On Sunday (February 19), Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid revealed the mystery behind the food, delivered to cricketer Virat Kohli during the Day 2 of the 2nd Test Match between India and Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
In a video that has now gone viral on social media, Kohli was seen having an intense discussion with Rahul Dravid. At that point, a man nudged him and informed him that his food parcel had arrived.
The ace cricketer was overwhelmed with joy and clapped his hands at the thought of the delicious food. This left netizens guessing about the dish that Kohli had ordered during the match.
Host Mayanti Langer and cricket commentators, including Sanjay Manjrekar, Sunil Gavaskar and Mark Waugh were also heard discussing Virat Kohli’s love for Chole Bhature.
Food Delivery service, Zomato, even tweeted, “When your order From Rama Chole Bhature arrives.” It must be mentioned that Kohli had professed his love for the particular dish during a 2017 interview with Gaurav Kapoor of ‘Oaktree Sports’ Youtube channel.
However, India Team coach Rahul Dravid clarified that the dish was Kulche Chole and not Chole Bhature, as presumed by everyone. “He was tempting me with it but I said I’m 50 years old, I can’t handle so much cholesterol anymore,” Dravid informed.
#WATCH: Virat Kohli’s reaction after seeing ‘chole kulcha’ is just amazing!
It was earlier reported that the food item that brought a smile to Kohli’s face is #cholebhature but coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday revealed ”it wasn’t Chole Bhature, it was Kulcha Chole”#ViratKohli?pic.twitter.com/SjVI0ZLfcf
It must be mentioned that Virat Kohli has completed 25000 runs in international cricket during the 2nd Test Match against Australia. He scored 44 runs in the 1st innings and 20 runs in the 2nd innings. India managed to secure a win by 6 wickets and take the lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-0.
If you are addicted to Instagram, you might have encountered an influencer named Brennan Ekoyu who goes by the handle ‘Brennan Baby’. Brennan is a young 18-year-old social media influencer from Uganda who became a TikTok star soon after he started uploading videos on the platform. As per his profiles and social media interviews, he learned about TikTok during the Covid-19 lockdown. His success story is one of those rare silver linings of the pandemic.
Brennan gained popularity by uploading videos where he imitated girls and teachers in high school and created scenes in different situations. He has three elder brothers and belongs to the Kumam tribe. Brennan Baby attended St Joseph’s SS Nahhalama school.
In some of the most popular videos, he can be seen wearing blue lipstick and running away crying in slow motion after his character’s boyfriend cheats on him. In a video posted on January 12, Brennan baby acted as a girl who saves her boyfriend from water by shielding him but her boyfriend saves another girl. Brennan then leaves crying.
In a video posted on January 25, Brennan Baby acted as a girl who was walking with her boyfriend and a female friend. Brennan sits to pick up a book and notices the boyfriend and another female friend holding hands behind the back. Feeling cheated, Brennan walks away crying in slow motion.
In a video posted on February 3, Brennan Baby dressed as a girl was seen sitting next to a boy. The girl notices a message on the boy’s phone that read “I love you babe”. Feeling cheated, the girl runs away. The quality of the video showed professionalism in creating the videos.
While he posts short videos on TikTok and Instagram, Brennan Baby has compilation videos of the best clips on YouTube. For instance, in one of the videos on YouTube, he published a compilation of videos where he depicted “How Different GIRLS Behave at SCHOOL”.
In an interview, he said that during the lockdown he was bored at home. One day, he went through her mother’s phone and explored funny videos. He got inspired to create similar videos. Soon after, he joined TikTok and other social media platforms and started creating content. Initially, he used his mother’s phone but bought one for himself.
Speaking about his school-themed videos, he said it was easy to create such content as he encountered similar situations during school days. One of the initial viral videos was where he acted to depict how girls behave when it is time for a lunch break, but the teacher decides to continue teaching. The response he got for the video encouraged him to create more content. He often uses his mother’s old clothes, wig, and accessories for the videos. Interestingly, he said in an interview that his mother helps him to dress up for the videos. Besides making videos, Ekoyu likes to knit and play table tennis.
