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Congo Fever is back in Maharashtra

September 30, 2020

In 2011, nearly a decade after it was first detected in Gujarat, two people died from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. The state government has sent blood samples of 134 other people to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for examination. But the disease, which is transmitted either through the bite of a tick, or contact with blood or tissues of infected animals or humans, and has a high fatality rate (from 5% to 80%), underscores the belief that India is fast becoming a hotspot for emerging illnesses. The last decade has seen infectious diseases such as Nipah, Avian influenza, pandemic influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, and chikungunya virus emerging and re-emerging in the country.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has not been reported previously from India. Initial clinical features of dengue fever and CCHF are similar and it is very difficult to differentiate and diagnose CCHF. Common clinical features of CCHF include; high-grade fever with chills, headache, body ache, myalgia, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, and bleeding from multiple sites. Laboratory investigations showed cytopenia, raised prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), raised creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as altered liver and renal functions. Patients with the above symptoms can rapidly progress to bleeding from multiple sites and death compared to dengue fever. It is crucial to recognize CCHF at an early stage to institute ribavirin treatment and also to prevent nosocomial spread of disease to health care workers. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected animals, but a serious threat to the health of humans. Human infections begin with non-specific febrile symptoms but progress to a serious hemorrhagic syndrome with a high case fatality rate. Although the causative virus is often transmitted by ticks, animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission also occur. CCHF affects mostly adults and is endemic in many countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. During 2001, cases or outbreaks were recorded in Iran, Pakistan, South Africa with the latest being in India.4 It has also been found in parts of Europe including southern portions of the former USSR, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, and Kosovo.

In this outbreak, this rare deadly virus killed many people. The victims included an adult female, a nurse, and the doctor who treated the adult female at a private hospital in Ahmedabad. The patients died due to multiple organ failure, specifically failure of the liver and kidney. The National Institute of Virology (NIV), (Pune, India) confirmed that all three patients were infected with the CCHF virus. The NIV is testing some 50 samples from the area, and the Gujarat government, warning of a possible outbreak, has begun a screening exercise covering approximately 16,000 villagers then. The CCHF virus may infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals, with the occurrence of this virus correlated with the distribution of a particular species of tick. A number of tick genera are capable of becoming infected with the CCHF virus, but the most efficient and common vectors for CCHF appear to be members of the Hyalomma genus. Trans-ovarial (transmission of the virus from infected female ticks to offspring via eggs) and venereal transmission have been demonstrated amongst some vector species, indicating one mechanism which may contribute to maintaining the circulation of the virus in nature. Many birds are resistant to infection, but ostriches are susceptible and may show a high prevalence of infection in endemic areas. Animals become infected with CCHF from the bite of infected ticks.

However, the most important source for acquisition of the virus by ticks is believed to be infected small vertebrates on which immature Hyalomma ticks feed. Once infected, the tick remains infected through its developmental stages, and the mature tick may transmit the infection to large vertebrates, such as livestock. Domestic ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, are viraemic (virus circulating in the bloodstream) for around one week after becoming infected. Humans acquire CCHF in two different ways; through a tick bite or contact or by contagion. The sources of exposure include being bitten by a tick (happening, occasionally when individuals squash them between their fingers as a means of self-protection), contacting animal blood or tissues, and drinking unpasteurised milk. Human-to-human transmission can occur, particularly when the skin or mucous membranes are exposed to blood during hemorrhages or tissues during surgery. This disease is a particular threat to farmers and other agricultural workers, veterinarians, laboratory workers, and hospital personnel. Infection more commonly occurs in people who have outdoor occupations such as farmers, dairymaids, or woodsmen.

