4 VOL 35 NO 32 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

CONTENTS FOR THE WEEK JULY 31-AUGUST 6

COLUMNS
COVER STORY

22
14 Power Point 68 Schizo-Nation
Sachidananda Murthy Anuja Chauhan
18 Mani-Festo 71 Everyone is a camera
Mani Shankar Aiyar Bose Krishnamachari
47 Candid Talk 74 Last Word
Vinod Rai Barkha Dutt

36 Terror funding:
Syed Ali Shah
Geelani weakened
by his confidants'
arrest

54 Karnataka:
Communal
20 Current events: incidents are on
Lashkar leadership the rise in the
in Kashmir is in a coastal belt
churn, with a lmy
twist 58 Kerala: Tribal
women pay
PTI

32 The presidency: a heavy price

EXCLUSIVE Kovind's tenure is for misusing
expected to be free contraceptive pills
SYSTEM ERROR of controversies to bypass custom

Last August, former chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh

Kalikho Pul committed suicide, barely a month after he was NEXT WEEK
removed from office. He left behind 60 pages of suicide notes
A tea seller who has written 25 books
in which he spoke about corruption in governance in the state.
Now, his three wives want a case of abetment to suicide to be
filed against the people named in his statement COVER DESIGN: BINESH SREEDHARAN

K
SANJAY AHLAWAT
REUTERS

PTI

40 WOMEN'S CRICKET
From the days of Shantha Rangaswamy
50 CONTROVERSY
Probe conrms top cop's allegation of
61 @LEISURE
Designer Vaishali Shadangule revolted
to Mithali Raj, an intimate history of VIP treatment to Sasikala and Abdul against the patriarchal system and
women's cricket in India Karim Telgi in Bengaluru's Central Prison created her own destiny

Printed at Malayala Manorama Press, Kottayam, Print House India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, M P Printers, Noida and Rajhans Enterprises, Bangalore and published from Manorama Buildings, Panampilly Nagar,
Kochi-682 036, by Jacob Mathew, on behalf of the Malayala Manorama Co.Ltd., Kottayam - 686 001. Editor Philip Mathew Focus/Infocus features are marketing/PR initiatives
8 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
LETTERS
NITISH KUMAR
MAY NOT HUG BJP
MALAYALAM SUPERSTAR
IN ACTRESS RAPE CASE
FREE
20-PAGE SUPPLEMENT
TOP FIVE MEDICAL
UNIVERSITIES
Young people, these great culture. to not have non-vegetari-
JULY 23, 2017 $50 www.theweek.in
JULY 23, 2017

days, like experiment- Moin Syed, an food in economy class

VIRTUAL AID
FREE
44-PAGE
SUPPLEMENT
ing with food, unlike the On email. on domestic ights is a
older generation. The food welcome step, but it does
SPECIAL ISSUE
industry in India should Give up, please not save much.
IndiasTHE WEEK-IMRB
The Week RNI.KERENG/36122/82, Registered No. KL/KTM/57/2015-17, Licence No. KL/CR /KTM/ WPP-05/2015-17.

constantly change with SUCCESSIVE GOVERN- D.B.N. Murthy,

Best SURVEY the changing times. MENTS DID nothing On email.
Restaurants Nandu Kishore, to save Air India; the
Licensed to post without pre-payment Published on Friday 14th July 2017

On email. political leadership and Disturbed Mamata

bureaucrats were hardly MAMATA BANERJEE
Huma Qureshi,
I WAS SURPRISED that equipped to handle the FAILED to contain the
the famous Ramakrishna challenges that the nation- riots in West Bengal
actress

Lunch Home at Parrys
in Chennai was missing
from your survey. Back
FOOD FOR then, we, the postgradu-
ate students of Madras
THOUGHT Christian College, used to
YOUR COVER STORY on go to Presidency College
Indias best restaurants for our weekly inter-col-
was comprehensive and legiate classes. After that,
enlightening. It is good to we used to have snacks
know that more and more and coffee at Ramakrishna
restaurants in the country Lunch Home.
are catering to the needs C.V. Venugopalan,
of the people by offering On email.
healthy and tasty food
(Soya latte, anyone?, I WAS NOT happy with
July 23). In India, there your best restaurants
is a huge interest in food issue. Was it a page 3
today. Food is not just special edition? Guys, we
about filling ones stom- are looking for some seri-
ach, but also about the ous journalism from your
experience. Many upmar- team. At a time when we
ket restaurants have a have problems in North
performance area, which Korea, issues on the
is really good. I want res- India-China border and
taurants in the metros to the launch of GST, I was
serve all kinds of regional expecting some in-depth
food. coverage on these topics.
K.V. Prasad, Binoj Mathew
On email. Chandrathil,
On email.
FOOD IS IN our DNA
and plays an important THE WEEKS COVER
role during get-togethers story on best restaurants
and festivals. We should was enticing and deserves
always have nutritious tremendous appreciation.
food and perhaps avoid I missed seeing restau-
desserts and snacks. By rants in Goa, but thats
not having them one can okay. Now, I want a simi-
save as much as 500 calo- lar survey on archaeologi-
ries per day. But, many of cal monuments that would
us cannot resist the temp- help tourists to learn
tation. about the heritage of our
al carrier faced (Flight
plan, July 23). It is better
that Air India is released
from manacles so that it
can recover its past glory.
The government should
give up its controlling
stake. Only then would
buyers be interested.
Devender Tokas,
On email.
OUTRIGHT SALE OF Air
India may not have many
takers as investors are not
sure how Air India would
shape up after privatisa-
tion. The debt burden is
another stumbling block.
Sharing maintenance
facilities and ground han-
dling arrangements with
private airlines could be
considered to minimise
costs. Air Indias decision
NEXT WEEK's
QUESTION
The Madras High Court
made it compulsory for
Vande Mataram to be
played and sung in all
schools, colleges and univer-
sities at least once a week.
Write an Open Letter in 200-
250 words to the court on its
ruling and stand a chance to
win an Amazon gift voucher
worth 0500. Send in your
entries to youzone@theweek.in
with Open Letter as the subject.
LAST DATE: August 3
(Rioting on the wall, July
23). The governor did the
right thing by seeking
explanation from the state
government. It is worry-
ing to know that jihadi
elements from Bangladesh
are creating problems in
West Bengal. Such people
should be sent back to
their country at the earli-
est. The Centre and the
state should work in tan-
dem and make sure there
are no untoward incidents
in West Bengal.
Saurabh Kumar,
On email.
MINORITY APPEASE-
MENT IS Mamatas prior-
ity, rather than ensuring
law and order. Ever since
the BJP made inroads into
West Bengal, Mamata
seems visibly disturbed.
Mamata should take care
of every caste and com-
munity.
Bal Govind,
On email.
Not done
MADHUR
BHANDARKARS SOLE
intention to make Indu
Sarkar is to get into the
good books of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
(Return of the disruptor,
July 23). If emergency
was dangerous for the
country, how did the same
10
LETTERS
people re-elect Indira
Gandhi after a few years?
Ramesh Kotian,
Udupi, Karnataka.
Made for each
other
YOUR COVER STO-
RY from Israel by R.
Prasannan was brilliant
(Oye, Jerusalem, July 9). 30), there was reference
It was written after a lot
of legwork and research,
which is commendable. I
was not aware that coop-
eration between two coun-
tries is already happening.
There is scope to further
strengthen the ties.
The type of reception
accorded to our prime
minister during his recent
visit was immensely pleas-
ing. After reading your
report, I feel India can
PRIZE-WINNING LETTER
Open Letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on
allegedly warming up to the BJP
Dear Nitish Kumar,
THERE WAS A time when
the opposition parties saw
in you a future prime min-
ister, a political stalwart
who could take on the
mighty BJP and storm to
power at the Centre.
True, the BJP has of-
fered you outside support
if you sever your links
with the RJD and the
Congress, but you more
than anyone else should
know that the BJP is a
greedy party that hankers
for power and might not
play second ddle to the which it is certain to fall.
JD(U) for long. It will
not hesitate to pull the
rug from under your feet
when the time is ripe.Your
decision to support the
NDA presidential candi-
benet a lot by adopting
Israels technologies in
almost all elds. We can
truly be called made for
each other.
Mahesh Joshi,
On email.
Clarification
IN POWERPOINT (JULY
to government prepar-
ing a police mess in Delhi
as special jail for former
prime minister P.V.
Narasimha Rao, who faced
corruption charges. The
reference was incomplete.
Though the government
notified a special jail in
1997, it was not utilised as
Rao obtained bail from the
trial court in Delhi. The
notification was allowed
to lapse.
date, Ram Nath Kovind,
has driven a nail into the
opposition unity cam-
paign. It is clear that you
would not mind sleeping
with the enemy if it can
guarantee you the chief
ministers chair.
Power is a great aphro-
disiac but compromising
to the extreme to retain it
is an act that erodes cred-
ibility.
The BJP can only be a
fair weather friend and
the RJD will drag your
party into the grave into
So, dissolve the assembly
and call for fresh elec-
tions sans this mahaghat-
bandhan business.
C.V. Aravind
Bengaluru
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
EDITOR
PHILIP MATHEW
SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR & DIRECTOR
RIYAD MATHEW
EDITOR-IN-CHARGE EDITOR-IN-CHARGE (ONLINE) SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
V.S. JAYASCHANDRAN T R GOPAALAKRISHNAN STANLEY THOMAS
NEWS EDITOR DEPUTY NEWS EDITORS
LUKOSE MATHEW P. SRIDEVI, MATHEW T. GEORGE, MAIJO ABRAHAM
RESIDENT EDITOR, DELHI
K.S. SACHIDANANDA MURTHY
CHIEF OF BUREAU, DELHI
R. PRASANNAN
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
BARKHA DUTT, ANITA PRATAP
CHIEF OF BUREAU, MUMBAI DEPUTY CHIEFS OF BUREAU, DELHI
DNYANESH V. JATHAR VIJAYA PUSHKARNA, NEERU BHATIA
CHIEF SUBEDITORS SENIOR SUBEDITORS SUBEDITOR
S. NEERAJ KRISHNA VIJI RAJAN DIYA MATHEW
AJISH P. JOY ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM
SUSAMMA KURIAN ANIRUDH MADHAVAN
NAVIN J. ANTONY
SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS
REKHA DIXIT, MANDIRA NAYAR, NEHA K. SUNIL THOMAS, PRATUL SHARMA,
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RACHNA TYAGI (MUMBAI); AJAY UPRETY
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SOUMIK DEY (DELHI)
SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS
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NEW MEDIA
COORDINATOR
NIRMAL GEORGE KOSHY
NEWS FEATURES MULTIMEDIA
HAZEEDA VIJAYAKUMAR SNEHA PILLAI RAHUL J. MOHAN
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VINOD V.K. ANCY K. SUNNY
JOSE K. GEORGE
VAISAKH E. HARI
ANITA BABU
PHOTO EDITOR: SANJOY GHOSH ART EDITOR: JAYAKRISHNAN M.T.
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AHLAWAT (DELHI); JANAK BHAT DESIGNERS: DENI LAL, JOB P.K.
(MUMBAI); GRAPHIC DESIGNER: SYAM KRISHNAN
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
ARTISTS: RAJESH A.S., SUMESH C.N.,
AMEY SUHAS MANSABDAR (MUMBAI)
SUJESH K., AJEESH KUMAR M.
PHOTOGRAPHER
JUNIOR ARTIST: JAIRAJ T.G.
AAYUSH GOEL (DELHI)
RESEARCH HEAD: K. MANOHARAN
SENIOR PICTURE COORDINATOR
RESEARCH ASSISTANT: RANI G.S.
BIMAL NATH C.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GEORGE JACOB
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING, ADVERTISING SALES
VARGHESE CHANDY
VICE PRESIDENT, CIRCULATION CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER, SALES
M. RAJAGOPALAN NAIR ANAND MATHEW
CHIEF RESIDENT GM, MUMBAI REGIONAL CHIEF GM, CHENNAI
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RANJIT KURIEN AND HEAD, SPECIAL PROJECTS, NEW DELHI
R. RAJMOHAN
12 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
APERITIF

SHADES OF JOY || Make-up artist Joycee Moses Awaskar, a Bene Israel Jew, lapped up the opportunity to paint the Ganesha
idols getting ready for Vinayaka Chaturthi at an idol-making workshop in Chinchpokli, Mumbai.
PHOTO BY JANAK BHAT

POINT BLANK POINT BLANK POINT B L A N K POINT BLANK POINT BLANK

P O I NT BLANK
My temple has been the
Parliament of India and my
passion has been the service of
the people of India.
PRANAB MUKHERJEEFormer
president
The BJP might be considering
the Shiv Sena as its number
one enemy. That is why, may
be, Pakistan and China have
been ignored? If they feel the
Sena is a bigger enemy than
these two nations, it is their
misfortune, not mine.
UDDHAV THACKERAYShiv Sena chief
I am a lot more calmer from
what I was earlier. I think I
was a little bit like a cat on a
hot tin roof, so to say.
R. ASHWINCricketer
We will not allow driver-less
cars in India. India suffers
a huge shortage of 22 lakh
drivers. Cab aggregators take
advantage of these. We are not
going to promote any technol-
ogy or policy that will render
people jobless.
NITIN GADKARIUnion minister
Science has become religious
and religion is pretending to
be science. That is where the
problem is. Neither under-
stands each other.
DEVDUTT PATTANAIKAuthor

PTI
14
power point Sachidananda Murthy
Acrobatics with words
N
arendra Modi is fascinated by
acronyms for governmental
activities and programmes,
which he uses to convey his commit-
ment for development and outreach.
His desire for choosing positive Hindi
words and then fitting the name of the
scheme with either English or Hindi
words has infected his ministers and
bureaucrats, too, especially word fanci-
ers like Venkaiah Naidu (who will be the
next vice president), Arun Jaitley, Piyush
Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan.
Even though previous governments,
too, had come up with catchy titles for
programmes, Modi is
far ahead in unleashing
meaningful Hindi words
like HRIDAY(not about
health, but heritage cit-
ies), PRASAD (pilgrim-
age) and AMRUT (urban
transformation) for which
English expansions are
provided. Thus, when the
prime minister wanted
to monitor and push
forward stalled mega
projects, he chose the word PRAGATI,
which means progress. But its expan-
sion, PRo-Active Governance and Timely
Implementation, is a bit awkward.
Similarly, the Pradhan Mantri Mudra
Yojana for giving small loans to the poor
and young is called MUDRA. But its
expansionMicro Units Development
and Renance Agencyis more compli-
cated than PRAGATI. But these titles get
into the lexicon, like the UPAs NREGA,
which aided Manmohan Singhs victory
in 2009.
The ministers know that when they
propose schemes to be included in the
annual budget or the prime ministers In-
dependence Day speech made from the
ramparts of the Red Fort, they need to
give multiple options for the title, apart
from providing details of the scheme.
Sometimes the names are bizarre. For
instance, when the cabinet decided to
sell off Air India, the job was given to
DIPAM (Department of Investment and
Public Asset Management), which is the
new name for the simpler Vajpayee-era
disinvestment department. Five min-
isters led by Jaitley, who is in charge
of DIPAM, were asked to work out the
modalities.The Modi government hates
the acronyms GoM
(group of ministers) and
EGoM (empowered goup
of ministers) for causing
policy paralysis during
the Manmohan Singh
government. The idea is
to leave everything to the
prime minister and the
cabinet. But interminis-
terial disputes need to
be addressed and hence
BHASKARAN
Modi has conceded by
appointing the iGoM (informal group of
ministers), which addresses and dispers-
es such issues. The Air India disinvest-
ment group has been given the name Air
India Specic Alternative Mechanism.
Not a simple one and not even a work-
able acronym.
For nalising the government stand
before the Supreme Court on voting
rights for non-resident Indians, Modi
constituted a Team of Ministers. Luckily,
nobody has thought of using the acro-
nym TOM for it, lest the ministers are
called Tom, Dick or Harry!
sachi@theweek.in
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
This weeks word is a new sense
to woke. It has been in the news
for slightly over a year, after
Black Lives Matter launched the
hashtag #StayWoke. It means
being alert to racial or social
discrimination and injustice. A
documentary helped popularise
the new senseStay Woke: The
Black Lives Matter Movement.
Charles Pulliam-Moore, a
journalist with Fusion, had this
to say about woke: In her 2008
song Master Teacher, Erykah
Badu (along with Bilal and
Georgia Anne Muldrow) sing
about how they dream of a world
where there are no niggas, but
instead only master teachers.
They immediately clarify that
they stay woke. (Meaning that
they recognise that, although
it would be nice, their dream
of racial equality is far from
reality.) Badu's song is generally
considered the rst major usage
of the phrase.
MILESTONES
All-time high: The NSE Nifty
created history by breaching the
10,000 level for the rst time,
gaining 44.90 points on July 25.
The BSE Sensex, too, hit a record
high on the same day, climbing
128.43 points to touch 32,374.30.
Top form: Indian shuttler H.S.
Prannoy won his third Grand Prix
Gold and maiden US Open title by
defeating Commonwealth Games
champion Parupalli Kashyap.
Prannoy, who has been battling
injuries, defeated Kashyap in a
close three-game match.
Froome zooms: British cyclist
Chris Froome won the 2017 Tour
de France, his fourth title and
third on the trot. Froome is now
one short of the all-time record of
ve, held by four cyclists.
16 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
APERITIF party snacks

Kovil of kindness
THE FARMERS FROM Tamil
Nadu who are protesting at Jantar
Mantar have been receiving bless-
ings from an unexpected quar-
terthe Bangla Sahib gurdwara
in Delhi. Selva Perumal, one of
the farmers, says he was advised
by a gurdwara in Tamil Nadu to
begin their protest in Delhi with
a prayer at Bangla Sahib. Perumal
and the other 101 farmers heeded
the advice, and Bangla Sahib
blessed them with prasadam
rice, rotis and dal, thrice a day.
Perumal says the blessing from the
gurdwara kovil is truly divine.

Muzzled fury
RAJU SHETTI, MP and farmer
leader from Maharashtra, recently
got a taste of the power wielded
by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra
Mahajan. During zero hour, he
was allowed three minutes to
speak on farmer issues and the
need for better support prices.
But, as soon as he brought up the
killing of six farmers in Mandsaur
in Madhya Pradesh,
Mahajan intervened.
My mic was muted
by the Speaker, a
fuming Shetti later
ILLUSTRATIONS: JAIRAJ T.G. said. I walked out
of the zero hour
after that.
DISEMPOWERED!
WHEN IT COMES to implementing power cuts, engineers
at Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd are as stiff as an
electric post. A few days ago, they literally pulled the plug on
a function attended by Yogi Adityanath. The chief minister
was at Rajendra Nagar in Lucknow, when power went off in
the entire neighbourhood. The engineers later blamed it on a
technical snag, but Adityanath was not impressed. The gov-
ernment has now decided that, if blackouts happen during
any programme attended by a VIP, the chief engineer of that
area will be held responsible.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 17

The pundit in PMO

GOPAL BAGLAY WAS spokesperson of
the external affairs ministry for less than
six months, before he was appointed joint
secretary in the Prime Ministers Office. He
succeeds the media-savvy Vikas Swarup,
author of Q&A, which became the Oscar-
winning Slumdog Millionaire.
Baglay has his own style. Diminutive and
unassuming, he knows how to put across his
eclectic knowledge without intimidating the
listener. He peppers his talks with analogies
drawn from a wide range of subjects, from
cricket to metallurgy. And he knows just
the right couplet for the occasion. Once,
responding to a range of reactions from
Beijing on the standoff at Doklam, Baglay
recited a verse by the poet-saint Kabir.
Sadhu aisa chahiye, jaise soop subhay,
saar saar to gahi rakhe, thotha de udaay [A
sensible man knows how to separate the
grain from the chaff].

Commissions omissions
JOB ASPIRANTS ARE fed up with
the Telangana State Public Service
Commission for its shoddy conduct of
recruitment exams. The commission is
Modis man; Kovinds, too battling several cases pertaining to loop-
BHARAT LAL, GUJARATS resident commis- holes in notifications and errors in ques-
sioner and 1988 batch Indian Forest Service tion papers and the selection process. The
officer, is one of the most seasoned bureaucrats situation is so grim that candidates are
in Delhi. His office in Gujarat Bhawan has been mocking the commission saying that its
gaining influence ever since the Narendra Modi recruitment process involves four stages.
government came to power. Believed to be one The first stage is issuing notification, the
of the many eyes and ears of Modi, Lal is now second is conducting the exam, the third is
going to work closely with Ram Nath Kovind. a court-ordered stay or cancellation of the
He was recently appointed joint secretary to the exam, and the fourth stage is reissuing the
newly elected president. notification.

