hain....oh..oh..hoo..wow, ese lagta hain ke jese ki saari duniya geyi jhaar mein."

"Hmm."

"Khushi ji, aap agle mahine chale jayenge, hum aapko bohot miss karenge."

"NK, I'll give you my address. Come visit me when you come to India."

The remaining time before going back to India was spent preparing and saying goodbyes. It was a bittersweet moment for Khushi. As for Arnav, he didn't form any emotional attachment to the city, but Khushi had a feeling that she would miss it somehow. She would always hold dear the moments, good or bad, that she spent in this city. She would miss Devyani Ji, NK, and La. She would always miss the cottage that had seen so many of their moments and had been with them through thick and thin. She would also remember the bitter moments, as those had taught her to be better in life.

"Do you need any help wearing that saree? " Arnav asked from the doorway of their room, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"NO, absolutely not. don't come near me," Khushi said rapidly shaking her head. "I don't want to be late for this party."

"Come on, let me help. You're obviously struggling over there," Arnav said, moving closer. "See, this part is sticking out." He tugged at a loose part of her saree from her waist, causing the fabric to unravel completely.

"Arnav!!!!!" Khushi whined, stomping her feet.

Arnav raised his hands in a sign of surrender and flopped down on the bed, hugging a pillow.

"Since when did you make so many best friends? Now you want to go to a girl's birthday party you met six months ago instead of spending this Sunday evening with your husband. I thought I was your best friend," he said, sulking a little.

Khushi let go of the saree and carefully draped it over the back of a chair in the corner of their room, and went to him.

"You are my ultimate best friend," she said, kissing his cheek. "And you will come with me too. When I can attend La's birthday again, only God knows."

"No, I don't want to be at a girly party. I'll drop you off and then pick you up," he said broodily. "Don't you have NK to accompany you, by the way?"

"Come on, Arnav, kya aap hamare liye itna bhi nahi kar sakte?" she said, messily kissing him all over his face.

"Gimme some more, then I'll think about it," Arnav mumbled with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

Khushi started kissing his face with renewed enthusiasm. "Please, Arnav... please... please...please," she punctuated each word with a kiss.

Laughing out loud, Arnav rolled them over, bringing her body beneath his as he captured her lips.

"Don't make me late," Khushi whispered against his lips.

"It's not late Khushi. It's called fashionablely late," he said deepening the kiss.

It was her graduation day. As Khushi stood at the crossroads, where one chapter ended and another began, she looked back at her life and couldn't help but feel a deep swell of pride for the journey that had brought her to this moment. She wasn't supposed to be here-by all accounts, the path that led to this grand hall in London, dressed in her cap and gown, was one she was never meant to walk. Yet here she was, standing among her peers, experiencing the culmination of her dreams in this prestigious graduation ceremony.

As Khushi approached the stage to collect her degree, her eyes instinctively sought out Arnav in the crowd. He was beaming at her, pride shining unmistakably in his eyes, a look that warmed her heart and steadied her nerves. Beside him, NK and La were clapping and cheering loudly, their excitement echoing through the grand hall. Their support wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, filling her with a sense of belonging and accomplishment as she prepared to take the final step in this remarkable journey.

Lavanya paced the length of her dimly lit study, the soft light of the antique lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Her gaze fell upon the framed photographs of her youth scattered on the desk. The faces of her friends, her late mother, and a younger, more carefree Lavanya stared back at her. She sighed, her reflection in the polished wood of the desk a reminder of the person she used to be.

She thought about her mother, who had passed away when she was just twelve. A profound sadness washed over her as she wondered if her mother would be proud of the person she had become-resentful, vindictive, and delusional. The answer, she realized, was no. Her mother would not be proud.

For the past ten years, Lavanya had navigated life largely on her own. Her father's absenteeism had been compensated with expensive gifts and empty promises. He would often say, "Lavanya, you can have anything you want, dear." She grew up believing that she could indeed have everything she desired, and she did. She gained a myriad of material possessions and excelled in academic proficiency, yet there was one thing she couldn't have-HIM.

Her childhood friends, Pam and Sim, often told her, "Lavanya, you are so beautiful. You can have anyone worshipping the ground you walk on." Yet, despite their reassurances and the suitors who pursued her, Lavanya had eyes only for Arnav. He possessed an elusive quality that enchanted her, a quality so captivating that she failed to see she was building a castle in the clouds.

Arnav's words rang true. "It's but a shadow and a thought that you love." He was right. She had convinced herself that she loved him and envisioned a future together, yet she knew so little about him. She did not know about his dreams, his fears, what made him tick and all the things that mattered to him at all, nothing. In her obsession with Arnav, she had turned her own life into a distorted reflection of what she thought love should be. Her fixation had not only clouded her judgment but had also caused pain to someone who had been entirely innocent in this process.

Lavanya gave the driver meticulous directions to her destination. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car. Her heart pounded with anxiety, as she had no idea how she would react.

As she approached the house, Lavanya saw her through the window, curled up with a book. She drew a deep breath, steadying her shaking hands before knocking, a small bouquet of white tulips clutched nervously in her hand.

Khushi answered after a moment, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Lavanya standing on the doorstep. The tension in the air was palpable, but Lavanya offered a tentative smile. "Hi," she began, her voice softer, "I hope I'm not intruding."