The first sign of CCHF is a sudden onset of fever and other non-specific symptoms including chills, severe headache, dizziness, photophobia, neck pain, myalgia and arthralgia, and the accompanying fever may be very high. Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, non-bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain are also common. It is followed, after several days, by the hemorrhagic phase. The average case fatality rate is 30–50%, but mortality rates from 10% to 80% have been reported in various outbreaks. The mortality rate is usually higher for nosocomial infections than after tick bites; this may be related to the virus dose. Particularly high mortality rates have been reported in some outbreaks from the United Arab Emirates (73%) and China (80%). Due to the high case fatality rates and difficulties in treatment, prevention, and control, CCHF is a disease that should be notified to the public health authorities immediately. CCHF virus is also in the list of agents for which the Revised International Health Regulations of 2005 call for the implementation of the decision algorithm for risk assessment and possible notification to the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Amid COVID, Congo fever cases on rise, city tabelas and cattle feeders are on high alert

Afternoon Voice

September 30, 2020

A rare disease known as Congo fever has claimed its first victims in India. The Palghar district administration issued a ‘Congo fever’ alert after neighboring Gujarat districts reported around four cases of the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), feared to be spreading from animals to humans. The district administration has asked cattle feeders, meat sellers, and staff of the state animal husbandry department to watch out for symptoms that can cause the Congo fever. The virus is transmitted through the bite of the Hyalomma tick, an external parasite, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, etc.

Jogeshwari’s only ‘Tabela’ owner, Ramanand Tiwary told Afternoon Voice that “the cattle are brought from Gujarat and nearby areas to Mumbai. The sheds here are congested due to space problem, we maintain possible hygiene but still avoiding cattle is not possible’.

Ashish Mulk, a Veterinary doctor from Borivali said “this is not the first time that Maharashtra is facing the threat of Congo fever, it actually returns every year. Surprisingly no major steps are taken to control such hazards”. The onset of CCHF is sudden, with initial signs and symptoms including headache, high fever, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting. Red eyes, a flushed face, a red throat, and petechiae (red spots) on the palate are common. Symptoms may also include jaundice, and in severe cases, changes in mood and sensory perception. As the illness progresses, large areas of severe bruising, severe nosebleeds and uncontrolled bleeding at injection sites can be seen, beginning on about the fourth day of illness and lasting for about two weeks”. This time COVID pandemic has already taken a toll and this is another threat to human lives”.

The long-term effects of CCHF infection have not been studied well enough in survivors to determine whether or not specific complications exist. However, recovery is slow. Animal husbandry department’s deputy commissioner Dr. Prashant Kamble in a circular said the CCHF has been found in some districts of Gujarat. As villages of Palghar district border Gujarat, an alert has been issued. No case of CCHF has been reported in the Palghar district so far. Those with symptoms like headache, high fever, joint pains, abdomen pain and nausea, redness of the eyes, bleeding from the nose have been asked to report to the district administration. Farmers have been asked to ensure the hygiene of cattle sheds, wearing masks, gumboots, and hand gloves.

The district is already tackling growing cases of Covid-19 in rural areas. As of Monday, the district had 34,558 cases of which rural Palghar had 12,279. In January 2011, the first human cases of CCHF in India were reported in Sanand, Gujarat, India, with 4 reported deaths, which included the index patient, treating physician, and nurse. As of May 2012, 71 people were reported to have contracted the disease in Iran, resulting in 8 fatalities.

Owaisi outrages over court ruling in Babri mosque demolition case

Afternoon Voice

September 30, 2020

Expressing outrage over the verdict of a special CBI court that acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP veteran L K Advani, in the Babri mosque case, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday called it “obnoxious” and said the central agency should appeal against it.

Speaking to reporters, Owaisi in his reaction to the judgement said, “This judgement satisfies the collective consciousness of hindutva and its followers and ideology” He wondered how the court could state that there was no conspiracy in the matter.

“Was it some sort of magic that on December 6 the masjid was demolished? Who called for the assembling of the people over there? Who made sure that they entered over there?” he asked. Owaisi said the CBI should appeal against the judgement “to protect its independence.” Terming the CBI court’s ruling as “obnoxious,” he said he would urge the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to appeal against it.