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18
mani-festo Mani Shankar Aiyar
Nuking our disarmament legacy
O
n July 7, 122 member-states
of the United Nations joined
hands to pass a proposal for
a treaty prohibiting nuclear weap-
ons. India not only refused to par-
ticipate in the discussions, it also
shied away from the final vote that
saw over two-thirds of the global
membership of the UN join hands to
demand an unequivocal prohibition
on nuclear weapons.
Insult has been added to injury by
the ofcial spokesman of the ministry
of external affairs making the absurd
claim on July 18 that this treaty in no
way constitutes or contributes to the
development of customary interna-
tional law. What rubbish!
It is precisely the development
of customary international law in
precisely this direction that we have
consistently sought since Jawaharlal
Nehrus earliest addresses to the UN,
culminating in Rajiv Gandhis Action
Plan for a Nuclear-Weapons-Free
and Nonviolent World Order in 1988.
Its the most detailed plan for nuclear
disarmament that any head of state or
government has ever presented to the
world community.
It is sadder still that our spokesman
boasted: None of the other states
possessing nuclear weapons partici-
pated in the negotiations. Thus, have
we surrendered our precious right
as an independent country with an
inalienable right to our own view to
become camp-followers of those very
countries whose hegemony we never
used to accept, but, under Modi, have
now started craving?
More ironic even is that most of the
preambular paragraphs of the docu-
ment, which constitute the rationale
for prohibiting nuclear weapons,
read like a paraphrase of the very
arguments we used to make when we
championed the cause. There are two
statements by Rajiv Gandhi at the UN
that bear repetition, especially as the
spokesmans statement hypocriti-
cally reprises the heart of Gandhis
proposal as the present establish-
ments stand on universal multilat-
eral nuclear disarmament.
The rst Rajiv quote deals with the
nuclear deterrence doctrine: Deter-
rence needs an enemy, even if one has
to be invented. Nuclear deterrence
is the ultimate expression of the
philosophy of terrorism. The second
said: The champions of nuclear de-
terrence argue that nuclear weapons
have been invented and, therefore,
cannot be eliminated. We do not
agree. We have an international
convention eliminating biological
weapons... [and] are working on simi-
larly eliminating chemical weapons
[since eliminated]. There is no reason
in principle why nuclear weapons,
too, cannot be so eliminated. His
peroration reads: All it requires
BHASKARAN
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
is the afrmation of certain basic
moral values and the assertion of the
required political will, underpinned
by treaties and institutions which
ensure against nuclear delinquency.
That is what the July 7 treaty actually
does. We ought to be celebrating this.
Alas, Modis India is bemoaning it.
The fact that we (and Pakistan)
have overtly acquired nuclear weap-
ons has only pushed the Doomsday
Clock further forward. With nuclear
weapons, we are more, not less, vul-
nerable to nuclear catastrophe than
we then were. So, our stake in univer-
sal, time-bound, non-discriminatory,
veriable disarmament remains
more vital than ever to our survival as
Indians and as part of humankind.
Instead, the Modi dispensation
has repudiated the seven-decade-old
legacy of India being in the fore-
front of the nuclear disarmament
movement. It has distanced India
from the overwhelming majority of
the UN and from the Non-Aligned
Movement, once described by Indira
Gandhi as the worlds biggest peace
movement. As she graphically put
it at the NAM Summit in New Delhi
in 1983: The hood of the cobra is
spread. Humankind watches in
frozen fear, hoping against hope that
it will not strike. Never before has
the earth faced so much death and
danger.
The hood of the cobra is today
spread even wider than it was three
decades ago. Tragically, Modi does
not have the antennae to alert him to
the danger.
Aiyar is a former Union minister
and social commentator.
22 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

THE BIG

ADIEU,
FATHER:
Three of
Kalikho Puls
children
bidding him
farewell

THE WEEK examines the mysterious money trail

that led to former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister
Kalikho Puls suicide. His three wives have joined
hands to get justice for their husband

COVER UP
BY RABI BANERJEE
Dangwimsai Pul was in a hotel
D
room in Guwahati when she
got my call. She was about to
leave for her house 12 hours
drive away in Tezu, Arunachal
Pradesh. She said she would
stay back in the hotel for one
more day. I will talk to you in
detail, she said.
Her room in the hotel was on
the fourth floor, but she was waiting in the lobby
when I reached there next morning. Apparently, it
is a courtesy typical of her tribe. Dangwimsai, who
is in her early forties, is the eldest wife of Kalikho
Pul, former chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh,
who committed suicide on August 9 last year,
barely a month after he was removed from office.
Sixty pages of suicide notes, in ten bundles, were
found in Puls room at the chief ministers bunga-
low in Itanagar. Four of the bundles are still in the
possession of the Arunachal Pradesh Police. Four
bundles were made public by his three wives, and
two are in the possession of his personal secre-
tary. The suicide notes in the public domain spoke
about corruption in governance and politics in
Arunachal Pradesh. Pul also wrote that powerful
people in Delhi had asked him for bribes so that
his short-lived government could be revived. But
he refused.
Dangwimsai spoke about Puls political past
while we waited in the corridor for the housekeep-
ing staff to finish cleaning her room. When they
were done, she asked me to sit on a bed, herself sit-
ting on another bed. The room was barely 80sqft, a
far cry from the palatial chief ministers bungalow
where Dangwimsai and two other wives of Pul
Vikilu and Dasangluhad stayed for five months.
Today, all three wives live apart. Dangwimsai
and Vikilu live in two houses in Tezu that belonged
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 23
to their husband. The third wife, Dasanglu, is now
the MLA from Hayuliang, a constituency on the
India-China border, which Pul had represented
for two and a half decades. She lives in Itanagar,
at the same MLA quarters where Pul had lived as
MLA and minister.
How could three wives live in the same build-
ing, even if palatial? I asked the eldest wife. Who
would want to share her husband with another
woman, tell me? Our custom allows a man to be
polygamous. So, I accepted the other women. And
they accepted me as well, said Dangwimsai, bow-
ing her head down with a smile.
I asked her whether a woman in her tribe could
divorce her husband or whether a widow could
remarry. No, we dont have the right to divorce
the husband. We will have to remain loyal to him
even if he marries multiple times. If he is no more,
we can get married to his next of kin, not anyone
else, she said. But she said none of the wives was
planning to remarry.
I asked her whether the wives were remaining
united after their husbands death. We have good
relations but we dont stay together, she said.
(The third wife, Dasanglu, was more candid. She
said, I wont say we are good friends. But we dont
say anything against each other in public. But it
would be wrong to say that we were good friends
or lived like sisters.)
The wives, however, are together in demanding
punishment of people who, they allege, had forced
Pul to commit suicide. Dangwimsai has taken the
lead. She declined to stand for election from her
husbands constituency when her name was sug-
gested after his death.
I wanted to fight the case and so I let Dasanglu
become MLA, she said.
Dangwimsai has been travelling to Delhi, meet-
ing politicians, bureaucrats and lawyers to seek
24 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

their help for getting justice. She ITS TRUE THAT

said, for the first time, that Pul had
THEY SOUGHT
to bribe MLAs for supporting his
government. MONEY FROM HIM,
He had to pay MLAs before, MANY OF THEM IN
and then to keep his government THE NAME OF THE
intact. When he stopped doing that, HIGH COMMAND.
they showed him the door, said IT WAS VERY
Dangwimsai. He sold his buildings
in Itanagar and land at various parts
DISTRESSING.
Dasanglu, Puls third wife
of Arunachal to raise the money. But
they stabbed him in the back.
In late 2015, Pul had led a coup
in the Congress. After leaving the
Nabam Tuki cabinet, he became chief minister in
February 2016 with the support of rebel Congress
MLAs and opposition BJP members, and won vote
of confidence in the assembly. Along with the MLAs
who defected to him, he formed the Peoples Party
of Arunachal.
Defending his decision to split the Congress,
Dangwimsai said, The Congress demanded money
from him when he was finance minister. Once a for-
mer chief minister of Arunachal asked him to send
16 crore to Delhi. He was so put off that he decided
to leave the Congress.
The third wife, Dasanglu, the MLA, said Pul dis-
cussed politics with her. Its true, she said, that
they sought money from him, many of them in the
name of the high command. It was very distressing.
It was unclear why the MLAs had turned against at her hotel room, Dangwimsai said in a firm voice,
Tuki and supported Pul. Besides, Pul, in his suicide Tuki did not remain chief minister because he
notes, has stated that he had refused to become chief received 160 crore from Pema Khandu, the present
minister three times in the past. So it seemed a mys- chief minister.
tery why Pul finally took the post, that too by buying I asked her if she had any evidence in support of
MLAs. her startling allegation. Dangwimsai said there was
Dangwimsai said Pul wanted to make a change evidence, though not with her. Acting on the tip-off, I
as he could not bear with the corruption within the later obtained an agreement on a non-judicial stamp
party and the government. paper worth 110. It says Pema has agreed to pay 160
Even though he was the senior-most member of crore to Nabam Tuki on his becoming the leader of
the party, he was reduced to a minister without port- the Congress legislature party. It further says Pema
folio because he refused to release funds for personal is paying the sum of 18 crore to Shri Nabam Tuki,
gains, said Dangwimsai. Chief Minister, as token money.
The Supreme Court on July 13, 2016 termed the The agreement carries the signatures of both Pema
Pul government as illegal and reinstated Tuki as chief Khandu and Nabam Tuki, and four other MLAs. It is
minister. Pul, however, did not vacate the chief min- dated July 15, 2016, the day Khandu was chosen as
isters bungalow. Mysteriously on July 15 Tuki was leader of Congress legislature party, replacing Tuki.
removed from the chief ministers post, and Pema Two days later he was sworn in as chief minister. A
Khandu was installed in his place. Pema Khandu few days later, Pema Khandu along with his MLAs
is the son of former chief minister Dorji Khandu, left the Congress, moved to the PPA and finally
who died in a helicopter accident in 2011. Pema was joined the BJP.
acceptable to most of the MLAs of the PPA, the party THE WEEK could not verify the so-called agree-
Pul had founded. ment. The stamp paper does not reveal for which
Equally intriguingly, Tuki remained silent. Sitting purpose the money was exchanged. And it is rare for

a politician to bribe another politician through a
written agreement.
The chief ministers office declined to com-
ment. Jambey Tsering, his public relations offi-
cer, told me: The chief minister and state cabinet
have already referred investigation of the suicide
to the Union home ministry. The chief minister
has nothing more to say. All allegations of bribery
are baseless.
Tuki did not take my calls. His mobile phone
kept ringing. A text message I sent also went
unanswered.
An MLA whose signature appears in the agree-
ment, Techi Kaso, called it a forgery.
Formerly a Congressman, Kaso is now in the
BJP and is parliamentary secretary in Pemas
government. I did not sign any document, he
said.
It is intriguing that no one has been booked for
forgeryif it is a forgeryof a document that has
the signatures of a chief minister and a former
chief minister.
I asked Kaso who might have forged it. Had
I known, I would have told you who they are.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 25
IN SEARCH I have no idea, he said. Itanagar police super-
OF TRUTH: intendent A. Koan confirmed having received
Puls wives an agreement four months ago on a monetary
Vikilu,
Dangwimsai exchange between Tuki and Pema. It is being
and Dasanglu investigated, Koan said. We are yet to verify
with its genuineness. However, the police somehow
Arunachal never thought of testing it in a forensic lab.
Pradesh Chief
Minister
A citizens group, Mere Vichar Andolan
Pema Khandu Committee, was formed to seek justice for Pul.
Its convener R.N. Lalum said, Why are you sur-
prised and want to probe the genuineness of the
agreement? There is nothing wrong in it. This
happens in Arunachal. Here politicians are sold
very easily.
In his suicide note, Mere Vichar (My Judgment),
Pul had mentioned former chief ministers Dorji
Khandu and Nabam Tuki, present deputy chief
minister Chowna Mein and government spokes-
man P.D. Sona as corrupt. Sona is also parlia-
mentary secretary.
Sona demanded 110 crore from my husband,
alleged Dangwimsai. He was paid 14 crore. We
want the money back. Sona rubbished the alle-
gation. He said he had never taken any money.
26 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

Interview/Chowna Mein, deputy chief

minister of Arunachal Pradesh

Centre will decide

on investigation
BY RABI BANERJEE

What action have

you taken regarding
the death of Kalikho
Pul?
After Pul committed
suicide, we set up a
special investigation
team. But many peo-
ple were not happy.
So, we referred the
matter to the Union
ministry of home
affairs.
But the Union home
ministry cannot
order a probe in a
state matter.
What can we do? We
did our bit. But some
people raised doubts.
According to Puls
suicide note, there
was instigation
behind his suicide.
That is for the Central government to decide. We have
left the matter to them.
Why dont you order a CBI inquiry?
His family went to the Supreme Court and their law-
yers were fined. [Eleven members belonging to a law-
yers forum called the National Lawyers Campaign
approached the Delhi High Court for an order to file a
first information report based on Puls suicide note. The
court said the lawyers did not have evidence and fined
them 025,000 each.]
Will there be any further investigation by the state
government?
No. But I fail to understand why you are so concerned
about such an old story.
You knew Pul very well. Why would he take such an
extreme step?
Tell me why you are so much interested.
SALIL BERA

Because the issue was not resolved. Was money

exchanged between politicians?
I have nothing to say.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 27

HE [PUL] SOLD Kalikho Puls letter is full of contradic-

HIS BUILDINGS IN tions. At one point of time he said that he
did not pay money to remain in power, but
ITANAGAR AND LAND
then he said he paid money. Had he been
AT VARIOUS PARTS alive today he would have been hard put
OF ARUNACHAL TO to clarify his comments, Sona told me.
RAISE THE MONEY. I pointedly asked him whether he had
BUT THEY STABBED received money from Pul. No, never,
HIM IN THE BACK. Sona said.
Its a blatant lie. He received money,
Dangwimsai, Puls first wife
said Dangwimsai. Sona said no one in
Arunachal except Puls first wife was
interested in the matter anymore. But at
least two other wives and many citizens
are with her.
Puls second wife, Vikilu, told me, Yes, I no more
have that good a relation with our elder sister [the
first wife]. But whatever she is doing is right and we
are with her.
Vikilu said, though she was the second wife, she
was younger than the third wife. She is 26. She fled
home to marry Pul in 2010 after a whirlwind romance.
I did not tell my parents about my marriage. I was
deep in love with him. He used to come to our village,
on the India-China border in Anjaw district.
As she was very young, Pul did not discuss politics
with her. I was nagging him to tell me about it. But
he asked me to look after my son and concentrate on
my own matters, said Vikilu. Pul had seven children
from three wives.
But I knew he was in deep trouble. He was anx-
ious. When trouble erupted I was in Delhi for my
delivery and the newborns treatment. The baby has
a heart problem. I gave birth to him in Delhi a year
back. My husband dropped me at the hospital and
went to meet some leaders, Vikilu said. But she was
at the official bungalow on the day Pul died.
Dangwimsai said Pul was desperate to join the
BJP. Many politicians who are in the BJP today did
not want him to join the party. My husband had very
good relations with Prime Minister Modi and other
leaders in Delhi. But he was not given the opportu-
nity to move to the BJP.
I met the third wife, Dasanglu, the BJP legislator,
at her MLA quarters in Itanagar. Initially she was
reticent. I am a ruling party MLA, she said. Also
the situation is tense in Arunachal now.
She opened up after a while. A day before he
committed suicide, on August 8, 2016, he left for
Guwahati to meet senior leaders of the BJP, on the
LOST CAUSE: advice of central BJP leaders. He left the bungalow
One of the
buildings at 11 in the morning. But there was a terrorist attack
sold by Pul in at Kokrajhar on that day. When he was at Tezpur,
Itanagar Assam, he was informed that that the appointment
28 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

Interview/Tamiyo Taga, cabinet minister

and senior BJP leader

Puls family should be

allowed to meet the PM
BY RABI BANERJEE

Why is Kalikho
Puls death still a
mystery?
We did probe [the
death]. But the sui-
cide note spoke of
many things which
the state government
could not solve. So,
we referred the mat-
ter to the Central
government.
The suicide note contained several allegations of
corruption.
I have nothing to say about it.
Did the state government fail to investigate the
matter thoroughly?
There was nothing to be investigated by the state gov-
ernment. Pul mentioned a lot of things in his suicide had been cancelled because of the law and order
note. Those issues are beyond the brief of the state problem, Dasanglu said.
government. The oldest and original BJP leader of Arunachal,
Will you agree for a CBI probe? and power minister, Tamiyo Taga said some leaders
We will definitely agree. did not want Pul to join the BJP. I would not say all
Was not your government abdicating responsibility of them, but a section did not want, Taga told me.
by referring the matter to the Central government? On being denied the meetings, Pul called Dasanglu
Had we not done that, we would have been criticised from Tezpur, midway between Guwahati and
for that as well. Itanagar, to say that he was returning.
You knew Pul very well. What did you think about When he returned he looked extremely grim. He
him? said corruption was playing havoc with his life. He
I knew him for a very long time. He was a close friend also wanted to appeal in the Supreme Court against
and a good man. But after seeing him committing sui- its own verdict replacing him. I had never seen him
cide, I have changed my opinion. like I saw him on that evening, Dasanglu said.
Pul wanted to join the BJP. Puls personal assistant Anjoy Ama said, He had
Yes. But he was not as desperate as many people said. been working on the appeal for the last seven days
His family said he was desperate, but many in the of his life. He told us that he would expose everyone.
BJP were reluctant to take him. We thought he would call a press conference and tell
Not many, maybe some people. However, I was not everything. But we never realised that whatever he
privy to such information. was dictating in his last two months to a stenogra-
Puls family wants to meet the prime minister for pher was actually a suicide note.
justice. A young man from Uttar Pradesh, Shyam, took
There is nothing wrong in them meeting the prime down Puls dictation for two months. Shyam had
minister. He should hear them out. been his stenographer when Pul was chief minis-

ter. Apparently, Pul did not trust it with any local
resident.
Dasanglu said on the last day of his life, after
returning from Tezpur, he gave time to all three
wives separately. He had a long discussion with
me, said Dasanglu, who had worked in the elec-
tric supplies department before she became MLA.
Then he dined with Vikilu and went to bed
with the eldest wife. Realising that he was not in
good shape, I asked her son to go to his dad and
be with him. But all attempts went in vain, said
Dasanglu.
She said Pul had put his hand on her head before
going to bed and told her, Dont think of me too
much. Take care of the children. Give them good
education so that they can stand on their own
feet. Dasanglu is in her mid thirties.
Dangwimsai said Pul did not say much before
going to bed, but repeated what he used to say, I
have a very long life line in my hand. But I will not
live longer. These people [politicians] will not let
me live long.
As day broke, Dangwimsai saw Pul was not in
the room. There is a meditation room attached to
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 29
ARUNACHAL CIVIL
SOCIETY LED
VIOLENT PROTESTS
OVER PULS DEATH.
THE ACTIVISTS
ATTACKED THE
HOUSES OF SEVERAL
SENIOR LEADERS.
his room, and lights were on.
I rushed to the room and
found him hanging. Sheets of
paper were strewn all over the
floor, all of which were signed.
Those were his suicide notes,
said Dangwimsai.
She raised alarm. The other
wives rushed in along with the
security man Rajesh Kumar. The
suicide notes were collected in
bundles. There were ten bun-
dles. Dangwimsai has kept four
of them.
I had no idea that those were
his last wishes. They ultimate-
ly became his dying statement.
BURNING When we read them later, we were stunned,
ANGER: Puls she said. She later uploaded them on social
supporters media, creating a sensation.
protesting the
delay in prob- Arunachal Civil Society chairman Patey
ing his death Tayum, who knew Pul for many years, said a
couple of days before his death Pul had met
deputy chief minister Chowna Mein at Meins
official residence.
We want the CCTV footage of his meeting
with Chowna Mein. What transpired? Many
people, including the chief minister and depu-
ty chief minister, would be indicted if a proper
investigation of Puls death is conducted, said
Tayum.
Arunachal Civil Society led violent pro-
tests over Puls death. The activists attacked
the houses of several senior leaders. They
damaged the ordinary coffin that was
brought for the peoples chief minister
and forced the government to send a regal
one. It has been continuing its campaign to
make the government file cases of abetment
to suicide against many people mentioned in
his dying statement.
30
COVER STORY
FINAL
MOMENTS:
Puls last
photo. Seen
here with his
son
We all know that a suicide note is treated as a
dying statement. Why should it be any different in
the case of Kalikho Pul? asked Tayum.
The massive protests and the tenacity of the three
wives forced the Arunachal government to send the
matter to the Union home ministry. Chowna Mein
told me: Many are blaming the government. We
want the truth to come out, so we have referred the
matter to the Central government. However, the
state government has refrained from recommend-
ing a CBI investigation.
Government spokesman Sona recommended that
the Union home ministry could get the case investi-
gated by any Central agency.
Dangwimsai said she had met Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh and home secretary Rajiv
Mehrishi, who has since retired. Rajnath-ji said he
would look into the matter. Mehrishi said the mat-
ter could be taken up only by the new home sec-
retary, said she. Dangwimsai is now looking up to
the prime minister. To pave the way for the Central
government to act, she withdrew her petition in the
Supreme Court praying that FIRs be lodged against
people mentioned in Puls suicide note.
Every time we try to meet the PM, we are denied
appointment. The PM was a long-time friend of my
husband, but he is not hearing us. I want his inter-
vention immediately to get justice. I dont know why
he is silent on this tragedy, said Dangwimsai.
One obvious problem is that most of the people
mentioned in the suicide note are now in the BJP.
Another is that Pul raised unbelievable allegations
against the legal fraternity.
Said Dasanglu: What my husband wrote in his
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
suicide note was exactly what he had told me.
He used to tell me he would expose the corrupt
people. At one point he wanted to quit politics
and go back to his village.
Kalikho Puls mother died when he was one
year old. His father, a poor farmer, married again,
produced two more sons, and died when Pul was
seven, and the boy was brought up by his uncle.
As a student, he once tried to commit suicide, but
a local businessman stopped him and took him to
a politician, who then took him under his wings.
While in college Pul started a small business,
and soon after his graduation in economics, he
became one of the richest businessmen and con-
tractors in Arunachal. After he became MLA he
surrendered his contractors licence. He belongs
to the Idu Mishimi tribe, which has a tendency
to commit suicide.
In the last 20 years 1,000 Idu tribals have
committed suicide. They are very emotional
people. If they suffer a loss or defeat they take
their own lives, said Tarun Mene, professor of
cultural anthropology at Rajiv Gandhi University
in Itanagar.
From the MLA quarters I went to the chief
ministers bungalow where Pul had died. The
bungalow has been turned into a state guest
house. The present chief minister does not want
to stay here. It is seen as a haunted house.
Though named a guest house, the building has
not had a guest in the past one year. The gates
were closed when I reached the place. ITBP sec-
tion commander Rajesh Kumar, his security man,
was in the office at the gates.
But after persistent requests, PWD officer
Tapan Biswas let me go around the bungalow,
but not inside. It is a three-storey building, not
really a bungalow. The meditation room where
Pul killed himself is on the second floor. The
White Palace, as it is now known, stands on a
plot of three acres.
At the entrance of the house is an office which
was the chief ministers office. Pul used to work
here till 3am. Now the office has been turned over
to the state legal aid cell.
He slept only for three hours. But he always
asked us to eat on time. No other chief minister
ever thought of our well-being, said Kumar, his
security officer. Pul met common people the
whole day every Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds
of visitors slips are still in the possession of the
security staff.
Like his suicide note, Kalikho Puls spirit has
made this house very special.

