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14 FAQ DELHI
Who gets to own the Nizam’s millions?
What has a U.K. High Court ruled in Seven decades, ₹ 306 crore Pakistan President Ayub Khan agree to split the
the £35-million case? Why did it take 1950: Government of India made the fi rst claim on money in 60:40 ratio on the sidelines of diplomatic
the money. negotiations on Indus Water Treaty mediated by the
so long to be resolved? How is 1953: Pakistan High Commissioner Rahimtoola World Bank.
Pakistan involved? asked the Westminster Bank to transfer the money to 1963: Nizam executes a settlement in which Bank
Pakistan High commissioner M.A.H. Ispahani. of Nova Scotia Company (Bahamas) is appointed the
Serish Nanisetti 1954: Government of India sues Moin Nawaz, trustee of the fund for two grandsons and family of
Rahimtoola and the bank for recovery of money with the Nizam. Nova Scotia Bank fi les papers and be
The story so far: One of the world’s longestrunning interest. came the third party (India, as a successor state, and
legal battles ended on October 2, 2019, with a British 1956: Chancery Division judge Justice Upjohn Pakistan are the two other parties).
judge ruling that the VII Nizam of Hyderabad’s ruled: “The present transaction was an intergovern 1965: The Nizam assigned to the President of
descendants and India can collect £35 million from mental transaction: let it be solved by intergovern India his claim to the Fund.
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
London’s National Westminster Bank. Justice Marcus mental negotiations.” Pakistan claims sovereign 1983: India and Pakistan submit a joint letter to
immunity. National Westminster Bank. The arrangement was
Citizenship fl areups Smith of the High Court of England and Wales ruled that
the £1 million (now calculated at £35 million or about
₹ 306 crore) deposited in the London bank rightfully
1956: In the Court of Appeals, three judges rule in
favour of the Nizam, i.e. India. “That the transfer was
not acceptable to Nova Scotia Bank.
2013: Pakistan discarded its claim of sovereign im
belonged to the Nizam’s family and India and threw out eff ected in breach of the duty of Mir and Moin to the munity and made an absolute claim on the fund set
Why is the government pushing for the claim made by Pakistan through its High Nizam and without any authority from the Nizam.” ting up the present case. Pakistan made the ‘arms
the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill? Commissioner in London. 1957: Five judges of House of Lords reverse the
Court of Appeals decision. The judgment gave Pakis
formoney’ argument. It also made the ‘safeguarding
the money’ argument. Both did not cut much ice
Does it go against Article 14 of How did the Nizam’s wealth end up in a London tan sovereign immunity so that it could not be sued in with the judge.
England. The money remained locked up in the bank. 2019: In October, British court rules the money
the Constitution? account?
1960: Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and must go to the Nizam’s descendants and India.
In the days leading up to India’s Independence, the VII
Krishnadas Rajagopal Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, refused to join the
Indian Union. He was among the richest princes in India
The story so far: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and hired the services of Sir Walter Monckton. Monckton
2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha in January this year negotiated a Standstill Agreement for the Nizam with the
but lapsed as it was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha. It had Government of India. As his lawyers moved between
proposed to amend the original Citizenship Act of 1955. Hyderabad, Delhi and Karachi, the Nizam issued a
After returning to power with a majority for another farman (proclamation) for purchase of equipment
term, the Bharatiya Janata Partyled National Democratic abroad with funds parked in two bank accounts in
Alliance government is trying to resurrect the Bill. London. By equipment, he meant weapons to safeguard
the landlocked state. The money in the Imperial Bank of
What does the Bill mandate? India was transferred to a Hyderabad Government
The Bill had mandated that those who cross the border account in other banks. One of these accounts had
to India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and £1,007,940.45.
belong to “minority communities”, namely, Hindus,
Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, would not Who transferred the money?
be treated as illegal immigrants despite having entered The sum of £1,007,940.45 was controlled by the Nizam’s
the country without valid documents or with travel envoy and Foreign Minister, Moin Nawaz Jung. On
papers that had expired. They would not face September 16, 1948, Moin Nawaz called on the Pakistan
deportation under the Passport (Entry into India) Act of High Commissioner at his Hampstead residence and
1920 and the Foreigners Act of 1946. asked him to accept the funds. Pakistan’s then Foreign
Then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who Minister Muhammad Zafrullah Khan was present at the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (left)with the VII Nizam
introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha, had said these meeting. The transfer of the fund to then Pakistan High of Hyderabad, at King Kothi Palace in Hyderabad on
immigrants faced “discrimination and religious Commissioner Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola’s account December 25, 1948. THE HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES
*
persecution”. Mr. Singh said the proposed law would happened on September 20, 1948.
