Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Roger Federer is the greatest ever' that was published in Newsband

Roger Federer is the greatest ever

Roger Federer, the Swiss maestro, has now won three of the last four Grand Slam events he has entered although he is in the mid-30s. Federer was the firm favourite. His striking, well-proportioned game looked in good order. His repurposed single-handed backhand was equal to the task. His more urgent style of play both conserves energy and discomfits the opponent although it is a method fraught with risk. But Federer is a genius.

Marin Čilić proved a formidable adversary in the title round. The 6’6” Croat has reserves of easy power and moves well for someone his size. Victory demanded a masterful calming of the nerves. It is this ability that allows Federer to outcompete and outlive much younger opponents.

All time great artist of Tennis Roger Federer has shown that he can master hard courts, grass courts, even when he is at 36 years of age. There are hard court specialists, there are clay court specialists, there are grass court specialists ....... and then there is Roger Federer - thus spake Jimmy Connors. Need one add more?

He is one who won’t be written off. Roger Federer has proven that his ability to surprise is undiminished. There was something else about Federer’s Australian Open final win last weekend: an unusual blend of razor-sharp intensity and vulnerable uncertainty.

Tennis critics have been talking about the “sunset” of his career for so long that it has surpassed the tenure of his prime years. Between 2003 and 2008, Federer won 13 Grand Slams; in the seven years since, he won just four, and two of those came in 2009. In 2011, it seemed as though Federer was treading the familiar path of ageing athletes. The intervals between his victories grew longer, especially compared to 2006, when he recorded an astonishing 92 wins against five losses.

However, he remained optimistic. The comeback was slow, but gradually it materialised. Federer at 36 years seized the crown in Melbourne, even as every opponent he played en route to his first Australian Open win in 2004 has retired. With this win, Federer has stamped his dominance in one era and yet stubbornly refused to leave the next.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Policies to boost Indian Economy needed' that was published in Newsband

Policies to boost Indian Economy needed

India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Implementation of the Goods and Services Tax is indeed doing a lot of good to the economy of the country. The steps taken to address the twin balance sheet problem in the banking sector have resulted in debt resolution and the initiative to recapitalise public sector banks.

There has been a global recovery in the form of overseas demand for India’s goods and services. Indian stock indices continues to soar to new highs on an almost daily basis.  

The Centre needs to reappraise its priorities. There is need to establish and maintain policy credibility. The government may have to retain the elbow room to stabilise the GST, complete the recapitalisation exercise and, most crucially, support agriculture.

The dangers climate change poses to the outlook for farm growth should not be ignored. It has potential to reduce annual agricultural incomes.

A range of mitigation measures is required. Job creation and education are key priorities, Rapid economic expansion can be achieved by focusing on private investment and exports.

Reforms are most important for sustained high growth on which the government seems to drag its feet. Archaic labour laws are a great impediment in foreign and domestic investment. To its credit the government has initiated a number of financial reforms which will facilitate investment and economic growth. Creation of jobs and agriculture distress are major challenges for the government.

The Economic Survey Report tabled in the Parliament presents a mix of optimism and despair. The projected growth next year is7-7.5%.

The farmers, the marginalised and the like know that they have to survive the current year to reach the promise of the year next. They are quite sure that these tantalizing figures would never transform into tangibility.

Working class is the bulwark of production. Neglecting working class will not help the economy because of reduced purchasing power in home market. Purchasing power of people should be improved.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Interests of depositors should be protected' that was published in Newsband

Interests of depositors should be protected

India’s 21 public sector banks might get Rs 1 lakh crore by March from the Centre. The RBI deploys the PCA to monitor the operation of weaker banks more closely to encourage them to conserve capital and avoid risks. This capital offers a fresh lease of life as it will help meet regulatory requirements

State Bank of India, the country’s largest, and the nine others that are out of the RBI’s PCA net will receive nearly ₹36,000 crore in order to strengthen their lending capacity. The government’s assertion that no public sector bank will fail and that depositors’ money will remain safe should allay customers’ worry about the safety of their savings under the proposed Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance legislation. RBI Governor Urjit Patel had described as providing a real chance to meet the banking sector’s challenges for the first time in a decade.

This infusion capital should have been provided to the banks based on some specific criteria so that, these banks would be extra cautious when lending out loans. At least, there should be a clause that they won’t be able to avail these infusions in case they aren't able to recover these NPA's.

Structural reforms will yield results only if banks are given autonomy to deal with big defaulters. The policy of recapitalisation may only have partial effect unless NPAs are recovered soon. Anyway, let's hope that this infusion in bank will lead to positive reforms.