Khushi hesitated, then stepped back to allow her inside. "What brings you here?"

"I came to talk," Lavanya said, holding out the tulips with a nervous smile. "I brought these for you. I know it's not much, but I wanted to bring something."

Khushi accepted the flowers with a hesitant hand, unsure of Lavanya's intent. "Thank you."

They settled in the cozy living room, the warm glow of the fireplace contrasting sharply with the chill Lavanya felt. Lavanya kept wriggling her fingers.

"Would you like some tea?" Khushi asked politely. She had no intention to be in her presence longer than absolutely necessary.

"Sure."

As they sipped their tea wordlessly, an awkward silence fell over them.

"I don't know where to begin," Lavanya started, her voice trembling. "I've come to apologize to you....for how I behaved, for the things I said...... I know I've hurt you immensely with my actions." She paused, licking her dry lips, "...and I am truly sorry for that."

Khushi looked at her, dumbfounded, not expecting the apology at all. "I don't know, Mrs. Kashyap," she said slowly. "What do you expect me to say?"

"You don't have to say anything. I'm being selfish here once again actually. I just need to say 'sorry' to you before you go back to India," Lavanya added. "I know you don't need my apology, but I am truly sorry."

"I'll take my leave now," Lavanya said, standing up. "If possible, please forgive me."

Khushi looked at her retreating form with a wistful expression on her face. it felt like drawing an end to a specific chapter of her life.

@featheredclover @arshifiesta @phuljari @chutkiandchotte @msbhagirathi @jalebi-weds-bluetooth

#ipkknd #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta #arshi #ipk 13th anniversary fiesta #13 years of ipkknd #whispers of the heart

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fatehbaz · 1 year ago

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[T]he advent of British imperialism in Myanmar. Elephants in their thousands were conscripted into the timber industry. [...] [An] episode in the history of the ecological impact of imperialism [...]. Accumulation in colonial Myanmar took several different forms, but there were two that had the greatest impact on the country's elephant populations. One was the extractive teak industry [...]. The other was the rice industry [...].

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During the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Myanmar became one of the world's biggest exporters of hardwoods. Teak was particularly desirable for its use in the production of ships, railway sleepers and luxury furniture. The rapid development of the timber industry was a vital motor in the expansion of capitalist and colonial relations in this often neglected corner of the Raj. Teak traders financed from Britain were vocal in lobbying Westminster and the Government of India to colonise the landlocked rump of territory [...]. Following the eventual annexation of upper Myanmar in 1885, they continued to inveigle the local government into interceding on their behalf in the borderlands with Siam [...]. Extractive logging operations [...] came into conflict with the shifting subsistence farming of some indigenous Karen communities. [...] Vital to the industry were elephants. [...] [T]he British regime asserted that elephants were the property of the state. [...] Moreover, elephants in the colony were not readily amenable to being controlled; officials were alarmed by herds of hundreds of elephants periodically wreaking destruction on freshly cleared agricultural lands, particularly as rice cultivation accelerated in the 1880s.

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The booming rice industry developed alongside the growth of the teak industry and had direct effects on elephant populations.

Like teak extraction, rice cultivation in Myanmar was of transnational importance. The rich alluvial soil provided fertile ground for the Ayeyarwady delta to undergo a dramatic transformation to become the largest rice-producing region in the world, having a ripple effect across the global cereal market.

The white rice exported from Myanmar fed colonised labouring peoples (and some non-human animals) engaged in commodity production across the Empire, most notably in neighbouring Bengal. The delta was crucial to an interdependent network of food security established through and underpinning British imperialism.

The changes on the delta itself were profound, both socially and ecologically. [...] [F]rom the 1850s what was still predominantly a mangrove-forested backwater at the margins of political power became a febrile hive of activity. Sparsely populated, isolated hamlets, hemmed in by the thick jungles and thickets of dense grass in the tidal delta, became enmeshed in an extensive tapestry of paddy fields, their populations growing fivefold to become thriving commercial hubs, connected by a busy riverine transport network to the bustling imperial port cities of Akyab (now Sittwe), Mawlamyine and Yangon. [...]

Thick forest needed to be felled, the undergrowth burnt, and the remaining dense network of roots dug out [...]. This work was underpinned by heavy borrowing, mostly from local Burmese and overseas Indian sources, and misfortune could lead to them defaulting on their loan and losing their land to their creditor. [...]

The ecological transformation was rapid, and from an elephant's perspective at least, profound. Focusing in on one of the fastest-growing deltaic areas between 1880 and 1920, around the townships of Thôngwa and Myaungmya, the impact is pronounced. Correspondence in 1886 identified 230 elephants living in the local forests. They would frequently raid freshly cultivated paddy fields, destroying crops [...]. However, just thirty years later, the local settlement report recorded that there were no longer any elephants left in the area. [...] [T]he rapid deforestation of the area to make way for paddy is likely to have been what displaced the local elephant populations. [...]

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[T]he government explored the prospect of organising official kheddahs [...] to solve two problems at once: to eliminate the problem of these rapacious elephants’ raids while meeting growing demands for elephant labour. [...]