“provide relief to persecuted migrants who have come In this case, Pakistan relied on this meeting; and the using the services of Australian gun runner Sidney
through western borders of the country to States like judge leaned on the exchange of letters a day prior to the Cotton.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and other meeting. On September 15, 1948, Moin wrote to
States.” Rahimtoola: “In view of the situation that is now Why did the case drag on for over 70 years?
The Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on July developing in Hyderabad and in order to safeguard the On September 17, 1948, the Nizam’s army surrendered to
15, 2016, explained that many persons of Indian origin interests of the State, I would be very grateful if you India ending a 105hour war. The transfer of money took
including persons belonging to the six “minority would kindly agree to permit the transfer into your place on September 20. On September 27, the Nizam
communities” had been unsuccessfully applying for account of just over one million pounds sterling that is wired the GovernorGeneral of India and the Deputy
citizenship under the Citizenship Act of 1955 but were now lying at the credit of the Nizam’s Government in the Prime Minister of India seeking transfer of the money
unable to produce proof of their Indian origin. Hence, Westminster Bank, London. This amount may kindly be back to his account. The bank refused. (See chronology) From The Hindu, issue dated Thursday, October 7, 1948,
they were forced to apply for citizenship by kept by you in trust.” Page 5, “Nizam’s funds in London; Unauthorised transfer;
naturalisation which prescribes 12 years’ residency as Rahimtoola responded on the same date: “Your letter Who will get the money? Legal action to be taken”.
qualifi cation. of date. In the circumstances, I agree to your suggestion Najaf Ali Khan, a grandson of the Nizam has said: “We are
The Bill stated that such a longdrawn process denies to keep the amount mentioned by you in my name in delighted with the verdict. But we have to watch what The Falaknuma Palace with its faux Gothic and Roman
illegal immigrants from these six minority communities trust.” Pakistan does as it has four weeks time to go in for an elements has been restored to allow the wellheeled to
of the three foreign nations “many opportunities and appeal. Only if Pakistan doesn’t appeal at this stage the have a peek at the expansive lifestyle of kings. The palace
advantages that may accrue only to the citizens of India, How did the Nizam become so wealthy? money will come to us.” The Nizam had 18 sons and 16 includes one of the longest dining tables that can seat 101
even though they are likely to stay in India The Nizam’s Dominion encompassed parts of Karnataka, daughters. In the present case, the titular Nizam VIII, persons and a breathtaking view of the old city. The
permanently”. The Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh besides the core area Mukarram Jah, who lives in Turkey transferred his Chowmahalla Palace, where the Nizam VIII was crowned,
Critics see the Bill as amendment shortened the of presentday Telangana. Out of the whole area, nearly interest in the fund to Hillview Assets Holdings Limited is open to tourists for a small fee. Mukarram Jah has led a
an eff ort by the period of residency from 10,000 square miles of land was classifi ed as SarfeKhas (Hillview). His brother, Prince Muff akam Jah, who reclusive life spending some years in the Australian
12 to seven years for or crown lands. The revenue from these vast land shuttles between India and the U.K., was vital to the case outback and later in Turkey indulging in his fancy for
Bharatiya Janata Party
gaining citizenship by holdings was for the personal use of the Nizam. It was and gave evidence which was relied on by the judge to machines that range from sleek cars to earthmovers. A
to make good the naturalisation. The Bill had this source of revenue that led Time magazine to reach his verdict. The judge also referred to an few earthmovers can still be seen in the palace at the rear
2014 election promise also empowered the designate Mir Osman Ali Khan as the richest man in the agreement between the Government of India and the of KBR Park in the western part of Hyderabad. Princess
to make India a safe government to cancel world (for its 1937 cover), with a fortune estimated at princes about how the monies will be divided. The details Esra’s dream remains putting on show the Nizam’s Jewels
haven for Hindus registration as Overseas nearly $2 billion. During the Second World War, the of the agreement are not available. While much of the on a permanent basis in Hyderabad. “The gems belong to
Citizen of India in case of Nizam donated nearly £6 million to fi nance the war royal relics of the Asaf Jahis who ruled between 1724 till the city. They should be showcased here,” she had told
persecuted in
any violation of the eff ort. 1948 have disappeared in Hyderabad, it is Mukarram Jah’s this reporter, a few months earlier. The gems, worth
three countries Citizenship Act or any According to one account, the Nizam spent nearly £20 former wife, Princess Esra Jah, who has salvaged two billions, were showcased at the National Museum in Delhi
other laws. million in cash to equip his army to fi ght the Indian Army palaces (in Hyderabad) that have become showstoppers. early this year.