Union Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley spoke about how the Modi
government worked to resolve its
differences with Mukherjee on leg-
islative issues, especially over clas-
sifying certain bills as money bills
and the promulgation of ordinances.
As president, he was unquestionably
the guardian of the Constitution. He
realised that in a democracy there
could only be one power centrethe
elected government and the prime
minister. He, therefore, actively
associated with two different gov-
ernments during his presidency with
equal ease, said Jaitley.
In the past, there had been instanc-
es of strained relations between pres-
idents and prime ministers, like in the
case of Morarji Desai and N. Sanjiva
Reddy, Indira Gandhi and Reddy, and
Rajiv Gandhi and Zail Singh. Modi
never had a problem with Mukherjee.
I was surprised while working with
Pranabda. Despite being part of the
government for so long, and that,
too, in key positions, he never judged
or compared my governments deci-
sions with his past experiences, said
Modi.
Mukherjees emphasis as presi-
dent was on enhancing academic
standards in the country and making
Rashtrapati Bhavan a cultural hub. As
president, he was visitor of 126 insti-
tutions of higher education, includ-
ing the Central universities and the
IITs, and he started the practice of
holding an annual conference of the
heads of these institutions.
During his tenure, Mukherjee
rejected 30 mercy petitions from
convicts on the death row, like Ajmal
Kasab, Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon.
He commuted death sentences in
four cases. He has not left any appeal
pending for Kovind. There were only
a few occasions when Mukherjee got
upset. Sources said it happened when
relations between the judiciary and
the executive
turned sour.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 33
Mukherjees love for work, atten-
tion to detail and sharp memory are
legendary. He made sure there was
at least one public function every day
at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Though
he quit smoking several years ago,
he continued to receive pipes as gifts
from foreign dignitaries. After his
farewell, he donated 500 pipes to the
Rashtrapati Bhavan museum, which
he helped set up. He loved his food,
but kept the portions small. Bengali
sweets and hilsa fish were his favou-
rites. Mukherjee, who was earlier
seen in bandhgalas and dhoti kurtas,
switched to achkan and churidar
after he became president, perhaps
inspired by Rajendra Prasad, the first
president.
As he starts his post-presidency life
at 10 Rajaji Marg in Delhi, the house
once occupied by Kalam, Mukherjee
will be busy writing about his presi-
dential years. Only K.R. Narayanan
had penned presidential memoirs
before. Mukherjee is also likely to
complete his political writings and
set up an organisation in his name,
which would be dedicated to edu-
cation, economics and research.
Kovind has moved into the
Rashtrapati Bhavan with a mes-
sage of hope, drawing on
the strengths of the past
and outlining the
opportunities of
the future. The
India of the 21st
century will be
one that is in
conformity with
our ancient val-
ues as well as
compliant with
the Fourth
Industrial
Revolution, he
said. We must
combine tradition
and technology,
the wisdom of an
age-old Bharat and
the science of a con-
temporary India.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 35

Modi welcomed Nitishs decision to dubbed an opportunist by his former ers at Nitish, too, did not help. But
break his tenuous alliance with Lalu allies for constantly wavering on his whether because of complacency or
Prasad over the issue of corruption. ideological articulations. His quali- incompetence, and despite meetings
The tweet came within an hour of fied support for demonetisation, his between Congress vice president
Nitish submitting his resignation to support for the NDA presidential Rahul Gandhi and Nitish, the Gandhi
the governor, pointing to a pact that candidate, his backing for the United family could not keep its allies house
had obviously been worked out over Progressive Alliances vice presiden- in order. The Congress is now staring
several weeks. Nitish took his allies tial candidateall these paradoxical at an inalienable truth: all this while it
and even his aides by complete sur- positions were taken even as he was was fighting to take on the BJP, now
prise. Several leaders close to him calling for opposition unity. His prin- it is struggling to even play the role
believed that although the gatband- cipal challenge now is to keep his of a primary opposition party. It is no
han with Lalu would break, there party together; a significant number longer the pivot around which other
could not be a return to the NDA. They of legislators are either Muslim or anti-BJP parties will organise. That,
said Nitish was well aware that Modi Yadav and there may be some dis- for the Congress, should be an exis-
and Amit Shah would never forgive quiet among them at abandoning Lalu tential wakeup call.
or forget their humiliation by Nitish. and embracing the BJP. He also has to Finally, for liberal politics in India,
They were hopeful that Nitish would carry party veterans and old socialists this is an important reality check. For
acquire a moral sheen by years, liberals who opposed
taking on Lalu and his son the BJP had anointed Nitish
Tejaswi, the deputy chief By taking Nitish back despite as their great hope to take on
minister, and then position Modi. But the same chief min-
himself for a plunge into grave personal differences, Modi ister who joined hands with
national politics in 2019. has deftly smashed opposition friend-turned-foe-turned
There were even murmurs friend (and now foe again)
of forging a non-Congress
dreams of a grand alliance Lalu in 2015, in the name of
coalition that Maharashtra against him in 2019. secularism, has today chosen
strongman Sharad Pawar to make corruption the cen-
might be deployed to build tral principle of his political
with Nitish as its face. They were all like Sharad Yadav and others with his organisation. Of course, at the time
wrong. Nitish showed that in Indias decision. And, with this move he has Nitish built his peace-pact with Lalu,
House of Cards, he has always held an clearly given up on all national and the RJD leader was already convicted
unpredictable hand of aces. prime ministerial ambitions. The only of corruption in a lower court. So, if
The biggest winners are Modi and way he could have retained those was you believe that Nitishs decision
Shah. The duo has extracted revenge by staying as a challenger to Modi. An has anything to do with corruption
for the defeat in the Bihar elections. alternative route was to sack Tejaswi now or secularism back then, you are
It has also shown that when it comes and challenge Lalu to walk out of the being delusional. This is realpolitik
to consolidating his political gains, government. The route he has chosen and to the victor goes the spoils. It is
Modi can be pragmatic and adaptable, (unless he changes his mind again time to recognise that secularism has
instead of being ideological and ada- before 2019) confines his political been bent, compromised and abused
mant. By taking Nitish back despite future to Bihar. That is exactly what as a political slogan by parties across
grave personal differences, Modi has Modi would want him to do. the spectrum. It has been corroded
deftly smashed opposition dreams of Lalu, who is accused of placing by the ambition of individual leaders
a grand alliance against him in 2019. the love for his son over survival and and I am not sure there is a party that
While Nitish has outmanoeuvred sagacity, is an obvious loser. Unless can claim to be a genuine practitio-
those who thought they could fore- he is able to bounce back in the next ner of secular politics. Pluralism is
cast his next move and ensured his elections, what lies ahead for him and a principle liberals must continue to
place in the pantheon of politicians his family, which is accused of acquir- battle for, but secularism as a politi-
who must be taken seriously, this is ing prime property worth crores of cal constructand in the way it has
a zero-sum-game for him in some rupees for a few lakhs, is a maze of been executedis simply not authen-
ways. It appears to reinforce the litigation and, perhaps, prison. The tic enough.
political status quo instead of deliv- Congress must also take responsibili- Much will happen between now
ering a huge advantage to him. He ty for this mess. Nitishs party repeat- and 2019, but for the foreseeable
has sought the high moral ground by edly expressed its exasperation at the future, the Modi juggernaut rolls on,
snapping ties on a principled oppo- lack of a narrative in the opposition flattening all its challengers, along the
sition to corruption. But he will be camp. Open swipes by Congress lead- path to political hegemony.
36 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
TERROR FUNDING

Slippery slope
The arrest of Geelanis confidants will not only weaken him
but also influence the power struggle in the Hurriyat
BY TARIQ BHAT decision-making body of his party, Tehreek-
e-Hurriyat. Geelani's son Nayeem, a doctor,

S
yed Ali Shah Geelani, 86, who heads a fac- returned from Pakistan in 2010 after staying there
tion of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, for 12 years. It is said that he wants to get into the
has an uncompromising stand on Kashmir. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and the other leaders in the
The hardline separatist leader enjoys sup- party are peeved at it. They see it as a move to grab
port among militants in Kashmir and Pakistan, power at a time when Geelani is suffering from
and the political leadership in Delhi is mind- poor health and old age.
ful of his importance in the scheme of things in There had been concerns earlier about Altaf
Kashmir. using his relationship with Geelani to cosy up to
But now, Geelani's uncompromising ways powerful politicians. At the height of the uprising
seem to have met their match. The National in the valley last year, Altaf's son Anees-ul-Islam
Investigation Agency on July 24 arrested seven was appointed as a research officer at Sher-i-
Kashmiri separatists on charges of receiving funds Kashmir International Conference Center by the
to fuel unrest in the valley. government. There were alle-
Four of themAltaf Ahmed gations that he was appointed
Shah, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, It is said that by bending the rules. The gov-
Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Peer ernment said an interview for
Saifullahare Geelani's close Geelanis son, the post was held in November
aides. Altaf is his son-in-law. Nayeem, wants and Anees was appointed after
Nayeem Ahmed Khan, who clearing it.
heads the Jammu and Kashmir
to get into the Geelani's partymen, howev-
National Front, Farooq Ahmed Tehreek-e-Hurriyat er, felt betrayed. The appoint-
Dar, a member of the Jammu ment came at a time when
and Kashmir Liberation Front,
and the other Geelani, along with Mirwaiz
and Aftab Hilali Shah, an leaders in the party Umar Farooq and JKLF presi-
aide of the separatist leader dent Yasin Malik, presided over
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, were
are peeved at it. one of the bloodiest uprisings
also arrested. A day later, the in Kashmir in which 96 people,
Enforcement Directorate mostly youth, were killed, 60
arrested Shabir Shah, head of the Democratic people were blinded and thousands were injured.
Freedom Party. Similarly, Geelani's son Nayeem returned from
The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against Pakistan just after a separatist uprising in which
the separatist leaders for acting in connivance 110 people were killed.
with proscribed militant organisations Hizb-ul- A spokesperson for Geelani said Nayeem
Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e- returned because the only other option for him
Taiba and other organisations by receiving and was to get Pakistani citizenship, which he did not
collecting funds through various illegal means, want to do. He said Nayeem migrated to Pakistan
including hawala, for funding separatist and because of harassment by Ikhwanies, the pro-gov-
militancy activities in Jammu and Kashmir. ernment insurgents. He was attacked at Barzulla
The arrest and the investigation will not only Hospital where he was posted then. Fearing for
weaken Geelani but also influence the power his life, he left for Pakistan, he said, adding that
struggle in the Hurriyat faction led by him. Altaf, Nayeem had no political ambitions and would go
his son-in-law, is a senior member of Shura, the back to his job.

But most Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leaders are
sceptical. He applied for the membership of
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, but Ashraf Sehrai, party
general secretary and second in the pecking order
after Geelani, raised objection, said a leader. It
seemed Nayeem was trying to fast-track his entry
into the group, but Sehrai sahab asked him to fol-
low the procedure. He was asked to oversee aid
work but that didn't interest him.
Nayeem said he applied for the membership but
after it became controversial, he did not pursue
it. I applied in Baramulla because we are from
Sopore, but I was told the officials there had not
followed the procedure. I don't know what hap-
pened after that, he said.
Geelani had suspended National Front leader
Nayeem Ahmed Khan from the Hurriyat after he
was caught on tape admitting to fomenting unrest
in Kashmir for money. Khan claimed the tape was
doctored. A Hurriyat Conference member said if
Khan was guilty so was Geelani's son-in-law Altaf
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 37
AFP
UMER ASIF
Tough road because the NIA was investigating accusations of
ahead: hawala funds against both of them.
Sayed Ali Geelani's supporters were stunned by some
Shah Geelani; of his recent comments favouring the Peoples
(right) his Democratic Party. In April, he demanded that the
son-in-law byelection in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency be
Altaf Ahmed cancelled. This was exactly what the PDP want-
Shah ed because its chances of winning the election
were slim. Again, during the recent debate on the
implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in
Jammu and Kashmir, Geelani issued a statement
that Kashmir and GST were different issues with
differing backgrounds. The PDP-BJP coalition
government was finding it difficult to implement
the new tax regime.
Many observers see the influence of Geelani's
relatives in the statements attributed to him.
His spokesperson, however, said the leader was
mindful of the developments. Either way, with
the NIA tightening the noose, he is not left with
many options.
40 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
WOMENS CRICKET

THE FAIRER GAME

THE WEEK traces the untold history of womens cricket in Indiafrom the
dingy dorms in Mumbai to the Mecca of cricket
BY NEERU BHATIA
PHOTOS: MID-DAY INFOMEDIA

M
arch 8 was a night to
remember.
The whos who of
Indian cricket had
gathered at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
in Bengaluru for the BCCI Annual
Awards. On the podium, delivering
the fifth M.A.K. Pataudi Memorial
Lecture before the ceremony, was
the inimitable Farokh Engineer. The
89-year-old, effervescent as ever,
recounted how he used to get only
050 a day0250 a Testwhen he
played for India.
Did you hear that, Virat? he asked
Kohli playfully. The Team India skip-
per, who was seated close to the dais,
playfully wiped his brows and let out
a laugh. The audience laughed along.
Not long after Farokh stepped
down, Shantha Rangaswamy came
on stage. The 63-year-old, considered
the matriarch of womens cricket
in India, was bestowed the BCCIs
lifetime achievement award, four
decades after she had led India to its
first Test victory.

founding mothers, a rather motley
group whose exploits fostered wom-
ens cricket in India. She took a gentle
dig at Farokh. Yes, Farokh was talk-
ing about how passionate the game
was to them, and that they were paid
0250 a day. Well, that was a fortune
for us, because till date I have never
been paid, she said. We travelled
by unreserved second class, stayed in
dormitories, played on rough wick-
ets. All that, I think, is a thing of the
past.
It is, indeed.
The proof is the rousing reception
the current crop of Team India play-
For the love of ers received as they landed at the
cricket: Indias Chhatrapati Shivaji International
Sudha Shah Airport in Mumbai in the early hours
playing a pull of July 26. Led by Mithali Raj, the
shot; (above) players had done India proud by
Diana Edulji reaching the final of the ICC Womens
with team- World Cup in England. They did lose
mate Anjali the final against England at Lords,
Pendharkar but not the hearts they had won with
their memorable campaign. It is just
the beginning of good times for wom-
The award came with a cheque for ens cricket, said Mithali.
025 lakh, but it wasnt about the mon- That beginning, as Shantha would
ey. What mattered was that it was the tell you, was more than four decades
first-ever such honour that the BCCI in the making.
had instituted for women cricketers,
more than a decade after it began run- BORN IN BENGALURU in 1954,
ning the womens game. Shantha was one among seven sisters
In her emotional speech, Shantha in the Rangaswamy household. Her
described herself as one of the father, the lone male in the family,
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 41
died when she was 12, and it was her
mother who took care of them.
Shantha grew up playing tennis-
ball cricket in the backyard of their
large family home. She took to cricket
like fish to water, and was so good at
it that she was selected for the first
national tournament in Pune in April
1973.
That tournament later became
famous for the number of par-
ticipating teamstwo and a half,
exactly. Mumbai, Maharashtra
and half of the Uttar Pradesh side!
recalled Shantha. All extra players
then played for UP, including the
likes of future India captain Nilima
Jogalekar. Seven months later, there
was a second nationals in November.
Seventeen teams took part in it. After
that, the WCAI was formed.
The Womens Cricket Association
of India (WCAI) was the brainchild
of a gentleman. Mahindra Kumar
Sharma, a sports enthusiast from
Lucknow, saw the budding interest
in cricket among girls. He registered
WCAI in 1973, under the Societies Act
in Lucknow. Later, it was also affili-
ated to the International Womens
Cricket Council.
Three years after WCAI came into
being, women cricketers made their
Test debut against the visiting West
Indies, and recorded their first win in
the six-match series. With 381 runs,
Shantha was the topscorer in the
series. The same year, she won the
Arjuna Award. Under her able leader-
ship, the girls had clearly set the ball
rolling. As pioneers, we laid a solid
foundation [for womens cricket],
which would have died out but for
us, said Shantha.
In 1978, three years after the mens
team had made their World Cup
debut, India hosted and debuted in
the second edition of the Womens
World Cup. Shubhangi Kulkarni,
who was 17 when she made her
Test debut, vividly remembers those
times. When I started playing crick-
et, a year before it formally began in
India, the girls were simply playing
it for the love of the game, she said.
42
WOMENS CRICKET
We had no role models. All that peo-
ple wanted to know was whether the
girls were playing in shirts and trou-
sers, or skirts.
Shubhangi, who went on to become
captain, remembers Indias first Test
match against Australia at homein
Delhi in January 1984. A lot of peo-
ple came to see out of curiosity, she
said. They saw some good batting
and bowling. People started talking
about the girls. In the first innings,
Shubhangi top-scored with 42 runs.
COURTESY: XTRA TIME
The match was drawn, as was the
four-match series.
Shantha was succeeded as skip-
per by Diana Edulji, whose sister
Behroze had been in the team that
made its Test debut against the West
Indies. Both Diana and Behroze had
played for the Albees, Mumbais
first womens cricket club, which
had it nets sessions on Wednesday
and Saturday evenings at the Cricket
Club of India. Albees had the backing
of veterans like Vijay Merchant and
Polly Umrigar.
We started out in 1974, said
Diana. None of us had jobs. We trav-
elled in unreserved compartments
and by bus. I remember going from
Mumbai to Patiala by bus; those were
very rough days. More often than
not, the players themselves had to pay
for the trips.
Shantha remembers one incident
in 1977-78, when the team was tour-
ing Australia and New Zealand. We
spent Christmas in Queenstown. We
stayed with Indian and Kiwi families,
she said. When we landed, we were
taken to a home. The lady of the house
asked us whether we wanted tea. I
said, No, thanks, thinking that there
We would train in the morning and the
evening, and then wash our clothes at
night. But we did all that because, first
and foremost, we enjoyed playing.
Diana Edulji, former India skipper
will be dinner. But there was none.
The following day at the ground, we
asked our manager, What is this!
And we were told that tea is what
they call dinner.
WCAI had few funds or resources,
but the girls did not let that stop them.
In 1982, we had to go for the World
Cup in Australia and New Zealand,
remembers Diana. We had to pay
010,000 from our own pockets. We
didnt have that kind of money. So
we approached Maharashtra chief
minister A.R. Antulay through the
media. A sports editor did a front-
page story that said three girls from
Maharashtra would be unable to go,
so the state must step in. Antulay
came forward to help us.
She soon got a job in the railways.
Frustrated over the absence of any
initiative to popularise womens
cricket, she requested Madhavrao
Scindia, then railway minister, to take
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Meeting of generations: (From
left) Jhulan Goswami, Shantha
Rangaswamy and Diana Edulji
steps in this regard. He agreed and
formed five zonal teams; that was the
only way girls could play and earn.
Today, 10 of 15 girls who played in the
[this years] World Cup are from the
railways, said Diana.
Players in the seventies and eight-
ies could overcome the shortage of
funds, but WCAIs poor administra-
tion was something they could not
rectify. There was no international
series from 1977 to 1984, nor from
1986 to 1991, said Shantha. Thats 11
to 12 years of our peak timeof Diana,
me and our contemporaries.
India missed the 1988 World Cup
in Australia, because WCAI officials
had a run-in with Union sports min-
ister Margaret Alva. The team was
denied permission to go to Australia.
Diana and her teammates approached
prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who
finally agreed to fund the teams cam-
paign. But, by then, the entry date had
passed.
In domestic cricket, the play-
ing conditions ranged from poor to
abysmal. Diana remembers the 1984
national championship, in which the
Indian Railways team participated
for the first time. The venue was K.D.

Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow.
There were two rooms for two teams
and a common toilet and open-air
kitchen covered by a tarpaulin sheet.
We had to use the same buckets for
bathing and to go to the toilet, said
Diana.
The situation was grimmer at
venues like the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium in Delhi, where camps for
the national womens team were
often held. The food contractor
would make substandard stuff, said
Diana. [In Delhi] we would all go to
the nearby Defence Colony market,
because the thought of three meals
at the Nehru Stadium was unbear-
able. We would train in the morn-
ing and the evening, and then wash
our clothes at night. But we did all
that because, first and foremost, we
enjoyed playing.
BY 1991, THE era of pioneers had
almost ended. In the succeeding
years, the likes of Purnima Rau, Anju
Jain, Neetu David, Hemlata Kala,
Jaya Sharma and Anjum Chopra
arrived on the national scene. It was
a transformative period, one that saw
marked changes in technique and
Indias top performers at the 2017 ICC World Cup
Mithali Raj Punam Raut
Runs 409 Runs
100s 1 100s
50s 3 50s
Highest score 109 Highest score
Became highest run- Indias top scorer in the
getter in womens ODIs nal (86)
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 43
It was by the turn of the century that
womens cricket in India really came
of age. Mithali Raj made her
ODI debut in 1999, while Jhulan
Goswami debuted three years later.
approach to the game. ration, she said. We were practising
It was by the turn of the century on small grounds. Our bowling was
that womens cricket in India really good, but our fielding was bad, as we
came of age. Mithali Raj, the current couldnt dive on our fields.
skipper, made her ODI debut in 1999, There was a reason that the field-
while her teammate Jhulan Goswami ing was bad. An entire generation of
debuted three years later. Both the cricketers had grown up playing in
players now dominate international grounds that were little more than
cricket in ways that few who grew up agricultural fields. The rough sur-
in the Shantha-Diana era could have faces prohibited them from being too
imagined. Mithali is now the worlds adventurous when it came to stop-
highest run-scorer, while Goswami ping the ball.
has the most number of wickets. Shubhangi and her colleagues,
There has been sweeping chang- however, were up to the challenge.
es in the administrative side, too. Sahara was roped in as the team
Shubhangi, the former skipper, took sponsor, she said. Actor Mandira
over as WCAI secretary in 2003. Her Bedi helped WCAI to negotiate the
immediate challenge was to assemble deal.
a capable team for the 2005 World WCAI then tied up with Infosys,
Cup in South Africa. I felt our girls which threw open its 350-acre cam-
had the skills, but we lacked in prepa- pus in Mysuru for the team. We talk-
Five Eves
Harmanpreet Kaur Deepti Sharma Jhulan Goswami
381 Runs 359 Wickets 12 Wickets 10
1 100s 1 Econ. 4.70 Econ. 4.14
2 50s 2 Best gures 3/47 Best gures 3/23
106 Highest score 171
Picked up 5 wickets as The 19-year-old scored Became highest wicket-
an off-spinner 216 runs with two 50s taker in womens ODIs
GRAPHICS: N.V. JOSE; RESEARCH: REUBEN JOE JOSEPH
44
WOMENS CRICKET
REUTERS
ed to [Infosys chairman] Narayana
Murthy and [board member] T.V.
Mohandas Pai. They agreed to give
us the facilities till the World Cup.
We also got their in-house physical
and mental trainers. Murthy and Pai
even had sessions with the players
on leadership and team-building. We
could see the difference they made
the body language [of the players]
changed; their confidence was up.
More challenges, however, awaited
the players in South Africa. There,
we had dorms to stay in, said Jaya
Sharma, a team member. We were
put up in the last two blocks. There
was no fan or AC. The first two build-
ings were reserved for Australia, New
Zealand and England. That gave us a
jolt. We didnt like it.
The girls gave vent to their anger
on the field. They performed so well
that they reached the final for the first
On the administrative side, the game-
changer was, perhaps, the merger of
WCAI and the BCCI in 2006, when
Sharad Pawar was the latters chief.
time. Though they lost to Australia,
they proved their potential.
On the administrative side, the
game-changer was, perhaps, the
merger of WCAI and the BCCI in
2006, when Sharad Pawar was the
latters chief. The BCCI had initially
dragged its feet through it, but it was
ultimately compelled to do it because
of directions from the International
Cricket Council.
The merger, however, was slow to
bear fruit. Though players got access
to better facilities and more funds, the
number of matches came down dras-
tically. It famously had Mithali saying
that the players had more camps than
matches.
Things, however, have finally taken
a turn for the better. There are now
more international matches, thanks
to new ICC rules that stipulate that
all countries must play against each
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Almost there: Indias Rajeshwari
Gayakwad tries to run out
Englands Jenny Gunn in the
2017 World Cup final at Lords
other to qualify for the World Cup.
Also, with the Supreme Court-
appointed committee of adminis-
trators now in charge of the BCCI,
womens cricket in India seems to be
on a strong footing. Diana is one of
the members of the CoA, and she is
said to have been instrumental in the
BCCIs decision to institute the life-
time achievement award for women
cricketers.
Still, a lot remains to be done. Diana
knows that there is an urgent need for
building up bench strength. There is
no replacement right now for Mithali
and Jhulan, she said. We need to do
here what Rahul Dravid is doing for
the boys. As India A coach, Dravid
has been busy moulding the next gen-
eration of male cricketers.
With her position in the upper
echelons of the BCCI, Diana is deter-
mined to push ahead, as she had
always been as a player. I am used
to fighting for everything, she told
THE WEEK. You cant be shy; you
have to ask.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 45