The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, which triggered riots for several months leaving nearly 2,000 people dead across the country. The structure was demolished by ‘kar sevaks’ who claimed that the mosque in Ayodhya was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple.

Babri demolition case: LK Advani, MM Joshi among 32 accused acquitted

Afternoon Voice

September 30, 2020

All the 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition case, including BJP veterans L K Advani and MM Joshi, were acquitted by a special CBI court on Wednesday. The court said there was no conclusive proof against them.

Delivering the much-awaited verdict in the 28-year-old case, CBI judge S K Yadav did not accept newspapers and video cassettes as evidence.

The court also observed that late Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal wanted to save the structure because Ram idols were inside. The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, which triggered riots for several months leaving nearly 2,000 people dead across the country.

The structure was demolished by ‘kar sevaks’ who claimed that the mosque in Ayodhya was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple. The 32 accused, include former deputy prime minister Advani, former Union minister Joshi and Uma Bharti, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, during whose tenure the structure was pulled down, besides Vinay Katiyar and Sadhvi Rithambara. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the trust in charge of constructing the temple, was among the accused.

Yadav had on September 16 directed all the 32 surviving accused to remain present in the court on the day of the judgment. Today was the last working day of Yadav.

However, Bharti (61) and Singh (88) are convalescing in separate hospitals after coronavirus infection and were not present in the court at the time of pronouncement of order. Advani (92), Joshi (86), Nritya Gopal Das and Satish Pradhan were also not present in court. Singh, during whose tenure as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the disputed structure was demolished, was put on trial in September last year after his tenure as governor (of Rajasthan) came to an end.

With the Supreme Court setting August 31 as the deadline and later extending it by a month for the CBI court to give its verdict, the trial court started day-to-day hearing to complete the task on time. The central agency produced 351 witnesses and 600 documents as evidence before the court. Charges were framed against 48 people, but 16 have died during the course of trial. The trial under the serious criminal conspiracy charges commenced against them after having been dropped by the trial court in 2001.

The verdict was upheld by the Allahabad High Court in 2010, but the apex court ordered restoration of the conspiracy charge against them on April 19, 2017. The top court ordered daily hearing in the high profile case and directed the special judge to conclude it in two years. The charge of conspiracy was in addition to the existing charges against them for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. The accused were also facing charges of having made assertions “prejudicial to national integration and injuring or defiling a place of worship”.

The other charges against them included indulging in “deliberate and malicious” acts intended to outrage religious feelings, uttering statements leading to public mischief, rioting and unlawful assembly. The CBI had argued that the accused conspired and instigated ‘kar sevaks’ to demolish the 16th century mosque. However, the accused had pleaded innocence maintaining that there is no evidence to prove their guilt and claimed they were implicated by the then Congress government at the Centre as a political vendetta.

In a significant judgment last year, the Supreme Court allotted the disputed site in Ayodhya for construction of a Ram temple, while calling the demolition of the mosque a violation of the rule of law. An alternative five-acre site was marked in the city for building a mosque. Before the 2017 verdict of the apex court, two sets of cases were being heard in Lucknow and Raebareli.

The trial of the first case involving unnamed ‘kar sevaks’ was going on in a Lucknow court, while the second set of cases relating to the eight VVIPs, including Advani, Joshi, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Singhal, Katiyar, Bharti, Giriraj Kishore and Sadhvi Ritambhara, were going on in a Raebareli court. The apex court, had while restoring the charge of criminal conspiracy, directed clubbing of two cases relating to the demolition and had also ordered that the trial be concluded in two years.

Upsurge in Suicides in India in 2020 – Maximum Suicide Rate in Maharashtra: NCRB

Afternoon Voice

September 29, 2020

To talk about teen-age suicides, it is important to first understand the teen mind. India reported about 381 suicides daily for the year of 2019, marking an increase of nearly 3.4% suicide deaths as compared to 2018, a report by the National Crime Records Bureau said. In the year 2019, 139,123 suicides were reported, as compared to 2018, which saw 134,516 suicides, and 2017 which recorded 1,29,887 fatalities. Notably out of the 1,39,123 suicides in the year 2019, 92,757 which amounts to about 66.7% were people who were married, according to the National Crime Records Bureau report.

