Tag: Interview

Exclusive | Full text of the PM interview: Modi’s agenda for the next 5 years

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, along with News18 Lokmat’s Vilas Bade and News18 Kannada Editor Hariprasad speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an exclusive interaction ahead of the remaining phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Here’s the full text of the PM Modi interview:

Rahul Joshi: Modi ji, we have been touring the whole country. We were in the south, went to Bihar, and Maharashtra too. Whether we talk to the Opposition or your candidates, they say that ‘when Modi ji comes here, everything will change’. They say ‘nothing can be said right now’. ‘If Modi ji comes here, it is possible that there will be a sweep, it is possible to bag the seat’. Can this 2024 election be seen as a referendum on Narendra Modi?

PM Modi: Now that’s the business of the media—how and when to analyse. But I would say this much that I don’t run any election-time government. If you see my record of 10 years, then on an average, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, I went to some corner of India. I have been among the people and that is why my visits continue. I believe elections are the festival of democracy and as such it is the duty of all political parties to go among the people as much as possible. They should engage in dialogue and discussion. So, whether it’s election time or not, I consider it my duty as a worker in the political field to meet the people.

As far as these two phases of elections are concerned, I have seen such public support in very few elections. In a way, the people are fighting these elections. They are fighting for good governance. They are fighting to fulfill their dreams. I feel perhaps I am just the medium. I am more enthusiastic to go among the people this time because when the people are so enthusiastic to take up such a big responsibility, I feel it is my duty to bow down to them and seek their blessings. When the first round of elections took place, I had told some friends that people who were campaigning against us were finished. After the second round, they are demolished. First, people finished them, now they demolished them.

Rahul Joshi: Modi ji, you started the campaign on a very high note. You introduced the entire work of the government. You moved forward with the development agenda. You shed a lot of light on the economy and a lot of work has been done on it. Now, after a couple of rounds, you made a direct attack on the Congress manifesto at a rally in Rajasthan. You even said that they have a scheme through which they want to distribute wealth. They want to find out who has how much savings, who has how much money, who has how much gold, silver and they want to distribute it among Muslims and infiltrators. Is this threat so real? Do you see it like that?

PM Modi: I feel that maybe your team has not tracked my entire campaign. There are many good developmental things which may not be fitting in terms of TRP. But you must have seen that my entire election campaign is focused on two things. One, we have done work for the welfare of society. The biggest difference in this government [compared to previous ones] is that last-mile delivery is our specialty. See, no government is formed to do bad, it wants to do good. Some people know how to do good for others, some people wait for good things to happen. I am a person who believes in working hard and getting things done.

Now see, I am continuously saying in the elections that we have built four crore houses for the poor. I tell so many people that when you go for this election campaign, please help me by sending a list of people whose houses have not been built. As soon as my third term starts, I want to take this work forward. I want to build three crore more houses. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the world’s largest health insurance and health assurance scheme. This is the assurance of treatment to 55 crore people. It is an assurance that Modi’s government is with you. This time, we have said in the manifesto that no matter which class, society, background a person belongs to, whoever is above 70 years of age—both men and women—will get free treatment up to ₹5 lakh. This time we have also said in the manifesto that we will give this benefit to ASHA workers. We will give benefits to transgenders, no matter what their age is.

Now you have seen, in our country, banks have been nationalised, and they are playing these games of confiscation. This has already been done in the past. All the banks were private, they have looted and are taking money in the name of the poor. The condition of banks in our country was miserable. More than half of the population of the country was such that it gave money to open accounts in banks but the banks never opened their accounts. Then Modi came and opened 52 crore bank accounts, and I took the biggest advantage of it. I took the trinity of Jan Dhan, mobile and Aadhaar and encouraged Direct Benefit Transfer. A sum of ₹36 lakh crore—the figure is very big—has gone into people’s accounts [via Direct Benefit Transfer]. This huge financial inclusion has happened in our country [due to opening of accounts]. This is more than the number of accounts that would have opened in the world in a year. There is Jal Jeevan Mission in our country. In India, 3-4% of the villages would get water from taps in their homes, that too in urban localities. Today, tap water has reached 14 crore rural families.

Now all this work is what helped 25 crore people come out of poverty. We have empowered them, and my strategy is that we give so much strength to the poor, so much power, that the poor themselves overcome poverty. And when the poor overcome poverty with their hard work, after that they do not want to go back to poverty. It becomes a commitment, and they become the strength of the country. Today, we are benefiting as 25 crore people have come out of poverty. It is a very big achievement, the world is praising it, and this will become a model for the developing countries.

You see, what was the situation before 2014? Fragile 5 used to be the headline. Today, we have become a vibrant economy. In IMF, there is a group of 150 countries of the world—which includes China and India—which we can call developing countries or countries with an emerging economy. They analysed such a group by classifying them together. It is a very interesting observation.

Now see what the analysis is. In 1998, India’s per capita GDP was around 30%, compared to others in the peer group. At that time, Atal ji’s government was in power. From 1998 to 2004, Atal ji took this figure from 30% to 35%. It was a good progress. But unfortunately, in 2004, this khichdi company came, and this khichdi company ruined the work of Atal ji. They brought the number down from 35% to 30%. All these countries [in the peer group] performed better than India. During the UPA regime, India became poorer compared to the other countries in the developing world. Those poorer than us went ahead.

But in 2014, after the formation of the government, till 2019, you will be happy to know that we took the figure to 37%. And when I reached the year 2024, this figure was 42%. That means our income has grown very fast as compared to other countries of the world. If you look at the inflation rate in the period of ten years, which is discussed so much, then these ten years have seen the lowest inflation. What I am saying is on the basis of reality. We have achieved this after a lot of hard work. We have mobilised the entire government, and we have put in our best efforts to achieve the target. Despite that, what does Modi say? Modi says this is just a trailer, I have to go further. I want to move very fast, taking the country along with me.

So far as the Congress manifesto is concerned, someone please tell me, are the manifestos of political parties during elections a mere showpiece? It is the work of the media to read the manifestos of every political party. I was waiting for the media to comment on it. I had commented on the manifesto on the first day. After seeing the manifesto, I feel that it has the stamp of the Muslim League. I thought that the media will be shocked. Those who do analysis will be shocked. But they just kept saying whatever is presented by the Congress. Then I thought that this seems to be a big scam of the ecosystem and I will have to bring the truth. I waited for 10 days that the evils in the manifesto would be brought out by someone or the other because if it is brought out in an unbiased manner, it is good. Finally, I was forced to bring out these truths.

You see, when one of their mahashay gave an interview in America where he brought up the issue of inheritance tax, about 55% tax on your property. Now I am talking about development and inheritance and they are talking of plundering that inheritance. Their history till date is about doing what they have mentioned in the manifesto. It is my responsibility to tell the countrymen that they are taking the country in this direction. Now you decide whether you want to go or not. But it is my responsibility that on the basis of facts and importance, I should tell you [the truth].

Rahul Joshi: Sam Pitroda ji spoke about inheritance tax on the wealth we save for our family when we give it to our next generation. This tax could be very high. Will you say that if BJP comes to power, it will never implement this tax?

PM Modi: What the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to do is written in our manifesto. How does the thought that we will carry forward their plan even come to your mind? The ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party is clear. We go before the country with our manifesto and work. Please don’t impose their great thoughts on us.

Rahul Joshi: Rahul Gandhi has spoken about a national X-ray or socio-economic survey, along with caste census. The institutional survey will look at which sections are behind and will redistribute the wealth accordingly.

PM Modi: People who consider themselves political experts should ask such people that if the conditions you (Congress) describe are real, then you have been in power for 50–60 years. You gave birth to this. Why did you let it come to this? Secondly, X-ray means raiding every household. If any woman has hidden gold where she stores grains, even that will be X-rayed. The jewels will be confiscated. Land records will be scrutinised. And these will be redistributed. This Maoist ideology has never helped the world. This is an entirely ‘Urban Naxal’ thought. This is why the Jamaat, which usually keeps writing, kept quiet about the manifesto even after 10 days, because it will help them. They kept quiet to protect them. It then becomes my responsibility to awaken the country to the fact that they are planning to loot you. The next part is Dr Manmohan Singh has said clearly who has the first right on the country’s resources. They have clearly stated their intentions.

Rahul Joshi: A video of 2006 is going viral in which Manmohan Singh ji has said that poor Muslims have the first right on resources. He has clearly said this. You have also pointed out this in the Manifesto that he would like to take a part of the OBC reservation and give it to Muslims and between 2004-2014, he has tried to do this four-five times.

PM Modi: You have asked a very interesting question. The answer will be long but, for the sake of the country, I will have to tell you.

You see the history of Congress; this demand (for reservation) has been raised since the 1990s. There is a huge section of society in the country which felt that something should be done for them, there were protests for it. Before 1990, Congress completely opposed it and suppressed it. Then whatever commissions they formed, whatever committees they formed, their reports also started coming in favour of OBCs. They kept denying, rejecting, and suppressing these views. But after the 90s, due to vote-bank politics, they felt something must be done.

So, what was the first sin they committed? In the 90s, they decided to classify Muslims as OBCs in Karnataka. So they were rejecting and suppressing OBCs earlier, but for political gains, they labelled Muslims as OBCs. Congress was ousted from the Centre. This plan remained stalled till 2004. When Congress came back in 2004, it immediately decided to give OBC quota to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. The matter got complicated in court. The India Parliament had decided to give 27% reservation to OBCs in line with the basic spirit of the Constitution. Now, they tried to loot this 27% quota.

In 2006, a meeting of the National Development Council was held where there was a huge uproar over the statement of Singh. They remained quiet for two years. In the Ghoshana Patra of 2009, they mentioned it again. In 2011, there is a Cabinet Note on this where they decided to give a share from the OBC quota to Muslims. They tried this in the UP elections too but to no avail. In 2012, the Andhra High Court cancelled it. They went to Supreme Court, even there they did not get any relief. The 2014 Manifesto also talked about reservation on the basis of religion. When the Constitution of India was made, no RSS or BJP people were present. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and several great men of our country were present, and after long contemplation, they decided that reservation cannot be given on the basis of religion in a country like India.

See their manifesto for the 2024 elections. It has the imprint of the Muslim League. The way they are flouting the Constitution, the way they are insulting Ambedkar. There is a sword of danger hanging over reservation for SCs and STs. They will make life difficult for OBCs. Should I not inform the people of the country about this? I believe that it is the responsibility of all the learned people, who are rich in knowledge, who are unbiased, to educate this country, to tell it the right things.

Rahul Joshi: Congress says that they have not said this specifically. What they have said in the manifesto is written that they will encourage and assist students belonging to minorities. They have said that they will ensure minorities receive their fair share of opportunities. If they have said this, then how do you read it?

PM Modi: I don’t need to read it. I have given you the account from 1990 onwards. When you see the account from 1990, what will you say to me after that? Now I don’t need to analyse it. If you look at all the things from 1990 till Manmohan Singh ji’s 2009 statement on a table, what exactly will you conclude from this? I am not concluding this, anybody will conclude this, that this is what they will do.

