‘Life of Pi’ is a metaphor of human condition: Yann Martel

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January 25, 2019

Talking everyone onboard on a journey of imagination, Booker Prize winner Yann Martel recreated the story of his magnum opus “Life of Pi” sans the tiger, orang-utan or the hyena on a ferry that set sail on the Hoogly river here. Martel spoke of how he came up with the idea of his novel he published in 2001 and which fetched him the Booker Prize the next year, how he chose the characters and how he did research among other things. In the late 90s, Martel flew to India for research on another book.

I noticed in India that there was abundance of gods as well as animals. There is a link between the two and there are lots of instances of this in Hindu mythology. These two extremes – gods and animals – struck Martel. “While in Matheran (Maharashtra), I suddenly remembered that premise of a very confined space with a character and an animal. I found that to be a perfect metaphor for human conditions,” he said during a discussion as the ferry cruised along the Hoogly with the majestic Howrah Bridge as the backdrop on Thursday night. He further added that, It is the crossing of a life and living of a life. We are animals and always behave like animals – so that is the tiger. We also have human qualities and one of these qualities is our extraordinary capacity to imagine. One of the things we imagine is god. So Pi and his gods are one extreme of the human conditions and the tiger is the other – the animal condition. These are brought together in this lifeboat.

After the main idea was conceived, he then spent the next six months in India for research as the country is a “place of marvel and magic”. Another interesting fact that he shared during the discussion, organised as part of the ongoing Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, was why Pi was stranded for 227 days. He said that “I wanted Pi to be at sea for a time. So I had to have some reason to choose a number. So after some thought, I chose a prime number 227. Prime numbers are indivisible and I wanted to tell a story which is indivisible. You can’t have one half of a story, another quarter of one and fabricate another story.” However, later, a reader pointed out to him that 22 divided by 7 is close approximation of Pi.

According to Martel, in “Life of Pi”, the life boat crossing the Pacific is the metaphor of the human condition he talks about. “The Life of Pi” is about what happened after the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, as a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific Ocean. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The novel was later adapted into a movie by Ang Lee and won multiple Oscars.

Trolls to true followers triumph Swami Nithyananda

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Vaidehi Taman

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January 24, 2019

A man who always claimed extraordinary things, the one who always spoke his mind without diplomacy or trying to be politically correct, he stuck to his Dharma and religion. He is one of the best personalities who is not ashamed of anything. His Leelas (acts) are absolutely amazing; his range of popularity is always at peak. No matter you like him or not, you can’t get away from him. Let it be the social media trolling or transformation as a silent disciple, one gets glued to his videos. It is very easy to make fun of such personalities who are not following the routine life and whose prerogatives are not monotones like any other spiritual Godman. Maybe, this is the reason he had to go through a lot of controversies. He is the favourite target of media and state management; but on the other hand, he is highly regarded by his gurukul (academic institution) students and his followers. They differ with general opinion about him because they have witnessed his declarations and they have reasons to believe him. People in the virtual world are the ones who have never seen him in person or never witnessed his capacities. I am one of them; I have not met him personally and had trolled him a lot on social media. He literally blocked me on Twitter; I commented on the Facebook making fun of him but when I got tired of doing so, I realised that there are people right in that comment section who are not only praising him but have high regards and they ignore all the trolls like me. The journalist in me got into the probe; during the process what I understood is that while trolling, I ignored the good things he is doing for the society, religion, and mankind. I chose to be a selective attacker like others. Without knowing a person, without seeing him in person, without knowing his abilities, and without understanding his path, I was judging him, which was uncalled for.

