Change is always opposed. By those who are uncertain about the changes. But more often by those with vested interests. The reaction of the first set of people is spontaneous and can be dealt with much easily by proper dissemination of information. The problem is with the second set of people. For, they know what is right and yet they take a certain stand based on their petty interests.

One finds both sets of people in Lakshadweep, a group of 36 islands off the south-west coast of India, currently simmering with tension over new rules and proposals being introduced by new Administrator Praful K. Patel. On the face of it, the new rules seem perfectly fine as they are aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of residents along with promoting the islands as a tourist destination at par with the Maldives. At a cursory look, equally convincing seem to be the arguments of those opposing the move, who fervently say that, with the new rules in place, the people of the archipelago may, in the short term, face safety and well-being issues, while in the long term, end up being the first internally displaced climate refugees in India.

The devil lies in the details, however. And when one looks at the details closely, one finds that the agitation, currently being waged in the name of ecology, seems politically and communally motivated. For instance, one of the primary reasons for protests is Patel’s decision to ban beef. An innate liberal in an individual would say why dictate food habits, even when the decision is in sync with the Constitution’s Directive Principles and cow protection laws are in place in most states, but how can anyone talking in terms of environment and ecology defend the move? Forget the moralistic stand against slaughtering around 80 billion animals every year for food, the fact that should bother every environment-conscious person is how our obsession with meat is literally drying up the planet. As former JNU professor Amita Singh recently wrote in an article in The Daily Guardian, “To produce one kg of wheat 1,500 litres of water are consumed, while it takes ten times more to produce the same amount of beef. For making 20-30 chapatis or a kilogramme of rice only 2,497 litres or less of water is used but for producing the same amount of beef 15,415 litres and for chicken meat 4,500 litres of water is used. One hamburger alone sucks 212 litres of water and by that standard an average American who consumes around 280 lbs of meat in a year may require 232,000 litres of water per year just to eat a hamburger.”

Now if you are an environmentalist or a climate change warrior, you would be in the forefront to end this business, especially of the beef kind! Provided your arguments are as skewed as those of Greta Thunberg, who makes a career out of global warming and climate change, but supports farm union leaders mostly hailing from two-and-a-half states against the government trying to reform the farm practices in the country, which among other things would have discouraged farmers from stubble burning and also dissuaded them from cultivating water-intensive crops in a dry state like Punjab. One suspects the protest in Lakshadweep is also orchestrated by those who believe that by following the beef ban, they might lose their very identity!

Another point of contention is the decision to allow those with two kids to be eligible to run for public offices in Lakshadweep. Ideally, the decision should be welcomed, given the fact that nothing is pushing the planet as much on the verge of extinction as population explosion. And Lakshadweep won’t be the first place in the country to introduce such a policy. What further makes the protest hollow is that the new rules won’t be applicable with retrospective effect. It is clarified by the UT Administration in this context that when this Panchayat Act is notified, its provisions will only apply to the parents of infants born after the due date of notification.

Not many outsiders, seeking the new Administrator’s head for “ecologically endangering” the already sensitive archipelago, know that electricity for Lakshadweep is produced from diesel generators. This is having a very adverse impact on the environment there. To save the natural environment and to promote green and clean energy, the government has started the process of privatisation for the production of electricity.

As for the issue of safety and well-being of the locals, not very long ago, 300 kg heroin worth Rs 3,000 crore, along with five AK-47 rifles and 1,000 live rounds, were confiscated in Lakshadweep. Many cases of illegal smuggling of marijuana and liquor and POCSO have also been reported there. Given this background, it’s understandable why the introduction of the draft Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Prevention or the Goonda Act is being opposed so fervently. Who will gain out of it? For those trying to peddle the argument that the crime rate on the island has been negligible, the fact is that between 2017 and 2019, Lakshadweep, with the population of 66,000 people, is placed second after Manipur in the rate of crime against the state, the National Crime Records Bureau figures show. Now that’s an area of concern given its strategic location, especially with China and Pakistan already on the hunt.