Experience with cyberbullying
With fame comes the trolling. Every social media influencer, good or bad, faces some type of cyberbullying, and Ekoyu’s experience was no different. Because of the type of content he makes, he often gets subjected to cyberbullying. During an interview, he revealed it was not easy for him to rejoin the school as boys were bullying him, assuming he was gay.
He said, “Some people abuse me that why I act like a girl and not act a boy character because I am a boy… But I like acting like a girl because girls are dramatic and sincerely nothing is interesting about boys’ lives. I don’t think anything is interesting to act about them, and I will never act about them.”
The blue-lipstick-wearing boy who runs in slow-motion in his videos has over 69,000 followers and 164 million views on TikTok, 226,000 followers on Instagram, and over 10,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon, the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, has converted to Islam to marry his Muslim girlfriend Aida Looksaikongdin, who is also a Muay Thai player. Rodtang Jitmuangnon married his girlfriend and fellow fighter Aida Looksaikongdin in a traditional Muslim Nikah last week in Thailand. The Thai sportsman announced in a live video on Instagram that he has taken Shahadah and had become a full-time Muslim post-wedding.
It is notable that Muay Thai is a traditional Thai combat sport, and it is also known as Thai Boxing. Rodtang Jitmuangnon is one of the best players in the sport, and he currently competes in the Singapore-based ONE Championship.
Jitmuangnon posted an Instagram live video three days ago in which he was seen with an interpreter who confirmed that the Muay Thai king was now a Muslim. “Also just to clarify, he is Muslim now, he is full Muslim. He took a Shahadah and became Muslim,” the interpreter added.
During the Instagram live broadcast, one of his fans happened to confirm the development and asked him whether he was a Muslim now. “Are you Muslim?” the fan asked to which Rodtang replied saying, “yeah, Alhamdulillah (praise be to God)”. “We make it brother, he is Muslim now,” his interpreter further confirmed.
According to the reports, 25-year-old Rodtang Jitmuangnon had been ordained as a Buddhist monk just a month ago. He also had joined a monastery for two weeks and had shaved his head in a traditional ceremony in January 2023.
He had also posted videos on Instagram last month where he was seen in the attires of a Buddhist monk.
Meanwhile, his fans congratulated him for his wedding with his fellow fighter and also welcomed him to Islam. Reports mention that considering his two significant battles scheduled over the next months, the sportsman will need to turn his attention to the Circle. Rodtang’s next fight will take place on March 24 when ONE Championship comes to the Singapore Indoor Stadium for ONE Fight Night 8 which will be shown on Prime Video.
In a highly anticipated superfight, “The Iron Man” Rodtang will take against the recently minted ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9. After that, he will head to Denver in the US to fight in the first-ever ONE Championship to be held in the USA. There, he will fight against Mexico’s Edgar Tabaress, a first-time fighter for ONE, at ONE Fight Night 10.
However, due to the two big upcoming matches, Rodtang Jitmuangnon postponed his planned seminar tour from February 18 to March 4 in the USA. His last fight was in Bangkok, where he defeated China’s Jiduo Yibu at ONE Fight Night 6 on 14 January. The Muay Thai champion has said that his next goal is to claim the kickboxing belt, for which he will need to defeat the current champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his next match.
After KL Rahul’s horrid run in international cricket continued as the batter failed to fire with his willow, India captain Rohit Sharma defended the opener and said that Rahul has potential and they are not looking into individual performances of players.
After bowlers skittled out visitors for 113, Rohit, Srikar Bharat and Cheteshwar Pujara held their ground to help India register an emphatic 6-wicket victory against Australia in the second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday.
Chasing a low-pressure target of 115 runs, many anticipated opener KL and Rohit Sharma to chase it down without any hassle given that there are two days still left in the match. But KL was the first wicket to fall. Nathan Lyon trapped him for just one run, leaving India at 6/1 in 1.1 overs.
“Even if you look at a couple of hundreds he got outside India…one of the best I have seen from KL Rahul, especially at Lord’s on that pitch. Playing in England is never easy. He put on an excellent performance there and a century. His performance came in India winning both games. Again that’s the potential he has. There have been a lot of talks…. it was clear from our end that we want him to go out and just play his game and do what he can do best. That is what we have seen him doing over the years,” Rohit Sharma said in a post-match conference.