Increasing the capital of Public Sector banks is a prudent measure. But the means to achieve this laudable goal should not turn sour. Capitalization must not prove to be decapitation of small investors' aspirations. The trust deficit in policies the present government adopt is vindicated by the propensity of the present government towards privatization. Allotment of the first capital dose to the ICICI bank betrays this intention. Retirees and geriatrics manage to get a trickle of sustenance through their humble investment in the banks. Their interests should be protected.

Video: Dinesh Kamath: 'Rajesh Khanna was Elvis Presley of India'

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India and ASEAN' that was published in Newsband

India and ASEAN

The leaders of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered in New Delhi. India’s ties with ASEAN got a dose of both symbolism and substance. There is urgent need for Southeast Asia and India to boost cooperation. The region needs to look deeper within to grow markets and increase trade. There is also need to focus on continuing tensions between the “great powers” between the U.S. and Russia, or the U.S. and China. China’s moves in particular can change equations in the region.

India and ASEAN have a unique opportunity to reap the potential of their geographic proximity. ASEAN and India called for measures to deepen security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation, and connectivity. With trade with ASEAN at $76 billion, India ranks lower than not just the U.S. and China, but also South Korea, Japan and Australia.

India is concerned about unfettered access to Chinese goods and ASEAN resistance to movement of Indian services and labour.

India and the ASEAN countries have much to gain from each other. The Asean group of countries has a lot more of common interests beyond one common enemy.

Rise of ASEAN is undoubtedly a sunrise for South East Asia. India can play a pivotal role in the new mix of metamorphosis. But we should not miss in the euphoria our prime interests that comprise chiefly territorial sovereignty.

Photographs of Editor of Newsband Dinesh Kamath clicked by Marketing Executive Vijaykumar Kamble

Photographs of Editor of Newsband Dinesh Kamath clicked by Marketing Executive Vijaykumar Kamble

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Improve criminal law carefully' that was published in Newsband

Improve criminal law carefully

Criminal law revamp should be done, but with due care. Such an exercise must be pursued with care and caution. The Justice V.S. Malimath Committee on reforming the criminal justice system made 158 recommendations, and since then some of these have become law.

There is some understandable disquiet about the state of criminal justice administration in the country and there is a crying need for a wide range of reforms. The widespread perception that there is corruption on the one hand and a deep nexus between crime syndicates and politicians on the other, has added to the erosion of public confidence in the justice delivery system.

Substantive changes in the way criminal justice is administered will have to be done with great circumspection. The criminal justice system definitely needs a revamp in our country. Most of all, it is high time the archaic Indian Penal Code drafted in 1860 and the Criminal Procedure Code enacted in 1974 is also re-drafted and made more concise and crisp.

Most accused go scot free due to sheer lack of evidence even when it appears a clear case of the crime committed by the accused himself. Something should be done about this. In fact, some are of the opinion that most accused go scot-free not due to "sheer lack of evidence" alone but because of collusion between corrupt prosecution/defense lawyers and corrupt Judges.

Human (social animal) basic nature is selfishness, smartness (one up man ship) on the desire side and fear on the other side. It’s only " Fear' of law, elders, God, Stick which can keep one’s desires (especially those which infringe on others’ rights) in check. For the Fear' factor, to keep ones unhealthy desires in check, an important perception is also on the probability of being caught, the speed thereof and the hurt the verdict can cause the culprit.

No short cuts, to compensate for the failings that have got deeply embedded in the system. Many are of the opinion that Salman Khan could be considered a symbol of how justice is thwarted in India.

One of the basic tenets of justice is that it is better to let go a criminal unpunished rather than punishing an innocent man. While this is great in principle, in practice this has allowed the proliferation of criminals of all types to hold on to power either through politics or through mafia type dons. Our record after independence is a glaring example of this.

The cure sought should not turn worse than malady. Circumspection should be the guideline in the approach to reform the criminal law. The reform should not pave catastrophic for the accused. The proposed replacement of the standard 'beyond reasonable doubt' with 'clear and convincing' standard definitely weighs against the victim, for the latter standard can turn subjective. The 'confession' provision provides a tool in the hands of the police to turn the State into a police 'raj'.

Judicial system is consider as the messiah in the whole world because here it provides justice to victims and punishment to accused. So, at least it should not be any corruption in this system.