Rahul Joshi: They talk about partnerships in institutions, no OBC judges or no representation for the OBC in the media. How do you see this?

PM Modi: Now tell me, when we came in 2014, did we make any policy that will stop anybody? These are their sins. It is their (Congress’s) sins that the country is paying for. If they had followed secularism in the true sense, had done social justice in the true sense, not done vote bank politics, then they would not have had to roam around with fake papers today. I believe that whatever I have been doing for the past 10 years, the results will be such that whatever questions are asked, we will be able to answer them, based on our actions. We will give justice to everybody. How did our country get the first Adivasi President? Through our thought process. We got three chances to make the President of India. Once during Atal-ji’s time, twice during my tenure. Who did we elect the first time? First, we made a member of the minority community, Abdul Kalam. Then I made a Dalit (Ramnath Kovind), then an Adivasi woman (Droupadi Murmu). Our actions show our thought process.

Rahul Joshi: Modi-ji, you have said one more thing and I want to connect this to a longer question. You have said that if their alliance forms the government, then they will have PMs by rotation. They are not able to decide who will be made the PM, so everyone will become PM for one year. My question is a bit larger. Do you think that the stage of development India is in, a coalition government will work or a stable government will be more effective?

PM Modi: These are two different questions. See the character of the Congress. In Rajasthan, there was an internal conflict within the party. They made a formula that one would be the chief minister for 2.5 years and the other would be the chief minister for the next 2.5 years. It is a known formula. There was a fight within the party in Chhattisgarh. They made the same formula there too that one would be the chief minister for 2.5 years and the other would be the chief minister for the next 2.5 years. They somehow resolved the matter and kept it going. It is also true that after 2.5 years, they backtracked. They betrayed their own party. They have a tendency to betray their own party. That is one thing. It is proven that Congress thinks of such a formula. I just read somewhere in the media that they had a small meeting. I read in the media that it was asked that when Modi is repeatedly asking that to whom should we hand over such a big country, a name should be there, when it comes to such a big country? You will have to give a name, give anybody’s name. Even for a cricket team, you have to have a captain, even for a Kabaddi team, a name is given. You are not telling who will handle such a big country. That is when they have come up with a ‘One Year One PM’ formula. Every year, one new leader will take oath as the PM, make a new government and new cabinet. For five years, they will stay busy with swearing-in events, while the country will be busy with difficult events.

Now can any country run like this? It is such a big country. The country has seen instability for 30 years. We have seen the era of coalition governments. Today, the prestige of India has increased in the world because the 140 crore people of India have formed a stable, strong and majority government. So anyone can trust us; this government has the mandate. No one trusts a coalition government. Such a big country cannot function like this. But today the politics of the country is such that no matter how big a majority a party wins with, it has to honour regional aspirations.

And that is why, even when we got an absolute majority, we still formed the NDA government, with the help of NDA allies. Because even after a party gets an absolute majority, for the bright future of the country’s politics and the aspirations of the people of the country, regional aspirations should be given the same respect and share. This character has been developed by the NDA and the Bharatiya Janata Party has shown it can be put into practice.

Rahul Joshi: Opposition parties, Rahul Gandhi, Congress and others, all say that Modi-ji is doing match-fixing. In this election, he has said that without ED, CBI and EVM, you cannot win elections. What will you say?

PM Modi: The answer to the EVM claim has been given by the Supreme Court of the country. In 2014, they had ED and CBI, then why did they lose? They even put my Home Minister in jail, then why did they lose? If elections could have been won by ED-CBI, then ED-CBI’s work has been done by the Congress for years, then they would have won. You cannot fix the election of such a big country; even for a municipality, you can’t fix this. Try it. Is this fixing possible? They are just fooling the world. The sad thing is that instead of asking those people, the media asks us.

For the past few days, the people of the INDI Alliance have become so disappointed that they are looking for excuses. Because even after defeat, you need to go in front of the people. That is why I think that maybe they are already looking for all these excuses. This is probably their internal exercise.

Rahul Joshi: Two states are important in this election – one is Karnataka and the other Maharashtra. In Karnataka, you recently lost the assembly elections, and Maharashtra because there is a strange mess there due to a split in two parties. Two of my colleagues are with me; let’s start with Karnataka first. Hariprasad ji, who is our editor there, wants to ask you some questions.

PM Modi: Hariprasad ji, you are welcome.

Hariprasad: Let’s talk about the Neha Hiremath murder case, which is being widely discussed. She was killed on a college campus by Fayaz; even (BJP national president) JP Nadda rushed to her house. Do you think that the focus of the elections in Karnataka is shifting to such issues?

PM Modi: Nadda-ji was attending a programme in Karnataka, when this incident took place. Who belongs to which party, or he belongs to the Congress; his daughter was murdered. These are not my values or mindset. And it is a matter of human sentiment, and I believe that even in the midst of the election rush, what he did was the human thing to do. I don’t remember which election it was. Rahul-ji’s (Rahul Gandhi) aircraft faced some issues. I called him immediately to ask if he was in distress. I was the chief minister of Gujarat when, in Daman, a helicopter carrying Sonia-ji (Sonia Gandhi), Ahmed Patel Sahab crashed. I told them that I am sending an air ambulance, but Ahmed Patel Sahab told me that they were all fine and not in any kind of emergency. Once Sonia-ji went to Kashi for an election campaign and fell ill, so I immediately sent people over to see what the matter was and, if required, sent an aircraft to carry her. So, these are my principles and this is beyond politics. So, for me, whenever any problem arises in any family, this should be resolved by rising above politics.

Hari Prasad: The Congress in Karnataka promised five guarantees and, after they came to power, they delivered on that. Whereas the BJP lost the last election there. Now again, there is too much focus on the leadership of BS Yediyurappa and his son due to which some within the party are also upset. How many seats do you think the BJP can win in Karnataka?

PM Modi: Number one, the people of Karnataka are regretting that they have committed such a big mistake by electing them (Congress). Our public support has not gone down; in fact, it has increased. But, in such a short time, they still have unresolved issues like the post of CM. While the CM has taken the oath, it has not been settled who it really is. There are a lot of people who consider themselves CM. If you look at the law-and-order situation, there are blasts and murders taking place; the economic condition is in a state of complete bankruptcy. They made big promises and then said, if this happens, you will get this; if that happens, you will get this. This means you are cheating the public. When we said we would give Ayushman Bharat cards to certain people, we will do it, and there will be no dishonesty by adding ifs and buts. Now, if we have said we will give Ayushman card to anyone over 70, across all classes, then we will give. You should have that courage. They cancelled the scheme for farmers, and there was no reason for it. Look at Bengaluru, it has played a big role in raising India’s reputation across the world. Bengaluru used to be known as the tech hub and now, in no time, it has been turned into a tanker hub. And tankers also have a mafia culture. People are yearning for water. When it comes to scholarships for the youth, they have reduced the amount as well as the number. One after the other, they have taken such negative decisions. The issues they sought votes on, they are unable to deliver on those. Look at the deputy CM. He is asking for votes for his brother so that he can become CM; so everyone is playing games. There are games being played to remove the CM. As far as the BJP is concerned, we work with team spirit. My team may have projected me as the leader but all of us are working together. Just like that, Yediyurappa is one of our tall leaders, but the whole team is working together and working hard to move ahead.

Hariprasad: In the nation, it’s the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections but for us in Karnataka, it’s the second phase for 14 seats; these are in the northern part of Karnataka that is majorly drought-hit. Now, regarding this drought, the Congress is claiming that it went to the Supreme Court and, now, the central government is forced to give a rightful compensation. What’s your opinion on that?

PM Modi: Let’s consider the previous government led by Siddaramaiah. When there was a drought back then, I called their entire team as a prime minister and held discussions with them. We sat together and figured that we must first create schemes for water conservation. Now, as far as the state disaster relief fund is concerned, our government has already given the Centre’s share to the state in their bank account. Our inter-ministerial team has also, under the rules and practices laid down before, visited the affected areas and conducted a survey. And it is the same process every time. When the earthquake happened in Gujarat, I sent a memorandum to the central government that sent a team for a survey to take stock of the situation. Now in the middle of this process, the model code of conduct came into force. So I told the Election Commission about this and asked for permission. According to NDRF, we have even released ration.

Rahul Joshi: Modi ji, News18 Lokmat anchor Vilas Bade has joined us from Maharashtra and wants to talk to you about the state.

Vilas Bade: Modi ji, Namaskar from Maharashtra. This time, the BJP has to retain the 23 seats it won in Maharashtra in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But it’s a complete mess in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena and NCP have split, their two partners are with you. Are you seeing any wave of sympathy for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar?

PM Modi: Namaskar to all the people of Maharashtra. I am pleased to be discussing Maharashtra separately with you. It’s true that the state has been seeing coalition governments for a considerable period now. There was Vilasrao Deshmukh…Even when Sharad Pawar became the chief minister, he was not able to do so alone with an absolute majority. Secondly, it has been Maharashtra’s misfortune that for some time now, no CM has been able to serve the five-year term. Devendra Fadnavis was the first person after a long time who served the entire term. The government then was clean and spotless. It was a government that worked for the welfare of the people.

Now, there should be sympathy with us. Those who fought elections with us, those who asked for votes from the people of Maharashtra with us, developed an ego due to their personal ambition of becoming the chief minister. Because of his ego and ambition, you (Uddhav Thackeray) betrayed this partnership that dated back to the days of Balasaheb Thackeray. People are angry about it and there is sympathy for BJP because of this.

Secondly, the storms that erupted within the Shiv Sena or the NCP clearly show what happens when you give importance to only your family members over other leaders it leads to difficulties. The trouble in Sharad Pawar’s house is their family dispute. Should the daughter get the reins or the nephew? Similar is the tussle in Shiv Sena like the Congress – should a deserving leader be promoted or the son?

These are their disputes. I believe our country hates such dynasty politics. If someone tries to use the word ‘sympathy’ to evoke sympathy among people, I say even that attempt will fail. People hate such things. They cannot accept such things. These are your family disputes, resolve them within your home. Why are you ruining the state of Maharashtra over this?

Another thing is that the BJP has sacrificed for Maharashtra. Some people thought that we want the CM’s seat. No. We could have taken the CM’s seat, but didn’t. We convinced the people of Maharashtra that we live for Maharashtra, not for ourselves. And in this election, this sympathy is in our favour that such a big party, with a chief minister who has been successful is now a deputy chief minister, has sort of put its self-respect on the backburner for the bright future of Maharashtra.

I believe in our country, Bengal has been ruined, Kolkata was once leading the economic growth, but is ruined by politics. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were earlier reduced to unstable conditions. Maharashtra should not be allowed to go down that route. Mumbai is the economic capital of the country. We should move ahead strongly in Maharashtra for the benefit of the country. We are conveying this sentiment to the people of Maharashtra, we are convincing them and the people of Maharashtra are giving us a very positive response.