Are there faultlines?
The Bill, critics say, violated the basic structure of the
Constitution. By distinguishing illegal immigrants on the
basis of religion, the proposed law goes against
How will purchases from Russia aff ect IndiaU.S. ties?
constitutional guarantee of the fundamental right to
equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. The
Will a new American law and sanctions come in the way of the S-400 Triumf missile purchase?
protection of Article 14 applies equally to both citizens Suhasini Haidar defence equipment without being weakened. In addition,
and foreigners. Second, the Bill would hamper the it is no secret that U.S. President Donald Trump has
Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC), which defi nes The story so far: Exactly a year ago, on October 5, 2018, misgivings about the CAATSA sanctions, which he said
all illegal immigrants, irrespective of religion, on the India and Russia signed a contract to buy the Russian were meant to curtail his own powers to deal with Russia,
basis of a cutoff date. Triumf missile system, concluding negotiations that and the other countries included in the act — Iran and
The Citizenship Bill is also seen as a move to subvert began in 2015. During that time, however, a new U.S. law, North Korea. It is hoped that Mr. Trump will grant India a
the Assam Accord of 1985. The Accord deems any person called “Countering America’s Adversaries Through waiver on the deal, thanks to good bilateral relations with
who cannot prove his ancestry beyond March 24, 1971 as Sanctions Act” or CAATSA was passed by the U.S. India and the fact that it is a “major defence partner” of
an alien. It does not diff erentiate on the ground of Congress, which transformed what should have been a the U.S.
religion in this aspect. straightforward bilateral deal into a complex trilateral
Home Minister Amit Shah has been vocal about balancing game for India. What happens if a waiver is not granted?
REUTERS
reviving the Bill. He has said the government would Section 235 of the CAATSA legislation stipulates 12 kinds
amend the citizenship norms by reintroducing the Bill How signifi cant is the Russian deal for New Delhi? Is India the only country facing CAATSA sanctions? of punitive sanctions that the U.S. could place on a
before going ahead with a nationwide NRC. The recently A year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian By coincidence, CAATSA has now been invoked by the country conducting signifi cant transactions in defence,
concluded NRC exercise in Assam alone has excluded President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement for the $5.4 United States twice already, and both times for countries energy, oil pipelines and cybersecurity technology with
over 19 lakh of the 3.29 crore applicants from the fi nal billion S400 Triumf missile system (picture), the deal buying the Triumf system from Russia. In September any of the U.S.’s
list. continues to cast a cloud over IndiaU.S. ties. Earlier this 2018, the U.S. State Department and Treasury By coincidence, “adversaries”, and
The Citizenship Bill is seen by many as an eff ort by the week, even as External Aff airs Minister S. Jaishankar was Department announced sanctions on China’s Equipment CAATSA or Countering according to the Act, the
Bharatiya Janata Party to make good its 2014 election meeting his American counterpart Mike Pompeo in Development Department (EDD), the military branch U.S. President may impose
manifesto promise — to make India a safe haven for Washington, a U.S. offi cial reminded India of the “risks” responsible for weapons and equipment, for the America’s Adversaries “fi ve or more of the
Hindus persecuted in the three foreign nations. attached to the deal. The State Department spokesperson procurement of the S400 Triumf air defence system and Through Sanctions Act, sanctions described”.