I remember, when he was accused of rape, a few years ago, and the media made big headlines; however, when he was released, no media bothered to publish the truth. I am no one to decide whether he was guilty or not, but the court can. If we believe in our judiciary, they must accept the fact that he is bailed out of all the charges made against him. The video went viral on social media, he received a lot of humiliation after that but his followers were his concrete supporters and they are growing day by day. Moreover, the court dismissed the case when the FBI forensic experts ruled the video fake. Later, the COO of now-defunct Sun TV admitted on trial that they aired the video knowing it was morphed. Actress Ranjitha (who was the part of fake sex CD) spilled the beans about ongoing media trials. But no mainstream media ever had the audacity to control the damage done to them. Nithyananda is the only man in the history to be arrested for a crime with no victim, no witness, and no evidence.

Again, I am no one to question the integrity and intelligence of the people who worship him as GOD. Some people hate him because the media has declared him self-styled Godman, despite the fact that he is traditionally raised Adishaiva initiated by multiple Sampradayas into Sannyas, whose slogan is, “I am not here to prove I am God, I am here to prove YOU are God.” Nithyananda gives so much clarity and honest experiences of Hinduism that those got converted to other religion are coming back to Dharma. Every human has the right to protect its religion and its essence. He is just calling them back to the fold that they gave up for various reasons. Go to his social media pages and see which population is an avid critic of his speeches. I am not dividing anyone by saying so, but unfortunately, the so-called liberals, leftists, and rationalists are playing a major role in misguiding the practicing of Hinduism. They are uprooting them for their own motives and agenda. In such a scenario, if spiritual leaders like Nithyananda take on them, he is attacked by all means. Let’s come back to his scientific claims; do we have any solid arguments to refute what he said? Can we prove him wrong, other than just making fun? Has anyone ever challenged him and proved him wrong and for that matter, we have examples like Sant Dnyaneshwar making the he-buffalo repeat Vedas and the other of bringing to life Sat-chit-Anand Baba. Let me tell you, those who reside permanently as volunteers in his ‘adheenam’, 90 per cent of them are educated with Master level degrees or higher. Who is scientifically challenged? Balaji Srinivasan of Silicon Valley fame, which innovated the medical diagnostic industry by inventing the machine that can accurately measure diseases at a fraction of the cost of what was being used before, uses his 4 degrees from Stanford and Harvard? Or maybe you’re talking about Anupama Deshpande, once among the inner circle of Microsoft sitting as the head of its marketing department or perhaps, Dr. Srilekha Kartik, the pediatrician in Bangalore?

Nithyananda is neither scientifically challenged nor followed by fools; He is an intellect and his devotee base is a who’s who of the intelligentsia, also including Rajiv Malhotra, bestselling author and the modern voice of Hindu India, Narendra Giriji Maharaj, the president of the Akhada Parishad, the oldest governing body of Hinduism, etc. Now don’t call them saffron bigots just because they are the followers of Swami Nithyananda. You follow him or not or believe him or not is your personal choice, but without having any substantial grounds, one should not haunt him with attacks and display your oddity. He is believed by his disciples to be an avatar – a reincarnated deity (named Mahasadashiva). He is the founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam which is based out of India but has devotees on a broader international scale, with temples, gurukulas, and ashrams in many countries. Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a religious organisation founded by Nithyananda, regularly hosts cultural events related to Hinduism in the United States. They have also set two Guinness World Records, one in rope yoga and one in pole yoga (Mallakhamba). Swami Nithyananda’s organisation initiated spiritual powers in their disciples, including kundalini awakening and third-eye awakening. There are 400 extraordinary spiritual powers that can be expressed by humans and has claimed to initiate his disciples into 60 such powers. There are people who have witnessed these powers and believe him to the core. Let the legacy live!

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

In-depth probe in Munde death when NCP, allies form govt: Patil

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

A detailed probe will be carried out into the death of former Union minister Gopinath Munde after the NCP and allies will form the next government, the party’s Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil said on Thursday.

Patil’s remark comes a few days after a “cyber expert” claimed senior BJP leader Munde was “killed” as the latter was aware of alleged hacking of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP-led NDA had won the polls.

The cyber expert, identified as Syed Shuja who is seeking political asylum in the US, had last Monday claimed the 2014 polls were “rigged” through the EVMs, which he had said, could be hacked.