Vilas Bade: In Maharashtra, there is the grand alliance (Mahayuti) of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, but there is a lot of tussle for seats till the last moment in these elections. The distribution of tickets has also not been done in many places. Does this not raise a big question mark for the Mahayuti?

PM Modi: I think the problems you mentioned apply to the opposition. They have not been able to decide seats, they are unable to take decisions, parallel elections are being fought there. There is nothing of such sort on our side. We have joined hands and are out to fight unitedly. We have prepared well in advance. Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP have done it. There is no harmony among the fake parties of the opposition.

Rahul Joshi: How many seats do you expect in Maharashtra?

PM Modi: We are moving ahead with a lot of strength. Votes will go up and the seats will too.

Vilas Bade: In 2017, your government had bestowed Sharad Pawar with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour. But last Tuesday, Sharad Pawar said, “Modi is becoming the country’s new Putin.” How do you see this comment?

PM Modi: I respect him a lot. It doesn’t matter whether people who have been in public life for long are with us or against us, we respect them. But this means that he is proud of receiving the award from a government headed by someone he sees as Putin. This is a big contradiction.

As far as my party’s and my opinions are concerned… We gave the Bharat Ratna to Pranab Mukherjee, Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur. Nobody in this country questioned our choices. Everybody understood it was long due and well-deserved. They were from opposition parties and had even criticised us in the past, but our decision was not based on such things. Consider the Padma awardees — Mulayam Singh, Tarun Gogoi, PA Sangma, SM Krishna… were all from other parties but we gave them Padma awards for their contributions to their respective fields. It is the country’s award to give, not a party’s. It’s not Modi’s personal property. BJP doesn’t have a copyright on it.

If you are interested, a story to look at is how Padma awards have changed in the country. We have transformed it. We should be lauded for the thought behind such decisions, not questioned about the choice of recipients.

Vilas Bade: But even after receiving the award, Sharad Pawar gave such a statement…

PM Modi: But the fact is there is no condition to the award that they cannot speak against me. There is no such agreement. This is not a give-and-take formula.

Rahul Joshi: Modi ji, let’s talk about Uttar Pradesh. It is the biggest state with 80 Lok Sabha seats. Will you be able to break the record of 2014? The BJP had won 71 seats back then, and the NDA 73. This time, Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are fighting the election together. Akhilesh ji has fielded the whole family; he himself is fighting from Kannauj. Dimple is fighting from Mainpuri. His family members are fighting from Firozabad to Azamgarh. There are speculations that the Gandhis will fight from Amethi and Rae Bareli. How do you see it?

PM Modi: Rahul ji, even though you are repeating proudly that everyone is the election fray, is it a compulsion or not? They are forced to field family members. It is their compulsion. That’s their main character. They don’t have anything else. To fight for family members and to make family members fight in elections: that’s the game.

Also, didn’t they join forces before? They have united before, many times. But the people of Uttar Pradesh understand what is good for them. I said in Parliament that today the situation in Uttar Pradesh and country is such that big leaders are withdrawing from the Lok Sabha race and trying to take the Rajya Sabha route. And that’s what it is. Big leaders are not ready to fight the elections. But we are working responsibly, taking everyone along and performing our duties. And I think nothing will be left of them this time around. Nothing.

Rahul Joshi: One more question. You have already answered it partly. So, I will keep it short. The Opposition, the Congress says the government is misusing the ED, CBI and intelligence agencies. You have said that the ED is independent. A newspaper did an analysis that when 25 opposition leaders joined the BJP, cases against 23 of them were either shelved or dropped.

PM Modi: First, not one case has been dropped. Whatever the courts decide will happen. They are independent. Second, how many such cases pertain to the political leadership? Only 3%. Even big bureaucrats are in jail. After all, why were these agencies formed? If these agencies were formed with a purpose, won’t they fulfill that? Our courts are supreme anyway… The courts must be examining it. And let’s not take the matter of corruption lightly. There should be a debate around this. There was a time when even accusations would shake things up. And today, even after conviction and punishment, some are waving and having their photos taken. Are they glorifying corruption? This should be criticised. Corruption shouldn’t be treated as a new normal. Otherwise, it will hurt the country a lot. This is not about BJP vs others.

I see that slowly an environment is being created where it is being thought: ‘Oh, that’s alright. That happens.’ [But] Poor people are dying. We have to rid the country of corruption. That should be the country’s resolve. I believe in making the system policy-driven. Use technology. Earlier, a prime minister used to say a rupee goes [towards the people] but only 15 paise reach them. Today I say when a rupee goes out, the full 100 paise reach—Direct Benefit Transfer. How? By improving the system! We launched the GeM portal, a big step towards reducing corruption. Second, we have to awaken society. Let society also be made conscious that corruption cannot be tolerated at any level. That environment is getting created in the country. But political people are not afraid. Someone would support them [the corrupt] just because they would want to oppose us. This is not correct.

Rahul Joshi: You accomplished a lot of big achievements in your last tenure. You scrapped Article 370, you brought in the CAA. But, in their campaign, opposition leaders are saying that they will repeal the CAA if they form the government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is saying that she will not allow the implementation of CAA. How do you see this?

PM Modi: First of all, whoever understands the Constitution of India, whoever knows the federal structure of India, and whoever knows what is in whose jurisdiction, won’t ever say such things. Because this is not in their jurisdiction. If Modi is the chief minister of a state, he can’t do such things. The central government will do what is in its ambit. A state government will do whatever is in its ambit. But fooling the people is a trend nowadays – to keep them in the dark. That’s why they keep saying anything at all.

Second, I challenge the Congress party to hold a press conference and say they will restore 370. They talk big about the Constitution. They talk about Babasaheb Ambedkar. They abuse us so much. But Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution was not applicable for the entire nation. For 70 years, the Indian Constitution was not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. There, Dalits are getting reservation for the first time [after the Article 370 move]. The Valmiki community is getting reservation for the first time. What are they talking about? Do they have the courage to hold a press conference and say ‘we’ll bring back Article 370’? Can any party dare say that?

Rahul Joshi: Modi ji, let’s move towards Bengal. The election there is being fought with full vigour. Last time, in 2019, when you won 18 of the 42 seats there, people were surprised. This time, one of your leaders has said that you will win 36 seats. Rajnath Singh ji told me in an interview that the BJP could win 36 seats. How do you assess the situation?

PM Modi: The problem with these people, who you say were surprised, is that they — even after 10 years — are not ready to believe that citizens of this country elected someone named Modi as their prime minister. There is a section that is not willing to accept the mandate of the country. It’s a reality – the people of the country are supporting us. You thought that it wouldn’t happen. It’s your fault. I was in Malda recently. I was surprised; the atmosphere was electrifying. People believe that there is a strong and stable government at the Centre, and that Bengal too should benefit from it. Women are facing atrocities in the TMC rule. The events of Sandeshkhali have jolted the nation. People have the right to vote, and they will vent their anger in the process. So, the outburst is natural. You have seen the piles of banknotes seized. Have you ever seen such big stashes of money getting caught earlier? In recent years, you have seen stashes of ₹50 crore, ₹300 crore, ₹250 crore, ₹200 crore. The nation is shocked. No matter how much you try to hide it, the nation now understands that these people are looters.

Rahul Joshi: So, you expect a bigger victory this time (in Bengal)?

PM Modi: Absolutely, it will be a clean sweep.

Rahul Joshi: How do you see Odisha? You have not gone with the BJD (Biju Janata Dal).

PM Modi: Bharatiya Janata Party has operated separately there. The BJD has given us issue-based support at the Centre, as have many other parties. That was our relationship with BJD. At the state level, Odisha is losing its self-respect. Odia language is under threat. I don’t think that the people of Odisha will be able to tolerate this for long. It has such a lot of resources that today Odisha could have been the richest state of India. But what kind of condition has been created? The common people of Odisha have aspirations. And I think we (BJP) should get a chance to serve. We will take Odisha to great heights.

Rahul Joshi: Let’s talk about Bihar. In Bihar, you have once again formed a coalition with Nitish ji [Nitish Kumar] and are fighting together. How do you see it? Last time, you won 39 seats out of 40. Can you repeat that performance?

PM Modi: First, we fought the assembly elections together. Later, they went somewhere and then came back. So, we are together as per the mandate of the people. As far as public support is concerned, I was in Bihar just recently, and I can see it clearly. Even when there is no tent overhead or anything in this heat, still lakhs of people are connected to us. I can see it clearly. Earlier, we used to lose one-odd seat in Bihar, but this time maybe we will not lose even one.

Rahul Joshi: 40 out of 40?

PM Modi: We will not lose even one.

Rahul Joshi: It is a very big statement.

Rahul Joshi: Modiji, I would like to ask you a personal question. You have seen many elections. You have been in Gujarat for a long time. This is your third election at the Centre. I have seen that from time to time, during elections, personal attacks are often made against you. Sometimes it is said that PM Modi should be shot, sometimes it is said that his head should be broken. Recently, Rahul Gandhi also said some words which can be considered personal attacks. Why does this happen to PM Modi?

PM Modi: I do not have an answer to this but why should Modi be asked this question? This question should be discussed in the country and in public life. After all, what is Modi’s crime? He became the prime minister, that is his crime, isn’t it? That means whatever abuses you are hurling, you are hurling them at the prime minister. To say things like we will bash the prime minister’s head or to abuse my mother… I am shocked that even the President of India was insulted. I am ashamed of this. I have always considered voters and the country my family. I am going forward with a positive attitude, but I leave the responsibility on people like you and the voters to deal with such people as they deem fit.

Rahul Joshi: Modiji, I want to ask how your third term will be different from the first and second.

PM Modi: How was my first term? I wanted to address the basic needs of the common man. I worked in that direction. At that time, there was an atmosphere of despair in the country, an atmosphere of hatred towards the government. I had to instill confidence. I worked on that. In the second term, I showed some results, filled people with confidence that we can move forward. A level of confidence has come in the country. That confidence is a very big strength.

Now, after the expectations have been transformed into confidence, into aspirations, I want to make the country the third economic superpower in my third term. This will be a continuity — after bringing the country from the 11th to the fifth spot [size of economy in the world]. During Manmohan Singh’s tenure, we were at 11, we brought it to five after a lot of effort, and now we will put in some more effort and take the country to the third spot. So, we want to maintain continuity in every sector.

For instance, we started a big campaign to provide electricity — and successfully provided it. Now my aim is PM Surya Ghar Yojana and zero electricity bill. I want solar panels in every household. And I just don’t want electricity bills to be zero but I want three things. One, every household’s power bill should be zero; second, we should sell surplus electricity and earn money; and third, I want to be self-reliant in the energy sector as the era of electric vehicles will come. This is why I would like that whoever has a scooter or car should be able to charge it at home through solar energy. This means the transportation cost of ₹1,000-₹2,000 per month for the person should also become zero. This will benefit the citizens and the country will get the benefit of clean environment. The billions of dollars that are being spent on importing petroleum will stop. So, it’s a scheme with multiple benefits. I want to make a start-up hub, manufacturing hub, innovation hub. I want to take the country to a completely new area with a lot of confidence. My vision is clear, I have no doubts. After June 4, I am clear what I have to do in the next 100 days as well as by 2047. I am clear of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. That is why I say 24 by 7 for 2047.