said on Tuesday, “We urge all of our allies and partners to Sukhoi S35 fi ghter aircraft. The sanctions were triggered has been invoked by These measures include
What has the Supreme Court said? forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering when the People’s Liberation Army’s took delivery of the the United States export sanctions,
On March 5, 2019, the Supreme Court had sought a sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries systems. Washington expelled Turkey from the F35 twice already, against cancellation of loans from
response from the Centre on a fresh plea seeking to Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).” This was shortly after fi ghter jet programme in July this year after the fi rst U.S. and international
quash a series of subordinate laws which allows the Mr. Jaishankar reiterated at a thinktank event India’s delivery of S400s was received, and says sanctions are
China and Turkey, for fi nancial institutions, ban
naturalisation of illegal immigrants who are Hindus, intention to acquire the Russian system. Mr. Jaishankar still under consideration unless Turkey reverses its deal buying the Triumf on investments and
Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians fl eeing had said in Washington, “We would not like any state to with Russia. India is neither like China, which has an system from Russia procurement, restrictions
religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and tell us what to buy or not to buy from Russia any more inimical relationship with the U.S., and hence not bound on foreign exchange and
Afghanistan. The petitioners have urged the top court to than we would like any state to tell us to buy or not buy by its diktats, nor like Turkey which is a NATO ally of the banking transactions, and
declare the amendments made through the Passport from America,” asserting both India’s traditional ties to U.S. and expected to comply with Washington’s demands, a visa and travel ban on
(Entry into India) Amendment Rules, 2015; the Russia, as well as the signifi cance of the S400 deal in and hence hopes to escape CAATSA sanctions. offi cials associated with any entity carrying out the
Foreigners (Amendment) Order, 2015 and the order particular. sanctioned transactions. None of these is expected to go
issued by the Ministry of Home Aff airs on December 26, Is a sanctions waiver possible for India? into process until India takes delivery of the fi ve S400
2016 under the Citizenship Act, allowing the Why is the S400 deal important? Written into the CAATSA language is also an exit clause, systems it has paid an advance on, which are expected to
naturalisation of illegal immigrants who are Hindus, The agreement to purchase the Triumf missile system which states that “The [US] President may waive the begin in about 20 months and conclude by 2023.
Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, as “illegal boosted IndiaRussia defence ties at a point of infl ection application of [CAATSA] sanctions if the President
and invalid”. last year. determines that such a waiver is in the national security Has India given the U.S. a fait accompli on the
The petitioners have contended that the leeway Russia has traditionally been India’s biggest defence interest of the United States.” In August 2018, the U.S. S400?
off ered by the subordinate laws would further multiply supplier, but was surpassed by the U.S. in the last few Congress also modifi ed the waiver clause to allow the India’s fi rmfooted response to the U.S. threat of sanctions
the “uncontrolled infl ux of illegal migrants from years, a fact that had added to a perceptible drift in President to certify that a country is “cooperating with on the Russian S400 is in sharp contrast to its decision to
Bangladesh to Assam”. Illegal immigration has caused bilateral ties. Mr. Putin and Mr. Modi addressed this drift the United States Government on other matters that are “zero out” oil purchases from Iran, which were
huge demographic changes in the northeastern State, with a special “reset” summit in Sochi last May, which critical to United States’ strategic national security sanctioned by the U.S. last year, and denotes that while
the petitioners have claimed. A Bench comprising Chief was followed by Mr. Putin’s visit to Delhi on October 5, interests”. Government offi cials including Foreign the government is prepared to diversify its energy
Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna 2018, when the deal was announced. The Indian Air Secretary Vijay Gokhale, National Security Adviser Ajit sources, it will not be bullied on its defence security
issued notice on the plea fi led by Assam State Jamiat Force has also backed the superior air defence system in Doval and Mr. Jaishankar have all expressed the hope that options. Given the stakes involved, the government hopes
UlemaeHind and had ordered its tagging with a similar that it will fi ll the gap in India’s particular needs: the U.S. will exercise this waiver for the S400 deal to that the U.S. will put its burgeoning strategic, defence and
pending petition of “Nagarikatwa Aain Songsudhan countering its main adversaries and neighbours, China India for a number of reasons: that a militarily stronger business bilateral relationship with India above its
Birodhi Mancha” (Forum Against Citizenship Act and Pakistan’s growing air power, while dealing with a India is in the U.S.’s interests, and that India cannot rancour with Russia. If not, however, offi cials say they are
Amendment Bill). depleting stock of fi ghter aircraft. completely drop its traditional dependence on Russian prepared to ride out the storm.