The Election Commission of India had denied the charge and asked the Delhi Police to lodge an FIR against the self- proclaimed cyber expert.

Shuja did not provide any proof to back his claims made at a press conference in London he addressed via Skype.

Munde died in a road accident in New Delhi in 2014, a week after taking over as Rural Development Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.

“The responsibility of tracing who is responsible for Munde’s death is on us. How he was killed has to be probed.

“Hence, a detailed probe will be carried out when our government is formed in the near future,” Patil said at a rally in Vasmat in Hingoli district.

The rally was organised as part of the third leg of the NCP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’, a public outreach programme the party has undertaken ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Patil said “it did not augur well” if a leader like Munde died allegedly in connection with an EVM-related matter.

The former Maharashtra minister also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issues of farm loan waiver and Dhangar quota, respectively.

“Both of them (Modi and Fadnavis) have forgotten (to keep promises made on the issues). Hence, there is no trust left in them,” he added.

He hailed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for giving “historic farm loan waiver” to farmers (in 2009) when the latter was the Union Agriculture Minister.

“But this government has not given a single penny,” Patil alleged.

Another NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal also addressed the rally and attacked the Shiv Sena for continuing to be part of the governments at the Centre and in the state despite the Uddhav Thackeray-led party’s constant criticism of the BJP-led regimes.

Swami Nithyananda assures No More Blinds!

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Vaidehi Taman

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January 24, 2019

According to the disciples of the self-styled Godman HDH Nithyananda Paramashivam on January 23, he initiated into powers of the third eye to 82 students afflicted by varying stages of blindness at a blind school in Vastrapur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, claiming there will be No More Blind kids! As per the Nithyananda Hindu University, “Bhagawan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam” initiated powers of the third eye to the blind children enabling them to read print material with consistency and stability while recognising shapes, pictures, objects, and colours for the first time in their lives. In a conversation with AV Editor, Swami Hari Chaitanya Puri Maharaj exclaimed, “Vedas have mention of such Vidya where even blind people can see through Inner vision. One institute in Malleswaram is practicing this and the students, after rigorous training, have mastered the Art. The Hindu religion is rich in various inventions; if you practice it, you will start believing in it.”

Popularly addressed as Bhagwaan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam, who is known among his devotees for his speeches, is revered, regarded, respected, and worshiped as the Avatar (living incarnation) of super-consciousness by millions across the globe, as claimed on his official website. As per Swami Nithyananda’s disciples, he is the 293rd Pontiff of the world’s oldest Shaivaite Aadheenam (temple monastery complex) and also the head of the world’s largest Shaivaite Aadheenam. He is also the youngest Maha Mandaleshwar (the highest level of Hindu spiritual guardianship) of the Mahanirvani Akhada (the ancient apex body of Hinduism).

Apart from that, it was stated that he and his Sangha (spiritual community) around the globe is serving humanity by reviving the science of completion, the science of Enlightenment, and manifesting various extraordinary spiritual powers as per the Vedic Agamic tradition of Sanatana Hindu Dharma. He is the author of 350 books, which are translated and published in 500 titles and various international languages.

On the official social media page of Nithyananda Hindu University, it is mentioned that due to multiple invasions and illegitimisation of the Vedic education system in the home country, this knowledge transmission system was almost lost. He is reviving this knowledge transmission system through Nithyananda Hindu University. It is claimed to be the oldest university as per known records that was first started in Kailaasa by Paramashiva Himself and then established in various sacred places such as Naimisharanya, Varanasi, Kanchi, Mathura, Avantika, etc — the mokshapuris. Nithyananda Hindu University was conceived with this objective in 2001 and legitimised by the establishing of the University in the US in 2007.

The first “experimental breakthrough” like no other in the modern world, of visually impaired children being able to read after being initiated by into third eye awakening by “Balasanths”, child students of the Nithyananda Gurukul, all of whom have been initiated in the ancient Vedic science of the third eye by the Bhagwaan Nithyananda Paramashivam, as claimed by the disciples of Swami Nithyananda.