GUEST COLUMN

WHAT AFTER THE

CELEBRATIONS?
BY PRANAY SANKLECHA

A
ccording to Dr Johnson, a womans them worthy of admiration, rather than condescending
preaching is like a dogs walking on his approval. No one praised Kaurs innings in the semi-
hind legs. It is not done well; but you are final as a great knock for a woman cricketerit was
surprised to find it done at all. celebrated for what it was, one of the all-time great
When I was rather younger, this pretty much knocks, period.
summed up my attitude, and those around me, towards Even before the final, and most definitely since, the
womens cricket. For example, when I was around 14, plaudits have kept pouring in. Tweets from Narendra
I played cricket against Clare Connor. Connor, who Modi and Sachin Tendulkar, cash awards from the
is now director of England womens cricket, was at BCCI and state governments, rewards from the Indian
the time an active international cricketer, and would Railways (which employs 10 of the 15 cricketers in the
go on to captain the English squad). It feels like a watershed
womens team a year after I played moment for womens cricket in
against her. India. As Mithali Raj put it after
My teammates and I did not Academies for boys the final, These girls have really
take her seriously at all. She bat- set the platform for the upcom-
ted at number eight, as I recall, flourish. If you have a ing generations in India. They
and when she came in, there were son, and he wants to have opened up the channels for
a number of mocking comments womens cricket. And they real-
made just in earshot about how play cricket, your ly have. Thousands of girls would
we had better up our game now problem is choosing have been inspired by the teams
that there was an international campaign, by the stars created
cricketer at the wicket. where to enrol him. If during it. Just as importantly, at
And then, the first ball she hit, you have a daughter, least some of their parents would
the bowler stopped it and melo- also have been inspired, and will
dramatically shook his palm and well, good luck. now be more open to the idea of
fingers, pretending that it had their daughters playing cricket,
been hit so hard that he was bad- maybe even pursuing the sport
ly hurt. For some reason, we all to a high level.
found that extremely funny, so thats what we did But, the success of the Indian womens team has
during her entire innings. come about despite the system, rather than because
I recount this with considerable embarrassment. of it. One could list chapter and verse, but here just a
My only excuse, for what its worth, is that at 14 we couple of examples will do. At the national level, only
are all in many ways ignorant (and later, too, but thats 11 players have central contracts. At the domestic level,
another story). And it is a pleasure to observe that, the Railways and, to a lesser extent, Air India are the
in the heady aftermath of the Indian womens cricket only organisations that employ women cricketers as
teams World Cup campaign, such attitudes seem very such and allow them to earn a reasonable living from
far away, a relic of another world and time. playing first-class cricket. And this is at the very top
The march to the World Cup final captivated the of the game.
whole of India. Mithali Raj, Punam Raut, Jhulan In other words, you could be one of the best 100
Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy... women playing cricket in India, and you would still
these are household names now. Their exploits struggle to make a living from the sport. If the cricket-
thrilled and gripped us. More importantly, we found ers themselves are in this situation, what do you think
46 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
WOMENS CRICKET
the investment in coaching and sup-
port staff is like at the domestic level,
let alone the national level?
It goes deeper than that. The
women at the first-class level have
already, in a certain sense, made
it. Not financially, certainly, nor in
terms of social status, but they have
managedGod alone knows howto
pursue their passion, to play the sport
they love to a high standard. But, they
have done so largely through luck
and their own efforts. There is no
organised system for grassroots par-
ticipation for girls, and no organised
system for their development.
Academies for boys, on the other
hand, flourish. If you have a son,
and he wants to play cricket, your
problem is choosing where to enrol
him. If you have a daughter, well,
good luck.
There is no denying the achieve-
ment of the Indian womens team.
They deserve everything they are
getting, and more perhaps. But, we
need to celebrate it properly. One
level of celebration, of reward, is
the level we are seeing. Awards
noisily announced, grand ceremo-
nies promised, big cheques written.
There will be felicitations, ministers

will be photographed with Mithali
Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur, celebri-
ties will give interviews about what Go all the away: The real big victory for womens cricket in India will come when
this means for girls in India, pundits there is institutional and social change at the grassroots level
will write about the coming of age of
Indian womens cricket.
This is good. But, if this is all there is, if this is the
only result of the 2017 World Cup, the teams efforts
would not just go to waste, they would be dishonoured.
We are a country in love with symbols; sometimes,
symbols at the expense of reality. We pat ourselves
on the back for being one of the earliest countries to
have a female prime minister, and conveniently ignore
how a huge number of girls and women are treated
in day-to-day life. We elect a dalit as the president of
India, and gloss over the fact that almost 50 per cent
of dalits are illiterate. We revere Gandhi as the father
of the nation, and act against virtually everything he
stood for.
My fear is that this dynamic will play itself out now
with regard to the Indian womens cricket team and
its achievement. The easy part is what is happening
now under the glare of the cameras. The hard part
AP
is the unglamorous work of building systems and
institutions, of working patiently to bring about long-
term social and cultural change. The hard part is what
eventually matters. And it is a lot less likely to be done.
Allow me the indulgence of concluding with anoth-
er anecdote. In the winter of 1993, I stepped off a train
and onto Howrah station. The platform was littered
with filth. The stench of sewage and rotting food was
high in the air. The ground was stained dark, and peo-
ple chewing paan were busy adding to it. In the middle
of all of this, the railway authorities had erected a sign:
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
If the only result of the 2017 World Cup is the cur-
rent media attention, the grand ceremonies and felici-
tations, while nothing is done at the grassroots level or
to bring about institutional and social change, all we
will have as a legacy will be that sign, surrounded by
the symptoms of its own refutation.
48
CRICKET
From mudras,
to the middle
The making of Mithali Raj, and
how bharatnatyams loss became
crickets gain
BY LALITA IYER
M
ithali Rajs home at Kanajiguda in
Secunderabad has a comfortable, lived-in
feel about it. Cushions lie askew, a pristine
white cloth covers a harmonium, and photo-
graphs of Mithali fill an entire wall. Vying for space is a pic-
ture of Ganu, Mithalis name for Lord Ganesh. A believer,
she visits temples whenever she feels like it.
It [faith] is something I might have instilled in her
mind, says Leela, Mithalis affable mother. We are reli-
gious; I told her when she was young that prayers keep
you mentally strong.
On one corner is a small television. Dorai Raj, Mithalis
father, does not believe in investing in a large TV. And,
Leela does not watch matches. Mithali has been playing
cricket for so long now, she says. So there is no pressure
when there is a match. I never watch her playing, because
I do not like cricket.
A former member of the Andhra Pradesh B team, Raj,
however, watches every single match. He is miffed that
India lost the World Cup. It was her dream to win this
World Cup, and then it became our dream, he says. That
did not happen and the opportunity is gone. There is disap-
pointment because we were the best team.
A retired Air Force sergeant, Raj has been Mithalis
prime motivator. For the past 17 years, he has been coach-
ing girls at Keyes High School, where she studied. He is
also working with the Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association
to set up an academy for girls in Tirupati.
It is Raj who picks up or drops off Mithali whenever she
has to travel for matches. The family owns four carsa
Chevrolet, a Volkswagen, a BMW, and a Maruti Alto. Raj
uses the first three to drive Mithali to her destinations,
while the Alto, which was the first car she bought, hits
the road only when the familys two pet dogs have to be
taken to the vet.
Mithali was born in Jodhpur, where Raj was posted
when he was in the Air Force. Our son had been born
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
three years earlier, he says. But we had always wanted a
girl and had even found a name for the child. So, when he
was born, we called him Mithun, to match Mithali.
Mithun was the first to take to cricket. In fact, he played
the game so well that he led his school team at St Andrews
in Hyderabad. Often, Raj and Mithali would go by scooter
to pick him up from the nets. It was there that Mithali first
took the crease.
The rest, as they say, is history. But, it is a history of
sweat and sacrifice. I would get up at 4.30am to pack all
the lunches, because Mithali would leave by 5am, says
Leela. Her father would drop her off. He was with Andhra
Bank by then and his office began at 10am. Raj, who was
a cashier, declined a promotion, solely because he did not
want to be transferred.
Leela, who is a graduate in arts, began her career with
Sruthi Ad Agency in Secunderabad. When she had to relo-
cate to Jodhpur, she joined Rajasthan Tourism, and later
took a break to take care of her children. After Mithali
was old enough to go to school, she joined the engineering
instrument division of Lawrence & Mayo.
In the evenings, Leela would pick up Mithali from train-
ing sessions. Mithun would come home on his own and
the maid would look after him. The coach had insisted
that one of us pick Mithali up, as she was too young, says
Leela. We did not spend much time with Mithun because
all the focus was on Mithali. But, we all had Sunday meals
together.
Apart from practising her shots, Mithali began learning
bharatnatyam from Class 2. Her schedule became even
more packed: There were two practice sessions of three
hours each in the morning and the evening. Dance classes
were on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. As
time passed, it became clear that she had to choose between
her passions. Fate played the decisive role: When Mithali
was in Class 10, she was selected as a World Cup probable.
All along, though, relatives were criticising Leela and
Raj for focusing on Mithali and disregarding their social
life. We ignored the criticism and did not go anywhere
because of her schedule, says Leela. Now, with Mithali
being hailed as an all-time great in womens cricket, the
critics perhaps have grown wiser.
Mithun now runs a startup and is based in
Visakhapatnam. His wife, Vijush, and daughter Anagha
live with the Rajs. Anagha is learning music; the harmoni-
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 49

RAMCHANDER PENTUKER
Rooting for their daughter: Dorai and Leela Raj;
(left) Mithali, 34, says cricket remains her first priority

um belongs to her. She is six, says Leela, smiling. When

she returns from school, I remain quiet because she does
all the talking.
Anagha is her aunts fellow conspirator. Mithali did
not have the time or energy to throw tantrums when she
was young. Her youth was snatched away by cricket. So
she throws tantrums now, says Leela. Nothing serious,
though, she insists. Its just that, when aunt and niece get
together, it is often havoc in the house.
Mithali is 34 now, and has no plans to marry. But, the
Rajs are not worried. When she was 25, we had consid-
ered a few proposals. But all the boys laid down a condi-
tion: that she stop playing cricket. Mithali met a few boys
on her own, and even they wanted the same, says Leela.
She should marry someone only when she feels [that per-
son] is compatible. Marriage, I told her, was not the be-all
for a woman. Sometimes, though, I regret that I put that
thought in her mind.
Mithali has said that cricket is her first priority, and that
she will get married only when she finds the time for such
a relationship. She has also said that she is ready if she
finds the right person. All this fame, sometimes, is bother-
some, says Leela. But it is not a serious regret, because
we are handling it.
Mithali has been an employee of the South Central
Railway since she was 18. While her employers are proud
of her achievements, they are yet to give her a promotion
not that she is complaining.
She has announced that she will not play the 2021 World
Cup. She is serious about that, though she will continue
to play international matches, says Leela. What about
coaching the next generation of woman cricketers? No,
SANJOY GHOSH

says Leela, because Mithali no longer wants to spoil her

skin and hair. Apparently, she would rather spend her
post-retirement time at home, relishing her favourite
dishdal and murrel fish.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 51

ted to state police chief R.K. Dutta,

Director General of Police (Prisons)
H.N. Satyanarayana Rao, the home
department and the Anti-corruption
Bureaualleged preferential treat-
ment to some convicts and high-
lighted issues such as rampant drug
abuse by inmates.
She also noted that there were mur-
murs that Rao had taken a bribe of 11
crore, while another 11 crore was split
among jail officials to provide five-
star facilities to Sasikala. The alleged
facilities included a special kitchen
and a mini conference room to meet
visitors, besides a cordoned-off area

PTI
consisting five cells, mattress, mos-
quito net, LED TV, canvas curtains,
stove and pressure-cooker. Highlights from former DIG (Prisons) Roopa Moudgils reports
On July 13, Chief Minister
Bribe of 12 crore paid for VIP treatment and a special kitchen
Siddaramaiah ordered an inquiry
by retired IAS officer Vinay Kumar. for Sasikala
The opposition parties, however, Abdul Karim Telgi enjoys special treatment. Undertrials have
demanded a judicial probe. been assigned as his masseurs
Five days later, Roopa and Rao
Report 1

Rampant smuggling of narcotics

were transferred, citing that they vio-
lated All India Service Rules, and that
their transfers would ensure a fair
probe. Roopa was posted as commis-
sioner of traffic and road safety; Rao
was sent on forced leave as he retires
in August. R. Anita, who replaced
Roopa, was also transferred within a
few days on charges of giving prefer-
ential treatment to Sasikala.
Meanwhile, Rao vehemently
denied the charges. He accused
Roopa of trying to get even with him,
as he had issued her two memos for
not attending a CM meeting and
because she was unhappy with the
division of work in the department.
Soon after submitting a 16-page let-
Report 2
Convicts man the records room, where crucial documents are
kept
Why was her boss, H.N. Satyanarayana Rao, unhappy over her
visit to the jail without permission?
Inmates threaten doctors to issue certificates that can help them
get treatment in hospitals
Inmates work at the prisons pharmacy, raising concerns over
misuse of sleeping pills
A locked room on the first floor, where the officers chambers
are located, was maintained as a meeting room with curtains,
a table and five chairs, including a revolving one for Sasikala.
Ordinary prisoners meet visitors in an enclosure divided by a
mesh, and under CCTV surveillance (Cameras 6 and 7)
The department has to safeguard crucial footage and hold the
officials responsible in case of loss of evidence. The evidence

ter to the government, Rao rushed to
the jail, ahead of the pending inquiry.
Roopa, too, visited the jail a few hours
later. She submitted a second report,
after a jail official who had been
asked to give her the CCTV visuals
and video recordings of her previous
visits allegedly refused to do so, citing
orders from the higher-ups. Anita is
said to be the officer who refused to
hand over the video evidences.
Roopa alleged that crucial CCTV
includes CCTV footage from Telgis cell (Camera 89)
CCTV footage proves that a special kitchen was set up for Sasikala
Undertrials (in barrack no. 3) have not been given legal aid for
almost a year
Video recordings of Roopa interacting with inmates are missing.
First, she received a blank pen drive, and later a pen drive without
the crucial footage
Mobile phone jammers are defunct, despite an annual
maintenance contract being in place
52
CONTROVERSY
footages that could have proved her
charges went mysteriously missing.
She accused Rao of foulplay.
The CCTVs installed at the bar-
racks have been deliberately ren-
dered dysfunctional, while CCTV
cameras (7 & 8) in the visitor room
are broken, she alleged. Select foot-
ages have been deleted from the DVR
[digital video recorder] at the prisons
headquarters, too. The video record-
ing of statements given by the inmates
during [my] visits on June 28 and July
10, and the prison diary entries, too,
have vanished.
High drama prevailed in the jail
on July 15, after some inmates raised
slogans against Roopa during her
visit, while another group rallied in
her support. That night, at least 32
inmates were allegedly beaten up
on the orders of Jail Superintendent
Krishna Kumar, and they were alleg-
edly shifted to jails in Bellary, Belagavi
and Mysuru. The high-profile probe
was to begin the next day.
Kumar, who was busy collecting
signatures of 2,000 inmates in his
favour, was transferred, after public
outcry and protests by inmates. The
NHRC also has taken up the case of
alleged torture of the 32 inmates.
The opposition parties led by BJP
leader B.S. Yeddyurappa raised the
luxegate issue with Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh, and demon-
strated against the Karnataka gov-
A clipping in which
Sasikala is seen
walking within the jail
in plainclothes was
leaked to the media.
ernments shooting the messenger
syndrome.
The issue came to a boil with a
video clipping of Telgis cell with the
comforts of homea cot, an LED tele-
vision, a computer, and under-trials
assigned to give him massages
going viral on social media.
Another set of visuals showing five
cells being cordoned off for Sasikalas
use was also splashed in the media. A
clipping in which she is seen walk-
ing within the jail in plainclothes was
also leaked to the media.
Notably, in June, Rao himself had
said he would curtail the number
of Sasikalas visitors, after reports
of her meeting 28 visitors in 31 days
surfaced. The visitorsincluding her
husband Natarajan, nephews T.T.V.
Dhinakaran, Vivek Jayaraman and K.
Kartikeyan, Deputy Speaker of Lok
Sabha M. Thambidurai, and many
leaders from Tamil Naduwere
allowed to meet her for long hours.
According to rules, a convict is
eligible to meet visitors only once in
15 days, and the meetings have to be
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
monitored by a prison official. But
in Sasikalas case, a private meet-
ing room with five chairs, including
a revolving one for her, was set up,
alleged Roopa.
Sasikalas nephew Jeyanandh
Dhivakaran rubbishes the charges.
My aunt [Sasikala] is being used as
bait in the cold war between two IPS
officers, he alleges.
According to Roopas report, Telgi,
a diabetic and AIDS patient, was con-
fined to the wheelchair six months
ago, and the court had allowed him to
utilise the service of two convicts. She
noted that Telgi moved around with-
out the wheelchair, but continued to
have undertrials give him massages
in his cell.
This, she pointed out, violated the
court order and prison rules, which
bar under-trials from mingling with
convicts. However, the jail superin-
tendent had taken no action, despite
my reminders, alleged Roopa.
My father-in-law [Telgi] is very
sick and has been using wheelchair
for many years, says Irfan Talikote,
a businessman married to Telgis
daughter Sana, who lives in Belgaum.
If there are more than two people
serving him in the jail, they are doing
it voluntarily because of his friendly
nature. The officer [Roopa] is doing
this for publicity.
The Prison Manual, however, pre-
scribes basic minimum needs to the
inmates and bans VIP privileges to
any inmate.
In October 2013, a Central Armed
Reserve Constable Yenkanna Meti
was arrested for smuggling in mobile
phones for Telgi. Recently, after
an extortion call was traced to the
Parappana Agrahara prison, authori-
ties admitted that 19 mobile phone
jammers in the jail were defunct.
Roopa also highlighted drug abuse
in the jail. A urine test revealed that
18 of 25 randomly selected prisoners
tested positive for cannabis, barbitu-
rates, benzodiazepine and morphine.
From the DGP to the jail warden,
all are involved in flouting the prison
manual, alleged Roopa.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 53
54 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
KARNATAKA
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 55

HATE WAVE
Communal incidents are on the rise in
poll-bound Karnatakas coastal belt
BY PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

T
he arrival of monsoon has brought little respite to coastal Karnataka,
as it continues to simmer with communal tension. With Karnataka
preparing to go to the polls in early 2018, communal incidents have
already claimed two lives in Dakshina Kannada district.
For more than 50 days, prohibitory orders were imposed on Bantwal,
Puttur, Belthangady and Sullia taluks in the district. The orders are still in
place in Bantwal. However, on July 7, the saffron brigade carried out a mas-
sive solidarity march in Bantwal, demanding the arrest of RSS worker Sharath
Madivalas killers. BJP MPs Shobha Karandlaje and Nalin Kumar Kateel, RSS
strongman Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar led
the march. Madivala, 28, who ran a laundry service, was stabbed by bike-
borne men on July 4. He died in a private hospital three days later. The police
suspect it to be a retaliation for the killing of Social Democratic Party of
India [SDPI] leader Mohammed Ashraf Kalai, 35. He was hacked to death by
unidentified persons at Benjanapadavu in Bantwal on June 21.
But, the communal cauldron had been heating up since May. On May 26,
three Muslim youths were allegedly attacked in Kalladka in Bantwal, which
led to a major clash between the two communities on June 13. The situation
turned tense after a video clipping of Forest Minister B. Ramanath Rai, who is
in charge of the district, asking the superintendent of police to arrest Kalladka
Hindutva work Prabhakar Bhat was widely circulated.
Following the July 7 march, at least 1,000 people, including BJP MPs and
is not against Bhat, were booked under IPC sections 143 (for unlawful assembly), 147 (riot-
Muslims and ing) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). What
Christians. has angered the saffron brigade is that the police filed cases against its lead-
ers, but didnt take any action against those who pelted stones at Madivalas
Our job is funeral cortge on July 8.
to organise As per the data compiled by the home ministry, Karnataka ranked third on
the list of communally sensitive states, witnessing 291 communal incidents
the Hindu that left 19 dead and 865 injured between 2013 and May 2016.
society and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that those involved in communal inci-
fight divisive dents would be booked under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime
Act and Goonda Act. But Karandlaje said the breakdown of law and order
practices like in the district was owing to the Congresss appeasement of Muslims. The
casteism and KFD [Karnataka Forum for Dignity] and PFI [Popular Front of India] that
are instigating communal violence should be banned, she said. In her letter
untouchability. to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, she has asked for a probe by the National
Kalladka Prabhakar
Investigation Agency into all communal incidents and killings in the state.
Bhat, RSS strongman.
He, along with BJP
Bhat, 65, known as Bal Thackeray of Mangaluru, also blamed the Congresss
MPs, led a massive brand of vote bank politics for the communal tension. Muslims should stop
DAYA KUKKAJE

march in Bantwal playing the victim. Hindutva work is not against Muslims or Christians, he
said. Our job is to organise the Hindu society and fight divisive practices
and evils like casteism and untouchability. Is it a crime to assert our Hindu
identity? When you corner Hindus, they are bound to hit back. He said the
56
KARNATAKA
violence was not perpetrated by Hindus, and that
radical Islamic groups were the reason behind
Hindus banding together.
The hindutva laboratory of the south is on
the boil. But, the emergence of the Hindu iden-
tity in Dakshina Kannadawith 67.18 per cent
Hindus, 24.02 per cent Muslims and 8.2 per
cent Christianswas not incidental; it was part
of a social engineering experiment by the sangh
parivar, said political observers. And, the hindu-
tva movement helped the BJP reap electoral ben-
efits. The first BJP government in south India was
formed in Karnataka, in 2008, under the leader-
ship of B.S. Yeddyurappa.
The efforts to establish a common Hindu iden-
tity began in 1969 at the Sant Sammelan (conclave
of saints) in Udupi. Here, an on-stage embrace
between RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar and IAS offi-
cer Bharanayya, a dalit who presided over the
meet, was dubbed as the hug of the century by
the media. For the RSS, it was a symbolic gesture
to eradicate casteism and untouchability.
K. Phaniraj, a political observer, said the saffron
surge in Karnataka, especially in the coastal belt,
started in the 1980s with the land reforms. After
Ram Janmabhoomi [movement], the mass partic-
ipation in hindutva political activities began. In
1992-93, post Babri Masjid demolition, sporadic
violence hit Dakshina Kannada. Hindu Jagarana
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Food for
thought: Sri Vedike [affiliated with the sangh parivar] was
Vishwesha joined by another Hindu militant group called
Tirtha Swami Bajrang Dal. In 1996, it [saffron surge] started
of Pejawar becoming evident, as Surathkal riots [1998] were
Math organ- the first engineered riots by a sangh parivar organ-
ised an iftar isation. Since 2008, the attack on Muslims, in the
koota in name of love jihad and cow slaughter, and on
Udupi, which Christians, in the name of conversions, continue.
received flak The land reforms movement liberated the lower
from the saf- castes, especially the Billavas. In the 1990s, post
fron brigade liberalisation, agriculture was no longer viable.
The real estate boom, setting up of special eco-
nomic zones and thermal power plants saw the
agricultural land shrink. Small landholders gave
up agriculture and took to the service sector. The
educated lower caste youth suffered from identity
crisis as they were no longer landowners but part
of the faceless workforce, and that is where the
sangh parivar struck gold. The Billavas and dalit
youth, who did not have a social identity, became
its foot soldiers. The common hindutva identity
gave them the much-needed pride and confidence.
Bajrang Dals state convener Sharan Kumar, also
known as Sharan Pumpwell, said, Today, youth
from all communities are with us. We have 20,000
registered members in the state. We are projected
as bad boys, but our reaction to forced conversion
and cow slaughter is not ours alone. It reflects the
collective feeling of the Hindu society.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 57