At the same time, elephants became more important, indeed indispensable, for commercial teak extraction. In the analysis of former employees turned historians of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, the largest teak firm operating in Myanmar, the acquisition of large herds of working elephants was pivotal in enabling imperial companies to dominate logging. [...]

The kheddah is a large stockade into which elephants are corralled after being chased down by humans [...]. [T]he Government of India was moved to sanction the establishment of kheddah operations in the colony in 1902, although the move was quickly exposed as an expensive, ill-fated folly. The scheme resulted in an appalling mortality rate, with roughly half the over 500 elephants captured in its first four years of operation dying of disease, neglect and trauma-induced breakdowns. To make matters worse, the superintendent, Ian Hew Warrender Dalrymple-Clark, was exposed in a dramatic court case as having adopted an alter ego, Mr Green, for the purposes of faking the deaths of elephants through forged paperwork, and selling them directly to timber firms, leaving the state out of pocket. The British regime, never entirely successful in realising its claim to Myanmar's elephants, left the capture of elephants mostly to colonised peoples through a licensing scheme.

These arrangements enabled the large timber firms, such as the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, to establish considerable herds of captive elephants [...]. By 1914 the Corporation had amassed a herd of 1,753 elephants. [...] Estimates for the overall number of timber elephants employed by the 1940s vary, but a figure of around 7,000, or 10,000 including calves, would seem plausible. [...]

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Elephants in Myanmar were caught between two modes of accumulation. The timber industry demanded their labour [...]. Meanwhile, the expansion of the rice industry was enabled [...] by cultivating more and more land. The resulting deforestation meant significant habitat loss and fragmentation for elephant populations. [...] Nevertheless, the history of elephants contains multitudes. Creatures, such as dung beetles and frogs, who rarely make it into archival collections in their own right, were intertwined and implicated in the lives of Myanmar's forest-dwelling giants. The transformations in elephant demographics and behaviour wrought by their mobilisation for teak production, the destruction of much of their habitats, [...] cascaded.

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All text above by: Jonathan Saha. “Accumulations and Cascades: Burmese Elephants and the Ecological Impact of British Imperialism.” Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 32, pp. 177-197. 2022. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks added by me.]

#ecology #abolition #imperial #colonial #landscape

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zvaigzdelasas · 11 months ago

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Maldives president courts investors in China as Indian ties sag - Reuters

At an "Invest Maldives" forum in a southern Chinese port city, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu shook hands and exchanged words with smiling local officials on a China visit set to deepen bilateral ties as the archipelagic nation pirouettes [sic?] away from India.[...]

Muizzu became president of the Indian Ocean nation in November after winning on his "India Out" campaign platform under which he called New Delhi's huge influence a threat to sovereignty. His government has since asked dozens of locally based Indian military personnel to leave. And in an apparent snub to India, Muizzu is in China this week, before any visit to his country's giant neighbour. In Fuzhou, the Chinese city designated as the start of China's maritime "Silk Road", Muizzu said China remained one of his country's "closest allies and developmental partners", according to a statement released by his office. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Increasing export of fish products to China under the two countries' free trade agreement will be a key priority, Muizzu added. Fishing is the largest source of employment in the Maldives, where 99% of its territory comprises the sea. Aquatic products account for over 98% of exports by volume and value. Muizzu also said his government was keen to explore partnerships under Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, including the expansion of the country's central airport and commercial port.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at building a global trade and infrastructure network, China has already helped expand the Velana International Airport in Male and built the cross-sea China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.[...]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was snorkelling last week in Lakshadweep, an archipelago of atolls and reefs off the coast of Kerala, a visit that some viewed as an attempt to draw tourists away from the nearby Maldivian islands.[...]

Modi's Lakshadweep visit prompted three Maldivian government officials to call him names including "a clown", leading some Indian tourists to share screenshots of cancelled bookings of Maldivian holidays. #ExploreIndianIslands became a trending hashtag in India on X. One of India's largest travel platforms suspended flight bookings to the tourism-dependent Maldives on Monday . "India's strained relations with certain countries in South Asia can be attributed to its perception of being the regional boss," China's Global Times reported on Monday, citing analysts. And, the newspaper added, quoting a Chinese academic, India's current "nervousness" about Muizzu's visit to China showed its "lack of confidence".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promotion of tourism on an Indian island chain has sparked a row with the Maldives after senior officials from that country accused Modi of being a “puppet of Israel”.[...]

Maryam Shiuna, a deputy minister in the Maldives’ government, labelled Modi “a clown” and “puppet of Israel” on X. Another official slammed Modi as a “terrorist”.[...]

After the uproar, the Maldivian government said it had suspended three deputy ministers who made the critical remarks. Their social media posts were deleted and disavowed by the government. But Modi is close to Israel, and on Monday an account on X linked to the Israeli embassy in India appeared to turn the criticism against Modi into a sign of endorsement. “We were in #Lakshadweep last year upon the federal government's request to initiate the desalination program,” the social media post said. “Israel is ready to commence working on this project tomorrow.” Other social media users critical of Modi reacted to the news, seemingly praising the Maldivian officials.

9 Jan 24

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psychologeek · 10 months ago

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@notaconservative asked:

@psychologeek also why does there need to be a Jewish ethnostate? There's no Christian ethnostate or Islamic ethnostate.. Isn't not allowing ppl to live in your country based on race a nazi thing?