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movie released in Navi Mumbai’ (Padmaavat) that was published in Newsband

New movie released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Padmaavat

Padmaavat (formerly titled Padmavati), is a 2018 Indian epic period drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Deepika Padukone stars as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharaja Rawal Ratan Singh, and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Aditi Rao Hydari, Jim Sarbh, Raza Murad, and Anupriya Goenka feature in supporting roles. Based on the epic poem Padmavat (1540) by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, the film narrates the story of Padmavati, a Rajput queen who committed jauhar to protect herself from Khilji. With a production budget of ₹200 crore (US$31 million), Padmaavat is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.

The film is based on the legend of Rani Padmavati, a legendary Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Awadhi language epic poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540. According to Padmavat, she was the wife of Ratan Sen (called Rawal Ratan Singh in later legends), the Rajput ruler of Mewar. In 1303, Alauddin Khilji, the Turko-Afghan ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, laid siege to the Chittor Fort in Rajputana. According to Padmavat, Khilji led the invasion motivated by his desire to capture Padmavati. The men of the city stormed out in a final mortal sally to kill as many of the enemy before falling. Padmavati is said to have committed jauhar (self-immolation) along with all the other women of the city to protect their honour and to avoid being captured by Khilji.

To be more elaborate, set in 1303 AD Medieval India, Padmaavat is the story of valor, honor, and obsession. Rani Padmavati, the queen of Maharawal Ratan Singh, is famous for her exceptional beauty along with a strong sense of justice and is pride of the kingdom of Chittor, a prosperous Rajput kingdom in the north-west of India. The legend of her beauty reaches to Alauddin Khalji, the reigning Sultan of Delhi. The tyrant and one of the most brutal Sultan of the Khilji dynasty, Alauddin Khalji is now obsessed by Rani Padmavati's beauty and of claiming her for himself, he decides to lay siege on the impregnable fortress of Chittorgarh. Following a difficult half year, he returns to Delhi with nothing, fuelled by the desire to capture Chittor and its Queen at any cost. He comes back with a greater armed force and ranging fury. He attacks Chittor kingdom with brutal force and a bloody and fearsome war takes places between the exemplary Maharawal Ratan Singh defending his kingdom and the honor of his queen and Sultan Alauddin Khalji. Alauddin manages to breach the fortress but in vain as the Queen Padmavati chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice (performed Jauhar) to protect her dignity.

The film has the following cast:

Deepika Padukone as Padmavati – a 13th-14th century legendary Rajput queen, who was, according to Padmavat, the wife of Rajput king Ratan Singh (also known as Ratan Sen), the ruler of Mewar. The news of Padmavati's beauty reached Sultan Alauddin Khilji, who besieged Singh's capital, Chittor, motivated by his desire to capture the queen.

Shahid Kapoor as Ratan Singh – the last Rajput ruler of the Guhila dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Mewar. He was defeated by Alauddin Khilji's forces during the siege of Chittor.

Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji – the Turko-Afghan ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. He was the second and most powerful ruler of the Sultanate belonging to the Khilji dynasty. He ascended the throne by murdering his paternal uncle and father-in-law, Sultan Jalaluddin Khilji. According to Padmavat, Khilji laid siege to Chittor motivated by his desire to capture Ratan Singh's beautiful wife, Padmavati.

Aditi Rao Hydari as Mehrunisa – wife of Alauddin Khilji

Jim Sarbh as Malik Kafur – a prominent eunuch slave-general of Alauddin Khilji.

Raza Murad as Jalaluddin Khilji – the founder and first Sultan of the Khilji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate. He was deposed by his nephew and son-in-law Alauddin, who murdered his uncle to usurp the throne.

Anupriya Goenka as Nagmati – first wife and chief queen of Ratan Singh according to Padmavat. Nagmati and her husband's second wife, Padmavati, performed jauhar together after Alauddin Khilji attacked Chittor.

Sharhaan Singh as Senapati Vijaydaan Singh

The film score is composed by Sanchit Balhara while the songs are composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A. M. Turaz and Siddharth-Garima wrote the lyrics. The soundtrack has been released by T-Series and has a total of six songs. The film has songs like "Ghoomar" sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Swaroop Khan, "Ek Dil Ek Jaan" by Shivam Pathak, "Khalibali" by      Shivam Pathak and Shail Hada, "Nainowale Ne" by Neeti Mohan, "Holi (Manganiyars & Langa's folk song)" Traditional by Richa Sharma and Shail Hada   and "Binte Dil" by Arijit Singh. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Tell people the entire truth' that was published in Newsband

Tell people the entire truth

On August 28, the Centre had issued a statement on a mutual decision for Indian and Chinese troops to disengage and withdraw from the part of the Doklam plateau disputed between China and Bhutan that had been the scene of the stand-off. However, last week the Army chief, General Bipin Rawat, said Chinese troops are in parts of Doklam they had hitherto not manned. Such divergence in public statements also fuels speculation that something deeper and more troubling exists on the ground.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar put China’s rise first on a list of “major disruptors” in the region. General Rawat said that the “time has come” for India to “shift focus” from its western border with Pakistan to its northern border with China. Beijing’s latest belligerent statements that all of Doklam belongs to China and is under its “effective jurisdiction” could be indicators that the agreement announced in August is unravelling.