It is a common complaint of most teen parents how their calm and predictable child turned into a rebellious and feisty teen. It happens because a child’s brain undergoes dramatic changes during the teen years, which gets their mind all muddled. To put it simply, the teen brain is not a fully developed adult brain. More than 1.39 lakh Indians died by suicide in the year 2019, 67 per cent of which were young adults (18-45 years), shows the latest data released by National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB). World health organisation says the single largest illness in the world is depression. 300 million+ people globally suffer from depression. 240 million+ people suffer from anxiety.

Dr Anshuman Manasvi says, “Most of the time we suffer from some sort of mental stress more than any other illness. For instance, if I have any other ailment, say diabetes or thyroid, if I do not consult a doctor, then my condition would deteriorate. So, if I am depressed, I have anxiety disorders, if I am on medications, if I don’t take them, naturally it won’t work. It’s no difference whether it is the physical illness of the body or the disease of the mind,”.

The NCRB report titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2019’, released Tuesday shows that of the total 1.39 lakh 2019 suicides, 93,061 were young adults. Compared to 2018 numbers (89,407), youth suicides in India have risen by 4 per cent. The overall suicide figures rose by 3.4 per cent in the same time. Hanging was found to be the most common method of attempting suicide. Around 74,629 people (53.6 per cent) hanged themselves in the year 2019. On August 23, a CBI team conducted a dummy test to verify the sequence of events that led to the actor’s hanging. If Sushant’s death investigation did reveal a death by hanging, he will join the list of several other celebrities who died by suicide, including actress Jiah Khan who was also found hanging in her home in 2013. According to the NCRB report, 71 per cent of those who died by suicide due to mental illness, 64 per cent who died by suicide due to family problems, 62 per cent of those who died by suicide due to love affairs, and 98 per cent of those who committed suicide due to drug abuse and alcohol addiction were males.

The apparent reasons being reported for Sushant Singh’s alleged suicide are no less than what an ordinary person committing suicide would face otherwise. His break-up with co-star Ankita and then a love affair with Rhea Chakraborty is well known. It was also alleged that Sushant “used to smoke marijuana”. On the family front, Sushant was only 16-years-old when he lost his mother – the pain of losing a parent never really subsides. It was also alleged that Sushant wasn’t happy with his father’s second marriage. This particular allegation, however, of the bitter relationship between the father and son have been made by the prime accused and his ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty.

Apparently, Sushant was also fighting depression. His psychiatrist Dr. Kersi Chavda told Mumbai Police during an investigation that the actor had stopped taking his medicines in June following which he suffered a panic attack in the first week of the month. The psychiatrist also revealed to the Mumbai Police that the actor had “severe anxiety, depression and existential crisis”. While it is being reported that Sushant was suffering from diseases of the mind, it’s worth noting the fact that mental illness also pushed roughly 6500 youngsters to suicide, almost an 8.5 per cent rise in the category from the preceding year, 2018.

Suicide cases dramatically declined after liquor shops were reopened

Vaidehi Taman

September 29, 2020

India is a vast country with a population of 1.37 billion. A remarkable observation to be made about suicide studies in India is that suicide rates and patterns differ a lot between different States and territories. Possible explanations for these differences may point to factors relevant to the causation of suicide. Of the total 1.39 lakh suicides recorded in the year 2019, roughly 93,016 or 67 per cent were committed by youngsters (aged 18+ and below 45). Of these, 31,725 (34 per cent) suicides happened because of family problems, marriage related issues drove 7,293 (7.3 per cent) people to suicide.