Other arguments, like those of Malayalam filmmaker Aisha Sultana saying that Covid-19 was being used as a “bio-weapon” against the people of Lakshadweep, for which a case of sedition has been slapped against her, are not even worth considering, given that such an outrageous claim came at a time when the Centre was helping setup two oxygen plants at Agatti and Kavaratti.

However, it is a wrong question to ask: Why are we trying to change Lakshadweep? The question should be: Why did we take so long to bring these changes? In the early 1980s, the Maldives was one of the world’s 20 poorest countries. Within three decades, it not just pushed itself in the middle-income country, but also showed massive improvements in healthcare and education sectors, with a life expectancy of 74.8 and a literacy rate 98.4%.

Lakshadweep, in contrast, remained stuck in a time warp. An archipelago of 36 islands, of which 11 are inhabited with approximately 70,000 people, it has a low per capita income and high unemployment level of 13 per cent, as per the data provided by the UT Administration. Even after seven decades of Independence, net connectivity is in an elementary stage in Lakshadweep, especially at a time when the world is taking a giant online leap forward. So, what should we do? Should we leave these people behind in the name of ecology, while the rest of us in the mainland have all the fun? Isn’t it an elitist mentality on our part as we are continuously exploiting the planet for our whims and fancies but keeping these people in the dark ages in the name of ecology?

As the saying goes, life finds a way, so will these people in the archipelago, even if we close all doors of development. If we don’t give them education and jobs, they will find it through others, directly or indirectly working for those inimical to India’s interests, more so when China and Pakistan are overactive in these waters!

Therefore, when the Prime Minister awards a submarine optical fibre cable project of Rs 1,072 crore, expected to complete by 2023-24, it should be welcomed, for it will help create new opportunities for locals in the field of education, employment and business. When the UT Administration is developing three water villa projects in Minicoy, Kadmat and Suheli in collaboration with NITI Aayog, on the lines of Maldives, it should be hailed, for it will help generate jobs.

Better connectivity has an important role in promotion of tourism and regional development. Until now, only low-capacity aircraft (such as ATR aircraft) were able to land at the Agatti airport, due to which national and international tourists would come in small numbers. The UT Administration has started the process of expansion of the Agatti airstrip in collaboration with the Centre. This will enable big aircraft such as Boeing and Airbus to land there, thus facilitating connectivity and tourism.

Similarly, the islands have great potential in the coconut and fishing sectors. There are around 10.5 lakh coconut trees on the island and about 10.5 crore coconuts are produced annually in the Union Territory. Likewise, Tuna fish are found in abundance in the sea there. Approximately 25,000 metric tons of fish are caught every year, of which 92% are Tuna fish. But due to lack of proper arrangement of ice and fish processing, fishermen do not get fair prices for their catch.

It is no one’s contention that the ecology of the islands must be compromised, but one must realise that this can’t be an excuse to deprive the people of their right to life with basic facilities. As the Covid-19 crisis has shown, madhyam marg (middle path) is the way out. For, during the pandemic, with the disappearance of travellers, and flights and cruise ships on hold, carbon emissions have seen a record drop and wildlife a new leash of life. But, on the flip side, there has a rise in cases of poaching and illegal fishing, especially in developing nations. After all, drying up of money in the tourism sector has badly hit the people with interest in saving the wildlife!

One can take a cue from neighbouring Thailand, a tourist haven which was badly affected by Covid-19. During the pandemic, Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, saw hawksbill turtles take over beaches that in 2018 hosted nearly three million tourists—several environmentalists had in the past written obituaries about turtles ever coming back there! In addition to the sea turtles, elephants, leaf monkeys and dugongs too made a comeback in unlikely places in Thailand. Taking note of this development, the Thai government has decided to shut national parks in stages each year, from two to four months, to help “nature can rehabilitate itself”.

Lakshadweep must follow the middle path of sustainable development. This will be a win-win scenario for everyone. Except those who have vested interests in manufacturing dissent!

Indian online fashion brand Tjori signs an equity deal of 16 crores with the Hindustan Times.

The deal signed goes beyond equity investments while also providing branding & marketing.  The establishment with Hindustan Times will help build brand awareness in India and accelerate growth at global level.

 The unique opportunity here is a platform access to HT shop where Tjori as a brand will be featured, with an aim to create exponential avenues for both the brands.