Notably, The opener did not have a very good 2022. After missing nearly half a year worth of action, KL blew hot and cold ever since Asia Cup 2022. He did score some half-centuries but drew criticism from fans and some cricketers for his lack of attacking intent and his inability to fire during the most important matches for his team.
KL played four Tests last year in which he scored 137 runs at an average of 17.12, with one fifty. He had the best score of 50 in Tests.
“Of course when you are playing on the pitches like this you need to find your method of scoring runs. Different individuals are part of this team and they will have other methods of scoring runs, find your own methods of doing it. We are not going to look too much into what one individual is doing, it’s about the entire team. Because this is an important series for us big one as well. That’s my thoughts on KL Rahu”, Rohit said.
Coming to the match, India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by taking a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Pujara (31*) and Bharat (23*) played till the end to guide their team home. For India, Ravindra Jadeja ripped through Australia with seven for 42.
India’s spinner dominated the proceedings in the first session, rolling Australia out for 113. The hosts chased down the target with six wickets in hand.
It means India takes a 2-0 lead in the four-match Test series and will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy regardless of results over the final two Tests.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Alankar Sawai, a close aide of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, has denied giving ₹23.24 lakh to Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale, reportedDeccan Herald. It must be mentioned that Gokhale is currently jailed and being investigated for money laundering.
On Wednesday (February 15), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail application of Alankar Sawai that he filed before a special court in Ahmedabad. The central agency apprised the court of his statement, denying paying money to the TMC spokesperson.
Deccan Herald reported that Gokhale told ED officials that he had received the money from Sawai for ‘investigative research on the BJP’ and publishing the same on social media. However, Sawai categorically denied this claim during questioning by ED officials in the National Capital.
The ED has revealed that Gokhale is accused of collecting over ₹1 crore through crowdfunding and cash deposits, which he used for personal purposes, and breached the trust of those who donated to him.
His case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the cyber cell of Ahmedabad police, which informed that he raised the money for filing RTIs and other social activities.
The ED investigation found that Gokhale used the money for personal expenses such as paying off credit card debts, booking flights and hotels, and dining and drinking wine.
The central agency has stated that Gokhale’s activities amount to a diversion of funds for personal gain, which is punishable under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
ED questions Rahul Gandhi’s close aide
On February 3, the Enforcement Directorate questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Alankar Sawai in connection with its money laundering activities of Saket Gokhale.
Gokhale had claimed that he received Rs 23.54 lakh from Alankar Sawai to manage the Congress party’s social media presence. “We are now confronting him with Gokhale to find out the truth,” an ED officer had said earlier.
ED questioned Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Alankar Sawai for 3 consecutive days in connection with a money laundering case linked to TMC’s Saket Gokhale, said ED officials.
ED has asked Sawai about Rs 23.54 lakhs given to Gokhale. He had told the agency that it was given by Sawai.
When questioned about the 23.54 lakh deposited in his bank account in cash over a year, Gokhale told the agency that “this sum was given in cash by Alankar Sawai of the Congress Party for social media work and other consultancies.”
On Saturday, the festival of Mahashivratri was celebrated with great religious fervour across the country. Thousands of devotees thronged at Shiv temples to seek blessings from Mahadev. The Shivling is the representation of Shiva, and the primary murti in Shiva temples. Therefore, the Shivling is one of the primary symbols of Hinduism. But, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva where the Islamic phrase ‘Kalma’ is engraved on the Shivling. Here is the story about the famous Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, where the Islamic ‘Kalma’ is inscribed on the Shivling.
Mahmud of Ghazni, the Islamic fanatic and invader who led multiple expeditions in India, destroyed and desecrated countless temples, plundered riches, and killed non-Muslims, had once invaded the Neelkanth Mahadev temple at the Saraiya Tiwari village in Khajani where a self-manifested (Swamyambhu) Jharkhandi Shivling is present since many centuries. Mahmud of Ghazni, who harboured a deep-seated animosity for Hindus who worshipped idols, decided to destroy the Shivling. But, despite his tenacious attempts, the stone Shivling remained intact.