Mental illness was a cause of suicide for 6,491 people or 7 per cent of the total suicide committed by youngsters. Drug abuse/alcoholic addiction drove 5,257 (5.6 per cent) to die by suicide and love affairs drove 4,919 (5.2 per cent) people to kill themselves. More importantly, the incidence of suicide due to family problems and mental illness is quite high in males. During the COVID-19 lockdown, there are reports pointing to an increase in alleged suicides. lockdown reported 164 stories talking about around 140 suicides and about 24 attempted suicides. On June 14 this year, Hindi film actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his apartment in Bandra. Whether the celebrity died by suicide or not has been a mystery as the matter is still being investigated, however, his demise shook the entire nation. A teen’s brain is rapidly growing connections which can have certain side effects and that is the reason a big number of mental disorders like anxiety, eating disorder all kick in during teen years. Teens go through an identity crisis as both the mind and body are changing. They are confused and trying to come to grips with who they are mentally as well as physically. And teens who do not have a healthy support system and coping skills often succumb to suicidal thoughts. Children during their teen years develop a new sense of identity, new ideas regarding what they want to achieve in their lives. By the time the child reaches his teens, parents have formed solid notions of what the child’s day to day behavior should be and what the child should achieve in his or her life. And then teenage hits. This is where disappointments kick in.

India accounts for 17.8 percent of all reported suicide cases. According to the National Crime Bureau, India reported 381 suicides daily for the year 2019. Many mental health experts feel that underlying mental health issues are often sidelined when the cause of death is being assessed. The capability and worthiness of a child are judged solely on the basis of academic achievements and society, in general, is not open-minded enough to respect nonscholastic achievements. Such highly polarized judgmental opinions within the family can lead to dejection and the situation may appear to be insurmountable for some children, causing them to take the extreme step of committing suicide.

Some of the most common risk factors include depression, being the victim of sexual abuse, physical abuse, addiction, bullying, marginalization due to sexual orientation, and a family history of suicide. Parents need to watch out for obvious signs of suicidal tendencies, including talk of suicide, social withdrawal, mood swings, drug use, changes in routine, self-destructive behavior, severe anxiety, and personality changes. As a parent, it is always important to be aware of what is going on. They should have a non-judgmental attitude so the child is able to talk to them about issues freely. Be extremely aware of their changes and have empathy. Guide them and let them know that it is OK to not be OK. It is OK to feel down. Give them ample space to deal with their issues, while extending support throughout. There are times when the child may not be able to confide in parents, so take them to an expert. The purpose should be to help them wade through difficult situations and times. Parents have the constant urge to protect their kids from any pain or failure but these should ideally be seen as opportunities for learning. The parental role should be restricted to providing support and love, and the teen should be allowed to use his ability to resolve the issue. Suicide was the leading cause for over 300 “non-coronavirus deaths” reported in India due to distress triggered by the nationwide lockdown, revealed a new set of data compiled by a group of researchers. The ongoing pandemic has affected people’s mental health majorly. This year’s theme is ‘working together to prevent suicide.’

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, 2019, the average deaths by suicide every day in India is 381. The mental health crisis created by mass-scale employment and loss of income, financial distress, isolation, loss of liberty, fear of infection and death and concern regarding social isolation, etc., has further strengthened the grip of anxiety, depression, stress on people’s wellbeing in India. The lockdown has caused unprecedented changes in people’s lives.

According to ‘Rebooting 2020: A Story of COVID-19 and Shifting Perceptions’ survey by Mavericks India, sixty-one percent of Indians are experiencing mental-health related issues during this lockdown. This situation is not being given the attention and intervention it demands. There is a terrible amount of fear pertaining to the virus, of dying or losing loved ones. The unchecked spread of misinformation and rumours adds to the existing anxiety. There has been a widespread surge in partner violence during the lockdown. Frontline workers like doctors, nurses, police officials are in dire need of psychological support. 47% of health workers expressed their need for psychological help in a study conducted by Potloc. A research paper authored by Jianbo Li and Ying Wang reveals that in China, healthcare workers are reporting high rates of depression (50%), anxiety (45%), and insomnia (34%).