Commenting on the development, Mrs Mansi Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Tjori, said in a statement, “We are excited to close this deal as it gives us an opportunity to reach a wider audience and present them with what Tjori has to offer. Tjori as a brand works at bringing the best of time- honoured crafts and wisdom with a modern twist. In partnership with HT and its various media channels, we will be able to put Tjori at the forefront of fashion industry”

 Commenting on the partnership deal, Mr. Piyush Gupta the CFO, of Hindustan Times said “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Tjori as it helps us venture into the e-commerce market. The deal is bound to bring an ocean of knowledge for all our readers, regarding the re-modernised way of traditional Indian goodness that Tjori strongly recommends and we as allies also believe in.”

Tjori is a lifestyle e-commerce brand with the vision of bringing the conventional art and craft of India with a sight of overhaul into the global market. The establishment of the brand since 2013, has led to many milestones and it currently caters to a worldwide population who we are proactively educating about the cultural glory of India. 

Ruhee Dosani, who is taking social media by a storm with her fun dance videos, recently joined NewsX for a conversation as part of NewsX Influencer A-List. In the exclusive conversation, Ruhee opened up about her love for Bollywood music, her process of creating content on a daily basis and much more.

Speaking about what kept her going, especially amid a pandemic, Ruhee said, “I feel like when i started, it wasn’t planned like yes, this is what i am going to do or it wasn’t like social media is my platform and i am going to grow here. I think it was one fun video. I started getting messages and DMs saying that it is making them feel better or they are liking it and loving it. I look upto when i would be releasing my next video. I feel like making someone happy, making someone feel like that, is tough because it was a very crazy year. 2020 has been rough with several ups and downs. The whole pandemic was unexpected. I feel like even one percent i can put out there and make people smile and laugh, that was a big thing for me. That’s the main motivation.”

When asked whether she always this groovy or was this a passion she discovered much later, she responded, “I was. I feel like because i lived in Mumbai when i was young, the dance performance during Ganpati Visarjan, resonated with me. School, annual day, college functions. I feel like songs and music, dance gets me. If it is a club, if i step out, it is a comforting moment for me. Even if there is an awkward situation, i just keep grooving. Indian music is something that gets me high, for sure. I can listen to Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, if it has a taste, it gets me grooving.”

On being asked is there anybody she looks up to, Ruhee expressed, “When it comes to dancing, i definitely look upto Govinda sir. Even when i make videos, i’m like play ‘Akhiyon Se Goli Mare’ or something. That smoothness in his moves is something different. When it comes to energy, i look upto a lot of other people. I feel like there are so many talents. I do look upto a lot of people for a lot of different things.”

Giving us an insight into her process of creating content on a regular basis, Ruhee shared, “I have a lot of conversations with my friends. If i am at work, i listen to music. I feel like it comes out of nowhere. I am driving and i am with people, i start visualising. I visualise a lot. I am like i can create a video with this song. With everyday content creating now, it has opened the creativity process so much. Not only from friends, my DMs are filled with song suggestions. I also try to relate to the festival time. I don’t write anything. Everything is just in my brain. My friends, who dance with me, also give me song suggestions.”

When asked how do she get all your friends together and whether does it get ever chaotic, Ruhee responded, “We hang out often and that’s how it started. Now, when i get an idea, i call them and ask them if they are doing something. If not, we meet up. I’m like listen, this is the idea. They get so excited. I feel like there are a lot of people. They are ready to know about the culture, about the music. It’s fun to do something, rather than doing nothing. They are always up for it. It’s mostly planned but sometimes its just like hey’s let’s meet up.”

Sharing a piece of advise for budding content creators, who are just beginning their journey, Ruhee said, “On social media, it’s always up and down. Build through it, grow through it. I feel like one thing i would say for sure, is that stay consistent and don’t lose hope. That’s where you give up. When you feel like you are putting in so much hard work,  the reach is different than the one than the one you make when you are relaxed and not thinking about what people are going to say. If you love it, just keep going. People are going to love you for who you are. DM me and i will give you all the motivation you need.”