When diplomacy is undesirably used to hide intentions and facts, India will increasingly face credibility gap in its internal and external behaviors. As reports are emerging of Chinese activities in the sensitive Doklam Plateau the Centre has to thread with caution. Allowing the Chinese to establish over the Doklam Plateau they will put the Indian army out of the way and then dominate the heights over the river valley and will be able to go further west and cut off the roads that are used for supplies to Nathu-La in Sikkim. This will leave the Chinese free to attack down south towards the Siliguri corridor or the chicken's neck in West Bengal where they could theoretically cut off North Eastern states from the rest of India. Another reason why India has to be cautious with China is the way the Chinese aggression had taken place in 1962 when India never expected the Chinese army of 80000 to invade and fight and army of 10000 to 15000 Indian soldiers. It was a complete victory for China with substantial casualties on the Indian forces and taking over Aksai Chin now in Chinese possession originally a part of India

China should mend its ways of looking over the issue, as the part belongs to the Indian side since times immemorial. As far as India is concerned, it seems a classic case of chest-thumping (mainly for electoral considerations, doing no benefit to national interest) coming back to bite. All parties, forgetting the history of accusations, should evolve some basic consensus on issues where national interest is so important that political considerations must be avoided at all costs. It will be unfortunate if the government isn't having space to do the right thing in matters of national security, International relations due to a monster created by themselves.

It is sensitive time for India. It is time to keep the stringent eyes on both northern and western border. Because both are in fear. Western border is facing the huge casualty whereas northern is facing the ambiguity between three countries.

The whole episode should be disclosed publicly so that people can understand the actual position.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Constitutional bodies should not be biased' that was published in Newsband

Constitutional bodies should not be biased

The Election Commission has advised the President that 20 legislators of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi are liable for disqualification. The correctness of the EC’s decision will be decided on legal grounds.

It is indeed true that the Arvind Kejriwal regime is politically disadvantaged because, unlike State governments, it cannot make many decisions without the Lt. Governor’s concurrence. It is nothing but a self-inflicted defeat to Kejriwal. He should have been careful and thoughtful as the politics has different angles and may have pleasant as well as unpleasant surprises. Of course "office of profit "is subject to legal scrutiny but the outcome of it may take years and AAP has to face the election under adverse circumstances.

In present day politics any discussion on means and ends is not necessary. The ends are what count. AAP's brand of politics is thorn in the flesh for major political parties, in particular BJP and Congress. Any stick is good enough to beat AAP. Any party led by middle class intellectuals which wins popular support is simply intolerable for the big brothers who wish to see such party wiped out and vanish from political stage.

Arvind Kejriwal is putting blame for disqualification of his 20 MLAs squarely on ECI and BJP and it is a fact that BJP would be main beneficiary if by-elections are held.

The disqualification is most likely to be upheld by Supreme Court also as it is in consonance with its earlier rulings on office of profit. It is also a fact that BJP is targeting him and putting obstacles in his way but he must tread with caution. He should also learn from this blunder and abide by law.

If the ruling party was BJP, would the Election Commission take such drastic step? President of India takes such decision so hurriedly without giving an opportunity to hear from them? Are we in democracy? What about the post of political secretaries in other states occupied by BJP & Congress MLAs?

The major concern is constitutional bodies should not be biased for or against political parties otherwise the democracy will be in danger. Problem is not with AAP alone: every political party in the government has used, misused and abused the provisions in constitution. Even the courts have given contradictory and conflicting verdicts according to the political parties’ convenience.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indo-Israeli relations strengthened' that was published in Newsband

Indo-Israeli relations strengthened

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visited India. India and Israel have fully normalised bilateral ties. In 2003 Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India. In 2015 President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel, and in 2017 Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.