Vilas Bade: You have faced a lot of difficulties in your journey. But, even in such situations, you make tough decisions. How are you able to do this?

PM Modi: I don’t make tough decisions, I make the right decisions. Decisions are not tough, decisions should be right; some find them tough. But, sometimes, I do think about how all of this is possible. Just as you are surprised, I too wonder how Modi does this. Then I think, no, maybe God has sent me for this work. Whatever I am doing is inspired by a divine power. This could be God’s gift, God wants me to do this work and has sent me with a purpose here. And, that’s why, I remain far from the storm.

Vilas Bade: But how do you remain calm in this storm?

PM Modi: I remain far from it. God has shown me this path, that you should not get entangled in other things and you have to do some big work and must remain engaged with that. So, it is God’s direction, God’s wish, God’s plan, and, perhaps, their influence. I am only an instrument.

Rahul Joshi: I want to ask you something related. We see you, we get your schedule; you are travelling so much, holding five to six rallies from one state to the other. In all of this, how do you stay fit? What is that power that gives you this strong resolve to move forward?

PM Modi: First of all, as I said, I am not doing anything. God has decided this, and God has probably sent me to do this work. I was born in a family, where my mother was uneducated, had not seen a school. I do not have any political background, and it’s such a big country. So, if this is not God’s will, then what is it? And for me there are two Gods – one that we cannot see and the other is the public. I consider the public a form of God. And I have faith in the Almighty, who has sent me for this work while the public has blessed me. As to the question of how I am able to work so much, I do not live for myself. I always keep in mind that whatever time I have, I should work for my country every moment. As far as I have been running around, this is a big celebration, like a festival. It is an opportunity to reach out to the public, to visit them and talk to them. We should see it like that and take advantage of it, meet the public and visit people. It is a celebration of democracy in which we should be involved. So, I consider it like we do when there’s an important puja at home and the way we are involved in it. This is a time for prayers for me as I am worshipping 140 crore gods. I move with this feeling, which keeps me going. I never get tired because I return home after seeing God.

Rahul Joshi: Modiji, thank you so much. You took out so time for us. Like your slogan, we too have a slogan this time – ‘agli baar, sirf News18 par aar paar’. Thank you very much for giving us your time.

PM Modi: Thank you very much. Namaskar. My greetings to everyone.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

What to and not to say in a job interview? Ex-Google recruiter’s valuable tips for you

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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During job interviews, employers remain alert over specific warning indications, such as tardiness or lack of preparation, as they can greatly impact hiring decisions, Nolan Church, former Google recruiter, said.

In an interview with CNBC, Church, who is currently CEO of salary data company FairComp, noted various red flags in a job interview. According to him, showing up late for an interview or being unprepared to talk about the job are some of the red flags, while certain phrases might get you rejected.

Church stated that phrases like – “I work too hard” and “I’m a perfectionist” — can inadvertently convey a negative impression.

What to do?

“I always tell people to come with stories,” Church said. “People are so scared to talk about their imperfections or their blemishes during interviews… And I actually think that that’s a strength,” he added.

One such story he recommends sharing is to talk about the “time when you f***** up,” and share in detail “what happened and what you learned” from it.

He shared that he does not expect to hire people, who think that they are perfect. He is more concerned about hiring those who are going to take in the lessons when they do mess up performing their duties. but later figure out how to be better going forward.

“I want people that reflect… I want people that improve over time, that have a growth mindset,” he stated.

While appearing for interviews people should come up with a work story that illustrates both — making a wrong decision while working on a project and detailing how it made you better at your job, he added.

‘Mental agility’

Further, Church asserted that another type of story he likes to hear is to talk about the times when people were willing to go against their instincts.

He said while appearing for a job interview people should talk about times when they “were really hell-bent on doing it one way and you changed your mind and did it another way”.

Such stories showcase your capability of working as a “team player,” he said.

It’s a common thing for the human ego to come into play in the workplace as many want to believe that their approach is the best. Whether it was the path you intended to take or not, he asserts that in a professional setting, “getting to the right answer is the thing that the business cares about.” To achieve that, you must be prepared to put your ideas and ego aside and collaborate with your team.

Once people are willing to show that level of mental agility, Church feels “employers love that”.

Experiments

Besides them, Church shared that he loves to hear stories about experiments. Anecdotes about how you “ran an experiment to validate the hypothesis” can be impressive, he told the publication.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Aesthetics, visual imagery of Satyajit Ray, Tagore influenced me, says photographer, writer Arati Kumar-Rao

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Independent photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer Arati Kumar-Rao has been documenting the changing landscape caused by climate change across South Asia. Through her photographs, she chronicles environmental degradation and how drastically depleting groundwater, habitat destruction, and land acquisition for industry devastate biodiversity.

Kumar-Rao also featured on BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2023 names for “working to help their communities tackle climate change and take action to adjust to its impacts.”

In a conversation with CNBC-TV18.com, Kumar-Rao talks about her work, influences, and more. Here are the edited exceprts:

While you’ve worked a lot over the years, which is the one picture you’re most proud of?

This is a tough question, like asking to choose between my babies! But if I had to pick one, it is the one shot in the mangroves, with the tide coming in and Sunanda Mandal standing in the center.

The reason it is dear to me is because walking in those swamps was not easy. You sink up to your knees in the soft sucking silty mudflats. And the mosquitoes are everywhere. So in the rising waters, as the tide rolled in, I held my camera high above my head and made that picture without even looking through the viewfinder to compose.

You capture a lot of different people and interact with different personalities. Who is that one person that you met that made a deep impression on you?

Undoubtedly the wise, kind, and gentle land ethics of Chhattar Singhji of Ramgarh. I have learned so much from him; it is more than I could have wished for a lifetime. I am filled with gratitude that I had the good fortune to spend hours and hours with him.

How did your journey as a photographer and as an environmental storyteller begin? When did you realise this was your passion?

Storytelling has always been my passion. When I was a kid, I would pore over National Geographic magazines and absorb as much as I could. There was a project by Mike Fay called The MegaTransect. He walked across the Congo Basin. Over three issues, the story unfolded. I knew then that is the kind of storytelling I wanted to do.

What drew you to peripheries and made you speak up about climate change?

My father has been speaking about environmentally harmful practices since I was a kid, whether it was agriculture, dams, or other harmful and inappropriate tech. This made a huge impression on me. When I started storytelling, there were no other types of stories I wanted to tell other than those of the land.

How has your journey been like? Especially since photography is essentially considered a male-dominated field.

My kind of storytelling, by definition, is slow. And that needs funds. It has been a struggle to get people to back a project that may not bear fruit for a whole year or more. But there have been some grants and grant-makers who have seen value in this kind of slow journalism and thank goodness for them.

Who has influenced you the most in life, both professionally and as a person?

Professionally, my mentors have been Prem Panicker and Paul Salopek. I have learned immensely from them and I owe a lot of my skills to their patient, rich, unparalleled guidance.

I have also been influenced by the aesthetics and visual imagery of Satyajit Ray and Tagore. And right from a young age, my father read from Wendell Berry’s poems and writings to me—his philosophy has been a guiding light. Rachel Carson’s works and Robin Wall-Kimmerer’s writings more recently have deeply influenced me.

What is that one thing that still keeps you passionate about your work?

The fact that the earth and this land are all we have. We have to stand for it, and do right by it. It is what supports us.

While everybody keeps emphasising on the importance of understanding climate change, there’s very little that’s been done by the masses. How, according to you, can we inculcate a sense of consciousness in the coming generations?

Again, I feel it comes back to reclaiming our connection with the land. If we can rejig our priorities so that we reconnect with the elements and what is right for keeping the land healthy, we will be on our way to climbing back out of the hole we’ve dug ourselves into!

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Esquire enters India, partners with RPSG Lifestyle to launch a men’s magazine, says Avarna Jain

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Esquire, the reputed American men’s magazine, will soon be coming to an outlet near you. Hearst Communications, which publishes the 90-year-old magazine in the US, has partnered with RPSG Lifestyle to enter India for the first time. Avarna Jain, Chairperson, RPSG Lifestyle Media, spoke with CNBC-TV18’s Ajay Vaishnav about the launch date, the need for a men’s magazine in India, and related aspects.

Here are the edited excerpts:

Q: Could you please confirm that Esquire Magazine is coming to India? When is the launch date?

Avarna Jain: Yes, it is absolutely 100% confirmed that Esquire is coming to India for the first time. And we are very proud that Hearst has tied up with RPSG Lifestyle to enter India with Esquire. The launch date is April 2024.
Esquire is a magazine that started publishing in 1933. It is 90 years old. It’s entering India for the first time. It has 18 editions worldwide; we will be the 19th. It’s a very well-respected magazine worldwide in the men’s lifestyle segment. And we’re very, very proud that they have partnered with us.

Q: Will it be a print or digital edition or both?

Avarna Jain: It will be both. It’s a monthly print magazine, but we will also have a digital version with a website where you can access and read all the premium content. We will also have an on-ground approach. We will regularly be doing events so that people can physically attend on-ground invitation-based events.

Q: What about the subscription plans?

Avarna Jain: The print edition will probably get sold for anything between ₹250 and ₹300. In the digital version, we’ll see as we go along how we want to price it and how we want to distribute it. But we do think that a holistic approach is important. So print, digital, social media, and on-ground events. So it will have to be a 360-degree approach for us.

Q: A men’s magazine is a very niche segment. Do you think there is a big market out there?

Avarna Jain: Oh, absolutely. It’s a huge market, and it’s a growing market. If you look at simple things like FMCG trends or luxury, retail trends, the consumption pattern for men has changed and increased drastically over the last few years. Brands now have a dedicated men’s line, and that is indicative of the fact that Indian men are growing consumers of luxury. So, it is a fitting time for us to enter this space with a magazine where the target audience is this evolved Indian man who is not only an Indian but is ready to take on the global stage.

Q: Is this market sustainable in terms of pricing, profits, and ads?

Avarna Jain: Oh, absolutely. If you look at all the luxury items today, whether they are clothes, cars, or art, whether it’s an aeroplane, a yacht, or anything else, the majority of consumers in any of these places or segments are all male-dominated. If you look at any of the credit card companies and you look at the different tiers, if you look at the highest tiers today, they are all dominated by men. All the market trends point to this segment booming in the next few years.

Q. Will the focus of the magazine be more on the premium urban market? Will there be regional editions as well?

Avarna Jain: We are focusing more on the luxury segment, which will be more of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. So, I think the English-speaking audience is who we are after. However, that said, as a group, we are ready to evolve as the need arises. So, if we feel there is a need gap and want to expand, we will always explore it; we will not be closed to any of it.

Q: What is the image you have of a quintessential Esquire man? And how do you fit into the Indian audience?