These figures are of significant concern, particularly in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Gujarat where the number of daily reported cases is very high. Many health workers have already complained of a shortage of masks, PPE from various corners of India throughout the lockdown. Many have also reported cases of mistreatment encountered in their communities. Coping with this psychological stress has been quite hard, and many in India have chosen suicide as a way out of their grim reality. Later into the lockdown, there was a spike in the number of suicide cases due to financial distress (disemployment and income loss included). The initial phases of the lockdown saw a higher number of suicides from fear. Restrictions on movement were more severe during these phases, so there were more reported suicides due to loneliness and social isolation. The later stages of the lockdown permitted not only millions of stranded people to go back home, but also let people move around their neighborhoods more freely. Reported suicide cases due to withdrawal after this first lockdown phase dramatically declined after liquor shops were reopened.

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Need to change mindset of society to control such incidents: Rekha Sharma on Hathras gang-rape

Afternoon Voice

September 29, 2020

In order to control incidents like Hathras gang-rape, we need to change the mindset of the society, Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW) said on Tuesday. She expressed grief over the death of the victim and assured help to her family.

“When this incident came to light, suo moto cognizance was taken. Unfortunately, the victim passed away. We will be there to help her family. To control such incidents, we need to change the mindset of the society,” Sharma told a news agency.

The 19-year-old Dalit woman, who was gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, died this morning at Safdarjung hospital.

The woman was gang-raped in Hathras on September 14, 2020, and was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital for better healthcare facilities.

Will fight against farm laws on all fronts: Punjab CM Amarinder to farmer unions

Afternoon Voice

September 29, 2020

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh extended his government’s full support to the agitating farmers on Tuesday and assured them of all possible legal and other steps to fight the “draconian new farm laws”, including a special session of the Assembly to discuss and decide the way forward. Singh said the Punjab government stands in full support of the farmers in these “dark and difficult times”.

Chairing a meeting with the representatives of 31 farmers’ unions here to take their views on the matter, the chief minister said he would be discussing the issue with his legal team later in the day to finalise the next steps, including challenging the farm laws in the Supreme Court. Besides the farmer representatives, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Punjab Harish Rawat attended the meeting, along with state ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLA Rana Gurjit Singh, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and the state’s Advocate General, Atul Nanda, an official statement said.

“We will take all possible steps to counter the Union government’s assault on the state’s federal and constitutional rights and fight for the interests of the farmers,” the chief minister told the farmer representatives. If legal experts advise amendment to state laws to fight the central laws, a special session of the Assembly will be immediately convened to do so, he said.

Singh made it clear that his government has no qualms about convening an Assembly session if that is the best course in the current circumstances. Asserting that the Centre had no right to enact these laws as it amounted to “violation” of the Constitution and an attack on the federal structure, the chief minister said his government shares the concerns of the farmers and will do “whatever it takes to scuttle the Union government’s attempt to ruin the farming community with these draconian legislation”. The battle will be fought on all fronts, he said, adding that besides the Congress’s signature campaign announced by Rawat on Monday, all panchayats in the state would be requested to pass resolutions against the farm laws and the same would be sent to the Union government.

Declaring that his government and the Punjab Congress are with the farmers in this “difficult time”, Singh said he would take the suggestions of the “Kisan” unions to legal experts to finalise the next course of action. “If the new laws are implemented, it will spell the end of agriculture,” he said, warning that “in the times ahead, the Government of India will follow up these legislations with the elimination of MSP and FCI, bringing an end to the time-tested farming procurement and marketing system as we know it”.

“The mandis that have existed and worked well for more than 60 years will be wiped out and with MSP also ending, wheat will be sold the same way as maize currently is — at much lower prices than dictated by the MSP,” the chief minister added. Farmers in Punjab have been protesting against the new laws meant to deregulate the sale of their crops, with their unions saying that these legislations will actually lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system. The Congress, along with other opposition parties and farmers’ organisations, held demonstrations against the new farm laws across the country on Monday.