Netanyahu’s six-day visit led to a joint statement that drew a 25-year timeline in which to realise the potential of the strategic partnership. Both realized that India has “size and scale” and Israel has “sharpness and edge”.  The two countries have a “natural partnership” and a “natural friendship” that also caters to their need for hard power. Hence the two can make a great combination.

The joint statement “reaffirmed their support for an early resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians”. Jordan’s King Abdullah II is due in New Delhi shortly. India has built the leverage over the decades among Israelis and Palestinians in order to join global and regional powers in pushing them back to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu said: “The weak don’t survive. The strong survive. You make peace with the strong. You ally with the strong.” Netanyahu's language about only the strong surviving is eerily reminiscent of Hitler and the Nazi discourse. Here India has to be careful. India believes that the strong should ALLOW the weak to survive. Palestine and Israel can live side by side if there is a will to be fair and truthful. 'Land' whether in Israel or in India or anywhere on the planet is not for a 'personal lordship'. It allows 'space' for each of us to 'live and let live'.

However, if China is the 'All weather friend' of Pakistan, then Israel should be our all weather friend. Let us not forget that it was Israel which came to our rescue when we faced military confrontation from our neighbours.

It is the adaptabilty to various environments and situations that enables India's survival and makes its citizens truly global. Qualified Indians need to enhance their confidence to ally with their own nation, not sell themselves as brainy and enterprising slaves to nations that oppress.

What you are is what you are doing not what you are saying. Let us be prepared to ally even with the devils if it helps to bring peace and amicable settlement but not with angels if it bring the opposite. If Israel can survive despite surrounded by the hostile Sunni and Shia groups, who also cut each others throats, and yet be a successful democracy, increasing its wealth and being always innovative, then there is hope for India despite Pakistan's perpetual deceit and attacks along the J and K border and China's weekly pronouncements that one or other part of India belongs to China because of the bad boundary lines drawn by the colonists. All we have to do is be united internally and strong militarily equipped with modern tools of warfare. But only difference is: India has left-and communist-sympathizers, who are actually worse than the communists themselves, not to speak of those with anti-Indian, pro-Muslim agenda-all in the name of secularism.

But one should admit that Modi is doing the best for our country to make ourselves the Vishwa-Guru by having good relations with other countries.

When we discuss India-Israel relations we cannot overlook that situation seventy years ago was different than what it is today. We have to make efforts to ensure that our friendship with Israel will not hurt our relationship with the Arab world. Both Israel and Palestine have a right to exist and live as neighbours. Basic objective of our foreign policy should be to ensure that both Israel & Palestine accept co-existence. Unfortunately, Palestine’s fundamentalist leaders and some Islamic countries are still not ready to accept that Israel has a right to exist. Similarly rightist political parties of Israel are responsible for creating tension in Israel-Palestine relationship. Increasing cooperation between India & Israel can be mutually beneficial. Let us hope that we will be in a position to maintain right balance between Israel and Arab/Islamic world even as we increase our trade with Israel.

India should also not forget that the way Israel can help in defence and security of our western borders is amazing and the friendship being renovated by Modi will usher in tackling Pakistan incursions which has been a menace so far. India had earlier suffered because of our appeasement foreign policy.

Dinesh Kamath's Score in Blog Crosses Half a Million and Quarter Lakh Views

Dinesh Kamath's Score in Blog Crosses Half a Million and Quarter Lakh Views

The following Countries have the highest number of Readers of Dinesh Kamath's Blog (in right order):

1) India

2) France

3) United States

4) Germany 

5) Russia

6) Spain

7) Indonesia

8) Pakistan 

9) Ukraine 

10) Netherlands

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India finds overseas tours a nightmare' that was published in Newsband

India finds overseas tours a nightmare

Indian test team finds overseas tours very difficult. In the two Tests of the current three-match series in South Africa, India lost. Skipper Kohli has to cope with a tough challenge. His 153 in the second Test was a fine but futile effort in a lost cause.

At home rivals ranging from Australia to Bangladesh were humbled. Since the last tour of Australia in the 2014-15 season, India largely played in its backyard and was never tested. The opening slots, often a merry-go-round between M. Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and K.L. Rahul, need to be sorted out. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane should be replaced by Rohit Sharma.

Kohli had to constantly shuffle his squad over the last 34 Tests. India can excel in England and Australia only if the threats posed by their fast bowlers are fended off. Losing (or not winning with thumping performances) overseas has been our Achilles's heels and we know it. Our team hasn't has much exposure when it comes to playing on fast pitches. Why local pitches are made for favoring spinners, one has no idea about that. If you want your team to win overseas, then give them the condition to play that way. Isn't it simple?