Avarna Jain: The Esquire India man will be, I think, a millennial, but on the more evolved side of the spectrum. They have been through the brass of building their lives, but they are at a point where they have developed perspective, they have reason, and they will probably be between 30 and 43 years of age with a sweet spot of maybe 35. So, maybe you can think of Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, and Virat Kohli, and you will get an idea of what we’re thinking of as the quintessential Esquire man.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Author Joanna Bourke: Terror is always local and unevenly distributed

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A professor of history at Birkbeck, University of London, a fellow of the British Academy, and the author of several pioneering books, Joanna Bourke has spent the last 30 years exploring the histories of military medicine, modern warfare, psychology and psychiatry, emotions, and rape.

Some of her most notable works include The Story of Pain: From Prayer to Painkillers (2014), Fear: A Cultural History (2006), and What It Means to Be Human (2011). Her books have been translated into Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Turkish, and Greek.

A New Zealander by birth, she is also the chief investigator for an interdisciplinary project called SHaME (Sexual Harms and Medical Encounters), which investigates sexual violence from an international perspective, specifically through the lens of medicine and psychiatry. Her new book, Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence (published by Speaking Tiger Books), is the first under this project.

In this exclusive interview, the British academic-historian delves into how it took her a decade to write this book, the ethical dilemmas of writing a global history as expansive as Disgrace, rape myths, why we should all be involved in the anti-rape movement, the emotional cost of working on sexual violence, and what keeps her hopeful despite it all.

The title of the book, Disgrace, is so hard-hitting. How did you arrive at it?

The book was born out of a huge sense of anger about how people who have experienced sexual violence are treated. Many of my friends and colleagues have survived sexual assault, yet they are made to feel humiliated. Why do they feel disgraced, shamed, and dishonoured? Shouldn’t the people who carry out acts of sexual violence feel disgraced?

It is disgraceful that sexual violence remains such a problem. It is a disgrace that some people minimise the sexual harm inflicted on people of different genders, sexualities, races, ethnicities, classes, castes, religions, ages, generations, body types, (dis)-abilities, and so on. It is disgraceful that levels of violence are rising while convictions are declining.

In the last few decades, there have been incredible feminist campaigns against sexual violence; teachers have revised the content of sex education classes; politicians have passed progressive legislation; legal experts have improved the ways they treat people complaining of rape in courtrooms; the MeToo movement has flourished – but, throughout the world, sexual violence continues to flourish.

I live in Britain and Greece: in those countries, one in five women and one in 12 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Rates of abuse are significantly higher in some countries (particularly those experiencing armed conflict) and also higher for certain groups (particularly people belonging to minoritized communities). This is disgraceful.

It is so thoroughly, and meticulously researched. How long did take to investigate and write it?

The book has taken 10 years to research and write. Of course, I have done other things in that decade, including teaching at Birkbeck, University of London, and writing other books and articles. But Disgrace has always been a top priority. I have learned so much over the decade of writing the book.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing Disgrace?

Without a doubt, the ethical dilemmas of writing a global history have been the most difficult. I am a white, economically secure, urban woman. My worldview has been fundamentally shaped by a childhood in New Zealand, Zambia, Solomon Islands, and (most important in terms of my political orientation) Haiti. I currently live in Britain and Greece, where I am fortunate to be surrounded by a community of male, female, and non-binary friends who are emotionally supportive. This puts me in a very privileged position.

The main dilemma, then, is: How can I tell a global story about sexual violence as it affects marginalised people in countries distant from my own? Is there a risk of appropriating their experiences and life stories? Terror is always local and unevenly distributed: how can I do justice to such diversity and intersectionalities? How can I ensure that survivors of sexual abuse are placed centre stage? In writing about such terrifying experiences, how can I avoid frightening my readers or stripping the people I am writing about of agency? Is there a risk of voyeurism? Might I inadvertently re-violate people who have already experienced harm? Despite a decade of work, I don’t think I am able to answer all of these questions, but I continue to try.

In the introduction, you write that rape is culturally constructed. How do you mean?

One of the most striking things about investigating sexual violence is how ideas about it change so dramatically over time and between different social, economic, and political communities. My book spans the period from the 19th century to the present. As I state in Disgrace, drawing comparisons between such different time periods and locations is challenging.

For example, the women violated by the Red Army soldiers in 1945 cannot realistically be compared to Dalit women raped by men of ‘higher’ castes today; 19th-century peasant women in Ireland who were abducted as a way of forcing marriage have little in common with date-raped high-school students in 20th-century America;  French wives who acquiesce to sexual intercourse with their husbands as the ‘easier option’ bear no resemblance to ‘bush wives’ in Sierra Leone; it matters if you are a boy, man, or non-binary person; it makes a difference if the attacker wields a machete or raises the threat of an unsigned employment contract. In each of these examples, sexual violence is understood differently. However, in each instance, sexual violence is ‘culturally constructed’.

In a country where sexual violence is as alarmingly common as in India, several landmark cases have rocked the nation. What made you specifically discuss Bilkis Bano’s in the special preface to the Indian edition?

Every year, over 30,000 girls and women in India are raped; this means that there are 49 victims of sexual abuse every hour. I have long been inspired by feminists in India: their political labour has been important in bringing the world’s attention not only to important facets of sexual violence but also to ways of resisting. This is why Indian examples appear throughout my book, especially in the context of partition and post-1980s activism against violence in the home, and against transgender individuals and caste minorities.

The preface for the Indian edition starts with the 2022 release from prison of the 11 men convicted to life imprisonment for the rape of Bilkis Bano because it occurred shortly before my book was published. It is a reminder that the struggle for justice is an ongoing one.

One startling discovery/insight that you stumbled upon while working on this book?

The most startling thing for me is just how embedded ‘rape myths’ still are in societies around the world. I continue to be shocked by the casual sense of entitlement that some people assume over other people’s bodies. This is particularly common among boys and men, for whom ‘access’ to the sexed bodies of their partners or girlfriends is often assumed (and, for most of history, has been allowed by law and convention).

Understanding the history of this sense of entitlement is crucial. For centuries, men have made the rules, particularly in terms of law and policing. So-called ‘rape myths’ permeate society and largely determine what is considered ‘real rape’. One of the most pernicious is the myth that ‘you can’t rape a resisting woman’. In other words, if a woman does not want sexual intercourse, she will be capable of fighting off any assailant.

In medical and legal textbooks published in India and the UK, this is sometimes summarised as ‘It is impossible to sheath a sword into a vibrating scabbard’ – a horrid phrase in which the penis is coded as a weapon, the vagina as a sheath that simply by ‘vibrating’ (!) could always stop penetration. It is important to note that there is a class/caste element to this myth. More privileged women who allege rape are assumed to be more ‘delicate’ than their poorer sisters, so their inability to fight off an attacker could be taken more seriously.

But there are other ‘rape myths’ that continue to be heard and have a huge impact not only on justice systems but also on how survivors, as well as perpetrators of sexual violence, conceptualise these acts. One of the other harmful myths is ‘no wound, no rape’: if a victim can’t show a physical wound, then the assault either didn’t happen or its seriousness can be minimised. This myth is tied to the one about ‘stranger rape’ being the only ‘true’ kind. It is a myth that appears most strongly in the media, which has a huge impact on what people think is ‘real rape’.

A lot has changed in the last decade (I am thinking especially of the fantastic British TV series by Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You), but is still the main way many people think about rape. This is also influenced by forensic science – especially when used in court – which encourages jurors to expect to see lesions and bruising. However, most victims of sexual assault don’t have wounds, and the DNA technologies are not perfect, so much of that evidence is also thrown out. In popular parlance, this is called the CSI effect, meaning you have to have forensic evidence for an assault to be judged as ‘real rape’. Again, in order to understand why these myths are so prevalent, we need to study their history.

How do you protect yourself from the emotional and mental toll of working on a subject as infuriating and overwhelming as gender-based sexual cruelty for as long as you have?

Working on violence can be emotionally draining. You are right: I have worked in this field for a very long time, so I try to encourage, nurture, and simply ‘look after’ people who are just beginning to think and work on sexual violence.

The most important thing is political optimism. We can change our world for the better! I keep harm-ignoring, violence-minimising, or rape-excusing people at a personal distance, preferring to surround myself with feminist friends and colleagues from all genders. I have discovered that so many people share my optimism and, although we may disagree about tactics and strategies, I always enjoy our discussions and debates. Crucially: I also ‘have a life’ apart from thinking and writing about violence – cooking, poetry, music, and laughter. I share these ‘good things’ with ‘good people’.

What is your secret behind such a prolific and illustrious writing and academic career?

Hard work! I am a bit of a workaholic, sorry to say. But I love what I do. I enjoy thinking about ‘big topics’; I revel in the research process; like most people, I find writing exhausting and I do hundreds of drafts, but, in the end, it is a thoroughly enjoyable process. I have also been a university professor for most of my life. Teaching is fulfilling. I teach at Birkbeck, which is the part of the University of London that holds classes in the evenings. This means that my students often work during the day. They bring very different skills and pieces of knowledge to the classroom – so are wonderful when ‘trying out’ ideas.

Three feminist readings that you think should be mandatory for everybody.

1. Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity (2003)

2. Judith Butler and Joan W. Scott (eds.), Feminists Theorize the Political (1992)

3. Estelle Freedman (ed.), The Essential Feminist Reader (2007)

But I would also recommend that people working in the field of sexual violence read poetry. I always get inspiration from Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, Wanda Coleman, and bell hooks.

In a world marred by such rampant violence, misogyny, and general systemic apathy, what keeps you hopeful?

I am always hopeful – mainly because I believe, firstly, that everyone wants love, respect, and friendship and we can harness those needs in working for a better world, and secondly, there are numerous strategies we can employ to create a rape-free world.

Of course, creating a world without abuse will require the political and social labour of each and every one of us. As I argue in the book, we all need to think: given my skills, location, community base, and politics, what is the most appropriate and most effective action I can take to make the world free of sexual violence? How can I make coalitions with other people who are fighting for a rape-free world?

This will include involving everyone – including boys and men. Although girls and women are the vast majority of people who are abused, boys and men are a large minority. It is in all of our interests to be involved in the anti-rape movement. We are all diminished when another person is sexually abused. We all have preferences, skills, and spheres of influence that we can exploit in our struggle to eradicate sexual violence in our communities.

My entire book provides examples of how people have resisted violence in the past while my last chapter hones in on positive steps that we can take in the future. And, yes, I am confident that it is possible to create worlds of safety, equality, and human flourishing.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ruth Vanita on tracing 100 years of Hindi fiction on same-sex desire in her new anthology

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Novelist, teacher, and translator, Ruth Vanita has been a prominent voice focusing on same-sex desire, attraction, and love in Indian literature.

The author of several books, including Memory of Light; Love’s Rite: Same-Sex Marriages in Modern India (2005); Gender, Sex and the City: Urdu Rekhti Poetry in India 1780-1870 (2012); and Dancing with the Nation: Courtesans in Bombay Cinema (2017), she is the co-editor of Same-Sex Love in India: A Literary History, and has notably translated many Hindi and Urdu works of fiction and poetry to English, most famously Chocolate: Stories on Male-Male Desire by Pandey Bechan Sharma ‘Ugra’ (2008).