On a parting note, when asked if she could wake up in one Bollywood song or a Bollywood movie, which one would it be, Ruhee said, “I have so many favourite songs. I am thinking of which movie has my type of vibe. I think i would go with ‘what is your mobile number, karu kya dial number’. It has to be a Govinda movie or song.”

On Thursday, China celebrated 100 years of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). On this occasion, The Daily Guardian talked to Gautam Bambawale, former Indian Ambassador to China, Pakistan and Bhutan, who spent 15 years of his 34-year diplomatic career dealing with China. He served as the Indian Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2018. He had previously served as the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan. Excerpts:

Q: It’s the 100th anniversary of the CCP and mega celebrations have been planned by them across the country. Should they really be celebrating?

A: If we look at the history of the Chinese Communist Party, it was founded on 1 July 1921 and they came to power through a civil war over with the nationalists on 1 October 1949. That time, China was a poor and backward country; now after 70 plus years, China is the second largest economy of the world, the living standards of people there have improved tremendously; so there is some reason from the Chinese perspective to celebrate.

Q: What do you think is CCP’s real report card in the past 100 years? Shouldn’t the party be remembered for its suppressions, be it in Tibet or the Cultural Revolution massacres or the Vietnam War?

A: It did happen under the watch of the CCP. Mao Zedong himself unleashed the Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s and as a result of the policies of the Communist Party, almost 20 million Chinese are estimated to have died in that period. There is also suppression and repression in Tibet and Xinjiang, Today, Hong Kong is going through a very difficult time. On the economics side, China has done well under the party; where freedom of people is concerned, where freedom to practice religion and one’s own culture is concerned, the record has been quite bad.

Q: We hardly get to know what is happening in China since the media there is state controlled, but there have been reports of protests in several parts of China in some media portals. You having held office in Beijing, can you help us understand the real ground situation there?

A: With CCP, it’s a one-party system; there are no other parties; no periodic elections like we have in democratic countries like India. It’s the Communist party which rules with an iron fist. One aspect of that iron fist is complete control over media over what is conveyed in newspapers, magazines, television and radio to the people of China. CCP has complete control; they play their own tunes, sing their own praises, thus it is difficult to understand what’s happening in China today. Of course, the situation is slightly different depending on the difference is social media; though social media is also fully controlled in China by the Communist party, sometimes something gets out which gives you an indication about the mood of the people in China, and the concerns of the people in China. It is difficult to understand, but with social media today, we are able to see through the iron curtains to some extent.

Q: What do you think the CCP is trying to do in East Turkestan with the Uyghurs?

A: The Uyghurs are Muslims and there is problem in what is called Xinjiang province of China towards East Turkistan. There is very little doubt that there are a large number of local Uyghurs who are in internment camps, who are in prison etc. There is crackdown and repression which is taking place. Some Western media have been able to report on it. Chinese iron curtains have descended and very little is known about what is happening there, though we do know that there is heavy hand that is being used in Xinjiang. 

Q: How do you think India’s response to China has been at the LAC? What is your assessment of the situation?

A: The strategic India-China standoff at the LAC is a very serious situation and not similar to all the other border standoffs that we had like, one in 2013, 2014, even in 2017 when we had Doklam crisis. This is different because of the fact that the Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army, has brought in several divisions of their soldiers and troops along with tanks and artillery and heavy armor weapons etc. This is not only a military affair, there is a military angle to it, but it goes far beyond that, the Chinese are trying to show that they are the biggest power in Asia and other countries, including India, should just understand the situation and accept it.

In 1980, the size of economies of India and China was roughly the same and now, China’s economy is five times bigger than India. It’s not merely economic size or GDP; this also reflects in their military preparedness, in technology, in science, in education and so on… So there is a huge asymmetry or gap between India and China and that is the main factor that has enabled the Chinese to do what they are doing in East Ladakh. Our military responses have been very brave and we, to a certain extent, blocked the Chinese military from moving forward. But in the long term, I am afraid, India needs to look really carefully at itself, we need to reduce this asymmetry in economy, technology, military etc with China for which we need to look at the domestic level. We need to grow the economy at a much faster pace, at least 8-9 percent per annum, and reduce the asymmetry with China. It is something that is going to test India’s nerve, India’s determination, but with the right policies, India is capable of achieving high levels of economic growth and in the long term, we can reduce this asymmetry between the two.