Chaos in the coast Both Kumar and Bhat said that Muslims consumed beef
only to hurt the Hindu religious sentiment. Bhat also dis-
missed the claims of dalits eating beef. Dalits never used
Dakshina Kannada, known as the Cradle of Indian to slaughter cows for meat, and only ate the carcasses in
Banking, is a coastal district. Hindus and Muslims
coexisted peacefully, until socioeconomic changes the past. Today, we cannot allow such a demeaning prac-
and political undercurrents polarised the district tice to prevail. We are against people offering leftovers
to dalits during weddings or ceremonies. We believe in
equality and expect dalits to dine as guests, he said.
Mangaluru Rajaram Tholpady, professor of political science at
Bantwal Belthangady KARNATAKA Mangalore University, said communal polarisation was
now complete. The Congress chose minority appease-
ment as a political tool to electorally score over the saf-
Puttur Bengaluru
fron party. It doled out subsidies to the poor sans empow-
erment. Also, it tried to keep its significant Hindu vote
bank intact by practising soft hindutva, he said. The
first casualty is law and order. Cow vigilantism, frequent
Socioeconomic communal clashes in the name of love jihad and moral
Religions profile
Muslim
policing are on the rise.
24.02% Population Shabbir Ahmed, member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,
2,083,625 said the meteoric rise of Muslim outfits like the PFI and
Hindu the SDPI was also a trigger for the communal divide. The
8.2% Literacy rate SDPI has made inroads into the panchayat and urban local
67.18% Christians
83.4% bodies, and is providing a political alternative, he said.
Riyaz Farangipete, state secretary of the SDPI, said the
Others Per capita income
0.6% Congress government never took action against sangh
$ 2,18,580 parivar elements as they feared it would benefit the BJP
politically. Kalladka is the epicentre of this tension. Bhat
Power play is dreaded even by the police, he said.
2013 Assembly election: Congress
In a highly communalised environment, saner voic-
won seven of eight seats; BJP, one es are few and efforts at fostering social harmony are
2014 Lok Sabha election: BJP won frowned upon or looked at with suspicion, as in the case
with a vote share of 53.22% of the iftar koota hosted at the Annabrahma dining hall
attached to the Sri Krishna temple in Udupi on June 24.
How the events unfolded The iftar was organised by Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami,
May 26 Attack on three Muslim youths the pontiff of Pejawar Math. Hindu organisations were
in Kalladka, Bantwal up in arms against Swami, who was instrumental in
June 21 Murder of SDPI party worker bringing the 1969 Sant Sammelan to Udupi. What is the
Mohammed Ashraf Kalai message Swamiji wants to give gau rakshaks [cow protec-
July 4 Stabbing of RSS worker Sharath Madivala, tors]? asked Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who
apparently in retaliation to the murder of Kalai led a protest against the iftar koota on July 2.
July 7 Solidarity march carried out demanding But, a few like Vidya Dinker, a Mangaluru-based social
the arrest of the killers of Madivala activist, have appreciated the seers gesture. Swamiji has
July 8 Miscreants threw stones at people attending come out as a more secular person, and sadly, secular-mind-
the funeral procession of Madivala ed people attacking the pontiff is self-defeating, he said.
Phaniraj, however, said it was a well-calculated move
of the hindutva brigade. Whichever way it swings the
Curtailing violence votes, the BJP is bound to benefit, he said.
zAll the four taluks had been brought under prohibitory Farangipete welcomed the seers move, but said, We
orders as per section 144 of CrPC suspect the iftar party was hosted with the consensus of
z12 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and all sangh parivar leaders, as they feel Muslim support will
police teams from neighbouring Chikmagalur and Udupi be crucial for the 2019 polls. It was a Muslim Rashtriya
districts had been deployed Manch [of the RSS] sponsored event.
zChief Minister Siddaramaiah has warned of invoking The fault lines are only becoming deeper. But, it looks
Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act and Goonda like the political class prefers to keep its blinders on in its
Act against those indulging in communal acts race for power.
GRAPHICS: N.V. JOSE
58 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
KERALA
PRASAD AMBATTU

L
aila was in the first day of

Period her menstrual period. And

she was in no mood to meet
an outsider. Sitting alone in
the tiny hut where one could barely

drama
Tribal women pay a heavy price for misusing
contraceptive pills to bypass an age-old custom
BY CITHARA PAUL
squeeze in, she looked desolate.
There was an eerie silence inside the
hut and it had a strange smell. Laila
had to spend a few more days in the
hut, located at the edge of the forest,
before she could return home. And
she was waiting....
Laila, 18, belongs to the Muthuvan
tribe and lives in the Edamalakudy
tribal panchayat, a cluster of 26 ham-
lets, near Munnar in Idukki district of

Waiting for a
miracle: Manju
started taking Mala
D when she was 14.
Now 28, she has not
been able to conceive
even after stopping
the pill
Kerala. It is the state's first and only
tribal panchayat, and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi once mentioned it
in his monthly radio programme
Mann Ki Baat. Modi described it as
a remote tribal village where people
hardly go. One has to travel through
forest for a full day to reach there,
he said.
Laila lives in one such hamlet,
totally cut off from the rest of the
world. Unlike other adivasi commu-
nities, the Muthuvans have limited
their interaction with the outside
world to preserve their culture and
traditions. Among the Muthuvans,
menstruating women are considered
to be impure and supposed to bring
bad luck to their menfolk. So they are
made to stay in a specially designated
place called valaymapura, a tiny hut
on the outskirts of the village, during
those days. Men are not supposed to
see me. Something bad will happen to
my husband or father if I violate the
custom, says Laila, who has been
religiously following the custom ever
since she attained puberty. What can
we do? These are age-old traditions
we have to follow.
According to Natarajan, a tradi-
tional healer, the system of valayma-
pura was introduced to give women
complete rest. The idea of purity
was imposed so that they followed
the custom, he says. But the con-
dition of the valaymapura must be
improved.
The menstruating women are
expected to stay inside the hut at all
times. Other women bring food and
water to them. There have been cas-
es of attack by wild animals. Women
have also been molested by outsid-
ers. It is like living in a jail for days
together. There is nobody to talk to.
We have to cook in such a dirty space.
It is such a pain. That is why many
women take Mala D pills, says Laila.
In the 90s, the state government
started distributing Mala D, a contra-
ceptive pill, to control the tribal pop-
ulation. The women soon discovered
that the pill could delay menstrua-
tion so they started taking it regularly
and introduced their daughters to it.
Soon, even the roadside tea shop near
Edamalakudy started selling the pills.
When the situation went out of con-
trol, the government stepped in and
banned the sale of the pills in and
around Munnar.
Did Laila ever take the pill? I was
tempted to, but didn't because I know
it would create a problem when I want
to have a baby, says Laila. I know
many women who do not have babies
because they took Mala D regularly.
Manju, 28, started taking Mala D
at age 14. I used to take the pill for
years as I hated staying in valayma-
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 59
Dwindling
numbers
1,836total population in
Edamalakudy. It was 2,236 in
2012-2013
5.6 per cent of Muthuvans
have studied till matriculation
61.1 per cent of children go to
school
According to legend,
Muthuvans were originally from
Madurai. They fled Madurai after
Kannagithe central character of
the Tamil epic Silapathikaramset
fire to the kingdom, and settled
down in the forests of Kerala
The Muthuvans are not the
only people who follow strange
menstrual customs. Among the
Konda Reddis tribe of Andhra
Pradesh, when a girl attains
puberty, she is kept in a small hut
for seven days outside the village.
The mother or mother-in-law takes
food to a menstruating woman.
Men are not allowed to see the
woman on these seven days
pura, she says. I would be all alone
for days together.
It was a friend who told Manju
about the use of the pill. After she
got married at age 19, her husband,
Rangarajan, started getting her the
pills. It is very tough for women to
stay alone in valaymapura. Manju
used to cry, so I got her the pills,
says Rangarajan. The couple has been
trying to have a baby for the past few
years without any luck. The doctors
say I haven't been able to conceive
because I took Mala D for so many
years, says Manju. I have stopped
taking it, but still I haven't been able
to conceive.
Manju is not alone. As per offi-
cial figures, there are 325 couples of
childbearing age in Edamalakudy, of
60
KERALA
PRASAD AMBATTU
whom 100 are childless. Unofficial
records, however, hint at a higher
figure. Some couples have been mar-
ried for more than five years. Every
kudi or hamlet has at least five child-
less couples.
After the government introduced
birth control pills, the number of
births has dropped to 20 a year. As
per the health department figures,
the population has come down from
2,236 in 2012-2013 to 1,836 in 2016-
2017. There was a time when every
Muthuvan household had seven or
eight kids. Now Muthuvans are a
rare tribe. If the government does not
intervene urgently, the tribe would
become extinct, says Balakrishnan
Triparath, Kerala president of
All India Confederation of SC/ST
Organisations.
The Muthuvan women are gener-
ally very shy, especially around men.
But some of them have travelled to
Munnar town and even to neigh-
bouring Tamil Nadu to get the pills.
The health department has given
directions to the medical shops in
Munnar to stop selling contracep-
tives. We also organise awareness
programmes, says Dr Archana S.P.,
medical officer at Devikulam com-
munity health centre. Edamalakudy
comes under Devikulam taluk.
Every month, Archana treks to the
hamlets in Edamalakudy, braving the
The Muthuvan women
are generally very shy.
But some of them have
travelled to Munnar
town and even Tamil
Nadu to get the pills.
leeches and wild animals, to talk to
the women there. Dr chechy [sister]
has been telling us to stop using the
pills. She said it can even cause can-
cer, says Mallika, who is childless
and in her 30s.
The shops in Tamil Nadu are charg-
ing more for the pills. But price is not
an issue for women in Edamalakudy
who earn quite well from cardamom
and pepper cultivation. Most families
have been given forest land, some 3
acres, others up to 20 acres, for cul-
tivation.
The government is doing every-
thing possible to dissuade the women
from taking the pills. Regular aware-
ness classes are being organised, says
E.I. Najeeb, one of the four nurses
appointed in Edamalakudy. The
birth rate had come down drastically
in the past one decade. But it is show-
ing signs of improvement, he says.
However, a fallout of the aware-
ness programme is that women have
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Banished from home: A tiny hut called
valaymapura on the outskirts of the
village where women are forced to stay
during menstruation
now become very secretive about tak-
ing the pills. Many still take it, but
don't talk about it. Some women don't
tell even their husbands, says Radha,
who claims to have stopped the pills a
year ago. The women hide the pills in
a pit in the kitchen, she says.
Eeswari, a member of the
Edamalakudy tribal panchayat told
The WEEK that popping pills is a
thing of the past. Our women now
know the negative effects. So they
have stopped taking it, she says.
According to Vijayalakshmi, an
anganwadi teacher who has been
teaching tribal kids for the past 20
years, the problem is with the percep-
tion about the pills. They see these
tablets as something which gives
them the power to control their lives,
she says. For families that own carda-
mon plantation, missing even a single
day's work would affect their produc-
tion. Women who are menstruating
are not supposed to go into the forest
because the tribals believe it would
anger the gods. So the women take
the pills every day, says Archana.
Vijayalakshmi, however, is hope-
ful that things will change. When
I came to Edamalakudy 20 years
ago, the women were not allowed
to wear chappals or hold an umbrel-
la. Now they are using both, says
Vijayalakshmi. So, the change will
happen, but it will take time.
The government needs to do a study
on the drop in the fertility rate in the
Muthuvan community, says former
vigilance director Jacob Thomas,
who has stayed in these tribal ham-
lets to understand the situation and
formed a research team to study the
problem. The report would be sub-
mitted to the government soon.
The women should be subjected to
a detailed examination by a gynaecol-
ogist, suggest Archana. If the women
get proper treatment, she says, they
may be able to conceive.
62
It is two oclock at night and a deathly
silence prevails on the streets of Vidisha,
a small town in Madhya Pradesh. The
silence is intermittently broken by the
barking and howling of dogs lazing in
the bylanes, and it grows louder when
a ghost-like figure rushes past them.
Dressed in a blood red salwar kameez,
the girl, 17, is in a tearing hurry. She
has a blank expression on her face and
she is sweating profusely. But it is dif-
ficult to say whether it is because of the
hot weather or because of what she is
doingrunning away from home with
nothing but the clothes on her back.
W
ho would want to
leave home, but
something so hor-
rible happened that
night that I had to, recalls Vaishali
Shadangule, now 37. On that day, 20
years ago, Shadangule showed the
courage to venture on a journey of
self-discovery and it paid off. Today
she is an established fashion design-
er, whose creations rocked the stage
at the New York Fashion Week, one
the worlds most coveted fashion
events. I miss the masala chai in
the US, says Shadangule, who shut-
tles between India and New York.
She is currently working on her
upcoming factory-cum-couture out-
let in Noida.
Madhya Pradesh is known for
its chanderi fabric. Shadangule
adores the fabric, wears it often
and weaves it with other tradi-
tional yarns like khadi, khand,
My mission is to give them
[artisans] a global platform. With
the whole world looking at India,
now is the best time.
Vaishali Shadangule, fashion designer
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
jamdani and Banarasi silk to cre-
ate contemporary designs, which
have become her signature style on
the ramp. Chanderi, she says, is not
a fabric, but a sentiment for her. It
reminds me of my mothers aanchal
[end of a sari]. Perhaps, that is why
I know it so well and it is part of my
every line, says Shadangule.
She showcased two collections at
the New York Fashion Week. Last
year in September, her collection
titled And Quiet Flows The Thread
was presented during the spring/
summer edition. Shadangule used a
blend of chanderi and khadi to create
jackets, dresses and drapes for the
show. In February this year, her col-
lection titled Chaatak (Pied crested
cuckoo) was showcased during the
autumn/winter edition. This time,
she used a mix of chanderi with meri-
no wool and khadi. Ashish N. Soni and
Sabyasachi Mukherjee are the other
two Indian designers who have pre-
sented their collection at the event.
Following a successful run at the
fashion week, Shadangule is now
selling her garments under the label
Vaishali S through 15 American
designer boutique stores. Vaishali is
a true representative of Indian fash-
ion. Young designers like her par-
ticipating in the New York Fashion
Week puts Indian fashion in a differ-
ent light globally, says Sunil Sethi,
president of the Fashion Design
Council of India, the countrys apex
fashion body.
Fashion designer Gautam Gupta,
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 63

who has done several shows with

Shadangule, says her creations have
soul. All her collections have a story.
The way she has redefined handmade
textures and textiles is amazing, he
says. Besides, her making inroads into
the American market has opened up
new avenues for other designers, too.
Shadangule is in an envious spot
today, but her journey to fame hasnt
been an easy one. I come from a patri-
archal family and my father was so
strict that even if I had to walk across
the room where he was sitting, I had
to gather courage, says Shadangule,
who has dressed Bollywood stars,
including Sonam Kapoor and Vidya
Balan, and singer Sona Mohapatra.
However, the desire to create her
own destiny was so intense that nei-
ther fear nor the uncertainty of the
future could deter her from taking the
bold step. It was also my ignorance
that proved to be a blessing in dis-
guise, says Shadangule. We didnt
even have a TV at home. My only
exposure to the outside world was my
school where I was quite popular. I
had a lot of friends because I was an
ace student and athlete.
Little did she know then that one
day her friends would be her lifesav-
ers. On the night she walked out of Style statement:
her home, she travelled to Bhopal by A model sporting
train without ticket. It was when I Shadangules creations
reached there that reality struck me,
recalls Shadangule.
At 3.30am, it is pitch dark and
Vaishali is the only woman on the paying
Finding a well-paying
platform of the Bhopal railway station. cause
job was difficult because
Shivering in fear, she decides to wait Shadangule found it hard
till the sun comes up. It was, perhaps, to communicate with
the longest wait of her life. vee a
people. I didnt have
At around 8, I begged a phone voice at home. So, for-
booth owner to let me call a friend, peak-
get English, even speak- k
as I had no money. The friend came ence in
ing a complete sentence i
and reluctantly took me home for Hindi was a task for or me, says
two days, says Shadangule. Then Shadangule, who is emerging as the
with the help of friends, Shadangule new voice of Indian weavers and arti-
found an accommodation in a wom- sans.
ens hostel and a data-entry job in a However, when itt came to giving
real estate firm. My first salary was adangule never
fashion advice, Shadangule
0500 and the hostel rent was 0700. I fell short of words.. Impressed d by
took up part-time jobs to cover the gue aasked
my advise, a colleague s ed
sk e m
mee iff I
rest of the amount. had ever thought of do
d ing a course in
doing
64
fashion designing, says Shadangule.
The colleague took her to a fashion
institute run by a friend. Shadangule
joined the course thinking it was for
free. She was asked to leave after three
days for not paying the course fee.
But in those three classes, I learnt to
draw sketches and realised that fash-
ion is my calling, says Shadangule,
who created a design portfolio for
herself, which helped her get a job as
faculty member in a fashion institute
in Baroda in 1998.
While working in the institute, she
got an opportunity to visit Mumbai to
attend a seminar. She took her port-
folio along with her. Impressed by
her designs, one of the participating
export houses offered her a job.
Suddenly, life seemed beautiful.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Walk of fame: Models display
Shadangules fall/winter collection
at the New York Fashion Week,
held in February
Shadangule didnt have to worry
about running out of money or hav-
ing to spend the night on the streets.
Just when she thought it was the
end of the struggle for her, life threw
another challenge at her and perhaps
the toughest one!
It rained that day and the air was
filled with fragrance of wet soil.
Vaishali was on her way to catch a
train when she felt an excruciating
pain in her backbone. She sat on the
staircase of the railway station. After
a few minutes when she tried to get up,
she couldnt move.
I called some friends, who took
me home from the station, recalls
Shadangule. Next day, I was taken
to the hospital on a stretcher. I had
developed a severe back problem that
left me bedridden for six months.
Shadangule had to leave her job.
When her savings were exhausted,
she discontinued her hospital treat-
ment and returned home. The doc-
tor said that I would never be able
to walk again, she says. But, I had
no option but to get back on my feet.
So, I exercised and gained strength.
Initially, I crawled like a baby, then
slowly I tried to stand up holding on Shadangule, who started combing
to objects and finally I was able to the country in search of local textiles
walk. and embroidery techniques.
When she had regained enough She often visits the artisans to see
strength, Shadangule took up a job as them work. Whenever possible
fitness instructor in a gym. I used to I take my daughter Smriti along,
carry my portfolio there and give the says Shadangule, who is married
gym members design advice, she to Bollywood director and writer
says. Eventually, she started getting Pradeep Shadangule. There is so
orders. She took a loan of 050,000 much that we can learn from them.
and started a boutique called The My mission is to give them a global
Gallery in Malad, a Mumbai sub- platform. With the whole world look-
urb. In just three years, Shadangule ing at India, now is the best time.
opened three stores and had 40 peo- Next up, she wants to start an insti-
ple working for her. She also pur- tute where Indian weaving traditions
sued a course in fashion designing are taught. A place where designers
from an institute in Delhi. In 2012, and weavers are at the same level
she made her debut at the Lakme and learn each others skills, says
Fashion Week. The course opened Shadangule. Only then will we be
a new world of fashion for me, says able to save our treasure trove.

forecast By K.K. Vamanan Nampoothiri
AUGUST 1 - 7
Aries
March 22-April 20
Your social quotient will peak.
Your trustworthiness will be
appreciated. You can expect
good news at workplace, may
be a hike in salary. Those in the agriculture
sector stand to gain. Hone your advisory
skills, as they will come in handy. Your par-
ents might need that extra care this week.
Be careful while on the wheels.
Lucky dayMonday: career boost
Cancer
June 22-July 23
This is the time to try some-
thing creative. Friends stand to
benefit from your crisis man-
agement skills. Students will do
well in exams. Business of wood and sanitary
ware will be profitable. Take good care of your
health and avoid junk food. Some of you will
inherit a legacy. The unmarried will tie the
knot soon.
Lucky dayMonday: gift from mother
Libra
September 24-October 23
A promotion is in the cards for
some. Good relationship with
seniors will pay rich dividends.
Be careful in your interactions
with the opposite sex. Those fond of reading
and lecturing will find ample time for both.
A business trip will turn out to be a learn-
ing experience. Some of you will develop an
interest in the occult.
Lucky dayTuesday: new friends
Capricorn
December 23-January 20
Those who are ill can expect
speedy recovery. You are very
reliable and affectionate; no
wonder your friends love you
so much. Take good care of your parents.
You may buy a costly dress or jewellery this
week. Optimistic and influential, you will
climb the social ladder. Party enthusiasts
will get an opportunity to let their hair down.
Lucky dayTuesday: a surprise
Taurus
April 21-May 21
Good news for the unemployed;
they will land the job of their
dreams. It will be a successful
week for doctors, architects and
engineers. The going will be tough for dairy
farm owners and agriculturists. Your imagi-
nation will take wings and your popularity
will increase manifold. Romance is in the
air, but let passion not cloud your thinking.
Lucky dayWednesday: travel
Leo
July 24-August 23
Some of you will land an over-
seas job. Your family life will be
peaceful as your spouse will be
accommodative. A change of
residence is likely for some. Those in part-
nership ventures will have a rewarding week.
Your health needs immediate care; visit a
doctor at the earliest. The spiritually inclined
will go on a pilgrimage.
Lucky dayWednesday: family time
Scorpio
October 24-November 22
Cupid will be hyperactive and
you might propose to your
sweetheart. Your connections
with people in power will work
to your advantage. Minor health problems
will bother you. The friends you make now
will stand by you through thick and thin.
Engineering and medical students will do
well. Victory in litigation is predicted.
Lucky daySaturday: an outing
Aquarius
January 21-February 19
You make many trustworthy
friends this week. Politicians
and social workers will have a
week packed with activity. A
good harvest awaits farmers. You are all set
to buy something that will be the talking
point. A litigation is likely to end in a com-
promise. Your sister will be your good luck
charm this week.
Lucky daySunday: the Midas touch
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 65
Gemini
May 22-June 21
A legacy is coming your way
this week. Work will keep
you busy. Be on the watch for
anonymous petitions or false
reports. A promotion is in the cards for
some. Some of you will buy jewellery or a
new gadget. Writers will have a favourable
week. A rise in honour and authority is likely.
Your brother is all set to make you proud.
Lucky daySunday: cousin comes calling
Virgo
August 24-September 23
The wise counsel of a good
pal will stand you in good
stead. Children will bring you
happiness. You stand to gain
indirectly from your adversaries. Your world-
view and spirituality will be appreciated. Stay
in the good books of your bosses to climb the
career ladder. It is the right time to take your
family on a vacation.
Lucky dayMonday: kids make you proud
Sagittarius
November 23-December 22
You will make time for music
and swimming. You will enjoy
a good relationship with all
your colleagues. Avoid getting
into altercations with strangers. You will be
known for your advisory abilities and the
ability to take wise decisions. Gourmets will
indulge in their passion this week. Some of
you will fall prey to Cupids floral darts.
Lucky dayMonday: reward at workplace
Pisces
February 20-March 21
A favour from the government
is round the corner. Your finan-
cial position looks bright and
you will be generous. Social
activities will take up most of your time.
Take good care of the elders in the family.
A chance meeting with an old pal is likely.
Be careful while dealing with members of
the opposite sex.
Lucky dayWednesday: trekking
66 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
ART

An uncommon
palette
When Kochi hosted
Indias first visual art
camp for transgenders
BY NIRMAL JOVIAL