(I apologise for any English mistakes. I'm sick, but it's important so I want to answer quickly).

First of all - Judaism is both ethnicity and a religion, but Islam and Christianity aren't, so I changed your question slightly.

There aren't other religionstates

Actually, there are many Muslim states (57, 56 of them mention Islamic law in their constitution/similar) and christian states (100+). You're just used to consider it as the "default", so you don't really see it.

Some questions to see it more clearly:

What day the work week starts?(Sunday? Monday? Saturday?)

What are the "default" holiday/vacation days in the country? (Eg. Christmas and Easter? Passover and Sukkot? Eed (id?) AlFiter and Mawlid Un Nabi? Lunar new year?)

What is the calendar used in the country? Just the Georgian calendar, or any relation to the the jewish calander, the Hijra, or other calanders?

I can continue, but I guess you understand.

(If you don't, try compare the calanders from same year of America, China, India, Morocco and Israel.)

Example of September 2018, not full though (I used it as I wrote a multicultural fic, and didn't want to miss dates)

(Ignore the cubes, it's a reminder for things mentioned in the fic)

Race and Religion (ft. Nazis).

Like I said at the start, it looks like a confusion between race, ethnicity, and religion.

Race - fake thing, based on skin colour and og continent?. (Ok, not completely, I guess? But as 90% of the people I know are any version of mix, so...)

What the Nazis wanted was world with only clean-best-people, looking for the übermantch, the "super-man". This is same reason they killed gays and disabled people - they "filth" the pureblood Aris.

I won't get deeper into it. As jew, queer and disabled, I'm very tired of hearing why my death is a good thing.

Religion - what one believes, or follow. Usually has a mixture of ritual (things to do), beliefs (things to feel/think), and many ways affects daily life, like having rules about what to do, how to behave, etc.

(I tried to use the most common things, so it would apply to not only monotheism.)

Ethnicity:

Ethnicity - culture and history and narrative. where did you come from.

Im other people's words:

Ethnicity has been defined as: "the social group a person belongs to, and either identifies with or is identified with by others, as a result of a mix of cultural and other factors including language, diet, religion, ancestry and physical features traditionally associated with race".

As you can see, Judaism is a religion, but also ethnicity - we have our language, Hebrew (the oldest artifact with Hebrew writing is about 3,300 years old), religion (Judaism), diet (Kosher), ancestry (all descendants of Yaakov, also known as Israel, that was the son of Itzhak, the son of Avraham, etc.) physical features - even the most Ashkenazi Met, blond, blue eyes, lobster-in-the-son Jew (that was born to Jewish family, not converted) has more in common, DNA speaking, with middle Easterns then with their neighbours.

("But Psy," I imagine you asking, "how do you get blond jews?"

Well.

The same way you get a redhead, green eyed Yemeni

(in Aden, a British colony)

We are used to pogroms. We are the descendants of those who didn't die. I'll leave it that way.)

Not allowing ppl to live in your country based on race.

Again, I think you meant either ethnicity or religion?

Anyway, pure facts:

20% (2m) of the citizens of Israel are Arabs (from arab-speaking communities.)

84% of those, or 18.1% of Israel population (~1.6m) are Muslims, 8%, or 1.3% of IP (~160k) are Christians, another 8% (1.5% of ip) are Druze, that sometimes prefer to be considered as their own separate group.

Also other minorities such as Circassians (Adigas), Bahá'í, etc.

~5.5% are "other"/no religion registered.

(data from the central bureau of statistics. On the top left you can change the language to any of Israel official languages: Hebrew, Arabic or English: https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/pages/default.aspx

(some of the data might be available in Russian, Amharic, Francis, Spanish or other languages (about 30 languages are common in Israel).

As always - feel free to rb and reply.

If I made a mistake, plz let me know and I'll get it fixed

#history lesson #yes another one #psy reply #long comments #Israel #statistics #data #information #Judaism #judaism #actually Jewish #islam #christianity #religions #race #ethnicity

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eldritch-bf · 9 months ago

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British Mandate of Palestine

The Balfour Declaration, a letter from the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, which is today held in the British Library.

Text reads:

Foreign Office,

November 2nd, 1917.

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.

“His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

I should be grateful it you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

[Illegible signature.]

“The British government hoped that the declaration would rally Jewish opinion, especially in the United States, to the side of the Allied powers against the Central Powers during World War I (1914–18). They hoped also that the settlement in Palestine of a pro-British Jewish population might help to protect the approaches to the Suez Canal in neighbouring Egypt and thus ensure a vital communication route to British colonial possessions in India.” [Source.]

Before WWI, much of the Middle East was under control of the Ottoman Empire, which collapsed after WWI. The map on the left is of 1880 while the map on the right is of 1920. [Source.]

Text reads:

League of Nations.

Mandate for Palestine, together with a note by the secretary-general relating to its application to the territory known as Trans-Jordan under the provisions of Article 25.

Presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, December, 1922.

In 1919, the British and French implemented the 1916 secret treaty known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement and divided the Middle East into nation-states. The League of Nations recognized these borders and allotted mandates to the French and British to govern these states until it was determined that they were ready for independence.