Failed attempts at destroying the Shivling
Locals claim that Mahmud of Ghazni wanted to dig out the wealth buried under the Jharkhandi Shivling and for doing so attempts were made to uproot the Shivling, however, it is said that the more the invaders would dig the higher the Shivling would emerge. It is said that a stream of blood would flow from the Shivling after every strike. Following this, the Muslim clerics who had accompanied Gaznavi informed him that he would not be able to break this Shivling since it contains divine powers. The Muslim clerics advised him that it would be best for him to depart.
After several unsuccessful attempts, an enraged Mahmud of Ghazni ordered his soldiers to inscribe the Islamic Kalma (la illaha ill Allah, mohammedu rasool allah) on the Shivling in a bid to prevent Hindus from worshipping the Jharkhandi Shivling. It is said by the locals that, while the Shivling couldn’t be destroyed, the temple was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni and his commander Bakhityar Khilji.
Ghanavi had intended to have Kalma engraved on it so that Hindus would not worship it, but even after hundreds of years of Mahmud Ghaznavi’s attack, Hindu devotees still visit to this temple to perform Jalabhishek on Shivling and pooja as per Hindu traditions.
No roof on the temple
This temple has no roof over it. Several attempts were made to construct a roof here, but every time it collapsed. Devotees arrive at this temple in large numbers during Mahashivratri and in the month of Sawan. It is said that 10 feet tall human skeletons have been recovered from here during excavations, demonstrating the cruelty inflicted by the Muslim invader.
The male skeletons discovered during the excavation of the mounds surrounding this temple ranged in length from 10 to 12 feet. They were also discovered with several spears and other weapons which may reach 18 feet. People come and take holy baths here on five Tuesdays and Sundays to get rid of skin ailments since it is said that a king who had leprosy was cured by touching the Pokhara water, which is near this temple.
Mahmud Ghazni and the destruction of the Somnath Temple
Destroying the temples and idols of the Kafirs was upheld by the invaders as their “religious duty” during the Islamic invasions of India. The famous Somnath Temple in Gujarat was attacked and desecrated 17 times by Mahmud of Ghazni.
In 1025, he plundered the holy idol of Somnath during his sixteenth expedition to India. “Somnath” is Sanskrit for “moon master.” The Somnath temple located in Gujarat, India, is the first of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
According to historical records, he smashed and broke the Lord Somnath idol into four pieces during his 16th invasion of the Somnath Temple. Mahmud of Ghazni entered the temple after defeating the temple’s guardians and saw the magnificent idol of Lord Somnath there. He took his mace and attacked with such vigor that the Lord Somnath idol, which was reportedly five yards long, was shattered into pieces after he became enraged upon seeing the idol.
After the protectors of the Somnath temple were defeated, it is stated in Tariki-e-Alfi, a historical work compiled by a committee formed by Akbar, that Brahmins offered Mahmud of Ghazni an unheard-of amount of wealth in exchange for leaving the idol of Somnath undamaged. Mahmud, in response, said that after he died, he would rather love to be known in the presence of Allah as Butshikan (the destroyer of idols) rather than ButParast (the devotee of idols). He rejected the Brahmins’ offer and demolished the Somnath idol.
Reference from Tarikh-i-Alfi
The fragments of the Somnath idol were buried inside the Jama Masjid in Ghazni and beneath the entrance to Sultan’s palace, according to Al-Beruni, an Islamic scholar active during the reign of Mahmud of Ghazni, so that people would step on them while visiting the mosque and the palace and continue to humiliate the idol worshippers.
Netflix has teamed up with Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, for an upcoming project called, Heeramandi. Our antagonistic neighbour has a red light district with the same name in Lahore. The movie is said to be based on the courtesans of Lahore and their lives, likely set in pre-Independence era of undivided India.
Another time, another era, another magical world created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali that we can’t wait to be a part of. Here is a glimpse into the beautiful world of #Heeramandi ?
This isn’t the first time, Bollywood has come out with a movie which glamourises courtesans, or tawaif, as they were once called. The movies almost always try to portray women, who were forced into prostitution as some who morph into some strong independent and influential women. The most recent being ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi,’ in which Alia Bhatt portrayed a madame who is sexually assaulted by the mafia, but eventually ends up being an influential person and some sort of messiah.