Her new anthology, On The Edge, a is landmark collection of 16 short stories and excerpts from Hindi novels that explore same-sex love, either covertly or explicitly, that she has translated to English. Some of the inclusions are by popular giants such as Premchand and Geetanjali Shree. But On The Edge goes beyond and also indulges in forgotten gems by writers such as Asha Sahay, Ugra, Rajkamal Chaudhuri, Sara Rai, and Rajendra Yadav.

Here, the 67-year-old scholar discusses the anthology, the joy and difficulties of translation, what she thinks of the depiction of same-sex desire in Hindi films, the recent Supreme Court verdict, and how Hindi literature is opening up to homosexuality.

What got you to bring together this anthology?

A century had passed since Pandey Bechan Sharma Ugra’s story Chocolate gave rise to the first public debate on homosexuality in modern India. I thought it would be useful to see how Hindi fiction on the topic had evolved and to make this fiction available to those who do not read Hindi.

How did you decide which stories and writers to include?

I was familiar with some of the 16 stories that I finally translated, such as Geetanjali Shree’s Tirohit and Pankaj Bisht’s Pankhwali Naav. I had heard of others, such as Asha Sahay’s forgotten 1947 novel Ekakini. I spent months searching for it and finally found it online in a library. I also asked current writers to send me stories on this topic. I read several and selected some, by writers such as Akanksha Pare and Shubham Negi.

Why the title On the Edge?

It is my translation of the title of Sara Rai’s story, Kagaar Par, which appears in the book. Many of the characters in these stories find themselves on the edge of something – discovering themselves, telling others about their lives, committing suicide, or finding happy love.

Which of the 16 writers that you’ve featured in the anthology were the most difficult to translate and why?

Vijaydan Detha’s story was difficult to translate because of its beautiful lyricism which cannot be fully reproduced in English.  Also, Shobhna Bhutani Siddique’s Lab-ba Lab, because of its racy colloquial language. Even the title contains an untranslatable pun. It means ‘Lip to Lip’ but also ‘Full to the Brim’.

What are your cardinal rules of translation?

I try to be as faithful as possible to the original while providing the reader with a smooth and seamless reading experience. My purpose is not to constantly remind the reader that this is a translation but to give the reader something close to the pleasure I derived from reading the original.

One myth about translators and translations that you’re tired of hearing?

That a translation is as good as the original. It almost never is.

How do you find the depiction of same-sex desire in Hindi films?

Hindi films were always unique in the way they depicted same-sex relationships, especially between men, as romantic friendships that are exclusive and often primary. Dosti (1969), Namak Haraam (1973), and Anand (1971) are a few examples of such films.

Even when not exclusive, the two male friends share everything, and live or die for each other, as the famous Sholay song says, ‘Meri jaan teri jaan / Aisa apnar pyaar/…Marna jeena saath hai’.  Just as there were famous male-female pairings, there were famous male-male pairings, one of which fans called Shashitabh. After gay identities became more visible, some filmmakers grew wary of depicting intense and close friendships so they have three or four friends instead of two and ensure that all have girlfriends such as in 3 Idiots (2009) and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).

The upside is that several wonderful films are now being made. Dedh Ishqiya (2014) is a lovely example; it contains clever allusions to Ismat Chugtai’s short story Lihaaf and Fire (1996). I often say that Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2014) is the film I had been waiting for all my life. It acknowledges the way it is possible to read earlier films – with the famous Sholay motorbike song and also the song Admi hun admi se pyar karta hun from Pehchan (1970) which the gay character Pinku (played by Anupam Kher) in Mast Kalandar (1991), cheerfully sang to himself.

What do you think would be the social and cultural impact of the Supreme Court not granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages in its recent verdict?

In Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, when the male couple walks around the fire, Ayushmaan Khurrana’s character says to the spectators, “Watch this. You will see many more such weddings in the future.” The first reported same-sex wedding by Hindu rites in India was that of policewomen Leela Namdeo and Urmila Srivastava in 1987. My book, Love’s Rite: Same-Sex Marriages in Modern India, lists many such weddings that happened in the 1980s and 1990s, a time when same-sex marriage was not legal anywhere in the world. The number of such weddings has increased exponentially in the 21st century and will continue to increase.

The courts and the governments can treat us as second-class citizens and deny us legal rights but they cannot stop same-sex marriages. As the Supreme Court judgment acknowledges, marriage was outside the purview of the state for millennia. All that marriage requires is two adult consenting partners. For many years, Jewish and Quaker marriages were not legally recognised in England. But Jews and Quakers did get married. Their marriages were valid despite the government’s refusal to give them legal rights, and so are ours. Now our marriages are much more widely visible in India and people are getting used to the idea and seeing that society and culture are not destroyed by same-sex marriage, whether in the 34 countries that have legalised them or in countries like India that have not.

The anthology traces 100 years of Hindi fiction on same-sex desire. However, even after a century, such stories are few and far between. What can be done to remedy this?

There is much more fiction on the subject in English but gradually more is emerging in Indian languages too. Publishers are now not only willing but eager to publish on the subject in most languages. My novel Pariyon ke Beech (my Hindi transcreation of my English novel Memory of Light) was accepted by Rajkamal as soon as I offered it to them, and several novels and short story collections have appeared. Hindi magazines are also publishing many stories.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Geetanjali Shree on the magic of shadows and behind-the-scenes

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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It is not easy to get through to Geetanjali Shree. Ever since Tomb of Sand, the English translation of her 2018 magnum opus Ret Samadhi won her the International Booker Prize catapulting her to worldwide stardom, she has been as elusive as her stories.

I followed her closely at the Jaipur Literature Festival held earlier this year where she was all the rage. Crowds would instantly form around her, wanting to talk about her seminal book that put Hindi literature on the global map, Her sessions overflowed with audiences hanging on to her every word, eager to know more, a little ashamed that they didn’t already.

Though it shouldn’t have taken a Booker for us to value what was right in front of us for over three decades carefully, meticulously creating wondrous, richly textured, deeply subversive worlds, telling stories with remarkable abandon and chutzpah, the win has redirected focus on Shree’s earlier works. Translations of her older novels are getting re-issued and a lot more is in store.

One such tale of restless rebellion is her 2007 Hindi novel Tirohit. Translated in English by Rahul Soni and titled The Roof Beneath Their Feet, it is the story of how two women brought together by fate and circumstance find support and solace with each other, rejecting labels, seeking refuge on the common roof shared by several houses in their mohallah.

In Tirohit, the roof is as central to the story as the two women Chachho and Lalna, and their son, Bitva. It allows freedoms, carefree caresses, tender loves, and impossible realities to blossom, soar, and fly far away, breaking free from the suffocating frustrations and boundaries of everyday bourgeois domesticity. Shree wields her pen to paint an alternate existence on the roof, the kind that used to be a way of life for countless women and children in northern India not too long ago.

Her inimitable writing style is so poignant, evocative, and unafraid that it makes you revisit your own memories of a similar time. Reading The Roof Beneath Their Feet made me think of Abhishek Chaubey’s 2014 black comedy Dedh Ishqiya and took me back to the summer trips of my childhood to Rajaldesar, a sleepy dusty village in the heart of Rajasthan. My maternal grandfather has a 100-year-old haveli there. Each summer, all of us, scattered in different parts of India, would gather there for a week or two—and it would be all about camel rides, gorging on kulfis sold by hawkers, visiting sand dunes, having dinner before sundown sitting on the kitchen floor, and sleeping on the terrace under the stars, feeling the cool of cotton sheets ruffle against our skin, murmuring to each other inane nothings, and waking up to peacock sounds at the crack of dawn.

This is Shree’s magic. In telling one story, she tells several others, including the ones you once knew but had forgotten. In this exclusive interview, she talks about The Roof Beneath Their Feet, her love for shadows and behind-the-scenes, the potency of memories, her need for solitude, her next novel, and more.

Q. Your stories are not driven by plot but by characters and their relationships. Has it been a conscious choice?

I must yet again repeat what I have said many times before. Very little about my writing – very little – is pre-thought-out. Yes, I let something set me off and then its dynamic and the blossoming of the characters take the narrative along. Surprising me, too, and richly.

Q. Memories play a crucial role in your stories. Also, important, life-altering developments almost always take place outside the frame. What is this love for letting the unsaid make the loudest impact?

Memories constitute much of our consciousness. We grasp so little of a happening in the moment of its happening. It’s only in recall that it begins to acquire meaning and significance, and really makes itself felt. The role memories play in my stories is but a reflection of that. Your observation, that life-altering developments almost always take place outside the frame, is indeed a thought I square with. Perhaps that is why much of my writing is engaging more with backstage and side stage, rather than bang on stage and under the glare of the spotlight. I also remember the magic of shadows and behind-the-scenes, as in shadow puppetry.

Q. How much of The Roof Beneath Their Feet is borrowed from real life?

It is not an autobiography or biography for sure. So many elements come together to create fiction. They are, to put it simply, an amalgam of real situations and people and the creative imagination.

Q. It’s beautiful how you have shown roofs in the book as grounds that facilitate everyday freedoms for women, lifting a veil over claustrophobic domesticity. However, the culture of joint terraces is on a sharp decline. As high-rise apartments take over, a way of life is nearing an end. One personal memory around roofs that you’d like to share?

They are, indeed, dwindling. But you do still come across those neighborhoods with continuing common roofs. Old Delhi is fascinating because of the parallel colorful life going on up on terraces.

Much of my growing up years was in towns of Uttar Pradesh and indeed roofs have played a big role in it. Memories galore. Of papad and badiyan and other food items spread out to dry up there, the feel of diving and running your hand inside wheat and rice, washed and spread out to dry, the grains rolling against and off your fingers.

What we loved as children was to sleep up there, inside a mosquito net bolstered up on four wooden sticks, the lovely night air and sky cooling us and conjuring amazing, even delightfully scary, apparitions. And in our sleep, we would feel the raindrops falling softly and the hurry-scurry around, and then we would wake up, roll up some light bed-sheet and pillow, leaving the rest for the adults to handle, and rush in. A whole time and feel gone and no more.

Q. How satisfied are you with the English translation?

I never feel very confident answering this question. I am too attached to the original to really judge. But I trust the judgment of many others.  I have heard them praise The Roof Beneath Their Feet and that makes me happy. Rahul is sensitive to language and stories, writes well himself, and we have had rich and fun conversations while he was doing this work.

Q. What role does music play in your writing?

I should imagine from your need to ask me this question that you have got a feel of how music suffuses my writing. Music affects my writing as an autonomous art form. It is, besides, integral to my writing as the music that inheres language and linguistic composition.

Q. Is solitude your eternal muse? What is it about it that you find most nourishing, and nurturing?

If by muse you mean my inspiring goddess, solitude is not my muse. Inspiration comes in more ways than I can be aware of. And it takes its own time to germinate. But once a particular inspiration is ready to find concrete manifestation, solitude becomes imperative. I have to be alone for my pen to be ready to move. To have my pen move, however, is not my sole reason to crave for solitude.