Both of these agreements violated the earlier and deliberately vague McMahoun-Hussein Correspondence. Between July 1915 and March 1916 Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca and Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry McMahon, British High Commissioner to Egypt exchanged ten letters in which McMahon said the UK government would agree to recognize Arab independence following WWI in exchange for the Sharif of Mecca launching the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire, though no borders were ever agreed upon. Never the less, Sharif launched the ultimately successful revolt and Britain never followed through with their end. This violation of this informal agreement is cited as the beginning of mistrust and animosity between Western nations and the Arab world.

#free palestine #palestine #palestinian history #middle eastern history #British Palestinian relations

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beardedmrbean · 1 year ago

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India says it has lodged a "strong protest" with China over a new map that lays claim to its territory.

Indian media have reported that the map shows the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin plateau as China's territory.

It was released by China's ministry of natural resources on Monday.

"We reject these claims as they have no basis," India's foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

He added that such steps by China "only complicate the resolution of the boundary question".

Beijing has not officially responded yet.

India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also called China's claim "absurd".

"China has even in the past put out maps which claim the territories which are not China's, which belong to other countries. This is an old habit of theirs," he told TV channel NDTV on Tuesday.

India's protest comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit in South Africa. An Indian official said afterwards that the two countries had agreed to "intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation" along the disputed border.

Shadow of 60-year-old war at India-China flashpoint

The Indian monastery town coveted by China

India has often reacted angrily to China's attempts to stake claim to its territory.

The source of the tension between the neighbours is a disputed 3,440km (2,100 mile)-long de facto border along the Himalayas - called the Line of Actual Control, or LAC - which is poorly demarcated. The presence of rivers, lakes and snowcaps means the line can shift in places.

Soldiers on either side come face to face at many points, which can spark tensions - the last time being in December when Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the border in the town of Tawang.

China says it considers the whole of Arunachal Pradesh its territory, calling it "South Tibet" - a claim India firmly rejects. India claims the Aksai Chin plateau in the Himalayas, which is controlled by China.

In April, Delhi reacted sharply to China's attempts to rename 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, saying the state would always be "an "integral and inalienable part of India".

Relations between India and China have worsened since 2020, when their troops were involved in a deadly clash at the Galwan valley in Ladakh - it was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975.

#nunyas news #give the terrirory to burma instead #everyone wins

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 2 years ago

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Mahatma Gandhi leaving the British viceroy’s residence in Simla, 1945 © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images

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India Against Ghandi :: A Legacy Rewritten Ramachandra Guha

India against Gandhi — a legacy rewritten Seventy-five years after his assassination, the ‘father of the nation’ is a problem for Narendra Modi — but the country still needs his ideas

Just as Russia now officially despises Sakharov, so Modi's India hates Gandhi and lauds the man who murdered him. Ramachandra Guha: Born in 1958, a decade after Gandhi’s death, I grew up in an atmosphere of veneration towards the Mahatma. One of my great-uncles helped to edit Gandhi’s Collected Works; another founded a pioneering initiative in community health inspired by Gandhi. These familial influences were consolidated and deepened by the public culture of the time. Gandhi was the father of the nation, the leader of the struggle for freedom against British rule, whose techniques of non-violent resistance had won admirers and imitators across the world. It was largely because of him that we were free and proudly independent, and it was largely because of him that — unlike neighbouring Pakistan — we gloried in the religious and linguistic diversity of our land. In our school assembly we sang a 17th-century hymn that Gandhi was particularly fond of, which he had rewritten to reflect his vision of the India he wished to leave behind.

Hindus saw God as Ishwar; Gandhi’s adaptation asked us to see him as Allah too. And it was to these lines that our teachers drew our particular attention.The first criticisms of Gandhi that I remember encountering were in a book I read as a student at Delhi University. This was the autobiography of Verrier Elwin, an Oxford scholar who became a leading ethnographer of the tribes of central India. Elwin knew Gandhi well, and at one time considered himself a disciple. In later years, while he retained his admiration for the Mahatma’s moral courage and religious pluralism, Elwin became sharply critical of Gandhi’s advocacy of prohibition, which he thought damaging to tribal culture (where home-brewed alcohol was both a source of nutrition and an aid to dance and music), and of his exaltation of celibacy, which Elwin thought damaging to everyone.

In Amritsar in 2006, members of the Congress party place garlands on a statue of Gandhi to mark the anniversary of his birth Elwin’s strictures were mild, even timid, when compared with those of the Marxist intellectuals of Kolkata, whom I encountered in the 1980s when beginning my academic career. These scholars identified with the Naxalites, a band of insurgents who were inspired by Mao Zedong and who vandalised and destroyed Gandhi statues wherever they found them. Books were written arguing that Gandhi was an agent simultaneously of the British colonial state and of the Indian capitalist class; non-violence was presented as a cunning device to wean the masses away from the revolutionary path.

I had many arguments with my Marxist friends about Gandhi. I sought to persuade them that his adherence to non-violence arose out of a disinclination to take human life. I asked them to give Gandhi at least the qualified praise that Mao himself had bestowed on Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Chinese republic, as creating a rudimentary national consciousness on which was built a superior socialist consciousness. On these subjects my interlocutors at least talked back, but our relations came to breaking point when I chose to focus my own research on a forest protection movement led by Gandhians, which the Marxists dismissed as a bourgeois deviation from the class struggle.