Interview: ‘I take all that is good and walk my path’, says Atul Kulkarni

Vaidehi Taman

September 29, 2020

Atul Kulkarni, a famous Indian film actor who works primarily in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu language films. Kulkarni won the National Award for the best supporting actor for the films Hey Ram and Chandni Bar. Atul Kulkarni is known for his intense performances, be they in his debut film Hey Ram (2000) or second film Chandni Bar (2001), both of which won him National awards, or his later films like Natrang (2010) and Premachi Goshta (2012) or Bandish Bandits (2019). Known for not shying away from voicing his views. The actor got candid about his career and journey so far and also spoke about his freedom of expression not just for celebrities but also for the common public.

Excerpts:

What has driven you towards performing arts?

When I was doing my graduation, Bachelor of Arts in Solapur, those days I used to perform in college events. That was my first ever mindful performance, you can say, in front of an audience. I liked the entire process and I joined an amateur theatre group, which used to do plays. I worked with them for 2-3 years. Then I felt I should pursue it as a profession. I went to the National School of Drama (NSD) from 1992 to 1995. In 1995 I became a professional actor at the age of 30.

How do you look at your journey and the challenges in the acting profession?

Acting itself is challenging and extremely uncertain. Nobody in this field can say he or she is a hundred percent satisfied. You may be anyone, but there is constant ambiguity about everything. Working in this arena as an actor for more than three decades itself is the biggest task.

Who mentored when you started out?

No one has mentored me as such but yes many have inspired me towards good acting. You can pick and choose certain things from various actors. But considering one person as your everything, as your ideal, is wrong, according to me, I have taken a lot of things from a lot of people.

How did the cinema happen to you?

In 2000, Hey Ram was my first film, which was directed by Kamal Haasan. After coming out from NSD in 1995, I was doing a play called Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi, where I was playing Mahatma Gandhi. I did it in three languages — Marathi, Hindi, and Gujarati. Those days Kamalji was making a film called Hey Ram at that time. He had heard about this play. He called me to Chennai. I was actually given the role of Shriram Abhyankar. Then Madhur Bhandarkar saw Hey Ram and he offered me Chandni Bar (2001). The film became a hit. So, after that, I just kept doing films one after the other.

Do you miss the theatre?

I do not miss the theatre at all. I am loving working in films.

How exciting is it to adapt to different types of film industries?

In India, every state is like a country due to the difference in culture, language, everything. The culture gets reflected in whatever you are doing, not just the film industry. So, there is nothing simple or difficult about it. It is just understanding the culture, method of working, and thinking of a particular geographical area and adapting yourself to that. After all, you are dealing with human beings, and that is very exciting.

What are your criteria for choosing a film?

What I look into is basically the story. Then the storyteller and the character. It’s a combination. But mainly it is the story.

How do you look at the Marathi cinema?

We must understand that the modern Marathi film industry is just 10-15 years old. The industry gave the best of films all this while, I think Marathi cinema should compare itself only with Marathi cinema that happened a year before and not with any other industry. You can’t compare a 15-year-old industry with a 75-year-old person. We should just check what we have done last year. How much audience have we been able to attract? How many good films have we been able to make? And just try to improve upon ourselves. That is the only thing we should concentrate on. I am overwhelmed to see the super-duper hits that Marathi films gave in recent times.

Child artists are vulnerable to lockdown and there is urgent need for special safeguards

Vaidehi Taman

September 28, 2020

Child Artist, Lockdown, Child Actor, Indian Child Artist — Image for Representative Purpose