Q: Please tell us about Xi Jinping. What do you think he is trying to do?

A: Xi Jinping has accumulated most of the power in the Chinese system; he’s now more in the mold of Mao Zedong than in the mold of more recent leaders, when there was very easy and clear cut transfer of powers like from Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao and from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping himself. So, he has accumulated a lot of powers in his hands, but what he has done with that power is he has not only decentralised political power, but also economic power. Why has China succeeded economically; why is it the second largest economy in the world next to the United States? There had been great decentralisation of economic decision making and economic power. Decentralising power may have a negative impact on China’s growth; we have to wait and see how this decentralisation of economic power in the hands of the party and state-owned enterprises, and public sector undertakings plays out. People like Jack Ma are themselves a product of change in China. This decentralisation is going back to the old ways of behaving and doing things and may be negative and detrimental to China’s growth.

Q: Is China finding it difficult to control resentment in Hong Kong, Tibet, East Turkestan or southern Mongolia, or has the CCP been completely successful in suppressing these voices?

A: These are all aspects of China aggressiveness, its assertiveness not only outside China, be it in its neighborhood like in the border with India or in the South China Sea, but within China’s periphery too in Xinjiang, in Hong Kong etc. In China, within the Communist party, the challenge to the leader comes from within the party itself; so the next few years, we have to watch China carefully to see whether there is any possibility of a challenge coming from within the party to the leadership of Xi Jinping. I think there’s a possibility that may happen, especially because many other people in the party have either faced a crackdown or put into jail for corruption charges etc. Whether Xi Jinping is able to maintain his control over the Communist Party or some other leader rises to challenge his leadership and challenge him is something that is in the realm of a future scenario.

On the day CCP celebrates its 100 years of founding, Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa appeared for a special broadcast “Real CCP Report Card” narrating horrific stories from Xinjiang.

Q: Tell us about the reality of the Chinese Communist Party that everyone must know.

A: Well, today is CCP 100 years, but it is the mourning day for Tibetians, Mongolia, and Chinese civilians. Since they came into power in 1949, the China’s Communist Party has continually committed crimes. Although much has changed in China for Tibet, for the Mongolian people, nothing has changed for the better. Through systematic discrimination of language, culture, religion, the CCP has continually attempted to erode the identity of all these people. Today, China and the Chinese government have pointed to the economic growth as a vindication for the CCP and the past century but, rights, and the freedom of the people living under this regime, have been suppressed significantly. CCP is the world’s most powerful criminal organization supported by the state. It is responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people, including Chinese people Tibetan widows. In the last 100 years, not only has the CCP committed genocide against Uyghurs and the cultural aspirations in Tibet, and Mongolian people, destroyed democracy in Hong Kong and threatened the national sovereignty of Iran, but also today CCP is threatening global democracy, human rights and international human rights system and international law. So that’s why I would like to say CCP crimes must be held accountable by the international justice system.

Q: Could you shed some more light on the ethnic cleansing that is being witnessed here. And if you could give us these gory details of the genocide, that is happening in Xinjiang at the hands of the CCP?

A: Today is the 21st-century, but the Chinese Communist Party Chinese government committed genocide against the Uyghurs. Most of them are suffering in the concentration camps. And were subject to forced labour and forced sterilisation and family separation. More than 1 million illegal children are separated from the family and in name of indoctrination are targeting the identity and changing names and showing loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping. The religious persecution is unbelievable.

Even what you see, what you eat, what you drink, what you talk about everything, is determined by the CCP government. I could hardly get access to my parents, and my family members. I got the very heartbreaking news of my mother who died in a concentration camp. My younger brother is sentenced to life.

Q: How long have you been in exile and currently, where do you inhabit? You think the CCP is targeting your family because you are speaking out against them at the international forum?

A: I’m living in exile since 1994, more than 27 years. For 27 years, I have never seen my family members. I’m living in Germany since 1996 for more than 25 years. I’m a German citizen, but the Chinese government never allows us to go abroad. Because of my activism, my family is paying such a price, you know. CCP is the biggest criminal organization.