R
anjani Pillai was labouring
over a lotus. Her brush-
strokes revealed that she
was neither a natural, nor
trained. She was painting on canvas
for the first time, and was pouring
herself on to it. A blooming lotus,
unsoiled by the mud where its roots
were, soon filled the canvas.
My painting is a metaphor,
Ranjani said. We were born in this
muddy society which marginalises
us. But we are not ready to hide any
longer. We are no less than a male or
a female. We are transgenders and we
are proud and happy about it.
She was one of the 40 participants
of SamanwayaEmbracing
Otherness, a ten-day art workshop
for transgenders, conducted by Ker-
ala Lalithakala Akademi at Durbar
Hall Art Gallery, Kochi, from July 14
to 23. It is the first time in the coun-
try that an art academy is conducting
a visual art camp for transgenders and
we are happy with the way it turned
out to be, said T.A. Sathyapal, chair-
man of the Akademi. Sathyapal, who
took over last year, said visual art
training would bring transgenders
into the mainstream and provide
them with a source of income.
At the camp, the transgenders
worked with professionals in paint-
ing, wood carving and photography.
Many of them are talented, said
Painting otherness: Thripthi (above) and Monisha S. Nair (right) at the art camp
Sathyapal. At an upcoming Akademi
camp in Kuttikanam in Idukki, 16 of
60 participants will be transgender.
The central Lalit Kala Akademi has
asked us if we could conduct a simi-
lar camp at the national level, said
Sathyapal.
Kerala has launched many initia-
tives to protect and empower gender
minorities. In 2015, it became the first
state to have a transgender policy.
Projects like gender park, gender taxi,
pension and scholarships for trans-
gender students soon followed. Kochi
Metro Rail, which started on June 17,
hired 23 transgenders as housekeep-
ing and ticketing staff. The queer
pride marches and non-governmen-
tal pressure groups were instrumen-
tal in increasing the visibility of the
transgender community in the state.
The visibility brings along with
it courage to reveal our identity,
said Sree S., archiving assistant at
the Centre for Development Studies
(CDS), Thiruvananthapuram. A post-
graduate in demography, she revealed
her transgender identity during a con-
ference on queer theory at CDS. It
irked many who knew me, she said.
Events like Samanwaya are helpful
in spreading gender identity aware-
ness which can prevent discrimina-
tion of sexual minorities, especially
at the workplace.
The social stigma, however still
exists. Sreekutty Namitha, president
of Sexual Gender Minority Federation
of Kerala (SGMFK), pointed out how
many transgenders hired by Kochi
Metro had to leave their jobs because
they were not able to find accom-
modation. And, there seem to be no
quick fixes. Social worker and poet

PHOTOS: SANJOY GHOSH
We were born in this muddy society which
marginalises us. But we are not ready to
hide any longer. We are no less than a male
or a female. We are transgenders and we
are proud and happy about it.
Ranjani Pillai, transgender artist
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 67
Vijayarajamallika said a value educa-
tion system which taught to respect
everybody and their otherness, irre-
spective of gender, was the only pos-
sible solution to fight such stigmas.
SGMFK acts as the bridge between
different organisations and NGOs in the
state working for transgender welfare. It
organised the first transgender athletics
meet in India at Thiruvananthapuram
in April. In association with Kerala
State Literacy Mission Authority, it con-
ducted a survey in which some 2,000
transgender school dropouts were
identified. SGMFK also helped to form
district boards for transgender welfare
in association with Kerala State Legal
Service Authority. Kavya Biju, secretary
of SGMFK, said talks had been going on
with the government for a state-wide
arts festival for transgenders.
Even though we are in the process
of breaking barriers, many think that a
transgender is good only for either beg-
ging or sex work, but, we are as good as
anybody for any job, if we are given the
right platform, said Thripthi Shetty,
28, a transgender activist. Her dream
was to become a film actor. I have
begged on the streets because I needed
money for my gender reassignment sur-
gery, said Thripthi. I wanted not only
my mind, but also my body to be that
of a female. My surgery was done five
years ago, at Bengaluru. There werent
many facilities at that private hospital
and we were asked to leave soon after
the surgery. I wanted to clear my debts
at the earliest. So, there were days when
I was on the streets begging, dragging
my urine bags.
Thripthis paintings at the camp
were a hit. She was a finalist in Keralas
first ever transgender beauty pageant,
Queen of Dhwayah. And, now, she is
acting in her first movieKallanmarude
Rajavu. Just like me, everybody here
has their own dreams, she said. If
we are sown in good soil, we will also
bloom.
On the last day of the camp, the artists
were asked to design postcards paying
tribute to former president A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam. Cards honouring a man who
believed in the power of dreams.
70 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
TRIBUTE

Farewell
to dissent
In K.E. Mammens death, India
lost an uncompromising Gandhian
BY CITHARA PAUL

D
uring one of his visits to Kerala, Mahatma
Gandhi shook hands with a young man in
a milling crowd. The Mahatma exerted a
firm grip on K.E. Mammen, until his death
on July 26 in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala lost its last
Gandhian, proclaimed a condolence banner.
Mammen was born in Thiruvananthapuram on July 31,
1921, to Kunjandamma and K.C. Eapen, manager of the
Travancore National & Quilon Bank. The family home

was across the road from the Travancore royal durbar
hall, now the secretariat. Political and protest speeches
were a regular affair outside the hall, and Mammen was
all ears.
In 1938, while doing his intermediate course at Arts
College, Thiruvananthapuram, he became acting presi-
dent of the Travancore Students Federation. His protests
against Diwan Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar got him arrest-
ed. The diwan ensured that no institution in Travancore
admitted him. Mammen tried Kochi, but was turned down
by the Maharajas College there. Eventually, St Thomas
College, Thrissur, admitted him. In 1940, he joined the
Madras Christian College for undergraduate studies, but
was dismissed two years later for his participation in the
Quit India movement. In the same year, the diwan took
his ire out on the bank and the Malayala Manorama daily,
a family concern. Both companies were shut and the pro-
moters jailed. The dailys editor K.C. Mammen Mappillai
and Eapen were siblings and were housed in neighbour-
ing cells. Eapen died in jail on Good Friday 1940.
Mammen left Madras and returned to Tiruvalla in
Keralas Pathanamthitta district to continue the freedom
struggle. On July 26, 1947, activist K.C.S. Mani attempt-
ed to assassinate the diwan Aiyar. But, he escaped with
injuries and cracked down on freedom fighters. Mammen
was released from jail just before midnight on August 14.
When Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his famous speech in
Delhi, the 26-year-old stood in the rain outside Tiruvalla
police station and thundered: Long live free India.
Post-Independence, Mammen practised uncompro-
mising dissent against injustice. He said politicians sup-
ported his protests when they were in the opposition, but
UNNI KOTTAKKAL
1921-2017
viewed him as the enemy when they reached the trea-
sury benches. He quit the Congress saying the party had
expelled Gandhiji. He wanted all Congress factions to
merge and form the Congress (Gandhian) party.
In 2008, he relinquished his membership in his church,
saying churches were far from Christ. He wanted to be cre-
mated and the ashes scattered near Gandhi Mandapam,
Kanyakumari. He was a true Christian. He openly criti-
cised the money-making mentality within the church,
said the Rev. T.J. Alexander, a close friend.
In his death, Mammen united politicians in their admi-
ration for him. He was a lone fighter. He never deviat-
ed from Gandhian principles and always fought for the
helpless, said former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan.
Shashi Tharoor, MP, tweeted: He was the 1st leader to
publicly urge me to contest in Thiruvananthapuram.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy used to be a reg-
ular visitor at Mammens bedside. Thiruvananthapuram
Mayor V.K. Prashanth said that when he visited him last
month the freedom fighters only request was to find a
solution to the stray dog menace in the city.
Mammen never married. He thought no girl would ever
agree to his demands: no jewellery; only khadi.
Poet Dylan Thomas sang that old age should burn
and rave at close of day. Mammen practised it all day,
all his life.
He died four days short of his 96th birthday.
72 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

PEOPLE

ITS A RAP
Shah Rukh Khan recentlyy
teamed up with American an
rapper and DJ Diplo forr the
song Phurrr in the lm m Jab
tures from
Harry Met Sejal. Pictures
the set of the music video are
out with Khan dressed ssed in a
acket while the
leather baseball jacket
DJ looks dapper in an Indian
suit. SRK conrmed the collab-
oration with a tweet: Walked
into the videoo @diplo is making
for Phurrr! Got a starring role
in it & his decent jacket. Wes u r
dope! Thx. .

SILVER LINING
Filmmaker Ritesh Sidhwani and
actor Farhan Akhtar are all set to
make a biopic on Deepa Malik, the
rst Indian woman to win a silver
medal at the 2016 Paralympics in
Brazil. At one point in her life, she
had to choose between death and
life in a wheelchair and she chose
the latter, says Sidhwani. But as
she sat in front of me, there was
nothing differently-abled about
her. She was empowering, a pillar
of strength, and I knew that we
needed to take her ght to the big
screen. The lm is set to release
early next year, but it hasnt yet
been revealed who will play Malik.
AAYUSH GOEL
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 73

WOMAN
ABOUT TOWN
Sudha Murty, chairperson of Infosys Foun-
dation, is out with a new book, a collection of
true stories called Three Thousand Stitches:
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives. It
describes various experiences in Murtys
life, from her days as the only female student
in an engineering college to her interac-
tions with the devadasi community. Murty
skilfully writes about the simple things of
day-to-day livinglike the joy of discovering
the reach of Indian cinema or the pleasure of
nding out the origin of Indian vegetables.

SANJAY AHLAWAT

SPACE NO BAR
After popularising Indian Ayurvedic beauty treatments
across the globe, beauty entrepreneur Shahnaz Husain
is now looking at taking them to space. Husain is ready-
ing a consignment of her products for NASA. In future,
FOTOCORP she hopes astronauts will be able to use them while on
space missions. The R&D work is on and we will soon
AN ENERGETIC send samples to NASA for trials, she says.
DEBUT
After Rock On!! and Kai Po Che,
lmmaker Abhishek Kapoor is
ready with his highly anticipated
love story, Kedarnath, marking the
debut of Sara Ali Khan, the daughter
of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh.
Casting newcomers is a natural
process, says Kapoor. We will tell
stories with those who t our vision
the best. Sara is a beautiful bundle of
CONTRIBUTORS: PRIYANKA BHADANI,
energy. The talent we bring in today
REKHA DIXIT, SHWETA THAKUR NANDA
will be the future in the industry.
AND NAMRATA MENON
The lm is a love story that unfolds
COMPILED BY ANJULY MATHAI
during the course of a pilgrimage.
74
last word Barkha Dutt
Women who dare to be disliked
T
here are many reasons to
admire Kangana Ranauther
acting prowess, her stylish
good looks, her gumption, her self-
made journey to stardom from a
village in Manali to the razzmatazz
of Mumbai, how she slept on pave-
ments when she had to, fought
physical abuse from an early mentor,
taught herself English and the confi-
dence with which she wears her out-
sider status in an incestuous, insular
industry. But none of this is why I
like Kangana. I like her because she
doesnt give a damn about not being
liked.
Fiercely independent women who
make it on their own terms and refuse
to conform to other peoples expecta-
tions of them are routinely disliked
and incidentally, by both men and
womenbecause patriarchy and
misogyny are the one thing that is
gender-neutral. When you cant t
a complex woman on the inside of
a neat little box that can be pinned
with a red bow and kept away; when
your labels run short, when the
worst you say about her (whore,
bitch, slut, gold-digger, unstable,
crazy, vulgar) doesnt break her
self-esteem; when your fantasy that
even if she is successful, she must
be so lonely gets challenged; when
there is no man, picket fence, child
or dog to complete your version of
what her family portrait should look
like and when your toxic whispers
are unable to crush her individual-
ism or atten her into submission
all you are left to attack her with is
dislike. Women who succeedand
especially those who do so by draft-
ing their own rulesmust be ready to
grow the thickest hide possible and
embrace their unpopularity. Kangana
is one such person.
For me this is not about something
as narrow or specic as the nepotism
debate (full disclosure: Karan Johar
is a dear friend); as the media-pro-
fessional daughter of a journalist I
can hardly hold forth on that with
honesty. Nor is it about who is right
and wrong in the intimate battle be-
tween Hrithik Roshan and Kangana.
But while she gathers kudos in public
every time she ghts back, the truth is
that Kangana is constantly decon-
structed in the most unattering
terms and often in full public gaze.
She has been vilied on social media,
mocked in swish drawing rooms and,
of course, had both her mental health
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
and her sexual morality questioned.
Every time I praise Kangana or she
has come on one of my shows, there is
enormous admiration from one sec-
tion of viewers, but intense pushback
from another, including many of her
industry colleagues. I have been ac-
cused of foisting undeserved feminist
iconography onto her persona; I
have been told she is an illusionist
living a deluded life. I have heard way
more than I need to know about her
personal proclivitiestrue or false, I
have no idea. She has been smeared,
abused, made fun of and yes, some-
times, even socially shunned by her
fraternity. She is prexed to con-
troversy, real or manufacturedan
age-old trolling tool to silence women
who prefer to smash the status quo.
Yet, she has remained unchanged
and unbent, utterly comfortable
with her own imperfections, angu-
larities, eccentricities and weak-
nesses and absolutely self-possessed
and anchored by her own strength.
Not once has she surrendered to
peer pressure and adapted her per-
sonality to t in. She has remained
stubbornly individualistic. She
has remained herself. The rest be
damned.
Among women, very few of us are
able to withstand that sort of public
and personal pressure. But once
you do, and other peoples opin-
ions about you cease to matter, you
discover a genuine sense of libera-
tion. Isnt that what feminism is all
aboutfreedom?
So heres my toast to women who
dare to be disliked.
editor@theweek.in
 AUGUST 6, 2017

www.theweek.in
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 3

CONTENTS
OT ..............................................14
Heartbreak syndrome is for real
and not to be taken lightly

BODYSCAPE..............................32
Tackling seborrhoeic dermatitis, a
skin condition

LIFE ...........................................36
Tennis 'superbrat' John McEnroe
talks about parenting and his
latest autobiography

REGULARS
LETTERS 4

QUICK SCAN 6

YOGA MADE EASY 42

COVER DESIGN
Binesh Sreedharan
PICTURE RESEARCH
Bimal Nath C.

COVER STORY ....16 LAYOUT

Rajesh A.S., B. Manojkumar,
Job P.K., Sumesh C.N., Deni Lal,
Syam Krishnan

AGE ON THEIR SIDE

Gone are the days when people dreaded getting
older. Sweet sixteens are no longer coveted and
age, after all, is just a number
50 anti-ageing tips
How the immortality industry is booming
The Week Supplement: Printed
at Malayala Manorama Press,
Kottayam, and published
from Manorama Buildings,
Panampilly Nagar, Kochi-682
036, by Jacob Mathew, on behalf
of the Malayala Manorama
Co.Ltd., Kottayam - 686 001.
Editor: Philip Mathew.
Focus/In focus features are
marketing initiatives

HEALTH
4 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

LETTERS
JULY 23, 2017
the affected limbs and helps to a large extent in
www.theweek.in

eventually enable them getting a healthy baby.

Tech therapy
Your story on robot-assisted
therapies helping paralysed
patients regain strength was
informative (Game changer,
July 23). It encourages regular
use and adds the fun factor to
the therapy. It sends signals to
to move.
NANDU KISHORE,
On email.
Virtual therapy helps
patients as they feel stronger
each time they achieve a new
level. Various neurological and
psychological disorders can be
effectively treated with virtual
reality therapy.
VYOM PRAKASH,
On email.
Be normal
Your report on two ayurveda
doctors claiming to have found
a way to produce super kids
was interesting (Customised
delivery, July 23). Following
a strict regimen of exercise
and diet during pregnancy
Mothers-to-be should
avoid unhealthy food but
follow their normal
routine without exerting
too much.
ANURAG TOKAS,
On email.
Complete
package
The July 9 issue of the
Health was a complete
package. Every article in it
was thoroughly informative.
I, especially, like the
Quickscan section in your
magazine. It covers daily
life and how our habits affect
our life in the long term.
RAJAT GUPTA,
On email.

Bad toys
Sex toys
should not be
encouraged
(Hot bots,
July 23). It will
make people
addicted to
these toys. It is
wrong to argue
that sex toys
can prevent
rapes. Sex toys
are not at all
acceptable in a
civilised world.
TIGIN
THOMAS,
On email.

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 5

Medicines as well Greed creed

The article by Dr N.K.
Venkataramana on decoding
attention disorders was
interesting ('Paying attention
pays', July 9). He has adressed
the problem both from
clinical as well as non-clinical
points of view. Yoga and
physical fitness can improve
concentration. However, it
has been observed that a
major cause of such a
disorder is pathological.
So, medicines can help
device a strategy to deal
with attention disorders
effectively.
SURINDER SHARMA,
On email.
I am a regular reader of
the Health magazine.
How I wish and hope that
qualified doctors treat
patients and instil
confidence in them.
Service mentality
is required, at all levels, in
general, and in medical
science, in particular.
Having spent $50 lakh on
education, a qualified
doctor will naturally be
interested in remuneration
to repay his debts! But
where is the end?
T.K.V. BHARATHY,
On email.

PRIZE-WINNING LETTER
Listen with an open mind
I liked your cover story on why people focus and get
distracted at the same time ('Paying attention pays', July
9).When a person totally and fully attends to anyone
the attending person has to 'pay' something; a payment
is involved. A relevant question here is, "What is it that
a person has to pay in attending fully? What is the cur-
rency involved in the 'paying' of attention?"
If I hold on to my thoughts and biases about what I
am hearing and seeing, I tend to take what I sense in
the shade of my biases and presuppositions. As long as
I hold on to that position, I will fail to receive and ac-
cept what I sense. Unless I receive fully, I will fail to act
upon the new information; that is, unless I am ready to
flush out all biases and presuppositions from my mind
I will fail to attend fully. Interpathic or even empathetic
listening becomes impossible under such circumstances.
Attending is a larger responsibility for the person
who attends to get the total content of what is being
conveyed. 'Shraddha' (Total Attention) has a divine
component in it.
ALEX MATHEW,
On email.

HEALTH
6 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

QUICK SCAN

THREE CHEERS FOR COFFEE

Starting your day with a cup of coffee may help you
live longer.
Two new studies published in the Annals of Internal
Medicine suggest that coffee drinkers tend to enjoy
a longer life than those who dont, whether you
drink regular or decaffeinated coffee.
The European study included 5,21,330 men and
women across 10 European countries. During a
mean followup of 16.4 years, 41,693 people died.
People who drank three or more cups of coffee
a day had a 7 to 12 per cent lower risk of death
from all causes and a 40 to 59 per cent lower risk
of death from digestive disorders, such as liver
disease. There was a lower risk of death from
circulatory diseases and cerebrovascular diseases
among women who were coffee drinkers.
However, the study also found a significant
increase in risk for ovarian cancer mortality.
Our results suggest that higher levels of coffee
drinking are associated with lower risk for death
from various causes, specifically digestive and
circulatory diseases," the authors wrote.
The US study included 1,85,855 participants from
different ethnic groups.
Drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of
death from heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes,
and respiratory and kidney disease.
Those who drank two to three cups of coffee a day
had an 18 per cent lower risk of dying prematurely
compared to non-drinkers. Drinking even one cup
a day lowered the risk of dying early by 12 per cent.
This study is the largest of its kind and includes
minorities who have very different lifestyles. Seeing
a similar pattern across different populations
gives stronger biological backing to the argument
that coffee is good for you whether you are white,
African-American, Latino or Asian, said the lead
author of the US study.

HEALTH
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 7

HEALTH
8 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
QUICK SCAN
LESS SUGAR, HEALTHY BABY
Your childrens risk of developing aller-
gies and allergic asthma may depend
on how much sugar you consume while
pregnant, according to a British study
published in the European Respiratory
Journal.
The study focused on 8,956 mother-child
pairs. The women provided informa-
tion about their intake of free sugars (as
opposed to natural sugars found in fruits
and vegetables) during pregnancy. Their
children were tested for asthma and
common allergies such as dust mite, cat
and grass at age 7.
When comparing the 20 per cent of
mothers with the highest sugar intake
with the 20 per cent with the lowest
sugar intake, there was a 38 per cent
higher risk for allergy in the offspring
by age 7; a 73 per cent greater risk for
HEALTH
DID YOU KNOW
People who have low iron
levels may have a greater risk
of coronary artery disease, a
type of cardiovascular disease,
where clogged arteries can limit
the flow of blood to the heart.
Arteriosclerosis,
Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
two or more allergies and 101 per cent
increased risk for allergic asthma.
The researchers speculate that a high
intake of fructose during pregnancy may
cause a persistent postnatal allergic
immune response leading to allergic
inflammation in the developing lung.

POOR SLEEP DULLS BRAIN
Poor sleep increases the risk of cogni-
tive problems, an early warning sign of
Alzheimers disease. A new study pub-
lished in the journal Brain explains the
reason for the link.
Just one night of poor sleep can cause
an increase in amyloid beta, a brain
protein linked to Alzheimers disease.
And a week of disturbed sleep can
increase the level of another brain pro-
tein, tau, which has been linked to brain
damage in Alzheimers and other neu-
rological diseases.
The study was based on 17 healthy
volunteers, aged 35 to 65, without sleep
problems or mental impairments.
The participants wore activity monitors
that measured the quality of their sleep
for two weeks.
Half of the participants were randomly
selected to have their sleep disrupted
on one night, while the other half slept
undisturbed. A month or more later, the
process was repeated with the group
that had uninterrupted sleep the first
time.
The researchers compared the partici-
pants amyloid beta and tau levels after
the disrupted night to the levels after
the uninterrupted night. There was a 10
per cent increase in amyloid beta levels
after a single night of interrupted sleep.
But one bad night did not cause an
increase in tau levels.
However, participants whose activity
monitors showed disturbed sleep for a
week or more showed an increase in
tau levels.
We showed that poor sleep is asso-
ciated with higher levels of two
Alzheimers-associated proteins. We
think that perhaps chronic poor sleep
during middle age may increase the
risk of Alzheimers later in life, noted
the studys senior author.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 9
HEART AT WORK
Heres good reason to leave work early today!
Working long hours can put you at risk of atrial
fibrillation (A-fib), a potentially dangerous heart
disorder marked by irregular heartbeat. It is a
risk factor for the development of stroke.
For the study in the European Heart Journal,
British researchers used data from 85,494 peo-
ple from Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the UK.
None of the participants had A-fib at the onset,
but 1,061 people developed the heart condition
during ten years of follow up.
People who worked 55 or more hours a week
were about 40 per cent more likely to develop
A-fib compared to those who worked regular
work hours of 35 to 40 hours a week.
The findings remained even after accounting
for other risk factors such as age, sex, obesity,
exercise, socioeconomic status, smoking status
and heavy drinking.
"These findings show that long working hours
are associated with an increased risk of atrial
fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhyth-
mia. This could be one of the mechanisms that
explain the previously observed increased risk of
stroke among those working long hours. Atrial
fibrillation is known to contribute to the develop-
ment of stroke, but also other adverse health
outcomes, such as heart failure and stroke-
related dementia," the study author noted.
HEALTH
10 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
QUICK SCAN
DRUG RISK
Widely used heartburn drugs called proton
pump inhibitors (PPIs) can increase the risk
of death if taken for long periods of time. PPIs
have already been linked to a variety of health
problems, including kidney damage, heart dis-
ease, bone fractures, pneumonia and demen-
tia.
PPIs are commonly prescribed for heartburn,
ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
Popular drugs in this class include omepra-
zole, esomeprazole and lansoprazole.
The researchers compared the medical
records of 2,75,933 users of PPIs with 73,355
people who took another class of heartburn
drugs known as H2 blockers (which include
ranitidine and famotidine) to find out how many
people died over the next five years.
Overall, PPI users had a 25 per cent increased
risk of premature death compared with users
of H2 blockers. For every 500 people taking
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
Women who breastfeed their babies may have
a lower risk of suffering a stroke later in life,
and the cardiovascular benefits increase the
longer they breastfeed, according to a Chinese
research published in the Journal of the
American Heart Association.
The study followed 2,89,573 Chinese women,
average age 51, without any cardiovascular
disease when they enrolled, for eight years,
during which there were 16,671 cases of coro-
nary heart disease, including heart attacks,
and 23,983 stroke cases.
Mothers who had breastfed were 9 per cent
less likely to have heart disease, including
heart attack and 8 per cent less likely to suffer
a stroke.
Among mothers who breastfed their babies
for two years or more, heart disease risk was
18 per cent lower and stroke risk 17 per cent
lower.
Although we cannot establish the causal
effects, the health benefits to the mother from
breastfeeding may be explained by a faster
HEALTH
PPIs for a year, there was one extra death that
would not have occurred otherwise. Since mil-
lions of people take PPIs regularly, this could
account for thousands of excess deaths every
year.
The risk increased the longer people took the
drugs. People taking PPIs for one to two years
had a 50 per cent increased risk of dying over
the next five years.
No matter how we sliced and diced the data
from this large data set, we saw the same
thing: Theres an increased risk of death
among PPI users. People have the idea that
PPIs are very safe because they are readily
available, but there are real risks to taking
these drugs, particularly for long periods of
time, the senior author of the study said.
Limiting PPI use and duration to instances
where it is medically indicated may be war-
ranted, the research published in the journal
BMJ Open concluded.
reset of the mothers metabolism after
pregnancy. Pregnancy changes a womans
metabolism dramatically as she stores fat to
provide the energy necessary for her babys
growth and for breastfeeding once the baby
is born. Breastfeeding could eliminate the
stored fat faster and more completely, said
the study co-author.
The findings should encourage more wide-
spread breastfeeding for the benefit of the
mother as well as the child.
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 11

WAIT AND WATCH

Men with early stage prostate cancer who undergo surgery do not live longer than those
who opt for limited or no treatment, concludes a 20-year study that compared different
treatment options for prostate cancer.
Nearly 30 per cent of men who opt for surgery have to live with long-term complications,
such as infection, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, with little added benefit to
longevity.
For the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 731 men, average age 67,
with low-risk prostate cancer were randomly assigned to either undergo surgery or just
observation.
During 20 years of follow-up, 223 of 364 men who had surgery died of other causes, com-
pared with 245 of 367 men in the observation group. Additionally, 27 men in the surgery
group died of prostate cancer, compared with 42 men in the observation group. According
to the researchers, the differences are not statistically significant.
But the study found that surgery would be beneficial for young men with a long life expec-
tancy and those with intermediate-risk prostate cancerwith a PSA score of 10-20 ng/ml
and a Gleason score of seven.
Of the 364 men treated with surgery, 53 suffered from erectile dysfunction, 63 from incon-
tinence and an additional 45 developed other complications.
The benefits of surgery also need to be balanced against the negative long-term con-
sequences of surgery that occur early and often. Our results demonstrate that for the
majority of men with localised prostate cancer, selecting observation for their treatment
choice can help them live a similar length of life, avoid death from prostate cancer and
prevent harms from surgical treatment. Physicians can use information from our study to
confidently recommend observation as the preferred treatment option for men with early
prostate cancer, the senior study author commented.