CM A ND-NDE
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THE HINDU
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019
DELHI
CAPSULE
IGIB fi nds a protein with better
precision in geneediting
Basis of vision The new protein was able to correct sickle cell anaemia mutation in patientderived stem cells
In a remarkable discovery,
researchers have solved the R. Prasad must test it for each disor
threedimensional structure of der,” says Dr. Chakraborty.
a protein complex involved in
Researchers at the Delhi The effi ciency of any Watch my mouth: Bonnet macaques have a goal in mind and use
vertebrate vision at atomic
based Institute of Genom Cas9 protein delivery as gestural communication to fulfi l that goal. SHREEJATA GUPTA *
resolution. This is a finding
ics and Integrative Biology well the ability to correct
that has broad implications for
our understanding of
biological signalling processes
and the design of over a third
(CSIRIGIB) have disco
vered a protein variant
from a diff erent species of
mutations is generally low
in the case of iPS cells. The
effi ciency of correction is
Wild bonnet macaques
of the drugs on the market
today.
bacteria that can edit the
DNA with very high preci
sion. In the tool now com
about 1.6%. Though the ef
fi ciency to correct muta
tions is low in iPS cells, the
gesture intentionally
monly used for editing dis corrected cells can be iso This requires complex cognitive capacity
easecausing mutations in lated, multiplied and con
DNA (CRISPRCas9), the verted (diff erentiated) into Shubashree Desikan Hindu. Now a postdoc at York
Cas9 protein behaves like a haematopoietic stem cells. University’s Department of
molecular scissors that cuts Once diff erentiated into Gestures are an important as Psychology, she explains how
the DNA at a specifi c loca haematopoietic stem cells, pect of human communica this made it diffi cult to address
tion and inserts a foreign they can be transfused into tion. Until now, gestures in some features of intentionali
piece of DNA to correct the patients. apes were believed to lie at the ty, such as changing body
Aspirin to the rescue mutation that causes the “Diff erentiating iPS cells evolutionary roots of human orientation according to the
A study shows nonsteroidal disease. into haematopoietic stem language. However, a recent receiver’s orientation.
antiinflammatory drugs In addition to binding to cells is not trivial. Plenty of study on wild bonnet ma
(NSAIDs) like aspirin may the intended target on the experimental work is un caques implies that gestural Diff erential grooming
lessen the adverse effects of DNA, the commonly used Improving precision: The newly discovered protein can replace the currently used one der way to make it effi cient communication — the basic “When I fi rst saw the bonnet
air pollution exposure on lung Cas9 protein from Strepo- which has a propensity to cause unnecessary alterations in the DNA. GETTY IMAGES *
for clinical translation,” tools for language — is ob macaques using their groom
function. The use of any NSAID tococcus pyogenes bacteria says Dr. Chakraborty. served even in that species. Gi ing gestures possibly referring
nearly halved the effect of PM (SpCas9) and its engi currently used SpCas9 pro mismatched locations for a fold compared to the wide Recalling how he started ven that monkeys diverged to body parts that they intend
on lung function, with the neered derivative tend to tein binds and cleaves the long time, there is a possi ly used SpCas9,” says Dee working on FnCas9 protein from apes (including humans) ed to be groomed, I was abso
association consistent across potentially bind to DNA at DNA. In contrast, the team bility that it might cut the panjan Paul from CSIRIGIB for genome editing, Dr. much earlier than humans di lutely elated…” she recalls. Af
all four weekly air pollution multiple unintended sites led by Debojyoti Chakra DNA at these locations. Al and one of the fi rst authors Chakraborty recalls that he verged from other apes (such ter accumulating more of
measurements from sameday thereby leading to unne borty from IGIB found the so, if it remains bound to of the paper. was looking for a Cas9 pro as chimpanzees and gorillas) these observations, the team
to 28 days prior to the lung cessary alterations in the new FnCas9 protein DNA, the protein might tein which can target RNA this fi nding has an evolution published a paper on referen
function test. DNA. showed negligible binding block the transcription Sickle cell anaemia instead of DNA. There was ary signifi cance as well. The tial grooming in bonnet ma
The researchers found when there exists more (which is the fi rst step in The researchers tested the one study that reported study has been published in caques, a cognitive capacity
their new Cas9 protein, than one mismatch in the gene expression) at that lo precision of binding and that FnCas9 could poten the journal Behavioural that was earlier believed to be
which binds and cuts the target DNA. The results cation. And if Cas9 is cleavage at the desired sites tially target viral RNA. “We Processes. restricted to human and non
DNA, was able to correct were published in the jour bound at multiple unin on the DNA using mouse were not able to target RNA human apes. This was pu
sickle cell anaemia muta nal Proceedings of the Na- tended sites then the tran cell lines (embryonic stem using FnCas9 proteins. So Species ethogram blished in the journal Animal
tion in patientderived tional Academy of Sciences scription machinery gets cells and brain cells), hu we started to investigate Anindya Sinha from National Cognition.