I am in touch with many child artists and some of them are very close to my heart. They are like family time. Young buddies and sometimes I become their secret holder too. A few days back, there was one video posted by one of these young buddies on WhatsApp that says life has stalled. I called her to ask what was bothering her. She spoke the world to me but ignored all that is asked her. They are children. I don’t probe them or get into those talks where they show no interest. After an hour or so she received her call again, and she told me my father was around so I refrained from talking. When she opened up about what all she is missing since six months of lockdown got tears to my eyes. Above all, she is missing that compassion and attention from her own parents because right now her utility is zero. Her father blames for not getting back to assignment whereas this is not in her hand. Well, I understood her point and asked her to be strong and not get into a sad zone. Separately. Spoke to her mother to update her about current scenarios in the film and TV industry. This is where my alarm rang and I started calling all those child artists who are in touch with me for years, some of them are five and some of them are now 14 to 15. Most of them are going through some unknown fear and anxiety. These young minds are very sensitive, what they need is kindness and consideration. More than the adults, the young minds are suffering with the stress of not working, not going to school, no outing, or no friends around. They feel caged and choked. Children may encounter sudden popularity or even hostility in schools from their peers and sometimes over attention due to their fame. Very few children manage a successful transition to adult actors and maintain fame and fortune. The effect that such actions can have on their emotional and psychological stability has been well researched and acknowledged by many professional psychologists.

These youngsters are very vulnerable and there is a need for special safeguards and care. Appropriate protection of children is important and indisputable when they participate in the entertainment industry. Child performers need to be treated with respect and their rights; needs and development must be of primary contemplation. The nature of film financing changed and the corporate sector stepped into movie-making. Many child artists are paid huge and some of them literally work for free to garner name and fame. The little that they are earning goes into maintaining their middle-class family life. In recent times the entertainment industry has seen a sudden boom, with a growth rate of 25 per cent in 2018, the Indian television industry stood second when compared with BRIC and other major developed economies. In 2019, the television market was expected to generate above USD 10 billion in revenue, making it among the biggest industries in India. The numbers are certainly impressive – in terms of the number of films produced each year, Bollywood is firmly on top of the pile with 1,602 in 2012 alone. In 2016, the Government of India amended the act governing child labor and recognized the rights of “child artists.” The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 defines an ‘‘artist’’ as a child who performs or practices any work as a hobby or profession directly involving him as an actor, singer, sportsperson, or in such other activity relating to the entertainment or sports activities. It also lays down rules and regulations that govern the employment of these children. Along with the NCPRC, the act attempts to safeguard the growth and development of a child. A child’s growth and development is a complex issue that includes numerous factors, inter-related to one another and if any growth thought-provoking factor is neglected it could lead to significant worries in the child’s behavior. Child actors or artists are perhaps most vulnerable to fall prey to the vicissitude of time, when they find themselves at the crossroads, unable to find work once their charm wears off. Screen analyses the pitfalls of facing success at an early stage and how these children cope in life later. Children are naïve; directors are thus able to bring a refreshing look to their movie, the audience is regaled by their antics on screen and often empathize with their plight depending on the content of the film, however little or no attention is paid to the psyche of the child, the changes in emotional or behavioral patterns, and the difficulties that the child may go through during the making of the film and once the spotlight shifts from them.

Children are often exposed to unsuitable, anxiety-inducing, and at times, dangerous operational hazards and situations. Many of these problems may be inherent and generic to the industry, but children, unlike their adult counterparts, should not be expected to handle the emotional and physical stress. It needs to be remembered that, by and large, children do not join the industry of their own volition. There is always an adult involved – a parent, or caretaker – who takes the decision for them. In the absence of any monitoring mechanism, there is every likelihood of child actors being exploited when it comes to the number of hours worked per day, and short-changed in terms of educational and safety provisions. Child artists are often immensely appreciated and accepted among the masses while they are still children; however, as they grow up these children are not able to handle the rejection they are put through once the flush of success wanes off. There have been several instances in the past when actors who have been highly successful as child artistes find it difficult to find a place in the industry once their cherubic charm fades away. Similarly, the child artists who saw a lot of limelight and especially the parents who took advantage of this fame, both are in stress since the lockdown is imposed as people have forgotten them, and resuming back to the industry is another struggle for them. In this tug of war, the child is the most compromised factor on various aspects.

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