HEALTH
12 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
QUICK SCAN
YOGA WITH CARE
Yoga is often considered to be a gentle, heal-
ing form of exercise. But according to a study
published in the Journal of Bodywork and
Movement Therapies, yoga can cause injuries
and exacerbate existing ones.
For the study, 354 people answered ques-
tions about their age, yoga experience and any
forms of pain or injuries they experienced at
the start of the study, and a year later.
The study found that yoga caused muscu-
loskeletal pain in 10 per cent of people and
aggravated 21 per cent of existing injuries.
The 10 per cent injury rate is comparable to
the rate of all sports injuries.
Most new pain associated with yoga was
in peoples upper extremitiesshoulders,
elbows, wrists and hands. This could be attrib-
uted to poses like downward dog that could
put pressure and weight on those areas. More
than a third of the injuries lasted more than
three months, causing people to give up the
practice.
But it was not all bad news. About 44 per cent
HEALTH
said yoga did not affect their pain and about
two-third reported yoga improved their bone,
muscle and joint pain, especially neck and
back pain.
Previous studies have suggested that the risk
of injury can be attributed to overexertion,
inadequate instruction and poor technique.
Yoga can cause musculoskeletal pain.
Participants may benefit from disclosure of
practice to their health care professionals
and by informing teachers of injuries they
may have prior to participation. Yoga teachers
should also discuss the risks for injury with
their students, the study concluded.
DID YOU KNOW
When patients are told about
the side effects of a medication,
they are more likely to report
those symptoms compared to
when they are not aware
of the adverse effects.
The Lancet
CONTRIBUTOR: SHYLA JOVITHA ABRAHAM
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 13

HEALTH
14 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
Heartbreak
I
looked down at my phone
showing the morning
consults. The first one
seemed pretty straightfor-
ward, chest pain, as routine as
it could get. I went through the
computer records and within
the first two minutes, I knew
what the next step of treatment
needed to be. The blood work
had showed damage to his heart
and his EKG showed changes
consistent with an impending
heart attack.
I walked into the room and
looked at Matt. He was my age
and was fit for his age. You
need a cardiac catheterisa-
tion, I told him, after review-
ing his symptoms and findings.
The procedure involves getting
into the arteries supplying the
heart, either from the wrist, or
the thigh. He agreed to the plan
and we were in the lab that af-
ternoon. I was surprised to find
that there were no blockages.
When I looked at his heart func-
tion though, a significant por-
tion was not working, consis-
tent with a heart attack.
HEALTH
OT
Dr DINESH ARAB
He is chairman, department of medicine, and director,
division of cardiology, at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical
Center in Daytona Beach in the US.
After the procedure I went
back to his room and reviewed
the findings. I asked him wheth-
er he was under any emotional
stress, and he told me about
his recent breakup with his
girlfriend. Broken heart syn-
drome is a real phenomena,
and not something you see
only in the movies. Also called
Tako Tsubo cardiomyopa-
thy, it is one of those enigmatic
conditions that we dont quite
understand. Caused by emo-
tional stress, the symptoms,
the EKG changes and even the
heart dysfunction is suggestive
of a heart attack, but the ar-
teries that supply the heart are
normal. The cause for a heart
attack is normally blockage of
blood flow resulting in death of
tissue.
Like a lot of medicine, we have
a few theories as to the cause,
but we sure come up with some
good names to describe the con-
dition. The theory with the most
traction is that extreme emo-
tional stress causes release of
high concentrations of adrena-
line, which causes spasm of the
small arteries, not visible to the
naked eye, causing cells to die,
similar to a heart attack. So the
next time you, my dear reader,
get that ache in your heart, you
know the kind I am talking
about, a visit to your local cardi-
ologist may not seem such a bad
idea. The good news is like most
heart aches, the condition is
transient, and the heart function
is back to normal, sometimes
within a week with medication.
The bad news is that it can recur,
with emotional stress.
I saw Matt a week later in
the office. He had recovered
well from a heart standpoint.
He then asked me whether he
could speak to me alone. My
nurse smiled at me as she left
the room. Man talk, she said
on her way out. When we were
alone he told me his story. He
was attracted to this lady, an old
friend whom he had met after
years. One thing led to another
and he fell in love with her and
vice versa, or so he thought. It
was perfect, he said. Uncondi-

tional love was what he called
it. The relationship blossomed,
but then the story, like most sto-
ries, soured. She fell in love with
someone else. The end came in a
text message, saying it was over.
All those years of complex emo-
tions, memories, feelings and ex-
periences, came down to three
words on a phone screen I am
sorry. Sorry, he said with a
sarcastic laugh, thats what you
say when you bump into some-
one on the street, not when you
reach into someone who loves
you unconditionally, rip their
heart out, and kick it across the
room.
I have often wondered on how
easy it is to hide behind text mes-
sages. We have an entire gen-
eration going through relation-
ships, through text. Complex
emotions are being replaced by
emojis, or maybe they are not
complex, and superficiality is
the order of the day. For those
too busy to send a text, there is a
breakup app, and I am not kid-
ding on that one. Text breakups
are the easiest because the emo-
tional chaos that follows is not
seen. A student compiled some
text breakups for The New York
Times, and one caught my at-
tention. It shook me just reading
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 15
BHASKARAN
it. The girl texts why didnt you
come over last night? The reply
from the boy, because I dont
love you anymore.
I sat there and listened to Matt.
I really had no advice to give
him. I was as lost as anyone else
in this technology-driven emo-
tional tsunami. It will get bet-
ter, I told him unconvincingly
as we shook hands. On his way
out, he turned back, with his
hand on the door handle and
said, You know, there is a say-
ing that the person you love the
most, will hurt you the most? I
had heard it, and nodded. It's
true, he said.
HEALTH
16 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

EMBRACING
No matter how old or young, people are increasingly
starting to feel comfortable in their own skin

BY ANJULY MATHAI

I
recently read an article which talked about how you stop car-
ing about so many things that dont matter when you reach
a particular age. You no longer care about peoples opinions,
especially when they are about you. You no longer care about
ridiculous fashion rules, like the one that says you shouldnt wear
a bikini after turning 30. You no longer care about what your ex
thinks about you. You realise that your mistakes dont define you;
they are merely pieces in your life that have made you who you
are. You also dont care about fitting in. Some people spend their
whole lives trying to fit in only to realise that those who want to
belong are just boring, says the article. Why would anyone want
to be another sheep among millions of sheep? No thanks. Fly your
freak flag and roll solo.
For someone who had just turned 30 and on the brink of a new
phase of her life, I could identify with the article. Yes, I was no longer
the insecure, wannabe girl of my 20s. Drunken parties, experimen-
tal hairstyles, wild fashion choicesthese all seemed to be things of
the past. In some ways, I had found myself. I had come to realise
who I really was. And that, I came to understand, was not exclusive
to me. Increasingly, people are starting to understand themselves
and enjoying, even relishing life, no matter what age they are. I
spoke to my cousins and friends of various ages and they all told me
how they had gained enough confidence to be comfortable in their
skin, even if they no longer looked like they did in their 20s.
I feel I no longer need to make excuses in life, says my cousin
Rupa Jacob, 39. If I want to sleep early or stay at home and spend
time with my children, then thats what I am going to do. Now, I
also feel I am better equipped to handle difficult situations. I have
become more responsible with age. Age is truly just a number. Hav-
ing said that, it is important not to dismiss someone just because

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 17

they are young. Every individual is different. Dont judge someone

based on their age.
My friend Anu, who works in digital media and is soon turning
44, agrees. After I turned 35, I realised that I dont have to be any-
body for anybody, she says. I have made peace with my flaws and
limitations. In my late teens and early 20s, I was trying to portray
an image but now, I am just myself. When I was young, I used to
think that those in their 40s are so old but now that I am in my 40s,
I dont feel that anymore. In college, I had big ambitions. I even
aspired to come on the cover of TIME. But now I know that is not
going to happen and I am okay with it. I am happy sitting with a
glass of wine, surrounded by my family. I am happy doing mentally
fulfilling work. I love the thrill of change that my job gives me. I
have learnt how to balance my work and my family. These are deci-

HEALTH
18 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

We live in a world sions I have consciously made. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else
than where I am right now.
where youth
She tells me how she feels younger than she is. I feel like I am
and beauty are the cool mother in her 40s. I could go to a teenage concert and fit
worshipped. in, whereas my mother would probably stand out in that crowd.
Often my daughter has to remind me to act my age. I know the only
You keep getting
legacy I will leave in this world are my children. Beyond that I am
bombarded not sure anybody will remember anything I do.
with these small, Age changes you at your very core, says my uncle George Mathai,
55, an architect and founder of the design school Terrafirm Global
constant messages
Academy in Kerala. Very substantial changes take place in your
that give value life because of age, he says. For me, age has been a process of
to beauty over systematically removing what is unwanted in my life until I get to
the core of who I am. It is not just the answers you seek but even the
everything else.
questions you ask in life that change. Earlier, if I asked how do you
I wish that define success?, now I might be asking how important is success in
perception would life? It is not how independent you are, but how inter-dependent
you are. Now people say they want freedom and independence. I
change.
think it is the most foolish thing you could ask for.
Anu Ahuja, former model
Yet, we live in a culture that worships youth and looks. In her
and show director
book The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf writes: During the past de-
cade, women breached the power structure; meanwhile eating dis-
orders rose exponentially and cosmetic surgery became the fastest-
growing medical specialty. During the past five years, consumer
spending doubled; pornography became the main media category,
ahead of legitimate films and records combined, and 33,000 Ameri-
can women told researchers that they would rather lose 10 to 15
pounds than achieve any other goal.
The media, too, fuels this perception. Every day, you see items in
the newspaper about fighting age. (Purging the body of retired
cells could reverse ageing. Can high-intensity interval training de-
lay the ageing process? Umbilical cord blood could slow brains
ageing.) According to a report by the Indian Beauty and Hygiene
Association, Bain and Co and Google India, beauty and hygiene
was a $10 billion market here in 2015 and is estimated to grow at
a 10 per cent growth rate to $17 billion by 2020. There seems to be
an apparent paradox here. How can the beauty industry be grow-
ing if people are increasingly getting comfortable with their age and
willing to accept themselves as they are? So, I decided to grab the
bull by the horns and talk to people in the beauty industry.
It is society that makes you feel insecure about yourself, says
Erika Packard, a 27-year-old model in Mumbai. Today, even
younger girls are getting botox treatments. How can it be any dif-
ferent when they idolise people like Kylie Jenner who is only 19
and has already done a host of surgeries. When you are 25, people
consider you over the hill whereas, in our parents time, 25 was still
considered young. But when you are surrounded with people who
accept you as you are, you no longer care about age.

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 19

When you are 25,

people consider
you over the hill
whereas, in our
parents time, 25
was still considered
young. But when
you are surrounded
with people who
accept you as you
are, you no longer
care about age.
Erika Packard, model

When I ask her if she is

scared of ageing, she replies:
I dont believe in fear. I go
with the flow. I was scouted
by a modelling agency at the
age of 19, and who would
have thought that I would
become a model? I have
come such a long way since
then. She talks about how
society and people around
her ask her why she is still
single at 27: I dont care
what people say. Yes, all of us
want a partner but it happens jority of work goes to young girls.
when it is supposed to hap- I ask her whether she ever wishes to turn back the clock and live
pen. Why force something? her life as a model in her 20s once again. It is a yes and a no,
Anu Ahuja, former model she says. Physically, you wish you were younger. I would be lying
and show director who is if I said that I dont look in the mirror and lament my looks. We
now in her 40s, says the live in a world where youth and beauty are worshipped. You keep
beauty industry is more getting bombarded with these small, constant messages that give
about your looks than value to beauty over everything else. I wish that perception would
about your age. The pres- change. But that said, being older mentally and emotionally is the
sure is to remain fit than best thing, especially with the peace and maturity it brings.
stay young, she says. So, in an appearance-obsessed culture, how are these women
There are many commer- daring to go beyond their looks? People live longer today so
cials where women play death anxiety is delayed to a later stage, says Dr Ashwin Jacob,
mothers roles, so it is not a psychiatrist based in New York. Plus, people are more into ex-
correct to say that the ma- ercise and yoga, which wards off early dementia. The existential

HEALTH
20 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

In her book The Beauty

Myth, Naomi Wolf
writes: During the
past decade, women
breached the power
structure; meanwhile
eating disorders rose
exponentially and
cosmetic surgery became
the fastest-growing
medical specialty.

anxiety that was a constant in the pre-antibiotic era is no longer worthy of inclusion in Whos
there. Long-term studies show that what is known as the mid- Who, stated an article in The
life crisis might be a myth. Erik Erikson [German-born Ameri- Atlantic, quoting Vaillant.
can developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst] has written I got confirmation of this
about the stages of development, in which he says that in every from an unlikely source
stage of life, you have to negotiate through a crisis. People who my 56-year-old mother who
cope well with the crisis are more functional and happy. This works as a dermatologist in a
is called generativity versus stagnation. Today, people are more small town in Kerala. In the
aware of these things. They have more access to knowledge and decades that I have worked
are more psychologically savvy. as a doctor, I have found that
That said, Jacob also cautions us not to make such a blanket people with a healthy family,
conclusion. You cant just generalise and say that people today a loving spouse and children,
are more comfortable with their age. There are so many external generally accept their age bet-
variables and it is so difficult to disentangle them. For example, ter than people with problems,
generalised anxiety disorder, where you are anxious because of who blame their age and looks
multiple reasons like job, future, health and retirement, is seen for their problems. They crib
more commonly among the older generation. Biologically, too, about their younger days,
a lot of changes take place in the brain as you grow older. The she says. Then, I talk to them
ability to learn new things, for example, decreases. But in most and tell them that ageing is a
cases, it has been discovered that people with healthy relation- natural process. But that said,
ships are happier than those without. I must say that the people who
Jacob might have a point. Psychiatrist George Vaillant, who come to me for skin-lightening
directed, for more than three decades, the Grant Study that agents and anti-wrinkle creams
followed the lives of 268 Harvard undergraduate men for 75 are happy when the products
years, came to the same conclusion as Jacob: there is a strong work. They feel better when
co-relation between the strength of your relationships and your they look better.
happiness when you are older. The 58 men who scored highest Perhaps it is time to agree
on measurements of warm relationships earned an average of with writer C.S. Lewis when he
$1,41,000 a year at their peak salaries [usually between ages 55 says: You are never too old to
and 60] than the 31 men who scored lowest; the former were set another goal or to dream a
also three times more likely to have achieved professional success new dream.

HEALTH

50
ANTI-AGEING
TIPS
BY SCOTT LAIDLER
1 off stress
Meditation
A few minutes a day can ease
physical ailments, calm the
mind, and reduce stress.
Meditation can also lead to a
deeper self-awareness.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 21
2
De-stressing
Stress starts off as a mental
and emotional barrier, which
can then manifest physically.
Finding ways to de-stress can
have incredible results on your
longevity.
3
Taking time
Everyone has at least one
source of stress, and many
have plenty more. Stepping
away from it for sometime is
very important for your mind
and body to recover. Time to
turn off and recharge.
HEALTH
 22 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

4 5 6
Positive Me time Ice baths
thoughts Taking some time away to just After a good workout, ve to ten
focus on yourself can do wonders minutes of cold therapy can help the
Positive afrmations said for your well-being. It can be body speed-up the healing of tiny
daily, or even throughout something exciting like a night muscle tears that happen during
the day, can slowly out with friends or something exercise. Ice baths help to improve
change the way you think. simple and quiet like taking a well- blood circulation, ush out waste
Do it well and you can deserved nap. by-products, and reduce swelling and
improve self-esteem, tissue breakdown.
fend off depression, and
stand a better chance of
meeting your goals.

7
Probiotics
Science is nally catching up with
the importance of gut health. For
optimal gut ora, eat fermented
food such as yoghurt, ker and 9
sauerkraut, and use probiotic Strength training
supplements. Some form of strength train-
ing should be a regular part of
everyones lives to help ensure a
8 strong body. You will look better,
GRAPHICS : RAJESH A.S.

feel better, and will be able to stay

Bedtime routine active and mobile longer into your
On that topic, having a solid bedtime routine can be a game changer. Your life, with a drastically reduced rate
body is set to follow rhythms like the rising and setting of the sun. If you set of age-related injuries and muscle
your daily life up to have similar routines each day, the body will know when loss.
it is time to start winding down.
HEALTH

10
Walking
Going for a walk has multiple
benets. The most obvious be-
ing that it is exercise. Walking
for just 10 minutes is enough
for your brain to switch on its
feel-good hormones.
13
Yoga
Practise yoga at least once
a week. Daily is even better.
The benets include increased
strength and exibility,
improved mood and sleep pat-
tern, better metabolism, and
weight loss.
16
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is another one of natures miracle cures. It boosts your metabolism to help
weight loss, provides relief from migraine, and possibly helps ght cancer.
11
Love
Surround yourself with people you love,
things and decorations that bring you joy,
and activities that speak to your soul.
14
Turmeric
This vibrantly-coloured spice, which, like
ginger, comes from a root, has long been
championed for its various health proper-
ties. Studies have shown it can help with
inammation, depression, arthritis and
diabetes. There is even some evidence
that it might help ght cancer.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 23
12
Savasana
This is a specic yoga pose,
also known as the nal
relaxation pose, in which you
lie on your back while remain-
ing alert. It allows the nervous
system to reset and recharge.
It does not look like much, but,
if done properly, it works to
focus the mind on breathing
while the body relaxes.
15
Leafy greens
One of the most important age-defying
nutrients from leafy greens is vitamin
K. If you have inadequate levels of
this vitamin, you are more likely to
suffer from weak bones, heart disease,
and calcication of the arteries and
kidneys. Other benets of getting your
serving of greens include better vision,
lower cholesterol, and lower risk of
certain cancers.
HEALTH
24 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

17 18 19
Vitamin D Avoid inflammatory Massage
This vitamin is easily available. All you need to do is Getting regular mas-
go out in the sun for about 15 minutes a day. Sounds
food sages can do wonders
Dairy and gluten can trigger aller-
easy, right? Well, it is surprisingly common to have for reducing tension in
gies and sensitivities that can cause
a deciency in this important vitamin. Make sure the body and the nervous
problems ranging from inammation
you get enough: it helps to keep the immune system system. It can also help
to fatigue. They can even increase risks
strong, aids the body in absorbing phosphorus and to improve the function
of certain cancers, according to some
calcium, can help with depression, and contributes of the lymphatic system.
studies.
to strong bones and teeth.

20 21 22
Cuddle Longer hugging Nature
Whether it be with your partner, your "We need four hugs a day for Today, a majority of the population lives in
child, or even your dog, cuddling makes survival. We need eight hugs a day for urban areas, far removed from our natural
the body release the hormone oxytocin, maintenance. We need twelve hugs a roots. Taking the time to reconnect with
which is responsible for stress relief day for growth," says Virginia Satir, a nature does powerful things for the mind
and increasing immunity. It can even psychotherapist. Hugs help the body and soul. Even something as simple as
lower risk of heart disease. Cuddling release optimal levels of oxytocin. just walking around your backyard bare-
with your partner can also help increase foot to feel the grass between your toes
your sex drive. can be enough for some people.
23
Facial exercises
Just like any other muscle, the muscles in the face deteriorate with age. If you want to keep your facial
muscles looking toned and your face looking young and vibrant without surgery, add facial exercises to your
routine, three to ve times a week. But, even better, cultivate a life that makes you laugh and smile naturally.
HEALTH

24
Read
As you grow older, the mind
starts to falter and the memories
start to fade. One of the ways
to help delay, or even reverse,
the process is to keep the mind
active. Reading is an easy and
enjoyable way of doing this.
27
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is sometimes referred
to as a cold sauna. It uses liquid
nitrogen to produce extreme cold
and can greatly speed up recovery,
reduce inammation and provide rapid
muscle relaxation.
30
Set goals
Having goals, both short- and long-term, can allow you to focus. A sense of
accomplishment and purpose boosts your mood and keeps you motivated.
25
Mindful eating
It takes about 15 minutes for the
brain to register that your stomach
is full. If your brain is too busy with
other tasks, this message can get
lost in the shufe resulting in you
always feeling hungry and never
satised. This can cause overeating
and constant snacking on unhealthy
food.
28
Cardio
I know, I know. A lot of you think cardio
is boring. However, making time for
regular cardio exercise is very impor-
tant for both lung and heart health.
These are two of your most important
bodily systems and you want to keep
them in good shape. An average of 30
minutes each day is recommended
for good heart health. Light activity is
enough to get the benets.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 25
26
Mindful breathing
This is different from meditation, but
similar. It focuses on your breathing at all
times, rather than at a particular moment.
It is quite common that people only
breathe using the top half of their lungs,
rarely ever taking a deep, full breath that
fully expands the diaphragm. If you do not
breathe properly, then you are not getting
the maximum amount of oxygen that
you can and also not expelling as much
unneeded carbon dioxide.
29
Good fats
How many times have you heard that
fat is bad for you? Probably too many
to count. Contrary to popular belief,
though, consuming enough healthy
fats from food like avocados and
nuts is very important. Healthy fats
can help you feel and stay fuller for
longer, are remarkably benecial for
brain health, and helps you lower risk
of heart disease.
HEALTH
26 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

31
Have a hobby
It is an easy way to occupy
yourself and keep your mind
active. You could go on wild
hunts for collection pieces,
or work your eyes and brain
by designing and creating all
the perfect little details in a
cross-stitch piece. Whatever
your hobby, it is very good
for brain health to work on a
challenging skill.
32
Pomegranates
These fruits are on the "super-
foods" list, and for good reason.
They are high in bre, vitamins,
iron and antioxidants. They help to
ght against high blood pressure,
some cancers, heart disease and
inammation.
33
Green tea
Yet another antioxidant source.
Loaded with nutrients, green tea has
been shown to help with fat loss,
lower cancer risk and improve mental
health. It can also lower your risk for
conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer's
and Parkinsons.