Dr. Aniruddh Ambekar commented, “Most of today’s self-styled Godmen are nothing but scams who choose this way to loot others with their fraudulent activities. People believe that these Godmen will relieve them for their miseries; while on the other hand, many spiritual leaders have so far been arrested for frauds and criminal activities. Medical science doesn’t support such miracles and these are godmen’s trick to benefit their businesses.”

However, it is believed that, if the Swami Nithyananda has these powers as claimed by his disciple to embark eyesight to those blinds, it is suggested for all the believers and non-believers to seek the help of the ‘His Divine Holiness’ as called by the followers and disciples.

Renowned eye specialist Dr. Tatyarao Lahane stated, “People should realise that no miracles can bring back eyesight and only medical science can do that. People who have got their eyesight back might have gone through some treatment, it’s not possible otherwise. If miracle by spiritual leaders had the power to bring eyesight back, no blind would’ve been left in the world. Spreading superstitions in the country must be stopped and being in the world of developed science and technology, we must push away unfounded beliefs.”

Take steps to prohibit paid political content, ads on social media: Court to EC

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

The Bombay High Court Thursday said the Election Commission had a constitutional obligation to hold fair elections and hence should take steps to prohibit advertisements or paid political content on social media.

A division bench of Chief Justice N H Patil and Justice N M Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by lawyer Sagar Suryavanshi, seeking directions to the Commission to prohibit all persons, whether politicians or private individuals, from posting advertisements related to politics or elections, or paid political content on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, 48 hours before the election day.

Advocate Pradeep Rajgopal, appearing for the Commission, told the court that the poll panel has recommended amendment section 126 (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act, which prohibits public meetings, processions, campaigns, etc 48 hours before polling.

“By way of amendment, we propose to include the term electronic media in the provision,” he said.

The bench then noted that amendments to the Act would take a lot of time.

“Till the amendment is brought, what does the Election Commission propose to do about the issues raised in the petition? Elections are coming up. The commission should have some answers,” Chief Justice Patil said.

The court suggested the Commission to pass orders before the upcoming elections.

“The Election Commissioner can issue orders. You (EC) are not helpless. In order to conduct and hold fair elections the commission can issue orders. It is your constitutional obligation,” the chief justice said.

The bench has also directed a senior officer of the Commission to remain present before it next week for further hearing on the plea.

The petitioner’s lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud told the bench that social networking sites, such as Facebook, had advertising policies in the UK and the US, where all advertisements and paid content were subjected to strict verification process.

He argued that a similar policy must be implemented in India too.

MSEDCL to appoint 23,000 ‘power managers’ in Maharashtra villages

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) will appoint ‘power managers’ in 23,000 villages to attend to the complaints related to electricity and its theft, an official release said on Wednesday.

The MSEDCL will appoint 23,000 ‘village electrical managers’ one at the gram panchayat level. They will attend to the power-related complaints and electricity thefts, the release said.

During a programme held in Nagpur recently, Energy Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule distributed certificates to candidates, who have completed ‘gram vidyut vyavasthapak’ training jointly initiated by the MSEDCL and Maharashtra State Skill Development Society.

Bawankule said the course will open employment opportunities for the youth in rural areas, as the ‘village electrical manager’ will work for the MSEDCL at the gram panchayat level.

“Similarly, these power managers will also be given the responsibility of implementation and creation of awareness on solar energy installations in hospitals, schools, farms and homes,” he said.

‘If BJP-Sena don’t join hands, Cong-NCP will come to power’

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil on Thursday said that if the BJP and the Shiv Sena don’t forge an alliance for the upcoming elections, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power in the state.

Speaking to reporters here, he said Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will be held separately.

The revenue minister said since the alliance between both the parties is very strong, it has withstood numerous “quakes” in the last four years.