stem cells. The protein (PNAS). stalled and the expression man kidney cell lines and whether it can target DNA Institute of Advanced Studies, “Bonnet macaques have vo
(FnCas9) used by the re of genes at these locations induced pluripotent stem as well since it was not Bengaluru, who has been stu luntary control over their ges
searchers to edit the DNA is High specifi city might be altered,” Dr. Chak cells (iPSc). In the case of known if FnCas9 can be dying the behaviour of bonnet tural communicative signals.
Milkweed tolerant derived from a bacterium — “The high specifi city of the raborty explains. human iPS cells, the used for precise gene cor macaques in the BandipurMu They have a goal in mind, and
Monarch butterflies and a few Francisella novicida. new FnCas9 protein arises In nature, DNA often FnCas9 protein was found rection. We found that not dumalai region for close to 25 they communicate with others
other insects evolved The Cas9 protein is sup due to reduced affi nity to gets damaged and is rou to bind to the DNA at the only does it target the DNA years, had developed an etho to fulfi l that goal. The entire
essentially the same genetic posed to bind to the DNA bind to DNA when there is tinely repaired through one specifi c site, cut and repair but does so with very high gram of the species. In es process requires complex cog
mutations allowing them to only when there is a perfect even a single mismatch. of the two pathways. In the the sickle cell anaemia specifi city,” he says. sence, a list of objectivelyde nitive capacity, diff erent from
eat toxic milkweed without match between the DNA And when there is more case of the homologydi mutation. “We are now proceeding fi ned behaviours — an an involuntary action such as
getting sick. Monarch and the protein, thus re than one mismatch, com rected repair (HDR) path “The correction process for preclinical studies to es ethogram — becomes the refe an alarm call at the sight of a
butterflies and caterpillars ducing the chances of the plete absence of binding of way, which is relatively less is the same for any disease tablish the effi cacy of rence document for subse predator,” says Dr Gupta. It
store the toxins to deter protein binding at nontar the protein to the DNA is errorprone, matching se causing mutation and so FnCas9 protein for ge quent studies. has been known earlier that
predators. Scientists have now get sites on the DNA. But seen in many cases,” says quences are used to repair our FnCas9 protein should nomewide binding and Developing on this, the re apes such as humans, chim
used CRISPR gene editing to even when three mis Dr. Chakraborty. the DNA. “The FnCas9 pro theoretically correct any targeting using patientde searchers recorded 32 inde panzees, bonobos, gorillas
make these same mutations in
matches exist between the “If the Cas9 protein re tein was found to increase mutation in the DNA. The rived cells and mouse mo pendent gestures made by the and orangutans communicate
fruit flies, successfully
protein and the DNA, the mains bound to DNA at the HDR repair rate four effi ciency might vary, so we dels,” he says. bonnet macaques. Of these, intentionally. This study ex
conferring toxin resistance.
they could not identify the tends this behavior to
context for eight gestures. For monkeys.
the remaining 24 gestures, “This continuity of similar
India is home to Asia’s oldest bamboo they were able to identify the
context of use. “It would have
been perfect if we could get all
the behaviours video
cognitive processes underly
ing communication systems of
monkeys and apes imply that
our minds have had the build
Two fossils dating back 25 million years were found in Makum coalfi eld in Assam graphed,” says Shreejata Gup ing blocks of producing com
ta who worked on this pro plex language for millions of
Aswathi Pacha degree C to even 30 degrees And also as the Himalayas blem, in an email to The years,” says Dr Gupta.