It is proven again that Indian batsman are not able to play on bouncy tracks. Indians have rarely performed well as a team when playing abroad. This team is no exception. Let us not live under any illusion. Statistics have meaning only when the sampling covers all possibilities evenly. India's ranking of no 1 based mostly on performances in Indian soil is of no real significance. India is over reliant on Kohli, if you want to win a game- every player has to play quality cricket. India is badly missing a quality wicket keeper batsman. India Fielding had to be outstanding.

Actually, the team India's biggest mistake was to play with Sri Lanka at home instead of playing practice matches in South Africa. Playing with weaker team and winning against them make India an arrogant team and weaker than previous position. The result is all about that - SA leads 2-0 against INDIA.

The players joined hands to oust a legend like Kumble and got a non-Coach like Ravi Shastri. Now Ravi Shastri and the team have to prove that their decision was right. Even with a legend like Kumble at the helm the team would have found the going tough as they are touring countries where their past record is not all that great.

Truth is that we do not wish to face the reality, which is that most pitches in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England are normally prepared to favour their pace bowlers. Strength of the home team’s bowlers lies in their ability to exploit tailor-made conditions in their respective countries. It is also true that our batsmen are not adequately exposed to pitches which are prepared in these countries. Performance of our pace bowlers when they bowl on pitches in above mentioned countries is not as good as it should be. Our bowlers are not adequately exposed to conditions in these countries and that is why their performance is not as good as that of bowlers of rival teams. BCCI has a major role to play in this regard.

In view of excellent performance of Indian cricket team for the last couple of years, it was hoped that Virat Kohli led team would create history by winning a series in South Africa but worst fears have come true and it has instead repeated history by badly losing series yet again. So we are back to square one, unbeatable on dust bowls at home and bad losers overseas against good teams.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Freedom of Expression and Law and Order' that was published in Newsband

Freedom of Expression and Law and Order

Protecting freedom of expression and preserving law and order – both are important, said Supreme Court during hearing of the case related to the film Padmaavat, Bans on films violate the freedom of speech and expression enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court said the state cannot plead inability to handle the problem of a hostile audience as that “would be tantamount to negation of the rule of law and a surrender to blackmail and intimidation.”

The filmmakers agreed to change its name from Padmavati to Padmaavat. The new title indicates it is based on a medieval poem on a legendary Rajput queen and not any historical personality. They also agreed to several cuts.

Only the courts stand in the way of politicians who want to please the crowds. It is time common man starts condemning the politician who is cowed by the crowd. Thank God we have a functional and committed SC that can take tough decisions. It's horrifying to think what'd happen to all the freedoms if the SC/HCs restrain themselves. These politicians may as well completely prostrate in front of caste & religious organizations leaving common people who want to express, listen etc. completely vulnerable. Karni Sena’s demands and actions are clearly anti-constitutional.

The constitutional Authorities like CM, his cabinet ministers take constitutional oath while assuming their office like mediocre students mugging up lessons to pass exams. Instead, the elected CM should quote and narrate from history how great headers have protected their constitutional duties, while in power, and demonstrate how they will also uphold the rule of law taking contemporary issues burning in the state. Otherwise, we will continue to put in power such weak leaders with mediocre student mentality. If they cannot handle a tough situation, they should quit,

Freedom of expression is a tight rope walking. The governments often succumb to vote bank politics. They curb the freedom of expression of writers, painters, film makers. This menace pervades cutting across nations. But it is also true that the intellectuals are not always free from all kinds of biases. They tinker with the feelings of the people in the name of creativity for their vested interests. The political parties also want to misuse their creativity tag for their political gains. Actually so called intellectuals are so intricately mingled that it often gets difficult to sift the shaft. The creative urge should be pursued to the extent which can be substantiated. Otherwise unnecessary hurting of the feelings of the people should be avoided. Of course it does not mean that the people who are raising a hue and cry about Padmavati are very admirer of queen Padmavati. Problem is that they are also playing politics. But, intellectuals must differentiate between liberty and licence.

Let them screen the movie and let the audience decide whether the movie needs to rejected or accepted. Films are made for the general audience and not some particular group, right? Let the democracy take the front seat in deciding what they want to see and what they want to hear. Stifling the voices will only make them come out stronger. Because of the controversy, people who had nothing to do with the movie, will be interested to watch it now. So, in a way, the protesters have advertised/highlighted the movie and this will help the producers when it releases. At the same time, movie makers need to be extra cautious with the subject they are dealing with while coming up with a script.