“Had the Congress and the NCP decided to fight the polls separately, then there was no harm in our going solo. However, even the Sena knows that in the present scenario, if we fight separately, the Congress-NCP combine will come to power,” the minister said.

The BJP will not be affected in case it loses, as the party will come to power at the Centre. The party is already in power in 20 states, he said.

“While the BJP will win 100-110 seats and Sena 40-50 seats, it is the people who will suffer. None of the political parties will be affected,” Patil said.

Replying to a query, the minister said elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly will be held separately “without any doubt”.

When asked about the tremors felt in Palghar district, Patil,who also holds the relief and rehabilitation portfolio, said seismologists and experts from IIT Bombay were studying the recent incidents.

“The earthquake incidents are limited to two villages in Palghar. The collector has been asked to make alternate arrangements for them to stay. We will see if they should be shifted to some other place altogether or be given new homes,” Patil said.

Mild tremors were felt in and around Dahanu in Palghar district on Sunday and Thursday, officials said.

Kate Hudson opens up about raising daughter with ‘genderless’ approach

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

Kate Hudson has recently revealed that she embraces a “genderless approach” when it comes to raising her 3-month old daughter Rani and her two older brothers from previous relationships.

People cited an interview Hudson gave to AOL, where she said that having a daughter does not really change her approach, but there is “definitely a difference.”

“I think you just raise your kids individually regardless – like a genderless [approach]. We still don’t know what she’s going to identify as,” she further added.

Hudson also said that right now her daughter is incredibly feminine in her energy, sounds and way. “It’s very different from the boys, and it’s really fun to actually want to buy kids’ clothes,” she explained.

According to Hudson, her own upbringing as the only girl in a group of brothers, including Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell, helped her see the fluidity of gender roles.

She went on to share that as a child she was a “tomboy in a spinning dress,” adding, “My middle brother [Boston Russell], who is closest to me in age, was basically my sister because I put makeup on him all the time, and I’d dress him up and he loved it.”

However, the ‘Almost Famous’ actress added that growing up as a girl with all boys ends up giving one a thick skin. “People say, ‘Oh, your brothers must’ve really protected you.’ And I’m like, ‘They threw me right into the fire!'” she explained.

While Hudson is committed to raising her three children in a gender-neutral environment, Kurt Russell had previously shared that her demeanor has shifted a bit when compared to how she parented her sons as babies.

Three of family killed as car rams into stationary bus

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

Three members of a family were killed and another one seriously injured when their car rammed into a stationary bus from behind at Chandwad on Mumbai-Agra national highway on Thursday morning, police said.

The incident took place around 11 am, police said.

Mahendrakumar Samdadia (51), his wife Vandana (45), son Himanshu (19) died on the spot, while the couple’s another son Hardik (20) sustained serious injuries in the incident and was admitted to a hospital, they said.

“The family was heading towards Nashik from Malegaon in their car. When their vehicle reached goddess Renuka temple at Chandwad, one of its tyres burst. Due to it, Mahendrakumar lost control over the car, which rammed into the stationary bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) from behind,” an official of Chandwad police station said.

The Samdadia family hailed from Dindori taluka in Nashik district, police said.

Bodies of the deceased were sent to Chandwad government hospital for post-mortem and a case has been registered.

‘Deadpool 3’ will go in ‘completely different direction’, says Ryan Reynolds

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Web Team

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January 24, 2019

Ryan Reynolds has said that “Deadpool” threequel will go in a “completely different direction”.

The actor, who plays the title role of Merc With a Mouth in the Marvel film franchise, said the writers are looking to shake things up with the potential sequel.

“(They are) looking to go in a completely different direction” with the third installment,” Reynolds told Variety.

“Often, they reboot or change a character maybe like four movies too late,” he added.

Reynolds co-wrote “Deadpool” with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

The actor is currently promoting the film in China. A re-cut, PG-13 version of the 2018 film would hit Chinese screens Friday.

This was the first time the franchise has passed the country’s stringent censorship rules.