Those debates with Marxists shaped me profoundly, personally as well as intellectually. Yet recalling them here perhaps conveys a whiff of antiquarianism. For now, in the 2020s, the main attacks on Gandhi in India come from the other end of the ideological spectrum. For the past eight and a half years, the Hindu right has been in power in India, and Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and his commitment to interfaith harmony are anathema to it. While he is still officially the “father of the nation”, with his birthday a national holiday and his face on the currency notes, the public mood has turned hostile to Gandhi.To understand why Gandhi is increasingly unpopular in his homeland, one must go back to the circumstances of his death 75 years ago. Gandhi was murdered on January 30 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a member of a secretive paramilitary organisation called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Founded in 1925, the RSS believed — and still believes — in the construction of a Hindu theocratic state in India. Its leaders and cadres insist that demographic superiority and the Indic origin of their faith makes Hindus natural and permanent rulers of the land. They have a particular suspicion of Muslims and Christians, on account of the fact that their religions originated outside India and their sacred shrines are outside India too.

[Financial Times] :: [h/t Scott Horton]

#Ghandi #Scott Horton #Financial Times #Ramachandra Guha #legacy

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news365timesindia · 23 days ago

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[ad_1] In a heartwarming display, Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Diwali, marking a significant thaw in Sino-Indian ties. This traditional practice comes on the heels of a major breakthrough – the completion of disengagement at two friction points in eastern Ladakh’s Demchok and Depsang Plains. Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the disengagement process in LAC in eastern Ladakh is nearly complete. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while speaking during the inauguration ceremony of Bob Khathing Museum in Assam’s Tezpur, said, “At some areas along the LAC, discussions have been ongoing between India and China at both diplomatic and military levels to resolve conflicts.” “Following recent talks, there has been a broad consensus to restore the ground situation. This consensus has developed on the basis of equal and mutual security. Based on this consensus, the disengagement process is nearly complete. We will strive to move beyond just disengagement, but for that, we will need to wait a little longer,” Defence Minister Singh added. On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong said that it is natural for India and China to have differences as neighbouring countries but the important thing is how to handle and solve these differences. With India and China having completed the disengagement process between in Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh, Xu Feihong said he is looking forward to smooth cooperation of between India and China in every field including politics, business and education. India and China have recently agreed on patrol arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the India-China border. The border standoff between India and China began in eastern Ladakh along the LAC in 2020, sparked by Chinese military actions. This incident led to prolonged tensions between the two nations, significantly straining their relations. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi stressed that restoring trust along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) would be a gradual process, to return to the April 2020 status quo, highlighting the steps of disengagement, de-escalation, and buffer zone management as crucial for easing tensions between the two nations. He further explained that the process will take place in phases, with each step aimed at reducing tensions. (With ANI inputs) [ad_2] Source link

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news365times · 23 days ago

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envisionedgeinternational0 · 1 month ago

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Represent Your University in Nepal: Tapping into a High-Potential Market

In recent years, Nepal has emerged as a promising source of international students for universities around the world. While traditionally overshadowed by its larger neighbours like India and China, Nepal is rapidly becoming an important market for higher education institutions seeking to diversify their student body. With a growing middle class, increasing aspirations for global education, and a surge in government scholarships, representing your university in Nepal can open doors to a motivated, career-driven group of students eager to succeed on the international stage.

In this blog, we will explore why universities should prioritize Nepal as part of their international recruitment strategy, delve into the latest trends and data on student mobility, and highlight key strategies to effectively represent your university in Nepal.

Why Nepal is an Emerging Education Hub

1. A Growing Population of International Students

Nepal’s youth population is both large and ambitious, with increasing numbers of students seeking education opportunities abroad. In 2023 alone, 63,000 Nepali students enrolled in universities overseas, marking a 20% increase from the previous year . This growth can be attributed to multiple factors, including the lack of access to specialized programs domestically and a strong desire among Nepali students to improve their career prospects through international education.

Nepal now ranks among the top 10 countries for sending students abroad, with the most popular destinations being Australia, Canada, and the United States. These countries attract Nepali students with their high-quality education, post-study work opportunities, and welcoming immigration policies. Universities that position themselves strategically in Nepal stand to benefit from a well-educated, English-speaking population eager to engage in international programs.

2. The Importance of STEM and Business Programs

Nepali students, like their counterparts in other South Asian countries, are particularly interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Business fields. This is driven by a desire to secure lucrative career opportunities in industries such as IT, engineering, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.

A report by ICEF Monitor revealed that nearly 75% of Nepali students pursuing education abroad enroll in STEM or Business-related programs. Universities that offer cutting-edge programs in these fields, along with internship and job placement opportunities, are likely to attract high-quality candidates from Nepal.

3. Scholarships and Financial Aid: Key Drivers for Student Mobility

One of the most significant factors influencing the decision of Nepali students to study abroad is financial aid and scholarship opportunities. With Nepal’s per capita income lower than many other nations in the region, affordability is a major concern for students and their families. Government scholarships, such as the Nepal Government Scholarship Program, are crucial in helping students pursue their education abroad.

In addition, many international organizations and foreign governments offer scholarships specifically targeted at Nepali students. For example, the Australia Awards and Fulbright-Nepal Programs provide full financial support to students from Nepal, making education abroad more accessible.