Resilient nematode C. And at sea level to were not formed yet, the
Caltech scientists have
With over 49,000 plant heights of about 4,000 temperature was also warm
discovered a new species of
worm thriving in the extreme
environment of Mono Lake, a
species reported as of 2018,
India holds about 11.5% of
metres. They can survive in
varying rainfall conditions
and humid in the North
eastern region, with not Bright light to study ancient scrolls
saline soda lake in California.
all fl ora in the world. Now, a too. We wanted to know many seasonal variations.
new fossil record has what made it develop such The present climate in Reuters CT scanner where you would
This new species, temporarily
dubbed Auanema species can shown that India is the a wide environmental the region is cold with take an image of a person, a
survive 500 times the lethal birthplace of Asian bam niche,” explains Gaurav Sri strong winter and summer Scientists at Britain’s national threedimensional image of a
human dose of arsenic, and boo, and they were formed vastava, from the Birbal conditions. Bamboo braved synchrotron facility have har person and you can slice
carries its young inside its about 25 million years ago Sahni Institute of Palaeos these climatic and geo nessed powerful light beams to through it to see the diff erent
body like a kangaroo. in the northeastern part of ciences, Lucknow. He is the graphical changes making virtually unwrap and decipher organs,” said Laurent Chapon,
the country. fi rst and corresponding it the fi ttest in the survival fragile scrolls dating back some physical science director of
author of the paper pu race. 2,000 years in a process they Diamond Light Source.
Ancient fossils blished recently in the jour “Bamboo fossils are not hope will provide new insights “We... shine very intense
An international team of re nal Review of Palaeobotany very common in India as into the ancient world. light through [the scroll] and
searchers found two fossil Spread from India: This fi nding strengthens the theory that and Palynology. they are known only from The two complete scrolls then detect on the other side a
compressions or impres bamboo spread to Asia from India and not from Europe. the Siwalik sediments. We and four fragments from the number of twodimensional
sions of bamboo culms Role of plate tectonics have planned more studies socalled Herculaneum library, images. From that we recon
(stems) and after further Bambusium deomarense, oldest fossil in that region is In fact, the European bam in this region and search for the only one surviving from an struct a threedimensional vol
study noted them to be new and B. arunachalense, less than 20 million years boo fossil is about 50 mil its fossils in older rocks tiquity were buried and car ume of the object... to actually
species. They were named named after the Doimara old, clearly indicating that lion years old. Dr Srivastava too,” adds Rakesh Chandra bonised by the deadly eruption read the text in a nondestruc
Redeeming exoskeleton
A 28yearold tetraplegic Bambusiculmus tirapensis region of Arunachal Pra Asian bamboo was born in explains that the Indian Mehrotra, the study head of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and tive manner,” Chapon said.
patient paralysed from the and B. makumensis as desh where it was disco India and then migrated plate collided with the Eu from the Birbal Sahni Insti are too fragile to be opened. The ink on the scrolls is diffi
shoulders down has been able they were found in the Ti vered. These leaves were there. This fi nding further rasian plate about 50 mil tute of Palaeosciences. The items were examined at cult to see, even through a syn
to walk using a pioneering rap mine of Makum Coal found in the late Miocene to strengthens the theory that lion years ago. However, Dr. Mehrotra adds that the Diamond Light Source facil chrotron, because it is carbon
fourlimb robotic system, or fi eld in Assam. These be Pliocene sediments, indi bamboo came to Asia from the suturing between the paleobotany is studied only ity in Oxfordshire, home to Bri based like the papyrus it is writ
exoskeleton, that is longed to the late Oligocene cating that they were bet India and not from Europe. two plates were not com in very few pockets in In tain’s synchrotron, a particle ten on. But scientists hope the
commanded and controlled by period of about 25 million ween 11 and three million pleted until 23 million dia. This study has shown accelerator in which beams tra density of the paper will be dif
signals from his brain. The years ago. years old. Wide niche years, meaning the plates that India is a treasure trove vel around a closedloop path ferent where written charac
study, published in The Lancet They also found two im Yunnan Province in Chi “Today, we can see bamboo were not completely of plant fossils and more to produce light many times ters are present.
Neurology, brings new hope pressions of bamboo leaves na now has the highest di in a wide range of climatic joined, restricting migra importance needs to be gi brighter than the sun. They hope to decipher what
for paralysed patients. belonging to new species versity of bamboo, but the conditions from as cold as 5 tion of plants and animals. ven to its study. “The idea is essentially like a is written on the scrolls.
IISER Pune team synthesises photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants
The highly unstable perovskite mineral was converted into a robust form capable of decomposing toxic organic pollutants commonly present in water
R. Prasad utilised the hydrophobic na
ture of the MOF material to
mained almost intact even af
ter being exposed to UV light
<
> It is possible to
replace lead metal
property to degrade organic
pollutants in water. They
But the rate of degrada
tion of organic pollutants is
Researchers at the Indian In render greater chemical sta for 20 days. with other nontoxic tested three organic com not high compared with oth
stitute of Science Education bility to perovskite nanocrys It is the hydrophobic na elements to make monly seen pollutants — er standard materials. “Com
and Research (IISER) Pune tals that form inside the MOF ture of MOF that renders the composite more methyl orange, methyl red pared with other materials,
have successfully converted cavities. The perovskiteMOF chemical, heat and photosta effi cient and much and nitorfurazone antibiotic. perovskite is inexpensive. It
the highly unstable perov composites displayed “out bility to perovskite. safer to degrade is also possible to scale up its
skite into a highly stable pho standing” stability when im The researchers found organic pollutants. Activated by sunlight production easily,” says Ta
tocatalyst capable of decom mersed inside water and al less than 1 ppb of lead metal Sujit K. Ghosh
“When the composite was rak Nath Mandal, the other
posing toxic organic coholic solvents for as long leached from the composite Department of Chemistry exposed to sunlight it was fi rst author of the paper.
pollutants commonly pre as 90 days. at the end of 90 days of being able to degrade the organic “This is only a proofof
sent in water. The catalyst exposed to diff erent sol “This is the fi rst time pe pollutants,” says Samraj Mol concept study. It is possible
that becomes active when ex Stable composite vents, including water. “It is rovskitebased composite lick from IISER Pune and one to increase the degradation
posed to sunlight was syn The composites remained possible to replace lead me material as a photocatalyst of the fi rst authors of the rate by using diff erent perov
thesised by encapsulating stable in water even when at tal with other nontoxic ele has been used for the degra paper. “When exposed to skite and MOF materials,”
nanocrystals of organicinor boiling temperature for 20 ments to make the compo dation of toxic organic pollu sunlight, the perovskite na says Dr. Ghosh.
ganic perovskite inside a me days. While perovskite en Cleansing water: The catalyst becomes active when exposed site more effi cient and much tants such as antibiotics, nocrystals release electrons The researchers were able
talorganic framework capsulated by MOF showed to sunlight and degrades the pollutants. GETTY IMAGES *
safer to degrade organic pol dyes etc. It will be a costef into water thus producing to recycle the composite
(MOF). 70% similar photolumines lutants,” says Dr. Ghosh. The fective method to produce hydroxyl radicals. The hy thrice and even on the third
The team led by Sujit K. cence intensity before and minescence intensity of heat treatment. Likewise, results were published in the clean water,” says Dr. Ghosh. droxyl radicals are highly ac cycle the composite dis
Ghosh from the Department after heat treatment at the naked perovskite decreased the photoluminescence in journal ACS Applied Nano The researchers tested the tive species that decomposes played over 90% degradation
of Chemistry at IISER Pune end of 20 days, the photolu by 95% in just fi ve hours of tensity of the composite re Materials. composite’s photocatalytic the organic pollutants.” capacity.
CM A ND-NDE
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