Q: The Chinese Communist Party is obviously forcing the minority communities across Mainland China to toe the party line and therefore, it is going good and picking out officials from Xingjian as well as honouring them for quote-unquote “battling separatism” and “encouraging” loyalty to the CCP.

A: From time to time, the CCP and Xi Jinping try to get information, and campaign to try, cheat and confuse the internationally, but it is too late today. Today it is very clear that Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party are committing crimes, they commit genocide and crimes against humanity.

Q: What do you think needs to be done at the international level to hold China and the CCP accountable, keeping in mind that several other international communities and developed nations, the European Union nations, United States, Australia, they›ve all come out in support of the minorities living there?

A: CCP must be held accountable by the international justice system but, unfortunately, China is not a member of the International Criminal Court. That’s why it is not fighting, and the International Court for Justice should get approved by the UN Security Council. Today, quite a lot of western countries invest and continue to do business in China. I told you already that China’s government points to this economic growth as an indication of the success of the CCP. That’s why all business must be stopped with China. China and CCP must be held accountable as they commit crimes and all human beings, particularly democratic nations, should stand together, set up a coalition, and speak in one voice against the CCP. The Chinese government has also manipulated the UN system and has a monopoly there.

INDIA FACES HUGE THREAT FROM CHINA: TIBETAN ACTIVIST TENZIN TSUNDUE

As China celebrates 100 years of the CCP, Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue spoke exclusively to NewsX and shared his opinion on the freedom movement of the Tibetans against Chinese oppression.

Speaking about his experience of protesting against the Chinese in New Delhi, he said, “This morning, I, along with 12 other activists from Tibetan Group Congress, protested outside the Chinese embassy here in Delhi. We all are under detention. Even now, as I speak, I am standing outside the police station. This protest is against the Chinese Communist Party, which celebrates its 100th year of existence. Here is a case where this entire history of 100 years of the CCP is riddled with public execution, destruction of culture, language and people.”

Underlining that India is facing a huge threat on both security and economic fronts from China, he urged Indians to strongly respond to Chinese threats. “China has become a threat to world peace, yet nobody speaks directly about it because of high dependency on Chinese supply chains. It is time to start a collective international campaign against China whose tyrannical government has single-headedly organised the largest genocide in the world,” he added.

Asked about the overture of the current Tibetan president Penpa Tsering, who’s in exile and has spoken about holding a dialogue with the Chinese authorities for a permanent resolution, Tenzin said, “This is an expression of finding a solution through dialogue and seeking autonomy. I feel the Tibet government-in-exile needs to rethink its policies and start its campaign for true independence of Tibet. We all need to stand in unity against China for freedom and justice.”

CHINA CONTINUES TO LOOT TIBET’S RICH HERITAGE: TIBETAN MP LHAGYARI DOLKAR

Namgyal Dolkar, MP of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, joined NewsX for a conversation as China celebrates 100 years of CCP and spoke about Chinese oppression against Tibetans.

“The Chinese have called the violent exilation a peaceful liberation today. China claims that they brought developments to Tibet through infrastructure investment, but the fact is they still continue to loot Tibet of its natural resources for its own economic prosperity and mass Chinese immigration into Tibet territory. They have exploited Tibetan strategic locations to focus on India. After all the false promises, we now know that China remains the biggest threat to Tibetan political system, culture, Buddhism religion and so on.” She further cautioned the world against signing any bilateral agreements with China as it doesn’t uphold it. She said, “Tibet regrets the signing of bilateral 17 points agreement with China as they are not sticking by it.”

Fifty years after Tibet, Hong Kong has succumbed to its fate against the Chinese might. There is no freedom of speech and pro-democracy protesters are being silenced. The world is witnessing this all from the sidelines, without doing anything to ameliorate the situation. Talking about solutions, Namgyal said, “It’s not only about the threat which the Chinese government led by Xi Jinping places on occupied territories like Tibet, but actually it is also about the threat to free and democratic countries like India. Many times we hear about Chinese territorial acquisition and how they are barging into Indian territory. So, India and world should remain conscious of Chinese moves.”