Universities that offer competitive scholarships and need-based financial aid will have a significant advantage in attracting talented students from Nepal.

Key Strategies for Representing Your University in Nepal

1. Build a Strong Digital Presence

Nepal’s digital landscape is rapidly evolving, with a growing number of young people using the internet to research education opportunities abroad. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram are among the most popular platforms used by Nepali students, providing universities with a direct line of communication to prospective applicants.

To effectively represent your university in Nepal, it’s crucial to create a localized digital marketing strategy. This includes:

Targeted online ads promoting specific programs and scholarships for Nepali students.

Localized content that addresses the unique concerns of Nepali students, such as visa requirements, living costs, and career outcomes.

Offering virtual campus tours and webinars to give students a taste of campus life and the academic environment without needing to visit in person.

By tailoring your digital content to resonate with Nepali students, you’ll increase engagement and boost applications from the region.

2. Collaborate with Nepali High Schools and Colleges

Building strong partnerships with high schools and colleges in Nepal can provide a direct pipeline for recruiting students. Guidance counselors and school administrators in Nepal play an important role in advising students on their education pathways, making them key influencers in the decision-making process.

Hosting information sessions, providing guest lectures, or collaborating on joint programs can position your university as a trusted option for Nepali students. Additionally, organizing scholarship workshops in collaboration with local schools will raise awareness about financial aid opportunities, making your institution more attractive.

3. Leverage Education Agents for Maximum Reach

Education agents are highly influential in Nepal, with students and families often relying on their guidance to navigate the complex application and visa processes. Partnering with trusted agents who specialize in international education can help streamline the recruitment process and increase your reach in the country.

Agents in Nepal can:

Promote your university to students who are actively seeking to study abroad.

Assist students with visa applications, ensuring they have the necessary documentation and support.

Provide personalized counseling, helping students understand the academic programs, scholarships, and career opportunities available at your university.

By collaborating with reputable education agents, your university can increase visibility and simplify the application process for Nepali students.

4. Offer Tailored Scholarships and Financial Aid

Given the importance of affordability for students in Nepal, offering tailored scholarships and financial aid packages can significantly increase your university’s appeal. Consider creating merit-based and need-based scholarships specifically for Nepali students, and promote these opportunities through your website, social media, and agent networks.

Highlighting affordable tuition fees, payment plans, and on-campus job opportunities can also make your university more attractive to Nepali students, who often face financial constraints when considering education abroad.

5. Focus on Career Outcomes and Alumni Success

Nepali students are highly motivated by the potential to secure better career prospects through international education. Therefore, universities should place a strong emphasis on promoting their career services, internship programs, and alumni success stories.

Creating a section on your website dedicated to Nepali alumni, featuring testimonials and success stories, can provide prospective students with tangible proof of the opportunities your university offers. Additionally, promoting internship and post-graduation work opportunities in countries like Australia, Canada, and the USA—which offer favorable work visas for international students—will increase your university’s attractiveness to Nepali students.

Future Trends: What to Watch in Nepali Student Recruitment

1. Rise of Tech-Driven Education Programs

With the increasing focus on digitalization and technology-driven education, Nepali students are showing more interest in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Universities offering cutting-edge programs in these fields are likely to see a rise in applications from Nepal.

2. The Impact of Government Initiatives

The Nepalese government is actively working to improve access to international education through various scholarship programs. Keeping an eye on emerging government initiatives that fund international study will help universities tap into these opportunities and attract more students from Nepal.

Conclusion: Positioning Your University for Success in Nepal

Representing your university in Nepal presents a unique and valuable opportunity. With a growing number of Nepali students seeking higher education abroad, universities that implement a targeted recruitment strategy stand to benefit from this emerging market.

By focusing on digital marketing, building partnerships with local schools, leveraging education agents, offering tailored scholarships, and showcasing career outcomes, universities can successfully position themselves to attract top-tier talent from Nepal.

As the demand for international education continues to grow, now is the perfect time for universities to solidify their presence in Nepal and tap into the country’s motivated and ambitious student population.

How Envision Edge International Supports Universities in Nepal

Envision Edge International helps universities expand their presence in Nepal by providing comprehensive market research to identify trends, student preferences, and untapped opportunities. We leverage our strong network of local education agents and partnerships with schools and colleges to streamline recruitment efforts, ensuring that universities connect with the right students.

Through targeted digital marketing campaigns and student engagement strategies, we help universities enhance their visibility among Nepali students. Our tailored approach also includes assisting universities in offering competitive scholarships and financial aid packages, making them more attractive to cost-conscious students in Nepal.

With HR support and yield activities, Envision Edge International ensures a seamless recruitment process, from initial inquiries to confirmed enrollment.

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pickmyad1 · 1 month ago

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Trending Food Influencers in India 2024: Chennai’s Culinary Stars

Food Influencers in India 2024

India’s food influencer scene is growing rapidly, with creators from every corner of the country showcasing their unique local cuisines, dining spots, and hidden gems. Among the cities known for their vibrant culinary diversity, Chennai stands tall with influencers capturing the city’s rich food culture and beyond. Here are some of the leading food influencers in Chennai who have made waves in 2024.