34
Coffee
Aside from giving you your
morning boost of energy,
coffee can be used to improve
brain function. It boosts 36
burning of fat and physical Mind puzzles
performance, and lowers the Doing logic-based puzzles, like Sudoku, has been shown to
risk of liver problems, heart slow, or even prevent, the onset of mental decline in old age.
disease, stroke and type 2
diabetes. That said, too much 35
coffee may actually harm your Vitamin C
health. This very important vitamin helps your body to function properly in a wide variety of
ways like boosting your immune system, keeping blood pressure under check, ghting
cancer and heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. It even helps to keep the
skin healthy and wrinkle-free!
HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 27

37
Sleep
When you sleep, your body
is working on your recovery
without you even realising it.
Overnight, your hormone levels
stabilise and your body works
on repairing itself. It is easy to
38
Avoid sugar
Sugar has been shown to cause the brain to react the same
way as it does to highly addictive illegal drugs, which makes
it really hard to kick. Sugar causes spikes in insulin, resulting
in unstable blood sugar which can lead to a whole host of
problems from weight gain to diabetes.

39
skimp on it, but getting enough
sleep is extremely important.
Avoid
smoking
This one should
not even need an
explanation. If you
smoke now, work on
quitting right away.

40 41 42
Maintain good posture Confidence Social life
Taking steps to maintain good posture You know it when you see them: often Humans are social creatures,
throughout your life will pay dividends as the they are well-dressed, they walk tall with even those who say they
decades roll on. Investing in a good chair, great posture, and often have an optimis- prefer to be alone. Having a
mattress and working on keeping active tic disposition. People with condence few good friends, coworkers,
throughout your working day will help you stay are happier, less stressed, and more and family members around
functional for longer. successful. Work on your self esteem by that you can talk to, hang out
setting yourself small daily targets and with, is great fun and leads to
following through on them. lower stress levels.
43
Nuts
For such small packages, nuts are full of benets. Each nut has its own list of
healthy benets: they can alleviate depression, help with weight loss, provide
protein and other key nutrients, and aid heart health. And that is not all.

HEALTH
28 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY

44
Too much sun
exposure
Sunlight has wonderful health
benets, but, too much can be a bad
thing. Ultraviolet rays can cause the
skin to toughen, darken, get spotty,
and get a leathery look over time. A
lifetime of overexposure to the sun
can cause skin cancer, so always be
sure to nd some shade and wear
sunscreen to protect yourself.
45
Sex
Less stress, boosted condence,
increased pain tolerance, a stronger
immune system, and even brain
cell growth: if you were not already
convinced sex is good, how about all
these benets?
46
Colourful food
All the different colours you see in
fruits and vegetables look nice, but
also provide helpful guidance. Each
colour grouping has its own set of
nutrients. It is important to eat a wide
variety of food from all colour group-
ings to maximise your intake of these
nutrients.

47
Vitamin B
Without vitamin Bthere are eight
different kindsyour body will take
a dive in many different areas. One of
the most often recognised symptoms
is a lack of energy, sometimes causing
chronic fatigue. Make sure you are
getting enough. These vitamins are
abundant in meats so vegetarians may
look to supplement.
50
48
Stay hydrated
Your body is made up of about 70
per cent water; your brain is about
90 per cent water. Drinking enough
water helps the body to function
properly. It ushes out toxins, aids
in weight loss, ghts off headaches,
and can improve complexion.
49
Avoid alcohol
Excessive drinking kills you slowly.
The liver deteriorates, the skin
changes, and brain cells die. If
you drink high-calorie beverages
like beer, then weight gain around
the middle often happens as
well. Having a large midsection
increases the risk of a whole host
of illnesses.

Give
Whether it is time, money or attention, giving to a worthy cause helps us maintain our sense of
purpose and connection with the world.
HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 29

Forever, for a price

The immortality industry is booming, thanks to
massive funding and extensive research
BY EMILY HILL energy production that depletes
as we get older. Professor David

I
magine a world in which you are 90 years old and nowhere Sinclair, who headed the initial
near middle-aged. An app on your phone has hacked your research at Australias Univer-
DNA code, so you know exactly when to go to the doctor sity of New South Wales, doses
to receive gene therapy to prevent all the diseases you dont himself with 500mg daily and
yet have. Every evening you sync your brain-mapping device with claims that he has already be-
the Cloud, so even if you had a fatal accident you would still be come more youthful. Accord-
able to cheat deathevery detail of your life would simply be ing to blood tests analysing the
downloaded to one of the perfect silicon versions you had made state of the 48-year-olds cells,
of yourself, ensuring you last until at least your 1,000th birthday. prior to taking the pills Sinclair
This may sound like science fiction but it could be your fate, pro- was in the same physical shape
vided you can afford it. If current research develops into medicine, as a 57-year-old, but now he is
in the future the super-rich wont simply be able to buy the best 31.4.
things in life, they will be able to buy life itself by transforming Last February, at Newcastle
themselves into a bioengineered super-race, capable of living, if University, Professor Mark
not forever, then for vastly longer than the current life expectancy. Birch-Machin identified, for
The science of turning back the clock has never been more the first time, the mitochondrial
advanced. In Boston, a drug capable of reversing half a lifetime complex that depletes over time,
of ageing in mice is about to be tested on humans in a medical causing skin to age. Mitochon-
trial monitored by NASA. NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) dria are the battery packs that
is a compound found naturally in broccoli that boosts levels of power our cells. So, if we want
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a protein involved in to slow down ageing, we need

HEALTH
30 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

COVER STORY
to keep them topped up. In the future, Birch-Machin believes,
we will not only be taking pills and applying cosmetics, but also
have implants in our skin. Implants will tell us the state of it
how well our batteries are doing, how many free radicals, and
will inform us how we are doing with our lifestyle, he says.
The day after the results of Birch-Machins study were pub-
lished in The New York Times, his department was contacted by
nine companies hoping to turn his research into revolutionary
pharmaceuticals. In 2009, Elizabeth Blackburn, a professor of
biology and physiology at the University of California, won a
Nobel Prize for her work on telomeres, the protective tips on our
chromosomes that break down as we get older, leaving us prone
to age-related diseases. Blackburn discovered an enzyme called
telomerase that can stop the shortening of telomeres by adding
DNA, like a plastic tip fixing the end of a fraying shoelace. To-
day, rich Californians use telomeres therapy to prolong the life
of their pets.
Last year, in Monterey, California, the startup Ambrosia
founded by Dr Jesse Karmazin, a Washington, DC-based physi-
cianbegan trialling the effect of blood transfusions, pumping
blood from teenagers into older patients, following studies that
found that blood plasma from young mice can rejuvenate old
mice, improving their memory, cognition and physical activity.
Dr Richard Siow, who heads the age research department at
Kings College London, says we may soon reach a significant
point in anti-ageing research because of the massive amount of
money allocated by governments and charities worldwide in the
hope of making a breakthrough. Indeed, according to a survey
by Transparency Market Research, by 2019 the anti-ageing mar-
ket will be worth 151 billion worldwide.
It is in Silicon Valley, however, that the really radical advances
seem likely to be made. Freshly minted internet tycoons appear
willing to pay any price to prolong their lives and a critical mass
of geeks is working furiously towards understanding our biol-
ogy at an unprecedented rate. Take Dmitry Itskov, the Russian
billionaire founder of the life-extension non-profit 2045 Initia-
tive, who is paying scientists to map the human brain so our
minds can be decanted into a computer and either downloaded
to a robot body or synced with a hologram. Or Joon Yun, a phy-
sician and hedge fund manager who insisted at an anti-ageing
symposium of the California elite in March that ageing is simply
a programming error encoded in our DNA. If something is en-
coded, you can crack the code, he told an audience which, ac-
cording to The New Yorker, included Google cofounder Sergey
Brin and American actress Goldie Hawn.
And then there is PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who has a net
worth of 2.1 billion and has reportedly invested in startup Uni-
ty Biotechnology, which aims to develop drugs that make many
debilitating consequences of ageing as uncommon as polio.
Thiel has also offered funding to individual researchers, such as

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 31

Aubrey de Grey, the Chelsea-born and California-based geron-

If current tologist who ploughed the 11 million he inherited from his art-
ist mother, Cordelia, into founding the Strategies for Engineered
research develops Negligible Senescence Research Foundation, which promotes the
into medicine, use of rejuvenation biotechnology in anti-ageing research.
Of course, the best-known element of the immortality indus-
in the future the try is cryogenic freezing. At the Alcor cryonics facility in Arizo-
super-rich wont na, 149 corpses have already been preserved in liquid nitrogen
at a temperature of minus 196C since it was founded in 1972.
simply be able Worldwide, thousands of people have signed up for cryogenics
to buy the best services. The service doesnt come cheap (full-body freezing costs
1,65,000, while having your head cut off and frozen is around
things in life, 60,000) but it has some impressive-sounding clients, including
de Grey and Dr Anders Sandberg, research fellow at Oxford Uni-
they will be able versitys Future of Humanity Institute.
to buy life itself. It is a gamble but it is still much better than being dead, says
Sandberg. He envisages a world in which the brain is paramount,
so when his is revived it could be transformed into a sort of com-
puter programme containing all of his memories of life on earth.
Of course, if such experiments do come to fruition, they could
have far-reaching implications for our society. Already, a rapidly
ageing population is placing enormous stress on health care and
pension systems worldwide. De Grey sees the problem of over-
population being cured by a dwindling birth rate. But he says
little about the impact this would have on the young.
Then there is the question of whether we will one day be liv-
ing in a world defined by gaping differences in life expectancy
where the haves live for 10 times longer than the have nots.
Mortality has been the great equaliser from beggars to kings to
emperors, says Dr Jack Kreindler, medical director at the Centre
for Health & Human Performance in London. If people embark
on really sophisticated, targeted therapies to repair damage to
their cells.... I think we are definitely entering into them and us
territory.
Nevertheless, the quest to overcome mortality continues apace.
Last year, at a TEDx symposium Kreindler convened at the Sci-
ence Museum, London, Daisy Robinton, a post-doctoral scientist
at Harvard University, put forward the theory that ageing should
be considered a disease in itself. She described the excitement in
the medical community at the discovery of CRISPR/Cas9, a pro-
tein that seems to allow us to target and delete genetic mutations
in our DNA. Gene editing provides an opportunity to not only
cure genetic disease but also to prevent diseases from ever com-
ing into being, Robinton claimed. If gene editing on this scale is
possible, Kreindler says we have to ask: can your cells become
immortal?
Kreindler is clearly in awe of what the latest medical advances
might mean for the future of the human race, but he says, I dont
believe this should be only for the very rich. If you are going to do
things, dont just do it for the billionaires, do it for the billions.

HEALTH
32 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

BODY
BODYSCAPE

Fussy akes
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common, chronic condition
that primarily affects the sebaceous skin zones like the
scalp, face and the centre of the chest, giving those areas
a red, itchy and aky appearance. Other places at risk
include the area round the navel, buttocks, skin folds
under arms and on legs, groin and below breasts. The
most common manifestation of the condition is dandruff,
which is marked by the aking of the skin on the scalp.
There is no cure for seborrhoeic dermatitis. Treatment
is aimed at controlling the condition and lessening its
severity by managing risk factors and paying attention
to skin care. While seborrhoeic dermatitis is a largely
harmless condition, it can result in psychological
distress, low self-esteem and embarrassment. Left
untreated, it can also cause secondary bacterial or fungal
infections.
TEXT BY AJISH P. JOY & GRAPHICS BY N.V. JOSE

CAUSES RISK FACTORS

The exact cause of seborrhoeic z Stress
dermatitis is unknown. An overgrowth z Depression
of a yeast called Malassezia is said to z Fatigue
be one of the reasons. Other reasons z Head injury The
include a family history of seborrhoe- z Heart attack condition is
ic dermatitis, hormonal imbalances, z Stroke more common
compromised immune system, lack z Acne in men than
of certain nutrients, or certain neuro- z Extreme weather conditions women
logical and psychiatric disorders. z Oily skin
z Infrequent shampoos or skin
SYMPTOMS cleaning
z Skin lesions with scales z Use of lotions that contain
z Skin akes on scalp, hair, alcohol
eyebrows, beard and z Obesity
moustache z Neurological conditions like People
z Dandruff Parkinson's disease
with oily skin are
z Hair loss z AIDS
z Plaques over large area z Alcoholism more susceptible
z Greasy, oily areas of skin z Eating disorders to seborrhoeic
z Ring-shaped aky patches z Epilepsy dermatitis
on the chest z Psoriasis
z Itching and redness z Rosacea

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 33

DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
Seborrhoeic dermatitis can
be diagnosed by a physical
examination. A biopsy may be
required to rule out condi-
tions like psoriasis, eczema
or rosacea.
Flaking and dryness can be
treated with over-the-coun-
ter or medicated shampoos
containing salicylic acid, coal
tar, zinc, ketoconazole, or se-
lenium sulde, cicloprox, so-
dium sulfacetamide, or cor-
ticosteroid. Use prescription
strength medications only
under doctor's advice. Topical
immunomodulators, such as
tacrolimus or pimecrolimus,
which suppress the immune
system, may be used to treat Seborrhoeic
inammation.
dermatitis
HOMECARE appears to
z Remove scales from run in
your hair by applying
families
mineral/ olive oil to
the scalp
z Bathe regularly
z Rinse soap off com-
pletely after bathing
or washing Newborns and
z Do not use harsh adults between
soaps ages 30 and 60
z Do not use styling
products while under are more likely to
treatment for sebor- get seborrhoeic
rhoeic dermatitis dermatitis
z Avoid cosmetic
products containing
alcohol Cradle cap
z Use cotton clothes as Infants, too, can be affected by
much as possible seborrhoeic dermatitis, which is
z Shampoo facial hair known as cradle cap as the condition
regularly is marked by crusty yellow or brown
z Take good care of your scales on the scalp. It usually clears
eyelids, always keep up before they are a year old, but
them clean could return a few years later. If your
baby suffers from cradle cap, wash
the scalp regularly with non-medi-
cated baby shampoo. Gently loosen
Seborrhoeic the scales with a small, soft-bristled
dermatitis can brush before rinsing out the sham-
poo. If scaling persists, rst apply
be worse under mineral oil to the scalp for a couple of
moustaches and hours before using the shampoo.
beards

HEALTH
 34 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

Ananya Birla
On business, singing and life
SLEEP SPECIAL JULY 2017 050

Sleeping tips
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Understanding dreams LIVE HEALTHY, STAY FIT

Why we snore FITNESS SLEEP

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HEALTH
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 35

06-08-
36 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
LIFE
Mellowed macho
Former world number one and bad boy of tennis John
McEnroe talks about fatherhood, fame and finding love
second time around
H
e used to be
known for his on-
court rages, coin-
ing the phrase
'You cannot be serious!' at a
Wimbledon umpire in 1981,
a line which became as con-
nected to him as his numerous
tennis victories.
Even today, three-time Wim-
bledon singles champion John
McEnroe is courting con-
troversy, be it labelling Andy
Murray a 'distant fourth' be-
hind Novak Djokovic, Roger
Federer and Rafael Nadal or
declaring Serena Williams
would be ranked '700 in the
world' if she had to play on
the men's circuit.
Yep, McEnroe is still causing
a stir with his down-the-line
observationsbut he has long
since learned to volley away
criticism and serve up some
self-deprecating humour, too.
"I've mellowed," he says,
gazing out of the window to-
wards the Thames and the
Shard, as we sit in his publish-
er's office in London to discuss
about his second autobiogra-
phy, But Seriously.
I'm not mellow compared
to the average person, but I'm
HEALTH
BY HANNAH STEPHENSON
certainly a lot mellower than I
was, he says.
McEnroe's first autobiog-
raphy, Serious, charted his
childhood and early days of
tenniswhich progressed to
seven Grand Slam singles titles,
the 'Superbrat' reputation and
a tumultuous eight-year mar-
riage to actress Tatum O'Neal,
marred by her addictions, his
hot temper and a prolonged
custody battle for their three
children.
Now, the follow-up deals
with his struggles to reinvent
himself as a father, art collector,
musician and broadcaster, his
relationship with second wife
Patty Smyth, and his efforts
to be the best father he could
to his six childrenwhich in-
cludes two daughters and a
stepdaughter with Patty.
He admits to being a strict
disciplinarian, like his late fa-
ther, a lawyer, which hasn't al-
ways gone down well.
I'm not mellow compared to the
average person, but I'm certainly a
lot mellower than I was.
I'm sure if you asked some
of my kids, they wouldn't say
I'm mellow. I find it ironic that
I'm the one more often than
not calming Patty down. If you
don't mature and mellow and
have a better overview and
perspective of things at 58, you
are going to be a kid your en-
tire life.
They met at a party in 1993,
when he was going through his
divorce and was at a low ebb.
If there's any credit for the
faint possibility that I might
have become a slightly better,
less selfish person over the last
20 years or so, the bulk of that
should go to Patty, he writes.
After retiring from profes-
sional tennis in 1992, McEn-
roe admits he filled the space
by smoking marijuana, and
stopped when he discovered his
teenage children were pinching
his stash, while Tatum accused
him of being a drug addict dur-
ing the custody battle.

FAMILY TIME: John McEnroe and his daughters at a basketball game in Los Angeles
I was going through a dif-
ficult time in my personal life.
Sometimes it's hard to look
in the mirror and face up to
things, he says.
Two years ago, his eldest son
Kevin was arrested for alleged
possession of cocaine and pre-
scription drugs. Although the
substance found on him was
baking soda, his father asked
himself what he had done
wrong.
"I felt terrible. His mom had
been arrested close by and I
couldn't believe it had hap-
pened. I was very shocked."
He clarifies his feelings in the
book. "Kevin was always such
a good person that it's been
painful to watch him strug-
gling, but I'm proud of how
hard he's worked to get his
life back on track over the last
couple of years.
Relations with Sean, his
second son, who has always
gravitated towards his mother
(and changed his surname to
O'Neal), are more difficult.
John says he wishes he had
been more sympathetic about
the impact of being the son of a
high-profile couple in the midst
of a painful divorce.
I remember one time when
I dropped Sean off and I was
really afraid that he'd go up
and find her dead on the floor.
I know that he was deeply af-
fected by that. It was a fright-
ening time. I wish I'd been
more sympathetic as to how
he was feeling. He's 29 and
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 37
GETTY IMAGES
it seems like we've been un-
able recently to see eye to eye.
We speak infrequently. We're
in touch through texting or
emailing, but I'm hopeful that
changes tomorrow.
I've tried my best, he con-
tinues. On some levels, I
haven't been as sympathetic
to what it's like to grow up as
the son or daughter of John
McEnroe and how people look
at them. I tried to discipline
them on some level that they
were normal kids. I felt I was
doing a reasonably good job.
But there's always two sides to
a story.
He has little contact with his
ex-wife. It hasn't been pro-
ductive to keep in touch with
Tatum through talking. Do
HEALTH
38 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017
LIFE
you call occasional email and
text keeping in touch? It's got-
ten to the point where the best
thing for me personally is just
as little [contact] as possible,
but that might not be the best
for my kids with Tatum. They
want you to have a good re-
lationship and I totally under-
stand that and I feel bad that
we don't. I know that I can't
blame it all on her, as much as
I'd like to.
In a recent interview, Kevin
said his father was a tough
disciplinarian and indicated he
was still seeking his father's ap-
If a whole day passed when someone
didn't say, 'You cannot be serious!'
to me, that would be amazing.
HEALTH
proval. A lot of kids do that.
At some level I had that with
my father. I mean, how many
Wimbledons is enough? How
many years do I have to be
number one? I tell this story
where my dad finished second
in law school out of 450 peo-
ple and my mom said, 'Why
weren't you first?' I'm like my
parents. That's in part why I
became who I am.
He never pushed his children
into tennis. However, he recalls
how when he would watch
them at sports events, other
parents expected him to react.
GETTY IMAGES
CELEB DAD: John McEnroe and his
first wife Tatum O'Neal with their
son Kevin in 1986, in London
Sometimes I'd sit there and
not say anything, while parents
are expecting me to explode.
Then after the event, my kids
would say, 'God, you didn't
say anything!'
As for fame, he reflects: "If a
whole day passed when some-
one didn't say, 'You cannot be
serious!' to me, that would be
amazing. Half an hour going
by without it sometimes seems
unlikely.
My feelings about that are
a strange juxtaposition of em-
barrassment and pride: On one
hand, this is what I represent to
people; on the other, at least I
represent something. Ultimate-
ly, pride wins out.
THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 39

HEALTH
40 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

HEALTH
 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017 41

Amazing comebacks!

The extraordinary
stories of 10 ordinary people
NOW, IN AN E-BOOK!

050
ONLY

To read it online, visit http://bit.ly/2nqMnx6

DESIGN: SUMESH C.N.

OR
Scan the QR code
to download the app
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85 89 99 48 69 www.theweek.in
HEALTH
42 THE WEEK AUGUST 6, 2017

Yoga
MadeEasy
By Dr S.N. Omkar
yogaomkar@yahoo.com

ROPE SHOULDER AND METHOD:

BACK EXTENSION
The trunk is bound by the hip girdle and
the shoulder girdle. The legs are con-
nected to the hip girdle and the arms, to
the shoulder girdle. An important move-
ment for hips, trunk and arms is exten-
sion. Here is a posture done with the
help of ropes to provide this movement.
Knot the ropes on to the window bars at a height of 3-4 feet,
about 1 feet apart.
Sit upright on your heels with back to the wall and in line
with the ropes.
Kneel down, and take the arms back and hold the ropes
with both hands.
Lowering the hips, gently move the feet towards the wall

The posture helps to improve flexibility of keeping the feet 6 inches apart.
the hips, back, neck and shoulders. The Press the toes against the wall.
organs in the pelvic, abdomen and chest Gripping the ropes firmly, gently bend backward.
cavities also get a good stretch. It also
Keep both arms straight, open the chest and
helps to keep the lower back and neck in
lift the head.
good condition.
Stay for about 20 to 30 seconds.
Caution: Ensure that the rope is of
Slowly lift the hips, release the ropes and return to start.
mountaineering quality and that the
window bars are strong enough to take Relax and repeat.
the weight.

MODEL: YUKTHA JAYAGOPAL

HEALTH
44 The Week RNI.KERENG/36122/82, Registered No. KL/KTM/57/2015-17, Licence No. KL/CR /KTM/ WPP-05/2015-17.
Licensed to post without pre-payment Published on Friday 28th July 2017
AUGUST 6, 2017
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12 The Week RNI.KERENG/36122/82, Registered No. KL/KTM/57/2015-17, Licence No. KL/CR /KTM/ WPP-05/2015-17.
Licensed to post without pre-payment Published on Friday 28th July 2017