Q. How important is it for writers to be detached from their work and look at it with a sense of removedness?

Writing, I feel, demands both total involvement and absolute detachment. Writers devise their own ways of maintaining the right balance in meeting the two paradoxical demands.

Q. In a recent interview, you said, “You don’t write to succeed, you write for something else.” What is this something else?

It is ineffable. Some strange urge to unlayer, explore, search something for yourself. In happiness or in pain, but always in restlessness. It includes, incidentally, readiness to fail totally.

Q. What are you working on now?

I am working on the final draft of a novel – ‘Sah-sa’ – which was close to being sent for publication when the Booker struck.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Gezim Gashi on new book ‘Unlocked: The Power of You’ and the burgeoning self-help industry

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Gezim Gashi has a remarkable story. Born in Pristina, Kosovo, in 1990, he was thrown out of a second-floor hospital window by his mother to escape the genocide three days after his birth when their parliament declared independence from Serbia, prompting a military invasion.

Today, having worked with giants such as the Walt Disney Company and Quincy Jones Production, he is the first Albanian-Swede to ever launch a high school institute focused on arts and innovation in the United States. Through his book Unlocked: The Power of You, he shares his incredible story in the hope that it will encourage you to look at yours and work at it.

In this exclusive interview, Gashi, who grew up in Alvesta, Sweden, and currently lives in the United States, discusses the book, The Modern Living Paradox, his hack to finding inspiration, the growing popularity of the self-help genre, and gives valuable insight on how you can live better, fuller, and happier.

Q. Historically, humans have never been more comfortable and yet, we need motivation more than ever before just to go through the day. Where did we go so wrong?

A. In recent history, humans have made remarkable advancements in technology and improved living conditions, which have undoubtedly increased our overall comfort and convenience. However, this increased comfort has come with unintended consequences for our motivation and well-being.

One key factor contributing to this phenomenon is the reduction in physical challenges that were once inherent in daily life. In the past, individuals had to exert significant physical effort for tasks like farming, hunting, and manual labour, which naturally provided a sense of purpose and achievement. Today, automation and technology have significantly reduced the need for such physical exertion in our daily lives. This shift has led to a disconnect between our evolutionary heritage, which programmed us to expend energy in pursuit of survival, and our modern lifestyles, which often involve sedentary work and leisure activities. As a result, we may find ourselves in a state of relative physical ease, but lacking the intrinsic motivation that arises from overcoming physical challenges.

Furthermore, the fast-paced, digitally connected world we live in can be overwhelming, leading to increased stress and a constant need for motivation to navigate the demands of modern life. The constant exposure to social media, news, and societal pressures can leave us feeling drained and in need of motivation to even get through the day.

In essence, our modern comfort and convenience, while undoubtedly beneficial in many ways, have created a paradox where we have more physical ease but may struggle to find meaning and motivation in our daily lives. To address this, many individuals are turning to practices like mindfulness, self-reflection, and setting meaningful goals to rekindle their motivation and sense of purpose in this increasingly comfortable but complex world.

Q. What do you do to stay motivated?

A. Staying motivated is a dynamic process for me. I find that it’s crucial to immerse myself in situations and pursuits that align with my purpose and offer room for continuous personal growth. This means I actively seek out experiences, projects, and environments that resonate with my values and long-term objectives.

One of my unique strengths is my sensitivity to energy, which plays a pivotal role in my motivation. I’m attuned to the energy of people, places, and activities, and I consider this sensitivity one of my greatest assets. It enables me to intuitively discern which situations uplift me, align with my goals, and inspire me to take action.

When I feel my energy being positively engaged, whether through connecting with like-minded individuals, engaging in meaningful work, or pursuing creative endeavours, I naturally find motivation and inspiration. It’s as if I’m drawn towards these situations because they provide a sense of fulfilment and purpose.

Conversely, I’m also aware of situations or environments that drain my energy or hinder my growth. By recognising these, I can make conscious choices to minimise their impact on my motivation and overall well-being.

Q. Why is it so important to map our triumphs? What’s the best way to deal with rejection/failure?

A. Mapping our triumphs allows us to recognise and celebrate our achievements. It provides us with a sense of accomplishment and boosts our self-esteem. This process of acknowledging successes can motivate us to set and reach new goals, fostering a positive mindset and self-confidence.

Dealing with rejection or failure is equally crucial. The best approach is to view them as valuable learning experiences rather than setbacks. Embrace rejection and failure as opportunities for growth, analyse what went wrong, and use the lessons learned to improve. Maintain resilience and perseverance and understand that setbacks are often stepping stones toward future success.

Q. How to strike a healthy balance between saying yes and saying no?

A. It is a nuanced art that requires careful consideration of several factors. It involves aligning your commitments with your priorities, setting clear boundaries, and being mindful of your capacity.

Prioritisation: To find this equilibrium, begin by understanding your priorities. Identify your short-term and long-term goals, and evaluate potential commitments based on how well they align with these objectives. When an opportunity or request arises, ask yourself if it contributes positively to your goals and values.

Boundaries: Establishing boundaries is crucial. Determine what you’re comfortable with in terms of your time, energy, and resources. Be clear about your personal and professional boundaries, and communicate them when necessary. Boundaries serve as a guide for when to say no, preventing you from overcommitting.

Capacity assessment: Regularly assess your capacity. Be realistic about how much you can take on without compromising your well-being or the quality of your work. Recognise that your capacity may vary at different times, and adjust your commitments accordingly.

Saying no: Learning to say no is a skill worth mastering. It’s essential to do so graciously but firmly. You don’t need to provide elaborate excuses; a polite and concise decline is usually sufficient. Remember that saying no is not a rejection but a conscious choice to prioritise your well-being and commitments.

Selective yes: On the flip side, saying yes should be selective. Reserve your affirmative responses for opportunities that genuinely excite you, align with your goals, or have a meaningful impact. Avoid saying yes out of guilt or obligation, as it can lead to resentment and overextension.

Adaptation: Be adaptable. Life is dynamic, and your priorities and capacity may change over time. Regularly re-evaluate your commitments and make adjustments as needed to ensure they remain in harmony with your goals and boundaries.

Self-care: Prioritise self-care and well-being. Taking care of yourself ensures you have the energy and resilience to honour your commitments effectively. Remember that self-care is not selfish; it’s a crucial component of maintaining balance.

Support network: Seek guidance and support from trusted friends, family, or mentors. They can provide valuable perspective and advice when making decisions about what to say yes or no to.

Balancing yes and no in your life is an ongoing process of self-awareness and self-care. It empowers you to make choices that align with your values and aspirations while safeguarding your physical and emotional well-being.

Q. In an age marked by nihilism, defeatism, and cynicism, how to dream new dreams?

A. Finding the inspiration to dream new dreams involves:

• Self-reflection: Understand your values and passions.
• Positive exposure: Limit negative influences, and seek positivity.
• Creativity: Engage in creative activities to spark new ideas.
• Inspiring connections: Surround yourself with passionate individuals.
• Challenge assumptions: Question limiting beliefs.
• Set goals: Align goals with new dreams.
• Learn from failure: Embrace setbacks as lessons.
• Share dreams: Discuss aspirations with trusted allies.
• Build resilience: Develop resilience to overcome obstacles.
• Small steps: Take gradual action toward your dreams.
• Stay optimistic: Cultivate a positive outlook for change.
• Collective effort: Inspire others and contribute to a more hopeful society.

Q. Two essential superpowers that you think all of us should have or cultivate to thrive in today’s world?

Adaptability: In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt is paramount. Cultivate the superpower of adaptability by embracing change as an opportunity for growth. Develop a flexible mindset that can pivot in response to new challenges and circumstances. Being adaptable enables you to stay relevant, learn from experiences, and navigate uncertainty effectively.

Empathy: It is the superpower of understanding and connecting with others on a deep emotional level. In an interconnected and diverse world, empathy fosters compassion, effective communication, and collaboration. By cultivating empathy, you can build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious society.

Q. The popularity of self-help content—books, podcasts, blogs, influencers—has skyrocketed in recent years. What do you think has led to such an explosion? Where do we go from here?

A. The explosion in the popularity of self-help content can be attributed to several factors such as:

Digital accessibility: The internet and digital platforms have made self-help content easily accessible to a global audience. Anyone with an internet connection can access a wealth of information, making self-improvement resources readily available.

Increasing stress and uncertainty: Modern life has brought about increased stress, uncertainty, and mental health challenges. Many people seek self-help as a way to cope with these pressures and improve their well-being.

Empowerment and individualism: The self-help movement aligns with the empowerment of individuals. It encourages people to take control of their lives, set goals, and pursue personal growth, which resonates with a sense of autonomy and self-determination.

Celebrities and influencers: The involvement of celebrities and social media influencers in the self-help genre has expanded its reach. Their personal success stories and endorsements lend credibility and appeal to self-help concepts.

Cultural shifts: There’s been a cultural shift toward openness about mental health and personal development. This has reduced the stigma around seeking help and made self-help more socially acceptable.

Desire for continuous improvement: In a competitive world, the desire for continuous self-improvement has become a norm. People are looking for strategies to excel in various aspects of their lives, including career, relationships, and mental health.

As for where we go from here:

Quality and credibility: With the abundance of self-help content, there’s a growing need for quality control and credibility. Consumers should critically evaluate sources and ensure the advice they follow is evidence-based and trustworthy.

Personalisation: The future of self-help may involve more personalised approaches. Technology, such as AI and machine learning, could tailor advice and recommendations to an individual’s unique needs and goals.

Holistic well-being: The self-help genre is expanding to encompass holistic well-being, including physical health, mental wellness, and spiritual growth. This trend may continue as people seek a balanced and fulfilling life.

Mental health awareness: The self-help field will likely continue to intersect with mental health awareness. More resources may focus on managing stress, anxiety, and depression while reducing the stigma associated with seeking professional help.

Global perspectives: As self-help goes global, there’s an opportunity to incorporate diverse cultural perspectives and address the unique challenges faced by individuals from different backgrounds.

Ethical considerations: There will be a growing emphasis on ethical practices within the self-help industry. Ensuring that self-help content is responsible, respectful, and ethical will become increasingly important.

The popularity of self-help content is likely to persist but with an evolving focus on quality, personalisation, holistic well-being, mental health awareness, cultural diversity, and ethical standards. It will continue to be a dynamic and influential field in personal development and growth.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Harish Bhat on new book ‘Office Secrets’ and the joys of being able to laugh at ourselves

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

With increasing corporatisation across all sectors, there has never been a greater need to hold on to human truths, the fulcrum that keeps offices going and professional relationships thriving.

In the last decade, Harish Bhat, presently the brand custodian at Tata Sons, who has held diverse roles with the Tata Group over the last 35 years, has emerged as a prominent voice dispelling corporate and marketing myths, making navigating professional workspaces easier, helping countless employees live fuller lives.