One of the most popular among these movies, perhaps, is ‘Umrao Jaan,’ which was made twice, first in 1981 with veteran actress Rekha and again in 2006 starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the titular role, based on the Urdu novel ‘Umrao Jaan Ada.’ Both the movies and the novel tell the story of a courtesan and poet by the same name from 19th century Lucknow, as recounted by her to the author. The narrative centres on Umrao Jaan, actual name Amiran, who was abducted as a young child, sold to a brothel and raised as a courtesan.
Who can forget K.Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam, where Shehzada (Prince) Salim (Dilip Kumar) falls in love with Anarkali (Madhubala), a courtesan at his father Akbar’s (Prithviraj Kapoor) court, much to the emperor’s dismay and opposition. Kamal Amrohi’s popular film Pakeezah, also portrays a rich man, Salim Ahmed Khan (Raaj Kumar) smitten in love with a beautiful courtesan played by Menna Kumari.
A courtesan or tawaif is usually depicted as a free-spirit whose life is typically portrayed as being replete with lavish residences, picturesque locations, attractive men, pricy possessions and true love. They practically seem to lead a life of leisure and luxury.
In reality, their life is quite contrary and dark to what is shown on the silver screen. Historically, they have been exploited, abused and forced into prostitution. They were never accepted by society and were constantly viewed as social decadence. Many of these tawaifs were part of Mughal courts and over the years through books and movies, they have been glamourised as some women who had agency over men and even took part in political discourse.
Except, most of these stories ignore the fact that even the fictionalised stories of Umrao Jaan, she was a minor when she was kidnapped and sold to another tawaif for money. To romanticise, they talk about how at such house of prostitution, she was introduced to art and culture like Hindustani music and poetry and even taught how to read and write. Except, all this was against her will. She was made to sell her body for sex, be an entertainer for men, subjected to lewd comments by men very likely against her will.
But movies are made, books are written and even articles are written to whitewash the blatant prostitution. Feminists cry themselves hoarse claiming that the tawaifs were ‘unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle’. Apparently, one obscure story of one tawaif being part of Indian soldiers who revolted against the British.
2019 Scroll article on Tawaifs
A 2019 Scroll article on tawaifs talks about one Azeezunbai who allegedly played a pivotal role in Sepoy Mutiny in Kanpur in 1857. “A courtesan from Lucknow, Azeezunbai moved to Kanpur at a young age.” Scroll writes. Except, it does not mention how young she was when she moved to Kanpur from Lucknow and under what circumstances. It is quite certain a young girl did not grow up aspiring to become a child prostitute. For all her alleged courageous deeds in later part of her life, how is one to ignore the fact that Azeesunbai was very likely kidnapped as a child and forced into prostitution?
Quite certain their lives were not ‘magical’. They were not the Disney princesses who had floral tiaras tied to their hair and birds singing with them. No woman would sell her body for money if she could find a way not to.
And if being a tawaif was such a graceful profession, why is ‘tawaif’ used as an insult for women? In Junly 2019, Samajwadi Party leader ST Hassan referred to Zaira Waseem, the Dangal actress who quit acting to devote her life to Islam, as ‘tawaif’. He had said that there is no difference between tawaif and actress while commenting on the controversy. In May 2022, Shaheen Bagh protester Aiman Rizvi called a Republic TV journalist ‘digital tawaif’.
If tawaifs or courtesans were truly so respected and lived a ‘magical’ life as Bollywood wants us to believe, why is it used as an insult women?
Hours after a woman in Nuh, Haryana, alleged that she lost her child after Rajasthan Police kicked her in the stomach during the Bhiwani case investigation, Bharatpur Police in Rajasthan has stated that the Police are being falsely accused. The Bharatpur SP said that the woman was falsely accusing the Police and that the officers never entered the woman’s home.
“The police did not go inside the accused family’s home. The accused was not at home. They found his brothers. Thus they did some questioning and then came back. They are putting false accusations,” Bharatpur SP was quoted as saying by ANI.
Bharatpur, Rajasthan| The police did not go inside the accused family’s home. The accused was not at home. They found his brothers. Thus they did some questioning and then came back. They are putting false accusations: Bharatpur SP on accused family allegation pic.twitter.com/cKLhD6AWpP
On February 17, the Rajasthan Police reached Haryana to investigate the Bhiwani case in which charred dead bodies of Junaid and Nasir were recovered by the Haryana Police. Junaid and Nasir were cattle smugglers and belonged to Bharatpur. The family members of the duo alleged that five Bajrang Dal members named Mohit Yadav, Shrikant Pandit, Rinku Saini, and two other gaurakshaks abducted Junaid and Nasir and later burnt them alive in Haryana.
Based on the complaint filed by family members of the dead smugglers, the Rajasthan police reached Haryana and began the investigation. It barged into the house of Shrikant Pandit and detained two of his younger brothers named Vishnu and Rahul. According to Shrikant’s family, around 30-40 Rajasthan Police officers entered their house at 3:30 am and assaulted the alleged accused’s mother and his wife. They kicked Shrikant’s wife who was nine months pregnant and injured her severely, resulting in the death of the fully grown fetus.
Shrikant’s wife issued her statement in this case and said, “Some people came and they started fighting with my in-laws. They came to my door and pushed it, during which I got hurt in my stomach and my child died. I don’t know who pushed the door, or who hit me but they came at night to investigate. Why did they come at night? They came to find my husband Shrikant. They started breaking the furniture and other things in the house.”
“I don’t know who pushed the door, or who hit me but they came at night to investigate. Why did they come at night? They came to find my husband Srikant. They started breaking the furniture and other things in the house,” said wife of the accused in the Bhiwani incident
Shrikant’s mother Dulari filed a police complaint in Nuh, Haryana, stating that around 30-40 persons dressed in Rajasthan Police uniforms entered her home at 3:30 am on February 17 and abducted her two sons named Vishnu and Rahul. She also said that they used abusive language for her and her family members and forcefully raided the premises, searching for Shrikant. She has demanded strict action against the culprits who hit her pregnant daughter-in-law, resulting in the death of her grandchild.
However, the Bharatpur police from Rajasthan has denied the allegations and have said that the police officers never entered the house of the ‘accused’. Further, Nuh Police took cognizance of the event and said that Haryana and Nuh Police had no involvement in the incident though the investigation is collaborative.
“This is a very sad incident. As the allegations are serious we have asked Additional SP for the investigation. Whatever leads he is getting via social media for the incident & allegations will be fixed. We will take action if there is any negligence from our side and our team,” Varun Singla, SP Nuh said.
As the allegations are serious we have asked Additional SP for the investigation. Whatever leads he is getting via social media for the incident & allegations will be fixed. We will take action if there is any negligence from our side & our team: Varun Singla, SP Nuh
Rajasthan Police have alleged that Shrikant, Mohit Yadav, Rinku Saini, and other members of their Gaurakshak group have burnt Junaid and Nasir alive in Bhiwani’s Loharu region.
According to the Police, Junaid, and Nasir from Bharatpur were engaged in cattle smuggling, and there are 4 to 5 FIRs already filed in their name. However, the duo never got arrested. Family members of the deceased alleged in the report that five members of Bajrang Dal caught Junaid and Nasir in Firozpur, Haryana, and attempted to take them to the police. However, the Police refused to arrest the duo looking at their condition. Mohammad Jabir, a relative of Junaid and Nasir, further alleged that the Bajrang Dal members then took the duo to Bhiwani’s Loharu region, where their charred remains were recovered by the Police.
It is important to note here that Mohit Yadav, who has been framed as the main accused in the case, is an active gaurakshak and that he has been on target of the cattle smugglers. He has been working for Gauraksha in the Mewat region, which is spread across two Indian states, namely Rajasthan and Haryana. The region is said to be the hotbed of organized crime, cattle smuggling, and mob violence against the Police. It is also very susceptible to communal tensions.
In a bizarre incident from Naugaon, Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, an Islamic cleric refused to conduct a Muslim wedding ritual (Nikah) complaining that the family members of the groom played DJ and also danced on the beats of dhol tasha during the baraat. The cleric complained that the groom and his family played the DJ system while going to the Masjid for prayer during the Nikah.
The cleric staunchly refused to conduct the wedding ritual and read the Nikahnama and said that the family members had insulted the Islamic tradition by playing DJ outside the Masjid.
“Is this how you are setting an example in society? Don’t you understand that it’s not our tradition? You are old enough to get married. How come you are not aware of the Islamic traditions?” the cleric said as he scolded the groom at his wedding.
The video of the incident went viral over social media in which the cleric could be seen bashing the groom in front of his relatives. He said that spending money on DJ is a waste and there is no tradition in Islam to carry out a procession (baraat) during the wedding.
मध्यप्रदेश छतरपुर में बारात में डीजे लाने पर काजी साहब ने निकाह पढ़ाने से इंकार किया….अगर काजी ही निकाह से इंकार कर दे तो हर गलत रितिरिवाज खत्म हो जायेगे…. pic.twitter.com/hgMbQ44YSG
The cleric also added that the family members of the groom had caused an insult to Islam. According to the reports, the cleric kept on slamming the groom for around four hours and refused to read the Nikahnama. The groom patiently waited on the stage while he was being slammed by the cleric.
The cleric agreed to conduct the wedding only after the groom and the bride publicly issued an apology and said that they would never do anything in the future that would insult Islam and its traditions.
Reports mention that the Muslim community in Naugaon had conducted a meeting earlier in which it was decided that no DJs would be employed during the weddings. “Employing DJs causes noise pollution and it is a sheer waste of money. Also, Islam does not permit DJ and dance during the wedding,” it was ruled.
Further, Shahzad Ali of the Anjuman Islamia Committee, Chhatarpur, said that one of the reasons for banning DJs during the wedding procession is to safeguard the weaker section’s interest. “Poor Muslims should not feel bad that they can’t enjoy and dance and employ DJ in their weddings. DJ was banned to imply that every Muslim, poor or rich is similar and that there is no difference between them,” he added.
Accordingly, the cleric who refused to read the Nikahnama, in the beginning, conducted the wedding only after the bride and groom publicly issued an apology and promised that they would not do anything in the future that would insult Islam.
Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar is currently in Lahore, Pakistan for the three-day Faiz Festival, from February 17–19, which is being held in memory of the late Pakistani poet and author, Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The Faiz Foundation Trust, together with the Lahore Arts Council (LAC), organizes this festival each year.
Faiz is a very popular figure in Pakistan. His verses are often recited in Pakistani popular culture and are a regular feature at their literary events.
Faiz has written many popular poems throughout his life including “gulon mein rang bhare”, “mujhse pahle si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang,” “chand roz aur meri jaan,” and “bol ke lab aazaad hain tere,” to name a few. His creations inspired and impressed millions on both sides of the border.
Lately, the poet has been widely invoked in India, through another famous work from him, ‘Hum Dekhenge’ (We’ll see). Throughout the 2019 anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests, in various places, around the country, this poem was being recited.
Notably, Faiz wrote it in 1979, two years after a military coup in Pakistan by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and was aimed against the minority Hindu community of Pakistan.
It talks about the elimination of idolatry and the triumph of Allah’s name. “Jab arz-e-khuda ke Kabe se sab but uthwaye jayenge, bas naam rahega Allah ka,” literally translates to, “All idols will be removed and only Allah’s name will prevail.”
The poem was sung frequently during Shaheen Bagh protests.
Even academic institutions, like the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), have experienced this poem at their events.
A faculty at IIT Kanpur has submitted this video and a complaint to director, alleging anti-India & communal statements made at a recent event held in ‘solidarity with Jamia’ & that event held without permission.
Even senior Congressman Navjot Singh Sidhu can be heard reciting the poem in a video during the 2020 farmers’ protests.
Today, India’s true majority is flexing its muscle. Kisan movement is building unity in diversity, it is the spark of dissent which ignites & unites the whole country in a Single Mass Movement above Caste, Colour & Creed. The “Farmer Roar”, has reverberated world-over … pic.twitter.com/lKtf7746BF
Left-liberals in India, frequently brand Faiz as a Marxist while defending the poem.
Omg please don’t display your utter and total cultural illiteracy. That’s Hum Dekhenge by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, sang to protest the military dictators in Pakistan, among others by Iqbal Bano to defy Zia. And if your problem is Faiz is Pakistani, get rid of Saare Jahan se Acha also https://t.co/u3hFCOiXZp
Regardless of what they claim, Faiz denigrates Hinduism in his poem, advocates for the abolition of idols, and affirms Allah’s supremacy over everyone else. Yet, there are several Indians who praise Faiz to the skies despite his communal and incendiary views about other religions.