The Chennai Foodie

One of the oldest and most beloved food influencers in Chennai, The Chennai Foodie continues to reign supreme in 2024. Known for his detailed reviews and engaging storytelling, The Chennai Foodie provides in-depth insights into the city’s ever-evolving restaurant scene. From luxurious five-star hotels to street-side eateries, he covers it all, giving his followers recommendations they can trust.

In 2024, he expanded his scope to include cooking tips, behind-the-scenes restaurant stories, and interviews with local chefs. His ability to mix nostalgia with modern trends makes him a favourite for food lovers who crave authentic yet innovative dining experiences.

Noteworthy Posts:

A deep dive into the fusion food revolution in Chennai.

Reviews of Chennai's best dosa spots, covering both traditional and creative variations.

Food Impramation

Food Impramation has carved a niche in Chennai’s food influencer community with a unique focus on showcasing food in its most authentic and raw form. Specialising in regional South Indian dishes, Food Impramation explores local markets, small home-run food businesses, and traditional food preparation methods. In 2024, his influence has grown due to collaborations with chefs, farmers, and food producers who share his passion for organic and sustainable food practices.

His Instagram page is not just about pretty pictures but informative content, where he explains the history, culture, and ingredients behind the dishes. The influencer's efforts have contributed to a resurgence of interest in heritage cooking and forgotten recipes.

Noteworthy Posts:

A series on the ‘lost recipes of Tamil Nadu’.

Coverage of indigenous food markets and organic farming practices.

FoodaholicTN

As the name suggests, FoodaholicTN is a die-hard food lover who leaves no stone unturned in her quest to find Chennai’s best eats. With an infectious enthusiasm, she takes her audience along on her food-tasting adventures, whether it’s at a chic new café or a hole-in-the-wall joint that serves the best biryani. What sets her apart is her relatable content – she caters to every type of foodie, whether they’re looking for budget eats, vegetarian delights, or luxury dining experiences.

Her 2024 content has moved towards food exploration beyond Chennai, covering neighbouring cities and regions. She offers travel recommendations where food plays a central role, making her profile a go-to for food and travel enthusiasts alike.

Noteworthy Posts:

Travel food blogs covering Pondicherry and Bangalore food scenes.

A budget-friendly guide to the best desserts in Chennai.

Food Tasting Mission

Food Tasting Mission is a collective food review platform that provides a detailed exploration of dishes and restaurants across Chennai. With multiple contributors, the platform offers varied perspectives on the same food, giving followers a broader view of what to expect. They are known for their fun, interactive content that includes taste tests, challenges, and food experiments.

In 2024, Food Tasting Mission gained attention for their ‘versus’ posts where they compare popular dishes from two rival restaurants, helping people make informed decisions on where to eat. The group also collaborates with local chefs and food brands to bring forward exciting new offerings in Chennai’s food scene.

Noteworthy Posts:

Biryani Battle: Comparing Ambur to Dindigul biryanis.

A series on Chennai's best home bakers and their cakes.

Chennai’s Impact on India’s Food Influencer Scene

These influencers have not only put Chennai on India’s food map but also represent a wider trend of food blogging and vlogging in the country. With the surge in local and regional content, food influencers are shaping the way people dine out, try new recipes, and connect with the culinary heritage of India. They also encourage people to explore their cities and seek out both popular and underrated food spots.

In 2024, these influencers are not just content creators but also culinary ambassadors, promoting sustainability, tradition, and innovation in food. With their fingers on the pulse of local food trends, they play a crucial role in driving food culture forward, one bite at a time.

Conclusion

If you’re a foodie with a penchant for discovering new dishes, trying out the best local eats, or simply following the latest food trends, these Chennai-based influencers are ones to watch in 2024. Their passion, creativity, and expertise in curating memorable food experiences make them some of India’s top culinary voices.

#Best Food Influencers in chennai

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head-post · 1 month ago

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India Foreign Minister Jaishankar visits Pakistan for 1st time since 2015

India’s Foreign Minister visited Pakistan on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a top New Delhi official to the neighbouring country in nearly a decade, Indian media reported.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to “represent India at the meeting,” the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Both sides said no bilateral talks were planned and Jaishankar’s visit would strictly follow the SCO schedule.

The two nuclear-armed countries are bitter adversaries who have fought numerous wars since they divided the subcontinent under British colonial rule in 1947.

The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, with 16 other countries as observers or “dialogue partners.” The SCO is sometimes described as an alternative to the Western-dominated NATO military alliance. The Indian foreign ministry said in a statement:

“India remains actively engaged in the SCO format.”

While the SCO is mandated to discuss security issues, the Islamabad summit is expected to focus on trade, humanitarian and cultural issues.

The last time an Indian FM visited Pakistan was in 2015, when Sushma Swaraj attended a conference on Afghanistan.

Later that year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore to meet his then counterpart Nawaz Sharif, raising hopes of warming relations with Pakistan.

Relations deteriorated sharply in 2019 when the Modi government cancelled the limited autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir, forcing Pakistan to suspend bilateral trade and downgrade diplomatic ties with New Delhi. Kashmir, where a protracted and deadly insurgency against Indian rule continues, is divided between the two countries and is wholly owned by both.

Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in the Indian state of Goa in 2023 for the SCO meeting where he and Jaishankar had a verbal altercation.