The author of five books including the bestseller Tata Stories, he is out with his latest, Office Secrets, which is a repertoire of 50 nuggets of wisdom to help you excel at work and in life. A page-turner, it highlights the importance of daydreaming, listening, writing, kindness, taking quick breaks after every hour, using notebooks, and praising others. While at it, Bhat also generously doles out handy, useful mantras no one talks about but everyone needs to succeed—how to recover from unending meetings, ask questions that matter, find the hotspot for ideas, what to wear when, and what to do when you fly.

In this exclusive interview, Harish Bhat talks about all of this, his love for writing, and gives valuable advice on the healing power of doing nothing, not taking our corporate avatars too seriously, and finding balance in the age of hustling.

What got you interested in writing?

I love narrating stories. I love the written word. I enjoy the ring of words as they drop in together to form a beautiful phrase. Most importantly, when I write, I feel really happy. For me, writing has been an internal impulse, something that has been an area of great interest since my school days. Positive feedback from readers encouraged me to write even more. In the past several years, writing has also become an important way of contributing something meaningful to the world around me. This is very much the case with my latest book Office Secrets which narrates 50 human truths that have the potential to help all of us who work in offices.

Has there been any changes in how you ideate, approach, and write a book in all these years since you wrote your first?

Over a decade ago, when I wrote my first book Tata Log, I had it all mapped out in my mind before I commenced the actual process of writing. The ideation had already happened within me, and the structure of the book was very clear. In contrast, with my later books, the structure has been somewhat fluid when I begin the process of creating the book. There is of course a core idea to begin with, and then I permit the book to evolve—through the organic progress of writing, personal reflections, and discussions with my publisher and editor.

Which is your favourite chapter in this book?

Each of the 50 chapters in this book is a favourite. Because they address diverse themes that are all equally relevant. But if I were to pick one chapter that impacted me most as I wrote it, it would be the one on kindness. Kindness is such an important yet underrated aspect of our workplaces. It is a foundational human truth. As I explain in this chapter, kindness is a brilliant stress buster, it builds beautiful relationships, and it makes people feel really good. Kindness should not be mistaken for being soft—some of the best leaders I know have been genuinely kind people, but they have been tough taskmasters as well.

Three office secrets that have helped you the most in your career?

Generosity, kindness, and hard work. I learned these office secrets early in my career from my first boss, the late R.K. Krishna Kumar, who was a legend of the Tata Group. In fact, I have dedicated this book to him. I would like to add a fourth office secret that has also helped me greatly—which is to always take our work seriously, but never to take oneself too seriously. The ability to laugh at ourselves is very important, and many of the essays in this book are written in this happy spirit of light irreverence. That is why this book is likely to make you laugh out loud, even as you resonate with its themes.

In the book, you suggest that we shouldn’t take our corporate avatars too seriously. But it is easier said than done. What do you do to ensure that you don’t?

To be honest, I am rather intense at work and do tend to take my corporate avatar quite seriously. However, I find that personal and fun conversations with friends and colleagues on subjects that lie outside the boundaries of work—such as books, movies, sports, and food—ensure that I tone down my seriousness. In particular, long and highly engaged chats about food take me very far away from my corporate self, because I am such a foodie at heart. Food really gets me going as a person.

Your top tips to maximise productivity while working from home?

Whether working from home or from the office, one of my top tips is to minimise digital distractions. To ensure deep focus on work, the mobile phone is best kept far away. Digital benefits us in so many ways, but these devices also constantly distract us if we are not careful. That’s why I have postulated new rules for the workplace, such as the Mobile Distance Axiom and the Group Disruption Theorem.  You will enjoy reading these rules and many more of their kind in Office Secrets. The other tip I would like to offer is to get up from your seat at least once an hour and walk around a little bit. That rejuvenates me hugely when I come back to my work table. I have written about this too in Office Secrets.

How does one do nothing?

Doing nothing is one of the most challenging things to do. Let me tell you what typically works for me. I find that I can do nothing when I am at ease with myself, without any undue agitation cruising through my mind. I also find that on days when I stop feeling guilty about doing nothing, then I can really do nothing. Sometimes, soft and relaxing music also helps greatly in doing nothing. But then, of course, I am listening to music, so technically I am doing something, though actually, this is helping me do nothing.

How do you stay creative and motivated to do better?

For me, being curious is the best way to stay creative. When I ask questions, try to discover new truths, seek exposure to new things, and engage in stimulating and open-ended conversations on a range of subjects, all these acts of curiosity stoke my creative brain. That, in turn, leads to new ideas evolving in my mind.

The motivation to do better every day comes from being inspired by the best in the world. For instance, with respect to writing, when I read the works of masters such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez or R.K. Narayan, I ask myself – what can I learn from them today, and how can this learning help me take my own next step towards becoming a better writer?

What do you think of the hustle culture that has become a way of life for most millennials and GenZ? How can one strike a balance?

The hustle culture has become part of many of our lives, regardless of our age. Hustling is Gen-agnostic, if you ask me. One good way of striking a balance is to try to excel in whatever you do, without constant comparison with others, and without seeking to impress others. In an interesting story in Office Secrets, I have referred to this as JEDI – which is an acronym for Just Excel, Don’t Impress.

After a prolific and rewarding corporate and writing career spanning over three decades, what are you most looking forward to in the coming years?

I have greatly enjoyed my long career with the Tata Group, and I continue to relish my current role as Brand Custodian at Tata Sons. The Tata group has provided me with a wonderful professional home, for which I am truly grateful.

But over the years, I have realised that two professional passions excite me and drive me—marketing and writing. I love both these areas, and they keep me intellectually alive and kicking. Therefore, I hope to continue to actively engage in both these passions during the years ahead. At this stage in my life, it is also very important to me to add value to my colleagues, particularly to young people. I try my best to do this today and will keep this objective firmly in mind for the future as well.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Kusha Kapila: This is the best time to be a content creator

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Kusha Kapila is on a dream run. In the past three years, she has featured in three films and five web shows. Currently busy giving young women car rides to their Tinder dates, she is back with the third season of the dating app’s much-loved show Swipe Ride.

With an enviable 3.3 million followers on Instagram and some big projects in her bag, she is doing it all—appearing on Koffee with Karan, collaborating with Deepika Padukone and Varun Dhawan, slaying and sashaying at Cannes, and making getting at least a million views on every reel the new normal.

In this exclusive interview, the comedienne, actor, and Instagram superstar talks about Swipe Ride, the explosion of content creation, how she deals with online hate and negativity, her recent move to Mumbai, and her upcoming Rhea Kapoor film, Thank You for Coming.

How did you land Swipe Ride?

I’m so glad that the Tinder team thought of me as somebody who could moderate and lead the show. Swipe Ride is one of the most fulfilling non-fiction experiences that I’ve had and I really wish that it runs for many more seasons.

What is the one thing you like the best about this show?

I think Swipe Ride is equal parts hilarious, thoughtful, heartwarming, and fun. As a natural extrovert, I love conversations that are not surface level and I don’t think we do any surface-level small talk on the show. We talk about things that we really want to and it fosters a female bonding experience. There are conversations about how to navigate modern dating while also discussing the transition from how dating used to be when we were younger to how it is now. We also don’t take ourselves too seriously, but if there is something serious in the conversation, we don’t shy away from it either. This whole combination of unapologetically voicing what we feel without the pressure of taking ourselves too seriously while we talk about love, which is the driving force for a lot of our emotional experiences, is what makes me love the show and keep coming back to it over and over again.

The face of dating has changed tremendously since the advent and popularity of dating apps. What cultural shifts or positive changes do you think they have brought about?

Dating apps have brought in a lot of agency for women to choose their own connections. Today, if a woman wants something or wants to date someone, she can make the first move. Dating apps have also brought in a lot of clarity as women can now have an actual conversation before meeting their match, and there is so much they can discuss before they take the plunge to meet. I also think dating apps are safer because the profiles are verified and it’s just a better space to be in comparison to going in completely blind. With dating apps, you now have more clarity on who you want to date and once you’ve dated a bunch of people, you know exactly what you want or don’t want and this process of elimination is seriously underrated.

The last three years have been phenomenal for you work-wise. What do you think has helped you reach where you are today?

I’m truly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far. I have gotten some great fiction and non-fiction opportunities that have really helped me come into my own. After having done so many different formats of content and with the theory of deduction and elimination, I now know exactly what I want to do from here on. Even though I’m still figuring out some things, I think I’m closer to where I want to be creatively, professionally, and spiritually. Overall, it’s been a pretty fantastic journey and I’m grateful each day.

Content creation has exploded as an industry since you started. Three valuable tips that you’d want to give to up-and-coming creators who look up to you for inspiration?

I think this is the best time to be a creator because you don’t have to have a certain amount of followers for people to actually watch your content. Algorithms have become more disruptive and even more democratic. People with 50,000 followers have reached 10 million views and likes and hit numbers that even I haven’t and that’s incredible. My advice would be to put out the content that you want and not think too much about it as you have no idea what people will like and relate with. My only tip is: keep creating content and you’ll figure it out eventually as you go.

How do you deal with online hate and negativity?

I tackle it through therapy. I’ve faced my fair share of online hate and judgments, and over time, I’ve built up a resistance to it, or at least I try to. I can’t really fathom how those with a much larger following and a nationwide presence handle it. But after a while, you develop a filter around you that only lets the good things come in. I’ve also got a set window where I allow myself to fret and whine about it and then I go back to the grind, back on set—because the show must go on.

You are an influencer, a comedienne, an actor, and Wikipedia calls you a fashion editor. But how would you describe yourself?

I used to be a fashion editor so I don’t mind being called one. I would describe myself as somebody who’s constantly curious, constantly wanting to update herself, constantly wanting to know what’s the next thing, what’s new. My career has always been in the digital space, so it’s something that I’ve always loved. The world of pop culture and the Internet captivates me and I love when people create cool stuff because I love watching content. And as someone who’s doing pretty well for herself, I would say that I’m really proud of myself today.

You have recently moved to Mumbai. How easy or difficult has the transition been? What do you love about this city the most?

Transitioning to Mumbai has been both easy and challenging, much like any move to a new city. I love Mumbai because it’s so safe and the industry is here. There are so many creative people you get to meet and network with and there are so many ideas all around. But since it’s not the place I grew up in and my close family and friends are not here, it does get lonely sometimes. However, I feel like I’ll find my way. There is also this excitement, curiosity, and newness of things that is completely thrilling and I like that for myself. I wish to call Mumbai my home in a few years and it feels good to have two homes or at least the idea of two homes.

You just dropped the poster of Thank You for Coming, your new film with Bhumi Pednekar. What can you tell us about the film?

The film is a Rhea Kapoor and Karan Boolani experience and I feel the world’s not ready for it. I am in awe of Bhumi Pednekar. I have been on set with her and I just feel so lucky to be in a project that has names like Ekta Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Dolly Singh, Shibani Bedi, Shehnaaz, and Sushant attached to it. So it’s really exciting to be a part of this project and to be a part of the ‘Rhea World’ as I call it. She has always made movies from the female gaze that women relate to and want more of because there’s not enough of it in the mainstream.

Read other pieces by Sneha Bengani here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow